Football news

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has said Manchester United have no evidence to back their claim that the Primera Liga club are trying to lure Cristiano Ronaldo away from the European champions.

FIFA said they had received a formal complaint from United on Monday over Real's reported interest in signing the Portugal forward.

"They don't have any evidence because nothing has happened," Calderon said.

"All there is, is what the papers say and rumours that the player seems to want to leave. But at the moment a move is impossible because United don't want to sell him."

Arsenal winning race for Ramsey

Aaron Ramsey is set to join Arsenal from FA Cup finalists Cardiff City in a £5m cash deal, BBC Sport reported yesterday.

Champions League winners Manchester United and Everton were also fighting to sign the 17-year-old Welsh wonder kid.

But Ramsey has chosen Arsenal after the Gunners flew him out to Switzerland for face-to-face talks with manager Arsene Wenger, who is at Euro 2008.

Unlike United, the Arsenal deal does not include a loan back option.

Keeper arrested after party rumpus

Mexico goalkeeper and captain Oswaldo Sanchez was arrested in a Chicago hotel when celebrations got out of hand following a 4-0 friendly win over Peru.

El Universal said that Sanchez, who has won 89 caps, was held for two hours after a group of players partied in a room and the noise disturbed other guests.

"The police turned up to stop the trouble-makers and Sanchez resisted, for which he was held for two hours and had to pay bail of $1,000," said the report, adding that Sanchez would have to appear in court on July 11.

Mexico, who recently named former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson as their new coach, had gone into Sunday's match under pressure following a 4-1 defeat by Argentina.

Riquelme and Veron back in squad

Playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme and midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron have been recalled by Argentina for this month's World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Brazil.

Riquelme has not played for Argentina this year because of club commitments with Boca Juniors and was criticised for his performance last week when Boca were knocked out of the Libertadores Cup semi-finals by Brazil's Fluminense.

But coach Alfio Basile told Argentine news agency Telam on Monday that Riquelme was still top choice in midfield.

Former Lazio, Inter, Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Veron, 33, last played in the Copa America final against Brazil in July, when Argentina were thumped 3-0.

Fiorentina target Podolski

Fiorentina have been linked with a sensational swoop for Germany striker Lukas Podolski.

The Serie A club are on the look-out for a new forward after a bitter contract row with Adrian Mutu threatens to see the Romanian leave this summer.

Among the candidates to replace him are Udinese's Antonio Di Natale and Podolski, who impressed in Sunday's 2-0 victory over Poland.

The Polish-born striker bagged the first brace of this European Championship and is on the market, as he has been squeezed out of the Bayern Munich line-up by ex-Fiorentina star Luca Toni.

After Toni's move to the Bundesliga relations between Fiorentina and Bayern are excellent.

Podolski turned 23 last week.

Juve set up United friendly

Juventus will play European and English champions Manchester United in a friendly at Old Trafford on August 6, the Serie A club said.

The match will serve as an important Champions League warm-up for the Turin side, a week ahead of the first leg of the qualifying round.

Juventus will also take part in the Emirates Cup along with Arsenal, Real Madrid and Hamburg in London on August 2-3.

Zico leaves Fenerbahce

Turkey's Fenerbahce are to sign a new coach after failing to reach a deal with Brazilian Zico, the club's chairman was reported as saying.

"We've parted ways with Zico. We know who the new coach is. We will sign an agreement in Istanbul next week," Aziz Yildirim was quoted as saying by Turkish news broadcaster NTV.

Zico led the Istanbul club to the Champions League quarter-finals last season but lost out to city rivals Galatasaray in the domestic title race.

The former Brazilian international joined Fenerbahce in July 2006 after coaching the Japanese national team.