Football news

Chile striker Eduardo Vargas has announced he will join Napoli when the transfer window reopens.

The 22-year-old Universidad de Chile star, who had been heavily linked with Chelsea, will reportedly move to Italy for a fee of £11.5 million next month and will link up with fellow South American forwards Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

“Yes I will be joining Napoli, a large team in Italy,” Vargas said.

“I’m sure I’ll do very well there. I know Cavani and Lavezzi.

“I am very happy that everything was tied up quickly, and for me to play in Italy is a dream come true.”

Keane right to criticise United

Roy Keane has defended his right to criticise his old club after being taken to task by Alex Ferguson.

Keane provoked Ferguson’s ire when he said United had “got what they deserved” when they were knocked out of the Champions League by Basel.

That comment did not go down well with Ferguson who questioned Keane’s own managerial record, saying “(Roy) had an opportunity to prove himself as a manager too.”

Keane said: “If you want to question my managerial record, you could question every pundit’s managerial skill in relation to (Ferguson’s) and we’re all going to come up short.

“But I would also say that without players like myself, maybe he wouldn’t have such a good managerial record because players who go down the punditry road, it’s soon forgotten that we put bodies on the line for him.”

DFB chief to quit in early 2012

Theo Zwanziger said yesterday he plans to step down as president of the German Football Federation (DFB) as early as spring 2012.

At the start of the month, the 66-year German boss had announced he planned to step down some time next year, with his current term expiring in 2013, but according to the latest reports, he has moved his plans forward.

“I think a date in late February or early March is realistic,” Zwanziger told German daily Die Welt in an interview due to appear in today’s paper.

“I would have no problem quitting tomorrow.”

City to sell Bridge, Onuoha

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed he is willing to sell defenders Wayne Bridge and Nedum Onuoha in January.

Bridge has made just one appearance for City this season, whilst Onuoha, who can play across the back-four, has had only two League Cup outings.

“Onuoha and Bridge are good players and I hope we can find a good solution for them in January,” Mancini said.

“I hope for them that they can find good clubs who will pay for their value and they can continue to play football.”

Raul to decide future in January

Schalke striker Raul says he will make up his mind about his future during the winter break after firing Schalke to a 5-0 win over Werder Bremen on Saturday.

The Spaniard netted his third hat-trick since arriving at the Royal Blues 18 months ago as they moved up to third in the Bundesliga table, leaving the prospect of Champions League football next season open.

“I just want to carry on playing over the next five months the way I am playing now,” he told Sky television.

“We will just have to see what happens after. My decision will be made in January.

“The important thing is that the team is in great form at the moment and with the club in such a privileged position of being in the league, the Europa League and the DFB-Pokal, in the end it doesn’t matter if I continue or not.”

No PSG decision yet – Beckham

David Beckham’s management yesterday dismissed French media reports that the former England captain is in Paris to complete a move to Paris St Germain.

It was claimed by France Football that Beckham arrived in the French capital with his family yesterday, landing at Le Bourget airport.

Beckham is eager to continue playing at a high level, with earning a place in the Great Britain squad for next summer’s London Olympics among his targets.

A spokesman for Beckham told Press Association Sport: “No deal has been done with any football club yet and David is not in Paris.”

Herzog to assist Klinsmann

Andreas Herzog is to become an assistant to United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann, the Austrian Football Association (OFB) have confirmed.

Herzog, who made a record 103 appearances for Austria as a player, had been coaching his country’s Under-21 team but the OFB said in a statement he had now accepted an offer to become Klinsmann’s right-hand man.

The OFB statement read: “Under-21 team manager Andreas Herzog is to leave the OFB.

“Herzog informed OFB president Leo Windtner, general director Alfred Ludwig and sports director Willi Ruttensteiner that he had been made an offer to be an assistant coach to the US national team.”