Roma have announced defender Leandro Castan is to undergo surgery on his brain in order to cure a condition known as “cavernoma”.
The Brazilian centre-back made his only appearance of the season against Empoli in September and following the game, he reported suffering from dizziness.
Subsequent tests revealed that swelling on the brain was the source of the 28-year-old’s problem and while the symptoms subsided, the club and player agreed he would have an operation to prevent a recurrence.
Blades’ U-turn
Sheffield United have admitted to underestimating the criticism they would receive after retracting their offer to let former player Ched Evans train with the club.
The Blades last week controversially decided to accept the request of the Professional Footballers’ Association to allow the convicted rapist to use their training facilities.
Yet the announcement provoked considerable public outcry and the backlash prompted the club to reconsider their stance as Evans’s bid to resume his career, after serving half of a five-year prison sentence having been found guilty of rape in April 2012, have been hit by protests.
Critics don’t concern me – Balotelli
Misfiring Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli insists criticism of his performances this season does not affect him and he is putting in more effort than ever before.
The Italian has yet to score in the Premier League since his move from Milan with his two goals coming against Bulgarian minnows Ludogorets and Swan-sea City in the League Cup.
There is added pressure on the 24-year-old in the continued absence of Daniel Sturridge, this week ruled out until 2015 by a new thigh problem. But Balotelli stressed his approval rating outside his inner circle is not something which concerns him.
“I don’t need people to believe in me so long as I believe in myself,” he said.
“The important people for me are my family and close friends.”
Brown signs new deal with Hoops
Celtic captain Scott Brown has signed a new contract with the Scottish champions that will commit him to the club until the summer of 2018, the Parkhead club have announced.
The 29-year-old midfielder, who also captains Scotland, made his Hoops debut against Kilmarnock in August 2007 after signing from Hibernian, and under manager Ronny Deila, is looking for his fourth consecutive Premiership title this season.
Brown said: “It’s an absolute privilege to extend my contract with Celtic, a brilliant football club and with such incredible supporters. This is a place that I call home.”
Messi ‘could have joined Arsenal’
Lionel Messi could have joined Arsenal from Barcelona as a teenager along with Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique, Arsene Wenger confirmed yesterday.
A recent biography suggests the deal broke down because Arsenal were unable to purchase accommodation for Messi’s family, who were keen to join him in London.
Despite all of their efforts, Arsenal boss Wenger believes the player just felt settled in Spain rather than take a chance on a switch to England.
“Messi was not so keen to move, because it was at a period where Fabregas came, and Fabregas and Messi played together in the same team (at Barcelona Academy).
“We wanted to take Fabregas, Messi and Pique. It worked only for Fabregas,” said Wenger.
UEFA to decide on Crimea clubs
UEFA will make a decision on whether to recognise matches played by Crimean clubs under the auspices of the Russian Football Union (RFS) on Dec. 4.
Three Crimean teams – TSK Simferopol, Sevastopol and Zhemchuzhina Yalta – have been accepted to play in the Russian championship following political problems in the region.
Ukraine’s football federation (FFU) appealed to FIFA and UEFA to impose sanctions on its Russian counterpart for what it describes as gross violation of football regulations.
UEFA hosted a meeting with the RFS and FFU at its headquarters in Nyon in September and the parties agreed to form a working group to find a solution.
New stadium vital for QPR’s future
Queens Park Rangers, who have had more grounds than any other professional club in England, must move again if they are to thrive as a top-class outfit, owner Tony Fernandes said.
QPR have played at 16 known venues and finally settled back at Loftus Road in 1963 but with the ground currently capable of holding only 18,439 it has the lowest capacity in the Premier League.
The club have plans to move to a new 40,000-seater stadium three miles away. Fernandes said the move was vital if they were to compete at the top level.
“We need to move if we are to sustain a top-flight club,” he said.
“Old Oak Common is the only realistic place for us to move.
“It is close to our roots. QPR have been in the area for over 100 years and have a loyal fan-base.”