Football news

Mark Hughes accepts Manchester City are now going to be linked with all the best players in the world - but insists not even limitless funds can guarantee buying them.

City's shock acquisition of Robinho for a British record fee of £32.5million highlighted the financial power of Abu Dhabi United Group. Hughes has confirmed he is looking to spend big again in the January transfer window and admitted that he now expects to be linked with several top players.

But he said: "It's not as simple as going to the club and saying, 'We are now going to take your best player from you', it's not a process that's as straightforward as people are making out.

"It's about getting the right players in the right positions, and being able to get those right players."

Keegan in surprise talks with Ashley

Former Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan held talks with the club's owner Mike Ashley on Friday in a bid to resolve several issues just over a week after he quit the north-east club.

However, a statement issued on the League Managers' Association (LMA) website said "the discussion failed to reach a solution".

The detailed nature of the talks was not disclosed by the LMA, which has recently been in close contact with the 57-year-old former England manager and midfielder.

Keegan, who quit Newcastle on September 4, said he had left because he did not have control over transfer policy.

Cannavaro plans Napoli return

Fabio Cannavaro has confirmed he wants to end his career at Napoli, and is planning a move to the Serie A club next season.

Cannavaro made his Serie A debut with Napoli, aged 19, and left the Partenopei in 1995, when he moved to Parma before joining Inter, Juventus and Real Madrid.

"Before the end of the current season, I must meet with the Real directors to discuss my situation," Cannavaro said.

"If the club still has faith in my capabilities, we'll see what will happen. I certainly won't disguise the fact that I would like to play for Napoli again."

Bologna appoint female president

Francesca Menarini became the second female president in the Serie A after she was elected to take charge of newly-promoted Bologna.

Rossella Sensi had been the first woman to be handed such post last month after she was named president of Roma following the death of her father Franco Sensi.

Now Bologna have also made history by handing the reins to 44-year-old Menarini, while her father Renzo becomes general manager.

"I am honoured and proud to be the first female president in the history of Bologna Calcio, the 25th president in almost 100 years of the club," Menarini said.

Keane rejects Warner criticism

Sunderland manager Roy Keane rejected criticism from FIFA vice-president Jack Warner who accused him of stopping striker Dwight Yorke from playing for Trinidad & Tobago in a World Cup qualifier.

Warner, a special adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, released a letter to Sunderland saying Keane had shown a "callous disregard" for smaller nations by not allowing Yorke to play against the United States.

"He wrote me a letter last week about Dwight Yorke, who has officially retired, I think, about five times and he hasn't played for me because of an injury picked up in Portugal," Keane said.

"He's making out he's worried about his international players but, as I say, Yorkie's not been match fit for me for a month or two and he expects him to go and play two games."

Real can live without Ronaldo, Villa

Real Madrid sports director Predrag Mijatovic has defended the club from criticism that they failed to add top quality players in the summer transfer market.

The Spanish champions were unsuccessful in their attempts to lure Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, Valencia striker David Villa and Villarreal winger Santi Cazorla to the Bernabeu during the close season.

"We can function very well without Cristiano Ronaldo or David Villa. The first year I was here we did well without Kaka and we won two leagues without him," Mijatovic told Real Madrid television.

"Real Madrid is above individual players even if they are the best in the world."

West Ham looking for new sponsors

West Ham United are looking for a new shirt sponsor after terminating their relationship with XL Holidays, part of the XL Leisure Group that went into administration on Friday, the Premier League club said on its website (www.whufc.com).

"The club have suspended sales of all replica shirts until further notice," the statement added.

"West Ham will be seeking further talks with the administrators at the earliest opportunity to clarify the situation regarding the company."