Berbatov: Manchester United are interested in signing Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov, the player's agent said. "We had a 90-minute meeting with Tottenham over Dimitar's future and informed us that there's a query from Man. United about the possibility of Berbatov joining them," Emil Danchev said. "Tottenham let us believe that they want Dimitar to stay for another season because they have ambitions to finish among top four teams... they told us they'll have a meeting in the next day or two to decide his future."
Granada 74: Granada 74 have been given the go-ahead to play in the Spanish second division after winning their case against FIFA and UEFA at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the club said yesterday. UEFA and FIFA had said that the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) should not allow the new team to take part in the league because they had purchased their place in the second division. The two governing bodies said that the move had violated the principle that clubs should be promoted for sporting results on the field of play and not through financial or commercial operations.
Stoke striker jailed: Stoke City striker Vincent Pericard has been jailed for trying to avoid a speeding offence by claiming his stepfather was behind the wheel. The 24-year-old Frenchman admitted perverting the course of justice at Plymouth Crown Court and received a four-month sentence. Pericard was on loan from Premier League Portsmouth to second division Plymouth at the time he was caught driving a Mercedes CLK 500 at 103 mph (166 kph) en route to a training session in March 2006.
Nesta: Italian soccer federation president Giancarlo Abete may try to tempt Alessandro Nesta out of international retirement after Marco Materazzi's injury left Italy with few central defensive options for the Euro 2008 Group B qualifier with France on Sept. 8. Milan defender Nesta, 31, retired from Italy earlier this month.
Juventus: Juventus have problems in defence for their return to Serie A at home to Livorno today. Right back Zdenek Grygera is out for three to four weeks after injuring his thigh in Czech Republic's friendly with Austria while defender Domenico Criscito is a slight doubt with a tight groin.
Ronaldinho: Barcelona's Brazilian forward Ronaldinho will be granted dual Spanish nationality on Monday and free up a place for a non-European Union player in the squad. Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o, Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure and Mexican forward Giovani dos Santos will occupy the three non-EU berths permitted by the Spanish FA.