Football news

Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz was arrested on Friday after a complaint from a financial institution but released without charges, a government official said.

Sanz, president of the Spanish club from 1995-2000 when they twice won the European Cup and collected a league title, was questioned by investigators in Cordoba.

He had been detained, along with two other people.

Sanz was subsequently released without charges.

No more clubbing - Adriano

Inter striker Adriano wants to put his career back on track after losing his way with excessive partying and alcohol.

"After the death of my father, I simply wasn't the Adriano I once was. I lost myself, fell into depression and the situation got worse day by day," he told reporters.

"Now, I'm not back to my best yet, but I am on the right track."

Adriano's career was at risk before he went to Sao Paolo for a six-month loan spell to rest and recuperate.

"That was the most difficult moment of my life. I was out dancing until 5 a.m. and then obviously couldn't train properly. Now, I swear, I no longer want to go out clubbing. I won't say I never will again but certainly not until dawn."

Kinnear keeping seat warm for Keegan

Kevin Keegan will return as Newcastle manager when the Premier League strugglers are under new ownership, according to caretaker Joe Kinnear.

Kinnear was appointed by Newcastle on Friday on a short-term contract he calculated would last six to eight matches. He told British media he was merely a stop-gap ahead of the return of Keegan to Tyneside.

Keegan resigned three weeks ago over differences with owner Mike Ashley who is on the verge of selling the club.

"(Ashley) informed me the new owners coming in had Kevin Keegan in mind to come back. I'm aware of that but I want to get the place in shape before Kevin comes back," said former Wimbledon manager Kinnear.

Wenger - always a Gunner

Arsene Wenger had the chance to quit Arsenal in the past but never considered leaving and the longer he stays, the harder it becomes to leave the club, he said.

The former Nagoya Grampus Eight manager, who celebrates 12 years at the helm today, did not say where the offers came from.

He said: "I was offered the chance to leave but I never considered going. The longer I stay, the more difficult it becomes to imagine leaving Arsenal."

Wenger, 59 on Oct. 22, added he stopped putting a time frame on when he may retire after surpassing his last target by three years.

"I said to my wife, 'at 55 I stop, I promise'," he said. "And at 55, I said 60, and now I don't speak anymore."

Giggs's days as winger over

The days of Manchester United's Ryan Giggs being used as a winger by the Premier League champions are drawing to a close, manager Alex Ferguson said.

Ferguson did not foresee an immediate end to Giggs's record-breaking career but admitted that he regarded the 34-year-old as a more central forward.

"That's where we played him the other night (in the League Cup against Middlesbrough)," Ferguson told reporters.

"The days for Ryan at nearly 35 years of age to tramp up and down the touchline are gone. He can maybe do it the odd time but I think that's beyond him now."

Despite his change of role, Giggs scored a wonderful goal in United's 3-1 victory over Boro.

The real Robinho

Robinho, 24, had a positive start to his first stint in the English Premiership but reckons the best is still to come and said he has not even peaked yet.

The Man. City record signing has already made a swift impact having followed up a debut goal against Chelsea with another in City's 6-0 mauling of Portsmouth last weekend.

"In a few weeks' time Man. City fans will start to see the real Robinho," he said.

"I have already noticed there is a far better atmosphere in our dressing room then we had at Real Madrid. I want to do as well as we can this year and then try and play in the Champions League as quick as possible."

No bid for Cassano says Juve chief

Giovanni Cobolli Gigli told reporters Juventus will not make a bid to sign Antonio Cassano from Sampdoria in the next transfer window.

There have been reports since last summer that Juventus were interested in the former Roma and Real Madrid forward but Juve chairman Cobolli Gigli said his club would rather focus on youth talent.

"We have some talented players from our youth team who can become champions," Cobolli Gigli said.

"Our path must be to focus on them. I am not closing the door on Cassano, who has undoubted talent, but I say our club should follow the youth policy."