Football news

Spanish defender Cesar Martin will play for Bolton until the end of the season. The 29-year-old is able to join the English club immediately as his contract with Levante was cancelled at the end of last month.

Martin has made more than 200 starts in La Liga and has been capped for Spain nine times, although not since 2004.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce said: "Cesar can make an impact in the last 11 games of the season. I am delighted to sign Cesar. I had been monitoring him for quite some time.

"Once he became a free agent, we moved quickly to secure his services."

Benitez fines 15 'Pool players

Reports said yesterday Rafael Benitez has fined 15 Liverpool players who broke a midnight curfew during the squad's five-day trip to Portugal last week.

Benitez is said to be incensed that preparations for today's Champions League tie with Barcelona have been overshadowed by reports of drunken brawls and had already rapped up Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise.

The Daily Mirror said 15 players will be hit in the pocket, although Benitez won't identify them as he does not want to comment any more on the trip.

Camoranesi snubs Juve offer

Mauro Camoranesi has not accepted an offer of a contract extension with Juventus. His deal expires in 2009 and he's understood to have rejected a new £1.7m a year agreement until June 2010.

Camoranesi's agent met Juve representatives Alessio Secco and Roberto Bettega to discuss the offer, but the lack of Champions League football next season has seen negotiations stall.

The midfielder, 30, had made no secret of the fact that he wasn't happy with Serie B football and had asked for a move last summer after offers from Valencia and Lyon.

Camoranesi has also reiterated in the past few months that he was willing to consider staying in Turin only if the club built a competitive team for their expected return to Serie A.

Van Persie making progress

Robin van Persie could be seen in action again this season according to Arsene Wenger. The Dutch forward broke the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot during Arsenal's win over Manchester United last month.

Wenger was initially pessimistic about the chances of Van Persie playing again this term, but the 23-year-old is making good progress and this has pleased the French tactician.

"At the start we counted large," Wenger said.

"We thought 12 to 14 weeks and were hoping for a good surprise. Maybe eight to 10 weeks.

"It was three weeks on Friday so we are counting nine weeks more. But we hope it will be five, six or seven."

Barry wants friendly matches

International friendlies are vital to give fringe players a chance to play their way into the national team, Gareth Barry said yesterday. The Aston Villa skipper ended a three-and-a-half-year exile from the England side when he played against Spain at Old Trafford a fortnight ago.

Barry said: "In friendlies, fringe players get a chance to impress."

England have reduced the number of friendlies as some pundits believe that training camps would be more useful. There was much criticism following England's 1-0 defeat by Spain but Barry feels that was harsh.

He stated: "The whole manner of the defeat at home to Spain, and the manager Steve McClaren getting a lot of criticism, means a lot has been made about the role of friendlies.

"But for myself and a lot of other players out there in my situation, these matches are an opportunity to get a game."

Schuster interested in Bayern job

Former German international Bernd Schuster, coach of Spanish side Getafe, said yesterday he would be interested in coaching Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

"I reckon I can say that there is no coach who would say no to FC Bayern. And definitely not me either," he said.

"I like being in Spain very much, but Germany is always tempting and you want to come back at some point. To a top club would of course be even better," he added.

Bayern sacked Felix Magath at the end of last month and appointed former coach Ottmar Hitzfeld until the end of the season.

Borriello ban confirmed

Milan striker Marco Borriello has had his suspension renewed following his failed dope test last year. The former U-21 international tested positive for an illegal substance following the 2-1 home defeat to Roma in Week 11.

Although the forward has always maintained his innocence, his B sample confirmed the initial findings.

The disciplinary commission had already suspended the player on December 21 as a precautionary measure and confirmed its decision yesterday. Borriello will now face a hearing where the sporting authorities will assess his case and hand out any specific ban.

Bigon to coach Sion again

Swiss top division side FC Sion have appointed experienced Italian trainer Alberto Bigon as their fifth coach of the season.

Bigon, 60, who steered a Napoli side featuring Diego Maradona to the 1990 Italian league title, replaces Pierre-Albert "Gabet" Chapuisat who was released by the newly-promoted club on Monday.

Bigon is taking charge of the club for a second time. In 1997 he led the side to a league and cup double but was sacked by president Christian Constantin the following season after failing to secure qualification to the Champions League.