Anelka's £21.5m return to Paris
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Your support makes all the difference.Nicolas Anelka finally completed his £21.5m return to Paris St-Germain over the weekend with the Real Madrid coach, Vicente del Bosque, claiming the French international striker had failed to grasp the importance of playing for the European Cup holders.
Nicolas Anelka finally completed his £21.5m return to Paris St-Germain over the weekend with the Real Madrid coach, Vicente del Bosque, claiming the French international striker had failed to grasp the importance of playing for the European Cup holders.
"He never really identified with what it means to play in a club like ours," Del Bosque said. "He didn't understand the importance of the shirt and the club crest. At the end of the season he played well, but overall he took very little part. I wish him all the best, hope he is happy and enjoys his football," Del Bosque said.
Paris St-Germain sold Anelka to Arsenal for £500,000 before the Frenchman moved to the Bernabeu for £23m where he endured a torrid 12-month spell which included a period in which he was suspended forrefusing to train.
Sunderland have reportedly made a £10m offer for Celta Vigo's French international midfielder, Claude Makelele. "All I can say at this stage is that I have made an inquiry for him," their manager, Peter Reid, said.
Manchester United are unlikely to make any more signings before the new season, according to their new chief executive, Peter Kenyon.
Wimbledon have signed the 21-year-old Newcastle striker Paul Robinson for £1.5m. The Dons have also signed the centre-half Mark Williams from Watford and the wing-back Des Byrne from the Irish side, St Patrick's Athletic.
Gérard Houllier, Liverpool's manager, has criticised Fifa for sanctioning an international friendly programme three days before the start of the Premiership season on 19 August.
Houllier is concerned about the fitness of four players who are on international duty just before his side's first match of the season. Three of Houllier's back four will be in action - Stéphane Henchoz for Switzerland, Sami Hyypia for Finland and Markus Babbel for Germany. The midfielder Dietmar Hamann is also set to appear for the Germans against Spain. "It is silly to me. We can only hope that none of them come back with injured," Houllier said.
Other Premiership players are also affected by the internationals. Everton's Niclas Alexandersson and Thomas Gravesen are likely to play for Sweden and Denmark respectively. Norway also play, against Finland, and have many players based in England.
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