Football news

New Milan forward Robinho has promised to give everything in a bid to help the Rossoneri return to the top in Italy and in Europe.

Robinho’s arrival led to the departure of strikers Marco Borriello and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

The Brazilian said he is thrilled to be moving to another big league in Europe, a place where other Brazilians call home. He will be a team-mate of Ronaldinho and Thiago Silva.

“Milan has great players and it’s a fantastic side with a very important history,” said Robinho on the club’s website, www.acmilan.com.

“I hope with the rest of my team-mates to be able to contribute to hand many titles to this club.

“Kaka has always spoken to me very well about Milan and now I know that the Brazilian players will give me a great hand in adapting to the team.”

Bologna name Malesani as coach

Bologna yesterday named Alberto Malesani as their new coach having fired Franco Colomba before their first match of the season.

Just a day before tackling reigning champions Inter in their Serie A opener, Bologna president Sergio Porcedda announced he had dismissed Colomba and youth team coach Paolo Magnani took charge of the impressive 0-0 draw with the Nerazzurri on Monday.

Malesani made his name from 1998-2001 when he coached Parma to Italian Cup and UEFA Cup titles. The 56-year-old also coached Fiorentina and Panathinaikos in Greece.

Most recently he coached Siena for a large part of last season but was released after they suffered relegation to Serie B.

Puyol out of Spain squad

Barcelona’s talismanic defender Carles Puyol has pulled out of the Spain squad which will open its defence of its European title against Liechtenstein due to a calf muscle injury.

He will be replaced by Osasuna defender Nacho Monreal who has just two international caps.

“The player felt discomfort in his left leg during a warm-up before the first training session of the national team at Las Rozas. He immediately reported it to doctors and left from the practice field,” the Spanish Federation said in a statement, adding tests showed he had damaged a calf muscle.

World champions Spain play Liechtenstein tomorrow in Vaduz in their first Euro 2012 qualifier.

Manchester City loan out Caicedo

Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo has joined newly-promoted Spanish side Levante on a season-long loan deal.

City confirmed the Ecuador international’s loan move on their official website, almost four hours after the transfer window shut.

Caicedo also spent all of last season out on loan, spending an initial period at Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon before finishing the campaign at Malaga.

Juventus snap up 11th signing

Juventus made their 11th signing since the end of a disappointing campaign last term taking central defender Leandro Rinaudo on loan from Napoli for €600,000.

The 27-year-old – who signed for Napoli from Palermo in 2008 for €4.5 million – will cost Juventus €5 million if they take up the opion at the end of the loan to buy him.

Juventus finished seventh in Serie A last season only just making the Europa League but have made wholsesale recruits since then.

Serbian playmaker Milos Krasic from CSKA Moscow, international defenders Armand Traore, Leo­nardo Bonucci and Marco Motta, midfielder Davide Lanzafame, Italy winger Simone Pepe, forwards Jorge Martinez and Fabio Quagliarella, goalkeeper Marco Storari and Liverpool misfit Alberto Aquilani also joined them.

Birmingham’s Hleb reveals other offers

Alexander Hleb has revealed he had options to sign for Liverpool and Tottenham before deciding to join Birmingham to play regular first-team football.

Former Arsenal midfielder Hleb completed his return to the Premier League on deadline day after agreeing a season-long loan move to Birmingham from Barcelona.

“There were many offers: Liverpool, Tottenham, Benfica,” Hleb told Belarus newspaper Pressball.

“But it was necessary to carefully consider all options. With some we were unable to agree terms.

“Birmingham City apparently wanted me more than anyone else, so they were my preference.”

Bremen’s Rosenberg joins R. Santander

Werder Bremen have sent Swedish striker Markus Rosenberg, whose goal put the German side into this season’s Champions League, on loan for the season to Spanish first division side Racing Santander.

The 28-year-old is under contract in Bremen until 2012 and has scored 30 goals in 90 Bundesliga games, but has been told his first-team chances will be limited this season.

Bremen will face holders Inter, Tottenham Hotspur and Twente in Group A of the Champions League.

“This is a reasonable solution for all parties,” said Werder’s manager Klaus Allofs.

“Markus wants to play, but we could not guarantee him matches, despite his improving form and help in getting us into the Champions League.”