Soccer Shorts

Other soccer news in brief

Reina believes Torres will stay

LIVERPOOL goalkeeper Pepe Reina believes club and country team-mate Fernando Torres will remain at Anfield next season.

Torres has been linked with a move away from Merseyside after the club's poor campaign, with Chelsea and Barcelona supposedly in the running for the Spain international's services. But Reina spoke to his compatriot this week and claims Torres is committed to turning the club's fortunes around.

"I am calm about Fernando," Reina said in quotes reported by The People. "I spoke to him about his future and he has told me that he intends to continue with us."

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has also been strongly linked with a move away from the club this summer, with Inter Milan a possible destination, but Reina is equally convinced his manager will stay put.

"I am convinced that Rafa will still be with us and that is good for us because he wants revenge in the next campaign," he said.

Maicon keeps his options open

MAICON is happy to stay at European champions Inter Milan but has admitted he would be interested in following Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid if the coach wants him.

Mourinho appears certain to take charge at the Bernabeu after leading Inter to European glory there on Saturday night and Maicon is known to be a favourite of the Portuguese.

"To leave Inter?" Maicon said. "I have a contract and I want to respect it. If he (Mourinho) wants me at Real, then we would have to see if (Inter president Massimo) Moratti agrees."

ITALY international Daniele De Rossi will not leave Roma this summer, according to the club. The midfielder has been linked with a move away and reports in Italy claimed Roma had recently turned down a €45 million bid from Manchester City.

Nigerian tycoon eyes Arsenal

A BILLIONAIRE Nigerian tycoon is planning to enter the race to snap up a 16 per cdent stake in Arsenal, according to a report.

Aliko Dangote - one of Africa's richest men - is said to have registered his interest in the shareholding being sold by the club's fourth largest investor Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith.

The move could spark a takeover battle for the Gunners, with other contenders including its two biggest current investors - who would be forced to launch a full takeover bid for the club if they secured the stake.

Dangote is reportedly a passionate football fan and has the wealth to go head-to-head with the two big Arsenal investors, American sports entrepreneur Stan Kroenke and Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov. The Nigerian industrialist has stood for the role of president of the Nigerian football association and was formerly head of the Nigerian stock exchange.

Bracewell-Smith is said to be seeking €184 million for her stake.

Ribery decides to stay with Bayern Munich

FRENCH playmaker Franck Ribery has extended his Bayern Munich contract until 2015 to end months of speculation about his future, the losing Champions League finalists said yesterday.

"We're delighted we've reached agreement on a contract extension with one of the world's best players," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.

"That is a sign of the big goals the team has set for the coming years." Bayern said the new deal was signed with the 27-year-old before they lost 2-0 in the Champions League final to Inter Milan on Saturday. The France international, who joined Bayern in 2007 on a four-year deal, missed the match due to suspension after being sent off in the first leg of the semi-final against French side Olympique Lyon. "My family and I are delighted that we're staying in Munich," Ribery said. "I am very happy that I opted to continue working together with Bayern."

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United had reportedly shown interest in the player.

McGeady 'will have to move'

CELTIC and Republic of Ireland midfielder Aiden McGeady will only prove his doubters wrong if he makes the move to the Premier League, according to Lou Macari.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is reportedly ready to make another bid for McGeady after failing to land him in January but former Republic of Ireland team-mate Lee Carsley expressed doubts about the wisdom of the move for both parties.

Midfielder Carsley said: "I think Aiden would find it a bit more difficult than he does in Scotland. I mean, defenders are just as fast as the forwards." Macari, who successfully made the transition from the Scottish top flight to England when he joined Manchester United from Celtic in 1973, said the only way McGeady can confound the critics would be to play in the Premier League. Macari said: "Those doubts will never be answered until he goes there."

West Ham look to sign Henry

WEST Ham have made a bid to sign Barcelona striker Thierry Henry in a move which would see the Frenchman become the highest-paid player in their history. West Ham joint chairman David Sullivan has revealed he is willing to offer him a two-year deal worth around €85,000 a week, more than €8.6 million in total.Henry (32) struggled for playing time this season and he is expected to leave the club. He is also being linked with a move to the US.

Capello to rest cup final players

FABIO CAPELLO will not call on any of his Chelsea players, or David James, for tonight's friendly against Mexico at Wembley. The England manager also said his side have not yet practised taking penalties ahead of the World Cup.

There are four Chelsea players in England's 30-man provisional squad - Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole. They arrived at England's altitude training camp in Irdning, in Austria, on Wednesday after being given three days off following the FA Cup final, in which their team beat James's Portsmouth 1-0.

"The Chelsea players and David James will not play against Mexico," said Capello. "I needed them to train and stay with us."

Manchester City's Adam Johnson and Michael Dawson of Tottenham will hope for debuts and Jamie Carragher and Ledley King will probably be asked to make their first England appearances since Capello took over in December 2007.