Football news

Juventus, still treated as one of the major teams in Italy, will be seeded in Tuesday evening's 2007-08 Serie A fixtures draw despite having just returned to the top flight after one year in division two.

Traditionally the teams are seeded so that the big clubs do not face each other in the first three rounds of the campaign. Before the seedings were announced, it was very likely that the opening game of the Serie A would have been a bitter grudge match between Juventus and Inter.

To avoid this possibility, Juve will be seeded along with Milan, Roma and Lazio for the draw in Rome.

Rovers sign Santa Cruz

Striker Roque Santa Cruz has joined Blackburn Rovers from Bayern Munich. He signed a four-year deal at Ewood Park after Rovers paid an undisclosed fee, believed to be about £3.5m.

"He is a young player, an international with a good reputation," Mark Hughes, the Blackburn manager, said.

Santa Cruz, 25, had been pushed down the pecking order at Bayern after the summer arrivals of Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni.

Heinze D-Day... August 6

Monday, August 6 is D-Day for Gabriel Heinze and his future at Manchester United. The Argentine is currently seeking legal advice to see whether he has grounds for pursuing a complaint against his club over their refusal to sell him to Liverpool.

Alex Ferguson said: "He is due back in training on August 6... and we expect him back."

Heinze's lawyers have a week to find out if the defender has a case, which revolves around whether a letter, signed by chief executive David Gill, confirming the figure United would be prepared to sell Heinze for, overrides the player's contract.

Tevez saga nearing end

Kia Joorabchian, Carlos Tevez's representative, suggested that the striker's proposed move to Man. 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 side West Ham dispute this and Joorabchian's companies have issued the club with a High Court writ. But Joorabchian said: "There is a possibility it may get resolved next week."

Tevez's transfer to United has stalled over who will be paid the £30m transfer fee.

Adu to join Inter via Parma

Freddy Adu, the 18-year-old Real Salt Lake player, could travel to Italy to play for Parma before parking at Inter. Adu, born in Ghana, has been a household name among talent scouts since he was 12 years old.

In 2001, Adu's mother, Emelia, confirmed that Inter had offered $750,000 to sign the youngster, but she preferred he grows up and develop his skills in the US.

Now Inter have revived their interest in Adu and reports claim they will help Parma to register the player and, if the results are convincing, bring him to San Siro a year later.

Gilberto stays captain - Wenger

Gilberto SILVA will wear the Arsenal captain's armband next season but manager Arsene Wenger expects others to help in the leadership role.

The veteran Brazilian is currently away on an extended break and is set to sit out the start of the new domestic season as a result. In his absence, William Gallas and Kolo Toure are expected to be the most likely candidates to lead the side.

Wenger said: "The captain last year was Gilberto and there is no reason to take it away from him. At the moment, I feel that the centre-back position is the best one from which to captain the teams."

Di Maria prefers Benfica

Angel Di Maria, the Argentine teenager, is poised to join Benfica despite the strong interest of Arsenal. The Rosario Central striker 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 U-20 World Championship winning team, will sign a five-year contract with Benfica.

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.

Lucarelli makes Shakhtar debut

Cristiano Lucarelli had an encouraging debut for Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian League on Friday evening. The 31-year-old, formerly of Livorno, did not score during a 3-0 win over Zorya Luhansk, but he did have several goal-scoring opportunities that just missed the target.

The fans welcomed the Italian with a sign that read 'Good luck Cristiano' as he made his first appearance following the £6m move from Livorno.

Lucarelli is still looking for his match fitness and only played the second half of the match.

Pompey want Sol to stay

Portsmouth have held talks with Sol Campbell to try and persuade him to stay. Campbell raised doubts over his long-term future at Fratton Park last week by suggesting he would not finish his career at Portsmouth.

Spanish side Villarreal are believed to be keeping tabs on the 32-year-old, but Portsmouth are determined to keep hold of him.

Portsmouth chief Peter Storrie said: "We've spoken to Sol and explained the situation... we hope we've done enough to persuade him to stay."