Ireland manager Martin O’Neill is open to the possibility of his assistant Roy Keane working at Aston Villa – but wants the issue resolved in the next few weeks.
Keane has been linked with a post as Paul Lambert’s number two at Villa Park.
O’Neill, quoted in the Irish Independent, said: “I want to be careful about jumping the gun because we had him (Keane) signed, sealed and delivered to Celtic and that did not materialise.
“I don’t really know if this is something that he is going to have a serious look at.
“But if he is then I will definitely speak (again) to Paul Lambert – and see if that kind of role can be combined.”
Argentina-Brazil rivalry on show
Argentina got an early taste of what to expect from their Brazilian hosts at the World Cup when they were welcomed with jeers and whistles in their first open practice session on Wednesday.
Some 5,000 fans attended the session in Belo Horizonte’s Independencia stadium with the locals giving their fierce rivals a noisy reception. The decibel levels reached those of a competitive match when Argentina came out onto the pitch.
“The team down there on the pitch will bring the World Cup back home,” Sebastian Suner from Rosario, who was draped in an Argentine flag, told Reuters.
“Listen to the boos. It can’t get any sweeter than lifting the trophy in Brazil in a month’s time.”
Rodriguez hails ‘great’ Pochettino
Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez admits the club have lost a “great manager” in Mau-ricio Pochettino.
Pochettino left St Mary’s to take the vacant post at Tot-tenham.
“Mauricio is a great manager and a great guy and was well-respected by the lads,” Rodriguez told Press Association Sport.
“He worked us really hard and we got the good results and finished eighth which we were happy with.
“Football moves on though so it’s one of those things.”
New owner for Samp
Edoardo Garrone has stepped down from his post as Sampdoria president after selling the club to Massimo Ferrero.
The father of the outgoing boss, Riccardo Garrone, acquired majority shares in the Genoa side in 2002 and remained in charge at the Luigi Ferraris until his death in 2013. He was succeeded by his son Edoardo who yesterday con-firmed the sale of his shares to film-producer Ferrero.
“This news conference is much more difficult for me than the famous relegation one,” an emotional Garrone told the media.
“For 12 years I have had the honour to be able to say it’s as if we have rescued Sampdoria twice.”
Scholes calls for faith in Barkley
Paul Scholes has urged England manager Roy Hodgson to put his faith in Ross Barkley at the World Cup and believes he can have a similar impact to Wayne Rooney’s memorable Euro 2004 campaign.
Barkley, 20, has six England caps and has impressed in the recent warm-up matches.
“I was watching the England vs Ecuador friendly in an airport lounge, a bit back from the screen,” he wrote in his Paddy Power blog.
“In the first half Ross went on a run and I thought, ‘Bloody hell, is that Rooney?’ Barkley made me think of Wayne at Euro 2004.
“I had to take a second look because I thought it was Wayne.”
WCup can foster solidarity – Pope
Pope Francis is hoping the World Cup will be played in a spirit of fraternity and fair play, and be a sign of solidarity among peoples.
In a video message in Portuguese to fans and organisers in Brazil, the Argentine pope said that sport was not only a form of enter-tainment but above all a means to promote the good and build a more just, fraternal and peaceful society.
“My hope is that, besides being a sporting feast, the World Cup can become a feast of solidarity among peoples,” he said in the message.
“Sport is a school of peace. It teaches us to build peace.”
As archbishop of Buenos Aires, the pontiff was a keen supporter of San Lorenzo.
Verona sign Georgian starlet
Giorgi Chanturia, dubbed the ‘Georgian Lionel Messi’, has sealed a move to Verona, Cluj announced yesterday.
The 21-year-old, who had a season-long loan at Barcelona to aid his development, only joined the Romanian outfit in February.
However, Cluj posted a statement on their official website indicating that Chanturia is heading for the Bentegodi side this summer.
“Cluj and Hellas Verona have signed an agreement for the permanent transfer of Chanturia,” the Cluj statement said.
“We thank him for his work and wish him good luck for his future.”