Today's other stories in brief
Berger forced to call it a day
FORMER Liverpool midfielder Patrik Berger has retired from soccer at the age of 36 due to persistent knee problems.
Berger, who spent seven years at Anfield before moving on to Portsmouth and Aston Villa, was playing with Sparta Prague in his native Czech Republic .
DARREN Ferguson has been appointed as manager of English Championship side Preston on a three-and-a-half-year contract. The 37-year-old son of Manchester United manager Alex had been a free agent since leaving Peterborough in November.
REPORTS from Glasgow have suggested Middlesbrough have tabled a bid for Celtic midfielder Willo Flood (24). But the English Championship club have limited transfer funds available and it is understood they have yet to meet Celtic’s valuation of the former Ireland under-21 international.
Injury puts Zamora on sideline
FULHAM’S in-form striker Bobby Zamora faces an injury lay-off after dislocating his collarbone in Tuesday’s 3-2 English Premier League defeat to Stoke City.
The London club said in a statement that medical checks had confirmed the injury and updates would follow.
Manager Roy Hodgson, whose side are ninth in the league, said team-mate Andy Johnson took three weeks to return after a similar injury.
ATLETICO Madrid president Enrique Cerezo yesterday confirmed the club are interested in bringing Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida back to Spain – but concedes they may have to fight to tempt the teenager to the Vicente Calderon.
Atletico have been closely linked with a move for Merida, whose contract with Arsenal expires this summer, and Cerezo admits the Rojiblancos are keen on signing the Barcelona-born 19-year-old for next season.
Veron turns down move back to England with City
ARGENTINA veteran Juan Sebastian Veron claims he has rejected the chance to return to the English Premier League, turning down an offer from Manchester City.
Veron, now at Estudiantes, spent three seasons in England but failed to live up to expectations – first at Manchester United and then at Chelsea.
Speculation was rife that the 34-year-old was set to join one of his former club’s bitter rivals.
New City manager Roberto Mancini was linked with a swoop for the midfielder, who he played alongside for Sampdoria and Lazio and went on to manage for two years at Inter Milan.
But Veron, who has always said he wanted to start and finish his career at the same club, insists he will see out his playing days at Estudiantes.
“I talked to Mancini, but it’s not possible now,” he said. “It’s not about money.
“First comes my family and second it’s because I made a decision and I want to respect it.”
Inter win but lose Chiva to injury
INTER Milan left back Cristian Chivu had surgery for over an hour after fracturing his skull in a clash of heads during yesterday’s 1-0 Serie A win at Chievo.
The Romanian’s life is not in danger but he will have to stay under observation in a Verona hospital for some time after an operation to relieve a haematoma and take out bone fragments.
“Everything went normally and therefore we are quite confident the patient can recover without problems,” doctor Sergio Turazzi said in a statement.
The loss of the dependable Chivu is a blow to the Serie A leaders, who have no like-for-like replacement.
Inter’s right-footed fullback Davide Santon is also injured and Javier Zanetti is needed in midfield.
Mourinho bids farewell to Vieira
INTER Milan coach Jose Mourinho believes Patrick Vieira has “certainly played his last game” for the Nerazzurri.
Vieira has seemed more and more likely to be heading out of the San Siro, having featured just 16 times in all competitions this season – with most of those coming from the bench.
The former Arsenal midfielder, who has been strongly linked with a return to the English Premier League, now looks certain to have made his last appearance in an Inter shirt after playing the full 90 minutes of yesterday’s 1-0 triumph at Chievo.
Mourinho said: “I should give a special mention to Vieira, who certainly played his last game with us. I don’t know where he will go, maybe to England which he likes a lot, but we should thank him for what he has done in these years at Inter.
“The club decided not to renew his contract, which is coming to an end, and to accept the offer of another club.”
Beckford makes intention clear
LEEDS United striker Jermaine Beckford has handed in a transfer request, the English League One club have confirmed.
The 26-year-old, whose contract expires in the summer, has been linked with a move away from Elland Road, with Newcastle United leading the chase for his signature.
Beckford scored his 20th goal of the season in last weekend’s 1-0 FA Cup victory over Manchester United.
