Milan forward M’Baye Niang has expressed his desire to extend his loan spell at Genoa at the end of the season.
The Frenchman joined Genoa on a six-month loan deal during the winter transfer window and has since scored three goals and set up one more in eight Serie A appearances for the Grifoni.
“I can give a great deal to this team and Genoa can give a lot more to me,” Niang said.
“I would like another year at Genoa, but it’s too early to talk about that now.”
Niang moved to Milan from Caen in 2012.
Ferdinand banned
QPR director of football Les Ferdinand has been handed a one-match ban by the English FA for misconduct.
Ferdinand was also fined £12,000 and banned from the changing rooms and tunnel area following an incident after QPR’s 2-1 home defeat to Tottenham earlier this month.
QPR were denied two penalties against Tottenham, as Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris brought down Mauricio Isla, and Nabil Bentaleb appeared to block Charlie Austin’s shot with his hands late on.
Navas happy at Real
Keylor Navas insists he is happy at Real Madrid despite his lack of playing time.
The 28-year-old goalkeeper has made seven appearances, just three in the Primera Division, since joining the European champions from Levante last summer. The Costa Rica international is a reported target of Arsenal and Liverpool.
“I feel very calm,” Navas said.
“Obviously, one always wants more. I’m not a conformist or someone that gives up easily.
“I know that the situation is not one that one would like but that is where I need to bring out the best in me and be stronger.”
Bellarabi, Badstuber out of qualifier
Germany forward Karim Bella-rabi and defender Holger Badstuber have been ruled out of their Euro 2016 qualifier in Georgia, assistant coach Thomas Schneider said yesterday.
Schneider said Bellarabi would miss the game due to a cold while Badstuber, who returned after a two-and-a-half year injury absence in Germany’s 2-2 draw against Australia on Wednesday, was nursing a muscle injury.
“It is nothing dramatic,” Schneider told reporters.
“For Holger it is near where he was operated on and it is a precautionary measure because he is part of our plans.”
Germany, who will now travel with 21 players to Tbilisi for tomorrow’s game, have made an erratic start to the qualifiers, managing seven points from four games, as many as Ireland and Scotland, with Poland three clear at the top of Group D.
Xavi agent declines Al Sadd comments
Xavi’s agent has declined to comment on reports the Barcelona midfielder is set to leave at the end of the season and sign a lucrative contract with Qatari side Al Sadd.
Xavi, 35, has played for Barca a record 751 times since he graduated from the academy to the first team in 1998 but has had limited playing time this season under coach Luis Enrique.
His agent, Ivan Corretja, said he had no comment on reports in the media that Xavi was poised to agree a three-year deal with Al Sadd worth €10m a season.
Marchisio blow for club and country
Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has suffered a serious right knee injury during yesterday’s training session with Italy and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.
The Italian football federation (FIGC) confirmed that Marchisio underwent tests which have revealed serious damage to his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Marchisio will have to undergo surgery to repair his damaged knee and is expected to be sidelined for at least six months.
His injury is a big blow for Italy and for Juve, who are alive in three competitions this season.
Juventus are 14 points clear of Roma at the top of Serie A with 10 games remaining.
The Bianconeri are into the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia.
Marquinhos’s deal
PSG defender Marquinhos has signed a one-year contract with the Ligue 1 champions.
The 20-year-old Brazil international, who had been linked with Chelsea and Manchester United, is now tied to PSG until June 2019.
Marquinhos said: “It’s great and shows that I’m doing a good job.
“I’m very happy that the club is showing such confidence in me.
“The project here in Paris is magnificent. I’m very happy with everything that’s happened in my life since signing here. Paris St Germain has provided so much for me. I hope it continues for a long time to come.”
The centre-back joined PSG from Roma in 2013 and helped the club win the league in his first season at the Parc des Princes.
He played both legs as PSG overcame Chelsea on away goals in the last 16 of this season’s Champions League.