Club supremo Massimo Ferrero revealed Sampdoria are planning to build a new stadium by the sea to replace the Stadio Ferraris.
Ferrero said: “This is a dream project. You can see in the plans there is a nautical hall as we’ll build the stadium by the sea, where everyone can take their boats in and watch the game.
“There will be other investors along with me, but we must take into account that this stadium will be good for the city.”
Ferrero is currently engaged in negotiations with the local council to lease land for 99 years.
Anelka joins Mumbai
Nicolas Anelka’s agent has denied speculation that the striker could have joined Fiorentina prior to agreeing a deal with Indian side Mumbai FC until Christmas.
The former Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Chelsea striker had been without a club since his controversial exit from West Brom earlier this year.
Agent Alexander Garini said: “Anelka signed a deal with Mumbai FC and so there is no chance of a U-turn.
“The contract will expire on December 25th, I have it, so there are no problems. We have never had contacts with Fiorentina.
“Anelka asked for €1.5m each season – a salary that is out of reach in Italy.”
Balotelli bug
Mario Balotelli will be available for Liverpool’s home Premier League match against Aston Villa today after recovering from illness, manager Brendan Rodgers said.
The Italy striker, signed for 16 million pounds from Milan last month, missed training on Thursday, adding to Rodgers’s concerns after a string of injuries to the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Joe Allen.
“Mario has had a bit of a bug that we wanted to make sure he didn’t spread around the group,” Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.
“But he’ll be okay for Saturday (today).”
Liverpool’s squad faces a severe test with seven matches in 21 days, beginning with the visit of Aston Villa.
Magpies boss not buying Gers shares
Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley said yesterday he was not buying more shares to help fund Rangers, a statement likely to dampen speculation that he could take over the former Scottish champions.
Ashley has a stake of more than 4.5 per cent in Rangers who are trying to raise around £4 million from the sale of new shares to investors as the club seeks financial stability.
Reports said this week that Ashley would listen to offers for Newcastle and was interested in taking control of Rangers.
“I will not be participating in the open offer,” Ashley said in a one-line statement, referring to the fund raising by Rangers.
Ailing Van Basten to step down
Marco van Basten is to step down as coach of AZ Alkmaar as his health issues persist, Dutch media said yesterday.
The former European Footballer of the Year, who turns 50 next month, joined the Dutch club on a two-year deal at the start of the season but has been on a leave of absence due to stress.
He was given time off by the club and missed their last match before the club extended by two weeks his time away from the game.
AZ have not given any details of Van Basten’s problems but Dutch media reported that he had been suffering from heart palpitations since the death of his father in July.
Rome trip was useful – Wenger
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says not even transfer deadline day was important enough for him to miss an audience with the Pope in Rome.
The Gunners boss came in for some criticism after he headed to Italy on September 1, when everyone else back in England was scrambling around to do some late business.
“Meeting the Pope was an experience I did not want to miss,” said Wenger.
“I am a Catholic, so it was an experience, and one (invitation) I accepted a long time ago, and on top of that it was a game for peace and multi-religion understanding.
“I thought today where we are a bit in front of an international religious war (in Gaza), it was a very important game.”
Guus Hiddink gets royal call-up
Guus Hiddink is to switch his role of Netherlands national team coach with that of a diplomat after being invited to accompany Dutch king Willem-Alexander on a state visit to South Korea next month.
The Dutch were hoping Hiddink would help open doors and cement business relations, the De Telegraaf newspaper said yesterday.
Hiddink enjoys hero status in South Korea after taking the country’s national soccer team to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup, which they co-hosted with Japan.
He has been decorated with state honours, made an honorary citizen and two stadiums in South Korea are named after him.