Ali´s grandson to play college football at California

Napoli have signed Spanish attacker Michu from Swansea City on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent move.

The versatile forward had been strongly linked with a move away from the Liberty Stadium in recent weeks and did not travel to the United States for the Welsh club s pre-season tour.

And his switch to Serie A has now been confirmed in a deal that Napoli have the option to make permanent should he impress at the Stadio San Paolo.

Michu arrived at Swansea for a fee of £2.2million from Rayo Vallecano in 2012 and scored 18 Premier League goals in his first season.

However, the 28-year-old endured an injury-plagued 2013-14 campaign, making just 15 top-flight starts.

The Spaniard becomes Napoli s second signing of the transfer window follo…

Manchester United are reportedly ready to challenge Chelsea for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.

Rice, 21, has been linked heavily with a move to Stamford Bridge, but no deal came to fruition during the close season.

United are apparently ready to join the race for the England international.

TOP STORY – MAN UTD TO CHALLENGE CHELSEA FOR RICE

Manchester United could make a move for West Ham midfielder and Chelsea target Rice at season s end, according to the Daily Express.

The report says United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is said to be a fan of Rice, who spent some of his childhood in Chelsea s academy.

Rice has played every minute of the Premier League campaign for West Ham so far.

Solskajer is making some long-t…

Zinedine Zidane is not interested in discussing a new contract with Real Madrid but is hopeful skipper Sergio Ramos will soon commit his future to the Spanish giants.

Madrid have won four games in a row ahead of Sunday s trip to Eibar to get their LaLiga title defence back on track and advance through to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Zidane, who was rumoured to be one game away from being sacked earlier this month, is under contract at the Bernabeu until the end of next season.

A number of Madrid players are also into the final 18 months of their existing deals, with the likes of Ramos, Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez set to become free agents in 2021.

But while Zidane is not looking to open talks over fresh terms with Madrid, the Frenchman is keen f…

Lucas Moura and Layvin Kurzawa were on target as Paris Saint-Germain eased to a 3-0 Ligue 1 victory over Metz in Unai Emery s first home match in charge.

After taking the reins from Laurent Blanc, Emery has been tasked with translating PSG s domestic dominance into European success.

It remains to be seen how PSG will perform under the Spaniard in the Champions League but Sunday s contest offered no suggestion they will struggle to maintain their Ligue 1 monopoly.

PSG were in full control throughout the 90 minutes and only the profligacy of Edinson Cavani, who enjoyed a nightmare evening in front of goal, prevented the margin of victory from being greater.

Cavani missed a series of glaring opportunities but Lucas produced a well-taken finish in the 52nd m…

Assani Lukimya has penned a two-year extension with Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen.

The 28-year-old centre-back s deal was due to expire in 2015, but he has agreed terms on a fresh contract that runs until June 2017.

Lukimya was on target as Bremen started the new campaign with a comeback 2-2 draw at Hertha Berlin on Saturday and he was thrilled to be prolonging his stay.

I sense a strong trust within the team and a high standing, he told Bremen s official website.

I enjoy the calm way people work here and you can tell that things are going forward step by step.

I am also happy to remain part of the team. My goal is to continue to develop together with the team.

General manager Thomas Eichin added: Assani is a very important player w…

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O Neill has a selection dilemma over who to play in goal for Wednesday s friendly with Oman in Dublin.

Veteran goalkeeper Shay Given announced his retirement after Ireland s Euro 2012 campaign, but has since made himself available once again and has been included in O Neill s 27-man party for the clash with Oman and the Euro 2016 qualifier in Georgia on Sunday.

The 38-year-old is one of four keepers in the squad, alongside David Forde, Keiren Westwood and Rob Elliot.

That leaves O Neill with a decision to make over who gets the nod, but O Neill insists that Given, who has 125 caps to his name, is not guaranteed a starting berth.

I talked to Shay quite some time ago way back last season when he was on loan at Middlesbrou…

Market: Lyon to qualify

Odds: 4/7 @

Two sides who will be looking to book their spot in the final of this season’s Coupe de France, Nantes will welcome Lyon to the Stade de la Beaujoire on Wednesday night.

Starting with the hosts, marking their return from the international break with a nightmare display over the weekend, Nantes found themselves in the midst of an extended rut. Eventually blown away on home soil as they were hit with a 3-0 drumming at the hands of Reims, Les Canaris have now failed to win any of their last four Ligue 1 appearances. With that run highlighted by an action-packed 4-2 defeat at the hands of PSG on March 4th, Antonie Kombouare’s side have come under real scrutiny this season. Although Nantes might have stunned everyone across Fra…

Diego Milito says Inter Milan s recent win over Juventus has given them the belief they can take out the Scudetto this season.

Formerly at Real Zaragoza, Milito has enjoyed a renaissance in 2012, with his double in the victory over Juventus on November 3 pushing both him up to 27 league goals this calendar year as the Nerazzurri climb to second on the Italian table.

Speaking to Inter s official website, the Argentina international reiterated his desire to win more trophies with the club, particularly the Scudetto shield.

I d do anything to win the Scudetto! the 33-year-old said. We hope to win titles. Lots of titles.

Milito had previously said back in July that he would even dye his hair blonde if Inter won the Serie A this season, claiming: I would do…

Market: Palmeiras win

Odds: 3/2 @

Looking to lay down another marker this weekend, a high-flying Palmeiras will make the trip to hometown strugglers Sao Paulo late on Saturday night.

Starting with the hosts, while Sao Paulo might have managed to pick up a much-welcomed Copa Libertadores victory away at Racing Club, Hernán Crespo s side failed to keep up that momentum last time out. Putting in what many across Brazil are branding a season-worst display, the former AC Milan striker saw his side get hit with a 5-1 drumming away at Flamengo. Still firmly battling it out at the foot of the table and opening Saturday s contest sat in the drop zone, Sao Paulo have also gained a reputation for their continued inconsistencies on home soil. Last seen at the Morumbi suffe…

Edin Terzic breathed a sigh of relief after Youssoufa Moukoko s late winner guided Borussia Dortmund past Union Berlin, keeping them in touch with Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.

Moukoko came off the bench to net the decisive goal after Donyell Malen s opener was cancelled out by Kevin Behrens, as BVB edged a battle between Bayern s two closest challengers 2-1.

The victory ensures Dortmund – who were beaten 4-2 by Bayern last week – remain two points adrift of Thomas Tuchel s league leaders with seven games still to play this term.

Terzic now has 32 wins from his first 50 league games in charge of Dortmund – more than any other Dortmund coach has posted in their first 50 matches at the helm – and the importance of their latest victory was not lost on th…