Following on from my thread last month about Michael Ballack giving time and money to those less fortunate than himself, comes the news today that another footballer has put his conscience before money and contractual obligation before more glory.
Henrik Larsson will not extend his loan period at Manchester United and is set to leave the club next month. Larsson who has shown that he is a class act in his brief loan period with the Premiership champions, sorry leaders, will return to Helsingborg on 12 March.
"I'm not saying that I'm not flattered or grateful to get the opportunity to extend my stay but there are other things I need to think about," he said. "The Swedish season starts at the end of March. I need to get back for it." Larsson is currently commuting to Manchester from his home in Sweden and that has probably helped with his decision to turn down the offer of an extension to his loan contract.
Larsson has scored two goals in eight games for United, but watching his team play and ability to link with Rooney and Ronnie it is obvious that United will miss him. Saha and Solskjaer just don't look in the same class when they play. Larsson already has a Champions League winners medal from last season when he was substitute in the Barcelona victory over Arsenal.
He's decided that he's done what he agreed to do and will go home to Helsingborg and see out his career. It will interesting to see how Alex Ferguson, the most fickle of fickle managers, reacts to Larsson's decision over the next few games. Personally I can see this as good news for Chelsea because United are now left with two strikers (Saha and Solskjaer) short of quality at the moment and two others (Rooney and Ronnie) who can't carry the weight of a teams attacking options on their shoulders alone.
2 comments:
Just heard Fergie in apolectic fit mode about Lille.
Yes - it was bad the team walked off but I felt some sympathy for them.
A goal disallowed and then Giggs' Henry impersonation with that quickly taken free kick.
I think FIFA are going to have to sort the law about quickly taken free kicks : this type of controversy happens a bit too often.
As for Fergie, well, I roared with laughter when I heard him complain that Lille had intimidated the ref. Utter hypocrite!
I'm not surprised that Henrik Larsson has kept his word. He's always seemed a decent chap.
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