Football news

Deco is close to completing his return to Brazil, with Fluminense revealing they have already agreed terms with the Chelsea midfielder.

The 32-year-old revealed several months ago that he was seeking a move back to the country of his birth, after spending 13 years in Europe. Portugal international Deco now appears to have been granted his wish if he can negotiate his release from the Premier League club.

"As Deco himself said, the deal is well under way," said Celso Barros, the president of the group which owns Fluminense.

"It depends only on him being released by Chelsea and passing the medical tests, because the salary and length of contract have already been agreed."

Ronaldo happy at birth of son

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is "very happy" after becoming a father for the first time, according to reports.

The former Manchester United player became a father on June 17, two days after Portugal played the Ivory Coast in the World Cup. The mother is from North America.

His youngest sister, Katia Aveiro, speaking from Vilamoura, in the Algarve, confirmed the birth to the Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias.

She said: "He is very happy, of course, who wouldn't be happy to have children?"

She said the baby boy has dark eyes and hair like his father.

Defoe wants Joe Cole at Spurs

Jermain Defoe would love England team-mate Joe Cole to join him at Tottenham next season.

Cole, 28, is a free agent after his contract with Chelsea expired this summer and Defoe would welcome his arrival at White Hart Lane, having been impressed by Cole as the pair trained together with England at the World Cup.

Defoe told Sky Sports News: "When we were in South Africa (you could see) every day his passion and his drive to want to improve.

"In training he was sharp and he was strong, he just loves football - that's Joe. So if we could get someone like that at the club it would be good for everyone."

Morocco name Gerets as coach

Former Marseille coach Eric Gerets was yesterday named as new coach of the Moroccan national team, a post that had been vacant since the sacking of Frenchman Roger Lemerre last year.

The Moroccan football federation announced that Frenchman Dominique Cuperly, former deputy coach of Lens and Marseille, will be Gerets' assistant.

Gerets, a Belgian, will leave his current position as coach of Saudi club Al Hilal in November.

As a player, Gerets won 86 caps with Belgium and helped them to the 1986 World Cup semi-finals. He also won the then European Cup in 1988 with PSV Eindhoven.

Buffon undergoes back surgery

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is set to be sidelined for three months after undergoing back surgery.

Buffon suffered a recurrence of a herniated disc while on international duty with Italy at the World Cup.

The veteran keeper went under the knife yesterday in Turin to repair the damage.

"I think between six and eight weeks will be needed for Buffon to begin rehabilitation and at least three months for him to return to playing," said Maurizio Fornari, head of neurosurgery at the Galeazzi orthopaedic institute in Milan, who led the operation.

"The surgery went very well and was needed to take the hernia in a less invasive manner in order to free the nerve that was suffering."

Galliani rules out Ibra approach

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has dismissed reports the Rossoneri are planning to swoop for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, claiming the club cannot afford the Barcelona striker.

Ibrahimovic was part of the big transfer deal of last summer when he moved to the Nou Camp in a swap deal with Samuel Eto'o but he had an unimpressive first season.

The arrival of Spain striker David Villa at Barca has increased speculation that the Swede could be heading for the exit door this summer.

"Ibrahimovic will not come to Milan," the Rossoneri chief told reporters.

"We don't have the finances to buy him. It's not a deal that's possible at certain sums. Barcelona can allow themselves to pay amounts that we can't afford."

Moutinho seals Porto switch

Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho has signed a five-year deal with FC Porto worth €11 million.

Moutinho has joined Porto from Sporting where he was captain in a transfer Portuguese media said was the most expensive between two clubs in the country.

Moutinho, 23, has made 26 appearances for Portugal, scoring two goals and playing at Euro 2008, but he failed to make the cut for Carlos Queiroz's squad for the World Cup in South Africa.

The transfer will also see Nuno Andre Coelho, 24, leaving Sporting for Porto on a deal that runs through to 2014.