Football news

Tottenham have completed the signing of former Barcelona midfielder Cristian Ceballos.

Ceballos shot to fame four years ago when he was filmed juggling a ball with then Barca star Ronal-dinho, but he did not progress as well as the Catalonian club had liked and they released him from his contract last season.

The 18-year-old trained with Chelsea in March and visited Spurs’ training ground towards the end of last season for a trial and his performances at Chigwell were good enough to lead the Spurs hierarchy to offer the teenager a contract.

Ceballos will now go in to the club’s development squad.

Celtic trial for keeper Pletikosa

Celtic manager Neil Lennon is to bring in Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa on trial. However, Lennon also remains keen on Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Pletikosa will train with Celtic following an unhappy loan spell with Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham from Spartak Moscow.

The 32-year-old made just one Spurs appearance in his season at White Hart Lane.

Lennon said: “Harry Redknapp was raving about Pletikosa so we’ll have a look at him.”

Gordon has a year left on his Sunderland deal and has been told he will have to win back the jersey when he returns from knee surgery.

Udinese confirm Zapata transfer

Udinese have confirmed the sale of Cristian Zapata to Villarreal for an undisclosed fee.

The Colombia international had been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League this summer with Liverpool and Arsenal reportedly keen to acquire his services.

A statement from Udinese read: “Udinese announces it has sold the sporting rights of Colombian defender Cristian Zapata to Villarreal. We wish to thank the player for his professionalism during his six years at the club.”

The 24-year-old central defender, who can also play in either full-back position, is currently competing for his country in the Copa America. He is set to sign a five-year contract with the Primera Liga outfit.

Pastore favours staying in Italy

Javier Pastore would rather remain in Italy than join a Premier League team if he decides to leave Palermo this summer.

The Argentina international has been linked with Inter as well as Chelsea and Manchester United.

Pastore, 22, has enjoyed life in Serie A after joining Palermo from Huracan for €19 million in 2009 and would happily stay.

He said: “If I left Palermo, I would like to remain in Italy. I have played in the Serie A for the last two years and feel very comfortable there.

“If I leave Palermo it will be to join a stronger team.”

Man. City reject Tevez bid

Manchester City have rejected Corinthians' £40million bid for Carlos Tevez.

High-level discussions have taken place at City and Press Association Sport understands it was decided to turn down the offer, which was submitted late on Monday.

It maintains the level of uncertainty surrounding Tevez's future, with the player desperate to leave for family reasons and City refusing to sanction the departure of their skipper without adequate compensation.

No reason has been given by City for their stance, which will not go down well with Tevez, who is currently at the Copa America .

However, when the 27-year-old expressed a desire to move away from the club last week, City immediately stressed that with three years left on the striker's contract, they were in the strongest bargaining position.

Striker Cisse to sign for Lazio

France striker Djibril Cisse will sign for Lazio from Greek side Panathinaikos. Cisse will earn a reported €2.1 million a year, while Lazio will pay a fee of six million euros, according to Italian news agency Ansa.

The player, 29, who was the top scorer in the Greek top flight in each of his two seasons with Pana-thinaikos, becomes Lazio’s seventh summer recruit.

He was due in Rome yesterday to undergo a medical before signing a four-year contract.

Lazio earlier agreed a deal with Lithuania defender Marius Stankevicius of Sampdoria.

Maradona hurt in traffic accident

Diego Maradona was slightly hurt late Monday when the car he was driving collided with a bus on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.

Maradona, 50, was driving near his home suburb of Ezeiza when the accident happened.

Local television said Mara-dona, who earlier this year agreed to coach UAE side Al Wasl, was travelling with his partner, Veronica Ojeda, who was said to have suffered a bruised rib.

Last week, Maradona was in hospital again but on that occasion as a visitor as he went to see his frail mother, Dalma Franco, who is on a ventilator in a Buenos Aires sanitorium after suffering from a virus in recent days.