Serie A start may be delayed

SOCCER NEWS: The Italian league will decide tomorrow whether to postpone the start of the Serie A season because of a stalemate in talks over television rights.

With the first matches due in just under two weeks, there is no sign of agreement over a highlights package for terrestrial television and almost half the Serie A clubs have been unable to agree terms with satellite television channels for live coverage.

Uncertainty over TV income has exacerbated fears over the Italian game's financial crisis.

A postponement proposal from the eight Serie A teams without deals was rejected last week. But league president Adriano Galliani said yesterday that the suggestion was back on the agenda for tomorrow's meeting of Serie A and B clubs.

Atalanta, Brescia, Chievo, Como, Empoli, Modena, Perugia and Piacenza are the clubs without any TV deal at all.

They are demanding £6million each for the rights to live coverage of their home games.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo will almost definitely stay with his Italian club Inter Milan and should be happy with his lot, the president of the Serie A team said yesterday.

"Ronaldo is more than 80 percent certain to stay with Inter. In fact, I would say 100 per cent certain," Inter President Massimo Moratti was quoted as saying by Italian newsagency Ansa.

Moratti confirmed that Real Madrid had expressed an interest in Ronaldo, but said: "The approach wasn't economically satisfactory. Ronaldo would do well to appreciate what he has going for him here."

Arsenal have failed to complete the signing of Uruguay goalkeeper Fabian Carini, manager Arsene Wenger said yesterday. The two parties could not agree personal terms and British newspaper reports suggest Carini could now be snapped up by rivals Manchester United.

United's £2 million offer for France under-21 defender Julien Escude was "almost offensive", Stade Rennes president Emmanuel Cueff was quoted as saying yesterday. Cueff, speaking to the French sports daily L'Equipe, also said United approached the player before contacting Rennes.

Rangers striker Tore Andre Flo is still undecided about his immediate future. The Ibrox club have been in discussions with Sunderland over a possible move for the Norwegian hitman, who cost Rangers £12 million when he joined from Chelsea.