Football news

Brazil coach Dunga told his players to forget transfer speculation and concentrate on the World Cup qualifiers.

"They are experienced and professional players, who know that their time with the national team is short and they are focused on these two games," he said.

"I've spoken to some of them and asked them to think exclusively about Brazil. Afterwards, they will have time to decide."

Brazil play Uruguay in Montevideo on Saturday and host Paraguay in Recife on Wednesday.

Ancelotti - a fantastic signing

Chelsea could pose an even bigger threat next season having made "a fantastic signing" by naming Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager, Liverpool's Steven Gerrard said.

Gerrard said he thought the 49-year-old Italian was one of the best coaches in the world.

"I think it's a good appointment for Chelsea, I'm not so sure it's a good one for Liverpool though, we will have to wait and see," Gerrard said half-jokingly.

"He is a fantastic manager, one of the best in the world.

"We played two Champions League finals against him when he was at Milan, won one on a fantastic night in Istanbul, but the second time around they beat us and he was spot on tactically in the second game."

Denilson looking to 'cement' his status

Denilson, once the world's most expensive player, will rocket Cement FC to the top of the Vietnam league, his jubilant coach said.

Months of cajoling and coaxing finally paid off for Hai Phong Cement FC when they sealed a deal to bring the Brazilian to Vietnam. The transfer delighted the mid-table V-League's fans, who welcomed the 31-year-old this week with a motorcade of scooters, flags and flares.

Denilson, the subject of a transfer record in 1998 when Real Betis paid more than $35m to sign him, said he had decided to play in Vietnam because of his passion for the game, and the money.

"I'm 31 and I want to stay in Vietnam for a long time," he said.

Spurs' Bale faces fitness battle

Tottenham Hotspur full-back Gareth Bale is in danger of missing the start of next season after undergoing surgery on an injured knee but his north London club could be forgiven for not wishing him a speedy recovery.

Bale moved to Spurs from Southampton in May 2007 but has the unwanted record of not being on the winning side in all 24 Premier League matches he has played for the club.

Spurs expect the Wales international to be out for up to two months, meaning he will miss a majority of pre-season training.

Genoa eye Juninho

Genoa are interested in former Lyon midfielder Juninho Pernambucano and will shortly wrap up a deal for Inter striker Hernan Crespo, the Serie A side said yesterday.

Crespo, who had been linked with Fiorentina, will join Atalanta striker Sergio Floccari in having a medical in the coming days while the ambitious club said they were continuing to track Inter winger Ricardo Quaresma.

Genoa, fifth this term and in the Europa League next season, are selling striker Diego Milito and midfielder Thiago Motta to champions Inter while Brazilian Juninho is a free agent having won seven French league titles with Lyon.

Fahim agrees Pompey takeover

Abu Dhabi billionaire Sulaiman al-Fahim, and a group of other investors, have agreed a two-phase deal to buy Portsmouth and are aiming to complete it by the end of the summer, Fahim said yesterday.

Fahim, a board member of the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development that bought Manchester City last year, told Reuters he would be travelling to England to conclude negotiations.

"The agreement will be in two phases... we are doing the due diligence now and expect to complete the deal before the summer."

Fahim declined to give a value for the deal, but said the price had been attractive as Portsmouth did not have huge debts like other clubs.

Adriano misses Flamengo training

Brazil striker Adriano missed training with Flamengo on Tuesday, two days after scoring on his debut for the team.

The player's agent Gilmar Rinaldi blamed a breakdown in communications and club director Kleber Leite said no action would be taken against the 27-year-old former Inter forward.

"I don't understand. Adriano's absence was not planned," coach Cuca told reporters.

"We're going to wait to see what happens. He's going to have to have a good excuse."

Adriano later turned up for the afternoon practice, had a meeting with directors and trained separately from the rest of the squad.

"He had been given permission (to miss training) and I think there was a communication problem," Rinaldi said.