Hargreaves: Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves will not play again before the end of the year. The England international, who suffered a broken left fibula on Sept. 17, had hoped to be back in action within six weeks but the injury has proved more difficult than expected to overcome. Bayern have three more Bundesliga games and one apiece in the Champions League and German Cup before the long winter break.
Maradona: Former soccer World Cup-winning captain Diego Maradona arrived in Moscow yesterday for this weekend's Davis Cup final between Russia and Argentina. Maradona, one of soccer's greatest players, has become a big tennis fan and has attended several of Argentina's Davis Cup ties in the past. His last visit to Russia was in 1990 when his club team Napoli lost to Spartak Moscow 5-3 on penalties in a European Cup second round clash.
Shevchenko: Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani denied reports that has suggested the Serie A side are lining up a move for former player Andriy Shevchenko. Since leaving the club for Chelsea in summer the Ukrainian striker has struggled to live up to his £30 million price tag. "At this time there have not been any negotiations with Chelsea, regarding Andriy Shevchenko's return to the club," Galliani said. Shevchenko has scored just three times in his Stamford Bridge career and a series of laboured displays in the Premiership have drawn criticism.
FIFA Threat: Cambodia has invited foreign observers to oversee elections for a new soccer president following a threat by world governing body FIFA to expel the country from international competitions. Soccer chiefs in the impoverished nation said they had asked FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation and the ASEAN Football Federation to attend the Dec. 9 polls to prove there was no political interference in running the national game.
Bellamy: Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said he does not want to part company with Craig Bellamy after reports linking him with a move to Tottenham. "I have seen some interest in him, but only in the media," Benitez said. "We are not thinking about swapping him for anyone, all we want is to see him scoring goals for Liverpool."
Cassano: Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano looks set to remain in the Spanish capital, according to his agent. Rumours in Spain suggest that the striker is keen on returning to Serie A after falling out with coach Fabio Capello. "Cassano will leave Real Madrid? Absolutely not," said agent Giuseppe Bozzo yesterday. "Real know that Antonio does not want to move and I also confirmed this to him personally. Antonio will remain until the end of his contract in 2011.
Pirandelli: Cesare Prandelli is on the verge of signing a new long-term contract with Fiorentina, according to reports in Italy. The Della Valle family, the club owners, have spoken well of the tactician recently and they are apparently ready to keep him until 2011. Fiorentina have big plans for the future and see Prandelli as the right man for the job.