Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan has signed a new five-year deal.
The 27-year-old Belgium international has put pen to paper on a new contract which will see him stay at the Stadio Olimpico until the end of the 2019-20.
Nainggolan, a January 2014 recruit from Serie A rivals Cagliari, has been rewarded for a series of impressive performances during last season when he made 46 appearances for Rudi Garcia’s side and scored five goals.
“I’m delighted – this is what I wanted. I think the club is happy too,” Nainggolan said.
Keeper Valdes wants United stay – agent
Victor Valdes wants to stay at Manchester United despite interest from Turkey.
The goalkeeper joined United on an 18-month deal in January, but has been linked with a move to Antalyspor, whose president declared that the Spaniard wants to leave Old Trafford.
But Valdes’s agent, Gines Carvajal, has rubbished such suggestions and says the former Barce-lona man wants to stay put.
“I’ve been contacted by a series of individuals from Turkey to negotiate a move for Victor Valdes,” Carvajal said.
“But I haven’t spoken with the Turkish club in question. I have no plans to talk with them as my player has no interest in a move to Antalyaspor.”
Orlando City keen on Hernandez
Orlando City remain hopeful of signing Javier Hernandez even though negotiations stalled last week due to the Mexico forward’s wage demands.
However, the MLS club’s owner, Flavio Augusto da Silva, told reporters that he retains hope of bringing the Manchester United striker to Florida.
“Regarding Chicharito, we’d love the chance to have him,” Da Silva said.
“Right now we don’t have anything done, and you know during the process of negotiations the less we talk about it the better. So we’ll see if there is a possibility and then we’ll move forward.”
Record attendance
Manchester City Women claimed a new attendance record on Sunday as interest in the FA Women’s League reached a new high in the wake of England Lionesses’ World Cup heroics.
A crowd of 2,102 turned out at the Academy Stadium to see City – including five members of the England team which finished in a creditable third place in Canada – beat Birmingham City Ladies 1-0.
The figure beat the previous recorded best of 2,057 for the match between Notts County and Liverpool in May, and eclipsed City’s old record of 1,412 for their 2014 Continental Cup win over Everton.
Okaka future at Sampdoria in doubt
Watford and Bologna have tabled offers for Sampdoria striker Stefano Okaka but his agent insisted yesterday that a contract renewal was not out of the question yet.
Okaka, 25, has turned down all offers this summer as he intends to stay at Sampdoria but it seems that club supremo Massimo Ferrero wants to part with his player.
“Some concrete offers arrived but they were politely declined,” agent Beppe Bozzo said.
“It’s not that Stefano didn’t consider them up to his standard, but rather he wanted to wait a bit. Personally, I’ve only been his agent for two weeks, but I can say how happy Stefano is at Samp. He’s working so hard in pre-season.”
Okaka’s current contract is due to expire in June 2016.
Leicester turn to ‘Tinkerman’ Ranieri
Leicester City named Italian Claudio Ranieri as manager yesterday as the popular former Chelsea boss returns to the Premier League 11 years after leaving Stamford Bridge.
Leicester escaped relegation last season on the back of an amazing late turnaround in form but manager Nigel Pearson was sacked two weeks ago after an internal fallout.
Ranieri, 63, has a remarkable CV, having also managed Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Valencia, Juventus, Roma, Inter and Monaco before taking over the Greek national team – then being sacked last November.
“I’m so glad to be here in a club with such a great tradition,” Ranieri said.
Mexico rue missed opportunities
Mexico squandered several chances to advance to the Gold Cup quarter-finals when they drew 0-0 with Guatemala, while Trinidad did make the last eight with a 2-0 win over Cuba.
Sheldon Bateau netted in the 17th minute while Andre Boucaud scored on a volley after a failed clearance by Cuba in the 42nd minute for Trinidad and Tobago to qualify for the quarter-finals with a game to spare.
They face Mexico in their final Group C match tomorrow, with the Central Americans needing at least a draw to advance to the last eight.
Mexico had good opportunities to beat Guatemala with a late shot from Giovani Dos Santos that bounced off the bar summing up their effort.