Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has reiterated his desire to return to Spanish giants Barcelona later in his career.

Fabregas has long been linked with a move back to the Catalan giants, where he spent six years as a youth-team player.

He played down Spanish reports that he could move back in the summer, telling Catalunya Radio: "I have not been called by anyone. Neither me or my agent. But I can only speak from what I know and answer what I know.

"I have never hidden the fact that one day I will return to Barcelona.

"Barcelona is the best city in the world. I do not like the weather in London, but as a city it is spectacular. When I retire, I will live in Barcelona."

Fergie sees benefits from Rio's captaincy

Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United can benefit from Fabio Capello's decision to make Rio Ferdinand the new England captain.

Ferdinand served the second game of his four-match suspension as United beat Portsmouth 5-0 on Saturday. The defender, 31, was watching from the stands just 24 hours after taking the England skipper's armband from John Terry.

Ferguson said: "We're pleased for him and it's great for United to have one of our players captaining his country.

"Over the years we've had Gary Neville, Bobby Charlton and Bryan Robson for 60-odd games or something so we're very proud of that."

Van Gaal accuses team of arrogance

Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal accused his side of being "arrogant" as the German giants beat Wolfsburg 3-1 on Saturday to draw level with Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen.

The win over Wolves was Bayern's eighth consecutive league victory and has put them level on 45 points with Leverkusen and only goal difference has stopped Munich finishing the weekend top. But van Gaal slammed his side for being too complacent.

"I'm very angry - we were arrogant," said van Gaal.

"And if we're going to be arrogant, we have to put together great moves and we didn't.

"We lacked concentration, but we have to concentrate all the time and not start playing arrogant football after going a goal or two up."

JFA boss urges fans to boo national team

Japan's football chief wants disgruntled fans to continue jeering the national side in the hope of toughening them up before this year's World Cup.

Japan's players were booed from the pitch after Saturday's 0-0 home draw with China in the East Asian championship, piling more pressure on coach Takeshi Okada.

Japan FA president Motoaki Inukai said: "I want the supporters to boo their hearts out. It's good for the players.

"We have problems - 180 minutes without a goal. If we play like that at the World Cup we don't stand a chance."

Kaka ends barren spell at Real

Kaka scored his first league goal in three months as Real Madrid closed back to within five points of pacesetters Barcelona at the top of the Spanish top-flight with a 3-0 home win over Espanyol on Saturday night.

Real were without Cristiano Ronaldo but didn't need the Portuguese as goals from Sergio Ramos, Kaka and Gonzalo Higuain sealed an easy win.

Kaka was all smiles after ending a run of seven league games without a goal and this was his first goal since he netted in the 3-2 derby win over Atletico Madrid back on November 7.

"It was nice for me to score after so many games," said Kaka.

"I am coming back from injury and just finding my best form."

Kaka almost scored again in the second half when he rattled the post.

Fan injured at Stoke game dies

A Blackburn fan critically injured at last weekend's match at Stoke City has died in hospital, police said yesterday.

The man, who was found unconscious in a stand during Saturday's game, was treated for a head injury and cardiac arrest, then rushed to the hospital.

A police spokesman said: "A 30-year-old man was pronounced dead at 1.55 a.m. this morning at University Hospital North Staffordshire. The circumstances are being fully investigated and a 25-year-old man remains in custody."

The victim was found collapsed in the concourse area of the south stand just after half-time, where a group of Blackburn supporters were gathered.

Mancini dismayed by Bridge taunts

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini criticised the Hull fans who subjected Wayne Bridge to a series of personal chants on his return to the side on Saturday.

The England left-back played his first match after two months out with a knee injury in the 2-1 defeat against Hull at the KC Stadium.

Bridge has found himself in an unwanted media spotlight following the revelations about an alleged affair between former Chelsea team-mate John Terry and his ex-partner.

Mancini said: "I think sometimes we have to have respect for people. It was not good, in the first half, the people did not respect him."

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