Thiago Silva’s agent has brushed aside ongoing reports linking his client with a move to Barcelona or any other club.

The Spanish press recently claimed Barcelona had already started negotiations with Milan to acquire the 27-year-old defender. The Brazil international is also a reported target of Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris SG.

“I can assure everyone that I have not been contacted by Barcelona or any other club,” Silva’s agent Paulo Tonietto told www.calciomercato.it.

“Milan have not notified me of any update. There are just rumours and there is no truth in it.”

No FIFA action over unseen ‘goal’

Football chiefs have ruled out taking action after Uzbekistan were apparently denied a legitimate goal during their 1-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Iran.

World body FIFA said the referee’s decision was final despite TV replays which indicated the ball crossed the line deep into the second half of Sunday’s game in Tashkent.

Uzbek coach Vadim Abramov later complained that Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura missed what should have been a goal. Iran scored in the dying seconds to snatch a dramatic win.

But a FIFA spokesman said the laws of the game stated that a ref’s decision could not be overturned.

Pele criticises Brazil, Neymar

Former star Pele has criticised the Brazilian Olympics squad saying he felt they “are not ready” for the event on the evidence of a 2-0 weekend loss to Mexico and also lambasted starlet Neymar for overly hugging the left wing.

“I think it’s good this (defeat) happened as it does away with the feeling that this is a marvellous team, that it’s doing fine,” opined Pele of the loss to the Mexicans in Texas.

Pele also indicated he felt Neymar “has difficulty playing against a European or Latin American”.

“He stays stuck out there on the left but that doesn’t just happen in the national side but also with Santos,” Pele said.

Ronaldinho joins Atletico Mineiro

Brazilian forward Ronaldinho, having quit Flamengo last week amid claims he is owed some $20 million in salary, on Monday signed for modest top-flight side Atletico Mineiro.

“We are happy to announce we have managed to bring Ronaldinho to Atletico Mineiro,” Mineiro president Alexandre Kalil said on the team website after netting the 32-year-old former Barcelona and Milan star and ex-world player of the year.

Ronaldinho will receive around $150,000 in basic salary a season compared with nearer $600,000 at Flamengo.

Real not so sporting – Xavi

Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez has reopened the storm between Barcelona and Real Madrid just days before the European Championships by claiming that Real have not been as sporting as Barca in defeat.

The midfielder had been caught on camera earlier in the season saying that Real did not know how to lose after Barca had eliminated their great rivals from the Copa del Rey and he has backed those comments up in an interview with Canal+.

He said: “We have congratulated them when they won, that is sport at the end of the day.

“We have been very respectful with them, however, I have noted that it wasn’t the same in reverse.”

Moratti has faith in Stramaccioni

Inter president Massimo Moratti believes Andrea Stramaccioni deserves the chance to prove himself.

Stramaccioni was promoted from youth team coach to guide the first team after Inter sacked Claudio Ranieri in March.

And the 36-year-old has now put pen to paper on a three-year contract with the Nerazzurri.

“He is young and talented,” Moratti told Il Corriere dello Sport.

“I feel it is right that he has the way and the time to be able to organise his job.

“We believe in him, we want him to build the future of Inter and this contract, in my opinion, is the right way to give him a sense of confidence from our part.”

Pogba closing on Juve move

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has revealed he is in Turin to complete his transfer to Italian champions Juventus.

The 19-year-old turned down the offer of a new contract with United and could become Juve’s first summer signing.

“I am thinking about my future, I am in Italy with Juventus to discuss my transfer,” Pogba wrote on Twitter yesterday morning.

Pogba left Le Havre to join United’s youth academy in 2009. He made just three league appearances for the Red Devils last season.

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