Kaka guaranteed to stay at Milan, says club

ROME, July 2, 2007 (AFP) - AC Milan's delegated administrator Adriano Galliani on Monday poured cold water on rumours that Brazilian star Kaka is heading to Real Madrid.
Galliani said he can guarantee that the talented playmaker, widely regarded the world's best player of the moment, will be plying his trade at the San Siro next season.

"I guarantee to Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon that on July 23 (when AC Milan regroup for pre-season training) Kaka will be present at Milanello (Milan's training headquarters) to begin preparation with his teammates," Galiani told his club's website.

"On August 31 in Monaco he, as European champion, will play the final of the European Super Cup against Sevilla and then he will play in the World Club Championships in Japan in December."

Real have been chasing Kaka for months and Calderon is no stranger to making outrageous promises to fans around the Real presidential elections.

"Milan will not make it easy but we're going to explore every avenue," Calderon said on June 22.

"When a player wants to leave, it's impossible to keep hold of him. I don't know if it's the case with Kaka. Keep watching in the coming days."

Milan have always claimed that Kaka is irreplaceable.

Meanwhile much-maligned Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who has struggled with weight problems in recent years and been derided for it, has enlisted the help of a personal physical trainer in Rio de Janeiro.

Milan have sent their trainer Daniele Tognaccini to Rio to help prepare Ronaldo for the season ahead.

A love match? Jamie Murray and his perfect partner have a real ball

Jamie Murray and Jelena Jankovic arrived at the Wimbledon Champions' Dinner looking just as much the winning couple as they did on the Centre Court a few hours earlier.
But as they celebrated their mixed doubles victory, there were still a few more questions left unanswered... such as: Are they? Have they? Will they? And will little brother Andy be best man?
Ever since Murray and Jankovic first stepped on to the court together in the first week of the tournament, tennis fans have been indulging in feverish speculation about the exact nature of their relationship.
They have flirted, giggled, held hands and displayed such extraordinary on-court chemistry that some cheekier spectators have been moved to shout out, "Come on you lovebirds."
In the great tradition of these things, Murray and Jankovic have insisted their relationship is entirely professional - a stance which was somewhat marred by Jankovic's promise that she would kiss him all over if they won.
When the 22-year-old Serb talks about how fate brought them together, and how it is something she has always dreamed of - well, one has to ask: Jelena, are we actually talking about tennis here?
As they beat Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman and Australian Alicia Molik 6-4,3-6,6-1, Jankovic and Murray were on top form - and we are not talking about her two-handed backhand.
She said: "When it was a breakpoint I was telling him if he got a good return he would get many kisses, but he kept putting it out.
"What do I have to do to pump him up a little bit to play great tennis?

"Playing with Jamie, it was a great experience. It's really an incredible feeling for me to be there and to hold the trophy. It's something I always dreamed of."

The ever-smiling Jamie Murray and Jelena Jankovic who won this year's Wimbledon mixed-doubles title

Jankovic proffers a cheek - the pair are rumoured to be an item
It even carried on after the match was over, as 21-year-old Murray worked himself up into a heightened state of speculation about what she would wear to the ball.
Jankovic said: "He kept asking me what kind of dress I am going to wear, long or short ... and I had to disappoint him by telling him it is very long!" Judging by their remarks after their victory - Britain's first Wimbledon title for 20 years - the pair have both played their parts to perfection.
Jankovic started off playing hard to get - and Murray being the perfect gentleman.
Their victory, Murray said, was entirely down to her. "She won the match because she kept returning the guy's serve and I couldn't do that. I've got to say thanks to her." The two have struck an instant understanding on court and their tennis styles combine perfectly.
But they would not have got together if it had not been for his persistence.
"It was amazing," said Jankovic. "His agent asked me first and I said I would think about it.

Jamie Murray and Jelena Jankovic congratulate each other on their historic win
"Because I have played a lot of matches this year, I'm very tired and I didn't know how I would feel, especially on grass, which is really tough on your body.
"Then two weeks ago we arrived at the same time in the vans and he said, 'will you play with me?' I said, okay, go and sign. I didn't think too much.
"Maybe it was like destiny, it was meant to happen. We won this tournament so I made a good decision and I'm very, very happy."
"Playing with Jamie was a great experience. He's a very nice guy, very sweet as well."

Champions: The pair hold their trophies aloft in the Wimbledon evening sun
He has now invited her to join him in Scotland for Christmas - which, from what one can tell, would make his mother Judy very happy.
She said: "The mixed doubles started out as a bit of fun for Jamie but had ended up as a fairytale.
"Jamie's coach Louis Cayer said the number one rule in mixed doubles is to 'keep the lady smiling' and he has certainly done that."
Meanwhile a celebratory dinner held at The Savoy for all the Champions of Wimbledon revealed more than the doubles' stars burgeoning relationship.
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LONDON, July 10, 2007 (AFP) - Chelsea confirmed on Tuesday the transfer of France international Florent Malouda from Lyon on a four-year contract.
The winger switches to Stamford Bridge for an undisclosed fee although press reports had put the fee at upwards of 13 million pounds (20 million euros).

Malouda will waste no time in joining his new team-mates in Los Angeles where they are currently preparing for the new season.


The reigning Ligue 1 Player of the Year becomes Chelsea's first big-money summer signing (Action Images / Lee Smith)







LONDON, July 10, 2007 (AFP) - Chelsea confirmed on Tuesday the transfer of France international Florent Malouda from Lyon on a four-year contract.
The winger switches to Stamford Bridge for an undisclosed fee although press reports had put the fee at upwards of 13 million pounds (20 million euros).

Malouda will waste no time in joining his new team-mates in Los Angeles where they are currently preparing for the new season.

"The Chelsea squad landed in California to the news that they have a new team-mate," the official Chelsea website reported.

"Florent Malouda successfully completed a medical at Stamford Bridge during the day of Monday and signed a four-year contract."

Jose Mourinho's squad left for Los Angeles on Monday after confirming that a fee had been agreed with the French champions leaving just the medical and agreement on personal terms to seal the deal.

Malouda, 27, was signed by Lyon in 2003 from Guingamp for 4.5m euros having begun his playing career with Chateauroux in 1996. Last season he scored 10 goals as Lyon won the title for the sixth straight time.

He won the first of his 30 international caps in November 2004 and was part of Raymond Domenech's side that made it through to last year's World Cup final against Italy.

Chelsea's new recruit won the French championship four times with Lyon and was voted the best player in the French first division in 2006-07.

Malouda is Chelsea's latest summer purchase following Steve Sidwell, Claudio Pizarro and Tal Ben Haim.