Serie A champions Inter Milan have signed striker Giampaolo Pazzini from Sampdoria for 10 million pounds.
Pazzini, 26, completed a medical on Friday before the transfer was finalised with French forward Jonathan Biabiany going in the other direction.
Pazzini revealed he could not resist a move to the European champions but said he was sorry to leave Sampdoria, for whom he scored six goals in 19 matches this season.
I leave a piece of my heart in Genova. But you can t say no to Inter, Pazzini said.
The striker joined Sampdoria from Fiorentina in the January transfer window in 2009, with Pazzini quickly establishing himself as a hero at his new club with 11 goals in 19 Serie A appearances before the season ended.
He notched 19 goals in the Serie A…
Real Betis defender Miki Roque, a former Liverpool youth player, needs surgery on a malignant tumour in his pelvis.
Roque, 22, was at Anfield between 2005 and 2009 and was part of their FA Youth Cup winning team in 2006.
He also appeared as a first-team substitute in a Champions League match against Galatasaray in December 2006.
The doctors are hopeful it s not too far advanced, Roque said, adding that he would be out for the rest of the second-division season.
Roque also had spells at Oldham Athletic and Spanish sides Xerez and Cartagena.
Xabi Alonso, the player Roque replaced in the Galatasaray game, sent a message of support to his former team-mate on his personal Twitter account.
They have found a tumour in the pelvis of Betis …
Juanfran says he is desperate for Atletico Madrid to take one last step to the Champions League final ahead of Tuesday s semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich.
Atletico take a slender 1-0 lead into the game in Munich, and Juanfran is hoping his side can see out the second leg to move into the final.
It s the little step remaining to reach that final dreamed by all, he told the club s official website.
I m convinced that we will play a great match in an incredible setting against a historic team.
I think that in the first-leg match, we played a great first half and that allowed us to hang on during the second half. We are a team that defends very well and we all compete to the fullest in every moment.
I m sure that if we go out strong fro…
Everton manager Roberto Martinez has refused to discuss the future of Tim Howard, .
The USA international is closing in on ten years at Goodsion Park after moving there initially on loan from Manchester United in the summer of 2006.
He has made four hundred and twelve appearances for the club in all competitions, even scoring a goal in 2-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers in January 2012.
However, he has failed to consistently show his best form this season, and recently lost his first team place to Joel Robles, who will start against Bournemouth in the FA Cup this weekend.
Howard’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the season, and it is unclear whether he will extend his stay on Merseyside beyond the summer.
Everton, who last won the…
Manchester United s new caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been described as a club legend by executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and the Norwegian is certainly remembered fondly by supporters.
Between 1996 and 2007, Solskjaer scored 126 goals in 366 appearances with United during a trophy-laden spell under Alex Ferguson.
He is also responsible for one of the most iconic United goals ever as he scored the winner in the 1998-99 Champions League final to seal the treble.
We take a look at five of Solskjaer s memorable moments as a United player.
Super-sub legend born on his debut
Ferguson bought Solskjaer for £1.5million from Molde in July 1996 and he made an immediate impression. His new club were trailing 2-1 at Old Trafford to…
New Liverpool signing Mohamed Salah says he has improved every part of his game since leaving Chelsea and is returning to the Premier League with a point to prove.
Egypt international Salah completed his move to the Reds from Roma on Thursday in a deal worth an initial €42million, but which could go on to reach €50m with add-ons.
The winger has played in England before with Chelsea, making only six Premier League starts in one year with the Blues before being loaned out to Fiorentina midway through the 2014-15 season.
After impressing with the Viola he then joined Roma, initially on loan then permanently and has shone in the Italian capital, peaking last season with 15 Serie A goals and 11 assists in 31 games.
Asked if he returns to England a better p…