Football news

Italian defender Marco Materazzi, who scored in the 2006 World Cup final before being headbutted by Zinedine Zidane, will not even watch this year's tournament after deciding to go on a touring holiday.

The 36-year-old, who rarely features in Inter's defence, has no chance of making Marcello Lippi's squad for South Africa and is not interested in seeing his compatriots try to defend their title.

"I know where I'll be on June 11, the first game of the World Cup finals - in my motor home travelling around America. I won't watch the tournament, the timings won't work out," he said.

Solano set for Colchester talks

Former Peru captain Nolberto Solano has revealed he is set to complete a move to League One side Colchester.

Although Colchester boss Adrian Boothroyd labelled reports he had signed the player last week as "premature", Solano claims he is now poised to pen a deal until the end of the season.

Solano said: "I'm going for six months to play for Colchester United. Talks are already at an advanced stage and I'm travelling to complete the deal.

"It's a lovely opportunity at 35 years of age to still be considered. My plan is to end my (playing) career as a coach and look for work there (in England)."

Puel not expecting too much activity

Lyon coach Claude Puel has not ruled out strengthening his squad this month but insists he will not pay over the odds for players.

Club president Jean-Michel Aulas has told Puel he can bolster his group if he so wishes, but the coach will only bring in fresh blood if he feels he can get value for money.

"The transfer window looks difficult because there is no question of paying three times what a player is worth," he said.

"We can be active if the prices are normal. Currently, they are prohibitive."

Lyon have been linked with moves for Robert Pires and Mouhamadou Dabo.

Wenger sorry to see United defeated

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted that he was sorry to see old sparring partner Alex Ferguson and Manchester United knocked out of the FA Cup.

United slumped to a 1-0 home defeat to Leeds while Arsenal secured a fourth round spot with a come-from-behind 2-1 win at fellow Londoners West Ham.

But Wenger said he was disappointed United had been beaten as it gives Arsenal's Premier League title rivals more time to recover ahead of important league and European engagements.

"It's not so much for the title race that Man. Utd has an advantage not to go through, it's more for the Champions League because the FA Cup fifth round is just before a Champions League game," said Wenger.

Celtic boss defends McDonald snub

Celtic boss Tony Mowbray defended his decision to start the Old Firm derby with Scott McDonald on the bench despite the Australian striker coming on to score in the 1-1 draw with Rangers.

McDonald, the club's top scorer who is being courted by Wigan and Middlesbrough, made an immediate impact when he gave Celtic the lead eight minutes after being called into action at Parkhead.

"He has done that before when he came off the bench at Falkirk and scored two," Mowbray said.

"Scott's not very happy at sitting on the bench of course, I can understand that.

"But my job is to pick the team I think can go and give Rangers the most problems and I don't think anyone can sit here and say we didn't give Rangers lots of problems."

Real may visit Taiwan in August

Real Madrid may visit Taiwan for the first time in August, the company that is arranging the trip said.

The Spanish powerhouse, which toured Asia in 2003 and 2005, is scheduled for a friendly match in Beijing on August 8, and Taiwan hopes to host another leg of the team's Asian visit.

"In principle we have obtained the support of our partner organising the Beijing visit," Elephant Ching, president of Taipei-based Dot Han Integrated Marketing Co, said.

The visit will cost about three million euros and the company will seek financial assistance from the government, he said.

United mull bond issue on £700m debt

Manchester United is considering a bond issue as part of the English Premier League champions' efforts to control its £700 million debts, a report said yesterday.

Investment bank JPMorgan and Germany's Deutsche Bank are advising the football club on options to improve the club's financial situation, the Financial Times said.

One option under consideration would be the issue of high-yield bonds, according to the newspaper.

London's Sunday Times reported that the cash raised would be used to pay back some of United's existing debts.

The club owes about €788 million to banks, financial institutions and hedge funds, according to debt specialists.