Serie A champions Inter will hold talks with coach Roberto Mancini amid fresh speculation about his future, club president Massimo Moratti said.

"He and I will talk away from the cameras," Moratti told reporters after Inter shrugged off a run of bad form to finally wrap up the scudetto. "I have seen his happiness, together we have suffered for this joy but with great faith in each other."

Other members of Inter's hierarchy have said Mancini will definitely stay to try to win a fourth successive title next season.

Striker Hernan Crespo, a bit-part player at Inter this term, said he wanted to stay whether Mancini or his former Chelsea boss Mourinho was in charge.

"If he arrives, I want to stay here," the Argentine said when asked what he would do if Mourinho was appointed.

"If Mancini stays, I equally want to stay. But now is not the time to talk about it."

Giresse quits Gabon

Former French World Cup player Alain Giresse is quitting his post as coach of Gabon just weeks before they begin their World Cup qualifiers.

Giresse said he had been threatened after Gabon were beaten 2-0 at home by Cameroon in Libreville in the African Nations Championship, a new competition for teams made up of locally-based players.

Giresse has been Gabon coach for the last two years.

Napoli for Intertoto

Napoli, who finished eighth in the final Serie A standings, will try to reach the UEFA Cup next season via the Intertoto Cup, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis said.

There had been doubts over whether Napoli were going to take this route or wait for next season but De Laurentiis said: "I honestly did not expect to be making this decision at the start of the season, as I predicted we'd finish between 10th and 12th.

"We did well and got to Europe much quicker than expected. Now we have to keep our feet on the ground and try to climb up through the Intertoto Cup."

Schuster sets targets

Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster has said talk of Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo joining the Spanish club is pure speculation and he would rather concentrate on thinking about more realistic transfer targets.

"I like having a lot of players, but I don't think it will be possible to have Cristiano Ronaldo with us," the Real coach said.

"I don't waste time on these things. I think about players who could really come and not about speculation. We are going to see what we need to improve the squad."

Meanwhile, Real have confirmed the signing of Racing Santander's Argentine centre-back Ezequiel Garay for a fee of €10 m.

Coach hits back

San Lorenzo coach Ramon Diaz was sent off for throwing an object back into the crowd during his team's 0-0 draw at Huracan in the Argentine championship on Sunday.

The object narrowly missed Diaz when it was thrown at him by a supporter and he picked it up and threw it back.

"They threw things at me for the whole game," he told a news conference after the game. "It was a reaction, and I apologise."

A stormy match produced red cards for San Lorenzo's Andres D'Alessandro and Huracan's Hugo Barrientos for fighting in the 85th minute.

Cardiff want keeper

Cardiff are looking to sign Manchester United reserve goalkeeper Tom Heaton on a season-long loan deal.

First-choice keeper Peter Enckelman has been widely criticised for Kanu's goal, which led to Cardiff's 1-0 FA Cup final loss to Portsmouth on Saturday. But the Finn, on loan from Blackburn Rovers, has also been offered a permanent contract by the Bluebirds.

Chairman Peter Ridsdale has said he will make cash available as the club chase Premiership football in 2009/10.

Heaton has played in the reserves for Manchester United, but has yet to make the first team. The 22-year-old has had loan spells with Swindon and Royal Antwerp.

Barca eye Pique

Barcelona are close to signing Manchester United defender Gerard Pique, the club's sporting director Txiki Begiristain said yesterday.

"Things are at an advanced stage," Begiristain said when asked whether the club was going to sign the 21-year-old, who came up through the Barcelona youth ranks.

"I can't deny that he is one of the players we're interested in, but he is involved in the Champions League final so things are on hold."

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