Cicinho: Real Madrid have bought Brazil defender Cicinho from world club champions Sao Paulo, the Spanish side announced yesterday. Real said the 25-year-old attacking right-back had signed a five-year deal and would begin training with his new team on Thursday when they return from their Christmas break.

Keller: Borussia Moenchengladbach goalkeeper Kasey Keller was named the United States Soccer Federation's male athlete of the year for the third time. Keller, 36, becomes the first player to win the accolade three times after taking the award in 1997 and 1999. Keller appeared in 14 games for the US team this year, keeping eight clean sheets and conceding only eight goals as he helped the Americans qualify for a fifth straight World Cup finals.

Juventus: Italian TV firm Mediaset has bought the domestic and international broadcast rights for Juventus matches over the next two seasons, the club said yesterday. The Italian champions and current Serie A leaders said Mediaset would pay 108 million euros for the 2007/8 season and 110 million for 2008/9. Mediaset will pay an additional 30 million euros for the option to extend the deal to the 2009/10 season.

Boateng: Middlesbrough's Dutch midfielder George Boateng will be out of action for eight weeks after damaging ankle ligaments.Boateng sustained the injury during the 1-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Helguera: Real Madrid defender Ivan Helguera will be out of action for about three weeks with a groin strain. Helguera was injured in the 2-1 home defeat by Racing Santander on Wednesday. He will miss both legs of the King's Cup last 16 match against Athletic Bilbao in early January.