Failed Ronaldo bid is Wenger’s biggest Arsenal transfer regret

Reuters : Failing to sign Cristiano Ronaldo is outgoing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s biggest transfer regret in his almost 22-year-reign at the Premier League club, the 68-year-old has said.

Wenger signed some of the league’s best players during his reign, including Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Cesc Fabregas and Mesut Ozil, but Arsenal lost out on signing Ronaldo to rivals Manchester United in 2003.

Ronaldo went on to help United win three league titles along with an FA Cup and Champions League triumph, before joining Real Madrid in 2009.

“The obvious player (that we missed out on) that comes to mind is (Cristiano) Ronaldo,” Wenger told Arsenal’s website www.arsenal.com.

 “He was here with his mother and we were very close. Then Man United came in and they had Carlos Queiroz at the time, who was their coach. United played against Sporting Lisbon and Ronaldo was outstanding and they signed him.

 “You could imagine at the time what it would have been like to have Thierry Henry and Ronaldo together... That would certainly have changed a little bit the history of my stay here as well.”

Wenger said the north London outfit were unable to compete with United’s 12 million pounds ($16.23 million) offer for the Portugal international.

 “There is always something you could have done differently, but the problem of negotiations is to know when you give in and when you don’t give in,” Wenger said.

 “Once we were at 4.5 million pounds, we were still in negotiations... so we were very close. But Man United went to 12 million pounds, which we could not afford at the time.” Wenger took charge of his 1,235th and final Arsenal match as the club ended their league campaign with a 1-0 win at Huddersfield Town last Sunday.

Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, will be aiming to clinch his fifth Champions League winners’ medal when Real clash with Liverpool in the final on May 26.

Guardiola extends Man City contract to 2021

LONDON (Reuters): Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola signed a contract extension with the Premier League champions on Thursday that will keep him in the job until 2021.

Spaniard Guardiola joined City in 2016 on a three-year contract and led them to the Premier League title this year, 19 points ahead of second-placed Manchester United.

City became the first top-flight club to collect 100 points in a season and broke records for goals scored in a Premier League campaign (106), the most victories and best goal difference.

 “We are delighted to announce the extension of Pep’s contract through to 2021,” club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said in a statement on City’s website.

 “In his two seasons with us, he has fostered an incredible spirit within the squad and significantly contributed to our progress both on and off the field. In doing so he has embodied the passion and commitment we all have for the club.”

If Guardiola sees out the deal, it will represent his longest spell in charge of one club. The 47-year-old managed Barcelona from 2008-12 and spent three years in charge of Germany’s Bayern Munich before joining City.

 “I am so happy and excited. It’s a pleasure to be able to work here,” said Guardiola, who was named Manager of the Year by League Managers Association on Tuesday. “As a manager, you have to feel good to be with the players - and I feel good.

 “I will focus on the desire of my players to become a better team and every day that’s what I will try to do – to improve on the pitch and improve our players.”

City also won the League Cup this year, giving Guardiola a total of 23 major trophies in nine seasons as a manager, but they were knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Premier League rivals Liverpool.