Wellington Phoenix FC said on Thursday they had signed Argentine midfielder Oscar Roberto Cornejo for this Australian A-League season.

Cornejo, nicknamed Toto, made a trial appearance for the New Zealand-based Phoenix against his countrymen last week, when the Wellington club beat Argentina’s Boca Juniors 2-1.

Cornejo, 27, is an attacking midfielder who has played club football in Argentina as well as Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru.

“Toto’s the sort of player we think can circulate in and around the central midfield and provide the link between the front and the midfield,” coach Ricki Herbert said.

“He’s got all the skills and ability to create opportunities in the attacking third and he’s comfortable taking on opposition players.”

Indonesian international striker Bambang Pamungkas arrives this weekend to begin a trial with the Phoenix, who kick off their season against Gold Coast at home on August 13.

FC Porto have announced the signing of left back Emidio Rafael from Academica Coimbra. The deal reunites the Portugal U-23 international with former Academica coach André Villas-Boas, who recently took over the reigns of Porto from Jesualdo Ferreira.

Rafael has signed a three year contract that will keep him at Porto till 2013. He joined Academica in 2009 from Portimonense and made 26 league appearances for them last season. He scored one goal against Maritimo and also contributed five assists.

Rafael is a product of Sporting CP’s youth system and has previously had loan stints with Casa Pia and Real Massama.

[Source:- FC Porto]

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is interested with the prospects of reuniting with Brazil midfielder Kaka. The Italian tactician has confirmed that he is in regular contact with the Real Madrid star.

Ancelotti has expressed his interest in Kaka’s skills, claiming that the Brazilian would help the coach’s cause at Stamford Bridge. Ancelotti would love to tempt the midfielder to the Premier League champions.

Ancelotti worked with Kaka at Milan with the Brazilian’s future still in the dark following the arrival of former Blues’ manager Jose Mourinho as Real Madrid manager.

The Italian told The People: “Kaka would do well for my cause and I speak to him on a regular basis. It would be a multi-million pound operation.”

Injured Mirsolav Klose was forced to surrender his pursuit of World Cup goal-scoring history on Saturday, but record-holder Ronaldo still praised the German striker’s achievements.

The 32-year-old Klose missed the 3-2 win over Uruguay which gave his country third place the World Cup and with it the opportunity to score the two goals he needed to pass the Brazilian’s all-time World Cup best mark of 15.

“He really wanted to play, but after training on Saturday he said to me that would not be able to take his place in the team,” said Germany coach Joachim Loew, who handed Klose’s starting place to Cacau.

“He was disappointed but he knew that we couldn’t allow a player who was only 80-percent fit to take part.”

The Bayern Munich star, who had been suffering from a back injury, stayed on the bench on Saturday with his World Cup goals record stalled at 14, a total made up of five at the 2002 and 2006 finals and four in South Africa.

Klose will be 36 by the time the next World Cup rolls around in 2014 and so is unlikely to feature again.

Ronaldo, who collected his 15 goals at the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups, praised Klose’s career.

“Congratulations to Klose, to score 14 goals at the World Cup is fantastic. It’s sad that he did not play on Saturday,” said the Brazilian.

“I was not opposed to him breaking my record. I have made my history. Now it is time for others to write their stories.”

Former Newcastle United and Portsmouth forward Lomana Lualua has officially completed his move to Cypriot club Omonia Nicosia. The move reunites the Congolese international with coach Takis Lemonis, who managed him at Olympiakos between 2007 and 2008.

Omonia, the reigning Cypriot First Division champions, have signed Lualua on a two year contract. He will wear the No.32 jersey at the club.

Omonia competed in the Europa League last season and reached the third qualifying round before bowing out to Romanian side Vaslui.

Apart from Newcastle, Portsmouth, Olympiakos and Omonia, Lualua has also plied his trade for Colchester United and Al Arabi.

[Source:- Omonia Nicosia]

Palmeiras hope to lure Ronaldinho back to Brazil. The Sao Paulo-based club have made the Milan forward their No 1 transfer target for this summer, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Palmeiras recently named former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari as their new coach and have big plans for next season.

La Gazzetta understands the Brazilians are able to make a tempting offer for Ronaldinho with the help of their sponsors.

They intend to offer him a four-year deal worth €1 million a season.

The former Barcelona star is also reportedly attracting interest from Flamengo, Olympiakos and LA Galaxy.

When asked for his reaction to the speculation, Ronaldinho said: “I am now on holiday. I have nothing against the Press, but it’s not up to me to worry about it.”

Hernan Crespo has dismissed rumours about retiring from football and wants to stay at Parma for another year.

The former Internazionale and Milan striker turned 35 yesterday and has spent the summer working as a pundit at the World Cup.

When asked if he felt tired of football, Crespo said: “Absolutely not. I am enjoying myself like crazy.

“You know what keeps me going? The enthusiasm of the fans who pay for the tickets, then the training sessions and finally the games.

“I have a year left on my contract and I am going forward.”

Crespo then gave his judgement about Parma’s new Coach Pasquale Marino.

“Judging from what he did at Catania and Udine, I like him a lot. His teams have always played good football.”

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has handed an olive branch to departed midfielder Yaya Toure.

Toure has joined Manchester City from Barcelona on a five-year deal. The Blaugranes boss Guardiola was upset over his decision but wished him all the best as he joins his brother Kolo Toure at the Blues.

“It’s not a good move for us, he is a top player,” he said.

“I would like him to be with us and stay but he wants to move on.

“So when a player doesn’t want to stay at the club we have to move on. I wish him all the best, he is an excellent guy.

“I want to thank him for the last few years at Barcelona, the last three years with me.

“Without him it would have been impossible to win seven trophies in two seasons and I wish him all the best in Manchester.”

Celtic have signed South Korean defender Cha Du-Ri on a free transfer until June 2012.

The German-born right-back has signed a two-year deal with the Scottish Premier League club Celtic and is coach Neil Lennon’s second recruit of the close season.

The 29-year-old has played for Bayer Leverkusen, Arminia Bielefeld, Eintracht Frankfurt, Mainz and Freiburg and he was on the South Korean World Cup team which was eliminated by Uruguay in the round of 16 in South Africa.

“I am delighted to play for Celtic and to live in Glasgow.

“Celtic are a great club and stand a good chance of winning the title,” Du-Ri told German Press Agency dpa.

He has accumulated 50 caps for his country since making his debut in 2001.

Brazil striker Luis Fabiano has admitted he would be keen to play alongside Wayne Rooney at Manchester United.

The Sevilla star has ruled out a move to Tottenham, who have long been linked with a move for the 29-year-old.

Sevilla are desperate to keep the striker at the club and have previously ruled out selling the Brazilian star.

Fabiano told the Daily Star Sunday: “I have a real chance of winning a World Cup here in South Africa, and that is what I must stay focused on even though I know my future has to be sorted soon.

“I have made it clear that I will not be signing a new contract with Sevilla and at 29 I now need to join a club where I can start challenging for the highest honours from the first season.

“I have heard Tottenham Hotspur made an inquiry about me but, with all respect, that is not somewhere I am going to be able to win the Premier League or the European Cup in the next three or four years.

“There would be no point in me joining Tottenham. I might as well stay at Sevilla, as it’s the same thing. Sevilla are actually bigger when you look at how much we have been in the European Cup, so there would be no point me moving to a smaller team.

“The choice will come down to Manchester United and AC Milan. That is the sort of team I want to be signing for, one of the true giants of Europe.

“I think the way Manchester United play football is very attractive, I must be honest and say Premier League football attracts me and also the way Manchester United play football attracts me.

“You think about being Wayne Rooney’s strike partner and that is very attractive for any striker.

“I think the style of Premier League football suits me and I think I could score goals and be very successful there.

“Their coach is a winner, their players are winners and they are one of the few teams in Europe challenging for the top honours season after season.

“As soon as the World Cup is over I will make a quick decision on my future – and while it is going on I hope Sevilla can open discussions. I have enjoyed my time here but I now need to be at a giant.”