Football news

Mark Hughes will stay as boss at Manchester City, the club's owners have confirmed.

There had been persistent question marks over his job for most of the season following the takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group.

But club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak was at pains to scotch the rumours ahead of City's last match of the season against Bolton at Eastlands next weekend.

He said: "I have been surprised at all the speculation because I have always been consistent with everyone on the subject of the manager.

"Every time I have spoken I have said we have the highest confidence in Mark and I would like to reiterate that now. Mark will be our manager next season; nothing has changed."

Huddlestone to have knee op

Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone is to undergo surgery on his left knee meaning he will miss his side's final game of the Premier League season.

The 22-year-old was understood to be carrying the slight problem through the last few months and he now faces a race against time to be ready for England's Under-21s European Championship campaign in the summer.

"The operation will rule the midfielder out of our final fixture of the season at Liverpool on Sunday," read a statement from the club.

Inter step up bid for Milito

Serie A champions Inter are holding talks to sign Genoa's Argentina striker Diego Milito, coach Jose Mourinho said.

"Now we can say it. Inter are not too far from getting Milito from Genoa, a striker in top form," Mourinho told Italian television.

Milito, 29, has scored 20 league goals for high-flying Genoa and is viewed as a partner for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who Mourinho thinks will stay at the San Siro although the Swede has said he is pondering his future.

Forwards Hernan Crespo and Julio Cruz are likely to leave Inter along with midfielder Luis Figo.

Zaki on his way out of Wigan

Egyptian striker Amr Zaki is set to leave Wigan after manager Steve Bruce announced that he would not take up the option of making his loan deal permanent.

The 26-year-old had a tremendous start to the season after joining from El Zamalek, with eight goals in his first 10 matches, but he has not scored from open play since mid-October and his last goal came on December 28.

Zaki has been badly hit by injuries and his relationship with Bruce has turned sour.

In early April he was fined for the fourth successive time after returning late from international duty, leading to Bruce labelling the player "the most unprofessional I have worked with".

"I've made my decision, a letter has gone to his club, we will not be taking up the option to sign him when his loan ends," Bruce said.

Barca boss heaps praise on players

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola played down his role behind his team's league and King's Cup double, preferring to heap the praise on his players.

In his debut season Guardiola, 38, lifted Barcelona's first domestic double since 1998, but shrugged off the plaudits.

"With other players I would not be a champion but they certainly would be with another coach," said Guardiola.

"I appreciate the praise but it is the talent of the players and their humility to work hard that has taken us this far."

Guardiola won six league titles as a Barca player, but this was his first as a manager.

Chelsea need to spend big - Hiddink

Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink warned his successor he'll need to spend big money if the Londoners are to stop the Manchester United juggernaut. The Dutchman insists that Chelsea don't yet have a squad capable of competing with United who retained their English Premier League title on Saturday.

He believes the new manager will need more strength in depth to overhaul the champions.

"When you want to compete, you have to renew your squad almost every year," he said. "To be realistic in the upcoming years we have players who are ageing.

"It is up to the new management. It's my humble advice to bring in even more depth. For the FA Cup, League Cup, Premier League and Champions League, you need quality. You need to be able to use a lot of players, like Manchester United."

Adebayor again in Milan's range

Milan have a good chance to sign Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal this summer, club supremo Silvio Berlusconi said.

The Togo striker was on the verge of signing for the Serie A giants last year but instead decided to extend his contract with Arsenal.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger, however, insisted Adebayor is part of his plans but Milan appear set to make a renewed attempt to sign the 25-year-old.

Berlusconi seems positive about the prospects of persuading Adebayor to move to the San Siro.

"There is a good chance that we can get Adebayor," Berlusconi told the Italian media on Sunday night.