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Soccernet.Com - France midfielder Patrick Vieira has been sold to Internazionale from Juventus for £6.5million. The announcement was made by Juventus this morning through the Italian stock exchange.
The Turin giants bought Vieira from Arsenal for £13.7million last summer, but players are being sold following the team's relegation to Serie B as punishment for their role in the Italian match-fixing scandal.
The statement said: 'French midfielder Patrick Vieira is officially sold from Juventus to Inter for 9.5m euros, payable in three years.'
As well as dropping into Italy's second division, Juventus have been told they face a 17-point deduction to start the 2006-07 campaign.
The club have lodged an appeal against the penalty to CONI (the Italian Olympic Committee), the highest sporting body in Italy.
But by joining Inter, Vieira will play for title contenders in Serie A and he will also take part in the Champions League.
One of the consequences of Juventus' punishment is they were stripped of last season's title, and with second-placed AC Milan also punished for match-fixing, Inter were awarded the Serie A crown.
Vieira, who played for France when they hosted and won the World Cup in 1998 and also captured the European Championship two years later, has signed a four-year contract at Inter.
He shot to prominence in England with Arsenal, moving to the Gunners from AC Milan in August 1996.
Under French coach Arsene Wenger, Vieira won three league titles and four FA Cups during his time at Highbury.
The 30-year-old started his career with French club Cannes before leaving in November 1995 to join Milan, where he spent less than one season before moving on to Arsenal for £4million.
Vieira, who made 31 league appearances for Juve last season and scored five goals, was strongly linked with Manchester United but instead has opted to remain in the north of Italy.

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Soccernet.Com - Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira has hinted he could join old rivals Manchester United as he desperately attempts to escape Italy's Serie B.
Vieira has yet to leave Juventus in the wake of their demotion for match-fixing despite four of his team-mates jumping ship almost immediately.
The 30-year-old, whose move to Inter Milan last week appears to have stalled, said: 'Every player wants to play for a club like Manchester United at the highest level.
'After nine years at Arsenal it might be difficult. But anything can happen in football.
'Now I'm not sure where I'm playing next season, I'm still looking for a new club.
'There might be some sort of conclusion in the next 48 hours and it's a very important decision for me.
'I will not be playing for Juventus since they are going to Serie B.'
Emerson and Fabio Cannavaro wasted no time in leaving `The Old Lady' last month and joined former Juve coach Fabio Capello at Real Madrid while Gianluca Zambrotta and Lilian Thuram headed for Barcelona.

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MADRID, (Reuters) - David Beckham has said he hopes to recover from his knee and tendon injuries in time for Real Madrid's pre-season tour of the United States next month.
"Hopefully I'll be fit for the games in the USA. We'll have to wait and see because I only started running on Sunday without any pain," Beckham told the Real website on Monday.
He suffered the injuries and had to be replaced during England's World Cup quarter-final clash with Portugal, which they lost on penalties at the beginning of July.
The midfielder has been training separately from the rest of the Real squad since joining up at their pre-season training camp in Austria last week.
Beckham is looking forward to playing alongside his former Manchester United team mate Ruud van Nistelrooy, who completed his move to the Spanish capital on Friday.
"He is one of the best goalscorers I have ever played with," said Beckham. "He runs for the team and he works hard."
Real are scheduled to play DC United in Seattle on Aug. 9 and Real Salt Lake in Salt Lake City on Aug. 12.

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Soccernet.Com - Frank Lampard believes Sven-Goran Eriksson made a mistake in not taking Jermain Defoe to the World Cup.
The Swede attracted considerable flak before his final tournament as England manager for only selecting four strikers when both of his first choice pairing, Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, were recovering from broken metatarsals.
The criticism was vindicated as Owen was sent home with a cruciate injury, leaving Eriksson with just two experienced forwards in Rooney and Crouch and one, Theo Walcott, who had never played top-flight football.
And Lampard said: 'Questions had been asked about why we didn't have five strikers in the squad when two of our forwards went into the tournament trying to recover fitness.
'Personally, I'd have included Jermain as well. I played with him at West Ham and he is a natural goalscorer.
'In terms of the line-ups for each match, I don't think they would have been affected.
'I'd have preferred some insurance though, and it would have given us more options. In that respect I would have taken Defoe.'
Lampard also revealed his interest in captaining England, the position having been vacated by David Beckham after the World Cup.
Although his Chelsea team-mate John Terry and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard have attracted strong support, Lampard considers it a job to which he would be suited.
'I have had the privilege of captaining Chelsea on a few occasions in JT(Terry)'s absence and have enjoyed it. I would love to do the same for England,' Lampard says in his book `Totally Frank', being serialised by the News of the World.
'If I was called on to lead the national team I know I would do a good job.
'It's more difficult than ever to be captain of England with the kind of press scrutiny that exists at all levels - everyone has an opinion about you and your life, but I know I could handle that.'

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Soccernet.Com - Michael Carrick is set to become the fifth most expensive player in Manchester United history when he signs for the Old Trafford club later today - providing he passes a medical.
Tottenham have confirmed the agreement of a fee with United which could reach £18.6million if Carrick does as well as Sir Alex Ferguson expects.
Only Rio Ferdinand, Juan Sebastian Veron, Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy have cost more.
But, while some Red Devils supporters are seriously underwhelmed by Carrick's imminent arrival - especially coming just 72 hours after Van Nistelrooy's unveiling as a Real Madrid star - Ferguson sees the 25-year-old's capture as confirmation United remain as attractive as they always have.
Providing there are no unforeseen hitches, Carrick will train with his new team-mates for the first time tomorrow and then make his United debut at some stage during this weekend's Amsterdam tournament.
By then, Ferguson could have also clinched the signing of Villarreal's Marcos Senna, who appears to have been targeted to fill the defensive midfield berth United have lacked since the exit of Roy Keane.
At 30, Senna does not represent the future but Ferguson has made it clear since January his midfield needs reinforcing and, by adding the Brazilian-born Spanish international to his squad, he can free up the likes of Ryan Giggs and Kieran Richardson to play in more offensive roles having apparently decided not to bring in a like-for-like replacement for Van Nistelrooy.
Providing he recovers from a stomach bug, Giggs could find himself playing up front at Macclesfield tonight, where he may end up partnering Wayne Rooney.
The England star is due to play for the first time since being red-carded in the World Cup quarter-final defeat to Portugal, with Rio Ferdinand and Edwin van der Sar also pencilled in for appearances at a packed Moss Rose.
Before then, Rooney is due to meet up with Cristiano Ronaldo, whom many people - but not the man himself - blame for the United striker's dismissal in Gelsenkirchen.
After twice insisting he wanted to join Real Madrid, only for the Red Devils to reaffirm their intent to keep him, Ronaldo is due back at training today, along with French duo Louis Saha and Mikael Silvestre.

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MADRID, (Reuters) - Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos has said he wants to continue with Real Madrid after speaking to new coach Fabio Capello.
"I want to stay at the club. I say it loudly and clearly," the fullback told Spanish sports daily AS on Monday.
After 10 years with Real the 33-year-old had hinted at a possible move at the end of last season, saying he had received an offer from English champions Chelsea for a three-year contract.
Turkish side Fenerbahce, now managed by Brazilian Zico, are also reported to be interested in taking the player who has one year left on his contract at Real with an option of another dependant on the number of games he plays next season.
"After returning from my holidays I feel good. Capello has given me new enthusiasm and I am a lot happier," he added.
"We have had a long chat and spoken about everything. He has told me he is counting on me, that he wants me in the side and that he expects a lot from me."
Roberto Carlos has yet to speak to Real sports director Predrag Mijatovic, who is arriving at their pre-season training camp in Austria on Tuesday.
"I would like to make sure of the second year of my contract so that I know I can continue in the team until 2008," he said.
"But we will have to see what happens. I have spoken to Capello and now I have to explain to Mijatovic what I told the coach."
Roberto Carlos, who has won thee Champions League titles with Real, retired from international football after the World Cup finals in Germany.

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Scotland Under-19s 1-2 Spain Under-19s.
Soccernet.Com - Antonio Bueno ended Scottish hopes of glory with a double strike for Spain in the European Under-19 Championship final in Poland.
The Real Madrid striker hit a sublime effort over Hibernian goalkeeper Andrew McNeil from 20 yards in the 50th minute.
He was again on hand to turn a low Gerard Pique cross past McNeil 21 minutes later.
Livingston striker Graeme Dorrans, who had been introduced to the game as a second-half substitute, grabbed a consolation three minutes before the end.
Dorrans could even have equalised in the final minute but shot straight at Spain goalkeeper Antonio Adan.
Scotland Under-19 coaches Archie Gemmill and Tommy Wilson had been forced into one change from the team which defeated the Czech Republic in the semi-final.
Hibernian striker Steven Fletcher was unfortunate to miss out after receiving a second yellow card of the tournament for diving in the semi, despite television evidence proving he merely stumbled in a challenge.
His natural replacement Robert Snodgrass was also suspended after earning his second caution after coming on for Fletcher in the last-four clash.
Instead, Celtic striker Charlie Grant returned to the starting 11 after missing the semi through a ban.
Norwich wing-back Andrew Cave-Brown was an early threat for the Scots, but it was not until the 12th minute before they forced Adan into action.
Hearts striker Calum Elliot made space for himself on the edge of the area before firing goalwards but the Real Madrid keeper palmed the effort away.
Spain's first real chance came on the half-hour mark but a flurry of Scottish defenders managed to block Antonio Calvo's effort.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Mario Suarez almost took advantage of a poor defensive clearance eight minutes later.
But his dipping 20-yard shot clipped the top of the crossbar and flew to safety.
Elliot almost troubled Adan again in the 42nd minute but his glancing header from a Cave-Brown cross was seen early and the goalkeeper collected comfortably.
Just a minute later though, Lee Wallace was grateful to see Calvo's ball along the six-yard box not followed up after the Spanish youngster got in behind the Hearts defender.
But, five minutes into the second period, the Spanish youngsters broke the deadlock with a sublime finish from Bueno.
The Real forward played a clever one-two with Suarez to out-manoeuvre the Scotland defence before chipping McNeil from 20 yards, leaving the Hibernian youngster flailing.
Two minutes later, McNeil saved the Scots with a tremendous save from Calvo, who was just five yards out.
Scotland were reeling and McNeil and his defence were rescued by the woodwork when a Pique header bounced off the ground and on to the crossbar from six yards.
In the 66th minute, Grant escaped the attentions of the Spanish defence but Adan was swift to spot the danger.
The Celtic man earned the first caution for a foul in the 71st minute but a greater punishment was to follow as a result of the set-piece.
Juan Mata floated the ball to Pique at the far post and he found Bueno inside the six-yard box to poke home Spain's second.
Elliot was looking for a 77th-minute penalty but the match official waved away his appeal.
An 84th-minute free-kick from Brian Gilmour had Adan scampering across his line but the strike flew just wide before Simon Ferry hit an effort straight at the keeper moments later.
Three minutes before the end, though, Scotland pulled a goal back.
Elliot chased a through to the by-line and pulled it across the six-yard line where Livingston forward Dorrans, who had replaced Greg Cameron in the 74th minute, was on hand to head home.
Dorrans almost claimed an equaliser in the final minute but his strike from a Jamie Adams ball was aimed straight at Adan.

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Newcastle 2-3 PSV Eindhoven.
Soccernet.Com - Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven held on for a pre-season victory at St James' Park after almost squandering a three-goal lead.
A Newcastle fightback resulted in goals from Shola Ameobi and Albert Luque, however they were unable to find an equaliser.
New signing Damien Duff showed flashes of brilliance on his Newcastle debut, but by the time the £5million former Chelsea winger was replaced by Luque in the 60th minute, the home side were staring at a heavy defeat.
They had fallen behind to Jefferson Farfan's close-range finish in the 16th minute, which came seconds after Shay Given made a fine save from Mika Vdyrynen.
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink extended PSV's lead after 41 minutes as he converted Michael Lamey's cross, and then Arouna Kone created the chance which Jason Culina capitalised on five minutes after half-time.
Emre had a shot cleared off the line before Ameobi headed a cross from James Milner beyond goalkeeper Oscar Moens in the 68th minute.
Ameobi then won the penalty from which Luque scored, going down under a challenge from Eric Addo. Spaniard Luque sent Moens the wrong way from 12 yards.
Newcastle then had chances to draw level, with Stephen Carr and Scott Parker both threatening from outside the penalty area before Milner spurned a late opportunity.

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Soccernet.Com - Tottenham captain Ledley King will miss the start of the season and faces up to eight weeks out of action due to a knee injury.
The 25-year-old defender had recovered from the broken foot which forced him out of England's World Cup plans.
His knee injury was sustained in training and mean he will be absent for Tottenham until early September at best.
It also rules him out of Steve McClaren's plans for his first match as England's new head coach, an Old Trafford friendly against Greece on August 16.
King also seems certain to miss the Euro 2004 qualifiers against Andorra and Macedonia, which take place on September 2 and 6.
Ahead of Sunday's friendly against Inter Milan at White Hart Lane, Tottenham boss Martin Jol said: 'Ledley is out with suspected cartilage problems and he could be out for six to eight weeks. 'It is a big blow for us.'

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Soccernet.Com - AC Milan general director Ariedo Braida insists key men Andrea Pirlo and Alessandro Nesta will be at the club when the new season gets under way.
Italy's World Cup-winning duo have been linked with moves away from the San Siro this summer as Milan prepare to start their Serie A campaign with an eight-point deduction for their involvement in the country's match-fixing scandal.
Braida has no intention of offloading two of the club's prize assets and is also optimistic of keeping hold of defender Diego Simic, who has been linked with Barclays Premiership side Everton.
'I think Simic will stay with us as we have some players who are still injured and we have a demanding season ahead,' Braida told the club's official website.
'Without doubt, Pirlo and Nesta are staying.'
Milan have already suffered one high-profile departure this summer, with talismanic striker Andriy Shevchenko joining Chelsea.
Braida admits the Ukraine forward is 'impossible' to replace and refused to confirm whether Spain star Fernando Torres was the preferred option to fill the void.
'As for substituting Shevchenko it is impossible to find one,' Braida said. 'We have to find other good alternatives as we have done in the past. Torres? I repeat, we are searching to maximum.'
Braida also played down rumours the club might be about to swoop for Ze Roberto, who has been a free agent since his contract at Bayern Munich expired this summer.
'We haven't spoken to Ze Roberto's agent,' Braida said. 'He played well in the World Cup but we are covered in midfield.
'We are strong all over but as in the past this club can pull a surprise for our great fans at the last moment.'

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Soccernet.Com - Liverpool slipped up against second division German opposition and finished their match against Kaiserslautern with goalkeeper Jose Reina in midfield.
An injury to Luis Garcia left boss Rafael Benitez with little option other than to press Reina into action in an unfamiliar position with 11 minutes left of a match being played in Liechtenstein.
And while Reina twice came close to scoring, shooting narrowly wide and then over the bar, it was Kaiserslautern who clinched victory thanks to Marcel Ziemer's strike in the 87th minute.
After a goalless first half, Craig Bellamy looked to have given Liverpool the lead soon after the re-start when his shot hit the bar and appeared to cross the goalline, however the decision went against the Welshman.
Liverpool handed a debut to Jermaine Pennant in the second half and he looked threatening, however the German side went in front after 56 minutes when substitute Ricardo Villar fired past Jerzy Dudek, making the most of an error by Jack Hobbs.
Bellamy got the goal he deserved on the hour mark following good work from another substitute, Garcia.
It was Garcia who shot Liverpool in front after 67 minutes, Pennant and Bellamy having made the opening for the Spaniard, however Kaiserslautern were level four minutes later.
Ziemer pounced on another Hobbs mistake to strike their equaliser.
Reina's introduction in place of Garcia, who suffered a minor knock, almost brought about a dramatic result as his shots caused Kaiserslautern concern.
But Ziemer had the final say, finding space behind the Liverpool defence and lifting his shot above Dudek for the winner.
Benitez admitted the friendly match had not gone according to plan, and Liverpool must now wait not only for news of Garcia but also of defender Fabio Aurelio.
Aurelio, also a half-time substitute, was another who had to be taken off before the final whistle, and he could face several weeks on the sidelines with a calf injury.
Benitez told www.liverpoolfc.tv: 'It was a difficult game for us with the two injuries to Luis and Fabio and we made three mistakes which cost us the game.
'Luis had a problem with his neck and we decided the best thing would be to take him off. Fabio felt something in his calf and I think it's a more serious problem than Luis.'
If there was a positive to come out of the defeat, it was that Pennant performed well in his first appearance since signing from Birmingham.
'I thought Jermaine Pennant did a good job and played well,' said Benitez. 'He showed the quality that he has.'

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Soccernet.Com - Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes has confirmed he would be interested in a return to Spanish club football.
The reported target of Real Madrid joined Arsenal from Sevilla in January 2004 but claims he has yet to settle in London.
According to Spanish media reports, Madrid are keen on both Reyes and his Arsenal team-mate Cesc Fabregas.
Ramon Calderon was elected as Madrid's new president at the start of the month, and named Fabregas as a target.
Reyes, 22, said: 'I have always said that I want to return to Spain. I have nothing against Arsenal, completely the opposite.
'It is a great club and they have helped me so much. The fans have given me so much support since I joined.
'But they know that I have not adapted to life in England. I have not got used to the language or the weather.
'If Real Madrid want me then that is marvellous. I have always said what a huge club it is and it would be an honour to play for them. Let's see what happens.'

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TEAMtalk - Liverpool are facing a trip to war-torn Israel in the Champions League third qualifying round after being paired with Maccabi Haifa. Rafael Benitez's team face a two-leg match against the Israeli champions on August 8/9 and 22/23.
Israel could be on the brink of being banned from playing club and international matches at home because of the worsening security situation in the Middle East.
Arsenal face a two-legged match against Lithuania's Ekranas or Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb.
Hearts, provided they get past Bosnian outfit Siroki Brijeg, having won the first leg convincingly, will meet AEK Athens over two legs.
Cork City have a tremendous incentive to overhaul their one-goal deficit against Red Star Belgrade - with AC Milan waiting in the third qualifying round.

UEFA Champions League third qualifying round draw is as follows:

Sheriff Tiraspol/Spartak Moscow v Liberec

Shakhtar Donetsk v FH Hafnarfjordur/Legia Warsaw

FC Zurich/SV Red Bull Salzburg v Valencia

Levski Sofia/Sioni Bolnisi v Chievo

Hearts/Siroki Brijeg v AEK Athens

CSKA Moscow v Djurgardens IF/SCP Ruzomberok

AC Milan v Cork/Crvena Zvezda

Galatasaray v Mlada Boleslav/Valerenga

Standard Liege v HIT Gorica/Steaua Bucuresti

Austria Magna v Benfica

FK Ekranas/Dinamo Zagreb v Arsenal

FC Copenhagen/MyPa v Ajax

Hamburg v Osasuna

FK Metalurgs/Dynamo Kiev v Fenerbahce/B36 Torshavn

Liverpool v Maccabi Haifa

Lille v Debrecen/Rabotnicki Kometal.

First leg to be played on August 8/9; second leg August 22/23.

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TEAMtalk - Birmingham chairman David Gold has defended the sale of Jermaine Pennant - and pledged the £7 million fee would be used to bring in new players.
Fans have registered their disappointment at the departure of Pennant to Liverpool for £6.7million, as he was one of City's few success stories as they were relegated from the Premiership.
But Gold insists Blues had little choice over allowing Pennant to move to Anfield once Liverpool had met their asking price.
Gold said: "People have to be realistic. How did they expect us to keep hold of Jermaine Pennant. Did they want us to chain him to the fence?
"It can't be done. Be realistic. Once Liverpool came up with the package they did, and it was the chance for Jermaine to join one of the greatest clubs in the world, you can't say no.
"We said no to £3.5million, we said no to £5million, we were still fighting at £6million. But then you are talking about holding the kid back. He has the chance to double his wages, to play European football.
"People can huff and puff as much as they like about Jermaine leaving but if they were in our position, they would have had no alternative but to do the deal.
"We've got £13million for Emile Heskey and Jermaine Pennant. You could make a case for keeping them if you were talking about £6million. You can't make a case to keep them when it is £13million.
"Money will be made available to invest into new blood because the plan was never to sell Emile or Jermaine."
Gold has now got the disappointment of City being relegated from the top flight out of his system.
He said: "I would be useless if all I am doing is mourning the club going down. I see this is a new challenge and am optimistic for the new season."

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TEAMtalk - Tottenham are expected to confirm the sale of England midfielder Michael Carrick to Manchester United in an £18 million deal later on Friday. Spurs, who rejected a bid of £10million from United earlier this summer, are understood to have accepted their increased offer for the player.
Reports suggest the deal to take Carrick to Old Trafford was finally completed early on Friday morning and he is expected to be unveiled as a United player later in the day.
The deal came just hours after Real Madrid claimed they had clinched the signing of United's Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy for a fee in the region of £10million.
The striker is believed to have signed a three-year deal with the Spanish giants after quitting United in the wake of his end-of-season bust-up with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Real are expected to unveil van Nistelrooy at a press conference later on Friday once they have completed the formalities of the deal.
The Holland striker is scheduled to have a medical in the Spanish capital on Friday morning.
"The player will undergo a medical on Friday morning and will be presented in the evening at 7pm (1800 BST) at the Palco de Honor at the Santiago Bernabeu," said a statement on the club's website.
Carrick's move to Old Trafford will land Spurs a handsome profit on a player they signed from West Ham for just £2.75million two years ago.
Ferguson has been a long-time admirer of the midfielder who will help fill the void left by the departed Roy Keane. Although he will not be a direct replacement for the Irishman, Carrick's passing skills will provide them with an outlet they have lacked since Keane left the club.
Carrick's loss will still be a major blow for Spurs coach Martin Jol who helped the 25-year-old force his way into Sven-Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad.
The Dutch coach had hoped that Carrick would repay the club's loyalty by staying at White Hart Lane but Spurs would not agree to the player's wage demands - reported to be around £50,000-a-week.
Carrick had two years left on his Tottenham deal but had rejected a new contract offer in the wake of United's persistent interest.
Tottenham's determination to hold out for a fee which closely matched their £20million valuation of the player means has given them more transfer cash to spend but Jol will not need to buy a replacement for Carrick.
Tottenham have already signed 22-year-old Benoit Assou-Ekotto from Lens and spent £10.9million on Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov but missed out on Chelsea's left-winger Damien Duff.
But the summer signing of Ivory Coast international Didier Zokora will make Carrick's departure somewhat less painful for Jol, who can now continue his search for a left-sided midfielder in earnest.
Carrick will become United's fifth most expensive signing behind Rio Ferdinand, Juan Sebastian Veron, Wayne Rooney and Van Nistelrooy.
United visit Amsterdam next week where they are due to play both Porto and Ajax and Carrick is expected to be part of the squad.

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TEAMtalk - Blackburn have completed the signing of Benni McCarthy on a four-year deal from FC Porto for a fee believed to be in the region of £2.5million. Manager Mark Hughes will hope the 28-year-old South African can prove a suitable replacement for Craig Bellamy, who moved to Liverpool earlier in the summer.
Blackburn chief executive John Williams told the club's website: "We tried to sign Benni 12 months ago and we have been tracking the situation since then.
"We are delighted that we have managed to bring him to Rovers."
Rovers moved for McCarthy after their efforts to prise Egyptian striker Mido from Roma proved unsuccessful, while McCarthy will join fellow new frontmen Jason Roberts and Francis Jeffers at Ewood Park.

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ROME, (Reuters) - Juventus coach Didier Deschamps has said that no more of his players will be leaving the club despite Tuesday's confirmation that they will be playing in Serie B next season.
"No-one is going anywhere. The club's directors have decided that those under contract will stay at Juve, even in Serie B," Deschamps was quoted as saying in La Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday.
"In a year's time we will be back and competing for a major title. It's better to hold on to our players now rather than trying to buy them back a year from now."
Juventus will start next season in Serie B on minus 17 points after Tuesday's ruling by the appeals court upholding the decision of a sports tribunal earlier this month that the club was guilty of conspiring with referees and linesmen to rig games during the 2004/05 season.
Deschamps's view, however, was not shared by Juventus's chairman Giovanni Cobolli Gigli, who seemed prepared to let players go - provided the price was right.
"If there are some departures there will also be some arrivals and whoever leaves will certainly not be sold cheaply," he said.
The 27-times Italian champions have already lost several of their best players in the fallout from Italy's worst footballing scandal for more than 20 years.
The departures to Spain of Italy's World Cup captain Fabio Cannavaro, Brazilian midfielder Emerson, and defenders Gianluca Zambrotta and Lilian Thuram have weakened the side and raised fears that it could struggle to win immediate promotion back into Serie A.
Of the club's remaining players, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is the object of the greatest speculation.
Buffon's agent, Silvano Martina, said earlier this month that his client had decided to stay at Juventus but seemed less certain following the appeals court ruling with rumours of a move the AC Milan still running.
Other players rumoured to be considering leaving include midfielder Mauro Camoranesi and strikers David Trezeguet and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

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NYON, Switzerland (AP) -- UEFA provisionally will allow AC Milan to play in the Champions League, pending a final decision next week.
UEFA said in a statement Thursday that Milan would be included in Friday's draw for the third qualifying round of the competition. A final decision will be made by next Wednesday.
Milan on Tuesday successfully appealed against a penalty it received in Italy's match-fixing scandal, which would have barred it from taking part in the Champions League.
"AC Milan will be included in the draw for the third qualifying round ... to safeguard a proper drawing procedure," UEFA said.
Milan and Italy's national federation will have a chance to argue their case for the club's inclusion while UEFA's emergency panel takes more time to examine the issue.
Any UEFA decision will be subject to possible appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, world sport's highest tribunal.

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MADRID, (Reuters) - Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will join Real Madrid from Manchester United on a three-year contract, the Primera Liga club said on Thursday.
The deal is reported by Spanish media to be worth around 15 million euros ($19.12 million).
"Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Manchester United for the signing of Ruud van Nistelrooy," the Spanish club said in a statement.
"The player... will take a medical on Friday morning and will be presented in the afternoon at 1700 GMT in the Bernabeu."
The 30-year-old scored 150 goals for United since joining in 2001 for a then British record fee of 19 million pounds ($35.39 million).
He is Real's third signing under new president Ramon Calderon following on from Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro and Brazil midfielder Emerson, and will link up with former Manchester United team mate David Beckham.
Van Nistelrooy put in a transfer request two weeks ago and Real and Bayern Munich had been competing to secure his services for next season.
The Dutchman fell out of favour at United in the latter part of last season as manager Alex Ferguson increasingly looked to Louis Saha to partner Wayne Rooney in attack.
He was an unused substitute in United's 4-0 victory over Wigan in the League Cup final in February and stormed out of Old Trafford when he was left out of their final league match of the season against Charlton Athletic in May.
Van Nistelrooy, who has scored 28 goals in 54 games for Netherlands, found the net just once at the recent World Cup and was left on the bench by Dutch coach Marco van Basten during their second-round defeat against Portugal.
The Dutchman will face stiff competition from Raul, Robinho, Julio Baptista, Antonio Cassano and Ronaldo for a place in the Real attack, although his arrival is likely to hasten the departure of at least one of the forwards.

FAILED MEDICAL
Real are in the process of trying to put together a team under new coach Fabio Capello which will help them win their first trophy in four seasons.
Van Nistelrooy started his career with Dutch sides Den Bosch and Heerenveen before joining PSV Eindhoven in 1998 where he scored an impressive 62 goals from 67 appearances.
United manager Ferguson continued with his bid to bring Van Nistelrooy to the club even after the striker failed a medical in April 2000 and then sustained a serious cruciate knee ligament injury while training with PSV a few days later.
He finally arrived in 2001 and repaid Ferguson's faith in him by scoring 36 goals in all competitions in his debut season.
He was the Premier League's leading scorer with 25 goals when United won the championship in 2003 and was also named PFA Player of the Year.
He has scored 20 goals or more in four of his five seasons at Old Trafford.
Van Nistelrooy is United's all-time top scorer in Europe, having surpassed Denis Law's long-standing record in September 2004 and is the fourth highest scorer in the European Cup, level on 47 goals with Portuguese great Eusebio.

socawarriors.net

By Simon Evans.

MILAN, (Reuters) - Inter Milan were awarded the 2005-06 Italian league title on Wednesday in the latest fallout from the country's match-fixing scandal.
The Italian Football Federation's (FIGC) decision to award Inter their 14th title came after a sports tribunal revoked Juventus's title win from last season.
Juve also had their title win from 2004-05 revoked but no replacement winner will be named for that season.
The decision to give Inter their first title since 1989 came after a sports tribunal handed down guilty verdicts to Juventus, who had finished top of Serie A, AC Milan who were second and Lazio and Fiorentina.
"I am fully satisfied by the awarding of the title to a club and team that behaved correctly," said Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti, who finally gets his hands on the 'scudetto' after 11 years in charge of the club.
Coach Roberto Mancini said: "I'm happy. Regardless of how it arrived, it is right to reward those who have given their best and have always been honest. It is strange to win like this but we played fair."
Inter finished third in last season's championship behind Juventus and AC Milan. They finished 15 points behind Juventus, who won the title with a record 91 points.

'DOUBLY HAPPY'
Sandro Mazzola, a key figure in the successful Inter team of the 1960's, said there was no way that a title won in this fashion could compare to the victories in his time.
"This title can't be compared to the ones that I won, they were different wins in different seasons. Those were other times but now what has happened has happened and there is a league table with Inter in top spot and so it was normal that the award went to Inter," he told the Italian news agency Ansa.
"But the fans should be doubly happy -- for the title but also because Inter didn't get themselves involved in certain situations," Mazzola said referring to the scandal.
Inter should have a very good chance to win their next title in the coming season with Juventus relegated to Serie B and Milan starting the campaign on minus eight points.
The FIGC said it had made the decision after commissioning a three-person committee of experts to give their recommendation.
On Tuesday, a FIGC appeals court confirmed Juventus's relegation to Serie B where they must start the new season with minus 17 points and their loss of the titles they won in the last two seasons.
Juventus have said they will continue to appeal to other courts.
AC Milan, who had said they should be given the last two Serie A titles having finished second, retained their top flight status but were docked eight points at the start of the season.

(Reporting by Gavin Jones in Rome).

socawarriors.net

By ARIEL DAVID, Associated Press Writer.

ROME (AP) -- A sports court allowed Fiorentina and Lazio to rejoin Italy's top soccer division and reduced the points penalty against Juventus in Serie B after successful appeals Tuesday in a match-fixing scandal.
Juventus' penalty was cut from 30 points to 17. Fiorentina will have 19 points docked next season, while Lazio will be deducted 11.
The court also cut AC Milan's points penalty in Serie A from 15 to 8. A July 14 ruling stripping Juventus of its last two Serie A titles was upheld, though Milan will be allowed to play in the Champions League preliminary rounds this season.
Also upheld were five-year bans for former Juventus executives Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo, figures at the center of the scandal.
Hundreds of Lazio fans outside the hotel where the verdicts were delivered screamed in delight at the news their team was back in Serie A. Minutes later, they scattered when a sudden thunderstorm drenched them.
The ruling ended the process in Italy's sports court system. Any further appeals would need to be taken through the country's civil courts, which could delay the start of the season set for Aug. 28.
"For Juventus and its managers it's an absolutely unsatisfactory sentence," Moggi's lawyer Fulvio Gianaria said.
Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli said the club would challenge the verdicts in civil court, while Milan lawyer Leandro Cantamessa said the club was deciding whether to take that path.
If upheld or unchallenged, the demotion would be a first for Juventus since its inception in 1897. The Turin-based powerhouse has won 29 league titles -- including the ones stripped Friday -- two European Champions League titles, four Italian Supercups, three UEFA cups, two European Supercups and two Toyota or Intercontinental Cups.
The appeals body decision was announced a few hours after the close of the Milan stock exchange, where some of the clubs involved are listed.
In the earlier ruling, Fiorentina was sent down to Serie B and given a 12-point penalty to start next season, while Lazio was originally supposed to start the new season in Serie B with a seven-point penalty.

Each club appealed.
Juventus claimed the sanctions were excessive, and AC Milan argued that its Champions League ban was unlawful.
Soccer federation prosecutor Stefano Palazzi had argued for even tougher punishment. Palazzi called for Juventus to be demoted to Serie C. He also wanted Serie B demotions for Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio with point deductions.
Several Serie A soccer stars -- including Italy and Fiorentina striker Luca Toni and Brazil and Milan playmaker Kaka -- are expected to decide their club futures based on the outcome of the trial.
The stiffest penalties for officials were given to Moggi and Giraudo. The appeals tribunal confirmed the initial court's recommendation that asked the Italian soccer federation to ban them for life. The maximum punishment the sports court could impose is five years.
Other prominent officials had their sanctions reduced. Franco Carraro, the former head of the Italian soccer league who resigned in May and had originally received a 4 1/2 -year ban, was given a fine and a warning.
Fiorentina owner and industrialist Diego Della Valle had three months shaved off his four-year ban, while Lazio president Claudio Lotito was banned for 2 1/2 years, a year less than in the initial sentence. Milan vice president Adriano Galliani received a nine-month ban, instead of one year.
Meanwhile, UEFA gave the Italian federation until Wednesday -- one extra day -- to decide which clubs were eligible to play in European club competitions this coming season.

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