Roma seal Lucca deal

Roma have announced that they have completed the signing of midfielder Jonatan Lucca from Internacional.
The 18-year-old Brazilian has signed a five-year contract with Roma after the two clubs agreed on a 700,000-euro deal.
Lucca, who has already joined up with the rest of the Roma squad at the club’s pre-season training camp in Switzerland, caught the eye of several European sides after impressing for Internacional’s youth team.
He moves to the Stadio Olimpico just days after his new team also completed the signing of another Brazilian, Corinthians defender Leandro Castan.
Roma finished in seventh position in Serie A last season, which saw the club replace Luis Enrique with Zdenek Zeman at the end of the campaign.

Beckham out to fell Timbers

Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham says his side are confident ahead of Saturday’s game with Portland Timbers in the MLS.
Reigning MLS champions Galaxy have endured a mixed campaign to date.
They beat Chicago Fire 2-0 away from home in their last fixture, but had suffered successive defeats to Philadelphia Union and San Jose Earthquakes prior to that.
On Saturday they make the trip north to face Portland Timbers, and David Beckham is expecting a typically warm reception from the Oregon natives.
John Spencer, Timbers coach in their inaugural MLS campaign last season, was sacked this month, and replaced on an interim basis by former Portland player Gavin Wilkinson.
“It is always a tough place to go, there is a passionate crowd of 30,00 people (at Portland) and they are a passionate team,” Beckham said.
“We know it is going to be a tough game. Obviously John Spencer being fired from their team and a new manager coming in, sometimes that can be a good thing for a team.
“A team can come together and show a lot of unity. I wish John all the best because he is a good guy and a good manager, but with their team this could be a good thing for them and we shall see.”
Following the clash with the Timbers, Galaxy have another away fixture against Canadian club Vancouver Whitecaps, and striker Robbie Keane knows the squad’s depth will be put to the test.
“The next three games we have coming up (are crucial),” Keane said.
“We have got three games on the road before coming back here (Los Angeles) to play Chivas.
“It is certainly a big couple of weeks for us so these are the games when you need the whole squad of players to pull together. There are going to be a lot players needed in the next few games so it is important everyone is ready for it.”

Beckham to be involved in London Games

David Beckham has revealed he will be involved in the London Olympics despite missing selection in the Great Britain football squad.
The 37-year-old midfielder – who plays his club football with the LA Galaxy in the United States – did a bulk of work in helping London win the rights to host the 2012 Games.
He was controversially left out of Stuart Pearce’s 18-man squad but the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player said he will have some role to play in the Olympics, despite being very disappointed with his non-selection.
“Getting the Olympics was one of the proudest moments (of my life), to be involved with the bid team,” Beckham said.
“It was an incredible moment and obviously all the talk of me possibly performing in the Olympics, it would have been a very proud moment for me.
“Everyone knows how proud I am to represent my country and to do it in my home town and on such a big stage would have been incredible so of course I am disappointed. Life goes on, I am healthy and my family are healthy and at the end of the day I will be there to support the GB team.
“We have got some incredible athletes in every event and it is going to be a proud moment to be there and to know I was part of bringing the Olympics to the East End of London, I am proud of that.
“I have been speaking to Seb Coe (Chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games) and a few other people about what I am going to be doing and it is yet to be decided but I will be part of it in some way.
“It is not out there yet but we have talked about a few things.”
The 2012 London Olympics begin on June 27 and run until August 12.

Tore set for Hamburg exit

Turkey international Gokhan Tore is reportedly on the verge of leaving Bundesliga club Hamburg.
The 20-year-old forward was one of the three players who left Chelsea for Hamburg in the off season, making 22 Bundesliga appearances as the German club narrowly avoided relegation.
It is understood coach Thorsten Fink is unhappy with Tore’s attitude and is considering letting the starlet leave, with Maximilian Beister and Son Heung-Min ahead of him in the battle for a first-team berth.
Hamburg, who must raise funds if they are strengthen their squad, have set an asking price of five million euros for the player, with Chelsea entitled to 50 percent of the transfer fee.
Galatasaray are understood to be monitoring Tore’s situation, while a delegation from Russian club Rubin Kazan arrived in Hamburg earlier this week to engage in talks.

Arbeloa warns Spain of Benzema threat

Spain defender Alvaro Arbeloa has heaped praise on France forward Karim Benzema ahead of their Euro 2012 quarter-final meeting in Donetsk.
Benzema is yet to get off the mark in the tournament but Arbeloa feels that for all of France’s attacking options, the former Lyon forward is the principal threat to Spain’s chances of progressing to the last four on Saturday.
“They are a really balanced team with a lot of talent up front,” Arbeloa told EFE.
“Logically, a lot of the attention is on Benzema, (Franck) Ribery and, with the form he’s in, (Samir) Nasri. They’re game-changers.
“But at the moment Benzema’s the king of the jungle.
“Karim is one of the best players in the world today and the people who are lucky enough to see him every day are even more aware that nobody has his intelligence for the game.”