Football news

Eduardo Garcia, one of several candidates for the Real Madrid presidency, said he had an agreement to sign Chelsea striker Didier Drogba if he won the Primera Liga club's June election.

"We have agreements with three players," Garcia told sports daily AS yesterday. "A Champions League centre-forward who scores goals in England. We could present him just after being elected. With people like Drogba we are looking for immediate results."

Garcia added that he had a deal for a Brazilian who occupied a similar position to Kaka, who still played in his native country, and for Racing Santander's left-back. AS named the players as Keirrison of Palmeiras and Ivan Marcano.

De la Red awaitsfinal test

Real Madrid midfielder Ruben de la Red will find out whether he can return to playing football in the next couple of months after one final test, he said yesterday.

"They (the doctors) have told me this really is the last test and that in a month-and-a-half I will have the final results," De la Red told Spanish daily El Pais. "All the results have been negative so far."

The Spain international, 23, passed out during Real Madrid's King's Cup match away to Real Union on October 30. He has not trained or played since.

Newcastle suspend trouble-maker Barton

Joey Barton has been suspended "until further notice" by Newcastle United in a move that looks set to signal the end to the controversial midfielder's career at the club.

The announcement followed reports of a dressing-room confrontation with temporary manager Alan Shearer in the wake of Sunday's 3-0 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield.

Shearer had publicly accused Barton of letting himself and the club down by getting himself sent off in the closing stages of the match for a reckless challenge on Xabi Alonso.

The red card ensured Barton will miss Newcastle's three remaining matches this season, which will determine whether or not the club keeps its place in the Premier League.

Egypt's Al-Ahly keen on Matthaeus

Al-Ahly coach Manuel Jose began his weekend as the darling of Cairo and ended it as a demon.

A shock exit from the African Champions League brought instant public and media pressure on the 63-year-old successful Portuguese with a short temper and a fondness for chewing gum.

Ahly have won the Champions League a record six times and four of those titles came under Jose, but Egyptian television has already named ex-Germany World Cup star Lothar Matthaeus as a possible successor.

Former FIFA Footballer of the Year Matthaeus, 48, is coaching in Israel after unspectacular spells with clubs in Austria, Serbia and Brazil and the Hungarian national team.

United make offer for Ribery - report

Manchester United have offered Bayern Munich €70 million for French midfielder Franck Ribery, in a deal which would set a new world record, the Guardian newspaper reported.

The offer, which would better the €66 million transfer fee paid by Real Madrid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001, would be conditional on the sale of United winger Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, it said.

The report came after Ribery last week threatened to quit the German giants unless they qualify for the Champions League next season.

The German club last weekend hinted it could sell the 26-year-old former Marseille star, who has been at Bayern since July 2007.

Milan target Hamburg's Silva

Milan are reportedly lining up a summer approach for towering Hamburg defender Alex Silva.

The Rossoneri are keen to refresh their ageing defence at the end of the season. They have already secured deals for Felipe Mattioni and Thiago Silva, but the Corriere dello Sport claims Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani is eyeing more reinforcements.

Brazilian defender Silva nearly joined the San Siro giants when he left Sao Paulo last year but there wasn't room for another non-EU player at the club. That problem is likely to be solved soon because Silva is expected to be granted EU citizenship within the next few months.

Giuseppe Favalli is likely to leave Milan at the end of the season and Paolo Maldini will retire, while Alessandro Nesta continues to be plagued by injuries.

Corradi set for Udinese move

Udinese are close to finalising a deal to sign Reggina striker Bernardo Corradi.

With strikers Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella linked with moves to bigger clubs in the summer, Udinese have already drawn up a list of potential replacements for their star duo.

They have moved in for experienced goal-getter Corradi whose contract with Reggina expires this summer. The 33-year-old has scored 10 goals for the relegation battlers and is keen to continue playing in Serie A.

Udinese are expected to offer the Siena native a two-year deal with the possibility of an added 12 months. Corradi was released by Manchester City in July 2008 after an unhappy spell in the Premier League.