METRO NAIJA

Tuesday, 30 June 2015

Kunle Odunlami passes medical ahead of Raja Cascablanca switch

The Nigerian successfully underwent physical tests on Tuesday and is expected to put pen to paper with the Green Devils on Wednesday

Kunle Odunlami has passed a medical ahead of his proposed move to Moroccan side Raja Cascablanca,Goalcan confirm.

The former First Bank FC defender is set to complete his transfer from Sunshine Stars to the Botola Pro giants on Wednesday after the Akure Gunners activated his release clause.

Coach Ruud Krol has been desperate to reinforce his defence following their shaky run in the Moroccan topflight where they are placed eight on the log.

Once Odunlami’s move has been rubber-stamped, he will team up with compatriot Ighodaro Osaguona.

The ex-Juventus boss has reportedly been indicted for charges relating to his time at Siena, but the FIGC president insists he will not lose his job

Antonio Conte will remain in charge of Italy despite reports that he has been indicted in a match fixing investigation, Italian FA (FIGC) president Carlo Tavecchio insists.

The head coach has previously been banned for four months for his part in a scandal during his time at Siena, as he failed to report the alleged fixing of two games.

The latest reports have resulted in speculation over his future at the helm of the national team, but Tavecchio insists the former Juventus boss will not leave before his contract expires in 2016.

“I spoke with him this morning and there is nothing new,” Tavecchio told reporters.

“Conte will stay and see out his contract. We have certain guarantees for people in this country and they apply to Conte too - an indictment is not a conviction.”

The 71-year-old also talked about the scandal which has engulfed Catania, with several officials being arrested on alleged match fixing charges.

Tavecchio continued: “We have already started, but we have to drive the money changers from the temple. This is the most important thing in the mind of the FIGC.

“I will try to do everything that I can to speed up court proceedings, in respect of the start of next season.”

The centre-back will undergo a medical with the Ligue 1 side prior to completing his move, with the 20-year-old having struggled to establish himself at the Etihad

Karim Rekik, in action for former loan club PSV

Marseille have announced they have agreed a deal withManchester City to sign defender Karim Rekik, subject to the defender passing a medical.

Rekik has struggled to break into the Etihad Stadium first-team in recent seasons, making just three appearances for the club, and spending time on loan at Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers.

The 20-year-old has been loaned to PSV twice over the past two seasons, helping the club win the Eredivisie title in 2014-15.

Rekik made 54 league appearances for Philip Cocu's side during his two-year spell in the Netherlands but instead of returning to the Premier League, he is set to move to Ligue 1.

Marseille - who finished fourth last season despite leading the way for much of the campaign - have confirmed the details of the move have been agreed in principle, with Rekik set to undergo a medical before completing the transfer.

The presidential candidate hopes to see the club become a symbol for world football in the next six years and feels he can deliver that if he is elected

Josep Maria Bartomeu says he wants to see Barcelonabecome the most dominant force in world football and a symbol for the sport.

The Catalan side are one of the game's elite sides, with their position at the top of the game boosted further by last season's treble - their second in six years.

Bartomeu, who succeeded Sandro Rosell as the club's president and is hoping to be returned in the election on July 18, says his vision is to see Barca become the Apple, NASA and Facebook of football.

“By 2021, we want Barca to be to football what Apple is to computers, NASA for space exploration or Facebook for social media,” he said at a campaign speech.

"The Barca of the 21st century is based on the social model, sporting, athletics and the new facilities we want to build in the Espai Barca project.

“We have a management model to strengthen our leadership in the world, to continue leading it in 2021 and to be a unique brand in the world. The aim is that in 2021, the world will associate Barca with football.

"We want to create a base to support the athletes and coaches and to strengthen the promotion of women’s sport, we want to be a leader in that too.

"Our third sporting point will be the creation of the observatory and university of FC Barcelona, built in the Espai Barca, a training centre in the environment of football and sport.”

The former Argentina star has taken his first role as a No.1, joining the Serie B side on a one-year deal with the option of a further two seasons

Hernan Crespo has been named head coach of Italian Serie B side Modena, the club have announced.

The former AC Milan, Inter and Chelsea player had been working as a youth coach at Parma but their bankruptcy and relegation has allowed him to seek other opportunities.

And Modena announced that the 39-year-old former Argentina star has joined on a one-year deal but has the option to stay on for two more beyond that.

"Modena announces that it has hired Hernan Crespo as first-team coach," a statement read.

"The Argentinian coach has signed for one year plus an option for another two years."

Modena finished 18th in Serie B last season and kept their place in the Italian second tier through the play-offs.

The Czech international, the Gunners' first summer signing, could have moved to north London in 2002 but was denied a work permit, so went to Rennes in France instead

Arsenal have announced the signing of Petr Cech from Premier League rivals Chelsea for an undisclosed fee.

Petr Cech has revealed he could have become anArsenal player more than a decade ago had work permit restrictions not scuppered a switch to the Premier League.

The Czech Republic international completed a move to Emirates Stadium from rivals Chelsea on Monday after falling becoming second choice for Jose Mourinho behind Thibaut Courtois.

However, Cech could have been first choice at Arsenal much sooner had their original move for him in 2002 gone through, with the goalkeeper instead leaving Sparta Prague for Rennes, before arriving at Chelsea for what became a memorable 11-year stint.

"There was a chance before I went to France to join Rennes for me to sign for Arsenal, but I was only 18 or 19 and, at that time, Czech Republic were not in the European Union," he told the club's official website.

"You needed a work permit and the conditions were that you had to play 75 per cent of the first-team games for the national team, which, at the time, was impossible for me to get. In the end I went to France because I couldn't get a work permit.

"Back then, a few teams were interested in me but Arsenal was one of the main ones. I was so excited because of the Premier League and big clubs coming in for me but unfortunately it was not the time for me to come to England.

"My time was later with Chelsea, and I'm obviously grateful for that, but you never know where you'll end up. Here we are and I hope that I can replicate here everything that I have managed to achieve in the past decade.

"If I could have got my work permit, maybe my story would have been a completely different story but here we are 10 or more years later, and now we can write the story again."

Leicester City have sacked first team manager Nigel Pearson.

The Colombian continued his public fawning over the Rojiblancos - despite the club procrastinating on paying the Porto forward's buyout clause

Jackson Martinez thinks that signing for Atletico Madridwould make him a better player, despite talks between the Spanish club and Porto remaining at an impasse.

The Colombian forward was on the brink of signing for AC Milan before Atleti expressed their interest, leading to the 28-year-old to change his mind about a move to San Siro in favour of a switch to the Vicente Calderon.

However, the proposed transfer has been complicated by the Rojiblancos reportedly wanting to pay his €35 million buyout clause in instalments, causing Martinez's agent to accuse the club of being disrespectful.

Martinez has continued his public flirtation with Diego Simeone's men and hopes to continue to score important goals if he moves to the Spanish capital.

"I hope to triumph at Atletico," he told Marca. "I will arrive with all of the motivation I can muster to give everything I can.

"I'll be going to a great team with a great coach. I hope to show I have the productivity I have shown at Porto. Ambition wins titles and Atletico will help me become a better player."

Atletico finished third in La Liga last season, having beaten Barcelona and Real Madrid to the title in 2014 against all expectations.

The 24-year-old is wanted by Manuel Pellegrini's side but the Bundesliga club's sporting director reveals that talks will begin over a lucrative contract extension

Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs insists that the club have no plans to sell Kevin De Bruyne this summer.

According to Goal, Belgium international is wanted by Manchester City, while the attacker confirmed earlier in June that the Premier League side have made "informal contact" with his agent.

However, Wolfsburg remain adamant that they have no intention of allowing De Bruyne to leave and Allofs has revealed that the club will look to extend the 24-year-old's contract with a significant pay increase.

"Kevin has a contract until 2019, hence the message is already sent. He will stay with us," he told Sport1.

"Nevertheless, we said: 'We look at his contract again'. The aim is also to take into account Kevin's extraordinary development.

"We try to have our best players on the best salaries so we will make a proposal and I think we will very quickly reach an agreement here."

The former Reds goalkeeper believes that the England star would have a tougher time at Manchester City than Anfield and feels that Brendan Rodgers is ready to lose him

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar has urged the club to "get rid" of Raheem Sterling, questioning the 20-year-old's qualities as a team player.

The England international's refusal to sign a new contract at Anfield has prompted Manchester City to pursue a big-money deal, with Reds fans having turned on him late last season.

Grobbelaar - who made over 400 appearances for Liverpool - says that Sterling has "shot himself in the foot" by openly discussing his refusal of a new deal and the 57-year-old feels the club have a ready-made replacement in recent signing Roberto Firmino.

"I think Brendan Rodgers has actually played this very, very well," Grobbelaar told Perform.

"For me, I think Sterling has shot himself in the foot. Yes he can play in Europe at City but he's not going to find it easier playing for City than at Liverpool.

"Having looked at all the trials and tribulations the youngster has caused Liverpool, it's best to get rid of him.

"He's shown himself not to be a team player with Liverpool. He wants to go somewhere else, so let him go.

"With the money for him we've already acquired a player [Firmino] in a similar position for half his price who scores more goals."

The 74,500-seater stadium hosted the Uefa Super Cup in 2014, while the 2017 Europa League final will be held in Sweden and that year's Super Cup will go to Skopje

Uefa has confirmed that the Millennium Stadium will host the 2017 Champions League final.

Cardiff last hosted a Uefa tournament in 2014 when a first-half double from Cristiano Ronaldo sealed a 2-0 win for Real Madrid over Sevilla in the Super Cup.

“These are exciting times for Welsh football. It feels like the whole country is behind us as we attempt to reach next year's Euro 2016 finals in France," said Gareth Bale.

"I know how passionate the Welsh football fans are so it's great the Champions League final is coming to my home city of Cardiff.

"I loved playing in the Super Cup last year and it would be fantastic to be involved in front of a packed crowd at such an iconic stadium in 2017."

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey was also buoyed by the announcement that the final will be held in his home nation for the first time.

"What a season it has been for Wales and Welsh football," the 24-year-old enthused. "What with last year's Super Cup, the unforgettable support and atmosphere at our recent match against Belgium, Wales topping their Euro 2016 qualifying group and now this wonderful news."

Elsewhere, Uefa announced that the 2017 Europa League final will be held in the Friends Arena in Solna, Sweden.

The 2017 Super Cup, meanwhile, will be played in Skopje's National Arena Filip II of Macedonia.

The Atletico Madrid midfielder is set to announce his new club in the coming days but his representative has played down talk of a deal with the Red Devils

Atletico Madrid je remizirao drugu utakmicu zaredom

Arda Turan's agent has denied that his client has undergone a medical with Manchester United, but says he will make a decision on his future in the next four days as he prepares to leave Atletico Madrid.

After four years at the Estadio Vicente Calderon, the Turkey international has decided to seek a new challenge away from the 2014 Spanish champions, with representative Ahmed Bulut confirming on Monday that his transfer request had been accepted.

Many of Europe's elite - including United, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona - have been linked with Arda but Bulut refuses to specify, though he is confident that his client's destination will be the right one.

"The new team will be known on Friday," he told NTV Spor. "Barcelona is a great team, as are PSG and Manchester United.

"When we were planning Arda's next career move, we considered that he had won everything at Atletico Madrid in four years so we seek the best for him and came to the conclusion that the right decision was to leave Atletico.

"Arda Turan will not make a statement until he has signed the new contract but, in the next four days, we will decide which team he will play for.

"Arda has not met with Manchester United or passed a medical. When you find out his new team on Friday you'll agree we made the right choice."

The Ghanaian has departed the San Siro club after he and the club mutually agreed to part ways ahead of 2015-16

Sulley Muntari, futuro ancora rossonero?

AC Milan have confirmed Sulley Muntari's contract at the club has been terminated.

The Ghanaian midfielder, 30, has spent the last three seasons on the Rossoneri's books after swapping San Siro colours in 2012 when his contract with Inter expired.

Muntari fell out of favour under Filippo Inzaghi last season, appearing for Milan only six times in 2015, and new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic has deemed him surplus to requirements ahead of 2015-16.

"Sulley Muntari and AC Milan announce that they have mutually resolved to terminate the sporting contract that bound them,” the Italian club stated on Tuesday.

“AC Milan would like to thank Muntari for the commitment, devotion and professionalism he demonstrated when wearing the Milan shirt.

“We wish him every success for the rest of his playing career.”

Muntari has spent most of his career playing in Serie A – he spent six years at Udinese and four seasons as an Inter player, with a single campaign at Portsmouth in between.

The former Red Devils defender believes that the Southampton star would be a useful addition but is not convinced Real Madrid will sell Sergio Ramos to the club

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes the club are making a smart move in their attempt to sign Morgan Schneiderlin from Southampton.

United are closing in on a deal for the France international, with Arsenal having cooled their interest in the 25-year-old defensive midfielder to leave the path clear for Louis van Gaal's side.

And when discussing the transfer, Ferdinand told hisNo.5 website: "He's a player who's going to add something to Manchester United.

"A bit of steel, can pass the ball, can play the ball through the lines of midfield and get the ball from back to front.

"He's a good player and a good addition to the squad, especially if someone like Michael Carrick, who's so influential for Man United, gets injured. This guy can step in and help buffer that. He's a very good player."

Ferdinand also addressed rumours linking Sergio Ramos with a move to Old Trafford, stating that he feels he will remain at Real Madrid.

"Sergio Ramos to Manchester City? He was going to Man United the other day, now he's going to Man City...! The agent's flying, he's doing well. He's putting him with two of the biggest clubs in terms of financial power," he said.

"I still can't see it. I think he'll stay at Madrid, where he'll play alongside Raphael Varane or Pepe next season. Unless they've got another Varane coming through, I can't see them letting him go.

"It's a lot of money to spend on a guy who's 29 with no resale value but why's he going to go to Manchester City before United? It doesn't make sense to me, I don't understand it."

The Bulgarian Football Union have confirmed 31-time champions will not play professional football next season because of their fiscal crisis

The Bulgarian Army Stadium, home of CSKA Sofia

CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria's most decorated club, have been demoted to the third division due to their financial crisis, the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) have confirmed.

CSKA, who have 31 league titles to their name, have dominated Bulgarian football over the years, however they have fallen on tougher times in recent campaigns.

They have not won a title since 2008 and have failed to win any silverware since lifting the domestic cup and supercup in 2011.

Financial irregularities at the capital club saw the BFU deny them a licence for the Bulgarian A Group, and the governing body have now confirmed their punishment.

When contacted by Perform, the BFU said CSKA had "no chance" of starting the new campaign in the professional leagues, and have "no right to appeal" so will "100 per cent stay out of our professional levels."

Lokomotiv Sofia, Marek Dupnitsa and Haskovo have also received the same punishment.

The former Super Eagles midfielder has revealed that all hands are on deck to ensure the Flying Eagles forward gets a good club in Europe

Ex-international Seyi Olofinjana has assured that Nigeria U20 forward Taiwo Awoniyi will definitely make a good move to Europe when it is time.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers player who owns Imperial Academy where the youth international is plying his club career says the ultimate target is to ensure that the 17-year-old moves to a team where he would grow to become a better footballer.

“We can understand the high expectations surrounding the player’s transfer and that is the more reason we are putting everything into consideration before we commit on his next move,” Olofinjana told AfricanFootball.com.

“What is uppermost is the boy’s development, where he will get a decent chance to grow as a footballer.

“We get offers from almost everywhere in the world for him on a daily basis, but we also know that nothing can happen before he turns 18 in August when he can then sign a professional deal.

“His family is very much up to speed with what is going on and we expect him to now focus on playing for the Nigeria Olympic team before his next birthday and I believe with the amount of work we have put in, he will be in very good hands very soon,” he concluded.

Awoniyi who has been invited to the Nigeria U23 team got two goals for the country at the 2015 Fifa U20 World Cup

Rafael Benitez will make the winger his first signing since taking over as coach after the player enjoyed a bright 2014-15 season with Sergio Gonzalez's men

Espanyol president Joan Collet has revealed that his club and Real Madrid have reached an agreement which will see Lucas Vazquez return to Santiago Bernabeu.

The winger came through the Real Madrid youth system after joining them at the age of 16, but he was sent to Espanyol last season.

The 23-year-old scored three and set up a further six goals in 33 La Liga appearances and the Catalan club wanted to activate their option to buy his contract outright, although Madrid held an option to buy him back either this summer or next year.

The two sides have agreed a fee, believed to be about €1 million, which will see the player return to the capital this summer, although Espanyol will hold on to 25 per cent of his rights.

"We are negotiating with Real Madrid," Collet said at a press conference.

"We have reached an agreement and will keep 25% of his rights. When the deal is final we will tell you.

"We received communication from Real Madrid two or three weeks ago and told them that we were going to activate the option to buy, but Madrid made an offer. We were told that they want him for their first team.

"We value the economic aspect and think the amounts are good for the club considering that we could also have lost him next year because of the buy back option."

Collet admits losing Lucas will be a blow to Espanyol, but insisted they will look to replace him over the summer.

"The coach is naturally upset but we have talked to the sporting director who is looking at the options,” he said.

Real Madrid youngster Burgui has been linked with a move to Espanyol, but Collet stressed those talks were separate and there were "no players involved" in the negotiations for Lucas.

The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) has shortlisted five persons for the post of head coach of the national team, the Elephants, PANA reported from Abidjan on Tuesday.

The shortlisted candidates are Patrice Neveu, Paolo Duarte, Michel Dussuyer, Henry Kasperczak and Frédéric Antonetti.

FIF said a further shortlist of three candidates willsoon be released before the final selection.

Hervé Renard resigned as coach of the Elephants after leading Côte d’Ivoire to its second continental title in February.

He is now with French league club Lille.

Gunners players and legends were quick to praise the signing on social media after the Champions League and Premier League-winning goalkeeper made the move from Chelsea

Arsenal confirmed the signing of Petr Cech fromChelsea on Monday, for a fee understood to be in the region of £11 million (€15.5m).

Cech brought an end to his 11-year stay at Chelsea having won multiple Premier League titles and FA Cups, as well as the Champions League in 2012.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described Cech as "one of the outstanding keepers in the world" and Gunners players and legends quickly took to social media to echo the sentiments of the Frenchman.

Wojciech Szczesny is graceful about his newfound competition...

Theo Walcott gets in a friendly dig at his new team-mate early...

Aaron Ramsey is clearly thrilled by his club's business.

Gunners hero Ray Parlour hails Wenger's capture of the former Chelsea man.

Kieran Gibbs gets involved, welcoming the new man to marshal his back line.

Calum Chambers is also, unsurprisingly, full of good cheer.

Meanwhile, Chelsea legends past and present also had their chance to wish well their former colleague...

Wojciech Szczesny is graceful about his newfound competition...

Despite an ongoing knee injury, the Chilean attacker claims he had confidence against Peru due to his shooting efforts on Saturday

Chile's match-winner Eduardo Vargas claims that he suspected goals were coming against Peru after scoring "every shot" in training on Saturday.

The 25-year-old striker scored both goals in Santiago on Monday to send his nation into the Copa America final at Peru's expense.

In the 42nd minute, Vargas tapped in from close range after Alexis Sanchez's cross came back off the post, while the Napoli man wrapped up Chile's 2-1 victory with 26 minutes remaining, blasting the ball into the top corner from 25 yards.

"I was practicing shooting on Saturday and the truth is that every shot went in," Vargas said, according to La Tercera. "Today, I had the confidence."

Vargas' double took him to 22 goals for his country, putting him level with former attacking midfielder Jorge Aravena as the sixth-highest scorer in Chile's history.

The Santiago-born striker claimed he could barely feel his injured knee as he led Chile to victory.

"My knee bothers me in some plays but thank God it was nothing against Peru and I could keep playing," he added.

The Swedish striker had an infamously tumultuous relationship with his former Barca coach, as the Catalan club's presidential candidate explains

Barcelona presidential candidate has revealed Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent told him that the forward wanted to punch Pep Guardiola.

The Swedish striker spent an infamously ill-fated season at Camp Nou in 2009-10, where his relationship with the head coach soured to an unworkable point, leading to his departure to AC Milan the following campaign.

Mino Raiola, the agent of the current Paris Saint-Germain star, is also the man in charge of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba's fate as clubs gather to try to lure him away for a large sum of money this summer.

Speaking ahead of July 18's Barca presidential elections, Bartomeu went into detail about his intriguing experience with Raiola five years ago.

"I know agent Mino Raiola very well having negotiated with him before," he told reporters on Monday. "I dealt with him over Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2010, for instance.

"I had many meetings with Mino. In one, he told me: 'Ibra will punch Pep one of these days.'

"Mino is a very friendly and very funny guy but one must look at his pocket. He makes a living ridiculously well. He is a specialist at players changing teams."

Bartomeu claims that voting him in as Barca's chief will guarantee a brand new midfielder, though he refused to note whether that would be Pogba.

"The board was asked to secure a specific midfielder," he continued. "Now we have convinced him to join us, though I cannot reveal his name yet."

Bartomeu - who was in charge at Camp Nou from January 2014 until the end of 2014-15 when the presidential election race began - also dismissed Joan Laporta's critical comments regarding the interim board's activities.

"I've resigned, but the club continues to work on what was agreed on in April," he added. "We cannot allow the stop to remain paralysed and static because rivals with take advantage.

"The sale of Gerard Deulofeu to Everton was criticised the other day. For God sake, it was a pre-agreed sale!"

The ex-Dutch international is adamant that the attempt to replace Louis van Gaal was botched from the very beginning

Netherlands should never have hired Guus Hiddink as Louis van Gaal's successor, according to former Dutch international Ronald de Boer.

Hiddink ended his second stint in charge of the national team on Monday, departing after less than a year to leave his assistant, Danny Blind, at the helm.

Under Hiddink, Netherlands struggled in their qualification campaign for Euro 2016 - suffering defeats to Czech Republic and Iceland prior to a home draw against Turkey.

And De Boer, part of the Netherlands team during Hiddink's first spell in charge between 1995 and 1998, feels the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) made the wrong move when replacing Van Gaal.

"The KNVB is just as guilty as Hiddink in this situation," De Boer, a frequent critic of the 68-year-old's reappointment, told De Telegraaf.

"You noticed on day one - the friendly against Italy which Netherlands lost 2-0 - it was not working.

"I am especially sorry for Guus. I have great respect for him based on his past achievements. But you have to know when to stop and Hiddink clearly did not."

De Boer reaffirmed his belief that the KNVB should have turned to Ronald Koeman, who went on to enjoy a successful first season as manager of Southampton.

"Koeman was the right man," De Boer added. "And it was not that he did not want the job. He really wanted it."

The former Barcelona boss did not want to be faced with the prospect with having to knock out his old side in order to reach the final

Argentina coach Gerardo Martino admits the prospect of eliminating Paraguay from the Copa America is not one he is relishing.

The two nations met in their opening group game in the continental competition - producing a 2-2 draw in La Serena on June 13 - and they will face again in Tuesday's semi-final.

Martino led Paraguay to the final of the Copa America four years ago and he has lamented that the draw has pitted him against his old team.

"I would have preferred not to have played Paraguay," said Martino, who coached Paraguay from 2006 to 2011, told reporters. "We have a lot of things in common, there are a lot of feelings.

"I worked there for a long time, we started and finished a process... the World Cup, the Copa America. There is a very close relationship.

"I trained many of those players and they helped me grow as a coach. They had a big influence in my career."

Martino was criticised after their first match in the Chile showpiece for sending on Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez when his team were defending a 2-1 lead, but the former Barcelona boss is still standing by his tactical move.

"That match could have finished 6-2 or 5-2," he said. "Nobody puts on two strikers at 2-1 up, but that was my interpretation at the time and nobody has been able to convince me that I was really wrong, even though you think about it afterwards."

Since scoring twice in the first half against Paraguay, Argentina have added only two more goals in three-and-a-half matches, and Martino admitted his side need to start converting their chances.

"It's clear that we have a problem with our finishing," he said. "Not just in that famous second half against Paraguay, but in phases of the game against Uruguay and especially against Jamaica.

"There is a red flag against our finishing and that is something we will have to improve, but I agree with Javier Mascherano that it is more coincidence than anything else."

Paraguay have grown in confidence since the draw against Argentina and played an attacking game in their quarter-final against Brazil on Saturday, which they won on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Concepcion.

"Paraguay played much more in the opposition half," Martino said.

"Their defensive line was further forward and at one point, they had more possession than Brazil. Against us, they played with four forwards in the second half, but the team was split in two. Against Brazil it was a very different approach."

Lionel Messi was booked against Colombia in the quarter-finals as Argentina triumphed on penalties and the 28-year-old will miss the final if he is shown another yellow card on Tuesday.

"It is a situation we are aware of," Martino said.

"And we are talking about the best player in the world here, but we hope that won't happen to Leo, to Sergio Aguero or to Javier. In any case, we have a squad of 23 footballers and I can't complain with the players I have here."

In an attempt to improve competition, the European football governing body has tweaked its rules on Financial Fair Play

Uefa has updated its Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules in a bid to make clubs more attractive to new investors and improve competition.

FFP was introduced as a way of preventing clubs from spending beyond their means and curbing huge losses, with fines imposed on those found in breach and some clubs receiving bans from Uefa competitions.

Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter are among those to have been sanctioned under FFP rules, but Uefa president Michel Platini stated last month that the regulations were set to be eased.

Following the opening day of its Executive Committee meeting in Prague, Uefa has now confirmed the changes, which will come into force on July 1 and allow clubs that have gone through a business restructuring or takeover more scope for investment.

"The new regulations are an expansion and a strengthening of financial fair play. The overall objectives of financial fair play remain the same," said Platini.

"We are just evolving from a period of austerity to one where we can offer more opportunities for sustainable growth and development."

A press release outlining the changes read: "The updated financial fair play (FFP) regulations will now address situations where clubs have undergone a recent business restructuring or takeover and occasions where clubs wish to invest sustainably within the spirit and essence of FFP.

"Under these circumstances club monitoring will increase and broaden in scope through the application of rigorous conditions.

"Furthermore, the new amendments will take into account disadvantages faced by clubs due to sudden economic shocks or severe market structural deficiencies within its operating region."

European Club Association chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge believes the new rules will help strengthen clubs in the long term, while ensuring the "principle" of FFP remains intact.

"The financial fair play rules are a very important tool for clubs to control their economic situation," he said.

"The new version of the rules is perfectly in line with the Financial Fair Play principles, develops the system further and strengthens those principles.

"Therefore, ECA calls on clubs to keep on supporting the financial fair play system and to work within the framework of the new financial fair play rules."

360 Official: Miranda undergoes Medical ahead of Inter Move

Inter have confirmed the imminent signing of Atletico Madrid defender Miranda by posting a photo of him mid-medical on Tuesday.

The Brazil international, 30, is joining the San Siro club in a €15 million deal that ends his four-year spell at the Vicente Calderon.

Inter tweeted a photo of Miranda with two thumbs up ahead of putting pen to paper on what is expected to be a three-year contract with the Nerazzurri.

.@miranda023 è a Milano! Eccolo mentre si prepara alla visite mediche #FCIM #ForzaInter pic.twitter.com/adDadOiefJ
— F.C. Internazionale (@Inter) June 30, 2015

Miranda joins Geoffrey Kondogbia as the latest high-profile summer signing for Roberto Mancini's men, who finished eighth in Serie A in 2014-15.l

The Napoli-owned striker bagged two on the night, both opening the scoring and netting a superb winning goal

Eduardo Vargas' stunning strike sent Chile into their first Copa America final since 1987, after a controversial red card to Peru's Carlos Zambrano gave the tournament hosts a big advantage.

Referee Jose Argote expelled Zambrano in the first half, leaving Peru to play 70 minutes with 10 players and, despite a brave performance from Ricardo Gareca's men, Chile eventually prevailed 2-1 in Santiago thanks to a brace from Vargas.

The Napoli striker opened the scoring in the 42nd minute in borderline comical circumstances, scuffing his initial shot before rolling the ball past Peru's prostrate goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

There was nothing slapstick about Vargas' second goal, however, with the 25-year-old thumping the ball over Gallese into the top corner from outside the box in the 64th minute, putting the home side back in front soon after Gary Medel's own goal had drawn Peru level.

With reports Bolivian referee Raul Orozco was initially selected to take charge of Monday's game before being replaced due to historical animosity between Bolivia and both Peru and Chile, stand-in official Argote was always going to be in the spotlight.

And it took just three minutes for Argote to be involved in a moment of controversy, with the Venezuelan keeping his cards in his pocket after a clash between Zambrano and Arturo Vidal, with the latter particularly lucky to escape sanction after he pushed his opponent in the face.

Midway through the first half and Argote sent off Zambrano for what appeared to be an accidental high boot on Charles Aranguiz, and although Peru defended stoutly and produced a number of chances on the counter-attack, Gareca's side will feel hard done by.

Having progressed from their first Copa America semi-final since 1999, Chile are now one game away from a maiden title at South America's continental championships.

It could have been a very different match at the Estadio Nacional had Argote chosen to send off Vidal early, with the Juventus midfielder tangling with Zambrano as the latter looked to shepherd the ball out in the fourth minute.

Just two minutes later and Zambrano received a yellow card for a foul on Alexis Sanchez, before Peru's Jefferson Farfan struck the post with a header, and in the 20th minute, Argote left an indelible mark on the match.

Zambrano cleared the ball high into the air and Aranguiz appeared to back into the central defender as he tried to block, with the Chile midfielder making the most of contact as his opponent's studs struck his back.

Gareca withdrew Christian Cueva for centre-back Christian Ramos as Peru sat back, with Luis Advincula pulling off an incredible block to deny Vargas just after the half-hour mark.

Paolo Guerrero was doing well as the lone man up front for Peru and almost teed up Farfan seven minutes before the break. But soon after, Vargas broke the deadlock, tapping in after Alexis Sanchez's cross came off the post, although there was suspicion of offside.

Just after half-time and Chile were harshly dealt with by the offside flag, after Vargas expertly volleyed David Pizarro's chip into the net.

Peru remained a threat on the break with Farfan heading at Claudio Bravo, before a rapid attack down the right on the hour-mark saw Advincula whip in a cross and Medel's outstretched boot poked the ball into his own net.

Vargas would save Chile, however, as Peru were sent into the third-place play-off for the second straight Copa.

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Chile 2-1 Peru

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