SPORTS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2014 Perez plays down Photo of the day Ronaldo spat amid surge in Madrid revenues MADRID: Real Madrid president Florentino Perez sought to play down an apparent spat with Cristiano Ronaldo yesterday as he announced the La Liga club’s income had surged above 600 million euros ($778 million) in 2013-14. Perez, who has splashed hundreds of millions of euros of the European cham- pions’ cash on top players in recent years, said the loyalty of Ronaldo, the current World Player of the Year, had been “unquestionable”. The Portugal captain made headlines on Monday when he said the club’s transfer dealings in the latest window would probably have been different if he had been in charge. After winning a record-extending 10th European crown last season, when dressing-room heavyweight Ronaldo was the team’s top scorer, Real sold midfielders Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria and brought in Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez. The departure of Alonso to Bayern Munich, in particular, has prompted suggestions the Madrid club will not have enough quality and experience in midfield without him, while Argentine Di Maria is seen as close to Ronaldo. “I have no doubt that he (Ronaldo) did not want to question the club’s policies,” Perez told a news conference announcing 2013-14 income of 603.9 million euros, a 10.9 percent jump compared with the previous season. “He has just presented me with a replica of his ‘Ballon d’Or’ award, an exemplary player,” the construction magnate added. “There are no disagreements, zero.” Real stuttered in their second La Liga outing at the weekend when they let slip a 2-0 lead and crashed to a 4-2 reverse at Real Sociedad. Ronaldo, 29, missed the game through injury and he followed up his comments on Monday by giving an interview to a British newspaper in which he appeared to suggest he wanted to return to former club Brenton Priestly performs during the Red Bull Harbour Reach at Albert Dock in Liverpool, UK. Manchester United at some point in his career. Perez, who — www.redbull.com pushed through a lucrative contract extension for Ronaldo in September last year that ties him to the club until 2018, defended Real’s decision to sell Alonso and Di Maria. “Perhaps he (Di Maria) had financial demands ... that were greater than Fallen Leeds show no signs what was able to be offered,” he told reporters. He said he had a “very good relationship” with Alonso and the player’s exit was “the best thing for him and the club”. Alonso’s position controlling play in midfield was well covered of halting slide to oblivion by Kroos and Asier Illarramendi, he added. —Reuters LONDON: As the mocking chants of pre-Premier League era in 1992. And to his reputation by dismissing, and then “You’re getting sacked in the morning” only 13 years ago, Leeds were regarded reinstating, Brian McDermott. grew louder, David Hockaday realized he as one of emerging forces in Europe His harsh treatment of the dignified was about to become the latest victim of after a memorable run to the Champions McDermott hardly endeared Cellino to Leeds United’s astonishing decline. The League semi-finals fuelled by bright long-suffering Leeds fans, but that didn’t Leeds supporters who turned their young talents Harry Kewell, Alan Smith stop him sacking him again in the close anger on Hockaday during a dismal 2-1 and Paul Robinson. season after a 15th place finish in the defeat at Bradford in the League Cup Championship. That was the signal for second round last month got their wish Financial meltdown more farcial antics as Cellino selected as the beleaguered boss was sacked 24 Yet just over a decade later, one of Hockaday, an unknown with no Football hours later after only six matches and 70 English football’s most historic institu- League management experience, as the days in charge of the fallen giants. tions is mired in yet another season of new boss. Soon stories were leaking out The shambolic situation was laced strife. Since crashing out of the Premier of Elland Road about players being with a healthy dose of irony for students League in 2004 after falling foul of a forced to wash their own kit and being of the Yorkshire club’s slide into the financial meltdown triggered by chair- told to bring packed lunches to the abyss as Hockaday’s dismissal coincided man Peter Ridsdale’s unsustainable club’s Thorp Arch training ground as with England call-ups for Danny Rose desire to “live the dream” with a series of Cellino instituted a series of cost-cutting Iranian Rally and Fabian Delph-two products of the big-money signings, Leeds fans have measures. Leeds academy who had to go else- suffered one indignity after another. It was also reported that Cellino had where to fulfil their ambitions. It wasn’t They even plummeted into the third banned the color purple on superstitious set to kick off always this way at Elland Road. For a tier for three seasons, with promotion grounds and was refusing to play Paddy time, Leeds were one of England’s super- back to the Championship in 2010 prov- Kenny because he believed the goalkeep- KUWAIT: Hani Shaaban, Manager of Shiraz Trial Rally confirmed powers, winning the title in 1969 and ing only a temporary respite from the er’s number 17 shirt was bad luck. When that all the administrative and technical teams are ready for the 1974 and reaching the European Cup misery. Under eccentric Italian owner star striker Ross McCormack was sold to first kick-off of the Iranian Rally according to FIA’s regulations. final in 1975. Massimo Cellino, Leeds have been second tier rivals Fulham on the eve of Shaaban stated that Iran Motor Sport Club has exerted great Even that era featured Brian Clough’s reduced to the diminished status of a the new season, Leeds’ already fragile efforts for this event which is scheduled 24th-26th of this month. He also thanked the management of Iran Club for Motor Sport for infamous 44-day spell in charge, which second tier laughing stock. Cellino spent confidence was shattered and the team, giving him the chance to organize this event which is considered saw the legendary manager fall foul of a several months engaged in a battle to with only two wins so far, find themselves one of the most important events in Iran. player revolt, inspiring the David Peace take over Leeds after the Football languishing below the likes of He also thanked Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Attiyah -deputy head of novel ‘The Damned United’ and a film of League initially tried to block his owner- Bournemouth, Brentford and Rotherham FIA- for his approval to include Iran in the agenda of Middle East the same name starring Michael Sheen. ship bid following his legal troubles in in 18th place. In better days, Leeds fans Championship for rallies and his care for the motor sport. But under Howard Wilkinson’s no-non- Italy. When Cellino, nicknamed the ‘man- would proudly sing of ‘marching on Shaaban confirmed that this rally will be one of the most wonder- sense management and inspired by the ager-eater’ after sacking 36 bosses dur- together’ after another victory, but right ful rallies in the region due to its geographical diversity and the goals of Eric Cantona, they returned to ing his 20 years with Cagliari, eventually now their club seems more intent of administrative regulatory procedure. the summit as the last champions of the did wrestle control of the club, he added hurtling towards oblivion. — AFP .