Madrid 'sign' Robinho: Real Madrid have reached a €24million deal to sign striker Robinho from Brazilian club Santos, Spanish state radio said yesterday.
The radio quoted "reliable Real Madrid sources" as saying that Robinho was now a Real Madrid player.
But a Real Madrid spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment and Robinho's agent Wagner Ribeiro denied the report. He said no deal had been done yet. The radio report said Real Madrid president Florentino Perez had taken the decision to pay €24 million required to free Robinho from a buy-out clause tying him to Santos.
Ballack move denied
Bayern Munich insist Manchester United have not made an offer for Germany captain Michael Ballack. Speculation has linked the attacking midfielder, whose current deal expires next summer, with a move to Old Trafford, but both club and player insist he is going nowhere.
Ballack said: "I'm certain I'll be playing for Bayern until 2006. We're aiming high, and I want to be a part of it." Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness confirmed that United "had not tabled an offer" and that talks had started on a new contract.
The Munich club are "hoping to secure the player for the long term," according to Hoeness, while chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge slapped a not for sale tag on Ballack. "These are the facts: Michael Ballack has a contract until June 30th, 2006 - at the earliest. We won't be letting him go before then under any circumstances," said Rummenigge.
Tackle defended
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has defended Bobo Balde following his leg-breaking challenge on Leicester's James Wesolowski, insisting what happened was an accident. The 17-year-old midfielder had a nail inserted into his shattered leg following Balde's challenge in Tuesday's friendly at the Walkers Stadium.
Leicester manager Craig Levein has labelled Balde's tackle as "disgraceful, disgusting and malicious". The former Hearts boss has also asked referee Peter Walton and the Football Association to look at the challenge. "The tape is going to the FA and the ref also has to look at his role in it," he said. "The referee has to decide if there is intent."
Pistone re-signs
Everton have re-signed the Italian defender Alessandro Pistone. The 29-year-old rejected a one-year deal but has signed a two-year contract after a move to Lecce fell through.
David Moyes still hopes to sign Roma's Matteo Ferrari and Simone Perrotta but that may depend on the Italian club's appeal against an incoming-transfer embargo.
Fifa imposed the year-long sanction this month after an investigation into the Italian club's purchase of Philippe Mexes from Auxerre in 2004 in which they were judged guilty of "unfair conduct".
If the ban is overturned, Ferrari is likely to move to Everton on a 12-month loan deal and Perrotta will cost about £4 million.
Guti move ruled out
Arsenal have ruled out a move for Real Madrid midfielder Guti, despite the player admitting he would be keen on joining the Gunners. Guti (28) revealed through his agent earlier this week that a move to Highbury would be appealing but he does not figure among Arsene Wenger's targets.
The utility player, who has featured in various midfield and attacking roles at the Bernabeu, has not been able to make a first-team place his own with Madrid, and the Spanish giants are prepared to let him leave for the right price.
Although Arsenal have money to spend after selling Patrick Vieira to Juventus for £13.7million last week, they are reportedly focusing on a move for Sevilla's Julio Baptista.
"I am not looking at Guti at all," Wenger told BBC Sport Online. "I cannot say any more about it. It is either yes or no and in this case it is no."
Bolton eye Faye
Bolton hope to tie up the loan signing of Senegalese defender Abdoulaye Faye in the near future. The former Lens defender has travelled with Wanderers to Thailand and Japan to train, even though he is not eligible to play in the FA Premier League Asia Trophy.
The club are hopeful they can overcome potential work permit difficulties and manager Sam Allardyce told www.bwfc.co.uk: "Faye looks a good prospect and we've been impressed with his effort during our time in Thailand. We hope the work permit situation will sort itself out in the coming weeks. He will have to be given time to settle into the English lifestyle and the type of football we play here."
In brief . . .
Celtic and Rangers were both celebrating the extension of their sponsorship deal with Carling which will net them each a share of £18 million over the next five years . . . Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 with Real Sociedad yesterday to set up a clash with French champions Olympique Lyon in the final of the Peace Cup pre-season tournament. Sunday's final will be played in the Seoul World Cup Stadium, with €1.6 million awarded to the winner.
