Jean-Claude Blanc confident of signing Xabi Alonso

Juventus director general Jean-Claude Blanc is still confident of signing despite Xabi Alonso Liverpool have held for a transfer fee higher.

The game of Spanish in Italy had to be closed on Monday, but discussions have stalled, with Liverpool said to be demanding £ 15.75million - a million more than the offer Juve.

White still believes Alonso, currently at Euro 2008, will be at the Stadio Olimpico next season, but claims the Bianconeri also have their eyes on other midfielders.

"We are after more than three football players," White told Sky Italia. And we'll see if what you read in the newspapers is true or other names that we're working.

"Xabi Alonso? This is a transaction that we make progress and we will compare it to other offers that might be made.

"We're looking for a very talented midfielder - there are not many who are around and some of them are not available. We have to talk first with the club and then with the player.

"Only one of these offers will be made."

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Adrian Mutu agreed an extension with Fiorentina

Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu has accepted a contract extension which will take him to the Serie A club until 2012.

The Romania enjoys an attacker spectacular season last year, displaying the kind of form which saw added to several clubs wish lists.

According to information received, Schalke was prepared to break the bank for 29 years trying to go to Germany.

He also talk of a rift between Fiorentina and Mutu, the player said he was dissatisfied with his salary.

But all the speculation about his future has been dispelled by the news, he remained in Florence for the next four years.

A statement on the club's official website confirmed the contract extension with a slight increase in wages and the prospect of performance bonuses.

Mutu, who also had spells with Parma, Juventus and Chelsea, has scored 33 goals in 62 appearances for Fiorentina.

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Jose Mourinho make his signing as Internazionale coach

Jose Mourinho is set to make his first signing as Internazionale coach after the club agreed personal terms with Roma star Mancini.

Inter director Marco Branca met with the Brazil winger's agent Gilmar Veloz to finalise a four-year contract worth more than three million euros a year - more than double Mancini's current salary at Roma.

The Nerazzurri have still to agree a transfer fee for the 27-year-old, with Roma reportedly demanding 15 million euros while Inter would prefer a cash-plus-players deal.

'Thanks to the authorisation to deal with Inter which we received from Roma, we reached an agreement,' Veloz told Corriere dello Sport.

'Now it's up to the two clubs to discuss matters.'

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Alberto Aquilani's agent insists the Roma star will stay

Alberto Aquilani's agent insists on Roma stars are always the Stadio Olimpico next season.

Aquilani contract expires in 2010 and Roma are keen to keep Italy and the midfielder, reportedly rejecting a 30 million euro offer from Juventus, Internazionale recently is one of many clubs thought mulling a move.

The talks would mark the player wage demands which are probably higher than Roma 2.5 million per season salary cap, but his agent Franco Zavaglia confidence is 23 years will remain at the club he supported as a boy .

"After the championship in Europe I think Aquilani renew its deal with Roma," he said SportItalia.

"He grew up there and he really wants to stay there.

"Recently, things have been reported to have angered the boy, in these situations, it is always wise to talk little and not give too much to the media."

Aquilani has spent his entire career in Rome since signing professional forms in 2002, apart from a season on loan to Triestina.

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3 Seria A Club Fined

The Serie A clubs Genoa, Udinese and Reggina have all been fined 400000 euros for false accounting, the Italian Football Federation revealed Wednesday.

The three clubs were charged with making fictitious accounting entries "by far exceeds the actual value" for services players.

It is believed they were trying to meet the economic obligations to allow their teams to be admitted to Serie A and Serie B.

The presidents of the three clubs were also fined and handed bans ranging from one to four months, the federation has confirmed.

They had been accused of violating article one of the sport code of conduct, breaking the rules of ethics and show sincerity.

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Roma signing John Arne Riise

Roma have completed the signing of Liverpool left-back John Arne Riise for a little less than £ 4million.

The Norway international will join the capital club on July 1 on a four-year deal worth £ 2.2million.

A statement on the club's official website, www.asroma.it read: `` AS Roma announce that they have reached an agreement with Liverpool Football Club for the acquisition of sports rights player John Arne Riise, with effect from July 1, 2008. "

The statement continued: `` AS Roma will also pay Liverpool Football Club, the following sums: 100000 euros [£ 79250] per season Roma should benefit from the UEFA Champions League in 2009/10 and 2010/11.

`` In addition, Liverpool FC will also receive 75000 euros [£ 60000] for all 25 official matches, the player participates, to a maximum of 300000 euros [£ 237550]. "

Riise Merseyside leaves after seven seasons with Liverpool, which he joined in Ligue 1 side Monaco in 2001.

The 27-year-old won the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006 in his time Anfield.

Riise, noted for his fierce shot and equally effective in midfield, is a regular under former manager Gérard Houllier and in the early years of current boss Rafael Benitez reign.

He established a reputation for spectacular goals, including one after just 45 seconds of the Carling Cup 2005 face Chelsea and the following year the FA Cup semi-finals, the Blues again opponents.

However, his 2006-07 campaign was overshadowed by an incident involving former teammate Craig Bellamy to a campaign training in Portugal for the Welsh who has been punished.

He suffered an indifferent campaign 2007-08, the nadir being when he scored a goal against his camp in the last minute of his side Champions League semi-final against Chelsea the first step.

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Juventus fined 300,000 euro ($464,100)

ROME, June 18 - Juventus have accepted a 300,000-euro ($ 464100) fine to settle charges of the second part of a probe in 2006 in a match-fixing scandal, Italian football federation (FIGC) said Wednesday .

Juventus will be able to pay the fine-tranches of 100,000 euros over the next three years, the FIGC said on its website (www.figc.it).

"This is not an admission of guilt is an act of generosity," Italian media quoted the legal adviser Juventus Franzo Grande Stevens said.

Charges considered allegations that the former Juve general manager Luciano Moggi gave foreign mobile phone SIM cards to match officials to create a system of secret communication with them.

Moggi was banned from football for five years in 2006 after the first part of the probe to attempts to get in line referees, while Juventus was relegated to second division and stripped of two league titles.

The Turin club won promotion back to top flight at the first attempt and finished third in Serie A last season to earn themselves a slot in a Champions League qualification.

Gianluca Paparesta, a senior Italian referee, was given a two-month suspension to settle accusations brought against him resulting from the second part of match-fixing probe, FIGC.

Messina, a second division side who were at the top flight when the scandal erupted, have been fined 60000 euros ($ 92820) for participation, while the club president and a former director have been banned for six months.

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Adriano Galliani cannot compete in the race to sign Ronaldinho

AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani admitted the club can not compete financially with Manchester City in the race to sign Ronaldinho.

Galliani said Milan and other Italian clubs are being squeezed out of several transfer moves as clubs in England, Spain and Germany have more money to spend.

"I can not ignore the fact that Italian football is now in fourth position in Europe behind England, Spain and Germany," he said in Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We simply can not compete with some figures.

"Manchester City have offered Brazilian (Ronaldinho) 12 million euros (£ 9.5million) per year. We can not compete with that if they (Barcelona) outside to give him free. "

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