Does He Deserve It : Manchester United Striker Wayne Rooney Wants €14m Per Season To Earn More Than Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney wants €14m per year to become world's highest-paid footballer, above Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will demand €14 million per season from his next employers should he, as expected, seal a move away from Old Trafford this summer, reports from Spain suggest.

Marca comments that the England international is seeking to become the highest-paid footballer in the world, and edge ahead of former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo in the salary table.

Rooney confirmed in a statement this week his intention to leave the English Premier League side, putting a number of high-profile European clubs on red alert, including Manchester City, Chelsea and Ronaldo’s Real Madrid.

Florentino Perez has made no secret in the past of his admiration for the 24-year-old, and discussed the possibility of bringing him to the Spanish capital during his first stint as los Blancos’ president.

However, Rooney’s exorbitant wage demands cloud the issue of whether Real Madrid would be willing to cause friction between the former colleagues by offering the former Everton attacker a superior salary to that of CR7.

Big-spending Manchester City remains the bookies’ favourites to land Rooney next summer should he fail to resolve his differences with the Red Devils and coach Sir Alex Ferguson. – GOAL.COM

FIFA Suspends Officials in Vote-Selling Scandal

FIFA provisionally suspended two executive committee members and four lower-ranking officials Wednesday in a World Cup vote-selling scandal and said it would continue investigating all six.

Two executive committee members, Amos Adamu of Nigeria and Reynald Temarii of Tahiti, were barred from all soccer-related duty until the investigation ends, said Claudio Sulser, chairman of FIFA’s ethics committee.

Four former executive members — Slim Aloulou, Amadou Diakite, Ahongalu Fusimalohi and Ismael Bhamjee — were suspended while FIFA investigates whether they breached ethical rules. The panel will continue investigating whether two unnamed bidders competing for either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup engaged in collusion.

“Today is a sad day for football,” Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s president, said, asking for time to restore the association’s credibility. “We have to fight for respect and especially we have to fight that the people here in charge of FIFA behave as they should do.”

FIFA began its investigations after a British newspaper, The Sunday Times, said that Adamu and Temarii offered to sell their votes for funding toward soccer projects. The Sunday Times gave FIFA full video copies and transcripts of its evidence.

Undercover reporters filmed Adamu requesting $800,000 to build four artificial turf fields in Nigeria and for the money to be paid to him directly. Temarii was filmed asking for $2.3 million to finance a soccer academy in Auckland, New Zealand.

FIFA’s executive committee will select the hosts in voting on Dec. 2. The 2018 tournament will be in Europe, with four candidates: England, Russia and joint bids by Belgium-the Netherlands and Spain-Portugal. The 2022 host race is between the United States, Australia, Japan, Qatar and South Korea.

 - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

For Sale: Michael Jordan's $430,000 Mercedes McLaren

Michael Jordan bought a 2007 Mercedes McLaren SLR 722? That's one of the best cars ever made. Nice move, M.J.

Wait, he's selling it after only driving it 962 miles? Seriously? You give me hope, Michael, and then you take it all away.

So, the McLaren can be yours for $430,000, which is a little dear for that brand even if the wheels were spun for fewer than a thousand miles (considering it cost around $475,000 new). The sellers are clearly factoring in the whole "Michael Jordan owned this car" addition.

The specs? Even three years later, this is one of the fastest things in the world. It has a 5 1/2-liter V8, it'll go from zero to just over 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, it runs with 640 horsepower and it will reach 209 miles an hour; and the rear-wheel driven monster is loaded with all sorts of carbon fiber bits so it's light as a feather in comparison to other supercars.

Also, Michael Jordan drove it. For a few hundred miles, at least.-YAHOO SPORTS

Which European Club Will Wayne Rooney Join If He Quits Manchester United? Here Are The Options

Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Wayne Rooney wishes to quit the club, and a move abroad has been touted by many as the likeliest option. Here are the clubs he could sign for if he leaves England…
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed this afternoon that star man Wayne Rooney wished to quit the club.Reports were already rife that Rooney has grown tired of the press attention he receives in England, in the wake of recent allegations regarding his relationship with a prostitute, and also previous photographs of Rooney smoking and drinking heavily. The former Everton striker has little over 18 months to run on his current deal at Old Trafford, but contract negotiations have yet to commence. The Red Devils' owners, the Glazer family, could also be encouraged to sell should the offer be substantial enough, given their own current financial difficulties. Here are the clubs that could realistically offer Rooney an escape out of England…
REAL MADRID

Why A Move Is Possible

Real Madrid need a centre forward, and tried desperately to sign a top-class attacker in the last hours of the transfer window. With money to burn, there will be no financial obstacles in funding the move.

Jose Mourinho is a massive fan of Rooney, and particularly loves flexible forwards like the tactically smart 24-year-old. It may not be long before 'The Special One' starts playing his media tricks to wow the United man.

The presence of Cristiano Ronaldo. Rooney would jump at the chance of re-forming the devastating partnership the pair enjoyed at Old Trafford. Indeed, Ronaldo has already issued a "come and join me" plea.

BARCELONA

Why A Move Is Possible

Rooney has played the 4-3-3 at Manchester United, and would feel confident of occupying all three roles in the forward trident. Having lost Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer, and only signed David Villa, Barca could do with another attacker to choose from in what is a quite thin squad.

Chance to improve technically. Rooney has flopped at two successive World Cups, and only really shone internationally in the group stages of Euro 2004. By playing in the best club team in the world with the likes of Messi, Xavi, Villa and Iniesta, Rooney could refine his game in order to make a splash at Euro 2012 and World Cup 2014.

There is arguably no more attractive European team for an Englishman than Barcelona. If Rooney is so desperate to escape his problems in England, the Camp Nou would be a dream destination.

INTER

Why A Move Is Possible

Inter didn't make a single notable signing this past summer, and will almost certainly spend heavily in 2011 - Rooney would be near the top of their shopping list.

Inter are a little short on numbers in attack following the sale of Mario Balotelli. With Diego Milito 31 and Samuel Eto'o 29, a 24-year-old Rooney is just the kind of youthful forward they would be looking for.

Rooney is massively admired in Italy, and was always regarded by the press and public as more important to Man Utd than Ronaldo. President Massimo Moratti certainly falls into this category.

MILAN

Why A Move Is Possible

Silvio Berlusconi loves grabbing the limelight with a superstar signing. Having bought Ronaldinho two years ago, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho this past summer, Rooney could be the next on his hitlist.

Rooney has just over 18 months remaining on his contract. Transfer guru Adriano Galliani is well known to be a master market mover in such delicate situations, and will be tempted to use this to his advantage to snare the ex-Everton man at a cut-price.

Ronaldinho has been tipped by many to leave San Siro next summer in order to join the MLS. Rooney could be the replacement, although Mario Balotelli would probably be the preferred option.

Most likely destination - REAL MADRID

Although Rooney's transfer fee will plummet next summer unless he signs a new contract, Real Madrid will still be able to blow everyone else (but Manchester City) out of the water financially. The presence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho provides the Spanish capital outfit with a huge advantage over other interested parties.

Milan are the least likely to make a move, having invested significantly in their attack this summer. Their next significant move up-front should be Mario Balotelli within a couple of seasons. After Real Madrid, Inter are very strong contenders to make a move for Rooney as they will certainly require a top class forward next summer. Barcelona will consider their options carefully, wary not to make the same mistake as last year when they signed Ibrahimovic who was not suited to their pass-and-move game. While Rooney is certainly more tactically flexible than Ibra, he perhaps lacks the explosiveness that characterises a Barca front three.

All in all, this means that if Rooney is to quit England then Real Madrid is his most likely destination followed by Inter. With Barcelona and Milan more outside possibilities.- GOAL.COM

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