Midfielder Marcelo Brozovic has joined Inter from Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb on a two-year loan deal with the option of making the move permanent, the Italian side said yesterday.
The 22-year old, who has scored one goal in seven international appearances, was part of Croatia’s 2014 World Cup squad and joins his compatriot Mateo Kovacic at Inter.
Brozovic won two league titles with Dinamo after his move from city rivals Lokomotiva in 2012 and is a versatile central midfielder able to fill in several roles in the engine room.
“I am delighted to have joined a big club playing in a competitive league with lots of challenges lying ahead,” he said.
Gattuso keen on Rangers post
Former Rangers midfielder Gennaro Gattuso insists he would love to return to Ibrox as boss but only once the club’s boardroom battle has been settled.
The Italian World Cup winner, 37, has been linked with the post vacated by Ally McCoist last month. Gattuso, who was back at Ibrox to in a charity match on Sunday, said: “I still have a lot of memories here. But now the club has big problems.
“Of course, I would be interested in the vacancy... that’s normal. But at this time the road (to the Rangers job) is far away.”
Delph commits future to Villa
Aston Villa star Fabian Delph has committed his future to the club after signing a new four-and-a-half-year deal.
The England midfielder was out of contract at the end of the season and had been linked with a move to Liverpool.
Delph said: “The club has given me a great platform to perform and a great opportunity to showcase what I can do.
“I am a loyal person and committing my future will show everybody what type of guy I am.”
The 25-year-old has made 116 appearances for Villa since signing from Leeds for £6m in 2009 and made his England debut against Norway in September.
Clyne cool on contract situation
Nathaniel Clyne appears in no rush to sign the contract extension offered to him by Southampton.
Since arriving from Crystal Palace in 2012, the 23-year-old has improved markedly and subsequently broken into the England set-up.
Such performances have led to understandable interest from a number of clubs, with Manchester United strongly reported to be one of the vultures circling over St Mary’s.
“My contract, we’re still negotiating,” said Clyne, whose current deal expires in 2016.
“I’m negotiating with my agent and also with the club so, yeah, we’ll wait until April.”
Riquelme retires
Former Argentina and Boca Juniors playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme has announced his retirement.
The 36-year-old, who had spells in Europe with Barcelona and Villarreal, excelling particularly with the latter, last played for Argentinos Juniors, recently helping the Buenos Aires side earn promotion to the top division.
He had been expected to join Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno but decided instead to call a halt to his playing career.
Riquelme told ESPN Sport Center in Argentina: “I’ve decided to stop playing. Sunday used to be the most beautiful day of the week, I went on the pitch and did what I liked best. Now I’ll be a fan.”
Drogba eager to stay with Chelsea
Didier Drogba wants to remain part of the Chelsea “family” beyond the end of the season.
The Ivory Coast forward received the 2015 Football Writers’ Association Tribute Award in London on Sunday night.
Drogba returned to Stamford Bridge during the summer following spells with Shanghai and Galatasaray, but as yet there is nothing confirmed when his current one-year deal expires.
However, the 36-year-old indicated his plans very much remain with Chelsea.
“When you have achieved so much and won so many trophies like we have done in the past 10 years, that creates something special,” said Drogba.
“I hope, and the club makes me believe, I am part of this big family, so we are going to find the best thing for both of us to promote the club in the best way.”
Man. United bring in Swissquote
Manchester United have signed a deal to make Swissquote their global forex and online financial trading sponsor, the latest in a series of commercial deals agreed by the English Premier League club.
United did not give a value for the deal, the club’s first in the sector, but said yesterday it was a multi-year agreement.
The partnership is the latest struck by United, whose ability to grow revenues off the pitch has made them the second richest club in the world behind Spain’s Real Madrid, despite a big downturn in their playing fortunes.
Swissquote is a Geneva-based online trading company that allows retail investors to buy and sell foreign exchange, equities, bonds and other asset classes.