Lazio: Lazio yesterday confirmed the signing of Uruguay striker Emiliano Alfaro from Liverpool Montevideo on a four-and-a-half year contract. Alfaro’s agent Vincenzo D’Ippolito broke the news on Saturday, although Lazio did not comment at the time. The 23-year-old will cost the Romans €3.2 million, according to Italian media.
Podolski: Cologne striker Lukas Podolski will miss his side’s resumption after the winter break as he gets over a foot injury which will keep him out of the January 21 visit to Wolfsburg. “The target is to be back to face Schalke,” the following week, revealed Podolski, Cologne’s top scorer with 14 goals. “I have to be careful as it is my left foot which I do everything with. And I can’t help the team if I am not 100 per cent.”
Bordeaux: Bordeaux have confirmed they have reached an agreement to sign midfielder Ludovic Obraniak from Lille. The 27-year-old had fallen out of favour with the defending champions this season, making only five league appearances, and with only six months left on his contract, he has chosen to move on, agreeing a three-and-a-half year deal with Les Girondins.
Camara: Standard Liege’s defender Pape Abdou Camara has signed for Valenciennes until June 2015. The 20-year-old Camara has a similar style to Colombian central defender Carlos Sanchez who is expected to leave the club when his contract runs out in June 2012.
Brazil: Brazil are to play five friendlies in the first six months of 2012, including games against Argentina and Mexico. Mano Menezes’ team will also play Denmark (in Germany) and Bosnia (in Switzerland). A US tour sees Brazil play the US side on either May 30 or 31, Dallas on June 3 and New Jersey six days later.
In France: French League Cup semi-final draw – (January 31) Lorient vs Lyon; February 1 – Marseille vs Nice. Final – April 14 at the Stade de France.
In Italy: Coppa Italia Last 16 – Napoli vs Cesena 2-1. Quarter-final line-up – Juventus vs Roma; Lazio vs Milan/Novara; Siena vs Chievo; Inter/Genoa vs Napoli.
King’s Cup: Last 16, second legs – A. Bilbao vs Albacete 4-0 (agg: 4-0). (Played on Wednesday) Sevilla vs Valencia 2-1 (agg: 2-2; Valencia through on away goals).