Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has no intention of leaving the Gunners, according to his agent – despite reports linking him with a summer move to Fiorentina.
The 32-year-old Spaniard, who is under contract with the Premier League outfit for a further season, is a reported target of the Serie A outfit.
“The player has no intention to leave London,” Arteta’s agent Inaki Ibanez was quoted as saying.
“We have not spoken to any club and I would like to remind everyone that we are talking about the Arsenal captain, with all respect for Fiorentina.”
Birsa joins Chievo on loan from Milan
Slovenian winger Valter Birsa is delighted to have joined Chievo on a season-long loan from Milan.
The 27-year-old has moved to the Verona outfit in a bid to earn more playing time having only made 10 league appearances for the Rossoneri in the 2013-14 campaign.
“I am very happy to have moved to Chievo,” Birsa told Chievo TV.
“I arrive here having had a good first half of the season at Milan and looking to give my very best.
“I want to repay that trust to the people at the club.”
Birsa signed for Milan last summer from Genoa and is under contract with the San Siro outfit until June 2016.
Nasri signs new Man. City contract
Manchester City playmaker Samir Nasri has signed a new long-term contract with the Premier League champions that runs until 2019, the club said.
The Frenchman was instrumental in their title winning campaign last season and scored 11 goals in all competitions including the opener in their decisive final-day victory over West Ham.
“I’m really happy to have signed this contract and to have committed my future with City,” said Nasri.
“I’m 27 now and if you listen to some of the best managers in the game, they say that a midfield player’s best years are between 27 and 30 so I hope that I will give my best years to City.”
Striker Matri heading to Genoa
Alessandro Matri is on the verge of joining Genoa on a season-long loan from Milan.
The Italy forward has undergone a medical yesterday before completing his move to the Grifoni.
“A new adventure begins and I have a great desire to get started,” Matri said to Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I’m looking forward to showing everyone that I am a different player to last year and that last year was only a blip on the journey.”
The 29-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Fiorentina and scored four goals in 15 league appearances for the Viola.
Lloris agrees new five-year deal at Spurs
France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has signed a new five-year contract at Tottenham Hotspur, the Premier League club said yesterday.
Lloris, 27, joined Spurs from Lyon in 2012 for £8 million.
“I spoke with the chairman (Daniel Levy) and I know the club is as ambitious as ever,” Lloris told the club’s website.
“I enjoy a great relationship with the club and the fans. The arrival of (new manager) Mauricio Pochettino is important as well.
“Everything is clear in my head, and if I’ve signed a new contract it’s because I trust the club and I’m sure we will progress in a positive way.”
Luiz not the only one to blame – Mourinho
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho spoke out in David Luiz’s defence, saying his former player should not be singled out for blame in Brazil’s 7-1 World Cup semi-final thrashing by Germany.
Mourinho, who last month sold the defender to Paris St Germain for an estimated £50 million, said the whole team must share responsibility for the rout.
“I don’t think it is fair to separate a player from the team, because the team was very bad,” Mourinho told Yahoo, for whom he is a World Cup pundit.
“(Did) David make mistakes? Yes, he did, but Dante made mistakes, Marcelo made mistakes, Fernandinho made mistakes, the team as a team made mistakes.”
Bosnia-Herzegovina stick with Susic
Safet Susic has signed a new contract to stay as Bosnia-Herzegovina coach until Euro 2016, the country’s football federation (NS/FS BiH) has announced.
Susic had suggested after Bosnia’s World Cup elimination that he would leave his post, with a disappointing Group F cam-paign bringing defeats to Argentina and Nigeria before a consolation win over Iran.
But a statement on nfsbih.ba read: “The 21st regular session of the executive board of the NS/FS BiH decided that Safet Susic will be the selector of the Bosnia and Herzegovina team for the next two years.”
Susic told reporters: “I gained the support of members of the executive board, and we decided to continue our co-operation.”