Bielsa: Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa said he is staying with the club despite earlier reports he was considering resigning in a row with the board. “I can continue carrying out my work as I have done up to now,” he said. “I maintain the commitment that I made to the club.” Bielsa publicly fell out with the club’s management last week when he criticised construction work on its new training centre.
San Jose: Athletic Bilbao defender Mikel San Jose looks set to miss the Olympic Games after being diagnosed with chicken pox. San Jose had been named by Spanish coach Luis Milla in his preliminary 22-man squad for the tournament last week but the former Liverpool man left the squad’s training camp after contracting the illness.
Keane: Robbie Keane celebrated his 32nd birthday by scoring both goals in the Los Angeles Galaxy’s 2-0 MLS win over the Chicago Fire on Sunday, lifting his team into the final play-off spot in the Western Conference. The Galaxy headed into the sell-out encounter at Toyota Park on the back of two straight losses and were facing a team unbeaten in four games.
Genoa: Genoa have signed Brazilian defensive midfielder Anselmo de Moraes from Palmeiras for an undisclosed fee. The 23-year-old will join the Italian outfit in pre-season training in Bormio this week.
Bradley: Roma expect to complete the signing of Chievo midfielder Michael Bradley this week. The USA international has attracted the attention of several clubs after an impressive first season in Serie A. The 24-year-old is expected to put pen to paper on a three-year contract with the Giallorossi.
Martins: Tottenham have appointed Luis Martins as first team coach, the club have announced. Martins has previously worked at Sporting Lisbon, where he oversaw the Under-17 and Under-19 sides and was also the club’s assistant coach in 2004-05, and Braga. Last year he travelled to Saudi Arabia to work with the national and Olympic teams.
Clerc: Nice defender Francois Clerc has reached agreement to sign a three-year deal with Ligue 1 rivals Saint-Etienne. Clerc, who learned his trade at Lyon where he won league titles in 2006, 2007 and 2008, has played at Nice for two seasons, appearing in 71 games and scoring six goals. The 29-year-old has also played 13 times for France.