Football news

Inter have firmly declared Maicon and Mario Balotelli are not for sale.

Both players have been linked with top European clubs this summer despite being under contract with the Italian champions.

Brazil right-back Maicon is a target of Real Madrid while Manchester United and Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing Italian striker Balotelli. But Nerazzurri sporting director Marco Branca insists Inter have no plans to part company with either player.

"We are in a privileged situation, having won so much," he said.

"It's true that we receive calls each day because everyone wants at least six or seven of our champions. Maicon and Balotelli? Our two players have never been placed on the transfer market."

West Ham close to swoop for Barrera

West Ham manager Avram Grant revealed that he is close to completing a swoop for Mexico winger Pablo Barrera.

Barrera, who represented his country at the World Cup, will cost the English Premier League club around four million pounds to sign from his current team - Mexican outfit UNAM Pumas.

Grant is confident the 23-year-old will prove a valuable addition to his squad.

"He is more of a winger and he can play on either side," Grant said.

"He is a very good player and is good for the vision of the club."

Grant has so far signed only German midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger.

Sunderland target striker Welbeck

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is ready to test former manager Alex Ferguson's resolve to hang on to young striker Danny Welbeck.

Bruce has been linked with a series of frontmen from around the world in recent days, but has indicated his focus is currently on a young player at a Premier League club. And PA Sport understands Manchester United's 19-year-old Welbeck is a target for the Black Cats as they attempt to strengthen their hand in attack.

The Manchester-born player spent the second half of last season on loan at Preston, and it could be that Bruce will look to recruit him on a similar basis if Ferguson is not prepared to do a permanent deal.

Valencia agree Aduriz deal

Valencia have reached a preliminary agreement with Mallorca to sign striker Aritz Aduriz.

Aduriz, 29, scored 12 goals to help Mallorca finish fifth in La Liga last season. The transfer of the Spanish forward to the Mestalla stadium will be completed in the next 24 hours pending a medical.

"Aduriz is a striker who scores, works hard and contributes in team play," said Valencia's technical secretary Braulio Vazquez.

Valencia were in need of a marksman after they sold top scorer David Villa to Barcelona earlier this summer.

Uruguay's Cavani joins Napoli

Napoli completed the transfer of Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani from Palermo yesterday.

Napoli were in search of a striker capable of scoring between 15 and 20 goals a season, but until yesterday their efforts proved fruitless.

Tottenham and Wolfsburg were favourites to land Cavani, 23, after the latter had made his intentions clear that he wanted to leave the Sicilian outfit. However, the player's intention was to stay in Italy.

Cavani's signing is arguably the biggest surprise of the summer in Serie A so far.

Napoli have arranged to take him on loan until the end of next season with a right to buy inserted into the agreement worth a reported €16m, which will apparently be payable over four years.

Belletti to join Fluminense

Fluminense are set to conclude a deal to sign Juliano Belletti after agreeing terms with the former Chelsea and Barcelona full-back.

The 34-year-old is available on a free transfer after being released by Chelsea at the end of last season.

Belletti will pen a two-year deal with the Rio de Janeiro-based club upon the successful completion of a medical later this week.

The Brazilian, capped 25 times by his country, joined Chelsea from Barca in 2007 and went on to make almost 100 appearances for the London club over three years.

Belletti sealed a transfer to Barcelona in 2004, his only goal for the club coming as he hit the winning strike in the 2006 UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal.

Saudi royals show Roma interest

La Gazzetta dello Sport reported yesterday that the Saudi Arabia royal family are interested in Serie A investment and want to buy capital club Roma this summer.

Roma are officially up for sale after club president Rosella Sensi agreed to a debt-settlement plan with the family's creditors Italian bank UniCredit.

The report said representatives from UniCredit held a meeting with agents acting on behalf of the Saudi royals in Rome earlier this week.

UniCredit's search for a new investor has focused on foreign investors as they believe no-one in Italy is rich enough to give Roma long-term stability.

Saudi prince Al-Waleed bin Talal is 19th on the latest Forbes rich list with a fortune said to be worth £19.4 billion.