Football news

Olympique Lyon have tabled an offer for want-away Lazio striker Goran Pandev, reports in Italy said yesterday.

The French club, who sold Karim Benzema to Real Madrid earlier this month, have already signed Porto striker Lisandro Lopez.

Pandev has admitted his desire to join a club capable of participating in the Champions League year in year out. The 25-year-old has attracted interest from Juventus, Napoli and Bayern Munich.

Lazio president Claudio Lotito has put a £16m price tag on his star striker.

Barca agree to sign Keirrison

Barcelona have agreed to sign Brazilian forward Keirrison from Palmeiras on a five-year contract for €14 million, the European champions said yesterday.

The fee for the 20-year-old, who is due to have a medical today, could rise to €16 million depending on how many matches he plays for the first team. He will be loaned out during the coming season to a club yet to be determined, Barcelona added.

Barca said Keirrison was one of the sensations of the 2008 season in Brazil, during which he scored 21 league goals for his previous club Coritiba. He moved to Palmeiras in January and scored five goals in seven league matches.

Stuttgart bid for Huntelaar collapses

VfB Stuttgart's attempt to sign Netherlands striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar from Real Madrid has collapsed after the player failed to meet a Wednesday night deadline, the Bundesliga club said.

"We wanted to sign Huntelaar because his style fits with our team," Stuttgart sporting director Horst Heldt said yesterday. "But we are not prepared to be dragged along."

Stuttgart, who received €35 million from the Bundesliga record sale of striker Mario Gomez to Bayern Munich, have yet to sign a replacement.

Real Madrid sporting director Miguel Pardeza has been quoted as saying the Spanish club is finding it hard to sell players as it seeks to trim its squad.

Ronaldo to star in film

Brazil's three-time world player of the year Ronaldo has agreed in principle to star in a film about a Palestinian child fan of his who dies in a refugee camp, it was reported yesterday.

The 32-year-old will be with his club Corinthians in the Middle East - for a September 15 friendly in the Palestinian Territories against fellow Brazilians Fluminense - at the time that the film is set to be made in Lebanon.

"Ronaldo signed an agreement in principle last week," his agent Fabiano Farah told sports information provider El Globo. "A definitive agreement will be reached in September."

Ronaldo, though, has still to get permission from his club to act in the Iranian-directed film.

Pompey role for Maradona?

Diego Maradona's lawyer has claimed the Argentina coach is ready to quit his job with the national team to join Portsmouth as a "global ambassador".

Pompey's new owner Sulaiman Al Fahim recently announced plans to open a Maradona Sports Cafe in the UAE and is also a close friend of Maradona's cousin Remigio, with both men working for the UN as goodwill ambassadors.

"Maradona has got top players ready and he is even ready to leave the Argentine national team," Moyano told Arabian Business.

"He wants to build a strong team for which he offers his help to sign players of top level who, with the support of Maradona, will be ready to come to Portsmouth."

Man. City seal Nou Camp date

Manchester City will play European champions Barcelona in a friendly match at the Nou Camp on August 19.

City had been slated to play a league match against Everton the same night but the Merseysiders are in action in a Europa League qualifier the same evening.

City, who have previously played five friendly meetings with Barca, will compete for the Joan Gamper Trophy, an annual gala affair first held in 1966 in honour of Barca's late chairman and founding player.

The Catalan club provided the opposition when they helped open the City of Manchester Stadium in 2003. On that occasion, City won 2-1.

Injured Ribery to miss friendlies

Injured Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery will miss their next two friendlies after sitting out pre-season training in southern Germany, the club said.

"It is difficult to define the right time for his return," new Bayern coach Louis van Gaal told the official website yesterday.

Ribery picked up a knee injury a few weeks ago and did not take part in the training camp. Bayern play Cologne today and an invitational team tomorrow.

The 26-year-old Frenchman had wanted to join Real Madrid, who were trying to sign him, despite having a contract with Bayern until 2011 but the club was unwilling to sell him.