Football news

Ricardo Quaresma is determined to stay at Italian champions Inter despite fans' disapproval and Genoa interest, the Portuguese winger said.

Quaresma, who arrived at Inter from Porto last August, struggled badly in his first few months in Italy and went on loan to Chelsea in January but again failed to impress.

"I am returning to Inter to stay," the 25-year-old said.

"My agent has proposed other clubs, some of them in Italy, but I said no, I want Inter. I am not afraid of the pressure, or of the whistles at the stadium."

Short assumes 100% Sunderland control

American businessman Ellis Short has assumed complete control of Sunderland, the English Premier League club confirmed yesterday.

Short, who is president of Texas-based private equity firm Lone Star Funds, bought a 30 per cent share in the club last September to become the majority shareholder.

"Even before today he has personally invested more in Sunderland than all previous chairmen, directors and owners combined," chairman and former player Niall Quinn said.

"Late last summer, he injected tens of millions of pounds to fund our new signings and the resultant increased wage bill. This announcement opens the door for a new era at the Stadium of Light."

Viduka ponders Australia future

Australia coach Pim Verbeek has given former captain Mark Viduka a week to decide whether he wants to continue playing at the international level.

Verbeek named an expanded 30-man squad yesterday for the Socceroos' remaining three World Cup qualifiers against Qatar (June 6), Bahrain (June 10) and Japan (June 17) but Viduka's name was missing.

Verbeek said he had decided to give the striker an extra week to make up his mind.

"I still have one spot open and that's a spot for him, so it's up to him," Verbeek said.

"He is not on the list because I had a deal with him... that this week he has to make up his mind and to decide if he will be part of the Socceroos for the upcoming games."

Valdano helping Perez bid at Real

Jorge Valdano is helping Florentino Perez to find a suitable coach for his bid for re-election to the Real Madrid presidency, the Argentine said yesterday.

Valdano, sports director of Real Madrid under Perez during the "Galactico years" earlier in the decade, said three potential candidates were being considered.

"We are working in private on a plan, without haste, and you will all find out what that is in due course," Valdano told reporters.

"There are three options. I'm not going to say who is first second or third, but there is a coherence that links them all, and they all adhere to a particular style."

Juninho to leave Lyon

Former Brazil midfielder Juninho will leave Lyon at the end of the season after winning an impressive list of honours with the French club.

"He asked us to let him go as free agent. For all he has done and for all he represents for us, we thought it would be fair to agree," Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas said.

"Juni is going to leave us," he added as the 34-year-old player burst into tears next to him.

Juninho's contract was due to expire at the end of next season. He joined Lyon in 2001 and helped them win seven successive Ligue 1 titles before they finished third this season.

Ashley apologises for relegation

Owner Mike Ashley apologised to the club's fans after Newcastle's relegation from the Premier League and said talks with interim manager Alan Shearer were ongoing.

"Seeing Newcastle relegated from the Premier League has been a catastrophe for us all," Ashley said.

"I fully accept that mistakes were made during this and previous seasons, and I am very sorry for that," Ashley continued.

"Bringing Alan Shearer back to Newcastle was the best decision I have made. Alan and his staff did all they could to try and keep us up.

"Talks are now ongoing between us about how we can take this club forward again."

Southgate receives Gibson backing

Gareth Southgate will remain manager of Middlesbrough and try and guide them to an immediate return to the Premier League, club chairman Steve Gibson said.

The 38-year-old former England international has been in charge since June 2006 but having taken them to 13th in his first campaign he failed to keep them up this term as they joined fellow north-east club Newcastle in being relegated.

However, Gibson, who has bankrolled the club for well over a decade insisted that Southgate was the right man for the difficult task ahead.

"Gareth has convinced me he knows what it takes to get us back up," Gibson said.

"He is a man I know and admire and we will work together to get this club back to the Premier League."