Soccer Capsules: Impact draft Duke's Wenger with top MLS pick
The Associated Press
Thursday
First Round
1. Montreal, Andrew Wenger, D, Duke
2. Vancouver, Darren Mattocks, F, Akron
3. New England, Kelyn Rowe, MF, UCLA
4. Toronto, Luis Silva, MF, UC Santa Barbara
5. Chivas USA, Casey Townsend, F, Maryland
6. San Jose, Sam Garza, F, UC Santa Barbara
7. D.C. United, Nick DeLeon, MF, Louisville
8. Portland, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, D, Connecticut
9. Chicago, Austin Berry, D, Louisville
10. Columbus, Ethan Finlay, F, Creighton
11. Dallas, Matt Hedges, D, North Carolina
12. Toronto, Aaron Maund, D, Notre Dame
13. Philadelphia, Chandler Hoffman, F, UCLA
14. Colorado, Tony Cascio, F, Connecticut
15. Seattle, Andrew Duran, D, Creighton
16. Sporting Kansas City, KC, Dom Dwyer, F, South Florida
17. Real Salt Lake, Enzo Martinez, MF, North Carolina
18. Houston, Colin Rolfe, F, Louisville
19. Los Angeles, Tommy Meyer, D, Indiana<
Second Round
20. Montreal, Calum Mallace, MF, Marquette
21. Vancouver, Chris Estridge, D, Indiana
22. New England, Tyler Polak, D, Creighton
23. Chicago, Lucky Mkosana, F, Dartmouth
24. Real Salt Lake, Diogo de Almeida, D, Southern Methodist
25. San Jose, Jacob Hustedt, MF, Washington
26, Columbus, Aubrey Perry, D, South Florida
27. Portland, Brendan King, MF, Notre Dame
28. Chicago, Hunter Jumper, D, Virginia
29. Columbus, Kevan George, MF, Central Florida
30. Sporting Kansas City, Cyprian Hedrick, D, Coastal Carolina
31. New York, Ryan Meara, G, Fordham
32. Philadelphia, Greg Jordan, MF, Creighton
33. San Jose, Chris Blais, G, South Florida
34. Seattle, Babayele Sodade, F, Alabama-Birmingham
35. Philadelphia, Raymon Gaddis, D, West Virginia
36. Real Salt Lake, Sebastian Velasquez, MF, Spartanburg Methodist
37. Houston, Warren Creavalle, MF, Central Florida
38. Los Angeles, Kenney Walker, MF, Louisville
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Andrew Wenger looked a bit sheepish the moment he was asked what teams and players he followed growing up. He knew his reply wasn't all that daring.
"Well, Manchester United," he said. "And, of course, David Beckham."
Now, Wenger may have a chance to play against him. The expansion Montreal Impact selected the Duke forward with the first overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft on Thursday, choosing the most complete player available in the two-round draft.
The Hermann Trophy winner as the top NCAA player, Wenger was the ACC defensive player of the year last season and offensive player of the year this season, finishing with 17 goals and eight assists.
"We have a lot of potential," said Wenger, who plans to join the new MLS club in a couple weeks, once his responsibilities with the U.S. men's national under-23 team are through. "It's exciting."
Just as exciting is the chance to potentially play against Beckham. The midfielder's contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy has expired, but negotiations are ongoing and Beckham reportedly has said he'd rather remain in Los Angeles than return to playing in Europe.
Montreal plays the MLS champion Galaxy on May 12.
Akron forward Darren Mattocks was selected second by the Vancouver Whitecaps. UCLA midfielder Kelyn Rowe went third to New England, followed by UC Santa Barbara's Luis Silva to Toronto FC and Maryland forward Casey Townsend to Chivas USA.
The Impact were expected to choose between Wenger and Mattocks, who many believe has greater long-term potential. Club officials wavered between the two until a couple days ago, ultimately going with Wenger's versatility over Mattocks' scoring punch.
"It's going to be awesome," Wenger said. "I've never lived in a big city. I've been watching a lot of the Travel Channel lately, so at least I know of some nice places to eat."
Montreal coach Jesse Marsch, a longtime MLS star, said he doesn't know where Wenger will fit on the field. He's shown ability at forward and midfielder and as a lockdown defender.
"I think he was the best soccer player available," Marsch said. "We followed him very closely, and we just felt he had the best future, short term and long term, in the draft."
Mattocks is a speedy Jamaican who wound up at powerhouse Akron because he wanted to acclimate himself to playing in colder weather. He'll certainly get that opportunity in Vancouver.
"I knew from the get-go that it would be between me and Wenger. They picked Wenger first and that's OK with me," said Mattocks, a Hermann Trophy semifinalist and Mid-American Conference player of the year, who scored 39 goals in 47 games during his two years with the Zips.
Vancouver President Bob Lenarduzzi said his decision was easy once Montreal made its pick.
"It's been the consensus that the top two were Wenger and Mattocks," Lenarduzzi said. "We just needed Montreal to make up their minds. All along you sort of jokingly ask what they're going to do, but they never were going to tell me anything."
Sam Garza became the second player from UC Santa Barbara to be drafted when he went sixth to San Jose. Garza began his career at Denver before scoring 17 goals in two seasons for the Gauchos, helping them to a 15-7-1 record and the third round of the NCAA tournament this season.
Garza's grandfather, Bill Cross, was a running back for the Chicago Cardinals in the NFL.
Louisville midfielder Nick DeLeon was drafted seventh by D.C. United. His teammate, Austin Berry, went two spots later to Chicago. Connecticut defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste went eighth to Portland and Ethan Finlay of Creighton was chosen by Columbus with the 10th overall pick.
North Carolina's Matt Hedges went 11th to FC Dallas. Notre Dame defender Aaron Maund went next to Toronto FC, followed by UCLA's Chandler Hoffman to Philadelphia, UConn's Tony Cascio to Colorado and Creighton defender Andrew Duran to Seattle.
The biggest roar at the Kansas City Convention Center came when hometown club Sporting Kansas City made South Florida forward Dom Dwyer the No. 16 overall pick. Several hundred fans dressed in blue that had congregated to the side of the expansive ballroom burst into applause.
Dwyer, who is originally from London, began his career at Tyler Junior College in Texas. He was the Big East offensive player of the year after scoring 16 goals in 21 games for the Bulls.
"You hear rumors about teams and where you might go, but I didn't know anything about Kansas City," Dwyer said. "I'm excited to be here."
Red Bulls acquire Cooper from Timbers
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Timbers have traded forward Kenny Cooper to the New York Red Bulls for a first-round pick in the 2013 draft and allocation money. The trade was announced Thursday during Major League Soccer's SuperDraft.
"I want to thank Kenny for being a first-class person and professional. I wish him the best," Timbers owner Merritt Paulson posted on Twitter.
Cooper had eight goals and two assists in 34 matches for the Timbers last season, but he was inconsistent. The 27-year-old scored Portland's first MLS goal, but wound up coming off the bench for a string of games in July. He had four goals in the Timbers' last seven games.
Cooper came to the Timbers after a stint in Europe that was marred by injuries. Before that he was an All-Star with FC Dallas, and has 48 goals in 124 career regular-season MLS games.
The Timbers on Thursday also selected defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste and midfielder Brendan King in the SuperDraft, which was held in Kansas City.
Jean-Baptiste, the eighth overall pick, played two seasons at Connecticut, which won the Big East championship and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA tournament last year. He was honored as the conference's defensive player of the year.
"Very excited," Jean-Baptiste said in a statement. "I have a lot of adrenaline rushing through my body. I just feel like I want to get to the team and get started bonding with my teammates, so we can start a good season."
King, the 27th pick, had a goal and two assists as a senior at Notre Dame last season.
Seattle takes D Duran in first round of draft
TUKWILA, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Sounders bolstered their defense by selecting Andrew Duran out of Creighton with the 15th overall pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft.
Duran was taken late in the first round on Thursday. Seattle later selected forward Babayele Sodade out of Alabama-Birmingham with the 34th overall pick.
The 22-year-old Duran was honored as the Missouri Valley Conference defensive player of the year and was a second-team all-America selection in 2011. He made 48 starts in his five seasons at Creighton, although his 2008 and 2010 seasons were cut short by injuries.
Duran can play either center back or on the defensive wings.
Sodade had 13 goals and five assists as a senior for the Blazers and was a Conference USA first-team selection.
Brazil to play exhibition against U.S. in May
NEW YORK (AP) — Brazil will play an exhibition game against the United States on May 30 or 31 at Landover, Md., or Foxborough, Mass.
The game was announced Thursday by Brazilian soccer's governing body. It will be part of a three-game U.S. trip for Brazil, which also will play Mexico on June 3 at Arlington, Texas, and Argentina on June 9 at East Rutherford, N.J.
The Americans are preparing for their opening World Cup qualifiers, at home against Antigua and Barbuda on June 8 and at Guatemala four days later. They start the year against Venezuela on Jan. 21 at Glendale, Ariz., then play at Panama four days later and at Italy on Feb. 29.
Brazil defeated the Americans 2-0 on goals by Neymar and Alexandre Pato in their last meeting — at the Meadowlands in August 2010.
West Ham close to loan of U.S. defender John
LONDON (AP) — West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says the loan of American defender George John from Major League Soccer's FC Dallas should soon be finalized. Allardyce says on the second-tier club's website that "we're close to the George John deal, which is progressing."
The 24-year-old center back is expected to initially move to Upton Park on loan with an option for a permanent transfer. John's agent, Ted Philipakos, says on his Twitter feed: "Look for announcement today re USMNT and FC Dallas defender George John move."
West Ham is second in the League Championship standings, behind Southampton on goal difference.
Red Bulls sign Swedish defender Holgersson
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — The New York Red Bulls have signed 26-year-old Swedish defender Markus Holgersson. The agreement was announced Thursday.
Holgersson spent the last three seasons with Helsingborg in Sweden, scoring five goals in 80 appearances. He was selected for Sweden's national team for the first time this month.
League Capsules
Barcelona to meet Madrid in Copa del Rey quarters
MADRID (AP) — Barcelona will play Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals after coming from behind to beat Osasuna 2-1 on Thursday and cruise to a 6-1 aggregate victory.
Defending champion Madrid hosts the first leg Wednesday, with the return match at Barcelona on Jan. 25. The rivals have already met three times this season, with Barcelona winning the two-legged Spanish Super Cup 5-4 on aggregate in August before a 3-1 victory at Madrid in the league last month.
The two games will take the number of "clasico" matches in the last nine months to nine. Madrid's sole victory was in the Copa del Rey final last season.
"That's the draw for us. We'll have to prepare well like we always do," defender Gerard Pique said. "In a Barca-Madrid there are no favorites."
On a foggy Thursday night, Dejan Lekic deservedly put host Osasuna ahead in the 41st minute of a strong first half against a Barcelona lineup that included several "B'' team players with the team having won the first leg 4-0.
Alexis Sanchez leveled by heading in Adriano's cross in the 47th and, with Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets coming on as substitutes, Barcelona dominated until the end with Sergi Roberto capping a typical buildup by scoring the winner in the 72nd.
Earlier, Gaizka Toquero's impressive backheeled goal helped Athletic Bilbao beat third-tier club Albacete 4-0 play Mallorca in the last eight.
Bilbao or Mallorca will play either Espanyol or third-division club Mirandes, while Barcelona or Madrid will face the winner of a city derby between Valencia and Levante.
Osasuna, also fielding a number of youth team players, pressured the European champions in the first half to disrupt their play.
Pique headed a chance off the line before goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto dived to save Lekic's volleyed shot in the 17th. Lekic again volleyed wide shortly before finally scoring after Raoul Loe eluded defenders near the Barcelona area.
After the restart, Adriano bounced a cross across the face of goal to find Sanchez at the far post for the leveler.
Sanchez was replaced by Messi in the 58th and the Ballon d'Or winner settled in by threading the pass through for winger Roberto to shoot past Riesgo into the bottom corner for the winner.
At the San Mames, Toquero controlled the ball inside the area and, with his back to goal, used the back of his foot to make it 3-0 in the 78th minute.
Markel Susaeta scored the opener, reaching Iker Muniain's through ball before chipping goalkeeper Alvaro Campos in the 24th.
Ander Herrera doubled the lead with a volley into the top corner in the 64th after collecting the rebound from Campos' save from Muniain.
Mikel San Jose scored with a header in the 86th.
Fernando Llorente had a number of scoring opportunities in his first match since early December before being replaced.
-- Paul Logothetis
Napoli into quarters after late Pandev winner
MILAN (AP) — Goran Pandev's contentious late winner sent Napoli through to the Italian Cup quarterfinals on Thursday with a 2-1 victory over Serie A struggler Cesena.
Striker Eduardo Vargas had a nightmare debut for Napoli with his mistake giving Cesena defender Stefan Popescu the opener in the 20th minute.
However, Edinson Cavani equalized in the 65th minute before Pandev's goal in the 86th, which even television replays couldn't prove had gone in before Cesena goalkeeper Nicola Ravaglia had pushed the ball clear.
"I think the ball went in," Pandev said. "What was important was to win. The match was difficult but we're through and now we'll focus on the league.
"We want to win the Italian Cup a lot. Cesena had a great game tonight, but in the end we managed to turn the match around."
Napoli will now face either Inter Milan or Genoa.
Napoli, which is sixth in the Serie A standings, wasn't expected to struggle with Cesena in the relegation zone and having lost four of its past five games.
"From the second replay you can see that the ball is a hair's width inside," Cesena coach Daniele Arrigoni said. "If the linesman also saw that, then he did well to give it. What's important is to be sure. But in any case, that's how the match went.
"We were very good and we were always in the match. We also hardly suffered if you think that we were faced with a great team."
The home side started the brighter, with a period of sustained pressure on the Cesena goal. However, a combination of poor final balls and some solid defending meant Napoli never really had a proper sight of goal.
Cesena looked dangerous on the counterattack, and the visitors stunned the Stadio San Paolo crowd into silence when they took the lead. Vargas inadvertently touched the ball toward Popescu, who lashed it into the net from the edge of the area.
Napoli could have leveled six minutes later following a brilliant cross from Juan Zuniga but Cesena defender Marco Rossi did well to clear the danger just in time. Zuniga put in another great cross in the 34th minute but it was slightly too far in front of Cavani.
Things went from bad to worse for Vargas five minutes later when Cavani, finding himself in a good position in the area, swiveled and fired toward goal only for his new teammate to get in the way of his shot.
Pandev came on for Vargas at halftime and almost immediately equalized when his volleyed effort went narrowly wide.
The Macedonia striker was involved in Napoli's equalizer though, his powerful free kick being parried by Ravaglia for the onrushing Cavani to slot home.
And it was the dangerous Pandev who scored the winner with a free kick from out wide on the right flank from a curling delivery. Ravaglia landed before the line as he pushed the ball clear and, amid fierce protests from the Cesena players, the officials judged that the ball had crossed the line.
-- Daniella Matar
Sneijder back to boost Inter in Milan derby
MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder makes a timely return from injury for Sunday's derby against Serie A leader AC Milan.
Sneijder has not played since Nov. 2 but the Dutchman is back to boost Inter for one of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the season.
"I had a really great day today...I can't wait until the derby on Sunday!" Sneijder wrote on Twitter this week.
Inter is looking for a sixth successive victory, a run that has seen it climb to fifth in the standings. It is eight points behind joint leaders Milan and Juventus, which hosts Cagliari on Sunday.
Milan has won the last three derby matches, in all competitions, with former Inter hero Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring in two of them. Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri reveals Zlatan is one of the most charged up players ahead of the clash.
"(Gennaro) Gattuso incarnates the spirit of the derby," Allegri said. "And then there's the hard core, (Alessandro) Nesta and (Massimo) Ambrosini, as well as of course Ibrahimovic in that how he also looks at the game as an ex Inter player.
"Sometimes I even get angry with Zlatan. He loves the battle because he likes being stimulated. He gets very angry with the others, but also with himself."
Allegri has an almost full squad to choose from, apart from long-term injury absentees Antonio Cassano, Mathieu Flamini and Mario Yepes, while Alberto Aquilani remains a doubt. Gattuso could make a surprise return to action after fourth months out with an eye injury.
Inter coach Claudio Ranieri also has a full side available and he hopes the wealth of options which both sides have ensures it is a thrilling encounter.
"You feel that there is something different in the city these past few days," Ranieri said. "Our fans spur us on to do well and that will also be the case with Milan. I hope it's a good game, of course we'll try to win but what's important is to have a lively game."
Inter was lying close to the relegation zone not so long ago after a dreadful start to the season which prompted Ranieri to replace Gian Piero Gasperini. The former Juventus and Roma coach took time to work his magic, and has succeeded in turning the team's fortunes around. Inter has scored nine goals in its past two matches.
"Obviously we're better than two months ago," Ranieri said. "But we still have a lot of work to do. That's why, when I say that Milan has more to lose, I'm telling the truth, because they're fighting for the title and we're not yet."
Juventus, the only team still unbeaten in the league, will be looking on keenly as its match at home to Cagliari finishes four hours before the derby kicks off.
Marco Borriello is set to make his debut for Juventus following his switch from Roma and he will immediately try to get the fans onside after they protested against his signing.
Udinese is two points below the top two and it travels to Genoa, which will be looking to turn things around swiftly after conceding nine goals in two matches. Lazio is the other team to make up the top five and it welcomes Atalanta in Sunday's early game.
At the other end of the table is a match between Cesena and Novara, who are six points behind 17th-placed Bologna, which visits Napoli on Monday.
Lecce travel to Fiorentina, which has won only one of its past five games but is nevertheless expected to make light work of the rock-bottom side.
Elsewhere, Roberto Donadoni takes charge of his first game as Parma coach when his new team welcomes Siena. Donadoni replaced the fired Franco Colomba.
Also, Roma travels to Catania on Saturday, and Chievo hosts Palermo on Sunday.
-- Daniella Matar
Resurgent Marseille finds title form in league
PARIS (AP) — Although all eyes will be on Paris Saint-Germain when the French league resumes this weekend after the winter break, Marseille has strung the sort of run that now makes the southern club a title threat.
Since its customary slow start to the season, Marseille has roared back by winning seven of its last eight matches, including four of five league games.
Sixth-placed Marseille trails leader PSG by nine points, but clawed back a bigger deficit when it overtook Bordeaux to win the league two seasons ago.
Marseille coach Didier Deschamps dismissed the notion that big-spending PSG, which has millions more to spend on new players in this month's transfer window, is too far ahead and far too powerful to be caught.
"In theory? What theory? Bordeaux was 11 points ahead with four months left to go and we still overtook them in the end," Deschamps said in a recent interview with France Football magazine. "I still have this ambition inside of me, even though, above all, the objective is to secure a qualifying place in the Champions League."
Marseille is at home to third-placed Lille on Sunday, while PSG hosts Toulouse on Saturday.
Marseille may already be at the turning point of its season. After the Lille match, it travels to play Rennes before facing a Lyon side which is also coming back into form.
"If we get through those three matches well, we'll have more of a chance," Deschamps said.
The problem for Deschamps is that Marseille must win those games with several key players away on African Cup of Nations duty.
Brothers Andre and Jordan Ayew have been among Marseille's best players so far this season, but are away with Ghana, while key central defender Souleymane Diawara is representing Senegal, and utility player Charles Kabore is with Burkina Faso.
"We have four players involved who can reach the last four (semifinals) and therefore be away until Feb. 12," Deschamps said.
Luckily for Deschamps, Cameroon did not qualify, otherwise he would also have been without defensive midfielder Stephane M'Bia and center half Nicolas N'Koulou, who has been one of the revelations of the season.
Marseille's improved form has coincided with Mathieu Valbuena's return to the first team.
Valbuena was a key player for Marseille in its title-winning campaign two years ago, but Deschamps has started him in only 13 of 19 league games so far, and has substituted him off early in some of those.
Valbuena has found it hard to hide his disappointment, but the France winger has responded in brilliant fashion with six goals in his last six games, including two in Tuesday's League Cup quarterfinal win against Caen.
Furthermore, and despite not always being a regular, Valbuena has set up nine league goals this season.
Such statistics make it impossible for Deschamps to leave him out, and Valbuena's overall performance in the 3-0 win against Caen proved that he was close to the form that prompted Laurent Blanc to select him for France.
PSG, which leads second-placed Montpellier by three points, needs an impressive win against Toulouse at Parc des Princes to show that last Sunday's scrappy 2-1 win against amateur side Locmine in the French Cup was only a blip.
The performance was so poor that PSG was seconds away from going to extra time against part-timers, and it prompted new coach Carlo Ancelotti to jump off his bench and harangue his players from the sidelines.
Ancelotti has been busy knocking the players into shape in training this week, barking out instructions in English alongside his assistant Paul Clement, who recently left Blackburn to join the PSG setup.
"The arrival of Carlo Ancelotti and the new staff signals a change in training methods," PSG midfielder Mathieu Bodmer said Thursday. "The fact that they've come from foreign leagues gives a new outlook on the game. We're learning about each other, the squad is receptive and everything is going well in training."
PSG took its season's spending close to €90 million ($116 million) after completing the signing of Brazilian defender Maxwell on Thursday. He joined from Barcelona with a transfer fee French media estimated at up to €7 million ($9 million).
In Saturday's other games, it is: Ajaccio vs. Auxerre; Bordeaux vs. Valenciennes; Brest vs. Nice; Caen vs. Rennes; Dijon vs. Evian; Montpellier vs. Lyon; Nancy vs. Lorient, and Saint-Etienne vs. Sochaux.
Lyon will be full of confidence after beating Lille 2-1 to reach the League Cup semifinals on Wednesday, despite playing for 80 minutes with 10 men after defender Mouhamadou Dabo was sent off.
Despite taking the lead through former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole's eighth goal of the season, and fourth in his last two games, Lille let the match slip and the defeat will strike a blow to the defending French champion.
-- Jerome Pugmire
Elsewhere
PSG signs Brazilian defender Maxwell from Barca
PARIS (AP) — Ambitious Paris Saint-Germain has taken its spending spree this season close to €90 million ($116 million) with the signing of the attack-minded Brazilian defender Maxwell from Barcelona.
The French league leader presented Maxwell at a news conference on Thursday, with its sporting director Leonardo saying that the 30-year-old player had signed a 3½ year contract.
No details were given of the transfer fee, which French media have estimated at up to €7 million ($9 million). Maxwell had 2½ years left on his Barcelona contract.
"The ambition of the club is what attracted me here," Maxwell said. "I will make sure I adhere to how the coach wants me to play."
Maxwell is new coach Carlo Ancelotti's first signing. The Italian wants to make PSG a more attacking team, starting from the back. Being a Brazilian, and having played three seasons at Barcelona, that shouldn't be a problem for Maxwell.
"The basis of Brazilian football is attacking (football). It's a part of my game," Maxwell said. "It's true that Barcelona reached a very high level, but it's Ancelotti who'll decide how PSG plays."
Maxwell, who has also played for Ajax, won one Champions League and two Spanish league titles with Barcelona. He played 89 games, scoring twice.
"He's had a great career, and we're delighted he's joining us," Leonardo said. "Fullbacks have become very important (in football)."
Leonardo said Ancelotti had tried to sign Maxwell when he was coach of AC Milan. Ancelotti quit Milan to join Chelsea, where he had spent the last two seasons, winning the English league and Cup double in his first season.
"Maxwell has the ability to make the difference in this position," Leonardo said. "Ancelotti knows him well."
Maxwell played under Pep Guardiola, the most successful manager in Barcelona's history and recently voted FIFA's men's coach of the year. He is now looking forward to working with Ancelotti, who won two Champions League titles as a player and two more as a coach with AC Milan.
"Ancelotti has won a lot of titles, he's an example for any player and it's very motivating to work alongside him," Maxwell said. "I'm confident it will go well."
PSG has not won the league title since 1994 and last played in the Champions League eight years ago. Backed by Qatari investment, it already spent €82 million at the start of the season.
Maxwell, who has never played for Brazil, joins winger Nene and defender Ceara as one of three Brazilians in PSG's squad. He is one of five South Americans, along with Javier Pastore — a French record signing at €42 million — and defender Diego Lugano, who won the Copa America with Uruguay last year and reached the World Cup semifinal in 2010.
PSG's spending is unlikely to stop there.
The club has also been linked with a bid for AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato.
Although Leonardo avoided the question when asked on Thursday, French reports earlier in the day had said that PSG was preparing a bid of €35 million for the Brazil international.
Pato has decided to stay with Milan, however, which he described in a statement on the Italian club's website as "my home."
-- Jerome Pugmire
Keane signs with Aston Villa on two-month loan
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Robbie Keane joined Aston Villa on Thursday on a two-month loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy.
With the European Championship coming up in June, the Ireland captain wants to stay sharp while many of his Galaxy teammates are off.
"I'm delighted to be back in the Premier League," the 31-year-old forward said. "This is only short term."
New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry only needed minutes back in English soccer on Monday to score and give Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Leeds and a berth in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
"Can I do a Thierry Henry? I hope so. It would be great to do that," Keane said. "It was written that he was always going to come back and score on his return to Arsenal. Good luck to him. He is obviously a legend at Arsenal. If I can do something like that in the six (league) games, and help the team, that is great."
Keane has been training with Villa since the start of the week and will be in contention to make his debut on Saturday against Everton, which has Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan on loan.
Villa (5-7-8) is 13th in the Premier League, seven points above the relegation zone.
"I'll be trying my best to make a big impact and help the team push forward up the table," Keane said. "If I can pass my experience and knowledge on to the younger players and help this team, then great."
Villa record signing Darren Bent is relishing reforming their partnership from when they played together at Tottenham.
"It's a top signing, a really clever move," Bent said. "In training Robbie, has looked razor-sharp and up for the challenge. He's a great player, and he has been for many years."
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard signs new deal
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is set to spend the rest of his career at Anfield after signing a new deal that will involve an ambassadorial role when he stops playing.
The 31-year-old midfielder, who has spent his entire career at Liverpool, signed a new "long-term" deal on Thursday.
"This is the club I love and is the club I have supported since I was a young boy," Gerrard said. "I am living the dream as the captain of one of the biggest clubs in the world. I love coming to work every day and the experiences I have had since I was eight years of age and first signed for the club, I wouldn't change them for the world.
"To extend that and to hopefully have some more good times in a red shirt is what I want."
Gerrard has appeared just 10 times in the first five months of the season because of a groin operation and ankle infection.
But he has scored in three of his past four appearances, with his a penalty kick on Wednesday night clinching a 1-0 victory in the first leg of the League Cup semifinals against Manchester City.
"In this day and age, there's not many people who go through their football career and represent just one club, especially people with quality like Steven," Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said. "If you're happy where you're playing, you're enjoying what you're doing and you enjoy the football club, I don't see any reason to move — and it's fantastic for us that he hasn't."
While Gerrard expects to have several years remaining playing at the top level, plans have already been put in place for him to continue being an influence off the pitch in an ambassadorial role when he eventually retires.
"It's really flattering for me that the club have offered me the chance to stay when I eventually hang my boots up," the England international said.
Report: Samba wants move away from Blackburn
PARIS (AP) — Blackburn defender Christopher Samba is reportedly ready to look for another club and would ideally like to join big-spending Paris Saint-Germain.
Blackburn is in last place in the Premier League and the 27-year-old Samba sees his future elsewhere.
"It's been difficult for me mentally lately, I've tried to maintain my level of performance but I feel that it's time for me to change," Samba told the website of sports daily L'Equipe late Wednesday. "The club is not improving at all."
Without elaborating, he said some promises have not been kept.
"I've always tried to set an example, but things haven't happened as I was told they would," Samba said. "I hope people will understand me."
Samba, who grew up on the outskirts of Paris, has been linked with a move to PSG, which is in first place in the French league.
"We'll see if the interest is confirmed or not, but it would be good for me to return home," Samba said. "In any case, it's flattering. The club has taken on a new dimension, it's not the PSG of a few years ago."
Three German clubs fined for fans lighting fireworks
BERLIN (AP) — Three Bundesliga clubs have been fined after their fans lit firecrackers and smoke bombs during separate league and German Cup games this season.
The German football federation said Thursday that Hertha Berlin had been fined €12,000 ($15,300) after its fans set off smoke bombs during the Bundesliga game at Borussia Dortmund, fireworks in the cup match at Rot-Weiss Essen and fireworks at a league game in Kaiserslautern.
Cologne was fined €15,000 ($19,100) after supporters lit fireworks during league games in Dortmund and Stuttgart and the German Cup game at Hoffenheim.
Hamburger SV fans set off fireworks in the league game at Hannover and smoke bombs at Mainz, costing their side a €9,000 ($11,500) fine.
All three clubs agreed to pay.
Chelsea receives bid for Alex from EPL rival
LONDON (AP) — Chelsea says an English Premier League rival has bid for defender Alex, whose transfer request was accepted last month.
West London rival Queens Park Rangers is reported to be interested in signing the 29-year-old Alex with new manager Mark Hughes indicating his interest in the Brazilian.
On Thursday, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said "there has been an approach from a Premier League club. It is a player who we have accepted a transfer request for, so we have to listen to offers."
The other player Chelsea accepted a transfer request from, Nicolas Anelka, has joined Shanghai Shenhua in China.
Alex, who joined Chelsea in 2004, saw his opportunities limited following the arrival of compatriot David Luiz a year ago.
Grant negotiating for Partizan Belgrade job
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbian media say former Chelsea manager Avram Grant is negotiating to take over Partizan Belgrade. B-92 radio says Grant is considering an annual €900,000 ($1.1 million) offer by the defending Serbian champions, plus a €400,000 bonus if the team qualifies for the Champions League next season.
Current Partizan coach Aleksandar Stanojevic will reportedly resign following his clash with the club management over personnel issues.
Grant, who led Chelsea to its only Champions League final, was fired from relegated West Ham last May. He previously led relegation-bound Portsmouth to the FA Cup final.
At the midseason break, Partizan leads the Serbian league standings, 10 points ahead of Belgrade rival Red Star.
CONCACAF changes Champions League format
NEW YORK (AP) — The preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League will be eliminated for the 2012-13 season, and the group phase will expand from 16 teams to 24.
Soccer's governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean said Thursday the first round will be extended from six weeks to eight and will start July 31 and end by Oct. 25. A team from the U.S. or Mexico will be in each of the eight first-round groups.
The winners of the three-team groups make the quarterfinals. In the past, 16 teams met in the preliminary round — eight advanced to the group phase and eight had byes.
Teams from the same nation can't be in the same group unless one is a wild card replacing a team from a country without a suitable stadium.
Obraniak joins Bordeaux from Lille
BORDEAUX, France (AP) — Midfielder Ludovic Obraniak has joined Bordeaux from French champion Lille. Bordeaux said on its website Thursday that the 27-year-old Poland international has signed a 3½ year contract, without giving further details. He had only six months left on his Lille contract.
Obraniak played 152 league games for Lille, scoring 19 goals, but only started five league games last season when Lille won the league and French Cup double.
Obraniak, who has scored four goals in 20 appearances for Poland, hopes to be in the co-host's squad for the European Championship being held June 8-July 1.
Cars, stores hit in attack on Olympiakos fan club
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Police say a group of youths on motorcycles attacked an Olympiakos supporters' club in Athens, damaging the premises as well as 10 cars and 5 storefronts. No injuries have been reported.
The perpetrators, who used clubs and rocks but wore no identifying team insignia, left the scene quickly and police are looking for them. Attacks on football fan clubs are frequent in Greece, which has seen an increase in supporter violence in recent years.
Police suspect the attack was carried out in retaliation for a similar incident against a Panathinaikos fans' club last week. In that attack, a kiosk owner who witnessed the incident was stabbed but not seriously injured.
Plzen defender tested positive in Champions League
PRAGUE (AP) — Defender David Bystron of Czech champion Viktoria Plzen has tested positive for a banned substance in the Champions League and faces a ban from UEFA of up to four years.
Plzen spokesman Pavel Pillar said the club was informed by UEFA on Thursday that the B sample taken after the Nov. 23 match at BATE Borisov in Belarus' capital Minsk confirmed the initial findings of an undisclosed banned substance. Plzen won 1-0, a victory that helped it earn a spot in the Europa League for finishing third in its group behind Barcelona and AC Milan.
Kakuta joins Dijon on loan from Chelsea
DIJON, France (AP) — Chelsea winger Gael Kakuta has joined Dijon on loan until the end of the season. The 20-year-old Frenchman has not made a league appearance for Chelsea this season, and briefly went on loan to Bolton.
Last season, Chelsea loaned the France under-21 international to Fulham, where he scored once in seven appearances. Dijon announced the loan on its website but did not give more details. Kakuta's contract at Chelsea runs out in 2015.
