Manchester United have dismissed press speculation suggesting that they could be tempted to sell England striker Wayne Rooney in the January transfer window.
Real Madrid are rumoured to be preparing a massive bid for the 24-year-old, who has struggled for form for both club and country this season.
Rooney was recently left out for a couple of games by boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who suggested that his player had been hampered by an ankle injury.
However, Rooney played down such talk and suggested that he has been fit all season, sparking talk of a rift with Ferguson that could lead to a parting of the ways.
Despite such rumours, a club spokesman commented: “To suggest Wayne Rooney will be sold in January is nonsense.”
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Chelsea and England left-back Ashley Cole has admitted that he considered quitting the Premier League last summer, before opting to remain at Stamford Bridge.
The 29-year-old was close to moving on after revelations about his private life hit the headlines, but Cole is pleased that he eventually decided to stay put.
He told ESPN: “It was hard for me in my head. It wasn’t just about the football, it was more my brain and it was getting too much for me.
“There were times when it was really hard. I did think about leaving but, of course, when I spoke to Carlo Ancelotti he made it clear he wanted me to stay and loved having me around – the players didn’t want me to go.”
Andy Murray took the Shanghai Masters title in style with a super straight sets victory over Roger Federer, overpowering the Swiss 6-3, 6-2.
British number one Murray did not drop a set on his way to the title and was rarely troubled by a strangely subdued Federer, who had previously looked in fine form in despatching Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic.
Padraig Harrington accepted that he had enjoyed more than his slice of good fortune, as he ended his two-year title drought by winning the Johor Open in Malaysia.
The 39-year-old Irishman finished on 20-under-par, three shots clear of South Korean Noh Seung-yul, after shooting a final-round 69.
Harrington, who had not tasted victory since his success at the 2008 US PGA Championship, said after his win: “I’d have to say that things went my way all four rounds this week. There’s no doubt about it – it was my week to win.”
Saracens have suffered a major blow after it was revealed that fly-half Derick Hougaard has sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon that will keep him out of action for several months.
The South African picked up the injury during the Heineken Cup defeat to Leinster and has already been told he requires surgery.
