Defender Tin Jedvaj turned his two-year loan switch from Roma to Bayer Leverkusen into a permanent transfer yesterday, signing a deal that will keep him at the German club until 2020.
The 19-year-old Croatian international joined the Bundesliga team this season and instantly impressed Bayer Leverkusen bosses and fans.
The tall defender quickly earned a spot in coach Roger Schmidt’s attacking team, scoring twice in 14 league games.
Several held in transfer probe
A dozen persons, including agents, have been held for questioning as part of an investigation into France striker Andre-Pierre Gignac’s transfer to Marseille.
Sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to discuss the matter publicly, said that people close to the Marseille mob were also being held.
Marseille president Vincent Labrune, as well as former presidents Pape Diouf and Jean-Claude Dasier, had earlier been held for questioning last November.
Investigators are trying to figure out whether club officials took illegal commissions when Gignac was transferred from Toulouse in 2010.
Milan mocked over team bus reports
Milan have been mocked on social media over reports that they have sold their luxurious team bus to cut costs.
Italian media widely reported that the seven-times European champions had sold the vehicle for €150,000 and hoped to save €200,000 per year in costs.
One Twitter user posted a photo-shopped picture of the Milan players standing by the side of a motorway behind chief executive Adriano Galliani, who was holding a sign which read “Rome”.
Another posted a picture of a tram with the caption “exclusive pictures of Milan arriving at San Siro.”
Rocky role
Evergreen Sylvester Stallone has banked on Everton fans to provide him with a knockout scene for his latest film.
The Hollywood star delivered a TV message on the big screens at Goodison Park during the half-time interval of Monday’s game against West Brom, stirring up the crowd as filming took place for his latest outing in the famous Rocky boxing franchise.
The 68-year-old was filming crowd scenes for spin-off picture ‘Creed’ in which he trains the grandson of Apollo Creed – the fighter with whom the Philadelphia brawler clashed in the first two Rocky films.
Stallone, wearing a Toffees shirt, introduced the film and asked the crowd to go wild.
Cellino vows to return in April
The future of Massimo Cellino as Leeds owner has been cast into doubt despite the Italian insisting he will accept disqualification by the Football League and then return in April.
A Professional Conduct Committee rejected Cellino’s appeal against disqualification, deciding a tax evasion conviction in Italy last year was an offence of dishonesty.
Although the disqualification period expires on April 10, Cellino is now facing a misconduct charge over failing to provide the findings of the Italian judge to the league.
Cellino said: “This changes nothing. I’ll abide by the rules, I’ll resign but then in April, finito, I’ll come back.
“I was signing the cheques before. Now someone else will sign them for me.”
Parma sign Varela and Rodriguez
Parma, joint bottom of Serie A alongside Cesena, have signed Uruguay midfielder Cristian Rodriguez and Portugal forward Silvestre Varela, both on loan, the club said yesterday.
Rodriguez, who has played for Uruguay at two Copa America tournaments and the 2014 World Cup, joined from Atletico Madrid, where he has made only six league appearances this season, all as a substitute.
The former Paris St Germain, Benfica and Porto player has not previously played in Serie A.
Varela, who like Rodriguez is 29, has been loaned by Porto, having spent the first half of the season at English Premier League West Brom, where he scored one goal in seven league appearances.
Rangers caretaker boss to step down
Rangers caretaker manager Kenny McDowall has tendered his resignation for personal reasons but will serve out a 12-month notice period.
Rangers were demoted to the fourth division for financial irregularities in 2012 but are now in the second tier. The caretaker manager’s resignation comes amid a battle for control of the club and to raise cash to stay afloat.
McDowall, 51, took over in December from former Rangers striker Ally McCoist, who had been in charge of the fallen Scottish giants since 2011. He was previously assistant manager.