France left-back Gael Clichy has signed a new four-year contract with Manchester City that will keep him at the English Premier League team until 2017.
“I’m really happy to have agreed a new deal and I’m already looking forward to next season,” Clichy told the club’s website.
“Things didn’t go the way we wanted this year but we’ll come back stronger next season and learn from this experience,” he said of City’s second-place finish.
Clichy, 27, joined City from Arsenal for £7m in July 2011.
Trouble mars Belgrade derby
Fan violence outside Partizan’s stadium overshadowed a tepid Belgrade derby that the league leaders won 1-0 against Red Star on Saturday thanks to a stunning late free-kick from Milos Jojic.
More than 90 fans were arrested before the match after Partizan’s team bus was pelted with rocks when approaching the stadium and rival supporters also fought running battles on Belgrade’s outskirts, Serbian police said in a statement.
“The incidents, including a few minor scuffles, resulted in the arrest of 92 individuals, three of whom were juveniles,” it said.
Hummels in doubt for final
Borussia Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels could miss the Champions League final after suffering a hamstring injury in Saturday’s Bundesliga defeat to Hoffenheim.
Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp revealed it would be “tight” whether the defender, who was so impressive in the semi-final second leg against Real Madrid, would be fit for next Saturday’s meeting with Bayern Munich at Wembley.
“His ankle is a bit swollen.
“There is a chance for Wembley, but it will be tight,” Klopp told the Dortmund website.
Juventus to miss out on Mattheus
Juventus’ hopes of signing Brazilian youngster Mattheus are set to end in failure as he is close to signing a new deal with Flamengo.
Mattheus, the son of former Brazil star Bebeto, was reportedly expected to join the Italian champions this summer but a deal was not finalised despite the Brazilian club extending a deadline to thrash out a deal.
“I’m staying at Flamengo,” Mattheus said.
“I haven’t signed any papers yet but there are only a few details left to sign a new contract.
“I would only leave Flamengo if the club reached a deal with Juventus, but that didn’t happen.”
Wenger unhappy with Euro system
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels UEFA should not continue to “reward failure” by allowing teams who do not qualify from the Champions League group stage to drop down into the Europa League.
Chelsea beat Benfica to lift this season’s second-tier European competition in Amsterdam.
Both teams started the campaign in the Champions League but failed to progress from the group stage.
“You have two teams in the final who were in the Champions League, their target at the start of the season was the Champions League, not to win the Europa League,” said Wenger.
“We raised that question many times at UEFA: is it right to reward teams basically for failure?”
Moyes successor to be unveiled soon
Everton are close to appointing a new manager following the departure of David Moyes, chairman Bill Kenwright said.
Moyes will leave Goodison Park this summer after 11 years to take over as Manchester United manager.
Roberto Martinez, Neil Lennon, Malky Mackay and Gus Poyet were all linked to the job although Kenwright could promote from within, with captain Phil Neville and coaches David Weir, Steve Round and Alan Stubbs all in the frame.
“I have got people in mind. A lot of those mentioned are not too far away,” he said.
“Everton have got a type, it’s a very hard-working industrial football club.”
Auckland secure FIFA payday
Two goals in four first-half minutes were enough for Auckland City to clinch their third successive Oceania Champions League title against 10-man Waitakere United yesterday.
The 2-1 victory ensured at least a $500,000 payday for the Auckland side and entry to the lucrative FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco in December.
“We played a really good game, it was tight but we got away with a win,” Auckland City coach Ramon Tribuletix said.
“We’re going to enjoy ourselves right now. Morocco will come later in the year.”