SOCCER:SHAY GIVEN'S 11-year career at Newcastle United came to an end last night when the 32-year-old Donegalman finally completed his much-haggled over move to Manchester City for an as yet undisclosed fee.
The former Blackburn, Celtic and Sunderland star signed a four-and-a-half-year contract, and is likely to make his debut on Saturday, in the home game against Middlesbrough, before returning to Ireland to join up with Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad for the World Cup qualifier against Georgia on Wednesday week.
With the Republic of Ireland player’s determination to leave St James’ Park after so many years of loyal service fatally undermining Newcastle’s negotiating position, Given travelled to Manchester yesterday to undergo a medical even before the clubs had managed to agree the terms of his move.
After Newcastle’s draw with Sunderland, manager Joe Kinnear insisted that a deal had still not been struck with regard to the finances of the move, but by last night his opposite number at City, Mark Hughes, was finally in a position to confirm that he had got his man.
“I have said for a long time that we need the experience of a ’keeper like Shay,” said Hughes in a statement released through the club. “I am delighted that we have been able to acquire such an accomplished ’keeper, and one is so highly regarded by everyone in the Premier League.
“We are getting a very good ’keeper, and the experience he has will help the two outstanding young ’keepers that we have here in Joe (Hart) and Kasper (Schmeichel). I am looking for them all to grow as a group, and it’s important that we have that influence of a senior ’keeper.
“I have had a good talk with him about where we expect to be in the future. From a football point of view, and a club point of view, it’s an easy thing to sell because we know we are going in the right direction. Players want to be part of that.”
Whether Robbie Keane will still be a part of Liverpool’s attempt to push on and overhaul Manchester United at the top of the Premier League in the wake of yesterday’s 2-0 defeat of Chelsea by the time the transfer window closes at 5pm this evening remains in some doubt.
The Irish skipper was again omitted from Liverpool’s squad for yesterday’s game by manager Rafa Benitez but, in contrast to last week when he failed to attend the meeting with Everton, Keane this time put a brave face on things, looked upbeat and relaxed as he mixed with the rest of the squad before kick-off and then watched the win from the directors’ box.
With Spurs interested in re-signing their former striker and a growing sense that Benitez is not overly pushed about standing in their way, there would appear to be a deal there to be done. But when the Spaniard was asked about the Dubliner’s future afterwards he maintained he believes Keane will stay put.
“I think Robbie Keane will be here when the transfer window shuts,” he said. “He was left out because we were considering all our good players and who we needed for this game. It was only a decision based on this match and our requirements.
“I have spoken to Robbie, he was there in the dressingroom beforehand, and we also spoke afterwards and we were just talking about the game. He was pleased because the team had won. He is part of my squad, I would expect him to be in my Champions League squad.”
Pressed about the prospect of the player returning to London and whether Spurs had attempted to come up with a suitable offer, Benitez was a little dismissive.
“Everything is if, if, if. He is here, he is our player. That’s it. I have not seen any new offers; I don’t know whether the club have had any offers.”
