Macheda: Federico Macheda’s international transfer finally got through, so he could make his Sampdoria debut against Roma today. The deal had been struck to bring Macheda in on loan from Manchester United last week, but the clearance papers only reached Samp yesterday.
Crystal Palace: Crystal Palace hope to appoint a new manager this week with Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe favourite to land the role. Eagles chairman Steve Parish has already interviewed a number of candidates to replace George Burley, who was axed last weekend, but 33-year-old Howe is understood to be his first choice.
Okafor: Former Nigerian defender Uche Okafor, who featured at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, killed himself at his Texas home. The 43-year-old Okafor was discovered Thursday by his former wife after a friend had tried to contact him. Okafor played for Nigeria in the 1994 Africa Cup.
Robben: Dutch winger Arjen Robben made his long-awaited return after 231 days on the sidelines with hamstring problems as Bayern Munich thrashed local side Al-Wakrah 4-0 in a friendly in Doha yesterday. Robben played the first half before withdrawing as he remains some way away from match fitness.
Bielsa: The election of Sergio Jadue as president of the Chilean Football Federation cast doubt over the future of coach Marcelo Bielsa. Jadue, 31, had the support of some of the country’s biggest clubs as he prevailed 27-21 over Ernesto Corona. Corona represented clubs close to Harold Mayne-Nicholls, who had hired Bielsa in 2007.
In France: Fifth-tier Chambery and Wasquehal were French Cup giantkillers yesterday after putting out last season’s finalists Monaco and fellow top flight outfit Auxerre. Chambery saw off Monaco 3-2 on penalties after the pair had been locked at 1-1.Wasquehal knocked out Auxerre 2-1 with a late penalty.
Cricket: Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir was snapped up for a record $2.4m on Day One of bidding at the Indian Premier League auction for players. The left-handed opener was among four Indians to join the $2m club at the auction for the fourth edition of the scandal-plagued tournament, along with Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma.
Golf: Europe captain Colin Montgomerie suffered a humiliating defeat in fourball play yesterday as Asia stormed to a 6-2 lead in the Royal Trophy, with a clean sweep of all four matches. Montgomerie and Welshman Rhys Davies were thumped 5 and 4 by the in-form Noh Seung-Yul of Korea and China’s Liang Wen-chong.
Basket, NBA: Manu Ginobili scored 25 points as the San Antonio Spurs rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers 90-87 and snap a modest two-game losing skid. France’s Tony Parker iced the win with a pair of successful free-throws after James Posey missed a three-pointer for the Pacers at the buzzer with a chance to tie it.
Tennis: Unheralded Hungarian Greta Arn produced a fairytale end to her “dream” week of tennis when she beat defending champion Yanina Wickmayer 6-3, 6-3 in the final of the Auckland Classic yesterday. It was only the second tournament win in Arn’s 13 years as a professional and completed a week of upsets for the 31-year-old.