Football Club

Blackpool have bolstered their squad with four signings ahead of their first Premier League game on Saturday.

Manchester United’s Northern Ireland Under-21 defender Craig Cathcart, 21, has joined for an undisclosed fee.

The Seasiders have also acquired French trio Ludovic Sylvestre, 26, Elliot Grandin, 22, and Malaury Martin, 21.

Ex-Barcelona trainee Sylvestre joins from Czech side Mlada Boleslav, former Marseille player Grandin from CSKA Sofia and Martin was last with Monaco.

Cathcart never played for United’s first team but spent time on loan at Royal Antwerp, Watford and Plymouth.

Midfielder Sylvestre has also played for Sparta Prague and has signed a two-year deal at Bloomfield Road with an option for a third year, as has winger Grandin.

Fellow midfielder Martin is a former French youth international and has signed a one-year deal after impressing on trial following his release by Monaco.

Blackpool’s Premier League opener is at Wigan.

Real Madrid star Kaka is set to be out of action for up to four months after undergoing knee surgery in Belgium.

A post-World Cup medical revealed a problem with the Brazilian’s left knee and the midfielder had to leave Real’s pre-season camp in Los Angeles.

The Spanish club said earlier that the 28-year-old midfielder had suspected meniscus damage.

“It went well – the typical recovery period is three to four months,” said an assistant to surgeon Marc Martens.

A half-hour arthroscopic operation was carried out by Martens on Thursday morning.

The second most expensive footballer in history – behind team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo – joined Real last June in a £56m transfer from Italian team AC Milan.

But his first season in La Liga was plagued by a groin injury, which restricted him to 22 appearances as Real finished second behind champions Barcelona.

However, new manager Jose Mourinho is confident his team will not miss Kaka too badly.

Spaniards Sergio Canales and Pedro Leon, Argentine Angel di Maria and German Sami Khedira are among the new faces at the Bernabeu this season.

“If we have to lose him for a while, it won’t be a drama – we have other players,” the Portuguese said after Madrid’s 3-2 win over Mexican side America on Wednesday.

“But we want him to be at 100% so he is happy. He is a player who is much loved by his team-mates – he is one of the best players in the world.”

Manager Neil Lennon refused to write off Celtic, despite the Champions League first-leg loss to Braga.

“Some people may think the tie is over; we don’t,” he declared in the aftermath of Wednesday’s miserable 3-0 defeat.

“We’ve got a good record at home, we’ve been in this position before and we’ll just have to go and be at our very best next week.”

Aiden McGeady was omitted from the Celtic squad, with Lennon insisting the winger was injured.

It had been suggested, by Lennon, that the Republic of Ireland international was keen on a move away from Celtic Park.

And the 24-year-old has not featured in any of Celtic’s pre-season games because of a thigh strain.

However, he travelled to Portugal with the rest of the squad and Lennon had said he would play.

On McGeady’s absence, Lennon denied knowledge of any developments on a possible move and added: “He was complaining of a chronic back injury last night.

“Having spoken to the medical team, with the lack of training and the lack of game time he’s had, I thought it best not to risk him.

“Hopefully, we’ll have him for the second leg.”

Celtic trailed to an Osorio Alan penalty at the interval, with Uwa Echiejile and Nascimento Matheus grabbing second half goals for the home side.

Lennon was critical of referee Serge Gumienny and his assistants for giving the penalty when a cross hit the arm of Ki Sung-Yeung.

“His arms and his hands are down by his side; it’s ball to hand,” said the manager.

“He [Gumienny] made some strange decisions. He booked Charlie Mulgrew after less than 10 minutes for time-wasting. That was just incredible.

“He didn’t book any of the Braga players until maybe the final five minutes.

“So I’m not pleased with the referee’s performance at all.”

The goals after the break came from a corner and a free-kick, which left Lennon exasperated.

“We lost the game to three set-pieces, which was very disappointing,” he continued.

“I thought we were comfortable in the game. At times, we could have passed the ball better.

“Some of our better ball players didn’t take care of the ball as well as they should have done at times.”

Defending his decision to deploy Georgios Samaras as a lone striker, resulting in no shots on target for the visitors, Lennon said: “Our goalkeeper had one save to make in the 92, 93 minutes.

“We set up to be defensive and try to not give too much away.”

Although Lennon indicated McGeady still had a future at Parkhead, the same cannot be said for right-back Andreas Hinkel, who was also not in the squad – because he was not registered.

“He’s got a year left on his contract and we can’t afford to let that run down,” explained Lennon.

“We brought in Cha [Du-Ri], so he will be predominantly the first choice right-back.”

Stuttgart say their German international midfielder Sami Khedira is poised to join Real Madrid.

A statement from the German team said the clubs had agreed a transfer and his move would go ahead once the 23-year-old had undergone a medical.

Stuttgart managing director Fredi Bobic said they were reluctant to let him go “but we can understand Sami’s wish to further his career at Real.

“We wish him great success with his new challenge in Madrid.”

When the deal goes through, Khedira will become new Real boss Jose Mourinho’s second major signing, following the arrival of winger Angel di Maria from Benfica.

Two club stalwarts, Raul and Guti, have left Madrid this week as they begin rebuilding the team for the Mourinho era.

Khedira, who also had been linked with a move to Chelsea, has won 12 caps, having only made his debut for Germany less than a year ago.

But he was thrust into the spotlight at the World Cup because of the injury which ruled captain Michael Ballack out of the tournament.

He teamed up well with Bastian Schweinsteiger as a young Germany side finished in a surprise place, and he rounded off a impressive tournament display with his first goal for his country in the third place play-off win over Uruguay.

Lee Grant is relishing the competition between himself and Brian Jensen to start the season as number one goalkeeper at Burnley.

The Clarets completed the signing of Grant for an undisclosed fee from Sheffield Wednesday.

Grant : “It can only end up being great for the club. I doubt very much the situation will come between our friendship.

“But it will though certainly liven things up between the pair of us.”

The two were briefly team-mates in 2005 when Grant had a six week loan spell at Turf Moor under Steve Cotterill.

Grant said: “I’m sure Brian will be relishing having me here, and we can really push each other and maybe learn off each other.”

Something is going to give, however. The 27-year-old Grant has started 136 consecutive games for the Owls, missing only one match since joining Sheffield Wednesday from Derby in July 2007. Jensen has not missed a match for Burnley since the opening day of the 2008-09 season.

Grant said: “We’ve spoken on the phone and it’s been very light hearted, though I’m sure that will turn a bit more serious this week as the competition hots up. But we are good friends and I’m sure it won’t affect that.”

Diego Maradona’s reign as Argentina coach has ended, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has confirmed.

Maradona, 49, admitted he wanted to stay in the job ahead of a meeting with AFA president Julio Grondona on Monday.

But, after Maradona rejected demands to change his backroom team, the AFA voted not to renew his deal and made under-20 coach Sergio Batista caretaker boss.

Argentina crashed out of the 2010 World Cup finals at the quarter-final stage, where they lost 4-0 to Germany.

Grondona said: “It is difficult to agree. The hardest difference to agree on was changing some of Diego’s staff.

“Nobody has been sacked. A contract has not been extended because the conditions were not suitable.

“When you cannot agree with somebody you love, you are not happy at all.

“I always want to talk to him [Maradona], but sometimes it is difficult because this is not the best moment.”

However, AFA general secretary Jose Luis Meiszner was less saddened by the situation, telling cable channel C5N: “I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t admit there was a general disliking of several aspects of the cycle that ended with the World Cup.

“We did not see any intention to show humility, to say that things should have been done better.

“There was no evaluation, no review, no conclusions. These are the things you have to think about in order to think about the future.”

Estudiantes coach Alejandro Sabella, who was Daniel Passarella’s assistant at the 1998 World Cup, Racing Club boss Miguel Angel Rosso and Batista have all been suggested as potential successors to Maradona, but Grondona says that no candidates were yet in the frame for the full-time role.

“We have time to choose the technical staff,” he said. “We have not thought about anybody yet.

“Batista is a member of the staff of this body so he will obviously fill the place as long as is needed.”

Batista played in midfield alongside Maradona in the 1986 World Cup final and managed Argentina to gold at the 2008 Olympics.

He will pick the squad for the country’s next game against the Republic of Ireland on 11 August at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium – the first international football match at the redeveloped Lansdowne Road site.

Before the pair’s two-hour meeting on Monday, Grondona stated he was hopeful a new four-year deal could be agreed with Maradona.

But while Maradona was keen to continue in the job, he also declared he would refuse to renew his contract, which ended after the defeat to Germany in Cape Town, if the AFA dismissed even one of his staff.

“If they touch a hair of one of my guys, even if it’s the masseur or the kitman, I’m going,” he told El Show del Futbol on America TV.

Grondona had already signalled his desire for backroom changes after admitting the AFA “had lots of problems” with one of Maradona’s assistants, former Argentina defender Oscar Ruggeri.

Grondona’s demand, then, for the replacement of a number of assistants – one of whom was believed to be Maradona’s close friend Alejandro Mancuso – was, unsurprisingly, snubbed by the football legend.

Although appearing defensively frail at times, Maradona’s side topped Group B in South Africa with victories over Nigeria, South Korea and Greece.

They then overcame Mexico 3-1 to reach the quarter-finals.

But the emphatic nature of their exit at the hands of the Germans gave fresh ammunition to the critics of Maradona’s tenure, which included a fraught qualification campaign.

Since taking the job in November 2008, Maradona, considered by many as the greatest footballer in history, won eight and lost seven of his 15 games in charge of La Albiceleste.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is likely to miss the start of the season after undergoing a groin operation.

The club described the procedure performed on the Ivory Coast international as “minimally invasive”.

And it is expected that Drogba, 32, will return to full training in about three weeks.

That estimate would, however, put him out of the Charity Shield match against Manchester United on 8 August and the start of the Premier League campaign.

A short statement on Chelsea’s official website said he had been troubled by a groin injury for part of last season and the decision to have the operation on Friday was intended to “optimise his rehabilitation”.

Drogba has been a prolific scorer for Chelsea since joining them from French club Marseille in July 2004 for a reported fee of £24m and was on target 37 times during the 2009-10 season to help the team to a first Premier League and FA Cup Double.

He then went to the World Cup with the Ivory Coast squad and despite fracturing his right arm in a pre-tournament warm-up game, played in all three group matches wearing a protective cast.

Drogba scored in the 3-1 defeat by Brazil as the Elephants failed to progress to the last 16.

Chelsea have a serious of injury concerns ahead of the new Premier League campaign, which they will begin with a home match against newly promoted West Brom on 14 August.

New signing Yossi Benayoun also has a groin problem, first-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech is expected to be out for about a month because of a calf injury and defender Alex hurt his thigh in training.

Former Spain striker Raul has announced his departure from Real Madrid after 18 years and claimed he could now make a move to England’s Premier League.

The 33-year-old was expected to join German side Schalke on a two-year deal but Raul denied a deal had been done.

“I have had very deep discussions with Schalke but there are other teams that are also interested. My future lies in Germany or England,” he said.

Raul scored 323 goals in 741 games for Real, and 44 goals in 102 Spain games.

That scoring record helped him become a legend at the Bernabeu club, which he joined in 1992 – making his first-team debut against Real Zaragoza in October 1994 at the age of 17.

If he opts against a move to the Bundesliga with Schalke, Tottenham and Newcastle have been mooted as possible options for the veteran forward, while Liverpool and Manchester United have also been mentioned as potential destinations for the Madrid idol.

“In a few days I will know whether I’ll be going to the Bundesliga [or to England],” he told a press conference, also attended by president Florentino Perez and director general Jorge Valdano.

Raul helped Real seal three Champions League triumphs and six Spanish league titles in his time at Real and he revealed: “This is a very tough and difficult day.

“Football has been my life and Real Madrid my home. Together we have lived unique moments.

“I feel like a footballer still and I will keep on playing but I will always be loyal to Real Madrid. I have tried to give everything in my time here.

“A new period starts today. I have been happy at Real Madrid and I will always be willing to help the club in whatever it needs.”

Real president Florentino Perez also paid tribute to the departing idol and stated: “We will never forget Raul.

“There are many men who form part of the legend of Real Madrid but few that are chosen to embody the club – Raul is one of those.”

Midfielder Guti, 33, who spent a total of 25 years with Real having come through their youth system, announced he was joining Turkish club Beskitas on Sunday.

Norwich City striker Chris Martin believes they have plenty of goals in them ahead of the new season.

City beat Newcastle 2-1 at Carrow Road, just days after drawing blanks against Stevenage and Dagenham & Redbridge.

After scoring both goals against the Magpies, Martin told BBC Radio Norfolk they never doubted their own ability.

“A few people might have worried, I don’t think we did, we trust each other and the manager trusts whoever plays to score goals,” he said.

“He’s always said that, and I don’t think we’d play if he didn’t to be perfectly honest.

“We just need to keep playing our football and we showed today that when we do we create plenty of chances, come the first game of the season I’m sure we’ll score plenty,” he added.

Martin may face a fight to keep his place in the team this season, with new signing Simeon Jackson expected to be his main rival to play alongside Grant Holt.

Six new signings started the game against Newcastle, but Martin says the fact they have come into a winning team has helped the transition.

“It’s not been too difficult, the lads are still on a bit of a high from last season and it’s kind of geed up the ones that have come in,” he added.

“They know there’s a buzz around the club and around the City, but we need to forget what happened now, knuckle down and concentrate on the Championship.

“It’s going to be a different challenge altogether, we’re getting gradually ready for it, hopefully we can keep getting better and better.”

Norwich City kick off the Championship season, as League One champions, against Watford at Carrow Road on Friday, 6 August 2010.

Former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish says he hopes striker Fernando Torres will commit his future to the club.

The 26-year-old has been linked with a move away from Anfield, but Dalglish said he felt the arrival of new boss Roy Hodgson could persuade him to stay.

Captain Steven Gerrard has since said he expects to stay at the club, while Joe Cole has signed from Chelsea.

“When Torres sees that and talks with Roy I’m sure he’ll give us good news,” Dalglish told 5 live’s Sportsweek.

Hodgson told the News of the World on Sunday that he believed he had done all he could to keep Torres at Liverpool.

“Unfortunately, I cannot do much more. His beef is with the club and not me,” the paper quoted Hodgson as saying.

Torres has been struggling with injury of late and is currently out with an adductor problem although the club are hopeful he will be fit for the Premier League opening fixture against Arsenal on 15 August.

Chelsea are rumoured to be among the clubs interested in the Spanish World Cup winner, but Dalglish added: “I hope Torres stays. Only Fernando knows what is going to do. Unfortunately for him he is injured but he is a fantastic player and is very happy around the club and the city.

“The fact that Stevie is staying will be a great help and players like Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic, Jonjo Shelvey and Danny Wilson means there is buying for present and the future.”

Meanwhile, Dalglish said he was unsure about whether he will return to football management.

The 59-year-old has been out of management since ending a short spell with Celtic in 2000.

He was keen on the Liverpool post after Rafael Benitez’s exit, but stepped aside when it became clear he was not in the club hierarchy’s thoughts.

“Whether I would be a manager somewhere else remains to be seen. I don’t know,” he said.

“Sometimes you miss the buzz of competing at the top level but you don’t miss it when you lose a game because it can be very lonely.”

A Reds player for 10 years and manager between 1985 and 1991, Dalglish returned to the club last year to take up a senior position at the club’s academy as well as an ambassadorial role at Anfield.

“When Rafa went I offered to help in any way I could,” he said. There was a list made up [managing director] Christian Purslow and I spoke to a few people.

“After the initial conversations I stepped aside and the board made the decision who would be the next manager.

“I said I would help in any way I possibly could for Liverpool and I would have been prepared to be the manager if they wanted that.

“But they didn’t want that to happen which is their prerogative and that is no problem for me.

“I was very happy at the club last year working with the academy and being an ambassador and it was enjoyable.”

Dalglish believes the future is promising for Liverpool after the team failed to qualify for the Champions League this season.

“Signing Joe Cole and Steven Gerrard coming out with a statement saying he is staying gives everyone a lift and it wasn’t a bad week for the club,” said Dalglish.

“Roy is going to stamp his own authority on the club. It is difficult at the moment because the players are coming back in dribs and drabs after the World Cup and you don’t have everyone coming back together it is difficult.”