Terry finally commits his future to Chelsea

Chelsea captain John Terry has finally committed his future to Chelsea and ruled out any possibility of signing for Manchester City.

The central defender's silence throughout City's pursuit this summer had only served to fuel the rumours but now he has come out to end the saga and insist he is "totally committed" to the Stamford Bridge side.

City had made two firm bids for Terry, both of which were rejected by Chelsea, and while Carlo Ancelotti and other club officials had always insisted there was never any chance of their skipper being sold there was always a nagging doubt until the player himself rejected a possible move.

It seems, however, that Terry did seek assurances that Chelsea's ambition still matched his own in discussions with owner Roman Abramovich.

Now Chelsea can plan for the new season safe in the knowledge that the 28-year-old will remain in west London, while City boss Mark Hughes will have to turn to other targets which include Arsenal's Kolo Toure and Everton defender Joleon Lescott.

In a statement released to Chelsea's official website, Terry said: "There has been a lot of speculation recently about my future and I want to clear this up once and for all. I am totally committed to Chelsea and always have been.

"Chelsea have also made it clear to me consistently that there was never any intention to accept any kind of offer.

"When you are linked with any club or with a manager who I have huge respect for, it will always make headlines but me leaving Chelsea was never a possibility.

"I know there has been comment that I should have made a statement earlier.

"However, throughout this period there have been numerous discussions between myself, the owner and the Chelsea board and we all agreed that the timing of any statement would suit everyone involved in those talks, not any outside influences or agendas.

"What is clear to me following those discussions is that Chelsea's ambition remains as high as ever. This has been further proved by the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti. I am certain that he will take this club on to the next level.

"Another important factor was knowing that Chelsea would be securing key current players for the long term. The strengthening of the squad around this core is crucial to pushing us on to greater success.

"I am as committed as ever to helping drive Chelsea forward and I will be proud to lead the team as long as I can."

Former Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink expected Terry to remain with the London club.

The Dutchman, who led the club in a caretaker capacity from February until the end of the season before returning to his full-time role as Russia coach, told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme: "It depends always on the circumstances within the club and City have a lot of ambition. They want to be competitive with the top four.

"I haven't spoken with John, but if the team is competitive enough there shouldn't be any concern at Chelsea."

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Inter ready for Eto'o arrival

The Cameroon international's agent has already stated the player has agreed personal terms with the Serie A champions.

Eto'o is now poised to seal his transfer from Barca, with Inter forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to head in the opposite direction in the near future.

Moratti said: "I repeat what I said this morning. I like everyone's interviews, but I prefer to wait until it's official."

When then asked if a deal had been done, he replied: "Almost, so let's wait.

"I don't know (when the deal will be completed). Hopefully today (Thursday). When it arrives, it arrives, but it's not as if it's a race against time."

Meanwhile, Ibrahimovic has left Inter's pre-season training camp in America ahead of his proposed move to Spain.

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Poulsen may make English move

The Denmark midfielder appears surplus to requirements at Stadio Olimpico and has been linked with Fulham, Portsmouth and Tottenham.

Juventus are keen to sell in order to finance a move for Barcelona defender Martin Caceres, while Poulsen is eager for first-team football in a World Cup season.

European champions Barcelona have made tentative enquiries regarding the 29-year-old, but Secco claims there has also been interest from clubs in England.

"Christian understands the situation, Secco said in Tuttosport.

"He also knows that he wants to play in the World Cup. We are working to find a solution that suits us and him.

"What is new? Something has happened in England."

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Liverpool deny striking a fee with Real for Alonso

Liverpool have denied reports they have agreed a fee with Real Madrid for Xabi Alonso.

Suggestions the Spanish international would not be travelling on to the second part of the club's Far East tour were also allayed by the 28-year-old's involvement in training at Singapore's national stadium on Thursday.

The club insisted Alonso did not figure in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Thailand in Bangkok because of an ankle injury, although he travelled with the party to Singapore.

There have been claims in Spain that the reason for his absence from the team was down to a deal having been struck with Real and Liverpool's desire for the player not to pick up an injury.

But a Liverpool spokesman said: "Xabi is with us in Singapore, and will train with the rest of the squad. He was injured ahead of the Thailand game, people can say what they like about that.

"And there has been no deal agreed with anyone for his transfer to anyone.''

It has been claimed that Madrid have decided to end the summer-long saga in the face of defiance from Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, who has intimated that he wants a fee of over £30m for the player.

It has been suggested the Spanish giants are now prepared to meet the asking price for their transfer target.

Alonso has made his desire to leave clear, and had hoped not to have to fly to Vienna on Sunday to meet up with the Liverpool squad ahead of the flight to the Far East.

But Alonso did make the trip, and sources at Liverpool expect him to face Singapore on Sunday before the squad fly back to the UK the following day.

Madrid sporting director Miguel Pardeza still holds out hope they can persuade Liverpool to part with Spain duo Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.

With regards Alonso, Pardeza said: "It's at a standstill. From day one, Liverpool have asked for more than Madrid are ready to pay and it's very difficult to understand. But I've not lost hope that things can be resolved.''

Pardeza, who confirmed Madrid have been looking for an alternative to Alonso but with little success, also admitted a lack of progress in their chase of defender Arbeloa.

"With Arbeloa there was an option which, at the moment, has come to nothing. Liverpool haven't had much intention of letting him go, even though he has one year left on his contract, and we are still in this situation,'' Pardeza told Spanish newspaper Publico.

"There is more than a month of the transfer market left and this could change. I'm not going to deny that we'd like to have Arbeloa.''

There are also claims that the refinancing package being negotiated by owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett could be delayed.

The deadline for the pair's loans to be refinanced with the Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia is tomorrow.

The club's American owners have been confident that they will get the refinancing of their original £350million loans, but negotiations could well continue beyond this week.

RBS have made all the right noises about agreeing a new loan package, but there are rumours that Wachovia are not as keen.

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Eto'o agrees personal terms for Inter move

Samuel Eto'o's agent has announced the player has reached an agreement with Inter Milan

Inter have been in negotiations with Eto'o and his agent for the past few days after Barca had an offer of €45m plus the Cameroon striker for Zlatan Ibrahimovic accepted. Alexander Hleb will also join Inter on loan.

And, after Thursday's meeting with the Serie A champions, Josep Maria Mesalles told reporters the deal is all but complete.

"There's complete agreement with Inter,'' he told Radio Radio. "The negotiations are complete but it's not possible to say that the footballer now belongs to Inter because his release from Barcelona has not been resolved yet. But that won't be a problem.

"The deal is for five years, the player is happy.''

Eto'o has spent his entire professional career in Spanish football since joining Real Madrid in 1997.

The 28-year-old has had a successful five seasons at Barca but the cracks started to appear last summer when he was transfer-listed by new coach Pep Guardiola.

The Barca boss made it clear his feelings were still the same despite Eto'o lashing in 30 goals in 36 Primera Division games as the Catalan giants stormed to the treble.

And Mesalles is confident Eto'o will continue firing in the goals in Italy.

"Eto'o has been an important player in Spanish football,'' he added. "A player who wants to remain at big clubs. Did Guardiola undervalue the Cameroon striker? It's true that with the change of coach at Barcelona it was difficult for the player to do well.

"The player then showed a good performance. The contract will be for five years, the player wants to do well at Milan at Inter showed a lot of interest for Eto'o. The player is happy.

"I don't think Serie A is very different from La Liga. Eto'o has shown since the first moment of his debut in Spain that he can do well. There won't be any problems in Italy either.

"Maybe there will be a few days or months of adapting, also to life in Milan, but everything will change at the first game.''

The agreement will probably give the green light for Ibrahimovic's move in the opposite direction although his agent insisted earlier that the Sweden striker will not finalise his move to the Nou Camp on Thursday. And Mesalles claims that even if Ibrahimovic remains at Inter it will have no impact on Eto'o.

"The performance of one is different to that of the other,'' he said. "They are important players, each has to give his most for his club. Samuel is Samuel, he had a brilliant performance both in the league and the Champions League and now he wants to do well at Inter. His deal was completely independent to that of Ibrahimovic.''

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Beckham confident of November return to Milan

David Beckham has fanned the flames in his row with LA Galaxy's fans by admitting he is confident he'll be back at AC Milan next season.

The England midfielder had a furious bust up with supporters in Los Angeles this week during a friendly with the Italian giants, with whom he spent six months on loan last season.

He told the Rossoneri's website he'll return to Serie A at the end of the MLS season but Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has insisted the club won't be buying him.

"I hope to return to play for Milan," Beckham said. "They have remained in my heart and honestly I am confident I will greet them again in November.

"Leonardo wants me in Rossonero immediately? It's really pleasing to see that I have left good memories.''

Beckham was booed in his first home game since his return from Italy on Sunday and had to be held back by stewards after trying to get to a section of Galaxy supporters who were abusing him.

This has led to speculation he is looking for a move away, with Tottenham and Chelsea also credited with interest in him. But Milan say the financial implications are too great.

"There's no possibility for him to come sooner,'' Galliani said. "David knows that the doors of Milanello are always open for him, his lawyers also know that. I hope he returns in January, but before then he won't because that's when the market reopens even though he finishes there at the end of November.

"There are insurmountable financial obstacles. The most likely hypothesis is that Beckham plays for us from January until the end of the season and then returns to America without all the fuss that happened last March. Before January there's no possibility.'

"I saw him on TV playing very well. Not to repeat the same things always but I remember how he was described a year ago. Now everyone realises that he is a great player.''

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Inter hopeful of Eto'o deal

Eto'o has been offered to Inter by Barcelona in a swap deal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic with the Swede keen on securing a switch to Camp Nou.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola admitted earlier this week it was probably best all round for Eto'o to leave the European champions.

Reports have suggested the deal could flounder on the wage demands of Eto'o, but Inter are hopeful they will be able to thrash out a deal.

Eto'o's agent Jose Maria Mesalles has travelled to Milan to hold talks with Inter officials and a five-year deal is believed to be on the table for the Cameroon international.

Moratti is optimistic a deal will be pushed through to see Eto'o link up with the Italian champions.

"I have no certainty but I'm confident," Moratti told the Italian press.

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United ''explored'' Ribery deal, priced out for Benzema

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Manchester United "explored" the potential for a deal to sign Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery.

France international Ribery has been a target for many of Europe's leading clubs, with Spanish rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid expressing an interest, but Bayern have been adamant that the club will not be cashing in on the 26-year-old.

United were rumoured to be readying a bid as they sought to spend some of the world-record windfall from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real.

However, Ferguson confirmed a polite enquiry was met with a firm response from Bayern, who sold Owen Hargreaves to United two years ago.

"We didn't try to buy Ribery, we explored it in a nice, quiet way when David Gill was at one of his meetings with Bayern in March," said Ferguson. "They told him, 'absolutely no chance' and the one thing you can say about Bayern is that, when they say something, they mean it.

"When we negotiated with them over Hargreaves, at the beginning they said 'no', but they also said that, if it ever changed, their minds, we'd be the first to know.

"It was exactly the same this time. There is no way that they will sell Ribery."

Ferguson also considered signing Karim Bezema from Lyon, but conceded he did not want to pay over the odds for the Real new-boy.

He added: "We tried to spend it (the Ronaldo money) on Karim Benzema as, at 21, I felt that there would be an improvement there.

"He is tough, good physique, a good goalscoring record, so it was worth going a wee bit extra for him because of his age.

"But when it went to £42m, it was beyond his value. We went to £35m and I think that was fair."

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Alonso admits Real desire

Big-spending Real have been courting Alonso all summer as they look to rebuild their squad after a disappointing campaign last term. Cristiano Ronaldo Kaka and Karim Benzema have already arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer and Alonso is the next player in Real president Florentino Perez's sights.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is loath to lose Alonso as he looks to keep hold of his best players for another assault on the Premier League title this season.

Real are believed to be unwilling to meet Liverpool's current valuation of Alonso, but they are refusing to give up their pursuit of the midfield playmaker as they look to create a new team of Galacticos.

Alonso admits he would be interested in joining Perez's revolution, but insists he will not try and force the issue by asking for a transfer.

"It's always a great feeling when Madrid want you, especially considering the phase of the career I am in now," Alonso told AS.

"But at this point, as I have always said, whether or not that can happen is not up to me. It's a matter that involves three parties, including myself.

"I do not like to force the issue. I prefer to talk.

"Madrid's project is certainly impressive. But beyond that, I can't tell you anything else."

Talks

Alonso revealed he will hold talks with Benitez over his future during Liverpool's pre-season training camp in Austria.

"I will talk to him, sure, but the first thing to do when I arrive [in Austria] is to greet him," he commented.

"But I imagine that in the next few days, there will be time for all that, even though in reality, there's nothing in particular to talk to Rafa about. It's the clubs who have to negotiate to reach an agreement."

Asked why Liverpool had rejected Real's initial overtures, Alonso said: "I am not the man who can answer these questions.

"The truth is that I cannot say much, because every little thing can be misinterpreted. And I do not know how things will turn out either because I am not a fortune teller."

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Angry Beckham confronts boo-boys in Los Angeles

England international David Beckham found the criticism too much to take in his first home game back with Los Angeles Galaxy, which came against, of all teams, AC Milan on Sunday.

The 34-year-old tried to hurdle a barrier to get to a group of fans who had been jeering him throughout the match and appeared to make a "come on" gesture. Security had to hold the star back as he tried to get across to the supporters, while one fan had to be stopped from getting out of the stand to confront the star.

A hardcore section of the crowd booed Beckham every time he touched the ball and held aloft signs reading "Go Home Fraud'' and "23: Repent'' in reference to his shirt number.

Another read: "Hey Becks, Here Before You, Here after You, Here Despite You'' while one stated: "Is evil something u are...or something u do?''

Galaxy fans refuse to forgive Beckham first for opting to return to Europe to play for AC Milan and then for making no secret of his desire to stay at the San Siro.

The apparent snub has angered some Galaxy fans, notably a hardcore that sit in the so-called LA Riot Squad section.

Beckham explained afterwards in comments broadcast on Sky Sports News: "I tried to shake one of the guy's hands but he didn't want any of it. That's the way it is.''

It is not the first time that Beckham has reacted badly to such behaviour from the stands. He escaped punishment for making an obscene gesture to abusive England fans after 3-2 defeat by Portugal at Euro 2000. And he has never hidden his disappointment at jeering fans since.

After the incident, Beckham was escorted into the changing rooms but did reappear for the second half while the group of fans who had upset the player were joined by a team of yellow-jacketed security staff.

Even so, Beckham had a hand in both Galaxy goals, scored by Alan Gordon and Bryan Jordan, as they twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with the Rossoneri. Thiago Silva and Filippo Inzaghi scored for Milan.

After the second Galaxy goal, Beckham turned and shrugged his shoulders in the direction of the section of crowd that had been jeering him.

The former Manchester United star was substituted after 75 minutes and walked off to a mixture of cheers and boos.

On the boos, Beckham said: "It's to be expected. Sometimes it goes beyond it. The majority of the fans have been great.''

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Ronaldo set for Real bow

The world's most expensive player will take to the field for a pre-season friendly against Shamrock Rovers in a match which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1.

When Manchester United accepted an offer of £80million for Ronaldo earlier this summer, the 24-year-old forward probably had visions of leading his new team to domestic and European success.

Playing alongside other superstars such as Kaka and Karim Benzema, he will also hope to produce such sparkling performances that any doubts about whether he is worth his record-breaking transfer fee are quickly dispelled.

If Ronaldo has not already achieved greatness then it certainly awaits at the Santiago Bernabeu, but 40 years after Neil Armstrong first set foot on the surface of the moon, the Portuguese forward's Real Madrid odyssey begins with his own 'small step'.

Ronaldo will be keen to make an immediate impression but he admits he does not have much knowledge about the League of Ireland outfit.

Asked about Shamrock, he said on Sky Sports News: "To be honest I don't know any players from this team. Sorry."

Shamrock will not have had such widespread media attention in the past and chairman Jonathan Roche recognises that it is an excellent opportunity for his men.

"We're obviously going to be live on Sky Sports so we want to put on a good show, and show the good standard we have and the good supporters."

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City's Robinho backing pursuit of defender Terry

Manchester City forward Robinho has backed the club's pursuit of Chelsea captain John Terry. The Brazilian recognises the need for defensive reinforcements and feels Terry could make the club 'unbeatable'.

Having landed Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor already this summer, City boss Mark Hughes is keen to bolster his defence, but Chelsea have made it clear that they have no intention of letting the centre-back leave.

However, Robinho, a £32m signing last year, said in the Sunday Mirror: "There is no longer a top four. We have made it a top five. From this season we have to go in with the mindset we're one of the very best clubs.

"I'm delighted we've signed Tevez. He is a world-class player and it would be fantastic for me to play alongside him.

"It was a shame the Samuel Eto'o deal couldn't happen for whatever reason, because he is another world-class player and the sort this club is looking to sign at the moment.

"While I've always urged the club to sign players like Tevez and Kaka when there has been a chance, I also know you have to build from the back.

"You can have the best attacking six players in the world, but unless the defence compliments it then you will not win anything.

"I don't know anything about the John Terry deal apart from what I have read, but he is the sort of world-class leader we need at the back.

"I have said before when you build a house you start from the bottom. If John does not happen then there are plenty of quality defenders in Europe.

"If the players we have signed and the players we may sign all work well together then on our day we can become unbeatable - and not just in England, but in Europe as well."

He added: "We will be looking to win all the competitions we are in and that means having a squad of world class players.

"All the top clubs have players competing for places, and we now have to look at ourselves as a top club.

"People will need to start taking us very seriously."

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Beckham: Ancelotti can bring Blues success

L.A. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham believes that new Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti can bring the Premier League trophy back to Stamford Bridge after three years of failure since former manager Jose Mourinho brought success in 2005 and 2006.

Ancelotti is the club's latest boss, following Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink's departures, and former AC Milan loanee Beckham is sure the Italian will be a success in the Premier League.

"Chelsea are so lucky because Carlo is a great man and a great manager," the former Manchester United player told the News of the World. "He can definitely make Chelsea champions again. No doubt about it. And I say that even though everybody knows I have Manchester United in my heart.

"Yes, it will be difficult because the Premier League is totally different to Serie A but he has great experience and I am convinced he will be a great success in England, too.

"You don't do what he did at Milan and suddenly lose it overnight. So I say good luck to him, he deserves it."

He added: "The players can expect to work with the ultimate professional. He works so hard and is so organised and dedicated.

"Carlo will be the first on the training pitch and the last off it because he just loves working with the players himself. That's his passion. You won't find him sitting in his office leaving it to someone else. He is very hands on.

"That's how he was at Milan and I'm sure that's how he will be at Chelsea, leading by example, leading the team.

"But while he is serious about his work and his football, he is also a lot of fun to work with. He is very relaxed, very down-to- earth and likes a joke. He is very approachable."

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Malaysia XI 2-3 Man Utd: Owen nets first goal

Michael Owen marked his Manchester United debut with a late winner to save his side's blushes in Kuala Lumpur.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men looked like being held to a surprise draw in the opening match of their Far East tour.

Owen, though, had other ideas after coming on as a second-half substitute, and showed the scoring instinct Ferguson knew he had when he made his shock decision to buy the former Liverpool star last month.

When Zoran Tosic was upended in the penalty area going for a 50-50 challenge, there was Owen to pounce on the loose ball and stroke the Red Devils to victory.

In front of almost 100,000 fans at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, United seemed set for a comfortable win as Wayne Rooney and Nani eased them into a two-goal first-half lead.

It was certainly an encouraging hour-long display from Rooney, during which he scored United's first, created the second and came within a couple of inches of chipping home a third.

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez consigned to the pages of United's history books, Rooney is now the major figure at Old Trafford.

True, there will be sterner tests than this for the England man, but on the basis you can only beat the team put in front of you, Rooney did everything asked of him.

His goal was a real poacher's effort.

Darron Gibson crossed after collecting a superb crossfield pass from Anderson, and though Dimitar Berbatov was repelled by Mohammed Farizal Marlias, Rooney was on hand to expertly steer a shot into the top corner.

It was the start of a bad luck story for Berbatov, who twice grazed the Malaysian post with flicked near-post headers and got into plenty of dangerous positions without finding the net.

Twelve months ago, the Bulgarian's arrival triggered the eventual exit of Tevez. Now Owen lies in wait to upset the established order.

Rooney's place is not under threat. And when he threaded a superb pass through the home defence, Nani applied the finish and it appeared United would saunter home.

They reckoned without Mohammed Amri Yahyah, one of only two full internationals to start for the Malaysian side, who halved the deficit just before the interval, then levelled eight minutes after the re-start.

On both occasions, questions could be asked of the goalkeeper.

Edwin van der Sar had no chance of actually stopping Yahyah's effort but his starting position seemed to be too far from his goal.

If that was a debatable point, there was no doubting Van der Sar's replacement Ben Foster was to blame for the equaliser.

As this is almost certain to be Van der Sar's last season of top-flight football, the pressure is on Foster to prove he is worthy of becoming his successor. This was not a good start.

Trying to control Gibson's backpass, Foster was horrified as the ball cannoned off his shin. Yahyah was quick to react and Foster was unable to prevent the home striker tapping home.

The England keeper was more steady when he needed quick feet to get him out of trouble from a Jonny Evans backpass, but the damage had been done.

In between those two moments, Ferguson made a quadruple substitution, Owen among those introduced, with Rooney departing, although not before he had nearly scored again after controlling Paul Scholes' pass and landing a chip just the wrong side of the post.

Owen's first effort as a United player was a miscued volley which bounced harmlessly across the home six-yard area. His second, typically, proved to be the winner.

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Striker Adebayor completes his move to Man City

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has completed his move to Manchester City after passing his medical and signing a five-year deal.

The 25-year-old striker will cost the club around £25m where he will join Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz in a new look City frontline.

Several hundred City fans were at the stadium to welcome Adebayor, who hopes to help the ambitious club move forward.

"It made me feel really welcome and special and I can't wait to play for City's fans and show them what I can do," he declared after completing the bulk of the paperwork.

"I was born to play football and that is what I want to do. I have come here to make history for this club and those supporters. It what the chairman and the manager told me that they want too and I can't wait to get started.''

Asked what the manager and chairman had said to convince him it was the right move, Adebayor replied: ''That this is a team, maybe in one year or two years, that will be one of the best in the world.''

''We have to fight for the club, we have to fight for the team. As you can see, the fans believe in us that we can bring them something. That's what we're going to fight for now.''

Adebayor claims he left the Emirates with coach Arsene Wenger's blessing after three and a half years in north London.

''It (leaving Arsenal) was a little bit difficult but at the end of the day it's a game,'' he added on Sky Sports News. ''They will have made money as well. I had a good discussion with Arsene. I have all his blessing to leave the club so I'm very happy.

''I went through a lot of good moments in Arsenal and a lot of difficult moments as well. I'm very happy to be a player who played for Arsenal.

''I wish them the best of luck. No matter what happens they will always be in my heart because I love the club.''

Blues boss Mark Hughes is delighted to have secured the services of yet another high class international star with his peak years still in front of him.

"Emmanuel has been one of the top forwards in the Premier League since he arrived from France and we are delighted he has agreed to come and join us," he declared. "Along with the other signings we have made in the last two windows he will greatly enhance our ability to compete with the top sides.

"His arrival is another clear indication that we are determined to augment the players we have here with the best of international talent.

"He adds vital balance and power to our attack. He has everything a top forward needs. He is versatile, powerful, quick and agile on the ball. I am looking forward to working with him as are the rest of the staff. He will definitely add a new dimension to our play. I have been a great admirer for a long time."

Adebayor is expected to join up with Mark Hughes' touring side in South Africa in the next few days as City look to continue to add to their squad with the, so far unsuccessful, captures of John Terry and Joleon Lescott.

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Barca close on Ibra deal

Swedish striker Ibrahimovic appears to be on his way to the European champions, with Samuel Eto'o and Alexander Hleb heading in the opposite direction.

Inter supremo Massimo Moratti revealed earlier on Friday that he had been locked in talks regarding player movement between the two clubs for the past week.

Brazilian full-back Maxwell has already agreed to sign for Barca from Inter and he could soon be joined at Camp Nou by Ibrahimovic.

Reports have suggested that Inter are willing to accept €40million (£34.6million) plus Eto'o and the season-long loan signing of Hleb in order to let Ibrahimovic move to Spain.

Though negotiations between the two clubs are continuing, Laporta confirmed that a deal is close to being agreed.

"There is an agreement in principle with Inter Milan" Laporta told the Spanish media.

"Ibrahimovic's signing depends on the player himself, on Samuel Eto'o and all the parties involved."

Eto'o, who has a year remaining on his contract, has been offered a new two-year deal by Barca, but has not yet responded to the terms. Manchester City dropped their interest in signing the Cameroon international last week and he now appears set to link up with Jose Mourinho's Inter.

Meanwhile, Laporta revealed that the potential arrival of Ibrahimovic would not necessarily lead to Barca dropping their interest in Valencia star David Villa.

He added: "David Villa as an option is not finished. We haven't discarded any possibilities.

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Chelsea boss Ancelotti: Terry stays 100%

Manager Carlo Ancelotti is certain Chelsea captain John Terry will remain with the club despite the overtures of Manchester City.

Terry is a target for City boss Mark Hughes, who believes he can tempt the England skipper away from Stamford Bridge, but despite much speculation over the defender's future Ancelotti remains convinced he will stay.

The Blues have been steadfast in their refusal to countenance a deal for a player who has spent his entire professional career with the club and Ancelotti does not expect that to change.

Ancelotti who, like Terry, is currently on Chelsea's tour of America told BBC Sport: "I am sure he will remain at Chelsea.

"I am sure, 100%. He has a contract for three years more and this is the situation now."

Striker Salomon Kalou, meanwhile, believes that City's astonishing bargaining power will not turn Terry's head.

A deal of up to £200,000 a week is thought to be on offer in addition to a transfer fee of around £30m but Kalou does not believe money comes into it.

Kalou said: "He doesn't pay attention to that. Maybe if he was paying attention to that it might disturb a little bit of the team, but you can tell he is not disturbed by this situation."

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Lucio explains Inter switch

The 31-year-old was seeking assurances over his future but the German giants were not prepared to offer the defender the long-term deal he craved.

The Brazil international has spent the last seven and a half years in the Bundesliga following a spell with Bayer Leverkusen prior to his four years at Bayern.

Inter have been openly scouring the market for a centre-back with Chelsea's Ricardo Carvalho mooted as a possible target and the arrival of Lucio will give the Nerazzurri some much needed solidarity at the back.

"I am 31-years of age and I was looking for a new long-term contract, but Bayern refused to offer me that," he told TZ.

"When Inter came in my decision was a pretty easy one."

Tough decision

Lucio admits that he had a great time at Bayern and found the decision to leave an extremely difficult one.

"I had a great time at Bayern Munich and I want to thank the fans of Bayern Munich for their support," he added.

"Apart from that I need to thank the secretary of Uli Hoeness (Bayern general manager). She was a marvellous helping hand for me and my family.

"When I told her about my transfer, she started crying. I cried too."

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Del Piero extends Juve deal

The 34-year-old has become a cult figure at the club since signing from Padova in 1993.

In the 15 seasons that have followed the Italian has managed to score 263 goals in 617 games for the Old Lady, winning numerous honours in the process.

Del Piero has been rewarded for some sparkling form over the past four seasons in particular, with the forward averaging 22 goals in all competitions.

"I can confirm my happiness and my pride with this agreement and to be here for a further year," he said.

"It's a great motivation for me as I have always worked hard and I have the will to do my best.

"I am at one of the biggest clubs in Europe and I am delighted. It was a quick deal I want to turn more pages with the club.

"I hope I can continue to play well. I was hoping for the renewal and I was expecting it as I know the deep will of this club to be first and I thought there would be no problems with the renewal and I have always had trust from the club."

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Inter confirm Ibrahimovic talks with Barca

Inter Milan have confirmed they are in talks with Spanish champions Barcelona over the potential transfer of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Internazionale president Massimo Moratti has been locked in negotiations with Barca counterpart Joan Laporta over a cash plus player deal that could see Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o heading to Italy.

" ...they [Barcelona] were interested to know something about Ibrahimovic and to talk about Eto'o, two players at the same level," Moratti said. "There is the possibility to do an operation with these two players."

"What are the odds of Ibrahimovic leaving Inter? I don't like to frame things this way, I don't know right now, we'll have to wait and see what the player wants.

"In any case, if the matter should be taken all the way to completion, then Eto'o would be in the deal."

Reports in both Spain and Italy suggest the clubs are very close to agreeing a deal which would see Inter receive €40m plus Eto'o and former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb on loan for a year.

Ibrahimovic, who finished as the top scorer in Serie A last season, has been at the centre of transfer speculation in recent months with Barca, Real Madrid and Manchester United all reportedly interested.

The 27-year-old is under contract with the Nerazzurri until June 2013 but earlier this year expressed his desire to leave the club.

"With regards to Ibrahimovic I think it's an issue that has arisen because of the wishes of the player,'' said Moratti.

The Inter president would welcome the arrival of Cameroon international Eto'o, who has failed to agree a contract extension with Barca with his current deal ending next summer.

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Man United cancel Jakarta game after bombings

Manchester United have called off the Indonesian leg of their Far East tour after bomb blasts hit the hotel they were due to stay in.

The squad arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday morning to news of the explosions over in Indonesia, one of which hit the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Jakarta where the Red Devils were due to stay for four nights from Saturday.

United play against a Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday and were set to face an Indonesia All Star side in Jakata on Monday.

After seeking advice from various parties, including the Foreign Office, United confirmed they would no longer be flying to the Indonesian capital, where nine people were tragically killed and 48 injured in the blasts.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "It is terrible news but we have taken what I believe to be the right decision in terms of safeguarding our players.''

In a statement, the club added: "Following the explosions in Jakarta - one of which was at the hotel the team were due to stay in - and based on advice received, the directors have informed the Indonesian FA that the club cannot fulfil the fixture in Jakarta on the 2009 Asia tour."

The match, scheduled for July 20, had been a 100,000 sell-out and the club are currently investigating the possibility of reorganising the tour.

"We are working on a revised itinerary outside Indonesia with the promoters and we will make a further announcement when these decisions have been made," continued the statement.

"We are deeply disappointed at not being able to visit Indonesia and thank the Indonesian FA and our fans for their support.

"Our thoughts go to all those affected by the blasts."

United could now remain in Kuala Lumpur until Wednesday, when they are due to fly into Seoul, South Korea, for a game on Friday. The Premier League club's pre-season tour of the Far East then concludes in China.

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Downing signs for Villa

Aston Villa have signed Middlesbrough and England winger Stewart Downing on a four-year deal, the Midlands club have confirmed. The fee is thought to be in the region of £12m.

Downing revealed his mind was made up on a move to Villa as soon as he met Martin O'Neill, and that the ambition of the manager was a massive pull as he completed a switch from Middlesbrough this afternoon.

He told AVTV: "I am really pleased to be joining Villa. It's a massive football club with good ambition.

"It's certainly been a summer of speculation for me but I have tried to switch off and get a good break after my injury.

"Saying that, when it became apparent that Villa were interested I was very excited. I wanted to come as soon as I met Martin O'Neill so I am delighted it's now sorted out.

"As soon as I spoke to the manager at the training ground, I wanted to play for Villa and I wanted to play for him. He has great ambition and wants to build a good squad to take the club forward. I want to be part of that.

"As an outsider looking in, it was obvious that Villa were a club on the up. You can see a chairman and manager who want to build great things. They have done that over the past few seasons, particularly by finishing sixth last time around, which was great.

"But once you get here and see the stadium, the training ground, the people behind the scenes and the manager with his ambition and hopes for the future, it's even better than you realised."

Downing also revealed his delight at stepping out at Villa Park in the coming years as a claret and blue troop.

He added: "I have fond memories of playing at Villa Park with Middlesbrough because we managed a few good results there. But I always enjoy playing there anyway.

"The atmosphere is always brilliant and Villa always put out a great team so it's always a test. I looked forward to going there and testing myself - it's fantastic that I'll now be playing for the home side."

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Barcelona fail again with bid for Valencia's Villa

Valencia president Manuel Llorente has revealed the club have turned down another offer from Barcelona for star striker David Villa.

Barca have long been linked to the Spain international but have yet to produce the "scandalous" offer Llorente has demanded and the Valencia president revealed his Barca counterpart Joan Laporta put in another bid on Wednesday night believed to be €42m.

"Laporta called me and I repeated to him that we are not willing to sell the footballer," Llorente told AS.

Reports in Spain suggest Villa himself is ready to pay the €7m difference between Barca's bid and the €50m Valencia want in order to secure a move to the Nou Camp.

The 27-year-old could relinquish part of his salary he is said to already have agreed with the treble winners to fund the deal.

Meanwhile, Barcelona ace Andres Iniesta insists his best is yet to come.

"I think that everything can be surpassed," he told Catalan radio station RAC1. "This year I lost two or three months in total because of injuries. I am 25 years old, I like how I am at the moment and I think the best is still to come."

Arch rivals Real Madrid have already splashed out over 200m euros on Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol as they look to build a squad capable of challenging Pep Guardiola's men.

Things have been much quieter at the Nou Camp where Maxwell is set to become Barca's first summer signing. However, Iniesta is unperturbed by the lack of reinforcements.

"People should continue having confidence in the team," he said. "There is still time left in the transfer market and I assume the club is working on it.

"But I think that there are players of a very high level in the team at the moment and I don't think we have to be jealous of anyone. (Kaka and Ronaldo) are players of a very high level.

"We have to see how they get on but we shouldn't forget that we have to look at ourselves and no-one else. We have shown that when Barca is good we don't have to pay attention to the rest."

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Bayern threaten to report Madrid

Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has threatened to report Real Madrid to FIFA if the Spanish club continue in their bid to sign Franck Ribery.

Madrid are keen to make the 26-year-old their fourth galactico signing of the summer following the arrivals of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

The Primera Division giants have been relentless in their pursuit of Ribery despite Bayern's repeated insistence the France midfielder is not for sale and Hoeness is coming to the end of his tether.

"Madrid have lost respect," he told Spanish sports daily AS. "If this continues we will report them to FIFA.

"People such as (Emilio) Butragueno or (Zinedine) Zidane are speaking out and they should not be doing so because they are talking about a player who has a contract with us.

"The only legitimate people to talk are Florentino Perez and Jorge Valdano.

"We will report the Madrid club to FIFA if they continue like this.

"We haven't done so yet because of respect for Butragueno and Jose Luis Lopez Serrano."

Hoeness also revealed today that a deadline imposed on the possible sale of Ribery has now expired.

The Bayern chief claims that Madrid, as well as other clubs who had signalled their interest in the Frenchman, had been informed of the deadline, which expired before the start of the Bundesliga club's pre-season training camp in Donaueschingen today.

"It has been clearly formulated that Franck is staying with us," Hoeness told a press conference today. "There was a 14-day deadline set for the Ribery issue [to be resolved] and this expired yesterday.

"All of the clubs knew about that."

Hoeness also took a swipe at Ribery's agent, who has been trying to force a move for his client.

"He should finally have understood that you cannot get around Bayern Munich like you can with other clubs," he added.

Ribery is currently unable to train fully because of a knee injury which forced him to break off training for the second time on Monday, but should slowly return to action during their two-week stay in Donaueschingen.

However, he is unlikely to be fit for this weekend's mini tournament with Schalke, Hamburg and Stuttgart in Gelsenkirchen.

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Chelsea chief Kenyon: Terry ''not for sale''

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has moved to quash rumours that Chelsea skipper John Terry is on the verge of a big-money move to Manchester City.

Kenyon said that the Blues' star was ''not for sale'' after Manchester City recently saw a second offer to sign the England skipper rejected.

The 28-year-old, who was the subject of a £30m bid, has not publicly spoken about his future and the club are ready to reject any futher offers from the Eastlands outfit; while they are also hoping that Terry will soon make a statement to show his intentions of staying at Stamford Bridge.

New Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has made it clear that John Terry remains an integral part of his plans and that he isn't for sale and now Kenyon has voiced his opinion to try and end the speculation.

Kenyon told Sky News: ''I don't know what they are offering but I am confident John is going to remain with us. John is a talisman. He is the heart of Chelsea, came through the Academy, he is our captain and has also become captain of England while he has been here.

''We are not going to sell John, so it is irrelevant what another club will offer. We are very confident he will be leading us in the years to come.''

Meanwhile, Michael Ballack has claimed that the skipper will still be a Chelsea player next season.

Ballack told Sky Sports News: "To be honest, I read it in the papers. He's a big part of Chelsea and he's played here for a long time.

"It's football, anything can happen, but at the moment everyone is hopeful that he will stay. I don't want to talk too much about our conversation but I think he will be playing for Chelsea. Everything else is speculation."

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Juve confirm Melo capture

The Turin giants have paid €20.5million (£17.6m) to land the Fiorentina midfielder on a five-year contract.

Melo, who starred in this summer's Confederations Cup for Brazil, was thought to have been high on Gunners boss Arsene Wenger's wish-list.

He has, though, elected to stay in Italy having agreed personal terms with the Old Lady.

"I believe a lot in this side. It has been reinforced and can rival any team as we target all the trophies in Italy and Europe," Melo told the Juventus channel.

He recently signed a contract extension with Fiorentina but a release clause was inserted, which Juve have triggered with their offer.

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Luis Fabiano will cost Milan €20m - agent

Seville striker Luis Fabiano could sign for AC Milan for around €20m, according to the Brazilian's agent.

The Rossoneri had claimed the deal was dead after an offer of €14m was rejected by the Spanish club but, Jose Fuentes, the striker's agent, insists a agreement can still be reached.

"We are waiting for Milan to return as their first offer was a little too low," Fuentes told Tutto Mercato. "Milan must push a little more. If not, the negotiations could continue for some time."

With Seville holding out for €30m and both clubs having wildly different valuations of the 28-year-old, Milan's lawyer Leandro Cantamessa said earlier on Tuesday that the deal was virtually dead.

"We made an offer and they said no and so we had to revoke our offer," Cantamessa explained. "I don't think there will be another offer for now."

But Fabiano's representative seems desperate to revive the deal and as well as going public with the desired transfer fee the agent also revealed that Milan had been granted exclusive access to his client.

"The market value of the player is around €20m," Fuentes said. "This seems to me to be the right figure."

"Milan remain the only club we are speaking to. We have given them our word and we intend to respect that."

An added complication to the deal is that the Italian club must also negotiate with investment group RIO, who own 65% of the former Sao Paulo player's rights.

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Tevez hits back at Sir Alex after signing for City

Carlos Tevez completed his move to Manchester City on a five-year contract on Tuesday, and rubbished claims made by Sir Alex Ferguson that he had shunned calls from his former manager.

The Manchester United boss claimed he had attempted to contact Tevez on a number of occasions to persuade him to remain at Old Trafford, but was blanked. But Tevez has now claimed that is not true.

Tevez, who cost the club a fee in the region of £25m, said: "I was there for two years and Sir Alex never called or sent any text messages in that time.

"The only time he talked to me was after a match against Roma to discuss a situation about going to play for Argentina.

"It doesn't seem that this is the way to treat a player in two years at the club. it doesn't seem there is a line of communication.''

The 25-year-old did go on to thank United, adding: "David Gill (United chief executive), Alex Ferguson and the club's fan base I thank you for the time I spent there, but this is a new life for me and I am happy to be at Manchester City.''

Sir Alex also believed that Tevez had agreed to join City as long ago as January, something else the 25-year-old denies: "It is United people talking about signing a contract (in January) but it is not true that it was decided then.''

Meanwhile, Mark Hughes confirmed that City are still looking for further signings and that talks are on-going with Emmanuel Adebayor of Arsenal, and he is a firm admirer of Chelsea skipper John Terry.

Hughes said of his future summer transfer dealings: "There may well be opportunities that present themselves. There are areas of the team we still want to strengthen.

"We would like to obviously be in a position at the beginning of the season to have a team in place that we think can challenge this year.

"If opportunities present themselves we could possibly buy more players.

"I think there's been discussions between ourselves and Arsenal [for Adebayor] but, as is my usual response about players that we haven't signed, really it's not the right time or place to discuss that - only in as much as yes there has been contact.

"There's a deal to be done possibly but it's not been concluded as we speak. Until it actually happens, really it's not the time or the place to discuss it here.''

When asked about Terry, he replied: "I have fantastic respect for John Terry, ever since I saw him as a young player when I was at Chelsea as a player myself.

"He's a great player and an outstanding captain. But he's very much a Chelsea player at this moment in time.

"I have huge respect for him. I think any manager would covet a player of the type of John Terry, but at this moment in time he's a player for Chelsea so we have to respect that.''

When asked whether Tevez represents good value for money, Hughes said: "Absolutely, for Manchester City, it's absolutely good value.

"From our point of view, where we are in our development, to be able to bring one of the top strikers in world football to our club is a fantastic thing for us as a club, for our fans and everybody connected with Manchester City.

"We're absolutely delighted that Carlos is here.''

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Beckham would consider return to Premier League

Just days after returning to Los Angeles Galaxy, David Beckham has revealed he could yet return to England to play in the Premier League.

The former England captain is desperate to play at the World Cup in South Africa next year and knows he must return to Europe in January if he is to stay in the thoughts of coach Fabio Capello.

A return to AC Milan still seems to be the most likely outcome, although with Carlo Ancelotti now decamped to Chelsea there is an element of doubt.

Beckham had previously stated there was no chance of him playing for any other Premier League side than Manchester United.

The 34-year-old said: "I would definitely consider it. Never say never. When I left United, I said I would never want to play for another English club.

"My heart was in Manchester - and I couldn't see myself wearing another shirt in the Premiership and playing against United. Now I wouldn't rule it out.

"Obviously Milan expressed that they want me to go back, so I don't see any reason why that would change. We'll have to wait and see. I hope to be going back there.''

Beckham also insisted the row with Galaxy teammate-Donovan-is over. The pair had talks after Donovan criticised Beckham and his conduct since being signed by the MLS side two years ago.

"I'm not going to talk about what was said," he said. "That was between me, Landon and the manager but we had a good talk.''

Beckham also stressed his desire to see out his five-year MLS contract.

"I intend to stay until the end of my contract and maybe further,'' he said. "I've always said that. I've always said, even when I went to Milan, that I'm committed to the Galaxy and to MLS, and that hasn't changed.''

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Redknapp ready to offer deal to Vieira?

Tottenham are reportedly in talks to sign Patrick Vieira from Inter Milan on a free transfer.

Harry Redknapp is believed to be ready to offer the former Arsenal captain a one-year pay-as-you-play deal worth around £35,000-a-week. If the transfer goes through it would stun fans at the Emirates.

The 33-year-old has been told he is surplus to requirements by Jose Mourinho in Italy and the midfielder has already turned down the chance to talk to Paris Saint-Germain and Birmingham City, favouring a move back to London.

Vieira played 407 matches for Arsenal and scored 34 goals. Moving to White Hart Lane would be a move just as unthinkable as Sol Campbell's decision to make the switch directly between Spurs and Arsenal.

The Daily Mail quotes a source close to Vieira as saying: "This is not about money, this is about a chance to play.

"He has great memories of his time in London at Arsenal but that is in the past. The deal is not completed but he has an open mind. He is not afraid of the challenge from Spurs.''

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Ronaldinho promises to fill Milan's Kaka gap

Ronaldinho has vowed to lessen the impact of Kaka's departure by having a "great season" for AC Milan.

The Brazilian playmaker was responding to quotes from owner Silvio Berlusconi over the weekend that called him a "great champion".

Many fans were dismayed at Kaka's high-profile departure but Ronaldinho is vowing to step up his efforts for the Rossoneri and help mount a serious challenge for the Scudetto.

After Milan's comfortable pre-season victory over local side Varese he said: "I want to have a great season and dedicate my efforts to the president.

"I also want to guarantee the fans that I have the right mentality to become a great champion once again."

Ronaldinho had an indifferent campaign last year, making just 16 starts and suffering a slump in form after the Christmas period.

As the club rebuild after coach Carlo Ancelotti's departure, Ronaldinho has also urged the club to sign Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano.

He said: "It would be a great addition, he is a great player and we could form a wonderful trio along with [Alexandre] Pato."

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Manchester City in talks with Adebayor

Manchester City are reportedly in talks with Arsenal over the signing of Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

The striker has been linked with a move away from the Emirates all summer with AC Milan and Chelsea at the head of the queue; however, now that City have ended their interest in Samuel Eto'o, it appears the tall Gunners forward is on their list.

Negotiations are said to be at a 'significant level' and a fee of around £20m is believed to be enough to tempt the club into a sale.

Indeed, Sky Sports reports that talks have begun, with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger previously stating that he would not have a problem selling the player to a Premier League rival.

Last month Wenger said of Adebayor's chances of staying at the Emirates Stadium: "If he doesn't want to stay, he will leave. But I think that he will be still at Arsenal this season."

Adebayor has scored 62 goals in 142 appearances for the Gunners following his arrival from AS Monaco in January 2006 and reports have suggested the club could turn to Bordeaux forward Marouane Chamakh as his replacement.

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Manchester City announce that Tevez will sign

Carlos Tevez is set to wear the blue of Manchester City after the club announced they have reached an agreement over a proposed move to the City of Manchester Stadium. Tevez has agreed personal terms and is expected to pen a five-year deal at Eastlands. City have confirmed the deal has been ratified by the Premier League and the Football Association, and Tevez is expected to have a medical shortly before meeting up with his new team-mates on their pre-season tour to South Africa.

Manager Mark Hughes said "It is terrific news. Carlos is an international player of the highest class who possesses all the attributes that will help drive this club forward."

Tevez caught an overnight flight from South America on Monday to Manchester to put an end to a lengthy pursuit of a player who ended his association with Manchester United after finishing a two-year loan at Old Trafford amid much acrimony at the end of June.

City have previously been reluctant to express too much confidence about the chances of Tevez joining them, knowing the complexities of the deal could scupper it at any time. Tevez's "economic rights" are owned by third-party group MSI, fronted by businessman Kia Joorabchian.

Despite something of a rapport with fans at Old Trafford, and a United offer that met MSI's requirements in terms of wages and a fee for the player, Red Devils' boss Sir Alex Ferguson said on Monday that he felt the Argentine striker had decided to bail out long before the eventual decision was taken.

"I half expected Carlos Tevez would be going a long time back," said the United boss. "I think he maybe did a deal around January because I spoke to him and gave him an offer on the night we played Inter Milan (in March) and he never came back to me.

"I phoned him on holiday and he never got back to me and I texted him twice and he never got back to me then either, so obviously he had made his mind up a long time ago.

"He was a good player and did well for us. But he obviously assessed the situation and wanted to go somewhere else."

Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor has also emerged as the latest big name to catch City's eye while they also wait to see what the result of conversations between John Terry and Chelsea will be.

Blues chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak is willing to make Terry the highest-paid player in England in order to lure him north.

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Nedved dismisses Inter link

The 36-year-old retired from football last season while with Juventus and has also been linked with a coaching role at the Turin club.

However the former Czech Republic international has dismissed both claims suggesting that he could be set for a short spell in the MLS.

Despite his age Nedved is considered to be one of the fittest players in the game with Juve keen on him continuing his career for another year at least.

"I cannot wear a different jersey to Juve's but I don't see myself working with this particular Juve group," he Gazzetta Sportiva.

Inter manager Jose Mourinho was said to be eager on bringing the midfielder to the San Siro but it now remains to be seen what Nedved will do next.

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Alessandro Del Piero: Juventus Will Have A Great Season

After Juventus midfielder Momo Sissoko claimed that the bianconeri are not inferior to any clubs in Serie A, captain Alessandro Del Piero has echoed that statement by claiming the Turin-based outfit will have a "great year".

"We're working with great enthusiasm," he was quoted as saying by the Corriere dello Sport at Pinzolo, where the team have begun their pre-season training.

"These days are important. The coach, staff, and some team-mates are all new, but everything is going well and we hope it continues this way, because we want to win."

He then responded to one of the new members of the squad, Diego, who recently claimed Del Piero was a "football genius".

"I thank him. I am sure we will do well on the field and this will be a great year, much better than the last," he concluded.

The World Cup winner managed 20 goals in all competitions last season for the Bianconeri.

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Pellegrini still wants Alonso

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has not given up hope of signing Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, although the Bernabeu boss knows it will not be easy.

Reds manager Rafa Benitez is eager to keep the Spanish international at Anfield and has already called on the player he plucked from relative obscurity at Real Sociedad to stay "loyal" to Liverpool.

Real are looking to strengthen the centre of midfield following their spending spree on the likes of Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazilian playmaker Kaka and may also sign another fullback, Pellegrini said at a news conference.

"It's not a mystery that Real Madrid are interested in signing him (Alonso) but it won't be easy," he said.

"We are looking at alternatives for some positions," he added. "The attack is complete and perhaps a central midfielder or fullback is still missing but the rest of the positions are covered."

Spanish daily Marca reported earlier this week that Alonso had telephoned Benitez to ask his permission to leave Liverpool and move to Madrid. The newspaper also speculated that €35m would be enough to secure the signing of the 27-year-old.

But the Premier League club are apparently asking for up to €50m and although negotiations are yet to agree a compromise figure, Real sporting director Miguel Pardeza said that the deal was certainly not dead.

"Madrid don't discard an option until it is truly impossible," Pardeza said. "Right now there is an insurmountable economic barrier but that is something that can change."

Meanwhile, Pellegrini, in his first news conference since the players began pre-season training last week, also said media reports that Real's entire contingent of six Dutch players, including Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, would be leaving were inaccurate.

"When there is some news the club will announce it," he said when asked which players were on their way out. "But it's not true that all the Dutch players are going to leave as has been reported in the media."

Pellegrini also responded to criticism of Real's spending policies published in Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano on Saturday.

The club's splurge of more than €200m on four players risks inflating transfer fees and pushing clubs towards bankruptcy or into the hands of organised crime, the paper said.

"Everyone has the right to give their opinion, right or wrong," Pellegrini said. "I am not the one responsible for talking about comments by the Vatican. If someone thinks that it's not good they also have the right to express an opinion."

Separately, Kaka said in a newspaper interview published on Sunday that Real were spending such vast sums because the players involved were value for money.

"If Real Madrid has decided to spend so much money on us it's because we are worth it, no?" Kaka said. "In the particular case of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is the most expensive, he has shown he is number one and that he is worth the money."

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Terry wants Man City talks

Chelsea captain John Terry has told Roman Abramovich that he wants to hold talks with Manchester City about a possible £40m move, according to reports in the UK press.

Terry held showdown talks with Blues owner Abramovich on Saturday night and although the centre-back stopped short of handing in an official transfer request the England international made it clear he wanted to speak to City officials.

The Sunday Times claim Chelsea were willing to make Terry the club's highest paid player, ahead of Frank Lampard, but they would not match City's offer of £250,000 a week, plus a £5m signing-on fee.

Terry is thought to want to hear for himself what the Citizens have to offer but Chelsea insiders believe the 28-year-old is just using the transfer speculation to negotiate a better contract at Stamford Bridge.

If the England captain does head to Eastlands, the London club could replace him with Newcastle United centre-back Steven Taylor and will pay up to £10m for the 23-year-old.

Meanwhile, should City manager Mark Hughes miss out on Terry he will turn his attention to Porto defender Bruno Alves. The £20m-rated Portugal international is also wanted by Barcelona.

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