Football news

Former Japan midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata has been linked with a return to professional soccer with England's Manchester City.

Japan's Sankei Sports reported yesterday that the Premier League club were considering an offer for the 31-year-old, who abruptly quit the game after the 2006 World Cup.

However, Nakata's management denied the former Roma and Bolton Wanderers player was planning a full-time return to the game.

"We're frankly a little surprised," Nakata's Sunny Side Up management company told Reuters.

"At this time we're not aware he has any such plans."

The Japanese daily quoted an unnamed City official as saying: "We heard he was playing in a game in Japan. If he is thinking of returning to the game we'd like to prepare an offer."

Grosso attracts interest

Fabio Grosso is attracting the interest of Serie A clubs as a summer move away from Lyon looks likely.

The Italian has just won the Ligue 1 title with Lyon but reports in both France and Italy suggest that his brief adventure in France is coming to an end.

Juventus, Roma and Fiorentina are the favourites to land the World Cup 2006 winner. Juve are looking for an alternative to Cristian Molinaro and Roma could look at the former Palermo and Inter defender given that they are short of options behind Max Tonetto.

It is understood that Grosso would consider an Italian return even if a switch is unlikely to be sorted until Italy's Euro 2008 campaign comes to an end.

Arsenal want La Liga top scorer

Daniel Guiza and Ruben de la Red are the players Arsenal will be looking to sign in summer.

Mallorca striker Guiza finished the 2007/08 season as the Primera Liga's top scorer, bagging 27 goals in 37 appearances. He is also rumoured to have attracted the interest of Barcelona and Valencia, and is likely to demand a transfer fee of around 15 million euros.

Midfielder De la Red has enjoyed a productive year at Getafe, but has recently seen Real Madrid take up the option to bring him back to Santiago Bernabeu.

Despite returning to the Spanish champions it is expected that an offer of around 12 million euros would tempt Real into a sale, a valuation which could also lure Tottenham into renewing their interest in the player.

Flamini added to France squad

Midfielder Mathieu Flamini has been called up to the French squad for the Euro 2008 finals following concerns over the fitness of captain Patrick Vieira.

"Flamini is arriving today at Clairefontaine (France's training camp) and is added to the 23-man squad," team spokesman Yann Le Guillard said.

Le Guillard added that no player had pulled out yet as France have until June 8, one day before their Group C opener against Romania, to make changes to their squad in case of an injury.

Vieira, who is suffering from a thigh injury, has not played in his side's last two warm-up games. Yesterday he was ruled out of France's opener against Romania.

Bologna 'deserve' Serie A

Bologna president Alfredo Cazzola is in seventh heaven after the Felsinei clinched promotion on Sunday.

Bologna had to match Lecce's result against Vicenza in their home game against play-off contenders Pisa to ensure promotion and they did so when both sides won 1-0.

"We have worked with enthusiasm over the last three years and that has allowed us to recover as a club to the point where 35,000 people turned up today," Cazzola said.

"This club and this city definitely deserve a place in Serie A. We asked the fans not to invade the pitch so that the squad could do a lap of honour and they did."

Henry not leaving Barca

New Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola wants Thierry Henry to stay at Barcelona, according to reports in Spain.

Henry had a quiet first year following his switch from Arsenal and speculation has been rife that he could return to the Premier League this summer.

However, El Mundo Deportivo has now claimed that Henry will remain part of Guardiola's plans following a direct meeting with the new Barcelona boss. It is understood that Guardiola spoke to Henry about his desire to have highly-motivated players in his squad.

Beuzelin joins Coventry

French midfielder Guillaume Beuzelin has signed for Coventry on a free transfer from Hibernian.

The 29-year-old, who was out of contract with the Premier League side, has penned a two-year deal at the Ricoh Arena.

Beuzelin, who won the Scottish League Cup with Hibs in 2006/07, said: "I am delighted to be signing for Coventry. I am very excited about next season.

"It is another step in my career. I had four very good years in Scotland and I am very excited about this new challenge."

Meanwhile, speculation is rife that Malta striker Michael Mifsud may leave Coventry this summer with Scotland's Rangers, Sunderland and Birmingham City reportedly interested in his signature.