Chelsea win the Oscar... Roman beats AVB to grab £25m Brazil playmaker

Chelsea have pulled off another transfer coup by clinching the signature of £25million Brazilian wonderkid Oscar.

Despite already splashing out £42m on Marko Marin and Eden Hazard, Roman Abramovich's latest revolution shows no signs of abating after he moved in for the Internacional playmaker who is regarded as one of the most exciting talents to emerge from Brazil in years.

To add further flavour to the European champions' deal, they have pipped their former manager Andre Villas-Boas in the process.

New recruit: Chelsea have fought off competition from Spurs to sign Oscar

Tottenham's new boss thought he was in a strong position to land 20-year-old Oscar after making an offer last week.

It was reported the bid was £11m, but sources in South America say it was much higher than that and a club-record offer of nearer £18m.

Chelsea, however, have moved quickly to swamp Tottenham's offer and beat their former charge to his signature.

Star man: The Internacional striker is one of world football's hottest prospects

OSCAR FACTFILE

Full name: Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Junior

Born: September 9, 1991 in
Americano, Sao Paulo.

Height: 5ft 10in.

2009: Sao Paulo, played 11 games.

From 2010: Signed for Internacional.

Has scored 19 goals in 70 games
for the club.

International: Six Brazil caps.

Scored hat-trick as Brazil won the 2011 FIFA Under 20
World Cup, beating Portugal 3-2.

Oscar shot to prominence last summer when he became the first player to score a hat-trick in the FIFA Under 20 World Cup final against Portugal.

The Brazilian - full name Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Junior - was also watched by Real Madrid and Barcelona.

He is adept as a playmaker or in the role behind the striker and equally comfortable on the left or right of midfield. He is described as a 'typically brilliant Brazilian No 10'.

The acquisition will put pressure on the position of Stamford Bridge idol Juan Mata, who is expected to be rested at the start of the season due to his participation in the Olympics for Spain.

Losing battle: Tottenham's new boss AVB was also interested in the Brazil starlet

Chelsea fans will be able to get an early sight of the new signing as he is also a member of his country's Olympic squad.

Chelsea came in for criticism for the way they won the Champions League with an obdurate defensive style.

However, the signing of Oscar is another bold statement of intent from Abramovich as he strives to make Chelsea a more fluid, attacking team in the mould of Barcelona.

The signing boosts the Brazilian contingent at Stamford Bridge, where Oscar will be joining Ramires in midfield, David Luiz and exciting young prospect Lucas Piazon.

Summer signings: Hazard and Marin have already completed moves to Chelsea

Abramovich believes if manager Roberto Di Matteo can channel that flair alongside the defensive grit the squad showed to win the Champions League, then Chelsea will be well placed to mount more serious challenges on domestic and European honours.

And his spending hasn't finished yet, with Chelsea also linked to another Brazilian star, 25-year-old striker Hulk of Porto.

Running at full speed with horns out to attack: Shocking moment a raging bull

Hurtling at full speed with its horns ready to strike, a raging bull runs into a man and shoves him into the sea as other revellers look on in shock.

The terrifying moment happened during the Bous a la Mar festival in Denia, on the eastern coast of Spain, in which men emerge from protective barriers and encourage bulls to chase them.

The festival took place as two British men spoke of how they were gored by a bull at Spain's most famous festival.

Liam Tarff, 29, and 20-year-old Nick Couchman were attacked when the half-ton animal, called Runaway, broke off from the main pack at the Running of the Bulls festival in Pamplona.

On the rampage: A bull chases a man into the sea during the Bous a la Mar festival in the eastern Spanish coastal town of Denia

Jumping in: Revellers emerge from protective barriers to provoke bulls into chasing them into the water

Dangerous: Grinning men watch and hold the bull's horn after the animal joins the man in the water

Mr Tarff, an insurance worker from Brixton, London, was gored in the left thigh.

Fellow Londoner Nick Couchman, a 20-year old events organiser, was gored in the right thigh.

Mr Tarff, who managed a thumbs up to the crowd as he was carried away in agony on a stretcher with a blood-soaked bandage around his leg, said: 'It was a feeling of sheer panic when I saw the bull stop, turn round and run towards me.

'I was trapped against the barriers with people crowded around me and no fast way out.

'I felt its horn go through my leg. It was like being stabbed with a large knife.

Gorged: Laim Tarff was helpless to stop the half ton bull piecing his left thigh with its horn. He is pictured here with the bandaged leg recovering in hospital

Terrifying: A reveler tries to escape a bull in the bull ring, at the end of third running of the bulls at the San Fermin fiestas, in Pamplona

Daredevils: A runner looks alarmed as he is tossed into the air by a rampaging bull

One man is photographed clinging on to a bulls horns for dear life as he tries to avoid being injured

Ouch! A bull tramples over a crowd of men the bull ring

'I fell to the ground and managed to crawl under the barrier.

'The next thing first aiders were poking their fingers into my open wound to check there were no pieces of bull horn stuck inside and then I was carried off into an ambulance.

'I only did the run for a friend who's celebrating his 30th birthday and dreamed of taking part. He's due to become a father in September and everyone was telling him not to do it but he survived unscathed.

'I'm starting to realise now just how lucky I've been.

'If the bull's horn had gone in a few inches higher through somewhere like my heart, I probably would not have been around to tell the tale.

Painful: A man lets out a yelp of pain as a cow tosses him out of the way during the San Fermin festival in Pamplona

Basque regional policemen help a runner to his feet after he fell during one of the runs

Leap: A steer jumps over the crowd of runners blocking its way

'Fortunately the doctors have told me I'll be okay.'

He added: 'The ironic thing is that I've been staying off the alcohol to make sure sure I'm in form for the run with the bulls every morning. I'm probably the most sober person at the festival.

'We tried to do the run on Sunday but were turned back because there were too many people.

'We saw other people who were off their heads running barefoot.

'The experience has been worth it but I don't think I'll be repeating it in a hurry.'

Friend Paul Edwards, 29, one of a group of five pals Liam ran with, added: 'We knew he had been gored from the live TV images they showed in the bullring after the run.

Race: The crowd tries to escape at Estafeta corner as a fighting bull from Miura ranch charges through the streets

Stampede: Some participants are trampled as a crowd gathers at the entrance of the bull ring during the second run of the bulls

Adrenaline junkies: People travel from all over the world to run with the bulls

'But we couldn't get to see him for over an hour so we didn't know how bad it was.

'We were joking before we came over that one of us was going to get gored and the images were going to be all over Youtube but we never imagined it would happen for real.'

Second victim Nick, also taking part in his first Running of the Bulls festival - called the San Fermines in Spanish - said: 'I know it's been a bit of madness but I'm still glad I took part.

'I might change my mind later but at the moment I feel like I want to do it again.'

Liam and Nick were among three people gored at today's run. A 39-year-old American was also attacked and another three suffered bruising.

Runners sprint alongside Miura fighting bulls at the Estafeta corner

Near miss: A fallen runner reaches up to protect his head as he lies in the way of Miura fighting bulls at the entrance to the bullring

The 1,200 bull called Fugado - which in English means Runaway - caused most of the chaos.
It fell over at the start of the half-mile course in Pamplona, northern Spain, and completed most of the run on its own.

The two Brits were gored near the end of the run, the third of the nine-day festival made famous by a 1926 Ernest Hemingway novel, and the bloodiest so far.

Other thrill-seekers pulled Fugado by the tail and waved their traditional red neckscarves at it in a desperate attempt to divert its attention and save more bloodshed.

Shepherds herding the animals eventually managed to form a human ring behind the beast and get it running forwards again towards the bullring at the end of the course.

One man collides with a charging bull and another struggles to get out of the way in time

Skid: Two men are sent flying by a bull and others look desperate to get out of the way

Fifteen people have been killed at the annual festival since records began in 1911, and 200 to 300 are usually injured each year.

The most recent death was in 2009 when 27-year-old Daniel Jimeno, from Madrid, was gored in the neck by a bull called Capuchino.

The event has become increasingly popular with foreigners, who join the locals by staying up all night drinking and partying before thousands compete in the 8am run.

Pamplona's population of 200,000 swells to around two million during the festival, the largest in Spain.

After each morning run, the animals are killed in an afternoon bullfight.

An estimated 1,900 thrill-seekers competed in today's/yesterday's (MON) run, around half the number who took part at the weekend.

The 850-metre-long run through Pamplona's old town lasted just over three and a half minutes.

A 73-year-old local was the only person gored in the first two runs.

Park: I wasn't forced out

HE'S R'S ... Hoops have bagged Ji-Sung Park

JI-SUNG PARK arrived at QPR yesterday insisting: It was MY decision to quit Manchester United.

The midfielder ended his seven-year stay at Old Trafford by sealing a £5million switch to Loftus Road.

And after signing a two-year deal with Rangers, he denied he had been forced out of United by boss Alex Ferguson.

The South Korean star, 31, who may succeed Joey Barton as R’s skipper, said: “I was the one who said I wanted to leave the club because I’d had a great offer.

“I was the one who said it to Manchester United.

“It was a difficult decision because United are a good club and everybody wants to play there.

“But last season I didn’t play as much. I would still have had a good chance to play for Man United but QPR made me a very good offer and their ambitions and plans were interesting for me.

“That’s why I made the decision to leave. If QPR hadn’t explained their future I might have stayed.”

Park became the first South Korean to play in the Premier League when United signed him from Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven for £4m in 2005.

He repaid that fee by helping the club win four Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Park added: “It is a big step to leave United but it is important to understand this is about another challenge in my life.”

Rob’s the £37m Man

IN FOR A PENNY ... Roberto Mancini

ROBERTO MANCINI’S new £37.5million contract makes him British football’s highest-paid boss.

The Manchester City chief ended speculation about his future last night, despite a £6.5m-a-year approach from the Russian FA.

He said: “I’m very much looking forward to the challenges and excitement ahead. The opportunity that exists to build on our recent success is huge.”

The Russians wanted the 47-year-old Italian to take over from Dick Advocaat and steer their national team towards the 2018 World Cup, which they will host.

But SunSport revealed on Sunday that Mancini was ready to pledge his future to the Premier League champions.

And his mega £7.5m-a-year deal, which ties him to City until 2017, takes him way above Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson in the pay league.

Fergie earns around £4m a year at Old Trafford.

But Mancini’s new contract recognises his achievement of guiding City to their first title in 44 years last season.

Mancini added: “I’m delighted to be able to give my all to City for a further five years.

“This is a fantastic club from the owner, chairman, board and executive team through to the players, staff and fans.”

The news Mancini is staying will come as a huge relief to City supporters, who have taken him to their hearts.

He ended the club’s 35-year wait for silverware with last year’s FA Cup triumph — and followed it up by winning the Premier League on the final day 12 months later.

Mancini had been about to enter the last year of the deal he signed when he succeeded Mark Hughes in December 2009.

From shimmering cities to the dark side of the world: Stunning satellite images which show how we use light and energy

At night, London is a burning bright spot, consuming enough energy to power Ireland with its light show.

But as these stunning images from space show, we in the West are guilty of wasting energy and polluting light on a staggering scale.

Now compare the Third World countries in Africa, South America and large swathes of Asia which lie in almost complete darkness.

Waste of energy: A satellite image of Britain and Europe at night showing the light show from space, with far greater uses of energy in the major cities

Light show: An image of the U.S. from space highlighting the staggering light pollution, especially on the east coast, in Houston, Texas, and San Francisco and Los Angeles on the west coast

In darkness: Third World countries in Africa barely register any light at night in contrast to the West, apart from an amazing trail of light from Cairo running down the Nile in Egypt

Each year London consumes 150 thousand gigawatt hours of energy, equal to the consumption of nations such as Portugal and Greece.

Campaigners have warned that 50 per cent of the UK's population cannot see many stars because the night skies are 'saturated' with light pollution.

The pictures created by scientist Felix Pharand-DeschÍnes using data gathered by satellites highlight the contrast between the first and third world.

They show Egypt's densely populated River Nile as it scorches a path through the darkness of Northern Africa while Japan is wall-to-wall light.

America shines brightly, but south of its border the countries are almost lightless and in central Asia, India and Australia barely any light is registered.

Global view: A satellite picture of the energy waste in the West and darkness in the rest of world showing how much more energy the rich world uses than other areas

Contrast: This shot of the Western Hemisphere demonstrates a higher use of energy in Europe compared to Africa and Asia, and incredible bursts of light in London, Paris and Moscow

Desolate: While much of the United States and Canada are awash with light, the vast areas to the north are almost invisible on this map

Chelsea pull plug on Battersea Power Station stadium plans as Malaysian rivals get go-ahead

Chelsea's hopes of moving to Battersea Power Station have been extinguished after a Malaysian consortium completed a £400million purchase of the London landmark.

The Blues are considering moving away from Stamford Bridge and had lodged a bid to move to the iconic 39-acre site on the south bank of the River Thames.

No go: Chelsea's impressive hopes to build a new 60,000-seater stadium (below) at Battersea Power Station have ended

The west Londoners released plans in May that detailed how they hoped to turn the derelict site in to a 60,000-seater stadium incorporating the four famous chimneys.

Administrators Ernst & Young revealed last month that they had shunned the Blues' offer, opting instead to name a Malaysian consortium as the preferred bidders.

And after a 28-day due diligence process, the consortium's bid has been rubber-stamped.

'Following a global marketing process that started in February 2012 and covered all major world wealth centres, a consortium comprising SP Setia, Sime Darby and the Employees' Pension Fund of Malaysia have exchanged contracts on the (Battersea) site for £400m,' a statement from Ernst & Young read.

The consortium have planning consent to build 3,500 homes and 1.7 million square feet of office space. They also plan to build a tube station on the premises that will connect to the Northern Line.

Last year Chelsea failed in their bid to buy back the freehold of the 42,000-capacity Stamford Bridge from supporters group Chelsea Pitch Owners.

Power surge: A Malaysian consortium have planning consent to build 3,500 homes and 1.7 million square feet of office space

Tower about that? Chinese city builds its own version of the world-famous London landmark

China is well known for leading the world in exporting goods, but these pictures of its very own Tower Bridge show the country is not adverse to importing a historical monument or two.

To the untrained eye, visitors to Suzhou in the east of China may well believe they have ended up 9,000km away by mistake.

The city in the Jiangsu province now boasts its very own - almost identical - version of London's most iconic bridge.

The cloned Tower Bridge in Suzhou in China's Jiangsu province, is an almost identical version of London's landmark

As if that's not enough to stave off homesickness for English visitors, the reproduction of the bridge also boasts a cafe at the top promising 'English-style coffee'.

All that differs between the two replicas is that the Chinese version lacks a raising mechanism to allow boats to pass underneath.

The top floor of the building boasts a cafe promising 'English-style coffee' to guests

Unlike the version spanning the Thames, the replica Tower Bridge lacks a raising mechanism

And, of course, during the Olympics this summer, it also won't boast the five rings currently adorning the version that spans the River Thames.

London is not the only city to have inspired builders in Suzhou, though.

Sitting about 200 miles north-west of Shanghai, the area has become well known for cloning other world-famous landmarks.

The river through the city also has its own Sydney Harbour Bridge, as well as a copy-cat Alexandre III Bridge straight out of the French capital, Paris.

English, Dutch and French visitors to Suzhou can all feel at home in the city thanks to its replica landmarks

As well as being inspired by London's landmark, the city also boasts its own Sydney Harbour Bridge

The original Tower Bridge, complete with Olympic rings, which will be illuminated every night during the Games

On top of that, the area boasts a Dutch town complete with windmill and Dutch-style housing.

Suzhou is often dubbed the 'Venice of the East' and has been an important hub of China's silk industry for around a thousand years.

The original Tower Bridge dates back to 1896 when it was the only crossing point over the river Thames.

A colossal 11,000 tonnes of steel help provide the framework to the tower which, at the time it was built, was the product of 432 working over an eight year period.

London miliki bangunan tertinggi di Eropah

GAMBAR menunjukkan bangunan tertinggi di Eropah iaitu Shard yang terletak di tebing Sungai Thames, London.

LONDON – Bangunan pencakar langit tertinggi di Eropah, Shard yang dibina dengan 95 peratus dana dari Qatar, dirasmikan di sini semalam.

Struktur besi dan kaca setinggi 310 meter itu dirasmikan oleh Perdana Menteri Qatar, Hamad Jassem Al-Thani dan Putera Andrew yang merupakan anak lelaki pemerintah Britain, Ratu Elizabeth II.

Satu pertunjukan cahaya laser dengan iringan muzik orkestra diadakan bagi menyerikan majlis perasmian tersebut.

Perasmian berkenaan menandakan pembinaan bahagian luar bangunan itu telah siap.

Bangunan Shard terletak di tebing selatan Sungai Thames dekat Jambatan London di sini.

Kerja-kerja menyiapkan bahagian dalaman bangunan berkenaan dijangka berterusan sehingga tahun hadapan.

Bangunan itu lebih rendah jika dibandingkan dengan Bangunan Burj Khalifa di Dubai, Emiriyah Arab Bersatu yang merupakan bangunan pencakar langit tertinggi di dunia.

Burj Khalifa setinggi 828 meter.

Bagaimanapun, bangunan Shard mengatasi Menara Moscow di Rusia sebagai bangunan tertinggi di Eropah.

Nama Shard diberikan oleh arkitek Itali yang mereka bentuk bangunan berkenaan, Renzo Piano.

Dengan kapasiti boleh memuatkan 12,000 orang, bangunan setinggi 95 tingkat itu akan menempatkan sebuah hotel lima bintang, ruang pejabat seluas 600,000 meter persegi dan beberapa restoran mewah serta kedai.

Bangunan pencakar langit berbentuk meruncing itu juga akan menempatkan 10 unit apartmen.

Setiap apartmen dilaporkan berharga sehingga £50 juta (RM246 juta).

Apartmen di tingkat 53 hingga 65 bangunan itu merupakan kediaman tertinggi di Britain.

Dibina dengan kos £450 juta (RM2.22 bilion), Shard akan dibuka sebagai tarikan pelancong pada Februari depan. Setakat ini lebih 17,500 orang mendaftar secara dalam talian untuk melawat dek pemandangan bangunan tersebut manakala tiket bagi tujuan tersebut boleh ditempah bermula hari ini. – AFP

Pelancong diminta tidak pakai skirt pendek

GAMBAR fail menunjukkan sejumlah pelancong asing menaiki sebuah perahu di Tasik Nagin, Srinagar pada 30 Ogos 2007.

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SRINAGAR, India - Sebuah kumpulan Islam di Kashmir India semalam memberi amaran kepada para pelancong supaya mereka tidak memakai skirt pendek dan pakaian yang mendedahkan tubuh badan di wilayah itu.

Kumpulan tersebut, Jamaat-e-Islami meminta lembaga pelancongan di wilayah itu supaya menyokong pendirian mereka.

Menurutnya, para pelancong perlu diberitahu lebih awal supaya berpakaian sopan ketika berada di Kashmir bagi mengelakkan mereka mencetuskan kemarahan golongan ekstremis agama.

"Sejumlah pelancong, terutamanya warga asing, memakai skirt pendek dan pakaian menjolok mata yang bercanggah dengan etika dan budaya tempatan serta tidak dapat diterima dalam masyarakat yang bertamadun," kata jurucakap Jamaat-e-Islami, Zahid Ali.

Sejumlah pelancong kembali mengunjungi wilayah Kashmir yang ditadbir India sejak dua tahun lalu selepas keganasan antara pihak pemisah Islam semakin berkurangan di rantau berkenaan.

Majoriti penduduk wilayah tersebut terdiri daripada orang Islam.

Kashmir terkenal kerana memiliki panorama yang indah seperti rumat bot, banjaran gunung dan tasik. - AFP

Kelab MU disenarai di Bursa New York

Kelab MU

NEW YORK - Manchester United (MU) telah membuat permohonan untuk membuat penyenaraian di bursa saham Amerika Syarikat (AS) bagi menjana modal AS$100 juta (£64 juta atau RM300 juta).

Dalam dokumen difailkan di Suruhanjaya Sekuriti dan Bursa, gergasi Liga Perdana Inggeris itu menyebut bahawa pihaknya mahu menyenaraikan syarikat kelab ternama ini di Bursa Saham New York.

Sebelum ini kelab itu telah menerokai peluang kemungkinan membuat penyenaraian di Singapura.

Laporan BBC menyebut bahawa MU, antara kelab yang memperoleh sokongan padu di dunia, mahu menggunakan modal yang dijana menerusi penyenaraian untuk membayar balik hutangnya.

Kelab itu dikuasai sejak 2005 oleh keluarga Glazer family.

Bagaimanapun, menurut laporan itu, sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini ia berhadapan dengan masalah hutang yang besar meskipun mengambil pelbagai usaha pemasaran dan promosi di peringkat global.

"Kami berhasrat untuk menggunakan keseluruhan hasil bersih daripada penyenaraian ini untuk mengurangkan (beban) hutang kami," kata MU dalam prospektus, dipetik laporan BBC.

Sehingga April lalu, kelab itu disenaraikan sebagai salah satu daripada 50 pasukan sukan paling bernilai di dunia. Nilainya dianggarkan £1.4 bilion (RM6.9 bilion).

Selepas disenaraikan di Bursa Saham London pada 1991, kelab itu dibeli oleh Malcolm Glazer pada Mei 2005 pada harga £800 juta (RM3.9 bilion).

Sehingga 31 Mac lalu, hutang kelab itu dianggarkan £423.3 juta (sekitar RM2 bilion).