Football news

Winger Ryan Giggs can break Bobby Charlton's record number of appearances for Manchester United in the Champions League final against Chelsea on May 21 after playing against West Ham on Saturday.

Charlton's record has been listed as 759 appearances since he played his last match for the club in 1973. However, a recent re-examination has shown that Charlton's tally included an FA Cup third-round tie against Bolton in January 1962 which he actually missed because he was taken ill on the morning of the match.

Giggs, 34, came on as a substitute in United's 4-1 victory over West Ham for his 757th appearance. He will beat Charlton's record if he plays against Wigan in United's final Premier League game of the season next Sunday and then also appears in the Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow on May 21.

Chelsea plan Messi move

Chelsea are reportedly planning an astonishing £80 million move for Lionel Messi.

According to the News of the World, billionaire owner Roman Abramovich has authorised the swoop for Barcelona's Argentine superstar.

Messi showed his brilliance off to English fans by performing superbly in Barca's Champions League semi-final clashes with Manchester United.

And his bewitching talents could lead to a Chelsea bid that would shatter the world transfer record, the £48 million that took Zinedine Zidane from Juventus to Real Madrid in 2001.

Amauri to sign Juve deal this week

Palermo supremo Maurizio Zamparini told reporters that Amauri's move to Juventus will be sorted out this week. The player and Sicilian club have already stated the deal is "91 per cent" done, but there are problems emerging.

"I am tired of this story and have told our director of sport Rino Foschi to close up negotiations as soon as possible," Zamparini said.

Zamparini had opened the door to Milan although it is probably only a bargaining tool.

Thun's miserable season capped by relegation

Former Champions League participants FC Thun capped a wretched season when they were relegated from the Swiss championship. Thun were hammered 4-0 at mid-table Lucerne to complete a two-year spiral from Europe's top club competition to the obscurity of the second division.

The club, who stunned soccer in 2005 by qualifying for the Champions League on a budget of $4.77 million, have had even bigger worries off the pitch this season.

Earlier this year police in the canton of Berne said nine past and present Thun players would face trial on charges of sexual activity with an under-age girl.

Club president Kurt Weder also remains at a paraplegic treatment centre after falling down a flight of stairs at his home in January.

Maxwell wants new contract

Inter full-back Maxwell has demanded an improved contract or else he'll begin talks for a move elsewhere, probably with Arsenal, Chelsea or Real Madrid.

The 27-year-old Brazilian is under contract until June 2010 and is eager for a new deal to be drawn up as quickly as possible.

"When we arrived in Milan, we received promises from Inter and now wait for them to be kept," agent Mino Raiola told Corriere dello Sport.

"This is why I am expecting a call from the directors to renegotiate the current contract, otherwise it will be unlikely we'll see Maxwell playing for Inter next season."

Scolari slams Ronaldo

Former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has hit out at "absurd and ridiculous" Ronaldo over his sex scandal. The Milan striker claimed three prostitutes tried to blackmail him in Rio de Janeiro after he failed to realise they were transvestites.

"This is an absurd and ridiculous situation," slammed Scolari. "Sometimes people don't like to hear the truth about themselves.

"That is why they surround themselves with people who aren't good for them and so end up doing ridiculous things."

Sinama-Pongolle saddened by racist abuse

Racist abuse from Atletico Madrid fans was upsetting and disappointing, French striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle said after Recreativo Huelva's 3-0 defeat at the Calderon.

"I just don't understand that there are still people that go to football matches to insult people of another race," he said after Saturday's match.

"Atletico were rightful winners but I was upset by the racist abuse that you could hear from part of the crowd at the Calderon. It isn't right," said the former Liverpool player who has been linked with a move to Atletico.

Referee Miguel Angel Perez Lasa noted the incident in his match report, saying the crowd had made monkey noises when the player came near the stands.