Football news

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov will miss today's Premier League match at Aston Villa and Tuesday's Champions League game at Villarreal with a hamstring injury sustained on international duty with Bulgaria, manager Alex Ferguson said.

Berbatov was substituted after 30 minutes with cramp during Bulgaria's 6-1 defeat by neighbours Serbia in a friendly on Wednesday.

"It's not a tear. It's a slight strain but with hamstrings you don't take any chances. There's no point in making it worse," Ferguson said.

"There's a slight chance he may be available for the City game."

United play derby rivals Manchester City tomorrow week.

Aquilani not leaving - Conti

Bruno Conti, the Roma sports director, blasted the media after reports that midfielder Alberto Aquilani was on his way out and set to join Juventus.

Aquilani is currently negotiating a new deal at Roma but sources close to Roma claimed that Conti had acknowledged the team needs to secure a Champions League qualification to keep Aquilani at the club.

"I speak to Alberto every day, but I have never discussed a move," Conti raged.

"The club normally works to find a solution to every issue, but I see what has happened as greatly offensive to me as a man and a professional. Words have been attributed to me that I never said."

Wenger calls for FIFA probe

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants FIFA and UEFA to investigate if players who missed this week's international friendlies line up for their clubs this weekend or in Champions League games next week.

"Theoretically, if you do not play in the national team, you cannot play in the game after in the championship - that is the rule," Wenger said.

The timing of this week's friendlies has continued the club versus country debate, with many managers fearing that key players will pick up injuries.

"The sad situation is that many players have pulled out because this friendly is very badly positioned," added Wenger.

Adriano eyes return

Inter forward Adriano is confident of getting out of coach Jose Mourinho's bad books in time for today's big match against Juventus.

Mourinho dropped Adriano from the leaders' squad for four games because of indiscipline.

"There was a problem and he decided to leave me out for four games. But I'm returning on Saturday (today), there's the important encounter with Juve," Adriano was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport after scoring in Brazil's 6-2 win over Portugal on Wednesday.

"I hope to have continuity at Inter. Naturally, if I don't get it there, I will with another team."

Kroos keeps Bayern guessing

Bayern Munich coach Juergen Klinsmann may have to start giving Toni Kroos (pictue) more of a first-team chance or risk losing one of the brightest young talents in Germany.

Kroos made a good case for a place in the starting line-up against Energie Cottbus today when he scored a great goal for Germany U-21 against Italy in midweek.

The 18-year-old, long tipped as a future German great, has started just two league games in his debut season as plenty of clubs are interested in taking him on loan for the second half of the season.

"Whether I leave or not is up to me," he told reporters.

"But I have seen my situation improve a bit later."

Ronaldo malicious says Silva

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo was accused of rough tactics during his country's friendly against Brazil in Brasilia in midweek. Brazil won a thrilling encounter 6-2 but the match was marred with some heated exchanges involving Ronaldo.

The Manchester United winger repeatedly flung himself into challenges much to the disdain of Brazilian defender Silva.

"He's a malicious guy and if I hadn't jumped out of the way he would have broken my leg," the Fluminense centre-half said.

"He just lost it because we snuffed him totally out of the game."

Mexican media want Eriksson out

Mexican media called on Sven-Goran Eriksson to quit as national coach after his side lost to Honduras and avoided an early World Cup exit by the skin of their teeth.

Eriksson's team sneaked into the final stage of the CONCACAF zone qualifiers on goal difference ahead of Jamaica after Wednesday's embarrassing 1-0 defeat in San Pedro Sula.

"Kick him out. It only costs $4 million," said the sports daily Record, referring to a penalty clause in Eriksson's contract if he is sacked.

"If they want, Record will pay the first dollar."