Di Canio: Veteran forward Paolo Di Canio looks likely to continue his playing career in Serie C2 with Cisco Roma, Sky Italia reported. Di Canio's contract at Lazio has expired and the club admit a new deal for the 38-year-old is not a priority. Di Canio was due to retire to concentrate on obtaining his coaching badges. But it appears those plans are going to be put on hold amid reports Di Canio is due to sign a two-year contract with Cisco Roma. Italian regulations prevent footballers from playing, and taking a coaching course, at the same time.
Wanchope: Costa Rica's World Cup striker Paulo Wanchope was set to sign a two-year deal with Argentine club Rosario Central yesterday, linking him with his former Derby County team-mate Horacio Carbonari. Wanchope reached an agreement to join Central in a meeting in Rosario, 400 km north of Buenos Aires, late on Wednesday with club president Pablo Scarabino and former defender Carbonari, now their general manager.
Fulham: Hammarby striker Bjorn Runstrom has signed a three-year contract with English Premier League side Fulham for an undisclosed fee, both clubs announced on their web sites yesterday. The 22-year-old Swede, an under-21 international, has been with southern Stockholm club Hammarby since 2004 after short spells with Serie A sides Chievo and Fiorentina.
World Cup official: A top local Berlin World Cup official who shot himself in the head in an apparent suicide attempt right after Sunday's final match died yesterday, a spokeswoman for Berlin's Charite hospital said. Juergen Kiessling had coordinated the city of Berlin's World Cup activities for many years and was credited with creating the hugely popular fan mile at the Brandenburg Gate where millions of fans watched matches on giant television screens.
Barcelona: Barcelona signed deals with three Chinese media companies yesterday to help promote the European and Spanish champions in the Far East. "Barcelona can now guarantee a permanent presence in China offering fans the club's TV station, a magazine and an internet portal all in Chinese," Barca vice-president of media and marketing, Marc Ingla, said.
Feyenoord: Netherlands goalkeeper Henk Timmer has agreed a two-year contract to join Feyenoord for the second time in his career, the Rotterdam-based club said yesterday. The 34-year-old, a reserve to Edwin van der Sar at the World Cup last month, will leave AZ Alkmaar for an undisclosed transfer fee after a conflict with coach Louis van Gaal.