Schalke have found a replacement for Joel Matip, who will join Liverpool next season, by signing Brazilian defender Naldo from Bundesliga rivals Wolfsburg.
The 33-year-old has joined the Royal Blues on a free transfer due to a clause in his contract which enabled him to leave the Wolves if they did not qualify for Europe.
“As soon as we heard that Naldo was available, we got straight to work on signing him,” said Schalke’s new director of sport Christian Heidel.
“It was hugely important to bring in such an experienced player for a young, talented side with plenty of potential.”
Simeone wants Torres to stay
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has hinted he wants Fernando Torres to remain at the club.
Torres scored the opener and assisted on the second goal in Atletico’s 2-0 win over Celta Vigo on the final day of the season.
The former Chelsea and Liverpool striker returned to his boyhood club in January 2015 on loan from Milan and his contract is due to run out next month.
“When I spoke to him I said I didn’t want him to return as a club idol, but we needed him to be a team player and in the last four months he’s played at a very high level,” Simeone said.
“The two parties are starting to come together and we hope that everything is seen through the lens of performances.”
Gers urged to keep manager Warburton
Terry Butcher has told Rangers to offer manager Mark Warburton a long-term contract after insisting: “The best is yet to come”.
Butcher has been hugely impressed by the job done by his fellow Englishman since he took over at Ibrox last summer as he led the club to a return to Premier League football.
“He just gets on with his job well, there are no histrionics. It’s very similar to the way Walter Smith used to get on with it when he was in charge. Pragmatic and strong,” Butcher said.
“It’s a great club and I think they will want to get him tied down.”
Bruges end 11-year title drought
Club Bruges claimed the Belgian championship for the first time in 11 years when they produced an emphatic display to thump closest challengers Anderlecht 4-0 for an unassailable lead in the standings.
Abdoulay Diaby scored twice within five minutes in the first half and Hans Vanaken and Timmy Simons added two more goals after the break to hand Michel Preud’homme’s club the title in front of their home fans.
With two matches to play in the post-season play-offs, Brugge opened up a six-point lead and, even if they are caught in the final two rounds, they cannot be denied the title after finishing the regular season top of the standings.
Sarri, De Laurentiis to discuss club future
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is scheduled to meet coach Maurizio Sarri today to discuss plans for next season.
Sarri has a year-by-year contract, and while it appears highly likely that he will continue with the Partenopei, the new agreement still has to be finalised.
It is understood De Laurentiis and Sarri will also finalise the club’s plans of next season which will see Napoli make a return to the Champions League.
Empoli’s Lorenzo Tonelli is likely to be the club’s first arrival in the close season and more signings are expected to follow.
Moyes ready to return to Everton
David Moyes has indicated that he would consider a return to Everton after Ronald Koeman confirmed he was set to stay at Southampton.
Moyes, who left Goodison to join Manchester United in 2013, is now the favourite for the job.
He said: “Would I consider going back? I’ve said if I get an exciting challenge and something that makes me feel I could get my teeth into it I would be really interested.
“When we took over we had 11 great and successful years, but we also had to rebuild the club a little bit. I just think now the change has been made, Everton need to now go and do it again.”
Infantino to visit Nigeria – NFF chief
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is to visit Nigeria in early June, according to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick.
Pinnick, who is facing opposition to his leadership from a rogue group, was at the FIFA Congress in Mexico and said Infantino was pleased by the efforts made by the current leadership
“The FIFA president says Nigeria is a big country and a massive footballing nation that should help with the new FIFA leadership’s drive to truly develop the game,” Pinnick said.
“He is excited about our various capacity-building and youth development programmes and that is why he is coming to watch the NFF/ZENITH Bank Future Eagles Championship finals.”