David Beckham is training with Arsenal in a bid to maintain his fitness, manager Arsene Wenger said yesterday. The 37-year-old midfielder is a free agent after leaving LA Galaxy at the end of the Major League Soccer (MLS) season in December.
“He has asked to come here and to work on his fitness. He has not done anything for a long time,” Wenger said.
“He called me. It is purely for fitness... there is no speculation about him signing.
“We get nothing out of it, just to help somebody who we think deserves it and has made great service for English football.”
Keeper Ujkani to stay at Chievo
Palermo goalkeeper Samir Ujkani will spend the rest of the season on loan at Chievo, the Sicilian club have confirmed.
The 24-year-old has lost his place in the Rosanero starting XI to veteran keeper Stefano Sorrentino, who arrived from Chievo on a three-and-a-half-year deal last week.
A statement published on palermocalcio.it confirmed Ujkani would move the other way until the summer, while the Gialloblu have been given the option to purchase half of the player’s registration should the loan spell be successful.
Palermo also confirmed the sale of defender Mauro Cetto to San Lorenzo in Argentina.
Anton Ferdinand joins Bursaspor
Anton Ferdinand has left struggling QPR to join Turkish side Bursaspor on loan until the end of the season.
The 27-year-old joined the Hoops from Sunderland in 2011 but, after impressing last season, he has struggled for form this term.
Ferdinand has made 16 appearances in all competitions for QPR this campaign but has now swapped west London for Turkey.
The defender completed his medical with Bursaspor yester-day and a loan has been agreed with a view to a permanent move.
Barca leave door open for Valdes
Goalkeeper Victor Valdes will be welcome to discuss a new con-tract with Barcelona if he goes back on his decision to reject extension talks, club president Sandro Rosell said.
Spain’s number two behind Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas has been at Barca since joining their academy in 1995 but the 31-year-old said two weeks ago he was keen to experience other leagues and cultures after his deal expires in June 2014.
“We have the doors open for him to come and talk to us if he has a re-think,” Rosell said.
“We would like it if he decided he wanted to continue his ex-perience at Barcelona.”
Roma may turn to Laurent Blanc
Laurent Blanc could be in line to take over from Zdenek Zeman at Roma should the Czech coach be dismissed.
This week, Roma’s top officials raised doubts over the future of Zeman after the team slipped behind in the Serie A race for a European berth.
Marco Giampaolo, Alberto Malesani, Christian Panucci, Carlos Zago and Alberto De Rossi were all linked to the job. However, yesterday it was suggested that 47-year-old Blanc has emerged as a main target for the Giallorossi.
Blanc steered the French national team to Euro 2012 before he stepped down from the job at the end of the tournament.
Man. United top $3 billion in value
Manchester United are the world’s first professional sports team to be valued at more than $3 billion, according to Forbes Magazine.
A recent surge in the club’s shares after a poor start when they were offered on the New York Stock Exchange last year has boosted Manchester United’s value to $3.3 billion.
The increase has United comfortably ahead of the world’s second-most valuable sports team, the National Football League’s Dallas Cowboys, worth $2.1 billion.
Forbes put the surge in United shares down to brighter earnings prospects from new sponsorship deals and said the demand could continue given the team’s potential for lucrative payouts in the EPL and Champions League.
Drogba relishing CLeague return
Didier Drogba is relishing the chance to have another crack at the Champions League after sealing a return to Europe with Galatasaray. The former Chelsea striker on Monday agreed to join the Turkish giants from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua on an 18-month deal.
Drogba memorably converted the winning penalty in the final shoot-out against Bayern Munich to win the Champions League for Chelsea for the first time last season.
“The opportunity to play for this club was an offer that I could not turn down.
“I am looking forward to playing in the Champions League again, against the best clubs in Europe,” Drogba said.