Football news

Inter are well on their way to retaining the Serie A title but not all players are happy at the club as Hernan Crespo showed yesterday.

"I have been altruistic for seven months, trying to hide the sadness of being in a situation I was not accustomed to," he said.

"My team-mates are not to blame and it would be wrong of me to behave in a way that could disturb them. The squad and the fans all do everything they can to make me feel loved, but it is not easy to always wear a mask."

Against Livorno on Saturday Crespo made only his ninth Serie A appearance of the campaign - just six from the start.

No Barca link says Wenger

Arsene Wenger has rejected talk linking him with a move to Barcelona. Reports emanating from Spain last week suggested Barca were lining up a move for the Arsenal manager next summer.

Barca are considering replacing Frank Rijkaard and believed to have made Wenger their prime target to succeed the Dutchman.

Wenger said: "It's not the first time there has been talk of Barcelona's interest. I'm happy where I am.

"I have no intention of moving and I want to carry on at Arsenal."

Parma seats too small for Dida

Nelson Dida needed a stretcher to leave the bench at Parma on Saturday after a freak injury. The goalkeeper was on the sidelines during the first half of the 0-0 draw at the Tardini stadium when the half-time whistle blew.

He attempted to walk into the locker room with his Milan team-mates when he suddenly froze on the spot. The Brazilian's back seized up and, after medical staff attempted for several minutes to massage the affected area, eventually a stretcher was needed to take him away.

Reports yesterday suggested the reason for this freak injury was the bitter cold or even the seats on the Tardini bench being too small.

Musampa for MLS trial

Kiki Musampa is on a one-week trial with MLS club Toronto. The 30-year-old Dutchman started his career in Ajax's famous youth system and had spells with Bordeaux, Malaga, Atletico Madrid and Trabzonspor as well as Manchester City for whom he played 41 games between 2004-06.

Musampa, who was released by Dutch club AZ Alkmaar on January 1, is a free agent and was initially linked with a move to either Korea or Japan.

Toronto recorded a first victory under incoming coach John Carver on Saturday with a pre-season 2-0 win over the Kansas City Wizards.

Danish defender to join Palermo

Palermo signed Danish central defender Simon Kjaer yesterday. The 18-year-old, also wanted by Real Madrid and Liverpool, will arrive from Midtjylland in the summer.

Kjaer is already the captain of the Denmark U-19 team and considered among the most promising defenders in Europe. He had been a target for various Premiership and La Liga clubs.

Among others, Kjaer had a trial at Real Madrid and was a £3m option for Liverpool, Chelsea and Middlesbrough.

Benitez hits back at critics

Rafael Benitez hit back at his critics yesterday after Liverpool were ousted from the FA Cup by Barnsley who sit mid-table in the Championship. They recorded a huge upset after coming from behind to knock the Reds out 2-1 at Anfield.

Benitez, who took over at Anfield in 2004, said: "If you analyse the last few years since I came to the club we have won four trophies and been in seven finals, including two in the Champions League.

"How many other managers have done the same in their first three or four years at the club?"

Maldini hails his mother

Paolo Maldini thanked his mother for standing by him during his career after making his 1,000th professional appearance in Milan's draw at Parma on Saturday. The 39-year-old, who should retire at the end of the season, reached the milestone as a second-half substitute.

"I would like to dedicate this achievement to my family, in particular my mother who has followed me all these years and has always stayed close," he told reporters.

Maldini made his debut for Milan aged 16 against Udinese in a Serie A match in January 1985.

Toni's World Cup medal safe

Thieves have broken into Luca Toni's Italian villa but his World Cup winners' medal from 2006 was not among the stolen items.

The Bayern Munich striker was not at his house near Modena when the robbery happened, probably in the early hours of Saturday.

"Perhaps they have taken other trophies, but I don't know which. We are doing an inventory," Toni's father Giancarlo said.

Files complaint after racial slurs

Valenciennes captain Abdeslam Ouaddou has filed a legal complaint after being racially abused by a fan during a Ligue 1 match at Metz on Saturday, his club said.

A furious Ouaddou walked towards the stands at half-time to remonstrate with a Metz spectator who had repeatedly insulted him. He was forced back to the pitch by stewards and received a yellow card.

The Morocco defender filed a complaint after the match.