Football news

Italy’s World Cup winning defender Andrea Barzagli has quit Bundesliga side Wolfsburg to sign for Juventus for an undisclosed fee.

The 29-year-old, who has made 17 appearances in the Bundesliga this season, returns to Serie A having spent two-and-a-half seasons with Wolfsburg with the highlight winning the 2009 Bundesliga title.

A World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, Barzagli joined Wolfsburg in 2008 for €13 million from Palermo and made a total of 75 appearances for the German side.

Giggs tips Ferguson to stay for years

Ryan Giggs believes Sir Alex Ferguson could carry on for another five years at least as Manchester United manager and remain at the helm well into his seventies.

In an interview with Sky TV magazine, Giggs said: “I really do not see him (Ferguson) finishing any time soon, he will go on, at least another five years.

“His desire gets stronger. After a Champions League game we can get back at 3.30 a.m. and then a few hours later he will be the first in at the training ground.

“Earlier in the season we had a virus at the club. He got it himself and was dying during the week, really sick, but come the day of the game, he was there in the dug-out. He just loves the challenge.”

Injured Carroll sent to Sweden

Newcastle striker Andy Carroll is to fly to Sweden today to consult a specialist over his troublesome thigh injury.

The 22-year-old has missed the last five games with a tear in the muscle, but was taken on the club’s training break to Portugal.

“We brought him to Portugal to start running and the disappointing news is that he hasn’t,” Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said.

“His injury is in the muscle just above the tendon where it joins the knee, so it’s not an area that gets great circulation, so therefore it doesn’t heal quickly.

“We have had a consultation this week to send him to someone who’s the world’s best tendon repair expert.”

Celtic’s Commons bid accepted

Derby have accepted a bid from Celtic for Scotland international Kris Commons.

The Bhoys’ Old Firm rivals Rangers ended their interest in signing Commons on Wednesday and the 27-year-old forward is now poised for talks at Parkhead.

A fee in the region of £300,000 is believed to have been agreed for the sale of Commons, who is out of contract at Derby at the end of the season.

“We have received and accepted a bid from Celtic for the transfer of Kris and we have given both the player and Celtic permission to talk personal terms,” Rams chief executive Tom Glick told the Derby Telegraph.

Inter close in on Pazzini

Inter have made significant progress in their bid to sign Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini.

Earlier this week, Inter’s chief technical director Marco Branca revealed that he is looking to strengthen the club’s injury-ravaged forward line.

Inter president Massimo Moratti later told journalists that the Serie A champions were to make enquiries about Pazzini and Cagliari striker Alessandro Matri.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reported yesterday that an offer worth €12m has been made for the 26-year-old Italy international who has scored six goals in the Serie A this season.

Sampdoria’s asking price is believed to be €15m, although president Riccardo Garrone is open to negotiations.

Police probing Cup tie violence

Police were yesterday combing through CCTV footage to identify troublemakers at Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final between Birmingham and West Ham.

A total of 17 people were arrested for a variety of offences during a “robust and large-scale” operation at the second leg clash in Birmingham.

Birmingham beat West Ham 3-1-4-3 on aggregate – to reach the League Cup final, where their opponents will be Arsenal.

West Midlands Police said its operation in and around the stadium involved dog handlers, the force’s helicopter and specialist evidence-gathering teams.

Eyewitnesses said some fans were seen standing on top of vehicles before the match as supporters tried to confront each other in a car park at St Andrew’s.

Fiorentina complete Behrami deal

West Ham’s Switzerland midfielder Valon Behrami has finally sealed his move to Italian side Fiorentina for an undisclosed fee.

The 25-year-old joined the Hammers from Lazio for £5 million in July 2008 but suffered a serious knee injury in March 2009 which kept him out for six months.

Behrami made 63 first-team appearances for the Hammers, scoring five goals.

His departure came a day after West Ham signed Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O’Neil.

Behrami is the second player to join Fiorentina this month after Brazilian goalkeeper Neto moved to the Serie A strugglers from Atletico Paranaense.