Football news in brief: Alex Ferguson confirms Robin Van Persie interest

Published on 21/07/2012 03:04

SIR Alex Ferguson has confirmed Manchester United have made a bid for Arsenal captain Robin van Persie.

It had been reported earlier in the day that United, Manchester City and Juventus had all made offers for the Dutch forward. And Ferguson, on the eve of a pre-season encounter with Ajax Cape Town in South Africa today, confirmed: “We’ve shown an interest and that’s where we’re at at the moment.”

Norwich bid over £2m for Snodgrass

Norwich have tabled an increased offer to Leeds for their skipper Robert Snodgrass. Leeds turned down a reported £1.5million bid for the Scotland internationalist earlier this week, with manager Neil Warnock keen to keep hold of the the 24-year-old. But the Canaries have returned with an offer “way in excess of £2million” and Leeds are currently considering whether to cash in on a player who has less than a year on his contract.

Chisholm ‘buzzing’ over Bulgaria move

Former Dundee and Hibernian midfielder Ross Chisholm last night completed his move to Bulgarian outfit FC Shumen 2010. Chisholm signed a one-year deal with the Second Division side after impressing on trial and said: “I’m absolutely buzzing at the prospect of playing in a foreign country. It’s been an ambition of mine for some time. I think the style of football will suit me.”

Cassano fined for homophobic jibe

AC Milan striker Antonio Cassano has received a e15,000 fine from Uefa for a discriminatory statement he made while with Italy at Euro 2012. Cassano caused uproar when he said he hoped there were no homosexuals in the national team squad in Poland and Ukraine in the build-up to the Azzurri’s second Group C match against Croatia. He later said his comments had been misinterpreted.

La Liga woe saved Barcelona money

Barcelona’s failure to win La Liga helped them post a record e48.8 million profit for the 2011-12 season, vice-president for economic affairs Javier Faus said yesterday. After two consecutive years of financial losses, and three consecutive league titles, Barca were beaten to the top spot in Spain by Real Madrid in May but avoided having to pay out e12 million euros in win bonuses. The Catalans increased their income by e21.5m to e494.9m.