Juventus are engaged in talks with Pavel Nedved for the former winger to join the Bianconeri as director.
The Czech had previously been mentioned with a new role at the club after hanging up his boots, but nothing emerged.
“I have been in contact with president Andrea Agnelli and we have an appointment for next week,” he told Tuttosport.
“I waited until the club situation stabilised and the transfer market came to a close.
“There have been many changes at Juve lately. Now is the time to work out how I can be of use. Juve were, and always will be, my everlasting love.”
Reports said Nedved could become a ‘special adviser’ to Agnelli.
Ballack should have quit – Hoeness
Michael Ballack should have retired from international football when injury ruled him out of the World Cup, according to Bayern Munich’s president Uli Hoeness.
Ballack was the national team captain before an ankle injury prevented him from making the trip to South Africa. Doubts have arisen over whether Ballack will actually recapture his best form for Bayer Leverkusen and Hoeness claims he has now missed the chance to retire with his head held high.
“I advised him (to retire before the World Cup) as a friend – I did not mean anything nasty,” Hoeness said.
“If he had followed my advice, he would have spared himself a lot of grief.”
Defoe sets comeback date
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has vowed to return to action within two months after seeing his flying start to the season derailed by injury.
The 27-year-old said he aims to shave four weeks off the estimated three months he is expected to spend on the sidelines while recovering from surgery to repair torn ankle ligaments.
“When I did my metatarsal, they said I’d be back after 10 weeks and I was back after six,” he said.
“People were joking that I must have some special blood because I’d heal really quick.
“Obviously, I want to take my time with this because its ligaments and the ones that I have done take a long time to heal. But hopefully I could be back in about eight weeks.”
Pride before fall for blunder keeper
It’s been dubbed the craziest penalty in the history of football and has made an Internet hit out of a very embarrassed Moroccan goalkeeper.
Khalid Askri thought he had saved a crucial penalty in a Moroccan Cup game playing for FAR Rabat against Moghreb Fes on Thursday when he pushed the ball away and turned to soak up the adulation of his fans.
However, as he saluted the crowd, the ball span back and rolled over the line into the empty net. The goal stood and Fes qualified for the quarter-finals.
“Khalid Askri thought he was a hero, but he’s just a zero,” said a report on the Chronofoot website.
Flynn set to take over Wales job
Former international midfielder Brian Flynn could be named as John Toshack’s successor as Wales manager tomorrow.
The former Wrexham and Swansea boss has emerged as the front-runner for the post after impressing in his current role as coach of Wales’ youth sides.
The 54-year-old could initially take charge on a caretaker basis for next month’s Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland.
Flynn said: “Decisions are made and carefully considered and we will see on Monday when the situation is clarified.”
Flynn spent 12 years in charge at Wrexham from 1989 and later took over at Swansea.
McLeish on brink of new deal
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has admitted he is close to finally signing a new contract with the midlands club.
McLeish started talks over a new deal before the end of last season after steering City to promotion and then establishing them in the Premier League.
But it is only now the former Scotland boss appears ready to put pen to paper on a new deal.
McLeish said: “Talks have progressed and I’m just inches away from signing a new contract.
“The figures and everything are fine. We’ve just got to iron out the rough edges. Contracts are not something I like talking about in public, but it will be nice to get it resolved.”
Hargreaves returns in a fortnight
Alex Ferguson has revealed Owen Hargreaves will return to Manchester United in a fortnight.
Hargreaves was forced to return to the United States for more rehabilitation work to try and combat a long-standing tendinitis problem that has kept the player out of action for almost two years.
Although the 29-year-old did manage a very brief comeback, it eventually became apparent all was not going smoothly. It is widely assumed if Hargreaves does not win this particular battle, his playing career will be over.
“Owen is due back within the next two weeks,” said the United boss.
“He seems to be making decent progress now. But if he comes back in two weeks when is he going to be fit to play? That is still to be found out.”