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Real Madrid close to signing Brazil defender Marcelo

MADRID, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Real Madrid have said they are close to completing a deal for Brazil fullback Marcelo as part of their strategy to strengthen their team in the January transfer window

'A deal for Marcelo is close to being agreed,' Real sports director Predrag Mijatovic was quoted as telling Onda 6 television station on Tuesday. The 18-year-old Fluminense left back is being regarded as a long-term replacement for Roberto Carlos, and scored on his international debut in September in Brazil's 2-0 win over Wales. Real president Ramon Calderon said last weekend the club were planning to sign three or four players in January and Spanish media have linked a number of youngsters with the nine-times European champions. Along with Marcelo, Boca Juniors' 20-year-old midfielder Fernando Gago and River Plate's 18-year-old forward Gonzalo Higuain top the list of reported targets. After having signed mainly experienced, older players during the summer, Mijatovic has highlighted the club's desire to focus on 'players for the future'. 'Gago would be good for us. He has a great touch and is a quality player. We are interested in him but it isn't a done deal yet. There are other big clubs interested as well but he wants to come to Real,' Mijatovic added. Higuain, the French-born son of Argentine parents, has turned down the chance to make his international debut with France. Higuain was reported in the Spanish media on Tuesday saying: 'Real are a great team with great players and it would be wonderful to play there

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Red Sox reportedly win bid for Matsuzaka

The Boston Red Sox have reportedly bid at least $42 million just for the rights to negotiate a contract with Daisuke Matsuzaka

NAPLES, Fla. - Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka will learn Tuesday whether the Seibu Lions have accepted a bid for him by a major league team.

ESPN, citing unnamed sources, reported that the Red Sox delivered the highest bid with a $42 million offer. Sports Illustrated, however, cited a source as saying the bid could be even higher than that.

Major League Baseball and the Japanese commissioner’s office will make simultaneous announcements at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday (10 a.m. Tokyo time Wednesday), MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said Monday at the big league general managers’ meetings

The amount of the highest bid was forwarded by the major league commissioner’s office to the Japanese commissioner’s office last Wednesday, and the Lions have until Tuesday to accept. Only if the offer is accepted will the identity of the winning team be revealed

The Boston Red Sox, Yankees, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers were thought to be among the bidders. The winning team will have 30 days to negotiate a contract with Matsuzaka’s agent, Scott Boras.If Matsuzaka doesn’t agree to a contract, the bid will not be paid, and he will stay in Japan for at least one more season

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Lippi lavishes praise on Sir Alex

Italy's FIFA World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi has hailed Sir Alex Ferguson as "one of the best coaches in the world".

Memorable match
As Sir Alex celebrates 20 years at Old Trafford, Lippi shared with uefa.com his admiration for the Manchester United FC manager with whom he enjoyed a great rivalry during his time in charge of Juventus. United famously fought back from two goals behind to defeat Lippi's Juventus 3-2 to book their place in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final. The English club went on to beat FC Bayern München 2-1 in Barcelona, a terrific end to a season that had also seen them win the Premiership and FA Cup.

'Great friend'
Lippi, who is having a break from football after leading Italy to the world crown in Germany, said: "I consider Ferguson a great friend and a great professional. That is easy to say because anyone who is at the top of European football for 20 years, keeping the same team at the top of the European game, must have an open mind and a really high level of knowledge. I don't know his style of work because I've never seen him at work, but I've seen the results and they are great results. To work at the top for 20 years makes him one of the greats."

'Admiration'
Describing his bond with Ferguson, Lippi added: "It is a relationship based on admiration and friendship, and dates back to the Manchester United-Juventus matches in the [UEFA] Champions League. He always showed a great admiration for my job and, from that, the relationship developed into a friendship. Every time we meet we talk about our families, our grandchildren and also about our work."

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Zidane says has no plans to coach

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) -- Retired French legend Zinedine Zidane said he has no plans to coach soccer anytime soon, adding that working with children may better suit his talents.

Zidane kicked a ball around with schoolchildren on a dirt pitch Tuesday in Bangladesh at a village near the capital, and later showed off his skills at an exhibition match featuring young players at a packed Dhaka stadium

The former star midfielder was visiting Bangladesh through Wednesday on the invitation of Grameen Bank -- the micro-finance institution that won this year's Nobel Peace Prize along with its founder Muhammad Yunus.

Zidane, who retired after captaining France in the final of this year's World Cup in Germany, said he had no immediate plans to take up coaching.

"It does not interest me now. I believe I can use my talents in other ways," Zidane said, adding he would be happy to do something for children.

On Wednesday, Zidane was to open a nonprofit plant producing cheap, nutritious yogurt for low-income people, particularly children. The factory will be operated by the Grameen Bank and French food company Groupe Danone in northern Bangladesh.

Zidane said he was moved when people shouted out his name in places like Bangladesh. He said he would consider returning to the South Asian nation if asked -- perhaps to give some playing tips.

He also offered advice for Bangladesh's young soccer players. "Even with talent, success comes from a lot of hard work," Zidane told a news conference through an interpreter in Dhaka.

Zidane also said with effort, Asian soccer could catch up with Europe, which started playing the game long before.

Yunus said he hoped that Zidane's presence would inspire Bangladeshi soccer players. Soccer is the most popular game in the impoverished nation of 144 million people

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Bodybuilding: Sazali set to muscle in on gold

NEWLY-crowned Mr Universe Sazali Samad is ready to win gold in the Asian Games on Dec 1-15.

Sazali is in a buoyant mood following his victory in the World Amateur Championships in the Czech Republic last Sunday but he needs no reminder about the tough assignment in Doha.

Sazali, who is leaving no stone unturned in his preparations, will leave for California on Nov 9 to continue training under coach Milos Sarcev, who will also accompany Sazali to Doha.

"This is is the first time we are sending bodybuilders overseas for training, Sazali told us that training under Sarcev, even though for two weeks before the world championships in the Czech Republic, has made a world of difference. Therefore we decided that Sazali should continue to train for another month under Sarcev," said National Sports Council deputy director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong yesterday.

Sazali became the first Asian to win the 65kg category three times in the World Amateur Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic, last week.

The 39-year-old policeman, who hails from Batu Pahat, has also won the Mr Asia title five times.

"I dedicate the Mr Universe victory to all Malaysians who have been supporting me. Now my focus is on winning gold in Doha."



Sazali described Sarcev, a former Mr Olympia contestant, as a very good coach. "He has taught me the importance of eating the right food, especially during competitions, and also guided me on different poses which are important in international events like the Asian Games. Certain exercises have also added more definition to my muscles." said Sazali

Sazali may be the favourite but he is also under no illusions about his prospects in Doha, saying he expects stiff competition from China, Indonesia, Thailand, Iran and Myanmar. "Bodybuilders from these countries have also improved a lot. There were some good bodybuilders who competed in the world championships in the Czech Republic."

Sazali, who started bodybuilding at 24, hopes to turn professional after the Games.

"I’ve been advised by Sarcev to turn professional to enable me to compete in Mr Olympia and other international events, but I am also aware that I will not be able to compete in regional games or even the Asian Games as a professional."

But right now, his future is the least of his worries. The only thing in Sazali’s mind is gold in the Games

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Real Madrid 1 - 0 Steaua

Real Madrid 1 - 0 Steaua
Nicolita (o.g.) 70

Steaua sunk by Nicolita own goal

A calamitous own goal from midfielder Banel Nicolita cost FC Steaua Bucuresti a share of the spoils at Real Madrid CF as the Spanish side progressed into the UEFA Champions League knockout stages.

Cruel misfortune
Steaua had started the night third in Group E but produced a tireless display to keep the home team at bay. Just when it seemed they might leave the Santiago Bernabéu with an unexpected point, however, Nicolita's back-pass completely evaded goalkeeper Cornel Cernea to break the Romanian title-holders' resistance. Ruud van Nistelrooy promptly wasted an opportunity to make the game safe as he blasted a spot-kick high into the stands, but Madrid nevertheless benefited from Nicolita's misfortune to join section leaders Olympique Lyonnais in the last 16.

Nicolita threat
Having lost 4-1 in Bucharest a fortnight ago, Steaua understandably began in a cautious frame of mind, but urged on by a significant number of visiting supporters they quickly found their feet and carved out the first chance after ten minutes. Nicolita was the architect, escaping on the right and crossing dangerously for Iker Casillas to claw away with three Steaua players waiting to pounce. Madrid countered through efforts from distance by Robinho and Roberto Carlos which failed to trouble Cernea.

Great goalkeeping
As Steaua found more room to manoeuvre in the centre of the field, so their play improved accordingly. Petre Marin had an curling shot palmed away by the flying Casillas on the half-hour while Daniel Oprita might have done better from a corner but could only scoop high over the bar. However, the opportunity of the half fell to Van Nistelrooy, who was denied by a remarkable point-blank save from Cernea, and the Steaua keeper then managed to scramble the ball off the line with his outstretched foot as the Dutchman attempted to turn in the rebound, before eventually clearing with assistance from Dorin Goian.

Madrid misses
The Merengues finally found their rhythm as the second half got under way and captain Raúl González should have given Madrid the advantage when he jinked into the area only to fire wide of Cernea's near post. Moments later Robinho's deep left-wing delivery was met at the far post by Sergio Ramos who cushioned the ball across the face of goal where Iván Helguera contrived to lift it over the bar. Madrid continued to press and substitute David Beckham's right-wing free-kick was met by the unmarked Sergio Ramos but again the chance went begging.

Penalty miss
Just as it seemed the breakthrough would never arrive, Nicolita – under little pressure – totally misdirected his pass towards Cernea to give Madrid a 70th-minute lead they were never to lose. The custodian then tripped Van Nistelrooy as the Madrid forward threatened to add a second, but the latter's aim from the spot was wayward. Madrid had already had their slice of fortune for the night, however, leaving Steaua to battle with FC Dynamo Kyiv for the consolation of third position and a UEFA Cup place