Football news

Paris St Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s superb first year in French football was recognised at the Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels (UNFP) awards.

Ibrahimovic bagged his 28th and 29th goals of the season in a 3-1 win over Brest at the weekend and the Swede has been widely hailed as the jewel in PSG’s crown as they claimed their first top-flight league title since 1994.

He succeeded Eden Hazard as the Ligue 1 player of the year ahead of team-mates Thiago Silva and Blaise Matuidi and St Etienne striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

It was a night to savour for PSG, with seven of their players named in the team of the year.

Rizzoli to referee CLeague final

Italian Nicola Rizzoli has been named as the referee for Saturday’s Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich at Wembley.

UEFA confirmed yesterday that the 41-year-old Rizzoli, who was in charge of the 2010 Europa League final and was on duty at Euro 2012, had been selected.

He will be assisted by fellow Italians Renato Faverani and Andrea Stefani with the fourth official, Damir Skomina, coming from Slovenia.

Di Canio fury

Paolo Di Canio launched an angry attack on the discipline of his squad after Phil Bardsley was pictured laying on the floor of a casino covered in £50 notes.

Bardsley was left out of Sunderland’s squad for Sunday’s game at Tottenham after the picture of him – taken after Sunderland’s survival was assured – was printed in the media.

Di Canio said: “I saw the picture on a website and moments later he was out of my squad.

“How can I play a player that probably is blurry for three, four days after what’s happened?

“I thought that at Swindon... arrogant, ignorant footballers because they’ve not had many chances to stay at the top level. I have to tell you unfortunately I found a worse environment in terms of discipline in this club.”

Fiorentina furious over ‘gift’ penalty

Fiorentina’s players and officials were furious after being de-prived of a place in the Champions League play-off by two late goals from Milan on Sunday, who clinched third place and qualified at their expense.

Milan, needing to beat relegated Siena to hold on to third spot, won 2-1 after equalising with a controversial penalty by Mario Balotelli before Philippe Mexes grabbed the winner.

“Milan were gifted a penalty,” defender Manual Pascual said.

“It was disappointing to see the dream disappear like that.”

Defender Gonzalo Rodriguez commented on Twitter: “If I say everything I think, I won’t play again in Italy.”

Nagatomo ready for Blue Samurai

Japan will be boosted by the return of defender Yuto Nagatomo for next month’s 2014 World Cup qualifier against Australia after the Inter full-back said he has fully recovered from knee ligament damage.

The 26-year-old took the field for the first time since February in Inter’s 5-2 home defeat to Udinese on Sunday and said he was fit again to play the full 90 minutes.

“The knee is fine. Now, I can play the entire match without any problems,” Nagatomo said.

Diego mulls move to Atletico Madrid

Wolfsburg forward Diego has confirmed receiving an ap-proach from Atletico Madrid and said he hoped his future can be decided as soon as possible.

The 28-year-old spent season 2011-12 on loan at the Spanish club, winning the Europa League with them before returning to Wolfsburg this season.

His contract with the Wolves still has a year left to run on it and he is keen to find out whether he will be remaining in the Bundesliga or going back to Spain next season.

“It’s important for my mind and for the preparations for next season,” he said.

“The president and coach of Atletico have both told me that they want me. We now just have to talk to Wolfsburg.”

Difficult to lure Bale away – AVB

Andre Villas-Boas remains confident Gareth Bale will stay at White Hart Lane this summer despite Tottenham’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.

Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and both Manchester clubs have all been linked with the 23-year-old, who won every leading player accolade in the country this term.

Unlike Spurs, all four of those clubs will be able to offer the forward Champions League football next season. But that does not mean the Welshman is on his way out.

When asked whether Bale would still be at Spurs next term, Villas-Boas said: “Yes, that’s the information we have.

“It is very difficult to lure a player of this dimension away.

“You have to hold on to your best assets.”