Football transfer news

EXCLUSIVE
By Greg Stobart

Zenit St Petersburg are expected to drop their interest in Manchester United winger Nani after the Russian club signed Hulk from Porto and Axel Witsel from Benfica for a combined €80 million.

Zenit coach Luciano Spalletti spoke publicly earlier this month about his desire to sign Nani, who demanded showdown talks with United over his future at Old Trafford last week after slipping down the pecking order because of growing competition for wide roles at the club.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to have given serious consideration to cashing in on the €31.5m-rated winger, although Nani is ready to demand a €6.3m pay-off to quit the club with talks over a new contract at a stalemate.

Former Manchester City winger Georgi Kinkladze, now a Moscow-based agent, played a key role in Zenit’s pursuit of Nani but the 25-year-old but the huge double move announced on Monday now makes a deal highly unlikely.

Zenit, winners of two consecutive Russian league titles, demonstrated their ambition and resources by bringing Hulk and Witsel to the club on five-year contracts, beating off competition from a number of European clubs.

Although Nani will stay at United until at least January, his future remains in doubt as he enters the final two years of his contract.

Ferguson has strengthened his attacking options by signing Robin van Persie, Shinji Kagawa and Nick Powell this summer, which could be ominous for Nani’s long-term future.

He started the Premier League opener against Everton but was left out of the squad completely to play Fulham, before featuring as a second-half substitute in Sunday’s win over Southampton.

Asked about his interest in Nani earlier this month, Spaletti said: “Are we interested in Hulk and Nani? Yes we are,” Spalletti said. “Everything’s going to depend on how much they cost.

“There are three more players who we’re holding negotiations with besides Nani and Hulk, but I won’t name them. But if you want one more name, it’s Afellay.”

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Hamburg sporting director Frank Arnesen has insisted he is thankful for the deal that brought Rafael van der Vaart to the club, despite it representing a huge risk on his part.

Despite being told there would be no money for transfers without player departures, Arnesen proceeded to bring in Van der Vaart and Martin Jiracek in a bid to alter the club’s playing fortunes.

The gamble does not appear to be paying off at this stage of the Bundesliga campaign with the Rothosen currently without a win, having lost their opening two fixtures.

But Arnesen insists it was the right call to make, describing the decision as, “a calculated risk”.

“A month ago we had no money to invest. We had a meeting with the board. That’s where we were told: ‘Without selling a player we cannot do any transfer for a new player,'” he explained to German newspaper Bild.

“I said three weeks ago that it is better to take a calculated risk. The question was whether we could do that. We could not have bought Van der Vaart without help from outside.”

And the 56-year-old was delighted to persuade the Dutchman to make the move from Tottenham to Hamburg on the final day of the transfer window, also claiming he talked to Nicklas Bendtner about a possible switch too.

He added: “I’m thankful that we could get a player like Rafa. That such a player comes to HSV. If you want players of a certain level, they must want to come to Hamburg.

“I have talked a lot to Nicklas Bendtner but he wanted to play European football.”

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has stressed that the Ligue 1 giants have no intention to make a move for Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese forward stated on Sunday that he is unhappy at the Santiago Bernabeu, fuelling speculation about a potential transfer away from the Spanish capital.

With the French transfer window open until September 4, PSG still have the opportunity to make a late swoop for Ronaldo, but Leonardo has now made it clear that they have no such plans.

“We have never even thought about making a move for Cristiano Ronaldo,” Leonardo stated to RAC1.

“When we want a player, we talk directly to the club. This has not been the case. PSG have not been in touch with anyone from Real Madrid.

“We are very pleased with what we have achieved in the transfer market this summer.”

The 27-year-old attacker has a contract with Madrid until June 2015.

Zenit St Petersburg have signed Hulk from Porto and Axel Witsel from Benfica, both on five-year deals, for a reported fee €80 million, according to the Russian club’s website.

The 26-year-old Hulk will wear the No.29 shirt for Luciano Spalletti’s side, who currently sit top of the Russian Premier League after seven games.

Hours after announcing a deal for the Brazilian, Zenit also confirmed the signing of Belgian midfielder Witsel, who will take the No.28 jersey.

“It’s now official. Both players had signed five-year deals,” Zenit spokesman Dmitry Tsimmerman was reported as saying by Rueters.

“We were trying to sign them before the September 3 deadline for the Champions League so they can play for us in that competition as well as the Russian league.”

Having cut his teeth in Japanese football with Kawasaki Fontale, Consadole Sapporo and Tokyo Verdy, Hulk moved to Os Dragoes in 2008 and helped the club to three league titles, three Tacas de Portugal and the Uefa Cup.

He has won 13 Brazil caps since making his debut in 2009, and was part of the Selecao’s Olympic team that claimed silver in London.

Witsel, meanwhile, had been heavily linked with a summer move to Real Madrid, but the former Standard Liege man, who has represented Belgium at every age group, has now made the move to Zenit.

Benfica confirmed on their official website that the fee paid for their prized asset was the contractual release clause of €40m.

The St Petersburg club have been drawn against AC Milan, Anderlecht and Malaga in the Champions League.

Zenit St Petersburg have signed Hulk from Porto and Axel Witsel from Benfica, both on five-year deals, for a reported fee €80 million, according to the Russian club’s website.

The 26-year-old Hulk will wear the No.29 shirt for Luciano Spalletti’s side, who currently sit top of the Russian Premier League after seven games.

Hours after announcing a deal for the Brazilian, Zenit also confirmed the signing of Belgian midfielder Witsel.

“It’s now official. Both players had signed five-year deals,” Zenit spokesman Dmitry Tsimmerman was reported as saying by Rueters.

“We were trying to sign them before the September 3 deadline for the Champions League so they can play for us in that competition as well as the Russian league.”

Having cut his teeth in Japanese football with Kawasaki Fontale and Consadole Sapporo and Tokyo Verdy, Hulk moved to Os Dragoes in 2008 and helped the club to three league titles, three Tacas de Portugal and the Uefa Cup.

He has won 13 Brazil caps since making his debut in 2009, and was part of the Selecao’s Olympic team that claimed silver in London.

Witsel, meanwhile, had been heavily linked with a summer move to Real Madrid, but the former Standard Liege man, who has represented Belgium at every age group, has now made the move to Zenit.

The St Petersburg club have been drawn against AC Milan, Anderlecht and Malaga in the Champions League.