Football news

Pablo Osvaldo will be sidelined for two months with a pulled hamstring, Roma said.

Osvaldo’s injury, sustained in training, comes at a particularly inopportune time for the Giallorossi who have just sold Marco Borriello to Juventus.

Having also sold Mirko Vucinic to Juve in the summer, Roma now risk being left short-handed in the striking department.

Osvaldo, the club’s top scorer this season, will likely miss nine league games, including their crucial clash with Inter at the beginning of next month.

Roma will hope to have the Argentine-born Italy international back for the Rome derby against Lazio on March 4.

No Sneijder talks – Inter

Inter have confirmed they have held talks with Manchester City but not regarding the possible sale of Wesley Sneijder.

The Italians have reportedly joined the race to acquire City striker Carlos Tevez, who is a target of Milan.

Reports in England claimed Sneijder could be included as part of the deal to bring Tevez to Inter in the winter transfer window.

Inter said: “Regarding reports from the British media, Inter wish to underline and clarify the situation immediately that there were no discussions whatsoever regarding Wesley Sneijder during our meeting in London with representatives of Manchester City.”

Sneijder is under contract with Inter until June 2015.

Juventus ready to deal Sorensen

Frederik Sorensen, 19, could join another club in this month’s transfer window but only if his club Juve get a 50 per cent share of the deal which is estimated to be around €3 million.

Serie A clubs Bologna and Genoa have already shown interest in the Danish defender and Germany’s Wolfsburg are also interested according to reports in Italy who contend that Juve want to raise cash to bring in Martin Caceres from Sevilla.

Sorensen, an Under-21 inter-national, made 18 appearances for Juve last season but he’s been limited to just one Italian cup tie this term.

Real need Kaka, says Mourinho

The chances of seeing Kaka playing in the colours of Paris Saint-Germain receded slightly further yesterday when Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said the Brazilian still featured in his plans for the rest of the season.

Sources close to PSG owners Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) said that the Ligue 1 leaders are lining up a bid for the playmaker, but Mourinho said: “I’m counting on him for the season.”

New PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly eager to bring Kaka to Parc des Princes.

Pekerman set for Colombia post

Former Argentina boss Jose Pekerman has agreed to take up the role of Colombia head coach, the Colombian Football Federation have confirmed.

The 62-year-old Argentinian is set to succeed Leonel Alvarez, whose four-month stint at the helm ended last month when he was sacked after a disappointing start to the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Pekerman led Argentina to the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany and has club experience in Mexico and his homeland.

Alvarez had taken up the Colombia reins following the resignation of Hernan Dario Gomez in August.

Cech hopeful over new Chelsea deal

Goalkeeper Petr Cech cannot promise to end his career at Chelsea but expects to extend his stay with the club in the coming weeks. The 29-year-old has been a first-team regular for the Blues since joining from Rennes for £7m in 2004.

Reports have suggested manager Andre Villas-Boas could sell Cech in favour of Bel-gian summer signing Thibaut Courtois – currently on loan at Atletico Madrid – but the Czech Republic international is keen to sign a new contract.

“It is difficult to leave the best league in the world and if you take a look around, you will not see many teams of Chelsea’s category that would be looking to sign a new goalkeeper,” Cech said.

FIFA satisfied by Swiss FA action

FIFA confirmed the Swiss FA will not be suspended, ending any lingering chance of Manchester United being reinstated into the Champions League.

The world governing body had given a deadline of January 13 for the SFV to take action against Sion for breaking a transfer embargo.

That action came on December 30, when they docked the club 36 points.

FIFA said: “FIFA decided to consider the requirements esta-blished by the FIFA executive committee as fulfilled by the Swiss Football Association (SFV) and that the SFV will consequently not be suspended.”

The ratification from FIFA means Basel will remain in the Champions League.