Antonio Cassano has ended his six-month exile from football by re-signing for Sampdoria.
The former Roma, Real Madrid and Milan striker terminated his contract with financially-stricken Parma – now bankrupt, dissolved and reformed in Serie D – in January and had subsequently failed to find a suitable club.
But yesterday morning the 33-year-old agreed a two-year contract with Samp, for whom he scored 41 goals over four seasons before joining Milan in 2010.
Passi interim coach at OM after Bielsa exit
Assistant coach Franck Passi will take charge at Marseille on a caretaking basis after Marcelo Bielsa’s shock resignation, club president Vincent Labrune said yesterday.
“I have decided to hand, on a provisional basis, the direction of the first team to Franck Passi who was until then assistant coach,” Labrune told the club’s website.
Argentine Bielsa, who started as OM coach last year, resigned on Saturday after a 1-0 home defeat against Caen in the first Ligue 1 game of the season, citing a contract dispute.
Bielsa, who shared a frosty relation with Labrune, had earlier said the “situation of instability” was unacceptable to him.
Everton reeling from Baines blow
Everton left-back Leighton Baines could be sidelined for a significant period after sustaining a freak training ground injury to his surgically-repaired ankle, manager Roberto Martinez has said.
The England international missed Everton’s 2-2 draw with Watford in their Premier League opener on Saturday after picking up the injury in training.
“Everything had been perfect in Leighton’s programme and he worked extremely hard in pre-season,” Martinez said. “He looked refreshed, he looked strong.
“Then, in training, he blocks a ball and it hits him exactly in the same area where he had surgery, with the unfortunate result that he’s going to be out for a while.”
Ashes lost, Lehmann seeks football tickets
Just hours after his team surrendered the Ashes in abject fashion, Australia cricket coach Darren Lehmann has come under fire for turning to Twitter in search of tickets to an English Premier League match.
While Australia have some extra down-time after the fourth test at Trent Bridge ended within three days, the tourists have much to ponder ahead of the final match at The Oval after losing the series to England 3-1.
Lehmann took to Twitter seeking help with tickets for yesterday’s Stoke City-Liverpool game.
“Would like to go to Stoke v Liverpool with a couple of people anyone help? @stokecity or @LFC can you please retweet.” the 45-year-old tweeted.
Villa boss Sherwood tough on training
Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has demanded longer training sessions from his new-look squad this season.
Sherwood, who oversaw Villa’s opening-day 1-0 victory at newly-promoted Bournemouth on Saturday, has added nine new faces to his side this season.
“It is going to take a lot of gelling for those players,” Sherwood said.
“We are at the training ground at nine and we leave at three, but I am going to make no apologies for getting the boys in at that time because they need to be able to gel as quickly as possible.”
Smalling impressed by keeper Romero
Chris Smalling feels Sergio Romero took to the task of replacing the unsettled David de Gea with ease on his Manchester United debut against Tottenham.
Romero, 28, signed for United on a free transfer just two weeks ago, but he put in a crucial block on Kyle Walker in the first half and saved twice from Christian Eriksen at the death to give United a winning start to the campaign.
“I think Sergio looked the part,” Smalling told MUTV.
“He came out and commanded his box, which is what you want behind you as a defender because, when you’ve got a goalkeeper who comes out with that presence, it mops up a lot of the danger.”
Wolfsburg hand Hecking new deal
Wolfsburg have extended the contract of their head coach Dieter Hecking by two years until 2018.
The 50-year-old has been rewarded for guiding the club to the DFB-Pokal trophy last season and victory over Bayern Munich in the German Supercup earlier this month.
The former Nurnberg and Hannover coach has been with the club since January 2013 and guided them to 11th, fifth and second in his three seasons at the helm.
“I’ve always emphasised my desire to remain with Wolfsburg beyond 2016 and how I feel I enjoy the total faith from the bosses here in Wolfsburg, and I would like to express my thanks for that,” Hecking said in a press release.