Real Madrid claim they are close to signing Italy's World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro from Juventus. The Spanish giants are looking to rebuild after three years without a trophy and, having last week appointed former Juve boss Fabio Capello as their new coach, are now hoping to raid the Italian champions for the 32-year-old Cannavaro.
Pedja Mijatovic, Real's new sports director, told the club's website: "We've made good headway in getting him here and we're going to continue trying hard. I'm sure there will be some news in the next few days."
"I can appreciate that Cannavaro was a huge reason why Juve won two Scudetti and why Italy won the World Cup."
Raymond Domenech will stay on as coach after leading France to the World Cup final, the French Football Federation (FFF) said yesterday. Domenech, who took over from Jacques Santini after Euro 2004, was offered an extension to his two-year contract and he accepted it, the FFF said on their website.
"Taking into account the excellent performance of France during the World Cup, the federal committee unanimously offered Raymond Domenech the chance to carry on his mission as national coach," a statement said.
However, the World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi postponed a meeting with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) yesterday. Lippi (58) whose contract ends later this month, was expected to discuss his plans with FIGC vice-president Giancarlo Abete in Rome. A spokesman for the FIGC said the meeting had been put back until later this week.
Lippi refused to answer questions about his future during his team's campaign in Germany. On Monday he said he wanted to continue coaching, but did not reveal whether or not he intended to stay with the national team.
Didier Deschamps, meanwhile, has been appointed as the new coach of Juventus. The Frenchman has penned a two-year contract with the Italian giants and replaces Fabio Capello. Juve released a statement announcing the appointment, saying: "Juventus confirm the signing of coach Didier Deschamps on a two-year contract, valid until June 30, 2008."
The 37-year-old Deschamps was coach of the Monaco side that reached the 2004 Champions League final and, as a player with Juve, won three Serie A titles and one Champions League. He also captained France to success at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
Italy striker Francesco Totti says he is considering retiring from international football. "There are too many training camps, too much stress - it's time I thought more about my family," the 29-year-old AS Roma captain was quoted as saying in the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper yesterday.
"It's difficult to leave at the moment. I'd say my chances (of staying on) are 50-50." Totti made 51 appearances for Italy and scored eight goals, including the last-gasp penalty against Australia that put his side into the World Cup quarter-finals.
The Czech Republic's midfielder Karel Poborsky has announced his retirement from international soccer at the age of 34, as planned before the World Cup. He played a record 118 times and scored eight goals for his country.
