Striker Emmanuel Adebayor appeared to send out mixed messages when he went back on an initial claim that he was staying at Arsenal.

The 24-year-old, who has been courted by AC Milan, said: “The most important thing for me is to keep on enjoying my football. I’m staying at Arsenal.”

But later he then added: “We will have to meet with the manager [Arsene Wenger] before anything can be decided.

“But, as you know better than anyone, a lot of teams want me to play for them.”

Adebayor, who scored 30 goals for Arsenal last season, has been a target for both AC Milan and Barcelona with the Italian club making it public knowledge that he is their main target this summer.

The Togo international added: “I’m just going to sit down with my agent and with my family and decide what is good for my career.”

Should talks ever take place over a move, the former Monaco forward insisted money would not be a factor.

“When I was young I had a dream to be a good footballer and play for a big team,” said Adebayor, who was in Vienna with his sponsors.

“I was born in Togo so I never cared about playing for money, my happiness was to play to enjoy myself. That’s what I’ve been doing until now.

“You can see people changing clubs because of money, because they want a change of atmosphere or to get their names in the big leagues. I just play football to enjoy myself. I play because I love it.”

One Arsenal player who has already made the move to Milan is Mathieu Flamini.

The French midfielder joined the 2007 Champions League winners this summer after his contract with the Gunners came to an end.

Arsenal boss Wenger, who has also been in Austria for Euro 2008, had wanted to keep his countryman at the Emirates Stadium, but Flamini felt it was in his best interests to leave.

Adebayor thinks that Flamini, who impressed as a holding midfielder last season, will be missed.

“He was one of Arsenal’s biggest players,” Adebayor said. “He’s a good man, a good character and a good footballer.

We play good football, now we look forward to winning trophies

“But he’s made his decision and he’s very happy to have signed for Milan. He has all the qualities to become a bigger player than he was at Arsenal.”

Still, Adebayor believes Arsenal will thrive without Flamini and hailed the team spirit in the camp.

“Everyone is between 21 and 26-years-old, we are all the same generation,” he said. “We all have the same ideas, we go out together after games to restaurants.

“We all have the same ideas and we all want to achieve something. We have a good boss which is Arsene Wenger. He tries to bring this atmosphere to the dressing room where we feel like brothers and like family.

“Those are the reasons that give us a chance to play the football we play. We play good football, now we look forward to winning trophies.”

By Phil Gordos
Ref From BBC Sport

AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf is still hoping to play in the Premier League before he ends his career.

The 32-year-old Dutchman has played for Ajax, Sampdoria, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, and has been linked with a move to Arsenal in the past.

But speaking to BBC London 94.9 Seedorf said: “I’d always love to come and play in the Premier League, but things just don’t happen like that.

“I’ve never touched the Premier League yet, but let’s say you never know.”

Seedorf added: “Opportunities come and go, when I was close to coming to England with Manchester United or Arsenal when I was at Sampdoria I went to Real Madrid.

“You cannot be everywhere, I’ve been playing in Spain and Italy. For now I’m in Italy and I’m always following with a very special eye the movements in the Premier League because at the moment it’s an example for everybody.”

Seedorf was not part of the Netherlands squad at Euro 2008, and has instead dedicated much of his summer to humanitarian work including the Goal4Africa campaign.

He has organised a benefit match at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena on 12 July to bring together some of the world’s best footballers for the Global Kick Off Event.

Seedorf explained: “I’ve talked to John Terry and he was very keen. Andrei Shevchenko said yes already, Michael Essien, Didier Drogba, Steven Gerrard, but Ryan Babel unfortunately got injured.

“Sergio Ramos, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gatuso and Alessandro Nesta are all very keen to come. We know of course there are responsibilities for their teams, as they all have to train. So I’m also asking all the coaches at all the clubs to help free the players to come and play this match and help this project and make a difference for a lot of kids.”

Ref From BBC SPORT

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill says Gareth Barry can leave for Liverpool - if the Anfield club meet their valuation of the England midfielder.

Liverpool had a second bid of £13m turned down two weeks ago and reports suggest Villa will only sell for £18m.

“If Liverpool meet our valuation, he will have his express wish to leave Villa Park granted,” said O’Neill.

Barry, 27, criticised Villa for not trying hard enough to keep him but O’Neill insists they want him to stay.

Barry has told Villa he wants to sign for Liverpool and they still hope to sell Xabi Alonso to Juventus to help fund the deal, but are yet to receive a firm offer.

BBC Sport understands that manager Rafael Benitez will make an improved offer to sign the Aston Villa captain in a renewed attempt to bring the acrimonious saga to a conclusion.

O’Neill has been critical of Liverpool’s pursuit of Barry, who signalled his intention to move when he complained on Sunday about Villa’s lack of urgency in speaking to him.

Contrary to what he said, we desperately wanted to keep Gareth - and he knows that

“There’s no going back, it’s time for me to move on,” he said.

“I’m desperate to play Champions League football and that’s why I have to leave Villa.

“Villa kept saying they wanted me to stay but I have not heard from the manager for weeks.

“It’s seven weeks now since the season finished but while the gaffer’s found time to be a pundit at Euro 2008, he hasn’t found the time to speak to me.

“Have Villa offered me anything to try to persuade me my future is at Villa Park, not Anfield? Not a thing.”

But O’Neill has hit back to vehemently deny Barry’s claim.

“The chairman and I were surprised at Gareth’s comments,” he said.

“Contrary to what he said, we desperately wanted to keep him - and he knows that.”

Barry captained England for the first time and scored his first international goal during the recent friendly against Trinidad and Tobago.

Liverpool are keen to partner Barry in midfield with his England colleague Steven Gerrard and have declared their interest publicly, much to O’Neill’s fury.

Freeing up the required funds for Barry could pose a problem for Benitez, as the Anfield boss has admitted he is expecting to have a reduced transfer budget as a result of the feud between American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Ref From channel4.com