Football news

Adriano Galliani, the Milan vice-president, said the bust-up at the training grounds on Friday bet-ween Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Oguchi Onyewu was “a good sign”.

The two Rossoneri team-mates came to blows on Friday afternoon when Ibrahimovic came in with a crunching tackle on Onyewu.

“It’s true that there was a vivacious clash between them,” Galliani admitted.

“It often happens on a football field but they cleared the air bet-ween them and I spoke to both of them for a long time. It’s all over. In fact, I consider it to be a good sign. I like to see players with grit. I prefer that to training sessions with tea where people are falling asleep.”

Bayern close to compensation deal

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admitted the German giants are close to agreeing a compensation deal with the Dutch Football Federation over Arjen Robben.

Playmaker Robben is not expected to return to Bayern’s colours until at least January and has missed the entire season so far after damaging his thigh helping Holland reach the World Cup final.

The Germans had threatened to take the matter to the court, but Rummenigge said: “I am optimistic that we can reach agreement without going up in court.

“We have agreed to meet again in the near future,” added Rummenigge after revealing the Dutch have acknowledged some responsibility for Robben’s injury.

Operatic twist to televised match

December’s classic Bundesliga showdown between rivals Schalke and defending champions Bayern Munich will be televised with an added twist when an improvisation opera group will sing along.

The game at Schalke’s Veltins Arena on December 4 will be screened by German sports channel Sky and viewers will have the option of hearing improvisation group ‘La Traviata’ sing along to the live action.

Due to a split-screen, viewers will also be able to watch the singers perform while also watching the live football action.

Keeper’s coaching ambition

Neil Alexander has revealed his hopes of landing a coaching job at Rangers when he hangs up his gloves.

The goalkeeper, 32, signed a new deal on Friday that keeps him at Ibrox until 2013. But he is already looking to the future and would love a career in coaching one day, admitting goalkeeping coach Jim Stewart’s role would be his dream job.

Alexander said: “I’d like to become a goalkeeping coach and so it’s great to be working with Jim Stewart... I joke about it every day and say I’m going to take his job.”

With speculation about Man. United’s interest in McGregor, Alexander could be given his chance as number one sooner than expected if another club did swoop for his team-mate.

Funeral delays Ribery’s return

France midfielder Franck Ribery’s return to the Bayern Munich side after a six-week break has been further delayed by another week after the funeral of his aunt.

The 27-year-old had been due to return to the Bayern squad yesterday but the death of his aunt in France on October 28 saw Ribery miss more training.

The France star flew back to Boulogne, reported Bild, to be with his family and he only returned on Tuesday.

Bayern coach Louis van Gaal said Ribery’s return from the ankle injury he suffered against Hoffenheim on September 21 needs to be further delayed while he catches up on the missed training.

Henry: unhappy players can leave

Liverpool owner John W. Henry concedes no player will be kept at Liverpool against their will.

There has been speculation over the futures of star men Fernando Torres, Jose Reina and Dirk Kuyt.

Henry said: “It is a completely different system here to what we are used to. If a player has a contract in the United States they fulfil the contract. Over here, it seems players have much more say-so about where they are.

“Frankly, we don’t want a player who doesn’t want to be at the club.

“It’s really up to us to provide the kind of leadership, on and off the field, that any player at the club or who is coming to the club wants to be here.”

Wenger concerned about Diaby

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger revealed his concern over Abou Diaby’s ankle injury.

The 24-year-old has been out of action since October 16 after failing to fully recover from the effects of a crunching challenge by Bolton defender Paul Robinson the previous month.

Diaby suffered a broken leg and a dislocated ankle against Sunderland in May 2006, but returned to become a key member of Wenger’s side.

“You look at Diaby since he got this tackle (from Robinson), he has never come back to a normal level,” Wenger said.

“He was never himself and today we don’t know how long he will be out.”