Barcelona: Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard says he has tried to persuade Sweden striker Henrik Larsson, 34, to stay for another season rather than end his career with hometown club Helsingborg. "We tried to convince him to stay, but he made the decision to leave and we have to respect that," Rijkaard said. Larsson has been in impressive form, scoring in each of Barca's last five league matches before yesterday.
Chelsea: Espanyol youth team midfielder Sergio Tejera says he will be leaving the Barcelona-based club to begin a career at Chelsea next season. Marca reported that Chelsea were prepared to offer up to 250,000 euros for the left-sided midfielder who is viewed as one of the Catalan club's most promising players.
Scolari: Portugal's Brazilian coach Luis Felipe Scolari has denied he held talks with England's FA at the weekend about becoming England coach. British media reported Scolari met with English FA officials about taking over from Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup. "If I had to deny everything that's been written about my future I wouldn't do anything else in the next few months," he said.
Montero: Former Uruguay captain Paolo Montero, frustrated by an injury-plagued season with Argentina's San Lorenzo, says that football is making him suffer when he should be enjoying the twilight of his career. "I can't find the reason for so many injuries," said the 34-year-old who, during nine seasons with Juventus became known as one of Europe's most ruthless defenders. "Football has become a source of suffering. That can't be right, because it's what I love doing."
Keane: Celtic midfielder Roy Keane will be sidelined for up to a month with a hamstring tear. Keane suffered the injury in Sunday's 3-0 League Cup final win over Dunfermline. Keane, 34, said last week that this might be his last season because of a hip injury.
Common language: English has become the official language of football, at least for the 44 referees hoping to officiate at the 2006 World Cup. For the first time, referees and their assistants will have to show proficiency in written and spoken English if they are to stand a chance of making the cut for the sport's showpiece tournament. FIFA regards English, German, Spanish and French as its official languages.