Football news

Japan will pass on bidding for the Club World Cup in 2013 and 2014 to give itself a better chance of hosting the Women’s World Cup and other major tournaments.

The 2011 Club World Cup is currently under way in Japan, which also hosted the event from 2005, when it was first organised in its current form, to 2008.

Japan FA president Junji Ogura told Japanese media: “If we do it every time, it becomes difficult to host other competitions.

“If we want the likes of the Under-20 World Cup and the Women’s World Cup to come to Japan, it’s probably not in our best interests to host (the Club World Cup) every year.”

‘I’m no Pele’ – Neymar

Brazilian striker Neymar said yesterday that he would never be better than Pele and insisted he was not interested in impressing his European suitors at the Club World Cup.

The Santos player, 19, has been touted as one of the planet’s finest prospects and linked with a host of top European clubs, with Real Madrid understood to be leading the charge for his signature.

But he signed a two-year contract extension last month and told reporters that comparisons with legend Pele were wrong.

“He’s the one and only, he’s the king of football,” said Neymar, sporting his trademark blond bouffant hairdo.

“To reach his level is something I don’t think I can do.”

Kewell impressed

Former Liverpool player Harry Kewell admits he has struggled to adapt to life in Australia’s A-League, calling the standard of football a “rude awakening”.

Kewell played for English clubs Leeds and Liverpool before ending up at Galatasaray in Turkey until he moved home earlier this year when he joined Melbourne victory.

“It’s been difficult. The league is not as easy as everyone made it out to be,” he told reporters.

“It’s a tough league. It’s fast, it’s furious, it’s strong, so it’s for me to adapt to that. This has probably been a big learning curve for me, coming from Europe back home to play in the league.”

No players in Tevez deal

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has brushed aside rumours Alexandre Pato or any other player from the Serie A side would be included in the deal to bring Man. City forward Carlos Tevez to the San Siro in January.

Rumours said that Milan would be ready to offer Pato to City as part of a swap deal that would see Tevez join the Italian champions.

“There is an offer sent to Manchester for Tevez,” Galliani said to www.milanews.it.

“However, we have not spoken about any of our players going to City or any other club.”

Vidic to miss rest of season

Alex Ferguson confirmed yesterday that Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Vidic suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament when he tangled with Marco Streller during the first half of United’s shock 2-1 Champions League defeat at Basel on Wednesday.

“Nemanja is out for the season. It is bad news. He will be a loss,” Ferguson said.

“I thought it was a bad one when I saw it. He sees the specialist on Monday to map out the progress of when he has the operation.”

Spalletti demands top players

Zenit St Petersburg coach Luciano Spalletti has threatened to quit unless club bosses bring in more top-class players just days after his team reached the Champions League last 16.

In an historic breakthrough for Russian football, both of the country’s clubs – Zenit and CSKA Moscow – reached the knock-out round of Europe’s most prestigious club competition.

The success was hailed by Russia’s media and football experts, but Italian Spalletti believes that to build on this success more top-class players are needed.

“I really enjoy St Petersburg and I’d like to continue my work here,” said Spalletti.

“But to continue our progress we need to strengthen with at least a pair of top-class players. We must go ahead otherwise I will have to resign.”

Schalke confirm Podolski interest

Schalke 04 confirmed yesterday their interest in signing Cologne’s Germany striker Lukas Podolski.

The 26-year-old is under contract with Cologne until 2013, but Gelsenkirchen-based Schalke are viewing him as a replacement next summer for Raul, 34, whose contract expires in June.

“Yes the Podolski case is keeping us busy,” club official Clemens Toennies told Sport1. “We’ve thought about it, we’ve also brought up other names.”

Cologne have repeatedly said they want to extend Podolski’s contract when the Bundesliga’s winter break starts on December 18.