Bayern Munich striker Miroslav Klose has ruled out a return to his former club Kaiserslautern should he leave Bayern at the end of the season.
The Germany international’s contract expires in the summer and a return to the Red Devils, for whom he played five years earlier in his career, had been mooted, but he says he wants to carry on playing at the highest level.
“I can imagine playing for anybody at a high level,” he told the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.
“I am fit, football is no torture or drag for me and I don’t just want to play out the end of my career in any old place.
“At the moment, I still want to play at a level which is higher than Kaiserslautern.”
Del Piero... no plans to retire
Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero insists he has not had any thoughts about retiring just yet.
The 35-year-old has yet to sign a contract extension with Juve, even though his current deal expires this summer.
But the striker is not preparing to hang up his boots in the near future.
“I want to play for a long time and give my best,” Del Piero said. “Then I will consider the right time to stop playing.
“I’m just thinking about the present. My thoughts right now are on playing and we will see what happens in the future.”
Chelsea agree Piazon deal
Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Brazilian teenager Lucas Piazon from Sao Paulo, but will have to wait nine months for him to arrive at Stamford Bridge.
The 17-year-old Brazil youth international will not join until the next winter transfer window as he is not allowed to make the move until after his 18th birthday.
“The player has signed a pre-contract agreement and is expected to join us in January 2012 on a long-term deal,” Chelsea said in a statement on their website.
Piazon is currently at the South American U-17 Championships, having made his name at the U-15 tournament in 2009 when he finished as top scorer with 10 goals.
Mertesacker eyes England move
Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker would be keen on a move to the English Premier League, but insists he is not currently thinking about his future.
Mertesacker has received a lot of criticism for his role in Werder Bremen’s demise with numerous uncharacteristic mistakes costing his team points, yet he remains a rumoured target of Arsenal and Liverpool.
However, the 26-year-old says he is currently only focused on saving Bremen from the drop this year.
“England has been an issue for a few years now, but I cannot make a decision yet,” he told Die Welt newspaper.
“Of course the Premier League is attractive, but right now there is only one issue for me and that is avoiding the drop.”
Van Basten not joining Fiorentina
Fiorentina have vehemently denied reports that coach Marco van Basten will coach the Viola next season.
Sporting Lisbon presidential candidate Pedro Baltazar stated that the Dutch coach would not join the Portuguese giants because he had already agreed to guide the Serie A outfit next season.
A statement from Fiorentina read: “With regards to the comments made today by Sporting Lisbon presidential candidate Pedro Baltazar, the Viola club announces that those comments are lacking foundation and do not correspond absolutely to the truth.”
Fiorentina intend to keep coach Sinisa Mihajlovic who is under contract with them for a further season.
Moses still seeking FIFA permission
Nigeria plan to pick Wigan’s Victor Moses for Tuesday’s friendly against Kenya after he was dropped for a Nations Cup qualifier against Ethiopia because FIFA are yet to clear him for the Super Eagles.
Nigeria announced that Moses would not play in today’s Nations Cup qualifying tie against Ethiopia in Abuja as FIFA are yet to approve his application to switch allegiance to Nigeria after he featured for England at U-17 and U-21 levels.
“We are discussing with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the possibility of having Moses for the Kenya match. We would like him to wait behind to play the friendly,” said Nigeria assistant coach Simon Kalika.
The England-based forward trained with the rest of the Eagles squad Friday night along with two injury doubts, Osaze Odemwingie and Obafemi Martins.
Jovanovic deserves more playing time
Serbia coach Vladimir Petrovic has called for Milan Jovanovic to be given more game time at Liverpool.
The former Standard Liege player endured a slow start to his Anfield career during former boss Roy Hodgson’s rocky reign, and has featured just twice for the club since Kenny Dalglish took over.
Petrovic told Press Association Sport: “I am not surprised by Milan. I know he is a player who can play at a very high standard. It is impossible that such a good player would forget how to play football.
“He is special and he had a special desire to play for us here.
“In the past he has been one of our best players and I think he deserves more chances (with Liverpool). If he gets chances he will soon be on the same level again.”