Mexico striker Javier Hernandez is expected to miss this month’s Gold Cup after the player suffered a fractured collarbone in the first half of an international friendly against Honduras in Houston late Wednesday.
The 27-year-old Manchester United forward, who spent last season on loan at Real Madrid, collided with a Honduran de-fender five minutes before half-time in the 0-0 draw and was im-mediately substituted.
Hernandez has notched 40 goals in 73 appearances for his country and will be a significant loss as they bid for a seventh title at the July 7-26 Gold Cup in Canada and the United States.
Fiorentina confident of Salah loan
Fiorentina are “optimistic” they will extend the loan deal of Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah for another season.
The Florence club has been negotiating with Chelsea to keep hold of the Egypt international, who is also a target of Inter.
Salah, 23, joined Fiorentina on transfer deadline day in February from Chelsea and scored seven goals in 12 appearances to help the Viola finish fourth in Serie A.
Fiorentina president Andrea Della Valle said: “I’m optimistic.
“Of course, in football anything can happen but we will see what the outcome is.”
Gundogan extends Dortmund contract
Germany international Ilkay Gundogan signed a two-year contract extension at Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund, ending speculation about his future.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who has 11 caps, had been on the radar of several top European clubs. He has made 80 appearances for Dortmund since joining from FC Nurnberg in 2011 and his new deal ties him to the club until June 2017.
“I am glad that we finally have clarity and I can continue playing for Borussia,” Gundogan said.
He was part of the Dortmund side that won the Bundesliga title in 2012 and finished runners-up to Bayern Munich in the 2013 Champions League.
Iago Falque joins Roma on loan
Roma have signed Spanish midfielder Iago Falque on a season-long loan deal from Genoa, the Serie A club announced.
The Giallorossi will hold an option to acquire the 25-year-old on a permanent transfer next summer for a fee of seven million euros.
Falque, a youth product of Barcelona, joined Genoa from Tottenham last summer and enjoyed an impressive debut season in Serie A.
He scored 13 goals and set up three more in 32 league appearances for Genoa.
Roma finished runners-up to Juventus in Serie A in the 2014-15 campaign and will play in next season’s Champions League.
Sevilla agree deal for defender Rami
Sevilla have reached an agreement with Milan to acquire French defender Adil Rami for an undisclosed fee.
Rami, 29, joined Milan from Valencia last year but made just 18 Serie A appearances for the Rossoneri in the 2014-15 campaign and was keen to leave the Italian club this summer.
If Rami’s transfer is completed, he will work again under coach Unai Emery.
Emery coached Rami in the 2011-12 campaign at Valencia before the Spanish tactician departed to Spartak Moscow.
Rami had been a reported target of Manchester United and Olympique Lyon.
UEFA probing Barca over separatist flags
UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Barcelona whose fans waved separatist flags and chanted slogans in support of Catalan independence at last month’s UEFA Champions Lea-gue final.
Barcelona confirmed that European soccer’s governing body, which prohibits political demonstrations at matches, had begun proceedings but added that the club did not yet have an official reaction.
Barcelona are a source of pride for many independence-minded Catalans and fans often take the chance at matches to emphasise the region’s separate identity from the rest of Spain.
Schweinsteiger to decide his future
Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will be given the choice to stay or leave the Bundesliga champions, manager Pep Guardiola said yesterday.
The 30-year-old German World Cup winner has been linked in media reports with a move to Manchester United where he would be reunited with manager Louis van Gaal who converted him from a wide player into a central midfielder during his time at Bayern.
“If Schweinsteiger wants to stay here then that’s perfect. He’s a top player,” Guardiola said.
“Of course I am planning to work with Bastian next season. He has to decide.
“Bastian has managed a great career. He must decide what he does alone. I told him, the future depends on you.”