SUAREZ: ITALY ARE A THREAT WITHOUT BALOTELLI

Luis Suarez says Italy can "hurt" Uruguay in Sunday's Confederations Cup third-place decider without star striker Mario Balotelli.

The AC Milan attacker is back at home, having been ruled out of the tournament with an injury sustained in the group stage defeat by hosts Brazil.

The Azzurri missed 'Super Mario' in their semi-final shoot-out defeat by Spain on Thursday, but Suarez still says Cesare Prandelli's men have more than enough firepower in reserve.

"Even if they do not have Balotelli, there are a lot of players of the same quality, like [Sebastian] Giovinco," the Liverpool hitman told Globoesporte.

"Besides, Italy are always the same. They love to exploit the space left by opponents. If we do not play a great game, they can hurt us."

Suarez strengthened his argument by citing the way in which Italy came from behind to beat Japan 4-3 in an epic encounter in the group stages.

"We should not be surprised that they did that," he said. "Italy are a team that you have to put away when you have the chance; otherwise they will always find a way to come back."

Suarez admitted Uruguay's primary concern is making sure they are back in Brazil next summer for the World Cup, but insisted that they intend on finishing their Confederations Cup campaign on a high.

"Getting third would be very important for us , even if we are also already thinking of the qualifiers," the 26-year-old added.

Uruguay sit fifth in the Conmebol qualification standings.

SLUTSKY: WE ARE UNSURE OF HONDA'S FUTURE

CSKA Moscow coach Leonid Slutsky has admitted he is unsure of Keisuke Honda's future at the club.

The Japan international is out of contract at the end of the year and has been heavily linked with a move away from the Russian capital, with AC Milan said to be leading the chase for the playmaker's signature.

However, Slutsky insists he is unaware of any concrete interest in Honda and hopes to keep hold of one of his team's star performers.

"What I can say is that Honda is still our player today," the CSKA boss told Tuttomercatoweb.com. "But his future doesn't depend on me, and I cannot say if he will stay or not. That is something for the club to deal with.

"I can only say that Honda is a fantastic footballer, but I don't really know who is following him.

"Can I see him doing well in Italy? I could see him doing better in the Champions League, in a CSKA jersey!"

The 27-year-old Honda, who caught the eye during his country's brief Confederations Cup campaign, joined CSKA from Dutch outfit VVV-Venlo in 2010.

NORWICH AGREE DEAL TO SIGN PSV FORWARD

Norwich City have agreed a deal to sign Ola Toivonen from PSV Eindhoven, according to the Dutch club.

The 26-year-old had one year left on his PSV contract, but had previously stated their asking price of £4million was too high.
However, PSV director Marcel Brands claims that with the two clubs having agreed a deal, matters are now in the Swedish player's hands.
"We never comment on any sums, but we have reached an agreement with Norwich for Ola," Brands told Swedish newspaper SportBladet.
"Now it's entirely up to him to decide whether he wants to move.
"We start training on Monday, if there is no deal with Norwich then I expect to him to be here."

RIBERY SIGNS NEW BAYERN DEAL

Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has delivered on his promise by putting pen to paper on a new four-year contract.

I'm really pleased. I always said how great it feels to be at FC Bayern.
I have a good feeling for me and my family and I hope things will carry on the way they were in the past year.

– Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery speaking to the club's official website

INIESTA RESCUES ALBACETE

Andres Iniesta has rescued Albacete from relegation by stumping up €240,000 owed to the club's players.

The cash-strapped Segunda Division B outfit would have been demoted to the fourth tier of Spanish football on administrative grounds had they not settled the debt by noon on Friday.

However, Iniesta, the largest shareholder in the club at which he began his career, came to their aid, paying the outstanding wage bill out of his own pocket.

It is not the first time the 29-year-old has come to the rescue of Albacete as he injected €420,000 into the club in 2011.

Iniesta, who lined up for Spain in Thursday night's Confederations Cup semi-final clash with Italy, spent two years at Albacete before joining Barcelona's youth academy as a 12-year-old in 1996.

POCHETTINO: I'M EXPECTING BIG THINGS FROM RAMIREZ

Mauricio Pochettino does not expect record signing Gaston Ramirez to leave Southampton this summer and has denied making a bid for Roma's Pablo Osvaldo.
The Saints have spent big since returning to the Barclays Premier League and last year smashed their transfer record to recruit Ramirez from Bologna for upwards of £12million.
However, the Uruguay international struggled to fulfil expectations in his debut season and has been linked with a move away from St Mary's.

Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid have been mentioned as potential destinations, but manager Pochettino has no intention to sell him.
"He's happy with us and we are counting on him for next season," he told tuttomercatoweb.com.
"It's normal that a lot of clubs are interested in his quality, but we don't listen to transfer rumours. We are planning for next season with him on board."
Pochettino has so far made just one summer signing, brining in Lyon centre-back Dejan Lovren for £8.5million - a move which ended interest in Cagliari centre-back Davide Astori.
"Lots of names have been linked with Southampton, perhaps too many," he added. "Some of them have been invented, others not.
"We were after Astori, for example, but in the end we went for Lovren instead. He's a great player."
Pochettino also played down talk linking Saints with a move for Astori's Cagliari team-mate Radja Nainggolan, while he also dismissed speculation surrounding a move for Osvaldo.
The Roma striker played under the Argentinian at Espanyol and reports today suggested he rejected a £17million move to the south coast.
"Osvaldo is a great player," Pochettino said. "I worked with him at Espanyol so I know what he can do.
"We are aware of his situation at Roma, but we haven't made an offer.
"We have a clear idea of what our targets should be but the market is moving very slowly at the moment. We are working prudently to reinforce the squad."

DEL PIERO REJECTS AJJACIO OFFER

Italian star Alessandro Del Piero has decided against a move to Corsican side Ajaccio for family reasons.
The 38-year-old held discussions with Ajaccio - now managed by his former Juventus team-mate Fabrizio Ravanelli - concerning a move but will instead remain with Sydney FC.

For several weeks the club have been in discussions with the celebrated Italian forward Alessandro Del Piero.
Aged 38 and currently a player with Sydney FC, he will not ultimately come to Ajaccio. After reaching an agreement in principle, family reasons persuaded him to stay in Australia.

– A statement on the clubs official website

AGENT: PREMIER LEAGUE SIDES ARE INTERESTED IN CARDOZO

There is "real interest" from the Premier League in Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo, according to the player's agent.

The Paraguay international has often been linked with a move to England in the past but Pedro Aldave claims that the forward's unnamed suitors are more closely following him than before.

"Benfica knows the situation and now the subject is in their hands," the agent told Sky Sports.

"There has always been interest from Premier League but now this is real interest."

Cardozo has scored 161 goals in 260 games for the Portuguese Liga outfit since joining from Newell's Old Boys in 2007.

SUNDERLAND CLOSE IN ON ARSENAL KEEPER

Sunderland are closing in on the signing of Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone.

Black Cats boss Paolo Di Canio has lined up a move for his fellow Italian as he looks for a replacement for Simon Mignolet following his departure to Liverpool.

Mannone is well down the pecking order at Arsenal and since arriving from Atalanta in 2005 he has made just 15 appearances at the club.
The 25-year-old has has spells out on loan at Barnsley and Hull City twice during his time with the Gunners and he impressed during his time at the KC Stadium.
Sunderland are now ready to offer Mannone a permanent move away from Arsenal with talks at an advanced stage between both Premier League clubs.
Mannone is expected to hold talks with the Wearside club next week as Di Canio looks to lure him to the Stadium of Light.

GIACCHERINI: I WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE MISSED PENALTY

Emanuele Giaccherini has revealed he was supposed to take the penalty that Leonardo Bonucci missed in Italy's Confederations Cup semi-final shoot-out failure against Spain.

The versatile Bianconeri winger was meant to accept the responsibility of converting the Azzurri's seventh spot kick in Fortaleza but he passed the buck to Bonucci, who blazed high over the bar, allowing Jesus Navas to decide the game - which had finished 0-0 after 120 minutes - in la Roja's favour.

"I didn't go to take a penalty because, being honest, I didn't feel it," Giaccherini is quoted as saying by Gazzetta.it.

"I spoke with Bonucci. I said, 'Leonardo, you go', because I was convinced he would have scored. It's a shame. Unfortunately, it's always a lottery.

"But it was a great performance by Italy. We played a great game. This time, we were unlucky, but we put Spain in difficulty by imposing our game on them."

Giaccherini, though, is hoping his impressive performances in the Confederations Cup will see him return to Brazil next year for the World Cup.

"It would be a life's dream," he continued. "I have done so much to get into the national team. Therefore, I will strive to hold onto this place tightly."

Giaccherini, who netted in Italy's 4-2 defeat by Brazil in the group stages, has been capped 13 times by his country.