Football news

Former Roma coach Carlo Mazzone has announced his retirement after managing 12 clubs in his career.

"If I had wanted to return to the dugout I would have already come back. I am happy to live a retired life, I admit I still feel the calling of the soccer field but at 71 I think I'll stop to be with my family," he told Radio Kiss Kiss.

D'Alessandro joins San Lorenzo

Former Argentina midfielder Andres D'Alessandro arrived in Buenos Aires on Wednesday to join San Lorenzo from Real Zaragoza in time for this weekend's start of the Argentine Clausura championship, local media reported.

D'Alessandro, 26, previously played for River Plate, WfL Wolfsburg and on loan for a short spell with Portsmouth.

Blind charged for drink driving

Former Dutch international and Ajax coach Danny Blind is to be charged for drink driving and causing an accident while under the influence of alcohol, the Dutch public prosecutor said yesterday.

Blind seriously injured another driver when he hit a car near the Amsterdam Arena stadium in December 2006.

He apologised for drinking and driving and soon after the incident had his licence revoked for nine months. Blind, who won 42 caps, is now technical director of Sparta Rotterdam.

Sevilla apply for Intertoto Cup

UEFA Cup holders Sevilla have registered for next season's Intertoto Cup, club coach Manolo Jimenez said.

"We are doing it as a preventative measure," Jimenez told a news conference. Sevilla are seventh in the Primera Liga, two points behind sixth-placed Racing Santander. They host Barcelona tomorrow.

Torres to miss Chelsea trip

Liverpool will be without leading scorer Fernando Torres for Sunday's Premier League match at Chelsea after he suffered an hamstring injury playing for Spain on Wednesday.

Torres managed just 23 minutes of the 1-0 win over World Cup runners-up France before limping off with a hamstring injury.

To make matters worse for under-pressure Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, midfielder Javier Mascherano will not return until today after playing for Argentina although he should be available for selection.

Libertadores match abandoned

Brazil's Cruzeiro advanced to the group stage of the Libertadores Cup after rock-throwing Cerro Porteno fans caused their qualifying match in Paraguay to be abandoned on Wednesday.

Cruzeiro were 3-2 ahead, leading 6-3 on aggregate, when a shower of rubble persuaded Chilean referee Carlos Chandia to call off the game on 63 minutes.

FIFA observer Alvaro Castro told television reporters that he would be submitting a report about the matter to CONMEBOL. "Stones, bottles and other objects were thrown. The game was suspended because it was not possible to guarantee safety," he said.

Inter planning Rossi swoop?

Inter are being linked with a summer move for Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi. The young striker impressed in Italy U-21's 2-1 win over Holland in a friendly on Tuesday. Rossi has scored 10 goals for Villarreal so far this season.

According to reports in the Corriere dello Sport, Inter are keen to sign the former Manchester United forward in spite of the recent rise of teenager Mario Balotelli.

Inter president Massimo Moratti is reportedly prepared to table a bid of over £10m for Rossi - who left Old Trafford for a fee of under £7m last summer.

Kaka targets Arsenal return

Kaka will miss Milan's Serie A match against Siena this weekend, but is determined to return for the Champions League trip to Arsenal.

The Brazilian star has been playing in spite of a knee problem for the last year, but has finally been forced to give the problem some time to heal.

"The knee is getting better," Kaka said at a charity event in Milan. "Unfortunately, this is an old problem.

"I just want to be back for the double test against Arsenal. I don't think any operation will be needed, not even at the end of the year."

Rocchi hints at Lazio stay

Lazio striker Tommaso Rocchi is ready to renew his contract if the club show ambition that they want to return to the European stage in the near future.

The talented hitman had been unwilling to commit himself to Lazio over the last few months after the team made a miserable start to the campaign.

"I think that my future is in Rome," Rocchi said. "If I had wanted to leave to win things I would have gone by now.

"I want to stay, even if I know that it will be difficult to win a Scudetto or a European trophy here. But there has to be the possibility of winning something and, like this year, the chance to play in Europe in the biggest stadiums. I don't want words - I want action."