Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid had been inevitable.
United accepted a world-record £80-million bid for the Portuguese winger last week with the deal expected to be completed before the end of the month.
"He wanted to leave, it's as simple as that," Ferguson told the Mail on Sunday newspaper. "He was going to go some time. We've done well to keep him for so long."
Ferguson managed to keep Ronaldo at Old Trafford last season after Real had tried to sign him but the player, who scored 68 goals in his last two seasons for the Premier League champions, had often stated his desire to play for the Spanish giants.
Milan seal deal for Cissokho
Milan have agreed a deal to buy Porto's French left-back Aly Cissokho, chief executive Adriano Galliani said yesterday.
"The agreement has been reached thanks to the friendship of the president of Porto," Galliani said, adding that the 21-year-old would have a medical today.
Cissokho, who media reports say has cost €15 million, will be Milan's first signing since the departure of coach Carlo Ancelotti to Chelsea and playmaker Kaka to Real Madrid.
The Serie A side are also hopeful of signing VfL Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko and have been linked with Sao Paolo midfielder Hernanes.
Nakamura to snub Japan return
Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura is poised to snub his former Japanese J-League club and join Spain's Espanyol.
Nakamura's boyhood club Yokohama F-Marinos had hoped to re-sign the 30-year-old until the interest from Spain, with Espanyol now emerging as favourites to land the Japan playmaker.
"Dragging out this saga makes a problem for the team," Yokohama manager Kokichi Kimura told Japan's Sankei Sports newspaper. "I believe (Nakamura) will come."
Nakamura's agent, however, has flown to Spain to meet officials of Espanyol, who have reportedly made a formal offer for the player.
Cahill kicked out of nightclub - reports
Australian midfielder Tim Cahill was kicked out of a Sydney nightclub after a drunken fracas with bouncers, reports said yesterday.
The Everton player, who was celebrating winning the Australian football players' union player of the year award, was told to leave the nightspot as he was drunk.
Several witnesses told The Sunday Telegraph Cahill, 29, got into an altercation at the King's Cross nightclub when he was advised to leave because he was "so drunk he couldn't even stand up".
But Football Federation Australia said it investigated the allegations and found them untrue and cleared the player.
Tottenham target Toni swoop
Tottenham Hotspur have made Luca Toni their top transfer target after the Italian forward said he could leave Bayern Munich this summer.
The former Fiorentina striker struggled to find his best form at Bayern Munich last season and recently admitted that the arrival of Mario Gomez could force him to seek a move elsewhere.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is reportedly a big fan of Toni and is preparing a swoop to bring him to the English Premier League.
Toni also has the option of a return to Serie A where Milan and Roma are believed to be interested in getting his signature.
Martins wants to stay at Newcastle
Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins admits he would like to help Newcastle back into the Premier League but he knows the crisis-torn club are likely to sell him.
The former Inter star has attracted interest from Arsenal and other top European clubs and it seems certain Newcastle will opt to cash in on his £10 million valuation to soften the financial blow of relegation.
"I hope I am not sold," Martins told the Evening Gazette. "If the club decide to sell me, I have no choice but to go. But my aim is to stay and help get Newcastle promoted next season.
"I know the club is for sale and that is hard for the fans. Yet I hear there could be some light at the end of the tunnel eventually."
Ancelotti eyes Roma duo
New Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is planning bids for Roma defenders Philippe Mexes and Juan as he looks to kickstart his transfer campaign.
The Giallorossi are going through a financial crisis with increasing debts and a take-over bid from a Swiss conglomerate represented by Vinicio Fioranelli.
Reports said that Chelsea could ease Roma's financial woes with a big-money move for the two centre backs.
Mexes and Juan both stated that they were in no rush to leave Roma but the lure of playing in the Champions League with Chelsea could tempt them to move to the Premier League club.