Football news

The Italian Super Cup will be played at Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium on August 8, the Italian League said yesterday.

Officials had already announced the match between league champions Inter and Italian Cup winners Lazio would be held in the Chinese capital but it has now been decided to use the Olympic Stadium after weeks of uncertainty.

The pre-season curtain raiser will kick off at 8 p.m. Chinese time, eight minutes short of a year since the Olympics opening ceremony started in the distinctive stadium.

Italian football chiefs are playing the game abroad in a bid to increase global interest in Serie A, which has suffered in comparison with the English and Spanish leagues.

No Liverpool bid for Lavezzi

Liverpool are not in the hunt to sign Argentine Ezequiel Lavezzi, the Napoli striker.

There were media reports lately that Liverpool were on the verge of signing the 24-year-old but Reds manager Rafael Benitez insisted he is not ready to sign him.

"We never contacted Lavezzi and we have no intention of doing so," he said.

"We want to put a stop to these rumours."

Lavezzi wants an improved contract at Napoli.

"I want to come back to Napoli, but promises must be respected," Lavezzi warned.

Villa set to join Kaka at Real Madrid

Valencia striker David Villa, one of the stars of Spain's victorious Euro 2008 squad, is close to signing for Real Madrid.

He would become the second big name to join the club under new president Florentino Perez, after Brazil's Kaka. Perez has established a 200 million euro war chest for players, vowing to create a "spectacular team" capable of overtaking Barcelona next season.

The sports daily Marca said Real are set to pay 37 or 38 million euros for Villa plus bonuses linked to future results. The top scorer at Euro 2008, Villa, 27, scored 28 goals in the Spanish championship this season.

But Valencia are reportedly ready to sell some of its top stars in a bid to ease its financial difficulties.

Benzema cool on Barca move

Lyon's Karim Benzema could be leaving Ligue 1 this summer but his agent is playing down speculation the striker could join Barcelona.

The France international has been linked with a move to the Nou Camp, although no fees have been agreed.

Karim Djaziri, Benzema's agent, said little is likely to happen until Samuel Eto'o's situation is resolved.

"Barca are the best club in the world at the moment, the greatest and this is a motivation that any player should have in his career," Djaziri said.

"Nobody has called me. But, I think Barca will speak to Eto'o before looking for another striker."

Vietnam reports... Denilson injured

Denilson, once the world's most expensive footballer, has yet to kick a ball in anger for his new Vietnamese club amid reports that he's injured.

The former Brazil international failed to take to the pitch at the weekend, sparking anger among the Hai Phong Cement FC faithful, who burned seats and threw objects onto the pitch in protest.

"My doctor said that I can play football within one month," the player said on Monday.

There were no details of his injury.

Ticket prices rose by more than 30 per cent after the club announced last week that they had signed the 31-year-old, calling him the most famous international footballer ever recruited by a Vietnamese side.

Pienaar hints at Everton exit

Steven Pienaar has challenged Everton to prove they are serious about keeping him by coming up with a new long-term deal to ward off interest from Atletico Madrid.

The South African midfielder is a target for the Spanish club and, with only two years remaining on his current deal, admits he could be tempted by a move to La Liga.

"It has been a happy two years at Everton so far but you never know in football what tomorrow will bring," Pienaar said.

"Who knows in one or two years' time where I will be? I have played in a number of the best leagues in the world, and it has always been my ambition to test myself in La Liga."

D'Agostino on his way to Juventus

Udinese midfielder Gaetano D'Agostino will be playing with Juventus next season, according to the northeastern club owner Giampaolo Pozzo.

Delegates from both clubs met this week to discuss the transfer which could cost Juventus around €10 million and the 50% ownership of Paolo De Ceglie.

"We are satisfied with the player, but there is no agreement on the money," Pozzo said.

"D'Agostino will play for Juve, though."

According to Tuttosport, Juve's offer is short of Udinese's asking price. The Bianconeri are said to be thinking about making a new offer, which would include Michele Paolucci and €5m in cash.