Sporting briefs

Chiellini: Juventus have agreed to extend Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini's contract by two years until 2013, the Serie A club said. The 23-year-old defender was widely considered one of the world champions' best players during their unsuccessful Euro 2008 campaign. Attacker Sebastian Giovinco has also been recalled from a loan stint at relegated Empoli.

Atletico Madrid: Atletico Madrid are closing in on the signings of Olympique Lyon goalkeeper Gregory Coupet and Recreativo Huelva's French striker Florent Sinama Pongolle, Enrico Cerezo, the Primera Liga club's president, has said. Cerezo said Sinama Pongolle would be put out on loan if Atletico landed Brazil striker Ricardo Oliveira from relegated Real Zaragoza.

CSKA Sofia: Bulgarian champions CSKA Sofia received a licence yesterday to stay in the premier league after risking expulsion from top-flight soccer. Bulgaria' most successful club with 31 league titles, CSKA lost their place in next season's Champions League earlier this month because of debts to the state and creditors but provided documents proving that they had rescheduled and started redeeming the overdue payments.

Dossena: Liverpool expect to complete the signing of 26-year-old Italy left-back Andrea Dossena from Udinese next week, chief executive Rick Parry confirmed. Dossena, who will replace John Arne Riise after the Norway defender joined Roma this month, will become Liverpool's second new signing after the free transfer of Swiss defender Philipp Degen.

Caneira: Portugal defender Marco Caneira has been released from his contract with Valencia and returned to Sporting Lisbon, the Primera Liga club said. The 29-year-old joined Valencia last year and made 19 league starts, but had been told he was surplus to requirements for next season.

Balboa: Real Madrid have agreed to sell midfielder Javier Balboa to Benfica, the Spanish champions said. Spanish media reported the 23-year-old product of the club's youth system had moved on a four-year contract for around four million euros ($6.27 million). Real retain a buy-back option over the player.

Numancia: Promoted Numancia have agreed to release coach Gonzalo Arconada from his contract, the Spanish second division champions said. Arconada has been linked with a move to Almeria in the Spanish media, following the exit of Unai Emery to Valencia.

Libertadores cup: Ecuadorean champions LDU stunned Fluminense by firing four first-half goals on their way to a 4-2 win in the first leg of South America's Libertadores Cup final on Wednesday. The second leg will be played in Rio de Janeiro on July 2.

Iraq dissolve team: Iraq's soccer federation has dissolved its entire national team and withdrawn from August's West Asian championships after their early exit from 2010 World Cup qualifiers. The Asian champions, knocked out by Qatar in their final third round qualifier on Sunday, had disappointed the Iraqi people, and the entire team needed to be rebuilt, the federation said.