Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has been appointed to the English FA’s Professional Game Board (PGB) and the FA Council.

Gazidis was one of four appointments made by the Premier League to the PGB and will sit alongside Tottenham’s director of football Darren Eales, Manchester United chief executive David Gill and Premier League chairman Dave Richards.

The PGB supports and advises the FA Board on matters which include the FA’s relationship with FIFA and UEFA and its administration of the FA Cup.

Cole rejects contract rumours

Chelsea defender Ashley Cole has rejected rumours that contract talks over a new deal at Stamford Bridge have stalled. Cole’s future has been the subject of speculation with the 31-year-old entering the final year of his contract.

Reports suggested Chelsea had yet to open talks with Cole over a contract extension, with the player supposedly holding out for a deal worth £200,000 a week.

However, Cole took to Twitter to explain that talks have only just got underway.

The left-back wrote: “Contract talks have not stalled just started, and 200k are you for real... I’d never ask for that.”

Vidic needs time for full fitness

Nemanja Vidic has admitted it will be a few weeks yet before he is back to top form.

The Manchester United skipper made an eagerly-awaited comeback from his cruciate operation in Norway on Sunday. He managed an hour of the goalless friendly with Valerenga without a problem and is expected to play tomorrow against Barcelona in Gothenburg.

“After eight months without a game it’s obvious that you have to get used to your positioning,” Vidic said.

“Fitness-wise it’s not as it will be in a few weeks but my knee felt well and hopefully the next game will be better. I knew I would be out for six months. I tried to make the best of it and when I came back wanted to be the same as I was before the injury.”

No acceptable Modric offer – AVB

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has said the club’s asking price for Luka Modric has yet to be met.

For the second successive year, Modric has been heavily linked with a move away from White Hart Lane, with Real Madrid heading the queue for the 26-year-old.

Villas-Boas said: “He’s been training separately still, it’s important for Luka to feel mentally ready to come back to first-team training.

“The player has to understand that the club can’t do anything about other clubs’ offers, we have a value and an interest that we have to defend and we are waiting for if the offer is not met to re-integrate the player.”

Ronaldo favours MLS switch

Cristiano Ronaldo has raised the prospect of making the switch one day to play in Major League Soccer in the United States.

“If I can help to develop soccer here I’m willing to contribute but I think they are great, they are in a good way,” Ronaldo said.

“I hope to come here to play one day though,” added the Portuguese, who signed a six-year contract with Real in June 2009 after the Spanish champions paid Manchester United around $130 million for his services.

Real Madrid are currently on a pre-season tour of the United States.

River Plate sink on return

River Plate suffered defeat on their return to top-flight action after going down 2-1 at home to Belgrano Cordoba in their Apertura opener on Sunday.

River, the most successful side in Argentinian history with 33 titles, suffered relegation for the first time in their illustrious history last year but bounced back immediately to win promotion as second division champions.

However, the Buenos Aires giants could not get their campaign off to a winning start as they slumped to defeat against Belgrano, the team that beat them in the decisive pro-motion/relegation play-offs a year ago.

Mancini doubts Van Persie signing

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini appears resigned to losing out in the race to sign Robin van Persie this summer.

Along with local rivals United and Juventus, City are one of the clubs interested in Van Persie, who last month announced he would not be signing a new contract with Arsenal.

However, the prospects of the Holland international, who turned 29 yesterday, joining the English champions now look remote with Mancini admitting he does not expect to have the player in his ranks next season.

The Italian was quoted as saying by various newspapers: “Van Persie? No, I don’t think he will come here.”