Football news

Temperamental teenage star Mario Balotelli will not be staying at Inter next year unless his situation improves, his agent has said.

The 19-year-old has had a tempestuous campaign having fallen out first with coach Jose Mourinho and then lately with the club's fans.

His agent Mino Raiola has put potential suitors such as Arsenal and Manchester City on the alert by claiming his charge could well be on his way out.

"It's sure that like this he can't go on, Mario won't be staying another year at Inter like this, I can guarantee that," he said.

"Over the last eight to nine months no-one in the club has been protecting Mario. I'm accused of acting like his press officer and it's true given that the Inter press officer has only one client: Mourinho."

Benitez tight-lipped over future

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez remained tight-lipped yesterday on his long-term future at Anfield ahead of his side's Premier League clash with Chelsea.

"At the moment I can't talk about the future long-term," he said in quotes reported by The Sun. "I know the future clearly and it is Chelsea on Sunday (today)."

Benitez, who has been strongly linked with Juventus, said during the week that the Merseyside club do not have the financial muscle to challenge in the Premier League, and revealed he had not been given any guarantees from the board that money would be available in the summer.

Revenge not on the agenda for Sven

Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is relishing the chance to face Portugal in the World Cup but insists there will be no feeling of revenge.

Portugal defeated Eriksson's England on penalties in the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 before doing the same two years later in a controversial World Cup contest which saw Wayne Rooney sent off.

"Brazil is favourite to win the group and second should be us or Portugal or North Korea on paper," Eriksson said.

"But the first match for us is really important. There's no sense of revenge, this time it can't be penalty shoot-outs that's for sure."

I don't care about United - Malouda

Chelsea's in-form winger Florent Malouda insists Manchester United should be doing all the worrying as the Blues prepare for their crucial title clash with Liverpool at Anfield today.

"Honestly, I don't care about United," Malouda said. "They are behind us. Why should we look in the mirror and say: "Oh they are there"? We're under pressure but we like the pressure.

"We are still on top of the league, one point in front of them. We have the league in our hands and we have to make it.

"I think United would like to be in our position and we must never forget that. I would have taken the current position at the start of the season."

Queiroz tips Portugal for final four

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has tipped his side to be among the final four at the World Cup.

"Portugal is one of the favourites in the race for one of these places," insisted Queiroz.

"World Cup history has shown us that there are always three big favourites in the semi-finals. Portugal and some 15 other teams will be soliciting the outsider's place."

According to Queiroz the favourites, whom he termed as "dinosaurs", were Brazil, Italy, England, Germany, Spain and Argentina.

Portugal have been drawn in Group G, dubbed the "group of death" with Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea.

Mixed emotions for Eduardo

Arsenal forward Eduardo accepts things have not gone quite to plan this season.

The 27-year-old Croatian has battled back from a career-threatening injury after suffering a broken leg and ankle at Birmingham during February 2008.

However, the former Dinamo Zagreb striker has struggled for consistency and has often been used as a substitute. He has netted six goals from 31 appearances.

"I am happy because I have played in some games, but also disappointed because I missed a lot of opportunities," Eduardo said.

"But that is normal and I have been doing very well for the team. Maybe I have been playing like that this season - more than a goalscorer."

Italian pitches terrible says Diego

Diego is confident he can live up to expectations in his second season at Juventus but claims his progress has been held back by the poor Italian pitches.

"I am the first to say I'm not satisfied with my performance," the Brazilian told Tuttosport.

"I joined a top club like Juve and did not expect such a bad campaign. We had quite a few problems, including the Stadio Olimpico turf.

"In Italy I have encountered the worst pitches of my career. There are some lovely atmospheric stadiums, but what matters to a player is the field and they are terrible.

"The Olimpico surface is irregular and very hard. The only pitches that I'd approve of are in Rome and Genoa."