Cagliari’s Davide Astori has been linked with a move to Napoli but it emerged yesterday that Fio-rentina have prepared a €5m bid to lure the central defender to their fold this summer.
Astori, an Italy international, played for Roma on loan last season but the Giallorossi decided not to take up the option to make his move permanent.
Napoli were believed to be close to signing the 28-year-old but Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Fiorentina will table a €5m bid for Astori.
Fiorentina are ready to offer him a four-year deal.
Tevez leads nine-man Boca to 1-0 victory
Carlos Tevez inspired nine-man Boca Juniors to a 1-0 away win over Belgrano that gave them a three-point lead at the top of the Argentine championship.
Boca, who scored through Fernando Gago in the 37th minute of Sunday’s match in Cordoba, were down to 10 men for the last half hour and nine for the last 22 minutes.
Midfielder Pablo Perez and defender Gino Peruzzi were sent off in a foul-riddled match in which Tevez was the target of some hard marking but got on with the game.
“You have to know how to read games. When we were able to play, we played. When we had to fight, we fought,” Tevez said.
Aston Villa agree Crespo deal
Aston Villa have agreed a deal to sign defender Jose Angel Crespo from Cordoba, the Spanish club have announced.
The 28-year-old full-back started his career at Sevilla, where he was part of the squad that won the 2006 UEFA Cup, before going on to play for Racing Santander, as well as Padova, Bologna and Verona in Italy.
Cordoba were relegated from the Primera Division last season.
Villa have already brought in the likes of Micah Richards, Idrissa Gueye and Jordan Amavi this summer.
Van Gaal vows to walk away in 2017
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal will not break his promise to retire in 2017, even if he is offered a huge contract by a wealthy Qatari club.
Van Gaal is enjoying his time in Manchester, but the 63-year-old has promised his wife Truus that this will be his last job in management and he intends to stick to his word.
“I will give it (football) up in 2017,” the United manager said.
“I promised that to my wife. We have not many years together any more.
“That is the real reason.
“I have to admit I have said to her, when I met her and after our relationship seemed to be very good, that at 55 I shall quit.
“I am still working and next week I am 64.”
Winning start for Andrea Pirlo in MLS
New York City celebrated the debut of Andrea Pirlo with a 5-3 win over fellow MLS new boys Orlando City to close the gap to the play-off places in the Eastern Conference.
Pirlo made his entrance as a substitute in the 56th minute with New York leading 2-1 – Javier Calle having restored their lead after Cyle Larin cancelled out David Villa’s opener – but he soon saw his side pegged back, with Larin levelling it for a second time in the 61st minute.
However, Villa’s second of the night in the 67th minute was swiftly followed by a goal for Thomas McNamara, and although Larin completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute, Mix Diskerud had the final say in stoppage time to secure the 5-3 win.
Early pre-season for Napoli’s Higuain
Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain has cut short his holidays to join his Serie A club for pre-season training.
The Argentine played for his country in the Copa America this summer and Napoli allowed him a few extra days to recover from the tournament.
Higuain was expected to join his fellow team-mates at the end of this week but he turned up at the Dimaro training camp on Sunday evening.
He was greeted by club supremo Aurelio De Laurentiis who intends to offer Higuain a new contract.
Drogba joins Montreal Impact
Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has made the switch to Major League Soccer by signing for Montreal Impact.
The 37-year-old Ivorian was a free agent following the end of his second spell with the Blues, for whom he scored 164 goals across nine seasons at Stamford Bridge.
The deal for Drogba also involves Chicago Fire. The American franchise had filed a discovery claim for the former Galatasaray player but Montreal have now acquired his rights for an undisclosed fee.
Montreal president Joey Saputo said: “It’s an honour to welcome Didier Drogba to the Impact.
“From the first conversation I had with him, I felt that he really wanted to play in Montreal. His arrival to the club will be beneficial in every aspect.”