Football news

Jurgen Klinsmann told reporters he is "flattered" to be linked with a move to Manchester City but he intends to stay with Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, rubbishing a report in the Daily Mail that said the German is set to take over from Mark Hughes.

Hughes is under pressure as City have so far failed to live up to expectations at the club after new owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group, took control in the summer.

"I have a fascinating job here and the ambition to stand at the end of the season in the Marienplatz (where titles are celebrated in Munich)," Klinsmann said.

"I tell my players like Ribery, for example, that it is flattering for the club and the player when they are linked to other clubs.

"That is the same for the coach, but it is nothing more than that."

Walcott back for training tomorrow

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expects England winger Theo Walcott to return to full training tomorrow after four months out with a shoulder injury.

The 19-year-old has been sidelined since November after an operation on the shoulder injury he suffered in a collision with England team-mate Scott Parker during a training session ahead of their friendly with Germany in Berlin.

Walcott's return is perfectly timed as the Gunners are without a host of creative players including Cesc Fabregas, Eduardo and Tomas Rosicky.

"Theo will join in on normal training on Monday (tomorrow) and then we will see how he behaves with challenges," Wenger said.

Ronaldo fined by Corinthians

Brazilian striker Ronaldo, 32, has been fined for turning up late at the team hotel at the end of a day off.

The club said that Ronaldo, who is travelling with the team for a series of away games, failed to meet an 11 p.m. curfew in midweek.

"For failing to obey this rule, Ronaldo will be punished by the directors in accordance with the internal rules of the club's department of football," said Corinthians.

Ronaldo, who has fully recovered from a serious knee injury he suffered in a match for Milan in February last year, is expected to make his debut in early to mid-March.

Resino says Aguero not untouchable

Atletico Madrid's new coach Abel Resino has dug his heels in against club fans who were upset at his decision to substitute Sergio "Kun" Aguero, who has been dubbed the 'new Maradona'.

Resino took off the 20-year-old fans' favourite early in the second half of their 2-2 draw on Tuesday against Porto, drawing whistles of protest from the home fans.

But asked if he would make the substitution again, Resino said: "Yes, why not? No one is untouchable here."

Aguero has not finished a game since Resino replaced Javier Aguirre as Atletico coach at the beginning of February, fueling speculation the player may be on his way out.

Chelsea and Inter have been linked to a move for the Argentina ace.

Ronaldo should join Real - Figo

Cristiano Ronaldo should join Real Madrid, fellow Portuguese player Luis Figo said yesterday.

"Real Madrid is the most important club in the world, the best club in the world. I think Ronaldo has already wrapped up a stage at United," the Inter midfielder said.

"He has won everything he can with the English club, which is another great club, but he should have other goals now, other ambitions, and Real Madrid would allow him to achieve more importance, more relevancy," he added.

"That is what I have told him. I don't know what he thinks now," the 36-year-old former Real player added.

Figo joined Real in 2000 after five seasons with Barcelona.

Benitez wants positive conclusion

Rafael Benitez wants to reach a positive conclusion with the Liverpool owners over the signing of a new contract at Anfield. Benitez's current contract is due to expire in the summer of 2010.

Merseyside has been awash with speculation regarding off-field struggles and on Friday it was surprisingly announced that chief executive Rick Parry is to end his 12-year stay with the club at the end of the season.

"We will have new talks maybe this week," Benitez said amidst suggestions that the stumbling block is his eagerness to secure full control of the club's transfer policy and academy recruitment plans.

FIFA back extra referees

FIFA's rule makers proposed yesterday to experiment with extra match officials to monitor the penalty box in one of Europe's top leagues next season but ditched the idea of a sin-bin for yellow card offenders.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said soccer's world governing body had received letters from the French and Italian football associations expressing an interest in putting extra linesmen at each end of the pitch to help alert referees to fouls or diving in their second-tier leagues.

"We will work until June to decide which league should be used for the experiment," Valcke told reporters.