Juventus midfielder Alberto Aquilani will not face an extended spell on the sidelines after tests revealed no significant damage to his right adductor muscle.
The former Liverpool midfielder was forced off in the second half of Juve’s game against Genoa on Sunday after feeling pain in the area.
However, the club have revealed tests carried out this week did not show anything of concern and confirmed Aquilani simply suffered “muscle fatigue”.
The playmaker is due to return to training tomorrow.
Rensing regrets playing hard to get
Former Bayern Munich number one Michael Rensing has admitted his current state of unemployment is purely down to his own mistakes.
Rensing’s contract expired at the end of June and the 26-year-old has failed to find a new employer, although it was not for the lack of interest. If anything, the former Germany U-21 was too picky.
“To start with, I had lots of enquiries from top clubs in Europe and I turned down lots of good clubs, also in Germany,” he told Sport Bild magazine.
“In hindsight, I have got to say that I miscalculated because, the way things are now, these clubs would have been very interesting.”
Mourinho puzzled by ref’s display
Jose Mourinho was puzzled by the performance of Scottish referee Craig Thomson as Real Madrid had two men sent off late in their 4-0 Champions League win over Ajax.
Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos were shown their second yellow cards of the evening, both players punished for time-wasting. They will miss the final Group G game against Auxerre but the red cards guarantee they will not be banned for the start of the KO stages.
Ramos insisted Real had not hatched a plan to ensure both would be dismissed, and Mourinho said: “I spoke with many players throughout the game, not only with Ramos and Alonso.
“Stories sell, but the important thing is the 4-0 win and the fantastic game we had.
“The sendings-off came after an easy game where the referee has shown some strange yellows.”
De Gea staying with Atletico
Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea has assured his side’s fans that he has no intention of leaving the Primera Division outfit.
The highly-rated youngster has attracted widespread plaudits since establishing himself as Atletico’s number one over the last year, and in recent weeks he has been linked with a move to Manchester United.
“The supporters can relax, I’m staying here,” De Gea told the club’s website. “I’m very relaxed and there’s no reason to move.
“Atletico Madrid have given me everything. It’s a compliment that a club as great as Manchester United are interested in you, but Atletico are close to my heart and I want to stay here.”
Lippi linked with Ukraine post
Marcello Lippi is on the verge of signing a contract to become coach of Ukraine, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported yesterday.
Earlier this month, Lippi, who led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, was pictured sitting with Grygory Surkis, the president of the Ukrainian FA, at a friendly in Geneva.
Surkis had denied rumours that Lippi was the top candidate for the job ahead of Euro 2012, which Ukraine will host with Poland.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Lippi is discussing an 18-month contract, worth €5m, with the Ukrainian FA.
It will expire on July 1, 2012, the day of the European Championship final in Kiev.
Fit-again Agbonlahor ‘raring to go’
Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has vowed to regain his scoring touch as he hopes the most frustrating period of his career is behind him.
Agbonlahor, who netted 16 times last season, has been dogged by various injury setbacks during the current campaign including calf, back and groin problems.
But the England player has started Villa’s last two games against Manchester United and Blackburn and wants to make up for lost time.
“It’s been frustrating because I’ve never been out for this sort of spell before,” Agbonlahor said. “But I’ve got three games (including one as substitute) out of the way now and I’m feeling fit as I’ve done all season. I’m raring to go.”
Dutch coach Haan fined €500,000
Dutch footballing great Arie Haan has been ordered by FIFA to pay the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) €500,000 for breach of contract, the national federation announced.
Fecafoot revealed that FIFA had made their ruling against 62-year-old Haan on November 16 and also ordered him to pay 20,000 Swiss francs (€14,810) in costs.
Haan has 10 days to appeal the decision in writing. He was named Cameroon coach in August 2006 on a two-year contract.
The contract stipulated notably that he had to “live in Cameroon and present a year-long programme to Fecafoot”, neither of which he fulfilled before he announced he was resigning in January 2007.