Sporting briefs

Ronaldo: Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon said yesterday he does not think Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing at the Bernabeu next season. "As things stand, Cristiano Ronaldo is more likely to be playing with United next year," Calderon told Spanish media at Wimbledon. "Even if Manchester United do say he is for sale we don't know if we can complete the deal."

Barry: Liverpool want to offer Steve Finnan to Aston Villa in a final bid to acquire England midfielder Gareth Barry for less than the £18 million asking price. Barry's proposed move to Anfield has been one of the summer's longest transfer sagas but Martin O'Neill has accepted his skipper will leave, and has challenged his counterpart Rafa Benitez to stump up the cash and get the deal done.

Mavuba: French international midfielder Rio Mavuba has joined Lille on a four-year deal from Primera Liga side Villarreal, the Ligue 1 club said. Mavuba, 23, was loaned to Lille for six months by Villarreal last January.

Almiron: Sampdoria are close to signing former Juventus midfielder Sergio Almiron, beating competition from Fiorentina who wanted to take the 27-year-old on loan for one year. The Argentine midfielder is still owned by Juventus, but spent the last six months on loan at Monaco following a disappointing spell with the former Italy champions.

Zheng Zhi: Charlton Athletic midfielder Zheng Zhi is likely to miss the Beijing Olympics because of a back injury. Although Zheng has a herniated disc in his lower back, China coach Ratomir Dujkovic said he has not given up hope of a recovery, adding: "The Olympic team needs him, we need a Zheng Zhi in top form."

Dogan dies: Turkey's soccer president Hasan Dogan died of a heart attack on Saturday while dining with national team coach Fatih Terim, the country's soccer federation said. Dogan, 52, was holidaying in southwest Turkey and suffered a heart attack during the lunch meeting in Bodrum. He was taken to hospital but doctors were unable to save him, the Turkish Football Federation said on its website.

Amaral: Australian club Perth Glory have signed former Brazilian international defensive midfielder Amaral for the next A-League season. Amaral, 35, was capped 31 times during his career, which included stints at Brazilian clubs Palmeiras and Corinthians, Italian Serie A sides Parma and Fiorentina, and Portuguese club Benfica.

Intertoto Cup: Second round, first legs - Ekranas vs Rosenborg 1-3; Hibernian vs Elfsborg 0-2; OFK Belgrade vs Panionios 1-0; FK Riga vs Bohemians 1-0; TPS Turku vs OB Odense 1-2; Renova vs Bnei Sachnin 1-2.

Triathlon: Woman's world Ironman triathlon champion Chrissie Wellington claimed the European title when she won her fourth straight race in Frankfurt yesterday, missing a world-best time by 31 seconds. Britain's Wellington covered the 3.8-km swim, 180-km bike ride and the marathon run in eight hours 51 minutes 24 seconds, 26 minutes ahead of Nicole Leder from Germany.

Rugby: New Zealand's emphatic 19-8 victory over world champions South Africa in the opening Tri-Nations match was marred by the one-game suspension handed down to lock Brad Thorn after the match. Thorn was found guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct at a judicial hearing yesterday for picking up South African hooker John Smit.

Athletics: Kenya could drop Olympic steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi from the Beijing Games' team if he does not amend his jumping style. Officials said Kemboi had jumped outside the barriers on his way to victory at the national trials ahead of world champion Brimin Kipruto and African champion Richard Mateelong.