GALLIANI RULE OUT TEVEZ SIGNING

AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has insisted that the San Siro side are not interested in signing Manchester City attacker Carlos Tevez ahead of the 2013-14 campaign.

The Milan director recently hinted at a summer move for the Argentina international, but he has now made it clear that the Rossoneri have no intention to bring in an extra attacker until one of their current forwards leaves the club.

"Tevez is not a transfer target for us. Before we will try to bring in new players, we will have to sell some of our own players first," Galliani told reporters.

"It's not a financial problem, but has to do with the amount of attackers we already have. At the moment, we already have seven players for just three positions.

"Our big transfer coup came in January when we signed Mario Balotelli from City. We will see if anything else happens."

The 29-year-old Tevez has a contract with Manchester City until June 2014, but he is keen to leave the club this summer.

He has also been linked with clubs such as Juventus and Liverpool.

PIQUE DISMISSES REPORT OF SPANISH PLAYERS PARTYING

Gerard Pique has dismissed reports that Spain players were partying before they were robbed in Recife last week.

Six players had money and possessions taken from their room in the aftermath of la Roja's 2-1 Confederations Cup win over Uruguay on June 16 and officials of the Golden Tulip Hotel consequently opened an investigation into the matter.

Globoesporte claimed on Monday that the quest had revealed that the reigning European and world champions were partying and playing strip poker with a group of women before the robbery, but Pique has stressed there's no truth in this suggestion.

"These are all lies. They are trying to complicate other people's lives. The football federation will take up this matter," Pique told Cadena Cope.

"This is all a very unpleasant and unwelcome experience. This situation will be resolved, though. Lies are always exposed at some point."

Spain are currently preparing for the semi-final match against Italy on Thursday, with the winner to face either Brazil or Uruguay in the tournament's finale.

LIVERPOOL UNVEIL PLAN TO REDEVELOP ANFIELD

Liverpool are hopeful of moving ahead with plans to redevelop Anfield as part of a €305 million regeneration of the city.

A consortium backed by the club and fronted by the city council has asked local residents and businesses for their views on the plans, which outline the Merseyside outfit's preference to expand on their existing stadium.

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre is pleased progress is being made, but insisted the club would only push for expansion with the backing of the local area and after a series of feasibility studies.

"We are looking forward to working with the partnership and playing a part in the development of the regeneration vision and we strongly encourage local residents, businesses and community groups to get involved in the process and have their say," Ayre told the club's official website.

"This is also an important milestone as we seek to investigate the feasibility of expanding our stadium. We will continue this work, which is just one part of the wider Anfield vision, and there is a great deal of work still to be done to bring those plans to fruition.

"We have always said that any stadium expansion will be subject to detailed economic and social feasibility studies and the community and home owners' support, which includes our ability to purchase the land for the proposed expansion.

"Any expansion is also subject to the club being able to navigate the planning landscape and we are pleased to say that very positive progress is being made."

CESAR: WE WON'T UNDER ESTIMATE URUGUAY

Julio Cesar has insisted that Brazil will not take the Confederations Cup semi-final against Uruguay lightly as he feels Oscar Tabarez's men are a force to be reckoned with.

The hosts beat Japan, Mexico and Italy in the group stage of the competition and will be looking to extend their hot streak against their continental rivals in order to book their ticket to the final.

"Uruguay are very strong in attack and each of their attacker can decide a game on his own," Julio Cesar was quoted as saying on the official Fifa website.

"I know them all well and we shall have to beware. The tiniest thing can decide a match.

"They will be confident as they won the Copa America in 2011, but there's no favourite in this game."

Wednesday's last-four encounter will be held in Belo Horizonte.

VILLAS-BOAS: MOYES LACKS AURA OF INVINCIBILITY

Manchester United will have to rebuild their "aura of invincibility" under David Moyes, according to Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Former Everton boss Moyes replaced the 71-year-old at Old Trafford after the legendary Scot retired last season, following his 13th Premier League title at the club.

And Villas-Boas, who saw his Spurs side go unbeaten against the champions last term, believes the fear of facing United has lessened significantly ahead of the 2013-14 campaign.

"The aura that Sir Alex had, David Moyes does not yet have," Villas-Boas said, according to The Times.

"This could have a direct influence on the players of Manchester and their opponents. United had, because of Sir Alex’s history of winning, an aura of invincibility.

"The fear made everything harder and may continue if [Moyes’s] adaptation is fast. The structure and squad are top, but there was one voice. I am curious to see [what will happen]."

VILLAS-BOAS: MOURINHO DRAWS ATTENTION

Andre Villas-Boas insists all eyes will be on new Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho next season.

 

The Special One returned to Stamford Bridge this summer after a disappointing season with Real Madrid in which he fell out with senior players and failed to win a trophy.

 

But Villas-Boas - who worked under Mourinho at Porto, Chelsea and Inter - believes his former mentor's talent and charisma means he will remain compulsive viewing.

 

"It won't be possible to take your eyes away from Mourinho," he told Portuguese newspaper O Jogo.

 

"One of his characteristics, and I don't say it in a negative way, is to deviate attentions, positive and negative, in such a way that the team is only worried about winning."

MIGNOLET TO HAVE MEDICAL ON TUESDAY

According to ESPN, Simon Mignolet will travel to Merseyside on Tuesday for a medical ahead of a £9 million move to Liverpool.
The Belgium international is set to leave Sunderland after a fee was agreed for the transfer on Friday.
Mignolet was named the Black Cats’ player of the season for 2012-13 after keeping 11 clean sheets in 40 appearances in all competitions.

The 25-year-old’s arrival raises significant questions about the long-term future of Pepe Reina, who has been the first choice at Anfield since arriving from Villarreal in 2005.
But manager Brendan Rodgers has declared that he wants Reina to stay and ensure that the club’s goalkeeping department has strength in depth.
Reina, who has been linked with moves to Barcelona and Arsenal, declared on Sunday that he will be happy to stay and fight for his place next season.
The Spain international, currently on duty with his country at the Confederations Cup in Brazil, is under contract with Liverpool until 2016.
Mignolet, who came to England when he joined Sunderland from Belgian club Sint-Truden for £2 million in June 2010, is set to become Liverpool’s fourth summer signing.
Central defender Kolo Toure has been secured on a free transfer from Manchester City, forward Luis Alberto was signed from Sevilla for £6 million on Saturday, and the drawn-out £7.7 million capture of Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas was confirmed on Sunday evening.

PELLEGRINI HAPPY WITH CITY SQUAD

New Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes adding more pace to his squad puts them in better shape to regain their Premier League title.
The Chilean has spoken of speed being a key component in the armoury of the club's two summer signings Jesus Navas and Fernandinho.
Pellegrini is looking to add more before the start of the season, but appears to be losing the battle to be reunited with Isco, whom he coached at former club Malaga.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder is also being tracked by Real Madrid and it appears they are winning the race.
"Real Madrid are a team that excites me. They are one of the best teams in the world," Isco told Spanish newspaper AS.
While Pellegrini may ultimately have to look elsewhere, he is delighted by the two acquisitions already made.
"Jesus is a player I know well from La Liga and he is someone I have admired for a long time," he said.
"He is quick, has excellent technique and I think the City fans will enjoy watching him play.
"He will provide a variety of attacking options for us and he can also score goals as well as create them for others.
"He is an excellent signing for the club.
"Jesus is a world and European champion and a regular squad member in a very special Spain team."
Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho has been brought in from Shakhtar Donetsk and Pellegrini said the 28-year-old was one of his major summer targets.
"I made Fernandinho one of the top priorities. He has impressed me on a number of occasions over the past few years and is another player I've taken a keen interest in," the Blues boss told mcfc.co.uk.
"He is an experienced international who will further strengthen our midfield and I think he will be well suited to the Premier League.
"He is a superb athlete with a wide range of passing, can score goals and most importantly, can quickly turn defence into attack.
"Both Jesus and Fernandinho add pace and skill to what is already a very talented and successful squad.
"I am looking forward to working with both our new signings and to working with the players who have already won a Premier League title together.
"We have a very strong pool and together we aim to achieve great things."

AC MILAN PRESIDENT JAILED FOR SEVEN YEARS

AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty of charges of corruption and soliciting an underage prostitute.

The 76-year-old was accused of paying for sex with Moroccan girl Karima El Mahroug in 2010, when she was 17, as well as abusing his position in public office for attempting to force her release from police custody over a charge of petty theft.

Although prosecutors sought a six-year custodial sentence for the former Italian Premier, a court in Milan issued a seven-year punishment following the guilty verdict in addition to a lifetime ban from politics, pending any appeal from Berlusconi's solicitors.

However, it could be months or even years before he serves any punishment, with Berlusconi entitled to appeal the verdict twice before it becomes final.

Berlusconi is already embroiled in several legal battles in the Italian courts. In October 2012, he was issued a four-year prison sentence for tax fraud, which has been upheld following a first appeal.

He released a statement on Monday saying: "I was truly convinced I would be absolved because there was absolutely no possibility of being found guilty based on the evidence."

Berlusconi's lawyer Niccolo Ghedini revealed they would launch an appeal, describing the sentence as "beyond reality" and "completely illogical".

He added: "The judges even went beyond the prosecutors' request [for a six-year sentence]."

FRIEDEL: I'M NOT RETIRING SOON

Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel has dismissed the notion of retiring, insisting he will continue playing as long as his body allows him to do so.

At 42 years old, the American is the oldest player still plying his trade in the Premier League and recently extended his stay at White Hart Lane until the summer of 2014.

Friedel's record-breaking run of 301 consecutive Premier League games ended last October following Hugo Lloris' arrival, with his outings restricted to cup competitions, but he has no intention of throwing in the towel yet.

"I'll see if I can walk down the stairs in January," Friedel joked to Goal. "I'm going to play until my body says I can't do it anymore or the club doesn't want me.

"At 42 years of age, the team comes first. Me and Hugo have a very good relationship... He's a really nice guy and a really good goalkeeper."

Friedel, though, did reveal that Tottenham received a number of enquiries for the veteran during January, with first-choice, first-team football on offer, but he was happy to remain at White Hart Lane.

"I did have a few calls last January but none of them were printed," stated Friedel.

"Would I consider a job in MLS? Absolutely. I think if it's with the right people and the right owners and the right club, absolutely."

Spurs narrowly missed out on the final Champions League spot last season despite having the highest Premier League points tally in their history.

Friedel does not feel there is a major area where Tottenham needs improvement, believing the club to be "little tweaks away from greatness", and is a firm believer that manager Andre Villas-Boas is the right man to take the club to the next level.

"When Andre came in, he set the tone right away," Friedel said. "He said he was a winner and he wanted us to be winners and he wanted the club to be successful.

"He's very much an attention-to-detail manager. Our training sessions are very structured, very organized. He came in and had an open door policy right away which is all you can ask for a player."