Reports in the Italian media yesterday said the deal for goalkeeper Sergio Romero from Sampdoria to Benfica is done.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the transfer agreement was quickly struck with the Portuguese club. They will pay €800,000 to Sampdoria who will now save on the 27-year-old Argentine’s high wages.
Romero did not play for Samp-doria for half of the 2013-14 season as he was loaned out to Monaco in Ligue 1 in the winter transfer window.
C. Palace complete Campbell deal
Crystal Palace have announced the signing of striker Fraizer Campbell from Cardiff.
Campbell has joined for an undisclosed fee, putting pen-to-paper on a three-year deal with the London club. The 26-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Manchester United at the start of his career, won the solitary senior England cap he has to his name in 2012.
Campbell made his professional debut with Belgian side Royal Antwerp while on loan for the 2006/07 season from United.
He arrives at Palace having netted 16 goals in 52 appearances for the Bluebirds.
Pekerman requests leave of absence
Colombia head coach Jose Pekerman has requested a leave of absence for personal reasons.
The 64-year-old Argentinian led Colombia to the World Cup quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by hosts Brazil having beaten Uruguay in the last 16 following three group-stage victories.
Colombian football federation president Luis Bedoya Giraldo said: “Jose Pekerman has requested a period of rest for personal reasons, and it is a situation that deserves our respect.
“We will hold talks with him over his continuing future with the Colombian national team in the first days of August.”
Pekerman replaced Leonel Alvarez as Colombia boss in January 2012.
Todorov refuses wages to help club
Former Premier League player Svetoslav Todorov, manager of Bulgarian second division side Dobrudzha, has refused to accept wages in an attempt to help the financially-troubled club cut their costs.
“It’s not important what I’ve given up,” the 35-year-old said.
“It’s important what compromises were made by my boys.”
Former Bulgaria striker Todorov played for West Ham, Portsmouth, Wigan and Charlton before returning to his home club, based in Dobrich, as manager last year.
Bulgarian second division players’ incomes are so low that many of them are unable to pay for food and rent.
Dobrudzha players get less than $340 per month.
Julio Cesar back at Queens Park Rangers
Brazil World Cup goalkeeper Julio Cesar has ended his loan spell with Toronto and returned to promoted Premier League team QPR.
The keeper joined the Canadian club in February and made seven league appearances.
“At Toronto FC we aspire to be internationally recognised as a leader in every aspect that involves our football club and to be a consistent contender for championships in North America,” general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in a statement.
“With this ambitious vision comes the need for acquiring players of great character that leave an impact both on and off the pitch. Julio Cesar is certainly one of those players.”
Lallana to miss start of season
Liverpool’s new signing Adam Lallana will miss the start of the season after suffering a knee injury in training.
Lallana, who left Southampton earlier this month for a fee of around 25 million pounds, was hurt on the pre-season tour of the United States.
The England midfielder, yet to feature in a pre-season match for Liverpool, does not require surgery but will not be fit in time for their opening Premier League game against Southampton on August 17.
“No specific time frame has been placed on a return to fitness but injuries of this nature can result in a spell of anywhere up to six weeks on the sidelines,” the club said.
The 26-year-old Lallana is also likely to miss away league games against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
Bebe leaves United
Bebe’s nightmare spell at Manchester United has finally come to an end after he was sold to Benfica.
United paid Vitoria de Guimaraes £7.4 million for the striker in 2010, but he only started three games.
The 24-year-old, who made seven appearances in total, never looked like making it into the United first team and he was shipped out on loan to Besiktas, Rio Ave and Pacos de Ferreira.
On Friday, Benfica confirmed they had bought the player, releasing a statement on their website which read: “Bebe has signed an agreement with Benfica for four years.”
Sir Alex Ferguson famously revealed he signed Bebe without seeing him play live.