Federico Macheda has rejoined Doncaster Rovers on loan from Manchester United.
The Italian striker was back at Cantley Park, Rovers’ training base, this week to agree a deal to remain with Paul Dickov’s Championship side until the end of December.
“A lot of credit has to go to him,” said Dickov.
“Because of how he performed in his previous spell with us there were a lot of clubs wanting to take him. He had his choice of six, seven, eight clubs to go to.
“But he’s kept his word and come back here. It’s given everyone a massive boost.”
Celtic fans jailed
Five Celtic fans have been given jail terms for their involvement in violence in Amsterdam before the Champions League match against Ajax.
A sixth fan was acquitted after the group appeared at Amsterdam Court on Thursday.
Two of the men were sentenced to two months, one to one month and two to six weeks while one was acquitted, according to lawyer Kerem Canatan.
He said they all had two weeks to appeal.
The men were arrested following clashes between fans and police before the Glasgow club’s match against Ajax on November 6.
Parma tried to sign Ronaldo
Parma had tried to sign Cristiano Ronaldo when the Portugal star striker was still in his early teens, Arrigo Sacchi said yesterday.
Sacchi, former Italy coach, said that when he was technical director at Parma in 2001, they had made an approach for Ronaldo but their offer was turned down.
“When at Parma we tried to buy Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon. He would have cost €11m at the time but our bid was not accepted,” Sacchi said.
“Really, I like Ronaldo the most when he was at Manchester United. No one had an instinct for goal like he did then.”
Pearce wants a job next year
Stuart Pearce is ready to re-enter the jobs market in 2014.
Pearce has been taking a break from the game since he was axed as England’s Under-21s coach following a woeful showing at last summer’s European Championship.
Since exiting his international post, Pearce has been linked with a number of roles, including the current vacancy at Crystal Palace.
However, he feels it will be the start of next year before he actively starts looking for work.
Pearce said: “I am quite enjoying the break.
“That break will continue until January time and then it will be time for me to put myself forward for jobs and see where the next phase of my career takes me.”
Carrick extends United contract
Michael Carrick has agreed a contract extension until 2015 at Manchester United.
The deal, which includes an option to extend the deal by a further year, recognises Carrick’s status as one of the central components of David Moyes’s revolution and will extend the midfielder’s stay at Old Trafford to a full decade.
Carrick said: “It’s great to extend my contract at this club. I’m really enjoying my football. I’ve won many trophies and look forward to more.”
Now 32, Carrick joined United for £18m from Tottenham in 2006, since when he has won five Premier League titles, a Champions League crown and the League Cup.
Estonia part ways with Ruutli
Estonia have parted ways with head coach Tarmo Ruutli who has spent six years in charge of the small Baltic country’s national team and steered them to the Euro 2012 qualifying play-offs.
“After three cycles as head coach of the national team, we have decided not to offer him a new two-year period in this position.
“Certainly, we do not rule out future cooperation,” Estonian FA (EJL) president Aivar Pohlak said in a statement.
The EJL added that it expected to name a replacement within two weeks for 59-year-old Ruutli who was re-appointed as Estonia manager in December 2007 after his first spell in 1999/2000.
Simunic fined for pro-Nazi chant
Croatian public prosecutors have fined soccer international Josip Simunic $4,400 for pro-Nazi chants he shouted at a stadium in Zagreb, following the World Cup play-off victory over Iceland.
At the end of Tuesday’s 2-0 win, Australia-born Simunic took the microphone at Maksimir Stadium, turned to the stands and shouted “Za dom” (for the Homeland), to which the audience replied “Spremni” (Ready).
The call-and-response salute is widely associated with Croatia’s Nazi-allied Ustasha regime, which ruled in 1941-45 and brutally persecuted Jewish people, Serbs, gypsies and anti-fascist Croats.