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ROME, July 27 (Reuters) - Romania defender Cristian Chivu said on Friday he will join Inter Milan after the Italian champions came to an agreement with AS Roma following weeks of talks.


Chivu, one of Serie A's top defenders last season when Roma finished second behind Inter, is set to move in a 15 million euro ($20.5 million) deal, according to media reports.


'I am going to Inter. It is a life choice,' he told a news conference at Roma's training ground. 'I would like to be remembered as a good lad. I have spent four marvellous years here, full of satisfaction.'

Inter had pulled out of negotiations earlier this month before an 18 million euro move to Real Madrid collapsed because of the 26-year-old's salary demands. Barcelona had also expressed an interest in the player.

Roberto Mancini's Inter finally went back in for the former Ajax player this week and have wrapped up a deal despite Chivu starting pre-season training with Roma.

Roma had already bought Brazil centre back Juan from Bayer Leverkusen to replace Chivu, who is expected to partner Italy's Marco Materazzi in the centre of Inter's defence.

ESPNsoccernet

9ja4eva:
Make Yakubu go correct club oh

Hes better off in Boro than Birmingham city. I think he should just stay put in Boro except maybe mancity bids, can't see Pompey making a move for him that would have been a step in the right direction, ironic init, he moved from pompey a few years back to progress. Interests from the top four is out of the question.

Reports in Holland continue to suggest veteran striker Patrick Kluivert has been offered a trial by Derby County.

Although Rams boss Billy Davies is yet to confirm his interest, the newly-promoted side are believed to be in the frame.

Kluivert recently rejected the chance to train with Sheffield Wednesday, but the prospect of a Premier League return could appeal.

The former Holland international has experience in England's top-flight after spending the 2004/05 campaign with Newcastle.

The 31-year-old hit-man, who was released by PSV Eindhoven this summer, is believed to favour a move to MLS or the Middle East.

Skysports.com

Birmingham City have been told Middlesbrough's Yakubu Aiyegbeni is well outside their transfer budget.

Blues have been linked with a move for the striker, who has been tipped to leave The Riverside this summer.

However, Yakubu's agent Barry Silkman believes Steve Bruce's side do not have the financial clout to agree a deal with Boro.

"I think Yak would be way out of their price range," Silkman is quoted in the Daily Mirror.

"Middlesbrough have already turned down £10million bids for him and Gareth Southgate doesn't want to lose him."

Skysports.com

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_T%C3%A9vez]Carlos Tevez's[/url] representative Kia Joorabchian has hinted that the striker's proposed move to Manchester United may be settled out of court.

Joorabchian's companies MSI and Just Sports Inc claim they own the economic rights to the 23-year-old.

Tevez's current side West Ham dispute this and Joorabchian's companies have issued the club with a High Court writ.

But Joorabchian told the Daily Star newspaper: "There is a possibility it may get resolved next week."

Tevez's transfer to the Premier League champions has stalled over who will be paid the £30m transfer fee - with Joorabchian's companies issued legal proceedings against the Hammers.

"I can confirm the companies have begun High Court proceedings against West Ham," said Teacher Stern Selby solicitor Graham Shear, representing the law firm representing MSI and Just Sports Inc.

The statement continued: "A High Court writ was served on the football club's solicitors.

"The Companies seek the court's intervention to compel West Ham to release the registration of Carlos Tevez in accordance with contracts entered into between the parties.

"We are asking the court to intervene so that Tevez can be registered to play with Manchester United as soon as possible.

"We will be making no further statement at this time."

West Ham said they would be consulting their lawyers over the writ.

Third-party ownership of football players is common in South America but was almost unheard of in England until Tevez and fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano joined West Ham in August 2006.

Mascherano has since moved to Liverpool.

Earlier, Fifa had recommended the Tevez dispute should go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Football Association and the Premier League had asked Fifa to rule on the matter.

But a Fifa statement read: "Fifa has recommended that West Ham and Carlos Tevez seek arbitration at CAS.

"Under the present circumstances this was deemed to be the best approach and in the interest of all parties.

"What is more, we also believe this to be the fastest way to solve this impasse."

Manchester United chief executive David Gill says his club just wants the situation to be resolved as quickly as possible.

"Clearly, this is a dispute between Tevez, the owners and West Ham," stated Gill.

"Hopefully, that can be solved relatively quickly and he can come to join us. I would have thought they have taken this decision in the belief that he can join us."

Tevez is registered as a West Ham player but Joorabchian claims he still owns the striker's economic rights and is therefore entitled to the transfer fee.

However, West Ham ripped up an agreement they had with Joorabchian - which broke Premier League rules - and they now claim any deal with United can only go ahead with their say-so.

The Premier League, which is also insisting that any fee must go to West Ham, met Fifa and the Football Association on Monday to discuss the issue.

The Premier League welcomed Fifa's decision.

"We are supportive of the recommendation that if all parties are in agreement the matter should be referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport," said a Premier League spokesman.

West Ham also said they were happy for CAS to rule on the issue.

"We're happy for the matter to go to CAS if it is with the agreement of all parties," a West Ham statement said.

West Ham were fined £5.5m pounds in April for breaking Premier League rules over third-party ownership when they signed Tevez.

They were allowed to continue playing him after satisfying the Premier League that the third-party agreement with Joorabchian had been torn up.

BBC Sport

Blackburn Rovers have signed striker Roque Santa Cruz from Bayern Munich.

The 25-year-old Paraguay international has agreed a four-year deal at Ewood Park after Rovers paid an undisclosed fee, believed to be about £3.5m.

Rovers boss Mark Hughes said: "He is a young player, an international with a good reputation."

"The good thing from our point of view is that his fitness levels are fine as he has been playing for Paraguay in the Copa America."

Santa Cruz had been pushed down the pecking order at Bayern following the summer arrivals of Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni.

During his time at Bayern, Santa Cruz won the Champions League, five Bundesliga titles, four German Cups and a World Club Cup winner's medal.

He scored 31 goals in 155 appearances and will bring the experience of 51 Champions League outings to Blackburn.

But he will find the competition at Blackburn stiff, with Benni McCarthy, Jason Roberts, Matt Derbyshire and new recruit Marco Rigters all vying for a first-team place.

Hughes admits he might be tempted to sell a striker following Santa Cruz's arrival at Ewood Park.

"Possibly that could happen but I am quite happy with the options I have," he stated.

"I'm looking to supplement the qualities of the strikers we have. You have to have depth and quality to cope with the demands of a long season."

BBC Sport

Argentine teenager [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81ngel_Di_Mar%C3%ADa]Angel Di Maria[/url] is poised to join Benfica after claiming he was in talks to join Arsenal.
Rosario Central striker Di Maria is set to be part of a £4m double transfer package with team-mate Andre Diaz.

Di Maria, 19, who featured in Argentina's victorious Under-20 World Championship-winning team, will sign a five-year contract with Benfica.

Last week, he suggested that negotiations over a transfer to Arsenal were going well.

Arsenal have never confirmed an interest in Di Maria, whose double move with Diaz is subject to personal terms and medicals.

Di Maria is seen at the Estadio da Luz as a replacement for Portugal international Simao Sabrosa, who has completed a transfer to Atletico Madrid.

BBC Sport

It wasn't that encouraging from what I watched of the game, Dudu played ok a bit shaky though, there was a time in the game I felt he was kind of hesitant or lets say made a wrong decision in what to do. Diaby made runs from the midfield that made me remember the good old days of Vieira. Van persie got a bit frustrated during the course of the game. Gallas was so annoying chewing gum or something in his mouth, had that kind of expression like he didn't give a damn. Hleb was superb on the left wing in the second half. Hopefully we will see a better performance in the weekend.

lol, nice one

Marc Anthony

fat cats

Going to watch it today.

Ikoyi

Barcelona midfielder Deco has refused to end speculation surrounding his future with the Catalan giants.

The Portugal international came in for heavy criticism after Barca surrendered La Liga to rivals Real Madrid last season.

Rumours have abounded that the former Porto player could be squeezed out of the Nou Camp, with Newcastle United named as one possible destination - and he has been less than convincing when asked about speculation linking him with a move to the Barclays Premier League.

The 29-year-old, who is in Scotland with the Catalan side to play friendly matches against Dundee United and Hearts, looked pensive yesterday as he fielded several questions about his future.

He said: 'I've got a contract until 2010 and I'm very happy here.

'Whenever Barcelona don't want me they just have to tell me - but I have not heard anything.

'I just want to play football - that is the most important part of my life, apart from my children.'

Barcelona's cosmopolitan squad entertained locals at St Andrews as they went through their paces before tomorrow's fixture at Tannadice.

France star Eric Abidal expects the match against Craig Levein's men will be a dress rehearsal for the Euro 2008 qualifier against Scotland in Paris on September 12.

Left-back Abidal, 28, who joined Barcelona from Lyon in the summer for around £10million, predicts Scotland will defend for their lives when the crucial qualifier comes around.

The Scots upset the form book when they beat the World Cup runners-up 1-0 at Hampden Park last year, thanks to a Gary Caldwell goal.

Asked to consider the match against Scotland in two months' time, Abidal said: 'It is a chance for us to get revenge for our defeat at Hampden.

'We should be able to beat Scotland and ensure qualification - but every team chance has a chance to qualify.

'We do not focus on individuals; we focus on the team - and it is never that easy playing against Scottish teams.

'Scotland are a very defensive team and defend vigorously. They try to their best to stop other teams playing.

'What is important for France is to seize our chance when we have it.

'It is important that anything I learn from these games I pass on to my colleagues in the national side. But we will have to be combative.'

ESPNsoccernet

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has admitted Kieron Dyer could leave the club over 'family problems'.

The 28-year-old midfielder has been at the centre of speculation that he wants a move away from St James' Park after eight years for more than a week amid claims he is unhappy on Tyneside.

Allardyce revealed at the weekend he would hold talks with the England international in an effort to discover his feelings, and having done so, is now attempting to resolve the issue.

He said: 'At the moment, there's a problem from a family point of view and we have to try to see whether we can resolve that, and if we cannot, then that may well result in Kieron looking to leave the club for that reason and that reason alone.

'That's the discussion we have had. It's obviously disappointing for me, but it is one I understand.

'If somebody has got a problem they cannot resolve, then ultimately in the long run, it is better for the club and better for him if you can resolve that problem.

'If that's away from here, then so be it.'

ESPNsoccernet

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Gabriel Heinze owes to the club to stay at Manchester United.

Heinze is currently at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war between United and Premier League rivals Liverpool.

Liverpool are keen to sign the Argentina defender and have tabled a bid for the former Paris Saint Germain star.

United are adamant they will not sell Heinze to their bitter rivals even though Heinze's agent reputedly has a letter which gives the defender permission to leave Old Trafford for the fee that Liverpool have offered for the South American.

Liverpool have instructed their lawyers to pursue the move for Heinze, but Ferguson remains determined to stop the player making the switch to Anfield.

The Scot feels Heinze should show loyalty to United because of the way the club helped him recover from his serious knee injury two years ago.

"He is still our player and that is the most important thing," Ferguson told Sky Sports News.

"He still has two-years left on his contract and I think we have stood by Gaby very well.

"He had his cruciate knee operation, we looked after him and we let him him do his rehabilitation in Spain which he wanted to do.

"We conducted ourselves in a way that suited Gaby perfectly and he was delighted the way we looked after him.

"I think if we take away the agent's role in this I don't think there is an awful lot wrong with Gaby's position at the club."

Ferguson also believes Heinze may have helped United's cause in their bid to sign Carlos Tevez by recommending the Premier League champions to the West Ham forward.

United remain hopeful of signing Tevez despite the move being held up because of a wrangle over his ownership rights between West Ham and the player's representatives.

Tevez is determined to join United and Ferguson believes Heinze may have persuaded his fellow Argentina to make the move to Old Trafford.

"I think the fact they have been in the Argentina team the last few weeks I am sure Gaby has told him how good a club Manchester United is, because there is no other thing you can say about Manchester United from his own experiences," added Ferguson.

"Maybe that in some way has helped Carlos Tevez to know he is coming to the right club."

Skysports.com

Will ask why the hate towards Arsenal.

Ian Thorpe

just a friendly match, nothing to it. Final whistle we lose 1-0.

its 1-0, we're losing

Still goaless against Salzburg, 35 minutes into the game

all shite IMO.

Matthew Fox

so much hate

confused

George Washington

No wingers and I thought by now we would have sorted this out. Freddie's days in Arsenal were numbered even though he tried to make it look as if he had a choice.

American Idol

Someone please take that away, is this a porn thread or something

MILAN, July 24 (Reuters) - Brazil playmaker [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kak%C3%A1]Kaka[/url] said on Tuesday he was committed to AC Milan and had never asked for a transfer to Spanish champions Real Madrid.

The European champions have spent most of the close season repelling Real's advances for 25-year-old Kaka, one of the best players in the world.

Milan said in June they were aware Kaka's father had met Madrid officials.

Kaka, who was rested from the Copa America at Milan's request, has been back in Brazil and had stayed silent on the matter until now.

'I have never demanded anything at Milan, I have never asked to renew my contract, to leave or to have a clause to rescind it like many have said,' Kaka told a news conference at Milan's training ground. 'There was a meeting with Real Madrid and Milan were the first to know about it.'

Milan President Silvio Berlusconi reaffirmed on Monday that Kaka would not be sold.

'The fans can stay calm, what president Berlusconi said yesterday is certain. I have a contract with Milan until 2011, the door for Real Madrid is closed and only Milan can reopen it if they decide to sell me,' Kaka said. 'I see myself as a symbol of Milan.'

ESPNsoccernet

MSI begin legal proceedings against west ham over Carlos Tevez affair.

Skysports News

Everton have completed the signing of Borussia Dortmund midfield man Steven Pienaar on a one-year loan deal after he was granted a work permit.

Pienaar, who has one international cap, joined Borussia from Ajax last summer when Tomas Rosicky moved to Arsenal.

However, the 25-year-old has struggled at the Bundesliga club and failed to find the net in 25 league appearances.

The South African star has been training with Everton at their pre-season camp in Los Angeles.

He said: "I am really excited to have joined a traditional club like Everton.

"It is always a good opportunity for the players to play in Europe and I am looking forward to making a return myself as I missed it last season."


BBC Sport