Valencia swoop for Soldado

Valencia have completed the signing of Getafe striker Roberto Soldado on a four-year contract.

Despite their perilous financial state, Valencia have decided to splash some of the cash generated by the sales of David Villa and Nikola Zigic with Soldado thought to have cost in the region of €10million.

Having scored 16 league goals last season many will expect the 25-year-old to ease the goalscoring burden left by Villa.

However the former Real Madrid youngster points out that he is his own player and insists he has not been brought in to replace anybody.

"I come to Valencia with all the enthusiasm in the world," he told the club's official website .

"I'm not here to replace anyone. I'm here to do my job."

a.top_betting_link_1 {background-image: url('/Images/Skysports/Icons/skybet_logo.png');background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:0% 50%;padding-left:68px;}La Liga 10/11 Win Outright: Valencia 50/1

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Baggies snub Valero bid

West Brom have rejected out of hand an offer for midfielder Borja Valero from Sevilla.

Spaniard Valero has been strongly linked with the Primera Liga club after impressing on loan with Real Mallorca last season.

Sevilla put an undisclosed bid forward for the 25-year-old on Thursday, but the offer was immediately turned down by the Baggies, who have stressed they will not undersell the midfielder.

"There have been lots of rumours in the media over the past few weeks about Sevilla being interested in Borja but the bid they tabled yesterday was the first we have received from them," sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth told West Brom's official website .

"It was rejected out of hand as it was nowhere near what we would regard as an acceptable offer.

"Borja enjoyed an outstanding season in Spain and we have just been promoted to the top flight.

"If we do not receive a satisfactory offer for Borja, we are more than happy for him to rejoin us for pre-season training in three weeks' time and be a part of our Barclays Premier League squad."

a.top_betting_link_1 {background-image: url('/Images/Skysports/Icons/skybet_logo.png');background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:0% 50%;padding-left:68px;}Barclays Prem Relegation 2010/11 Relegation: West Brom 4/5

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Benfica deny Di Maria reports

Benfica have denied reports that they have received an offer for Argentina winger Angel di Maria.

A number of high-profile sides, in particular Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid, have been linked with the gifted 22-year-old.

Manchester City are also said to be keen on Di Maria, who is contracted at Estadio da Luz until 2015.

However, Portuguese Liga champions Benfica have moved to dismiss the rumours, insisting no approach has been made.

A statement read: "There are no offers whatsoever that have been made to this company from any club, notably Real Madrid, company, businessman or any intermediary for the athlete Angel di Maria.

"We are not aware of any ongoing negotiations regarding the aforementioned athlete.

"Moreover, this company has only been made aware of possible interest from other clubs in the aforementioned athlete through the various reports in the media."

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Revolution bring in three trialists for Benfica friendlyPerez - Real seeking signings

Perez - Real seeking signings

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez says the club are eyeing two or three major signings for new coach Jose Mourinho.

Former coach Manuel Pellegrini was sacked after the Spanish giants failed to secure any silverware last season, allowing former Inter Milan boss Mourinho to step in as his successor last month.

And Perez has revealed Real are looking to bring in a handful of new players to bolster the squad next term.

Signings

"What we are definitely going to do is bring in two or three top players to complete the squad," Perez told television station Antena 3 .

Real have been linked to several players, including Inter right-back Maicon, Sevilla winger Jesus Navas and Benfica midfielder Angel Di Maria.

When questioned about Maicon, who helped Mourinho's Inter to UEFA Champions League glory last month, Perez said: "There is no rush but Maicon is one of the top players in his position."

On Navas and Di Maria he added: "They are two players who I also like very much but I think it's still too early and we will work over the summer to bring in those players who will complete the magnificent squad we already have."

Perez also revealed the club are tracking Bordeaux midfielder Yoann Gourcuff.

"Some have even said he is the new (Zinedine) Zidane," said Perez.

"He (Gourcuff) is a player we have followed in the same way as others who we think will be the top players of tomorrow."

Competition

Perez insists a player not on his radar is Barcelona's Lionel Messi, claiming it would be a mistake to put him alongside Real's record-signing Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Messi is the second-best player in the world after Ronaldo and it would not be a good thing to have both in the same team," he said.

"That way there is more competition."

a.top_betting_link_1 {background-image: url('/Images/Skysports/Icons/skybet_logo.png');background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:0% 50%;padding-left:68px;}Champions League 2010/11 Win Outright: Real Madrid 5/1

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Maicon reassures Inter fans

Maicon has declared that he will only leave Inter Milan if president Massimo Moratti decides to sell him.

The Brazil right-back was quoted earlier this week as saying that he wanted to join Real Madrid, where former Inter manager Jose Mourinho has just taken charge.

Maicon has now clarified his remarks, stating that he will not actively seek a move away from the Nerazzurri.

The 28-year-old maintains that he is still enjoying life with the Serie A club, where he is under contract until 2014, and will let Moratti decide on his future.

"I'm very happy at my club and the fans can rest assured that I will not leave unless the president wants me to leave," Maicon said.

The defender acknowledged that he would be interested in joining Real if it was decided that he will not stay at Inter.

"I didn't say I want to go to Real Madrid," he stated. "I said that if there would be another club I would like to go to now, after winning these important titles with Inter, it would be Real Madrid, no other club.

"Not a lot would change if I had to play for Real Madrid."

Brazil

Maicon is currently in South Africa preparing for the World Cup and recognises that he faces a fight just to stay in the Brazil team.

Brazil's defence is regarded as one of the strongest parts of their side and Maicon's presence in the back four is set to keep Barcelona's Dani Alves on the sidelines.

"It's good to know that there is someone like him waiting for an opportunity," said Maicon. "It makes me want to try to give my best to keep playing."

Maicon has established himself as a fitting replacement for Cafu, who dominated the right-back position from 1994 to 2006 and holds the record for number of international appearances for Brazil at 150.

"Everybody used to say that there were no substitutes to Cafu," Maicon said. "But today we are glad to hear that the right-back position in the national team is praised."

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Guardiola fined for ref rant

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has been fined 15,000 euros for accusing a referee of lying.

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) have punished the coach for publicly criticising a match official.

The comments in question came after Guardiola was sent from the touchline for insulting officials during Barca's 2-2 draw with Almeria on 6th March.

He was left fuming after disputing what referee Carlos Clos Gomez quoted him as saying in his match report.

An initial appeal to the RFEF regarding the matter was quickly rejected, leading to Guardiola blasting the whole episode.

Misquoted

"When someone lies you have to appeal," he said.

"They lied in the match reports and put things in there that I did not say."

Gomez sent Guardiola to the stands after just 27 minutes of the match against Almeria, claiming he had left his technical area and put his face close to that of an assistant referee.

He also suggested that the Barca boss had said: "Your decisions are the wrong way around" and "You don't understand anything".

Barcelona have confirmed that they now have 10 days in which to appeal the decision should they wish to do so.

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Diarra plans Mourinho talks

Mahamadou Diarra will delay a decision regarding his future at Real Madrid until he has spoken to new coach Jose Mourinho.

The Mali midfielder has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United and recently admitted he was flattered to be a reported target of the Premier League club.

Diarra struggled to nail down a first-team place at Real last season under Manuel Pellegrini and has been tipped to leave the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, the former Lyon ace's agent Frederic Guerra says Diarra will not make a decision on his future until he has met with Mourinho.

Guerra said in the Sunday Mirror : "Diarra will sit down and listen to whether the new manager has any plans for him before making a decision.

"We have interest from England and France, so if he is not going to get games at Real he will leave."

Mourinho names No.2

Meanwhile, Real have confirmed Mourinho has appointed Aitor Karanka as his second in command at the Bernabeu.

Karanka joins a coaching team consisting of Rui Faria, Silvino Louro and Jose Morais and, like the trio, has also signed a four-year contract with the Spanish giants.

It is thought his appointment came about because Mourinho wanted someone who - like Giuseppe Baresi at Inter Milan - knew the club well.

Karanka spent five years at Madrid, between 1997 and 2002, helping them to three Champions League trophies and one league title.

The 36-year-old was serving as Spain Under-16 coach, while he was also assistant to Gines Melendez with the Under-17s who have just returned as runners-up from the European Championship.

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