Football news

Zenit St Petersburg are showing keen interest in Milan full-back Ignazio Abate and reports in Italy said the Russian club have already tabled a €10m offer.

Zenit, coached by Luciano Spalletti, want Abate to join them this month and Milan could be tempted to let their player go to raise enough funds to lure Man-chester City rebel Mario Balotelli to their fold.

Italy defender Abate came through the Milan ranks but also had spells with Napoli, Samp-doria and Torino.

D.Telekom strike Bundesliga deal

Deutsche Telekom has softened the blow of losing internet broadcast rights to German football by striking a deal with Sky Deutschland that lets its customers view matches.

Pay-TV operator Sky heavily outbid Deutsche Telekom in an auction for Bundesliga rights last year, a major blow to the telecoms company, whose Entertain internet TV platform has almost two million customers.

Under the agreement announced yesterday, Telekom can continue to show Bundesliga matches, though customers who have booked its special Bundesliga package will have to agree to additional contracts with Sky from the 2014/15 season.

Aguero missing son after separation

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is finding it difficult being apart from his son after he and his wife separated.

Aguero and Giannina Mara-dona, daughter of Diego, split last year, since when she and son Benjamin have returned to Argentina.

Aguero said: “In recent months, I’ve been trying to adapt to a new stage after my separation. It is not easy because they were very intense years together with Giannina.

“During that time we grew a lot as individuals and as a result of that love, we had Ben. That is a blessing. That’s what I find most difficult, because Ben is in Buenos Aires and I for obvious reasons am in Manchester.”

Trophy drought bothers Wenger

Manager Arsene Wenger maintains it will hurt him to watch other teams parade a trophy at the end of the season should Arsenal fail to end their own barren run in 2013.

Ahead of today’s FA Cup tie away at Swansea City, Arsenal’s French coach insists he has not lost the taste for an open-top bus parade.

“Of course, it bothers me because I am not here to watch other people win trophies,” said Wenger, whose side last tasted glory when they lifted the FA Cup in 2005.

“It is important and I will just remind you that I have won the FA Cup four times. Of course that (trophy drought) is not pleasant, but the only way to do it is to win.”

Ferguson angry over Fryers deal

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has accused Tottenham Hotspur of “manipulating the rules” in signing his former defender Ezekiel Fryers.

The 20-year-old was out of contract at United in the close season. He looked set to join Tottenham but the deal broke down when the clubs failed to agree a compensation package.

Fryers then moved to Standard Liege but completed a transfer to Tottenham on Thursday, with reports estimating the fee at £3 million.

“We expected that,” Ferguson said.

“I think it’s a blatant manipulation of the rules. Tottenham tried to buy him off us and we’d been looking for a certain figure – they wouldn’t pay it.”

Perth Glory in talks with Owen

Perth Glory are in talks with the management of Michael Owen about bringing the former England player to the A-League, reports said yesterday.

Owen, 33, who scored 40 goals in 89 internationals for England and had stints at Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United, is currently playing for Stoke in the English Premier League.

Glory have one spare position in their squad for an international player after releasing Irish striker Billy Mehmet last week and do not have a marquee player.

Transfer talks stall for Robinho

Milan’s bid to sell Robinho to Santos floundered yesterday after the clubs failed to agree on a transfer fee.

Milan have slapped a €10m price tag on the talented Brazilian while Santos offered only seven million according to ANSA news agency.

ANSA also reported that another Brazilian side that had shown an interest in purchasing Robinho, Atletico Mineiro, had now called off talks.

Citing Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo, it said Atletico could not meet Milan’s asking price nor Robinho’s wage demands.

Milan’s former Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato on Thursday joined Brazilian side Corinthians in a four-year deal thought to be worth around €15 million.