Football news

Highly-rated French defender Raphael Varane is to sign for Spanish giants Real Madrid from French Second Division side Lens, the selling club’s president Gervais Martel told the team’s supporters.

Martel said that Varane, who had also been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United, had met with Real coach Jose Mourinho and the deal was done.

“Even if Lens had stayed in Ligue 1, Raphael Varane would have left because he is a phenomenon,” Martel said.

“He is going to play for Real Madrid under the leadership of Jose Mourinho who he has already met, just as he has Zinedine Zidane (advisor to the Real president).

“Raphael is an exceptional boy. I am proud that he is going to don the Real colours!”

Roberto Carlos hit by banana attack

Russia’s football authorities vowed to step up the fight against racism yesterday after a fan threw a banana at Roberto Carlos in an apparent racial attack on the Brazilian former World Cup winner.

Carlos, a defender for revamped Caucasus side Anzhi Makhachkala since February, received a pass from the goalkeeper and was about to pass it when a banana came flying from the fans, landing nearby.

The 38-year-old Brazilian picked it up and threw it back, walking off the field before the final whistle and raising two fingers at the stands, indicating this was the second such incident since March.

Barca still lead Sanchez race

Barcelona are still favourites to land Chile international Alexis Sanchez this summer, according to Udinese owner Gianpaolo Pozzo.

The highly-rated winger is one of the hottest names on the transfer market and is also a target of Manchester City.

The 22-year-old, who is under contract with Udinese until June 2014, is valued at €50 million.

“Barcelona are ahead of City,” Pozzo told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“But the player has not expressed a big preference between the two clubs.

“Of course, we will consider his opinion. The deal is not done because there are still details yet to iron out.”

Borriello seals Roma switch

Marco Borriello has joined Roma on a permanent basis after enjoying a successful loan spell at the club last season.

The Italian forward made the temporary move to the Eternal City club from Milan in August and he will become an official Roma player when his loan deal expires at the end of the month.

A statement from Roma read: “Roma announces it has exercised the clause to acquire the sporting rights of Marco Borriello.

“For this permanent acquisition, Roma will pay Milan €10 million.”

Young completes Man. United move

England international Ashley Young has joined Premier League champions Manchester United on a five-year contract, his former club Aston Villa announced yesterday.

Young, capped 15 times by his country, underwent a medical on Wednesday and the transfer, worth in the region of £16-20m ($25-32 m), was completed yesterday.

He becomes the second close-season signing at Old Trafford after Sir Alex Ferguson brought England Under-21 defender Phil Jones from Blackburn Rovers for £16.5 million.

“Ashley has made a terrific contribution for Villa over the past four-and-a-half seasons and everyone at the club wishes him the best for the future,” Villa manager Alex McLeish said.

“He has become an important player in the England team during that time and I’m sure he will be looking forward to the challenge.”

Allardyce to hold player talks

Sam Allardyce will hold face-to-face talks with West Ham’s England trio of Robert Green, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole to try to convince them to fight on at Upton Park next season despite the club’s relegation from the Premier League.

“I don’t want to talk to Scott Parker, Robert Green, Carlton Cole on the phone. I want to talk to them when they come back,” Allardyce said.

“I want to sit them in my office, I want them to look me in the eye and to tell them what I want, be honest with me and I will be honest with them.

“They might walk out of the office and say, ‘I don’t really fancy him, so I’m off’. If that’s the case, we will sell him.”

Italian trio on Vidal’s trail

Three Serie A club, Napoli, Genoa and Juventus, are expected to lodge an offer to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Arturo Vidal.

The 24-year-old, valued at €15 million by his German club, has caught the attention of the trio but it looks like Napoli are in pole position after they publicly declared their interest in the Chilean international.

“I’ve chosen Vidal,” Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis was quoted as saying.

“He’s an extraordinary talent and he’s at the top of our list.

“I’m in favour of young sides and he could be of use to our cause.”

Vidal joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2007 from Colo Colo.