Arshavin: Zenit SP playmaker Andrei Arshavin has been voted the top player in the former Soviet Union for the second year in a row in a media poll of all 15 ex-Soviet republics. The 27-year-old, who received 32 first-place votes out of 45, beat CSKA Moscow winger Yuri Zhirkov with Arshavin's Zenit team-mate Anatoliy Tymoshchuk third.

Berbatov: Manchester United's Dimitar Berbatov was named Bulgaria's footballer of the year for the third time running, the Bulgarian Football Union said. It is the fifth time the award has gone to the 27-year-old Berbatov, equalling the record held by Hristo Stoichkov. Levski Sofia goalkeeper Georgi Petkov was second and Slavia Sofia midfielder Blagoy Georgiev third.

Ranieri: Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri has said his former team Chelsea, whom the Italian side meet in the first knockout round of the Champions League, were not a big club until his time in charge of them between 2000 and 2004. "Juventus are my first big club," Ranieri, whose CV also features two stints at Valencia, said. "With Valencia and Chelsea it was a different story. I made these teams big."

Milito: Genoa quashed reports that Inter were about to launch a bid in January to get hot-shot Diego Milito on loan. Although reports said Inter were prepared to offer three players in exchange for the Argentine, Genoa chief Enrico Preziosi said: "I've not received any offer and, anyway, my response will be a negative one. What if I was offered Burdisso, Balotelli and Obinna in return? I'll simply say no deal."

Swindon: League One club Swindon Town have appointed Danny Wilson as their new manager. Wilson, 48, was out of work for less than two weeks following his sacking as Hartlepool manager earlier this month after two-and-a-half years in charge. Assistant manager Dave Byrne, in charge for Swindon's Boxing Day trip to Orient, has been caretaker boss since Maurice Malpas's sacking on November 14.

Lanzafame: Davide Lanzafame has moved to Bari in Serie B after a difficult season with Palermo in the top flight. Lanzafame, part-owned by Juventus and Palermo, will end the campaign with promotion chasers Bari after a loan was agreed. Bari, coached by former Juventus midfielder Antonio Conte, are currently sixth in the standings, just one point behind the five teams jointly on top.