Football news

Coach Jose Mourinho said he is happy for Inter to stay out of the January transfer market and hinted Real Madrid may have trouble luring away Hernan Crespo after media reports that they wanted the Argentine striker to stand in for injured Ruud van Nistelrooy.

"I'm totally willing to finish the season with the footballers I have at my disposal today," Mourinho told a news conference. "If Crespo can be important for Real, he can be important for Inter too."

Crespo has played a marginal role this season under Mourinho, who left him out of Inter's squad for the group stage of the Champions League.

Schuster searching for striker

Real Madrid could bring in a player to replace injured striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is out for the season after having knee surgery, coach Bernd Schuster said.

"If there is any possibility we will certainly make the most of it," Schuster told reporters when asked whether van Nistelrooy would be replaced in the squad.

"Ruud's loss will make us more attentive to the market," he added. "Someone important could come in to help us."

Schuster said he would be using youth player Alberto Bueno to bolster the first-team squad. Bueno played and scored a fine goal in Real's shock King's Cup exit to third-tier Real Union on Tuesday.

Benzema sets sights on move to top club

Lyon striker Karim Benzema has said he would be interested in a move to Manchester United in the future.

Benzema was recently quoted as saying that his dream was to join either Real Madrid or Barcelona, seemingly ruling out a transfer to United, but the 20-year-old's latest comments are likely to encourage Alex Ferguson to enter the chase.

"There are many clubs," Benzema told L'Equipe when asked about potential future employers. "Barca and Real, but also Manchester and Milan. "

Boost for Australia's World Cup bid

Australia's bid to stage the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 has received a boost after rival sports agreed to vacate the country's major stadiums during the tournament, according to local media.

Most of Australia's biggest stadiums are regularly used by all four sports but rugby league, rugby union and Australian Rules officials have agreed to rearrange their match schedules and allow soccer to have first choice if Australia succeeds in winning the right to host the tournament.

News of the deal comes just a month before the FIFA executive meets in Tokyo to finalise the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

I'm staying put, Lavezzi tells Chelsea

Chelsea are interested in Napoli forward Ezequiel Lavezzi but the Argentine has said he does not want to leave.

The 23-year-old has been inspirational in Napoli's rise to the upper reaches of Serie A this season and won a call-up to coach Diego Maradona's first Argentina squad for Wednesday's friendly in Scotland.

"I want to stay. I know Chelsea have looked at me but this issue is for my agent and the club," he told yesterday's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I don't believe there is any intention to let me go and I am pleased about that, I'm really happy at Napoli."

I'm worthy of Ballon d'Or - Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is convinced he deserves to win the Ballon d'Or, saying: "Kaka and Ronaldinho have nothing over me."

The Inter striker has long been considered a contender for the award by those within the club, most notably president Massimo Moratti, but is not among the favourites for the 2008 edition.

"I am certainly worthy of the Ballon d'Or," he told L'Equipe. "I think that Kaka and Ronaldinho have nothing over me. I am at their level and would not look bad by their side."

"Unfortunately, to win the Ballon d'Or you first have to win the Champions League," Ibrahimovic, who has tipped Man. United's Cristiano Ronaldo for the prize, added.

"It is a necessary requirement."

Unpaid players threaten strike

Estrela Amadora's players will strike at the end of the month if the Portuguese Premier League club does not pay them overdue wages, the head of the country's Professional Footballers' Union said.

The club's management was unavailable to comment on the decision of the 41-man squad who, if they strike over wages that are three months late, would miss two league games - against Pacos Ferreira on November 30 and Sporting on December 3.

The players are claiming unpaid wages from August, September and October amounting to a total of €426,000. Amadora are sixth in the league, five points behind leaders Leixoes after seven matches.