Football news

Manchester City should be considered favourites to win the Premier League after splashing out millions of pounds in the transfer market over the close season, said Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill.

"City might not be favourites to win the league but they should be," O'Neill was quoted as saying in British media.

"If (Kolo) Toure comes - and they still haven't stopped spending - they have as good a chance as anyone of winning it."

Arsenal defender Toure is set to join City for a fee of about £16 million. They have already signed forwards Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz plus midfielder Gareth Barry.

Bojinov says joining Parma on loan

Manchester City striker Valeri Bojinov is moving to Serie A side Parma for one season, he told Bulgarian radio station Darik yesterday.

"The national team is very important for me," said 23-year-old Bojinov. "But to be in the national team you need matches. That's why I decided to move to Parma."

Bojinov joined Manchester City from Fiorentina in 2007 but his contribution was limited by injuries. Fiorentina paid Lecce €13 million ($18.39 million) for him in January 2005. City have signed strikers Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz during the close season.

Arbeloa passes Real Madrid medical

Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa has passed a medical and will sign a five-year contract with Real Madrid, the Primera Liga club said yesterday.

Liverpool had earlier confirmed the agreement in a statement.

The versatile Spanish international returns to the club he originally joined as a 16-year-old from Real Zaragoza.

He developed through the Real youth system but found his opportunities limited in the first team and left for Deportivo La Coruna in 2006, and then Liverpool in January 2007. He had one year left to run on his contract.

Spanish media reported the deal was worth around €4 million ($5.66 million), taking Real's close-season spending up towards the €220 million mark.

Argentine defender Sorin retires

Former Argentina captain Juan Pablo Sorin announced his retirement from football at the age of 33 on Tuesday.

The left-back, who led Argentina to the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, had been plagued by injuries during his third spell with Brazilian side Cruzeiro, playing only six matches in the last seven months.

"I'm going to stop playing football," Sorin told reporters. "It's been 15 years ... a very enjoyable career."

Sorin, who belonged to the Argentine generation of Juan Sebastian Veron, Hernan Crespo and Ariel Ortega, also played at the 2002 World Cup. He made 76 international appearances, scoring 12 goals.

Hargreaves comeback delayed again

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has suffered another blow after boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted the injured England international is still some way from full fitness.

Hargreaves hasn't played since September 2008 and had hoped to train with the Premier League champions as they prepared for a pre-season tournament in Germany.

But Ferguson said Hargreaves won't be rushed back.

"Hargreaves will not play in this tournament," Ferguson said. "We had hoped he would be joining us, but he is still in his programme of rehabilitation.

"He has had major operations on both knees and we are not rushing that."

Pompey in for Zaki - agent

Amr Zaki's agent has told English media that he's in contact with Portsmouth regarding a summer switch for the striker to Fratton Park.

The Zamalek striker spent last season on loan at Wigan, enduring mixed fortunes during his time in England. A public rift with then manager Steve Bruce dashed Zaki's hopes of earning a permanent move to Wigan.

Portsmouth, who have sold last season's top scorer Peter Crouch to Tottenham, have reportedly identified Zaki as a potential option.

"Negotiations have been ongoing for the last three days to sign Amr on loan," Nadir Sawqi, Zaki's representative, said.

Milan reject Chelsea's Pirlo bid

Milan have rejected an offer from Chelsea for playmaker Andrea Pirlo, according to reports in the English media.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is known to be a big fan of Pirlo who was one of his first signings when the former Juve mentor took charge of Milan in 2001.

After taking on Milan in the World Football Challenge, Ancelotti joked: "Pirlo is of Chelsea... I mean he is a Milan player, of course."

The Daily Mail suggested Chelsea had made an £8.6m bid for Pirlo, which also included Claudio Pizarro, and Michael Mancienne on loan.

The Sun also reported that an offer has been lodged. However, according to The Sun, a £12.5m bid was turned down with a 'Milan insider' saying Pirlo is worth closer to £35m.