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Roma will keep Marco Borriello after agreeing to pay AC Milan a 10 million euro transfer fee which was agreed upon when signing the previous loan deal last year.

The 29-year-old moved to the Eternal City for one season with Roma holding an option to sign him permanently for 10 million euros.

Sky Sport Italia reports that the capital city club has exercised the option to make the deal permanent and will announce the move officially at a later stage.

The striker scored 11 goals in 34 Serie A games last term as his side finished sixth, allowing it to qualify for the Europa League playoff round.

News of Borriello's permanent deal comes just hours after Barcelona said it was considering an offer from the Italian club for their 20-year-old striker Bojan Krkic.?

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Labels: Borriello, Complete, Goalcom, Marco, Milan, million, Report, transfer

MILAN (AP)—Feyenoord’s 18-year-old forward Luc Castaignos has arrived in Italy for medical tests with Inter Milan ahead of his expected transfer at the end of the season.

The Gazzetta dello Sport interviewed the Dutch striker upon his arrival at a Milan airport and he says, “I’m fast and I can score. … I’m happy to be here and honored that Inter has given me this chance.”

The 1.87-meter (6-foot-2) Castaignos will finish this season with Feyenoord and then is expected to sign a multiyear deal with Inter. The clubs have apparently already agreed on a deal, without announcing details.

Labels: Castaignos, Inter, medical, Report, Tests

PARIS (AP)—Panathinaikos striker Djibril Cisse will leave the Greek club in the offseason because he has been racially abused by fans this season.

In an interview with sports daily L’Equipe on Monday, Cisse spoke of how he fears the Greek league is becoming increasingly hostile.

“This season the atmosphere in the stands has got worse. Twice already, I have been the victim of monkey chants, of racist insults. It was the same thing again on Saturday night,” Cisse told L’Equipe. “They managed to get inflatable bananas (into the stadium) that they were shaking around every time I touched the ball.”

After Panathinaikos lost 2-1 to league leader Olympiakos in a heated match on Saturday, Cisse announced he would leave even though he has a contract until 2013.

“This summer I’m leaving, that’s for sure. It’s impossible for me here,” Cisse said. “Even though the Pana fans are fantastic, even though the club is great, I don’t want to play in this league any more.”

Cisse was one of four Panathinaikos players who were attacked as fans swarmed onto the field after the final whistle. He recalls a dozen or so fans charging at him.

“I was their target. Some of them hit me and I retaliated to defend myself,” Cisse said. “It’s a disgrace. I’m not going to let things lie. This week, I will make a complaint to UEFA and I can tell you I won’t drop it.”

Cisse, who has scored 41 goals in 49 league games for Panathinaikos, is adamant he will not change his mind.

Panathinaikos had a goal disallowed for offside with the score level at 1-1. Replay showed that it was a refereeing mistake.

Olympiakos president Vangelis Marinakis was involved in a shouting match with Panathinaikos players, and Cisse said he heard Marinakis using an expletive to describe how they had lost the match.

Labels: abused, Cisse, racially, Report

In a city that can't get enough of cricket or cricketers, Virender Sehwag set the World Cup alight on its opening day with an innings of such clarity and cricketing acumen that even a spirited showing from Bangladesh could not deny India.

At just after 2.30pm local time, the 25,000-strong crowd at the immaculate Sher E Bangla cricket stadium exhaled as one, when Sehwag took early aim at medium pacer Shafiul Islam and drilled a boundary through extra cover.

But, having begun in now customary fashion, Sehwag soon realised why Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan had put India in to bat when he had the choice. The dark brown clay that is native to the suburb of Mirpur had robbed the pitch of any real bounce, and with Bangladesh's bowlers taking the pace off the ball, strokemaking was anything but easy.

That India overcame the conditions in such an emphatic manner to reach 370-4, a score that would prove 87 runs too many for Bangladesh, despite a counter-punching 70 from Tamim Iqbal, was testament to Sehwag's nous and the purity of Virat Kohli's strokeplay.

After beginning with a boundary, Sehwag was forced to rein himself in, unable to trust the bounce and pace of the ball coming off the pitch.

In Sachin Tendulkar's company, Sehwag decided to take a long, hard look at the pitch, and played himself in rather than attacking continuously.

A master of summing up situations, Tendulkar was poised ominously when an unusually careless piece of running resulted in him being stranded at the non-striker's end along with Sehwag, who had barely left his crease after the ball was played to mid-on.

Sehwag switched gears in Gautam Gambhir's company, chipping over the infield and carving the ball into gaps, focusing hard on picking up ones and twos.

Gambhir shimmied down the pitch repeatedly to the spinners without looking for the big shot, instead placing the ball into vacant spaces and pushing his partner to run hard. That Sehwag reached his century only in the 32nd over, and would eventually end with 79 runs from ones and twos, tells you how much he strayed from his favoured style of play.

When Gambhir played around an innocuous delivery from off-spinner Mahmdullah that kept a touch low, the all-Delhi batting partnership was kept intact as Kohli joined Sehwag.

India's most improved cricketer in recent times, Kohli, who has a mature head on 22-year-old shoulders, brought to the fore the self belief that separates the best cricketers from the rest.

On a day when Sehwag threatened the 200-mark before falling to a tired stroke on 175, it was understandable that Kohli's century was overshadowed. But the first Indian to score a hundred on World Cup debut won't mind that, as his future in Indian cricket appears secure.

What Sehwag and Kohli did in the course of their 203-run third-wicket association, was show the other teams in their group, especially the likes of England and South Africa, whose traditional strengths aren't ideally suited to subcontinental conditions, just what kind of approach was most likely to work in this tournament.

On slow pitches, with the accent on spin, batsmen must be both willing to use their feet and possess the requisite skill of choosing shots wisely if they are to succeed.

With India putting a mammoth score on the board, Bangladesh's batsmen had a task on their hands, and even a couple of years ago would have been dismissed cheaply, playing too many shots. But this team has come a long way, and after a performance like this it's easy to see why there's such passion for the game in the country.

From the time you step out of the airport, you're constantly reminded that the World Cup is in town, and when the opening ceremony got under way, there were at least as many people partying on the streets outside the Bangabandhu Stadium as there were in the stands.

On Saturday, a fan held a banner that read: “Waka, waka, this time for Dhaka,” and the point was well made. If cricket can ever come close to matching the kind of mania that football inspires, it's here in Dhaka. If the 50-over World Cup needed a boost, it couldn't have asked for a better one than it got.

Labels: Bangladesh, Cricket, India, Match, Report, Telegraphcouk, World

Just as he did in 2008 – when he scored in a 2-0 victory in the Portuguese capital - Steven Whittaker put Rangers into a position to progress in Europe with a goal that lanced through the frustration enveloping Ibrox in this below-par first-leg instalment of their Europa League tie against Sporting Lisbon. Whittaker’s breakthough came midway through the second half after El-Hadji Diouf, with his most electrifying contribution since arriving during the January transfer window, forced the Portuguese side to defend at full stretch at the cost of a corner kick.

The delivery from Vladimir Weiss was precise, the header by Whittaker venomous. However, that good work was undone by late carelessness when Matlas Fernandez, who had come in for the final quarter hour, beat Allan McGregor with a fine unopposed header to level the proceedings. Should Rangers prove capable of proceeding to a last-16 stage tie against either PSV Eindhoven or Lille, they might well find that their resources are too thin to sustain further ambition, especially because Diouf, Weiss and Kyle Lafferty all picked up entirely needless cautions.

Sporting were forced to mix and match, too, with Jaime Valdes and Leandro Grimi absent through injury for the Portuguese visitors, although Yannick Djalo had recovered from the thigh problem that had kept him inactive since Jan 3. Djalo was to cause Rangers difficulties and one cutback from the forward who had come through the Sporting youth ranks was particularly dangerous, rolling right across the unguarded goalmouth without a taker, when a tap-in would have opened the scoring.

Rangers’ problems, though, were principally of their own making thanks to carelessness in possession which was, at times, extreme.

The steadying presence of Lee McCulloch was badly missed in the holding role – at one stage even the normally cool Steven Davis was ambushed on the edge of his own penalty area and had to be rescued by David Weir – while Lafferty repeatedly failed to hold the ball long enough to allow reinforcements to arrive from midfield.

The Northern Irish forward did, though, have two opportunities to put Rangers in front, first when he met a Whittaker cross with a bulleted header that flew narrowly over the crossbar and then with a less positive effort after Vladimir Weiss had put him in with a hanging ball from the left.

The crowd, not for the first time, expressed irritation with Lafferty’s waywardness and Diouf, too, felt their ire when he chose to wait for a Bougherra pass to arrive in his vicinity and allowed Sporting to intercept. When Rangers appeared for the restart a good three minutes before the Portuguese side it could be assumed that Smith’s half-time address had consisted of words few and brief.

The impression was confirmed by the racing tempo displayed by Rangers, who forced a corner kick – their first of the evening – within 15 seconds and added another three within five minutes. Again, however, Lafferty’s contribution, while energetic, reminded the home supporters how much they missed the presence of the ineligible Nikica Jelavic.

Weiss attempted to remedy the defect with a lancing run straight through the heart of the Sporting defence, only to be hauled cynically off the ball by Daniel Campofor a free-kick that came to nothing.

The rest of the contest unfolded in a fashion familiar to denizens of Ibrox on European nights during Smith’s tenure. Sporting threw on substitutes and began to claim increasing swathes of territory while Rangers stepped back to absorb the heightened pressure, comfortably enough, it seemed, until the Fernandez intervention.

Match details

Rangers (4-4-1-1): McGregor; Foster, Bougherra, Weir, Papac; Whittaker, Edu, Davis, Weiss; Diouf; Lafferty.
Subs: Alexander (g), Fleck, Naismith, Healy, Bartley, Ness, Hutton.
Booked: Bougherra, Diouf, Weiss, Lafferty.
Sporting Lisbon (4-1-2-1-2): Rui Patricio; Pereira, Carrico, Polga, Evaldo; Mendes; Maniche (Fernandez 77), Zapater; Cristiano (Salerio 74); Postiga (Solomao 85), Djalo.
Subs: Tiago (g), Santos, Coelho, Vukcevic.
Booked: Djaio, Carrico.
Referee: M Grafe (Germany).

Labels: Lisbon, Match, Rangers, Report, Sporting, Telegraphcouk

Roberto Mancini’s men failed to capitalise on their domination of possession in the game and the Greek side will be happy they managed to go into the second leg with the score goalless.

The best chance of the first half fell to the recalled Edin Dzeko as he mishit his shot and saw it saved by the Aris goalkeeper after an Aleksandar Kolorov cross was controlled by David Silva into the path of the Bosnian striker.

Both teams had their chances to give their team the lead in the second half but failed to convert them. Aris’ best chance fell to the impressive Neto, who rifled in a dangerous 25 yard shot that saw Joe Hart stretching to keep the ball out, while City’s best chance again fell to Dzeko, as he fired in a powerful shot but could not direct it goalwards and saw his shot find it’s way wide of the post.

The result means the two teams go into next week’s second leg on level terms and the Aris' 40-year unbeaten home run continues.

Mancini made four changes from the team that lost 2-1 to local rivals Manchester United at the weekend, with Dzeko starting. Jerome Boateng and Kolo Toure came in to the middle of defence, while Shaun Wright-Phillips was chosen after impressing at the weekend. Pablo Zabaleta, Joleon Lescott and Vincent Kompany dropped to the bench, whilst James Milner was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Aris named Nery Castillo, a one-time former Manchester City loanee who made nine appearances for the club, on the bench, while Neto took his place up front to lead the front line. The Brazilian striker is Aris’ top goalscorer and netted decisively in the 2-1 win over AEK Athens.

With a place in the last 16 of the Europa League up for stakes, City started brightly by dominating the early spell of possession. They controlled the game and passed the ball around the pitch, which was met by the sound of hostility by the home side’s supporters.

The first chance of the game fell after nine minutes to Silva, who managed to dribble the ball past three men before unleashing a 20-yard-shot, which was saved to the bottom left of Greek international Sifakis’ goal before clearing the danger.

The first real clear cut chance for City was in the 15th minute as Kolorov crossed a ball low across the Aris penalty area, but Dzeko's tame shot was saved from close range by the impressive Sifakis.

City continued to pile on the pressure and dominate possession and had another chance to open the scoring in the 28th minute as a smart touch from Wright-Phillips saw him put the ball past the Aris defence and into the feet of striker Dzeko. The Bosnian international decided to shoot from outside the area but failed to connect properly and saw his shot easily saved.

Aris began to claw their way into the game with 10 minutes of the first half remaining and a dubious decision from the assistant referee saw the home side presented with a free-kick just outside the penalty area.

The linesman raised his flag to indicate that Joe Hart had stepped outside his penalty area whilst still controlling the ball but he still had one foot inside the area. The official instantly dropped his flag before raising it again after being pressured by Aris players.

City brought most of their players back to defend the free-kick and had a strong wall but Aris could do nothing with the free-kick other than curl it over the wall and wide of Hart’s goal post, much to his delight.

Despite the amount of pressure City piled on the home side they could not penetrate the Aris defence and two teams entered the half time interval level, with the visitors perhaps left scratching their heads wondering what they needed to do to get the opening goal.

City scramble | Scrappy Blues failed to get important away goal
The second half began with the home side looking the more likely to get the opener on the counter attack.

The long-ball tactic employed by Aris saw them make numerous counter attacks within the first 10 minutes of the restart without any real conviction in the final third.

A challenge from Boateng in the 58th minute saw him foul Bobadilla just outside the penalty area to give the Greek side a good chance to take the lead. Neto took the resulting free kick and managed to lift the ball over the wall but the ball straight into the hands of Hart.

A superb reaction save from Safakis saw him prevent Dzeko giving the visitors the lead after the Bosnian headed his shot right at the Greek keeper in the 64th minute from a low Kolarov cross.

Just moments later Aris had their best chance of the game as Neto launched a powerful 25-yard-shot after an incisive breakaway, forcing Hart to push wide to keep the scores level.

Midway through the second half saw Dzeko waste another chance for Mancini’s side as the Aris defence allowed him the time and space to launch a shot from 25 yards, only to see it flash wide of the post with the 'keeper stranded.

With just under 15 minutes remaining, Mancini perhaps sensed that the game would need just one goal to win it and brought on Mario Balotelli for Wright-Phillips, switching the formation from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3.

Despite the continuous dominance from Manchester City the Greek side managed to hold on to a 0-0 draw, which they will take with them into next week’s second leg at Eastlands for a place in the last 16. Follow the Europa League LIVE on Goal.com:
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Labels: Goalcom, Manchester, Report, Thessaloniki

ATHLETIC BILBAO

Coach: Joaquin Caparros (fourth season)

Last Result: 2-0 win at Atletico Madrid, January 30

Record: 11-8-2

Streak: Won 3

Next Match: at home to Sporting Gijon, February 05

Athletic Bilbao has won its last three Primera Division games and is now all alone in sixth spot, just six points behind fourth-placed Valencia. Last weekend’s 2-0 win at Atletico Madrid was impressive, but Athletic now faces a totally different challenge on Saturday. A rejuvenated Sporting Gijon visits San Mames, with the game likely to be an intense derby affair between the two northern outfits. Ustaritz Aldekoaotalora is fit again, but Fernando Amorebieta remains sidelined, along with Ibai Gomez and Jon Aurtenetxe. Borja Ekiza is doubtful. “We’ve been able to win our last three games, but Sporting is a rival that knows us well and the club is in its best moment of its season,” midfielder Carlos Gurpegi said. Athletic has signed Zaragoza midfielder Ander Herrera, but the player will remain at the Aragonese outfit until the end of the campaign.

Labels: Athletic, Bilbao, Report