Sporting briefs

Tottenham: Tottenham completed the signing of Brazil defender Gilberto from Hertha Berlin just before the close of the transfer window on Thursday. No transfer fee was disclosed. Tottenham also announced that defenders Paul Stalteri and Anthony Gardner had been allowed to join Fulham and Everton respectively on loan.

Alves move: Middlesbrough are confident that their club deal to bring Brazilian striker Afonso Alves from Hereenveen was completed correctly and that he could feature in their game against Newcastle United tomorrow. Dutch club AZ Alkmaar are challenging the deadline-day deal with FIFA saying they had a pre-contract arrangement with the player.

Metzelder: Real Madrid centre-back Christoph Metzelder may need surgery to resolve the problems he has been having with the sole of his foot and could be out for two months, coach Bernd Schuster said. "It's bad news. It's a hard injury to recover from and he might need surgery."

King's Cup semi-finals: Barcelona were pitched against Valencia and Getafe drew Racing Santander in yesterday's draw for the King's Cup semi-finals. With Real Madrid nine points clear at the top of the Primera Liga, the Cup has taken on inflated importance for second-placed Barcelona, who knocked out Villarreal 1-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

Manucho: Manchester United Alex Ferguson said Angolan international striker Manucho will spend the rest of the season on loan with Greek club Panathinaikos. United will then apply for a work permit for the 24-year-old, who is playing for Angola at the African Nations Cup in Ghana, after the European season ends.

Gattuso: Milan's Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso will be sidelined for between 20 days and a month with a thigh muscle strain. Gattuso will miss Italy's friendly against Portugal in Zurich on Wednesday and the first leg of Milan's Champions League tie against Arsenal in London on Feb. 20.

MFA Division Three: Sta Lucija vs Luqa 0-1; Qrendi vs Ghaxaq 2-1.