Antonio Candreva has decided to prolong his stay at Lazio until 2018 after penning a new contract with the Serie A club.
Reports in the Italian media yesterday said 26-year-old Candreva had signed a new five-year deal and the news was confirmed by Lazio.
“Lazio can confirm that Antonio Candreva has signed a five-year contract with the club until 2018,” a statement on their official website read.
The former Udinese midfielder has been one of Vladimir Petkovic’s key players following last term’s fine display.
Laudrup: Chelsea enquired after me
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup said Chelsea enquired about his availability prior to their appointment of Jose Mourinho.
The Dane was linked with a number of jobs after guiding the Welsh club to League Cup glory last season but the former Getafe and Real Mallorca boss ended up staying in south Wales.
But, quoted in A Bola, Laudrup claimed there was interest from Stamford Bridge before Mourinho signed on for a second spell.
He said: “Someone tried to know my availability through intermediaries, but there was nothing concrete. Also, I had given my word that I would be in Swansea.”
Mills and Gradi join commission
Former England defender Danny Mills and Crewe manager Dario Gradi have been named on the FA commission charged with improving the national team.
They join FA chairman Greg Dyke, former England manager Glenn Hoddle, Football League chairman Greg Clarke, FA vice-chairman Roger Burden, plus LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson and new PFA chairman Ritchie Humphreys.
Dyke revealed that Mills had impressed by sending him a paper on his ideas.
“He wrote a very interesting paper and gave it to us,” Dyke said.
“We are still talking to one or two other people who have not made up their minds.”
Canaries chirp
Norwich have wiped out all of their external debt and returned a small profit after tax of £500,000, the Premier League club revealed yesterday in accounts published for the year end May 31, 2013.
The Norfolk outfit retained their place in the top flight last season under manager Chris Hughton, ending up in 11th place after eventually pulling clear of the relegation battle.
Overall revenue at Carrow Road was up to £78.7 million from £74.3m in 2012, with a profit of £500,000 which was down from £13.5m as the club moved to slash external debt from £11.3m to some £900,000, with £700,000 of that as ‘preference shares’ and the remaining balance now paid off since June 1.
Rooney settled by Moyes’s arrival
Wayne Rooney believes he had to adopt a selfish approach to make the most of his career.
Sick of repeatedly being played away from the central forward areas the 27-year-old feels he is best suited to, it seems Rooney’s Manchester United career has been saved by Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
“There came a point where I had to be a bit selfish for my own career,” said Rooney.
“Everyone at the club knew where I wanted to play. That wasn’t happening. I’ve had no problem playing out of position in the past, but I’m a forward and I felt I deserved the right to play in my position.
“David Moyes has come in, he’s playing me up front, and I’m enjoying it.”
Napoli interest in defender Schar
Napoli sporting director Riccardo Bigon will be closely monitoring Switzerland defender Fabian Schar this evening as his country play Albania in a World Cup qualifier in Tirana.
It is believed that Napoli coach Rafa Benitez is keen to have the 21-year-old Schar next season and the ambitious Serie A club are doing their utmost to keep themselves informed on the Basel defender’s progress.
In summer, Napoli were unsuccessful in their bid to lure France’s Adil Rami to their fold as the centre-back turned down the move, instead opting to stay at his La Liga club Valencia.
Eight-goal Kramaric set Croat record
Croatian striker Andrej Kramaric broke his country’s scoring record by netting eight times as top flight Rijeka thrashed third division Zmaj Blato 11-0 in a cup match on Wednesday.
It was the highest scoring tally in a single match by a player in any national competition, surpassing the previous record of six goals held by Dinamo Zagreb striker Duje Cop.
The Croatian Cup first round result was also the biggest domestic win for a Croatian club.
The 22-year-old Kramaric was let go by champions Dinamo where he spent four difficult years in the first team after setting a club record by scoring more than 450 goals at various youth levels.