Football news

Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand signed a one-year contract yesterday to stay with the Premier League champions for a 12th season.

The 34-year-old would have been out of contract this summer after helping his club to a 20th league title but will now be part of new manager David Moyes’s set-up following the retirement of Alex Ferguson.

“I am delighted to have signed a new contract,” Ferdinand said in a statement.

“Who wouldn’t want to play in this fantastic team in front of 75,000 fans each week, it has been an incredible journey and I am glad it will continue.

“I can now concentrate on my club career, which has worked well for me over the past years.”

Panathinaikos face licence appeal

Panathinaikos are one of eight clubs in the Greek top flight to be denied licences to compete in next season’s championship, the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) has said.

All 16 clubs had their applications examined by the EPO’s licensing committee this week and while eight teams were given the green light, the other eight – including Athens giants Panathinaikos – have had their initial submissions rejected.

Those rejected have five days to appeal with Panathinaikos stating they remained confident of being granted a licence.

Pazzini ruled out for six months

Milan striker Giampaolo Pazzini has been ruled out of action for up to six months after under-going a knee operation, the Serie A club said yesterday.

“Milan announces that today Giampaolo Pazzini has under-gone surgery on his right knee. The operation, performed in Namur, Belgium, by the team of Prof. Martens, was perfectly successful,” Milan said on their website.

“Recovery times are estimated at between four and six months, unless there are complications.”

Pazzini scored 15 goals for Milan last season as they finished third in Serie A.

Cameroon name Finke as coach

Cameroon have appointed Volker Finke as coach of the national team, the German tasked with ensuring the Indomitable Lions qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Finke takes over from caretaker coach Jean-Paul Akono, who was brought in to replace Denis Lavagne last September after the Frenchman failed to take Cameroon to the African Nations Cup finals in 2012 and 2013.

The 65-year-old managed Freiburg from 1991 to 2007 and will be coaching an international side for the first time after spells at Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan and Cologne in his homeland.

Simeone will back Falcao’s decision

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone says he will not bear any grudge if star striker Radamel Falcao decides to seek a new challenge.

Falcao has scored 32 goals in 36 appearances in all com-petitions so far this season and has been linked with a summer move to Monaco, Manchester City and Chelsea.

Simeone denied a deal has been made with Monaco and said he would give Falcao his blessing if he decides to move on.

“I don’t know anything official yet,” Simeone told Marca.

“I have known him since he was a child and I wish him all the best. If he feels that he needs to make a move, I’ll be happy for him. If he stays with us, I’ll be happy too.”

Real Madrid show interest in Isco

Real Madrid are interested in signing Malaga attacking mid-fielder Isco, according to reports in Spain.

The 21-year-old Spain inter-national has scored eight goals in 35 Primera Liga appearances so far this season, and is also believed to have attracted interest from English side Manchester City and Paris St Germain, the French champions.

Isco signed a new contract with Malaga in January to keep him at the club until 2016 but has a buy-out clause of €35 million.

Malaga director Francisco Aguilar told Marca that Real are keen on Isco, but a deal is still a long way from being confirmed.

Dutt awaits DFB decision

German football association (DFB) sporting director Robin Dutt will find out next week whether he will be allowed to coach Werder Bremen from next season after the Bundesliga club made an official approach for his services.

The DFB said in a statement yesterday that Werder had requested the release of Dutt, who succeeded Matthias Sam-mer at the football association after the former Germany defender took up a role at Bayern Munich last year.

Dutt, who joined the DFB in Aug. 2012, has a contract to 2016.

“Because of the importance of the person involved, the DFB board will discuss whether to offer the desired release,” the authority said.