Milan’s maverick forward Mario Balotelli was caught smoking in the toilet on the train during the team’s journey to Florence and will be fined, chief executive Adriano Galliani said.
Balotelli was ticked off by the train guard who told Galliani: “You need to pull his ears. He was smoking in the bathroom,” Gazzetta dello Sport reported.
Smoking is banned on Italian trains.
“I want to say that we’re going to fine him,” Galliani told the newspaper.
Ronaldo happy with Real form
Cristiano Ronaldo believes Real Madrid have found their best form of the season in time to put together a run to the Champions League final.
A much-changed Madrid side enjoyed a 5-1 rout of Levante on Saturday, just days after they beat Galatasaray 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
“This is possibly the best form that the team has been in this season,” Ronaldo said.
“We have a full squad with everyone available and that is very positive news, the coach can pick the best team.”
Brazil rout Bolivia 4-0 in friendly
Neymar scored twice and Ronaldinho ran the midfield at will as an experimental Brazil side beat Bolivia 4-0 in a friendly.
The match, which gave Luiz Felipe Scolari the first win of his second stint as Brazil coach, was held in aid of the family of a young fan, Kevin Beltran Espada, killed by a flare during a Libertadores Cup match in February.
Neymar scored in the 30th and 41st minutes after fellow striker Leandro Damiao had put Brazil ahead after three minutes.
Leandro, who replaced Ronaldinho in the 77th minute, scored the fourth one minute into added time.
Voller cool over Schurrle reports
Bayer Leverkusen are open to offers for their attacking midfielder Andre Schurrle amid reports of interest from Chelsea.
Leverkusen turned down a bid from the Blues last summer, reported to be in the region of €25 million, yet their director of sport Rudi Voller says they would assess any new bid on merit, not ruling out a sale of the Germany international this summer.
“It’s normal for there to be enquiries for such a great player, even from London, and that’s part of the business,” he said after his side’s 1-1 draw with Wolfsburg.
Leverkusen are believed to be interested in Chelsea’s left full-back Kevin De Bruyne, who has impressed them this season while on loan at Bundesliga rivals Werder Bremen.
Abidal makes emotional return
Eric Abidal returned to competitive action for the first time since a liver transplant in April last year when he came on for the final 20 minutes of Barcelona’s 5-0 La Liga win over Real Mallorca on Saturday.
The 33-year-old former France defender was greeted with a rousing ovation when he replaced Gerard Pique in the 70th minute.
In a pitchside television interview with Spanish broadcaster Canal Plus, Abidal thanked the cousin who provided part of his liver for the procedure.
“It was a very special moment for me after a year out,” said Abidal, wearing a shirt with ‘Merci mon cousin’ on the front.
“I want to thank my cousin as without him I would not be here today. It is a unique moment,” he added.
Pochettino proud
Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino is proud of his players’ recent performances but will not let them rest on their laurels.
The Argentinian on Saturday oversaw his fourth win at the Saints’ helm and third in succession as he overcame the man he succeeded in January, Nigel Adkins.
Pochettino and Adkins shared a bottle of wine after the match, before which the former was keen not to discuss what was different under his reign.
“It is not really important,” he said. “What is important is that we won, have 37 points. I don’t really analyse that.
“I think I am a pretty relaxed person, I look to work with my players on the training pitch.
“I am proud of what the players are doing.”
Zola stays calm
Gianfranco Zola insisted there was no pressure on his Watford side after they lost ground in the race for automatic promotion.
Taken on its own a goalless draw at home to Championship leaders Cardiff is not a bad result, but with second-placed Hull beating Middlesbrough earlier in the day they are now three points adrift of the Tigers.
Yet Zola is not worrying.
He said: “I don’t consider it two points dropped. It is a good point against the top of the league team. I believe we tried everything we could to win the game. The reason why we didn’t win is because they are a tough team to beat and it’s no coincidence they are in the position they are.”