England striker Darren Bent apologised to his club Tottenham Hotspur after criticising the Premier League side on his Twitter page.
The comments on the social networking website included an expletive aimed at chairman Daniel Levy amid a rant about Bent's frustrations over drawn-out negotiations surrounding a possible transfer to Sunderland.
"Do I wanna go Hull City? NO. Do I wanna go Stoke? NO. Do I wanna go Sunderland? YES," Bent's 'Twitter' page said after he was also linked in British media with Hull and Stoke.
"Why can't anything be simple? It is so frustrating hanging around doing nothing while they sort the confusion out."
"I allowed my emotions to get in the way of my better judgement. I regret my actions and did not intend to offend Daniel Levy or anyone with the nature or the content of my posting," Bent said .
Nilmar feted at Villarreal
Villareal on Friday yesterday presented their new Brazilian player Nilmar da Silva, the most expensive signing in their history.
The club signed Nilmar last week on a five-year contract from Brazilian club Internacional de Purto Alegre for a reported fee of over 10 million euros.
"I know that my signing was one of the biggest efforts in the club's history," the 25-year-old striker told a news conference.
"I am filled with pride and responsibility... I know that I here to score and help the team and my hope is to win a title."
Some 4,000 fans greeted Nilmar at El Madrigal stadium.
De Rossi staying at Roma
Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi yesterday ruled out a possible move to English Premier League side Arsenal.
The Londoners were rumoured to be interested in signing the 26-year-old but De Rossi claims he has had no contact from the Gunners and has no intention of leaving his home town club.
"Arsenal? I haven't heard anything. Roma said I'm untransferable and I want to stay here," he said.
"If they wanted to sell me everything would change but they've always shown faith in me."
Advocaat unhappy with Rosina
Zenit St Petersburg coach Dick Advocaat criticised the club's management over what he called inadequate player reinforcements.
The Russian Premier League club announced on Friday the signing of Italian midfielder Alessandro Rosina on a four-year contract from Serie B side Torino, but Advocaat was quick to distance himself from the latest acquisition.
"I'm very disappointed," the coach told reporters.
"I told the club we need two or three top class strikers but instead they bring in Rosina. I really don't know what to do anymore as I've never had to deal with a situation when a player is being brought to the club against my wishes."
Ex-Inter striker Cruz joins Lazio
Former Inter striker Julio Cruz has joined Lazio and has been included in their squad to face his previous side in the Italian Super Cup on Aug. 8, the Serie A club said.
The Argentine, 34, was released by champions Inter at the end of last season and has taken his time choosing Lazio after several clubs expressed an interest.
The former Bologna striker has signed a one-year contract with an option for a second after passing his medical.
Italian Cup holders Lazio also said that Goran Pandev, Cristian Ledesma and Lorenzo De Silvestri, who had all asked to leave the club, had not been included in the Super Cup squad.
United snap up French starlet
Manchester United have completed the signing of French starlet Paul Pogba, a move that angered his club Le Havre.
The Ligue 2 outfit believed they had an agreement with Pogba which would see him stay in France until at least the end of next season.
"Paul Pogba, his parents and Le Havre were bound to a contract called a 'non-solicitation agreement' from autumn 2006," the club said.
"At the end of that contract, the three parties agreed to sign a trainee contract when the player matched certain age and scholarship criteria, taking him through to the end of the 2009/10 season.
"However, the player and his parents have refused to fulfil the agreement because Manchester United have offered big money to the parents to get their son to England."
Heinze completes Marseille switch
Real Madrid confirmed they have reached an agreement with Marseille to sell Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze to the French club.
"Real Madrid and Olympique of Marseille have reached an agreement to transfer the player Gabriel Heinze to the French club," Real said.
Marseille said that the 31-year-old international, with a reputation for an aggressive style of play, would join the club for three years, once his medical examination and contract details have been completed.
The former Manchester United and Paris St Germain player had been under contract with Real until next year, but management at the Bernabeu recently made it clear that following this summer's multi-million euro recruitment campaign he was surplus to requirements.