Torino issued a statement yesterday to deny comments made by agent Gianfranco Cicchetti that their striker Alessio Cerci was set to join city rivals Juventus in summer.
Cerci has hit great form this season, prompting the interest of various top clubs in Europe, including Juventus.
“We are commenting in light of an interview with the self-styled FIFA agent Gianfranco Cicchetti, who said that ‘Juventus had practically concluded the signing of Alessio Cerci from Torino for a fee of €20m’,” Torino said.
“This story is completely unfounded. No dialogue on this subject has taken place between Torino and Juventus.”
Bayer Leverkusen sack coach Hyypia
Bayern Leverkusen dismissed coach Sami Hyypia yesterday, a day after the club slumped to a 2-1 defeat against Hamburg that left them with just one win from their last nine league games.
“After a lot of thought and because of the ongoing crisis we reached the conclusion that a change at this point could help us urgently turn things around,” Leverkusen CEO Michael Schade said in a statement.
The former Finland international will be replaced by interim coach Sascha Lewandowski.
Hodgson: We will be brave in Brazil
Roy Hodgson has vowed that England will go on the attack at this summer’s World Cup.
Hodgson is counting down the days until England kick off their World Cup campaign against Italy in Manaus on June 14.
The last time England met Italy in a major tournament was in Euro 2012, when they lost on penalties after a dull 0-0 draw over 120 minutes.
Hodgson said: “We will be brave, we will believe in ourselves and we will risk defeat.
“We won’t try and sneak our way through the games because I think with the type of players we have that wouldn’t suit us... I don’t think you will see England sit back against Italy.”
Luckless Jese
Real Madrid forward Jese has suffered a setback in his recovery from a season-ending knee injury and will return to Germany for further examinations.
The 21-year-old tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee early in Real’s Champions League match with Schalke on March 18 and subsequently underwent an operation at the Augsburg clinic of knee specialist Ulrich Boenisch.
However, Real revealed Jese had been suffering from a fever and inflammation of the affected knee.
Jese sustained the injury after just two minutes of last month’s 3-1 win over Schalke in the second leg of their last-16 tie, following an innocuous-looking tussle with Sead Kolasinac.
Sampdoria coach still angry at ruling
Sampdoria coach Sinisa Mihajlovic must settle for being a frustrated observer today when the Genoa side goes up against his former team, Lazio.
Mihajlovic will begin serving a two-match touchline ban this weekend as punishment for being sent off for dissent in Sunday’s goalless draw against Fiorentina. The former Lazio player will also be suspended for the clash against another of his ex-clubs, Inter.
“I will not be able to be on the bench against my former teams Lazio and Inter, which are two very important games for my side,” Mihajlovic said.
“I’m surprised and disappointed by the punishment. However, I will not appeal the decision as a sign of respect for my club but I’m very angry with the ruling.”
Cellino go-ahead to purchase Leeds
Italian businessman Massimo Cellino has been given approval to complete the purchase of second tier club Leeds United after an independent QC overturned the Football League’s initial decision to block him.
Cellino, president of Italian Serie A club Cagliari, agreed in February to buy a 75 per cent stake in former English champions Leeds for a reported £25 million from Dubai-based GFH Capital.
However, the Football League’s board blocked Cellino from completing the deal after an Italian court found him guilty of tax evasion.
Cellino will now become president of Leeds, and managing director David Haigh will take the role of chief executive.
Rooney doubt for Bayern return
Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney missed yesterday’s Premier League game at Newcastle United with a bruised toe and is doubtful for this week’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at Bayern Munich, manager David Moyes said.
The England striker suffered the injury during the second half of the 1-1 draw with Bayern at Old Trafford last Tuesday. United face the German champions in the return on Wednesday.
“Wayne’s got a badly bruised toe,” Moyes said.
“He’s got a terrible toe and it could be a problem for the Munich game. So we need to monitor it. We’ll get him treatment all over the weekend and see if we can speed it up.”