Football news

Australian club Sydney FC are trying to sign former Juventus and Italy striker Alessandro Del Piero as their marquee player for the upcoming season.

Del Piero, 37, spent 19 years with Juventus but became a free agent in May and Sydney FC are keen to entice him Down Under to the domestic A-League.

“We’re going to go for it as hard as we can,” the club’s chief executive Tony Pignata said.

“The board is 100 per cent behind this. We believe he’s the perfect marquee player.

“We’ve already made an approach to his management team, and we’re waiting to hear back.

“This is not a gimmick, it’s deadly serious,” he added.

Juve’s Conte files another appeal

Juventus coach Antonio Conte has launched a second appeal against a 10-month ban over a match-fixing scandal that may keep him out for the whole Serie A season.

Conte asked that the appeal be fast-tracked and the ban be temporarily suspended while it is being reviewed, a statement on CONI’s website read.

This is the final appeal Conte can make to a sporting tribunal. No details were given for how long a ruling would take.

Conte was banned on Aug. 10 for failing to report two incidents of match-fixing in the 2010-11 season when he was coach of then Serie B side Siena.

Dembele passes Spurs medical

Moussa Dembele is set to be unveiled as a Tottenham player as further doubt was cast on the future of Rafael van der Vaart.

Spurs and Fulham confirmed they had reached an agreement over the transfer of Dembele, with the west London club revealing the forward had passed a medical and would sign at White Hart Lane for an undisclosed fee.

The announcement followed a declaration by Hamburg that they would do everything possible to re-sign Van der Vaart from Tottenham before the transfer window closed.

Cesar pens QPR four-year deal

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar has agreed a four-year deal with Queens Park Rangers, subject to the player receiving international clearance and granted a visa.

The 32 year-old, capped 64 times by his country, has agreed a contract after leaving Inter.

During his seven years at San Siro, Julio Cesar won the Champions League and five Italian titles.

“I’m so happy and excited to be here,” he told QPR’s website.

“The ambition of this club was presented to me by the chairman and the coach and I couldn’t have been more impressed.

“The desire to achieve things at this club is clear and I wanted to be part of that.”

Walcott to stay at Arsenal

Theo Walcott was set to stay at Arsenal last night after holding showdown talks with Arsene Wenger at the club's training ground.

Press Association Sport reported that Walcott did not back down over his contract demands but gave assurances he definitely wanted to stay with the Gunners in the long-term.

Arsenal had been braced for the prospect of selling Walcott before the transfer window closes tomorrow but they are now happy to continue negotiations beyond then and effectively risk losing him for nothing next summer.

Guidolin not leaving Udinese

Francesco Guidolin will not be leaving his role as Udinese coach despite the Champions League play-off defeat to Braga.

The Friulani lost 6-5 on penalties to their Portuguese opponents to miss out on the competition proper and Guidolin said afterwards that he would “go home, rest and consider my future”.

He met with club owner Gianpaolo Pozzo after training yesterday morning, but the latter confirmed there will be no change as his side bid for success in Serie A and the Europa League.

“Guidolin is and will still be Udinese's coach,” Pozzo said.

“His bitterness and the words he spoke yesterday came from the fact he is a very sensitive man, he always gives 200%.”

Bojan Krkic agrees Milan switch

Milan yesterday announced the signing of Spanish forward Bojan Krkic, the former Barcelona player who spent last season in Italy with Roma.

Milan confirmed the transfer on their website of Bojan, who turned 22 on Tuesday, and revealed that the player will “remain with the club for the whole season.”

The news comes a day after Bojan wrote on his Twitter account: “Thanks for all the messages...it has been a long and very emotional day. Tomorrow I will be presented by AC Milan!”

The son of a Yugoslavian footballer, Bojan was born and raised in Catalonia and came through the ranks at Barcelona, even going on to captain them in the Copa del Rey.