ZANETTI AWARD: Inter captain Javier Zanetti has been awarded the Premio Scirea by Italian journalists. The award has been running yearly since 1992 and is given to players over 30 who have had an “exemplary career”. For the first time this season it was also open to foreign players who have been plying their trade in the Serie A for at least 10 years.
TOTTENHAM: Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is interested in a move for Sevilla hitman Luis Fabiano. The Brazil striker, who scored three goals at the World Cup, could leave Sevilla this summer, with the club thought to be keen to sell the 29-year-old before his contract runs out next year.
MILNER: James Milner has been included in Aston Villa’s squad for the Guadiana Cup in Portugal this weekend after holding “amicable” talks with manager Martin O’Neill. The 24-year-old returned to pre-season training yesterday after being given a month’s holiday following the World Cup. Milner has been the subject of a £20m bid already from Manchester City which was rejected by the Midlands club.
JUAREZ: Scottish club Celtic signed Mexico defender Efrain Juarez from UNAM Pumas for an undisclosed fee yesterday. Juarez agreed a four-year contract with the Hoops after impressing manager Neil Lennon during the World Cup.
2012 OLYMPICS: Britain’s medal hopes for the 2012 London Olympics received a significant boost yesterday with the launch of a new funding initiative designed to raise around £15 million. Small and medium businesses are being offered the chance to invest £20,000 into the development of athletes in the two-year countdown to the 2012 Games. The programme is open to 750 businesses to invest in Our Team 2012, in return for use of the logo, tickets to watch the athletes in action before the Olympics and access to networking events.
TENNIS: Mardy Fish won his second straight title as he outlasted fellow American John Isner in brutal heat, claiming the trophy 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) at the ATP Atlanta Championships. The 49th-ranked Fish followed up title success at his prior event, the grass tournament this month at Newport the week after Wimbledon. The match win was the ninth in a row for the inspired American, who came through in just under three hours in blistering 37 Celsius conditions.
TRIATHLON: Spain’s Javier Gomez clinched his second successive world championship triathlon series at the weekend as defending world champion Alistair Brownlee of Britain suffered from exhaustion. The Spaniard added to Brownlee’s frustration by beating his younger brother, Jonathan, into second spot. Alistair Brownlee was carried off moments after crossing the finish line clearly suffering from exhaustion. On Saturday, Canada’s Paula Findlay was the shock winner of the women’s event.
RUGBY UNION: Jason Robinson, a member of England’s 2003 World Cup-winning team, is to come out of retirement to play for National League side Fylde next season. Robinson ended his illustrious playing career during the 2007-08 season, but the 35-year-old winger has decided to return to action with an unglamorous team who finished ninth in the National North Two last season.
ROWING: Former Olympic champion Steve Trapmore has been appointed as the new chief coach of Cambridge University Boat Club. Trapmore, who stroked the British eight to gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, joins the Light Blues from Imperial College and will take up his post in September. Chris Nilsson left Cambridge and returned to New Zealand after leading them to a dramatic victory in this year’s Xchanging Boat Race.