Walter Samuel is likely to stay in the Serie A amid reports that the former Inter defender is close to joining Sampdoria.
The Argentine is free to negotiate with any club after Inter did not renew his contract.
Tuttosport reported that the 36-year-old Samuel is in advanced talks with Sampdoria. If the deal goes through, Samuel will be reunited with Serbian coach Sinisa Mihajlovic who was his team-mate and then assistant manager to Roberto Mancini at Inter.
Samuel spent nine years with the Nerazzurri but was released at the end of last season.
Argentine hooligan posed as Swiss fan
An Argentine hooligan who entered Brazil illegally and appeared at World Cup games disguised as a Swiss fan was arrested on Saturday at the Argentina-Belgium game.
Pablo Alvarez, leader of the fan club of Argentine team Independiente, was on a list of 2,000 Argentine fans with a record of violence at matches who were banned from entering Brazil for the World Cup.
Alvarez defied police by attending Argentina games dressed as a Swiss fan and then posting photos of himself on Facebook, face painted red-and-white and wearing a Switzerland scarf.
Brazil media chief gets three-match ban
Brazil’s chief media officer Rodrigo Paiva has been banned for three matches and fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($11,200) by FIFA following a half-time bust-up in their last 16 match against Chile in Belo Horizonte on June 28.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee handed Paiva the ban – with a further one match suspended – after he was involved in a fracas in the tunnel at the Mineirao stadium.
Chile striker Mauricio Pinilla accused Paiva of punching him in the face, while Paiva admitted slapping him.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw and Brazil won the shoot-out to advance to the quarter-finals.
Biraghi off to Chievo
Chievo have signed Inter full-back Cristiano Biraghi on a two-year loan deal.
The 21-year-old defender has had limited opportunities to make his mark at the San Siro and has spent much of his professional career out on loan.
Last season, he made 22 appearances as Catania were relegated from Serie A, but he will have another chance to shine with Chievo, who also snapped up Inter team-mate Francesco Bardi .
“I wanted to take part in the Chievo project and know that here I can find a relaxed environment where I can focus on football,” Biraghi said on Chievo’s official website.
Both sides will hold the option to buy the left-back when the loan deal comes to an end.
£50m plus Nani for Vidal – reports
Manchester United are prepared to offer £50 million plus Nani to sign Arturo Vidal from Juventus, according to reports.
United hold a long-standing interest in the highly-rated Chile midfielder but the Bianconeri have rejected all proposals for the 27-year-old.
Vidal is also a target for Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester City.
The Daily Star claimed Juventus will only let Vidal go if United offer £50m plus Portuguese winger Nani while Tuttosport reported that the money from the transfer would fund the Serie A champions’ move for Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez.
US defender Yedlin set to join Roma
Roma have reportedly agreed a deal to sign United States right-back DeAndre Yedlin.
The 20-year-old had a good World Cup where his side pushed Belgium to extra time in their last 16 match.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma have won the race to sign Yedlin, seeing off interest from fellow Serie A side Genoa.
The Giallorossi’s majority shareholders are American along with president James Pallotta, who is based in Boston.
It is believed the deal for Yedlin will leave him on loan at current club Seattle Sounders until July 2015.
Lovren pushes for Liverpool switch
Croatia defender Dejan Lovren wants to leave Southampton and complete a move to Liverpool, British media reported yesterday, quoting the 25-year-old as saying his “head is already at” the Merseyside club.
“Liverpool sent a £20 million offer and they (Southampton) paid nine million for me, so they would’ve earned twice the amount,” Lovren told Croatian website Sportske Novosti.
“Liverpool submitted the offer and the club haven’t informed me.
“I found out about the bid from other people which disappointed me and I realised I’ve got no business staying at Southampton.”
Lovren, who turned 25 on Saturday, joined Southampton from Lyon in June 2013.