Real Madrid's signings of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo prove president Florentino Perez has not learned from his past mistakes, former Real director of football Arrigo Sacchi said.
"Watch out, because Florentino has got it wrong before, signing great players without thinking about if they fit into the footballing project, if they complement each other, and thinking only about if they sell shirts," Sacchi told Radio Marca.
The former Milan and Italy coach worked under Perez during his first stint in the presidency earlier in the decade, but quit after a year in the post in 2005 complaining of a lack of freedom in the role.
Real Madrid still interested in Alonso
Real Madrid still hope to prise Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso away from Liverpool, director general Jorge Valdano was quoted as saying yesterday.
"We have possibilities there but I don't want to say anything that will make the negotiation more difficult. We will wait a reasonable amount of time," Valdano told sports daily As.
Valdano said Real could also be interested in another member of Liverpool's Spanish contingent, Alvaro Arbeloa, who came through the youth team at Real.
"The lad only has a year left on his contract with Liverpool and this gives us more possibilities," Valdano said.
Nakamura ready for big gamble
Japanese midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, a key man in the country's World Cup campaign said his move to Spain's Espanyol from Celtic will be a big gamble.
Nakamura, who turns 31 today, changed his mind at the last minute about re-signing with the Japanese team where he started his professional career - Yokohama Marinos - and instead opted to realise his long-held dream of playing in the Spanish league.
"I don't know whether or not I can get a regular position but I want to give all I have," he told the Chunichi Sports daily yesterday.
"There is the possibility of losing everything I have built," he was quoted as saying in another daily, Sports Nippon.
Peruvian team hit by theft of apparel
Universitario's preparations for a Peruvian championship match were hit on Monday by the theft of 90 pairs of football boots and 50 shirts from their changing room at Lima's Monumental stadium.
"Our pride has been stung because it's not possible that we have been robbed in our own stadium," the club's sporting director German Leguia said.
"What's worse is that this should happen on the verge of an important match against San Martin," former Peru international Leguia added.
Leguia said Universitario had launched an urgent search for the boots, worth around $150 a pair, and that it would be hard to find replacements quickly.
Unhappy Deco eyes Inter move
Deco has publicly admitted he is unsettled at Chelsea and wants to join Inter.
The Portuguese midfielder is keen to be reunited with fellow countryman Jose Mourinho at Inter, along with Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho.
"I had a rather difficult season at Chelsea," Deco told Il Corriere dello Sport. "I had a serious injury and I could not play my best football.
"My agent, Jorge Mendes, has talked to the club and said that I am not happy at Chelsea. I know full well that I have a contract but I would like to leave.
"I choose Inter because they are a club with a great history and because I would like to work again under a coach like Mourinho."
Beckham wins libel damages
David Beckham won substantial libel damages at the High Court yesterday over a newspaper claim that he "made a play" for Hungarian model Mariann Fogarasy.
The 34-year-old England star was awarded the undisclosed settlement in his case against Express Group Newspapers over an article which appeared in The Daily Star in April.
The front page story, which was headed "Becks and the Blonde Beauty" and "Topless Model Claims She Was Chatted Up by Footie Star", was also published on the newspaper's website.
Beckham's solicitor, Gerrard Tyrrell, told Justice Eady the allegations were completely untrue. Tyrrell said the newspaper now accepted that Beckham did not behave in the manner described and retracted the allegations.
Malouda extends Chelsea deal
Florent Malouda has extended his contract with Chelsea by another two years.
The France international, who had just 12 months remaining on his current deal, will now stay with the FA Cup winners until the summer of 2012.
Malouda confirmed that he had signed the contract extension during an interview while on holiday in his native Guyana.
"It was a scoop I wanted to keep for Guyana. I did add two more years on my contract at Chelsea," Malouda was quoted as saying.
"I am now with Chelsea for the next three years. I have many contacts, I am always in the news when the market opens, so now you can tell the news all over the world - I am fine at Chelsea."
"We will go for the league and Champions League next season."