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World Soccer Headlines Real Madrid offered $29 million for Anelka
Posted: Wednesday July 05, 2000 03:45 PM
Real Madrid has received a $29 million bid for French striker Nicolas Anelka, says club president Lorenzo Sanz. But even if the offer from an unnamed club is accepted, the windfall will not lead to a Real spending spree, he said. "It will be the coaching staff who decide whether to accept the bid." "We have to strengthen the squad in certain positions but I believe the best players in the world are already at Real Madrid," Sanz declared. BARTELT HEADS FOR RAYO VALLECANO Argentine striker Gustavo Bartelt is to spend the forthcoming season at Spanish Primera Liga side Rayo Vallecano on loan from Italians Roma. Bartelt, who joined Roma in 1998 from Argentine side Lanus, has failed to establish himself in Serie A and was loaned out to Aston Villa of the English Premiership in February. He scored on his first two outings for the reserve team but had problems adjusting to the frenetic pace of the English game. ZOFF STANDS BY DECISION TO QUIT Dino Zoff has re-affirmed his decision to resign as Italian coach following a meeting with Football Federation president Luciano Nizzola. The 58-year-old quit in the wake of a scathing attack by AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi and said: "I'm sticking by my decision." "It was an excessive decision," said Nizzola, who had hoped to persuade Zoff to continue. "I still thought he would stay on. It's not natural to throw in the towel because of this criticism." TOLDO, RUI COSTA RENEW FIORENTINA DEALS Italian goalkeeper Francesco Toldo and Portuguese playmaker Rui Costa have ended speculation about their futures by signing extensions to their contracts at Italian side Fiorentina. The highly-rated Euro 2000 stars have signed until 2005 and 2004 respectively, after successful negotiations with club president Vittorio Cecchi Gori. "I'm very pleased and I am convinced we are building a great Fiorentina," said Toldo. New coach Fatih Terim has been given $68 million to spend on players. WILTORD IS ARSENAL'S NEXT TARGET Arsenal is close to finalizing a deal for Bordeaux's French Euro 2000 striker Sylvain Wiltord, according to the player's agent Giselaine Dugueteroux. Wiltord, who scored the late equalizer in Sunday's final win over Italy, is the target of a reported $22.7 million bid and Dugueteroux said: "The situation looks good at the moment." He would join French teammates Robert Pires, signed this week from Marseille, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit and Thierry Henry at the English club. KAREMBEU AMD OKON JOIN MIDDLESBROUGH French midfielder Christian Karembeu and Australian captain Paul Okon have completed their moves to Middlesbrough. Karembeu, 29, joins from Real Madrid for $3.2 million on a four-year deal. Midfielder Okon has signed a two-year deal after leaving Italy's Fiorentina where he was out-of-contract.
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