Players from Italy and the Netherlands, in Poland for Euro 2012, yesterday visited the former Nazi German death camp at Auschwitz.
Members of the Azzurri, who are based in the southern city of Krakow, arrived by bus at the site where 1.3 million people perished during World War II.
Dressed in blue and white team tracksuits, they visited the barracks, the wall where prisoners were shot before going to the gas chambers in nearby Birkenau three kilometres away and the crematorium where victims’ bodies were burned.
The Dutch players made the same tour of the camp.
Van der Vaart aims to stay at Spurs
Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has poured cold water on reports Schalke want to sign him by insisting he is happy to stay with Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur.
Van der Vaart has two years left on his Spurs contract and is content to stay at White Hart Lane.
“There is always interest, but I am happy in England and want to stay,” he told German Sky Sports at the Dutch training camp.
Both Van der Vaart and his agent Robert Geerlings have admitted being approached by Schalke, but the 29-year-old said his comments were blown out of proportion.
Tare confident Klose will stay
Miroslav Klose will remain at Lazio next season, according to the club’s sporting director Igli Tare.
Klose, who turns 34 on Saturday, has been linked with a return to the Bundesliga after just one year in Serie A having joined Lazio last summer as a free agent.
“Klose will remain at Lazio,” Tare told Il Corriere dello Sport.
“He has two years left on his contract and he is happy to remain at the Biancoceleste club.”
Klose scored 13 goals in 27 league appearances for Lazio last season.
Pandev seals Napoli deal
Goran Pandev has confirmed he has signed a permanent contract with Napoli.
The Macedonian international initially joined Napoli on a one-year loan deal from Inter, but the 28-year-old striker has now signed a three-year contract in a deal reportedly worth £6.4 million.
“I am in seventh heaven,” Pandev told www.calciomercato.com.
“I wanted to stay at Napoli at all costs after a year in which I have felt right at home.
“I have great confidence in this project and I am convinced that the victory in the Coppa Italia final is just the beginning of a great time for this club.”
Ibra refutes Paris SG rumours
Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has quashed speculation linking him with a move to Paris St Germain this summer.
Reports in France claimed the Ligue 1 side were willing to offer the Serie A giants €40 million to acquire the Sweden international.
“It is not true,” Ibrahimovic told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “PSG? No. There are so many things being said about my future but those are only rumours.
“I am a Milan player and I am very happy at this club.”
Ibrahimovic, 30, was the top scorer in the Italian top flight last season with 28 goals in 31 games.
He is under contract at Milan until June 2015.
Juve swoop for Udinese duo
Udinese say talks with Juventus over the transfers of Kwadwo Asamoah and Mauricio Isla are “at an advanced stage” but insist no agreement has been reached.
Reports in Turin claim Juve have had a joint €15 million bid for the players accepted, but Udinese sporting director Fabrizio Larini said: “The papers can write whatever they want but nothing has been done yet.
“The only thing that is true is that we have met with Juventus and we have spoken about their interest in our two players.
“Negotiations are at an advanced stage but I reiterate that no agreement has been reached.”
Hughton set for Norwich talks
Birmingham City manager Chris Hughton has been given permission to speak to Premier League side Norwich.
The Canaries are searching for a new manager after former boss Paul Lambert left to join top-flight rivals Aston Villa.
Hughton, widely praised for his time in charge of Newcastle, had also been linked with the vacancy at West Brom caused by Roy Hodgson becoming the new manager of England.
But the 53-year-old, who made his name as a player at Tottenham Hotspur, is now set for talks with Norwich, according to a Birmingham statement.