Borriello appeals for Italy call-up

Antonio Conte has left striker Mario Balotelli out of his first Italy squad for fixtures against the Netherlands and Norway.

Conte was appointed as Cesare Prandelli s successor earlier this month, having enjoyed a hugely successful spell at Juventus.

The former Italy international s first game in charge of the national side will come against the Dutch in a friendly on Thursday, before Italy s Euro 2016 campaign begins in Oslo five days later.

However, Conte has left out Balotelli the Liverpool striker who has 33 caps to his name and was taken to the European Championship in 2012 and this year s World Cup in Brazil by Prandelli.

Balotelli, who is suspended for the Norway match but could have featured against the Netherlands, recently moved to Anfield fro…

Steve Clarke savoured the chance to celebrate Scotland’s Euro 2024 qualification with the Hampden crowd after his side rounded off their campaign with a “strange” 3-3 draw against Norway.

Scotland had qualified with two games to spare and finished second behind Spain in Group A after a second consecutive draw ensured they have only lost once in the section.

The players, including injured captain Andy Robertson, did a lap of honour afterwards to mark their achievement.

Clarke said: “It was nice – and nice for the supporters – to say thank you to the team, a nice night for the team and staff to thank the supporters.

“It’s always nice to qualify for a major tournament. Obviously the last one was Covid-restricted so we missed that connection a…

Championship outfit Huddersfield Town have signed James Vaughan from Norwich City on an undisclosed fee.

Vaughan, 24, has inked a three-year deal with Huddersfield after impressing on loan last season, scoring 14 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions.

The former Everton forward signed for Norwich in June 2011 but made just six appearances for the club.

Huddersfield manager Mark Robins was delighted to have finally confirmed the signing of Vaughan, a player he feels can improve even more in the upcoming season.

James arrival is a significant signing for the club and one that I know our supporters will be very pleased with after his excellent debut season in a Huddersfield Town shirt, Robins told the club s official website.

Equally, I m delighted that …

Following the expiration of his contract with Manchester United earlier this summer, Edinson Cavani is prioritizing a move to Spain, according to Fabrizio Romano, and the clubs showing strongest interest in this moment are Valencia and Real Sociedad. The race is wide open, given that the Uruguayan striker hasn t made any decision other than the league he wants to play in.

Cavani enjoyed success in Italy and France with Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively, and he spent two years at Manchester United where he scored 19 goals and provided seven assists in 59 appearances in all competitions. At the age of 35, he has 133 caps and 58 goals for his country, and it seems he wants to experience another challenge in one of Europe s top leagues before calling time on what has cle…

Brazilian Felipe Melo has signed a deal with Italian giants Juventus, penning a five-year contract with the Turin outfit.

The 26-year-old makes the move from Serie A rivals Fiorentina for a fee of 20.5 million Euros. The deal also includes winger Marco Marchionni.

Melo, a defensive midfielder, moved to Europe to join Mallorca in 2005. Since, he played for Racing de Santander and Almeria before trying his luck at Fiorentina in 2008.

The player also helped Brazil to their second consecutive Confederations Cup trophy in South Africa last month.

…

Leeds United s chief executive has confirmed Jack Clarke s loan spell at Elland Road will be cut short after Tottenham opted to recall the teenager due to a lack of playing time.

Teenage winger Clarke became Spurs first signing in 18 months when he joined from Leeds in July, though he was loaned straight back to the Championship side for the 2019-20 season.

However, having appeared in 24 league matches last season, Clarke has played only 19 minutes in one substitute s appearance in this Championship campaign.

That has led to Spurs making the decision to cut short his spell at Elland Road, with Clarke due to return to Tottenham next month.

We thank Jack Clarke for his services and wish him the best of luck in his career as Spurs have confirmed, due t…

Son Heung-min scored the only goal as Tottenham rounded off an unbeaten pre-season by edging out rivals Arsenal 1-0 in the final game of the Mind Series on Sunday.

A tight affair was settled in the 79th minute at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Son receiving Japhet Tanganga s square pass in the box before firing past Bernd Leno.

Three wins and two draws from their five pre-season games means Nuno Espirito Santo s side head into the Premier League campaign, which begins against reigning champions Manchester City on August 15, unbeaten.

Despite Spurs  victory here moving them level on points with Chelsea, the Blues win the mini-tournament having scored the greater number of goals in their two matches.

Chances were few and far between for the most par…

Sunderland approved the signage for a Newcastle-themed decoration of a bar at the Stadium of Light for Saturday’s FA Cup derby last month.

The PA news agency understands the Magpies were invited to submit designs for the Black Cats Bar, which will provide corporate hospitality for travelling fans for the third-round tie, in December and that they were signed off by a senior member of staff at the Wearside club.

It is understood the move was intended to lessen the potential for the area, which normally carries Sunderland’s livery, to be damaged by rival supporters.

At a complete loss for words

What on earth are the club doing?!?!?!

— A LOVE SUPREME (@ALS_Fanzine)

Black Cats fans reacted furiously on Thursday when images of banners …

Sunderland A.F.C. striker Connor Wickham has played down speculation linking him with a summer move away from the Stadium of Light amid reported interest from a host of Championship clubs, including Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday, understands.

Since joining Sunderland from Ipswich Town for a fee of £8 million in the summer of 2011, Wickham has failed to establish himself as a first-team regular.

The England youth international, 20, has scored just two goals in 33 appearances (10 starts) for the Black Cats over the past two seasons.

However, Wickham is ready to fight for a place in Paolo Di Canio s starting XI. The 20-year-old striker faces competition from Jozy Altidore, Mikael Mandron and Steven Fletcher.

I don t have any pla…

Cardiff City will host their first-ever Premier League fixture when Manchester City travel to the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday.

After 51 years outside of the top flight, Malky Mackay s side suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat against West Ham on the opening day of the season, and the challenges do not get any easier as Manuel Pellegrini s team head to Wales.

Manchester City began their season with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Newcastle on Monday, and they will be keen to build on their good start with another strong performance.

Mackay knows that Sunday s clash will be a tough test for his side, but he has challenged them to rise to the occasion and compete with the 2012 Premier League champions.

They re a top, top side, he said. There s a task ahead of us …