Football news

Luis Figo said he has reached an agreement to continue playing with Inter for another year.

"Last season, I was out for a long time with injuries. I didn't want to finish my career with such a disappointing season," the 35-year-old Portuguese midfielder told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I wanted another year to prove something and it was beautiful that my desire coincided with Inter's."

Thuram leaves Barcelona for PSG

Former France defender Lilian Thuram is joining Paris St Germain from Barcelona, French sports daily L'Equipe reported yesterday.

The 36-year-old had reached an agreement with the Ligue 1 club and passed a medical, L'Equipe reported. He was expected to sign a one-year contract with an option for another year.

A member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning team, Thuram won a record 142 caps for his country. He announced his international retirement after France's group stage exit from Euro 2008.

Turkey's Rustu quits national team

Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber has announced his international retirement following Wednesday's 3-2 defeat by Germany in the Euro 2008 semi-finals.

The match in Basel, which the Turks were unlucky to lose, was his 118th final cap.

"I am ending my international career, where I served with pride, glory and honour for 14 years," he told UEFA's official tournament website (www.euro2008.com) yesterday.

"I would like to thank everybody who has helped me. I am proud of each of my team-mates. Everybody in Turkey should get behind them because this team can achieve a lot."

Rustu was second-choice goalkeeper coming into the tournament but Volkan Demirel's two-match ban for a red card in the final group win over the Czechs gave him his chance.

Arsenal eye Crouch to replace Adebayor

Agent Vincenzo Morabito claims Arsenal are considering Peter Crouch as a possible replacement for Emmanuel Adebayor.

Barcelona and Milan are battling to persuade the London club to part with Adebayor, with a fee in excess of £30 million mentioned for the Togo striker.

Morabito, who is among the agents working on the deal for the Italian giants, appears optimistic that Adebayor will move to the San Siro.

"Arsenal are looking for Adebayor's replacement," Morabito said.

"The names being talked about are Peter Crouch, Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz and Germany forward Mario Gomez.

"Until that search is over, the negotiations won't reach the final stage, but I am fairly optimistic."

Grant offered Georgia job

Former Chelsea manager Avram Grant has been offered a way back into the game as coach of the Georgia national team.

The 53-year-old has been without employment since the Champions League finalists opted to terminate his contract at the end of May, paving the way for Luiz Felipe Scolari to later take over at Stamford Bridge.

And Georgian FA president Nodar Akhalkatsi has revealed the Israeli is his first choice to take charge of the eastern European minnows.

"I have spoken with him and offered him the job," Akhalkatsi said of Grant.

"We have monitored his work with the Israel national team and Chelsea and feel he is a good coach. We will speak again soon."

Fiorentina seal Vargas transfer

Fiorentina have finally completed the transfer of Peruvian defender Juan Manuel Vargas from Catania.

The gifted wing-back shone for the Sicilians last season helping them to retain their Serie A status for another campaign.

Vargas is the fifth new signing for the Viola who have reportedly paid £9.5m and have given Vargas a five-year contract worth just over £700,000 per season.

Barcelona move in for Arshavin

Barcelona could be ready to offer Russia star Andrei Arshavin his dream move to Nou Camp after Zenit St Petersburg confirmed the Spanish giants have made an approach for the playmaker.

Arshavin has admitted he would like to move to Spain with Barcelona his dream destination. The Catalan titans have now made their first move to lure the 27-year-old to Spain.

"Barcelona has made a formal proposal to Zenit for the purchase of Arshavin," Zenit's sporting director Konstantin Sarsaniya told Sovietski Sport.

"We will only talk about this once Andrei returns to Zenit."