Football news

Coach Lucien Favre has warned B. M’gladbach fans not to expect too much from new signings Luuk de Jong and Granit Xhaka.

Dutchman De Jong arrives on the back of a prolific season for FC Twente and Xhaka has established himself in Switzerland’s midfield since making his debut last year.

But after losing Marco Reus, Dante and Roman Neustadter from last season’s first-choice line-up, Favre said: “We have not improved the squad. We have lost three key players.

“We have signed young players who have played in Holland and Switzerland. It is one thing to play well there, but the Bundesliga is another matter.”

Schmeichel takes role at Man. United

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has been appointed as an official club ambassador.

The 48-year-old Dane, who won five Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the Champions League during an eight-year spell at Old Trafford, will join the likes of Bobby Charlton, Bryan Robson and Gary Neville in helping to promote the Red Devils.

Schmeichel skippered the Red Devils to their famous 1999 Champions League win over Bayern Munich when Roy Keane was suspended.

Vlaar for Villa move

Aston Villa are poised to sign Dutch international defender Ron Vlaar after agreeing personal terms with the player. Villa say that, subject to medical clearance, a deal will be concluded with Feyenoord for Vlaar this week.

The 27-year-old centre-half will undergo a medical before a potential three-year deal can be formalised.

Vlaar is primarily regarded as a centre-back and will provide competition for James Collins and Richard Dunne. He made his breakthrough at senior level in Holland with Alkmaar before moving to Feyenoord in 2006.

Ref Webb leads tributes to Taylor

Referee Howard Webb hailed the legacy Jack Taylor left on refereeing as tributes poured in for the former official who has died at the age of 82 on Friday.

Taylor officiated in more than 1,000 matches during a career that lasted more than 30 years. He also took charge of more than 100 international fixtures, including the 1974 World Cup final between West Germany and Holland in Munich, where he made history by awarding the first-ever penalty in a World Cup final.

Webb said: “Jack was the refs’ referee: he was a cool character who exuded authority. The great thing about him was that he always had time to pass on advice and I don’t think my career would have progressed the way it did without Jack.”

Sheva to take career in politics

Andriy Shevchenko, the Ukraine captain at Euro 2012, has quit the game in order to take a new career in politics, following in the footsteps of his former Milan team-mate Kakha Kaladze who also decided to leave the pitch and become a politician in his country Georgia.

“Perhaps, I will shock everyone but my future has nothing to do with soccer anymore... it is related to politics in this country,” he told the Dynamo Kiev website yesterday.

Sheva joined Milan in 1999 and with the Rossoneri he won the Serie A title, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the Ballon D’Or. He also had a short stint at Chelsea before returning to Milan on loan in 2009.

Castaignos opts for FC Twente

Striker Luc Castaignos has left Inter to play for FC Twente in a move that cost the Dutch club €6 million.

Castaignos failed to make an impact in the Serie A after joining Inter last year.

“I am going from Inter to Twente. I signed a four-year contract, but I would prefer for the financial details to remain private,” he was quoted as saying.

“I joined Inter in order to show who Luc Castaignos really was and what I am capable of on a football field, but had very few opportunities to do that.

“In any case, I hope this year can be better for Inter because they do not deserve to experience another season like that.”

Espanyol swoop for Capdevila

Former Villarreal left-back Joan Capdevila has joined Espanyol from Benfica, for a fee in the region of €350,000.

Capdevila, who was part of the Spain squad that won the 2008 European Championship and the 2010 World Cup, joined the Portuguese club last summer after four years with the Yellow Submarine but failed to secure a regular place in the side and was keen to head back to his homeland.

The 34-year-old returns to the club where he started his career back in 1997 and is Mauricio Pochettino’s fourth acquisition of the summer after the arrivals of Diego Colotto, Sergio Tejera and Mubarak Wakaso.