Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/354989
Sport 19 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 30 JULY 2014 SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Manchester United target Vidal will stay at Juventus - Allegri The Bianconeri's new coach has insisted the player is happy to remain in Turin after returning for pre-season training MANCHESTER United's hopes of signing Arturo Vidal appear to have taken another hit with Juven- tus manager Massimiliano Allegri saying the midfielder will stay at the club. Louis van Gaal is reportedly keen to make Vidal his third sum- mer signing following the arrivals of Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera at Old Trafford. However, Allegri, who replaced Antonio Conte at Juventus earlier this month, has revealed Vidal is "happy" to remain in Turin. "Vidal will stay here and he's very happy about this," Allegri said. "I spoke with him about his fitness, we're happy he will stay with us." Earlier on Tuesday, Vidal posted a picture of himself alongside sev- eral of his Juventus team-mates, including Andrea Pirlo, having returned to pre-season training after a short break following the World Cup, where he helped Chile to the last 16. The midfielder accompanied the picture with the statement that Serie A champions Juventus were "ready" for the new season. Vidal's future was reportedly set to be decided on Tuesday with his agent due for talks with Juventus general manager Beppe Marotta, who reaffirmed his club's inten- tion to keep hold of the midfielder on Monday night. Speaking at the presentation of the Serie A fixtures for the 2014/15 season, Marotta said Vi- dal is not for sale amid growing speculation that United are to make an improved offer for the 27-year-old. "We never put Arturo on the market," Marotta told reporters. "If he does not express the desire to leave, then we are proud and honoured to keep him here. "We are not taking anything for granted, but the player has never taken any other stance than that of wanting to stay with us." Arturo Vidal's transfer drama continues. (Inset) a photo Vidal posted on Twitter with his Juventus team-mates Father of Carlos Tevez released after eight-hour kidnap ordeal Liverpool confirm Origi signing CARLOS Tevez's adoptive father was freed by kidnappers after be- ing held for eight hours, Gustavo Galazzo, a legal adviser for the fam- ily, told reporters in Buenos Aires yesterday. The incident occurred at around 7am on Tuesday in Moron, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, when Juan Alberto Cabral's car was inter- cepted, reports La Nación. It is speculated the first request was relatively low and the second much higher, as the kidnappers had not realised their victim was the fa- ther of one of Argentina's most fa- mous football players. This would suggest it was not a targeted attack, but rather they had spotted the expensive car and made their move. "Now we're going to look for those responsible," Buenos Aires province governor Daniel Scioli said. LIVERPOOL have completed the signing of Belgium striker Divock Origi but the 19-year-old will imme- diately be loaned back to French club Lille for next season. The youngster impressed at the World Cup but had been on the Reds' radar long before that, haivng been tracked since he featured for his na- tional team's under-15 side. Origi travelled to join up with Liver- pool's pre-season tour of America so the deal could be completed. "I am very happy and delighted a club as big as Liverpool showed inter- est in me. I'm very excited," he told liverpoolfc.com. "I know it's a club with a great his- tory, great fans and a lot of great play- ers. "For me, Liverpool is one of the greatest clubs in the world and I'm very excited to be part of this great history. "I am very proud to sign for the club. I'll give everything for the club, like I did when I was small and did for Lille. "I'm hoping we can achieve great things together." Origi is Liverpool's fifth signing of the summer, following Southamp- ton trio Adam Lallana, Rickie Lam- bert and Dejan Lovren, and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Emre Can to Anfield. And while he will not be part of Brendan Rodgers' plans for the com- ing campaign the striker cannot wait to be able to make an impression. "The fact we have a young team and can grow is the most exciting part," he added. "With the coach we have he's a great manager who can handle a young team. "He's said a lot of good things about Liverpool and told me it's the perfect club for me. "He was only positive and it was great to be able to talk with him about Liverpool. "We also have experienced players. I think we can go very far - we have a lot of quality in the group. "This year I'll have a chance to play at European level, so in the Europa League or Champions League. "It's important for me to gain a place in the team, improve and be ready for the season after that." Divock Origi Carlos Tevez