Tacchinardi: Former Italian international midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi has signed a one-year deal with Villarreal. The experienced 30-year-old, who has spent 11 seasons at Juventus, is the club's third major signing of the close season. Villarreal, who are in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, have also signed Argentina's Mariano Barbosa and Ecuador midfielder Antonio Valencia.
Ailton: Brazilian striker Ailton completed his move from Schalke 04 to Besiktas yesterday. Schalke said Ailton, who was with the Bundesliga club for only one season, had signed and returned release papers. The 32-year-old was Schalke's top Bundesliga scorer with 14 goals last season, well short of the 28 he netted for Werder Bremen in their league and cup-winning season in 2003/2004.
Ljungberg: Sweden midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has signed a contract extension with Arsenal that ties him to the English club until 2009. "I've been at Arsenal nearly seven years now and am really happy to have signed a new contract with the club," the 28-year-old said yesterday. Ljungberg's contract had been due to expire at the end of the 2005-06 season.
Rustu: Barcelona's Turkish international goalkeeper Rustu Recber will return to his former club Fenerbahce for a second consecutive loan spell. The 32-year-old joined Barcelona from Fenerbahce on a free transfer in 2003, but he played in just four league games as coach Frank Rijkaard put his faith in young Spaniard Victor Valdes.
Ballack: Michael Ballack has been named Bundesliga player of the season for the third time in four years in Kicker magazine's poll of sports journalists. The midfielder, who helped Bayern Munich win the league and cup double, was the clear winner with 516 votes ahead of Cologne striker Lukas Podolski (103) and Hertha Berlin's Marcelinho (99). Bayern's Felix Magath won the coach's award, with 433 votes, ahead of Mainz 05's Juergen Klopp, Schalke 04's Ralf Rangnick and Germany's Juergen Klinsmann.
Genoa: The players and coach of disgraced Genoa have promised to stand by the club while they appeal against their demotion from Serie A to third division. Genoa were sent down to Serie C1 on Wednesday after the Italian Football League found evidence of match-fixing in the 3-2 win over Venezia that earned them promotion on the final day of last season. "We'll continue just as we are until the final word has been said on the subject," coach Francesco Guidolin said. "It is a very hard sentence. I was expecting the team to stay in Serie A with a few penalty points."
Saviola: Barcelona striker Javier Saviola has been left out of the squad for a pre-season tour of Japan and China because he is close to agreeing a deal to leave the club. The 23-year-old striker has been in contact with Espanyol and Atletico Madrid.
Yanev: Bulgaria midfielder Hristo Yanev was injured in an attack outside his home yesterday after returning from CSKA Sofia's 2-0 win in Albania in the Champions League. Yanev, Bulgaria's Footballer of the 2004/2005 season, said he had been beaten up by three men but no money or documents had been stolen.
Intertoto Cup: Semi-final, first leg - Valencia vs Roda JC 4-0.
¤ Liverpool's Spanish midfielder Antonio Nunez has said he will sign a three-year deal with newly-promoted Primera Liga side Celta Vigo. "We've reached an agreement and all that remains is for me to put pen to paper," the 26-year-old said yesterday. Nunez joined Liverpool from Real Madrid last August as part of the deal which took England striker Michael Owen in the opposite direction. He injured knee ligaments almost as soon as he made the switch to Anfield and had to wait until late November before making his debut.