Croatia Under-21 defender Jozo Simunovic expressed his delight at signing for “one of the biggest clubs in Europe” after completing his move to Celtic.
The 21-year-old signed a five-year contract after Dinamo Zagreb accepted Celtic’s offer and he is set to go straight into the side to replace Virgil van Dijk following the Dutchman’s move to Southampton.
Simunovic said: “I am de-lighted to join Celtic. I know what a huge club I am joining, one of the biggest in Europe.”
Celtic pushed through his signing late on deadline day after agreeing a fee with the Croatian champions on Monday.
Watford get Ibarbo
Colombia forward Victor Ibarbo has signed for Watford on a season-long loan from Roma.
Ibarbo joined midfielder Adlene Guedioura and 19-year-old Belgian striker Obbi Oulare in moving to Vicarage Road.
The 25-year-old has spent seven months with Roma, having previously played for Cagliari.
Guedioura had two loan spells at Watford last season and returns on a permanent basis from Crystal Palace.
The Algeria international joined Oulare at the Hornets after the Belgium Under-21 international agreed a five-year deal from Club Brugge.
Cruzeiro appoint Menezes as coach
Cruzeiro have appointed former Brazil manager Mano Menezes as their new coach as they fight to avoid relegation a year after winning the second of back-to-back Serie A titles.
Menezes replaces another former Brazil coach, Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who was fired on Monday after winning six of 19 games in charge of the club.
“This is the realisation of an old dream,” the 53-year-old former Gremio, Corinthians and Flamengo manager said.
Cruzeiro were one of the most dominant teams in Brazil during 2013 and 2014 but sold many of their best players this season.
Berahino angry
West Brom’s Saido Berahino has suggested he will never play for the club again after failing to secure a last-minute transfer to Tottenham on Tuesday.
England U-21 striker Berahino was the subject of four failed bids from the London club and reacted angrily on Twitter, saying he would not play for the Midlands outfit again under chairman Jeremy Peace.
“Sad how I can’t say exactly how the club has treated me, but I can officially say I will never play (for) Jeremy Peace,” he said.
While Peace responded by saying he made it clear to Spurs that West Brom would not accept a bid for Berahino so late in the window, he admitted the player had been unsettled by what he called Tottenham’s “antics”.
Galliani impressed by Balotelli change
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani is pleasantly surprised by the “radical change in attitude” that he has seen in Mario Balotelli.
The Italian forward has returned to Milan on a season-long loan from Liverpool just one year after leaving the Rossoneri on a £16 million transfer to Anfield.
Galliani said: “He (Balotelli) has had an extraordinary approach here, he has changed radically.
“He is the first to arrive and the last to leave Milanello. Coach Mihajlovic wants the players to have breakfast at 8:30 and he is there before that at 8.
“If he continues to have the same approach shown in the first week he will do well with us.
“This is his last opportunity of his career and I don’t think he will throw it away.”
Berbatov joins Greek side PAOK
Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov signed a one-year contract with twice Greek champions PAOK Salonika yesterday in a bid to resurrect his career.
The former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur forward, who reportedly became the highest earner in the Greek league, was a free agent after he was released by Ligue 1 club Monaco in June.
Berbatov is Bulgaria’s all-time leading scorer with 48 goals.
The gifted and nonchalant striker, who also played for CSKA Sofia, Bayer Leverkusen and Fulham, hit the net nine times in 37 appearances last term and was instrumental in helping Monaco reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Mutko named head of Russian FA
Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko will have to address the severe cash crunch plaguing the country’s football association (RFU) after he was unanimously elected its president yesterday.
Mutko was the only candidate in the election after State Duma vice-speaker Igor Lebedev, the only other person who had registered, pulled out at the end of July.
“I have been working as the sports minister for seven years already. However, given the situation that has occurred within our football, I decided to take up the challenge,” Mutko said.