New Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino is in advanced negotiations to sell the Serie A club to Tommaso Giulini, a mining mogul.
“I can confirm that the last few days have been dedicated to due diligence for Cagliari Calcio,” Giulini, 37, was quoted as saying.
“The timing is very tight, though, due to many situations that need to be defined before the club can be registered for next season. This means the next few days will be decisive.”
Reports said Cellino will only agree to hand over the Cagliari reins to Giulini for €50m. Until last year, Giulini was a member in the Inter board of directors.
Juventus, Liverpool battle for Sanchez
Juventus are in talks with Bar-celona for Alexis Sanchez but the UK media reported yesterday that Liverpool are also interested in the Chile striker.
The Italy champions have long been linked with the 25-year-old who scored a sensational goal in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid.
This season, Sanchez netted 19 goals in 34 league appearances.
Juve are prepared to splash out €20 million to seal the deal but the Daily Star is now claiming Liverpool have upped their offer to €22 million.
Inter hunting for forward Ince
Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio has revealed the Italian giants have made an approach to sign Tom Ince. The 22-year-old forward finished the season on loan at Crystal Palace, but with his Blackpool contract coming to a finish his future is up in the air.
Ince’s father Paul played for Inter from 1995 to 1997, and Ausilio revealed Tom could yet follow in his footsteps.
“It’s definitely not a done deal for Tom Ince,” he told a press conference.
“Him coming to Inter is an intriguing possibility because his dad played here, but nothing’s been agreed yet. We’re waiting for him to give us an answer.”
Ronaldo, Benzema fit for CLeague final
Real Madrid forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have not suffered serious injuries and should be fit for next Saturday’s Champions League final.
Alarm bells rang after Ronaldo apparently hurt himself in the warm-up before Saturday’s La Liga game at home to Espanyol but coach Carlo Ancelotti said it was nothing to be concerned about.
Benzema limped out of the match with just over 20 minutes remaining with what Ancelotti described as a twinge in his adductor muscle.
“With Cristiano we decided not to take any risks and Benzema shouldn’t have any problem in playing the final on Saturday,” Ancelotti said.
Keeper Mandanda to miss World Cup
Steve Mandanda will miss the World Cup after the France second-choice keeper suffered a cracked neck vertebra during his Olympique Marseille team’s last Ligue 1 game on Saturday, the club president said yesterday.
Mandanda was hit in the face by Mustapha Yatabare’s knee in OM’s 1-0 win against En Avant Guingamp.
“I feel a great disappointment for the player, who is going to miss an important competition,” Vincent Labrune said.
Mandanda, who has 16 caps for France, is number two behind captain Hugo Lloris.
Auckland City in Club World Cup
Emiliano Tade scored a late winner to give New Zealand’s Auckland City their fourth successive Oceania Champions League title after a tense 2-1 victory over Vanuatu’s Amicale yesterday.
The win also guaranteed Auckland a trip to the lucrative FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco in December where they are guaranteed a payday of at least $500,000 with more on offer if they advance past the initial play-off match.
Tade’s goal three minutes from the end of normal time gave Auckland a 3-2 aggregate victory after the first leg of the final had ended 1-1 in Port Vila last week.
Defiant Al-Khelaifi wants to spend more
Paris St Germain president Nasser al-Khelaifi has claimed UEFA’s financial fair play ruling against his club will have no impact on the way they operate in the future.
PSG were handed a €60 million fine, limitations on next season’s Champions League squad and a transfer spending cap after being found to be in breach of FFP regulations.
However, after several summers of huge spending at the Parc des Princes, Al-Khelaifi claims the penalties will do nothing to stop him signing the players he wants for the club.
“The players that I want, I will have,” he said.
“This changes nothing of the project, the motivation of the club and the players. We respect and accept this decision. But nothing and no one will stop us, we always dream bigger.”