Berbatov leaves the pitch during the defeat in Serbia. Photograph: Marko Djurica/Reuters
The Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has become the centre of controversy in his native Bulgaria after his angry agent suggested the player could retire from international football because of criticism of his performances.
Last month several players, including Berbatov, were lambasted by the Bulgarian [...]

Titus Bramble heads home Wigan Athletic’s late equaliser. Photograph: Steve Drew/EMPICS Sport/PA Photos
An hour or so after the final whistle, Steve Bruce’s mobile phone rang. “Sir Bobby,” exclaimed Wigan Athletic’s manager, suddenly beaming. “I’ll be there in five minutes and we’ll have that cup of tea.” With Sir Bobby Robson having recently made it plain [...]

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has laughed off the latest barb from Ramon Calderon. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA
Sir Alex Ferguson has weighed in once more in the war of words between Manchester United and Real Madrid over Cristiano Ronaldo. The Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón yesterday branded Ferguson as “a bit senile” after the United manager [...]

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and Juande Ramos. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images
The Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has suggested that the sale of Dimitar Berbatov was one of several key events that led to the sackings of manager Juande Ramos and sporting director Damien Comolli.
The decision was made to sell Berbatov at the start of this summer, [...]

Joe Kinnear is extending his stay on Tyneside. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
The interim Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear is to sign a new one-month contract as efforts to sell the club continue. The 61-year-old will extend his stay on Tyneside, which was due to expire at the end of October, until the end of November by [...]

Owen faces a spell on the sidelines with a groin injury. Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images
Michael Owen is a major doubt for Newcastle United’s match against Manchester City on Monday after sustaining a groin injury during training. The striker suffered the injury yesterday and underwent a scan earlier today.
The results of the scan suggest that the [...]

Cristiano Ronaldo took a full part in training ahead of the Champions League match. Photograph: John Peters/PA
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to full training with Manchester United this morning and will return to the first team squad for the Champions League match against Villarreal tomorrow. The Portuguese forward has not played this season after undergoing ankle surgery [...]

Can Dimitar Berbatov provide a cutting edge to the United attack? Photograph: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images
Two interminable Old Trafford summer transfer sagas: two happy endings for Alex Ferguson. The signing of Dimitar Berbatov from Spurs was the final - and pretty much the only – positive act of a three-month transfer window campaign [...]

Kevin Keegan has been unhappy with Newcastle’s failure to attract key signings. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Kevin Keegan’s reign at Newcastle has come to an abrupt end after meetings with club owner Mike Ashley today, according to Guardian sources.
After making his unhappiness with the club’s failure to sign three or four major targets this summer [...]

Hargreaves told Sir Alex Ferguson this morning that he was unfit for tonight’s match. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian
Owen Hargreaves has been forced to pull out of the Uefa Super Cup in Monaco tonight after reluctantly having to admit that he is not fit to play. Hargreaves, who has been troubled by persistent knee problems, informed Sir [...]