England midfielder Gerrard struggling to make Euro 2008 qualifiers

Steven Gerrard faces a race against time to be fit for England's crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers as he struggles to recover from a broken toe.

Gerrard is expected to miss Liverpool's match against Derby on Saturday because the foot injury has not fully healed, making him a major doubt for Israel's visit to Wembley on September 8 and the game against Russia the following Wednesday.

Steve McClaren is likely to name Gerrard in his England squad on Friday in the hope that the midfielder can step up his fitness next week.

England must win both matches to keep their hopes of reaching the European finals, but Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was downbeat about Gerrard's prospects.

"I have spoken to Steven and the news is not very positive," said Benitez. "The doctor will continue to help him. But it will be very difficult for him to play on Saturday."

'I made a mistake', admits Materazzi

Italy's World Cup winning defender Marco Materazzi said Thursday he had made a mistake in sledging French icon Zinedine Zidane during last year's final.

Materazzi told Zidane that he preferred his "whore of a sister" to his shirt.

It was this comment that led to Zidane headbutting the Inter Milan defender in the chest and being dramatically sent off. That incident preceded France losing the final in a penalty shoot-out.

"Six stupid words. I made a mistake but Zidane also made a mistake in reacting the way he did," said the uncompromising Materazzi, who scored in the final and one of the penalties in the shoot-out.

Materazzi was talking at the launch of his book "Life of a warrior", co-written with two Italian journalists, and released just before the Italians face France in Milan in a Euro 2008 qualifier on September 8.

The French won the first match 3-1, but Materazzi will miss the re-match after picking up a thigh injury in a friendly win over Hungary earlier this month.

"I understand why he reacted that way," added Materazzi. "It all happened in a match of high pressure. But I don't understand what came after when he was forgiven by everyone except me who had been headbutted.

"If we made peace, no-one would know about it, we would do it in private perhaps at my house or his. That's why I didn't want to say anything publically. I left the talking to others but only him and me know what happened."

Materazzi, who has undergone surgery on his injured thigh, believes he could be back in action in October.

Although he will miss the match with France in Milan, he appealed to fans to act peacefully in the return leg.

"I want spectators to greet the French team in the same way that we were welcomed by French fans in Paris. They were very fair. I ask the tifosi to do the same."

Materazzi also has his own thoughts on the one-match suspension handed out to France coach Raymond Domenech for that game.

"It's 19 years to the day that my mother died," he said. "Some things are more important."

Atletico Madrid snap up Riquelme

Atletico Madrid continued their summer spending spree Wednesday in snapping up Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme from Villarreal, Cadena Ser radio reported.

The radio said both parties had reached agreement, to be sealed officially Thursday, on a two-year contract with an additional year option.

Riquelme, out of favour with Villarreal's Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini and recently plying his trade on loan to Boca Juniors in his homeland, had earlier said he would be willing to play for nothing if hard-up Boca had paid a transfer fee.

The 29-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Boca and helped the Argentines to victory in the Copa Libertadores but the club said they believed that all in all they would have to find some 20 million dollars to buy him, including image rights.

Riquelme's deal with Villarreal ran to June 2009 and he had been training on his own since the start of the new season, while his teammates enjoyed a 3-0 away success last weekend at Valencia.

Atletico, having lost striker Fernando Torres to Liverpool, have responded by spending 77 million euros this summer on new talent, not quite as much as the 120 million shelled out by neighbours Real, who beat them 2-1 at the Bernabeu last Saturday.

Other arrivals were keeper Christian Abbiati on loan from AC Milan, midfield star Luis Garcia from Liverpool, Riquelme's former Villarreal teammate Diego Forlan, Portuguese forward Simao and attacking midfielder Jose Antonio Reyes from Arsenal.

West Ham in talks to sign Brazil star Adriano

West Ham have made an approach to sign Inter Milan's out-of-favour striker Adriano on loan.

The Premier League club were reported to have sent chief executive Scott Duxbury to Milan on Tuesday to start talks with the Brazilian.

Adriano has been told he can leave the Serie A champions and had already been offered to Arsenal, who turned down the chance to sign him.

West Ham have invested heavily in the transfer market since Eggert Magnusson took over the club last season, and the attempt to sign such a famous name is further evidence of the Icelandic businessman's determination to take the Hammers into the game's upper echelons.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger decided that Adriano would not improve his squad despite the pre-season sale of Thierry Henry to Barcelona.

"I was offered Adriano on loan and I said no," Wenger said. "We do not need him and it was an easy decision to make because we're not out there to sign another striker.

"The agreement was for a loan. Adriano has qualities we don't need. They wanted to give us a player but wanted one back in return.

"I won't say who it was. I didn't want to lose the player they requested. I didn't necessarily think Adriano would upset the balance of the squad."

Ferguson sounds Premiership title warning after opening win

Sir Alex Ferguson sounded a warning to Manchester United's title rivals after the reigning Premier League champions finally got their season up and running with victory over Tottenham on Sunday.

A spectacular 30-yard goal from young Portuguese talent Nani, his first for the club, earned United their first victory of the season and lifted them up to 10th in the table after they had started the day next to bottom.

However, United were far from convincing and survived two second half penalty appeals after Dimitar Berbatov went sprawling under a challenge from Nemanja Vidic before referee Howard Webb waved away another protest after Berbatov's shot hit Wes Brown.

Tottenham manager Martin Jol is convinced it struck the England defender's hand, but Ferguson insists Webb made the right decision.

Despite his side's nervous performance, Ferguson believes United will continue to make up for lost ground after failing to register a win in the opening three games.

United entertain newly-promoted Sunderland, managed by former United star Roy Keane, on Saturday.

"We've got players to come back so we're going to have to be patient," said Ferguson.

Italy's Nesta refuses Euro 2008 call-up

AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta has refused to come out of international retirement to play in Italy's upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against France and Ukraine, the Italian Federation president Giancarlo Abete said Monday.

The 31-year-old announced his retirement from the international scene over the summer but Italy were hoping to convince him to come back after Inter Milan centre-back Marco Materazzi was ruled out of the two crunch qualifiers with a thigh injury.

"When Nesta said he no longer wanted to be a part of the squad, he acted in the right and proper way as always," Abete told Rai Uno. "He's a player who has given so much to the national team.

"Yesterday (Sunday), he clearly repeated it. But the federation, with all the attention and discretion that was needed, checked after the match in Budapest (an embarrassing 3-1 defeat to Hungary) to see if he was available."

Nesta was quoted in the Monday edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport as saying: "I told them that I will not play any more for the national team, and therefore I won't....I made a decision and I'm sticking to it."

Materazzi was injured in the Hungary match and has been ruled out of the two Group B encounters against France in Rome on September 8 and four days later against Ukraine in Kiev.

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni now finds himself with a problem in deciding who should partner Real Madrid's Fabio Cannavaro in the heart of his defence, with Palermo's Andrea Barzagli the likely choice.

Real and Chelsea agree Robben switch

Chelsea winger Arjen Robben is poised to move to Real Madrid after both clubs announced they had reached agreement on the Dutch international's transfer.

The deal is now only subject to the player agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.

A Chelsea statement released on Wednesday said: "Chelsea Football Club and Real Madrid have reached an agreement for the transfer of Arjen Robben subject to the player agreeing personal terms and passing a medical."

Real also confirmed the deal for Robben in a statement on their website, which read: "Real Madrid and Chelsea have reached an agreement for the transfer of Arjen Robben, who will become part of the Madrid club for the next five seasons.

"The agreement is pending the player's medical and the signing of the contracts."

At the start of the month Spanish media reported that Real had offered Chelsea around 40 million euros for Robben.

Robben, 23, has two years left on his contract with Chelsea and has been in long drawn-out negotiations with the London club over a contract extension until 2012 but has not always been in favour with the club's Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.

Henry edges to within one of Platini's record

Thierry Henry marked his return to the international scene after a six month hiatus with the decisive goal in France's 1-0 friendly win over Slovakia here on Wednesday.

Barcelona's new signing struck in the 39th minute for his 40th international goal to put him within one of the record 40 goal tally set by French playing legend and recently elected president of UEFA, Michel Platini.

This was former Arsenal star Henry's first appearance for France since February 7 and he left his imprint on the game striking the back of the net with a freekick.

The win will act as a confidence booster for Raymond Domenech's side as they prepare to face Italy in a Euro 2008 qualifier next month.

Domenech reflected: "It's always better to win than to lose, especially against Slovakia. I'm satisfied, but you have to remember the matches that counts are the qualifiers (against Italy on September 8 and Scotland four days later).

Monaco agree deal to sign Nene

Monaco have agreed a deal with Celta Vigo for the signing of Brazilian midfielder Nene, the Spanish club said Wednesday.

The 25-year-old has recently acquired dual Brazilian-Spanish nationality, meaning he would no longer take up one of the limited number of non-EU places in the Monaco squad.

Celta only signed him a year ago from Spanish rivals Alaves for 4.5 million euros but Celta's relegation from the top flight last season made his exit a likelihood.

"Celta and Monaco agreed yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon for the transfer of Nene," said a Celta statement.

"The player left this afternoon for Monaco and will take a medical tomorrow (Thursday) morning and join the Monaco squad."

Benitez roasts English Premier League

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez launched an astonishing attack on the English Premier League on Wednesday, laying into the organisation in a wide-ranging blast.

The Spanish boss, angered by a league hearing decision which blocked Argentina left-back Gabriel Heinze's move from champions Manchester United to the Reds, blasted the Premier League over the saga, and Liverpool's fixture schedule.

Heinze believed he had a letter which would allowed him to leave Old Trafford once United's 6.8-million-pound (13.5-million-dollar, 10-million-euro) valuation had been met.

But a three-member Premier League panel ruled the letter did not constitute consent for Heinze to leave and the player now feels he has no future left at the English champions.

Benitez belives the setback is just one of several decisions being taken in favour of the Reds' title rivals United.

"I would like to ask the Premier League a number of questions. How can a player with a signed agreement be treated like this?" he told the Liverpool Echo newspaper.

"He has a document which is clear, but the Premier League prefers to believe the word of someone else who made a mistake. I know there were accusations made against Liverpool in the hearing which were unbelievable. How can this be allowed?"

And broadening his attack, Benitez added: "Then I would like to ask the Premier League why is it that Liverpool always plays the most fixtures away from home in an early kick-off, following an international break?

"We had more than the top clubs last season and we have four already to prepare for this season."

He continued: "Then I want to ask the Premier League why it was so difficult for Liverpool to sign Javier Mascherano, when we had to wait a long time for the paperwork, but it was so easy for Carlos Tevez to join Manchester United?"

Argentina midfielder Mascherano joined Liverpool from West Ham in the January transfer window and the deal took weeks to clear as the row over third party ownership of players at Upton Park raged on.

The Tevez move from West Ham to United took less time to approve, with the Argentina striker's representatives paying the Hammers two million pounds to release his registration in time to beat the transfer deadline.

Benitez added: "It's going to be very difficult for us to win the Premier League because the other teams are so strong, but I want our supporters to know that despite the disadvantages we have, we will fight all the way.

"We will fight to cope with our more difficult kick-off times and all the other decisions which are going against us."

But it is the Heinze decision, stopping Liverpool buying the defender who believed he had a letter clearing his exit for a set sum, that has upset Benitez most.

He now must consider contingency plans knowing that any appeal by Heinze may not be concluded by the time the transfer window shuts at the end of August.

An appeal panel on the Premier League's decision will include a Professional Footballers' Association union representative and a high ranking member of the legal profession.

League chiefs are disappointed by Benitez's outburst.

"The Premier League tried to make sure that our dealings with all our member clubs, including the scheduling of fixtures, are as fair as possible," a spokesman said.

"We are disappointed to read Rafael Benitez's comments in the press, especially when channels exist for every member club to raise any issues directly with the league."

Heinze remains optimistic an appeal will be accepted and is in no mood to give up on his hopes of moving to Liverpool.

"We are extremely disappointed with the result and we will be appealing," his solicitor Richard Green said.

It is being suggested that United would be happy for Heinze to be loaned out to a mid-table Premier League side or agree to a transfer abroad, with French champions Lyon at the front of the queue while Spanish champions Real Madrid have also been linked with a move for the Argentina defender.

Espanyol deny signing Slovenian striker Ljubijankic

Spanish side Espanyol denied Wednesday having reached an agreement to sign Slovenia international striker Zlatan Ljubijankic from Domzale as claimed earlier by the Slovenian first division club.

"Espanyol has no contract either with the player or his club," Espanyol spokesman Rafa Ramos told AFP, citing the club's sports director Francisco Herrera.

"In any case one cannot announce that this player interests Espanyol," he added.

Earlier on Wednesday Domzale said, in a statement sent to AFP in Madrid, that 23-year-old Ljubijankic had the club's permission to travel to Spain with his agent "to sign a contract with his new club".

Ljubijankic, 23, was elected by Slovenian journalists as the best player in the league last season.

He has one goal from three international caps having scored the winner during Slovenia's 1-0 away win over Cyprus in February last year.

Everton agree record Yakubu fee

Everton agreed a club record transfer fee of 11.25 million pounds (22.4 million dollars, 16.55 million euros) with Middlesbrough on Wednesday for Aiyegbeni Yakubu.

Boro have given the Nigeria striker permission to talk to the Toffees and the 24-year-old was travelling to Liverpool for talks at Goodison Park.

Over the past four seasons, only former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has scored more English Premier League goals than Yakubu.

The Nigerian did not feature in Boro boss Gareth Southgate's squad for Saturday's 2-1 win at Fulham, fuelling speculation that Yakubu was to be sold.

Several Premier League sides have tracked his availability.

Portsmouth brought Yakubu to England on loan from Israeli side Maccabi Haifa in January 2003, signing him permanently three months later.

Pompey sold the hitman to Boro for 7.5 million pounds (15.2 million dollars, 11 million euros) in July 2005.

He scored 36 goals in 81 league games for Portsmouth and has scored 25 times in 73 league matches for Boro.

Thuram set for Barcelona Spanish league opener

Barcelona's French defender Lilian Thuram, who will miss France's friendly later on Wednesday against Slovakia due to an ankle injury, says he will be fit for the club's Spanish league opening match over the weekend.

"If the coach wants me to play, I will play," he told a news conference, adding he felt fine.

Barcelona, who lost the Spanish league crown to arch rivals Real Madrid last season, will face Racing Santander on Sunday in their first match of the new campaign.

Thuram injured his ankle while training for France's match against Slovakia. He has been one of Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard's most-used players during the club's successful pre-season.

Wiltord re-signs with Rennes

Striker Sylvain Wiltord has left Lyon for French first division rivals Rennes on a two-year deal, the Brittany club announced Wednesday.

"Sylvain Wiltord has signed a two-year contract with the 'Red and Blacks'. The French international will be at training from Thursday morning with his new team-mates," the club said.

Rennes president Frederic de Saint-Sernin, who had been courting Wiltord since mid-May, said the former Arsenal player - who had a year to run on his Lyon contract - had been signed for 1.5 million euros.

"Sylvain's at the top of his game," said de Saint-Sernin. "I'm not saying he'll be starting but he'll be in the squad against Metz on Saturday."

The 33-year-old striker, who has won 92 caps for France and made 125 appearances for Rennes from 1991-97, will earn 150,000 euros a month at Rennes, a significant salary cut from his days at Lyon.

Sevilla coach says he received 'dizzying' offer from Spurs

Sevilla coach Juande Ramos said Wednesday he had received a "dizzying" offer from English Premier League side Tottenham but stressed he had no plans to leave the Spanish double UEFA Cup winners.

"They (Spurs) made me an excellent, dizzying offer but I have a contract until June 2008. Not for a moment was there the possibility that I would leave," he told a news conference.

"Sevilla has had magnificant seasons and it is normal that everyone inside the club revalues themselves," added Ramos, who has coached Sevilla since 2005.

Ramos, 52, is a strict disciplinarian who has a reputation for bringing the best out of modest clubs.

He led Sevilla to the UEFA Cup title in 2006 during his first season with the club with a 4-0 win over Middlesbrough. It was the first time that the club had reached a final since the 1962 King's Cup.

Sevilla successfully defended the UEFA Cup last season and under his guidance has won three other trophies including the King's Cup and the UEFA Super Cup last season.

The club defeated reigning Spanish league champions Real Madrid 5-3 on Sunday for a 6-3 aggregate win in the Spanish Super Cup.

Ramos, who coached Spanish sides Levante, Logrones, Malaga and Real Betis in the past, reportedly met with Tottenham club secretary John Alexander at a hotel in Seville earlier this week.

Spurs issued a statement insisting they had not formally offered anyone the manager's job at White Hart Lane.

"The club wishes to thank all those fans who wrote to the board, the manager and the club with their views and support," they said in a brief statement.

"To further clarify the situation -- the club wishes to make it clear and unequivocal that no individual was or has been offered the position of manager/coach at this club whilst that position has been held by Martin Jol.

"It is wholly inaccurate and inappropriate to suggest otherwise."

The Tottenham board did not specify this in a lengthy statement Tuesday, nor explicitly say they backed Jol as their manager.