8 July 2005 Woodgate Resumes Training Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate has resumed training after losing a season long battle with a thigh injury. The defender picked up the injury against Chelsea in April 2004. Real Madrid signed him last summer but he failed to recover and suffered a serious of setbacks without making a debut. Gerrard and Carragher Sign New Contracts Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and defensive colossus Jamie Carragher have signed new four-year contracts that will keep them at Anfield until 2009 when they will be 29 and 31 respectively. Luxemburgo Reads the Riot Act Real Madrid coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo has told several of his players to stop moaning about a lack of playing time : "If you are here it is be a member of the squad. Owen and Figo have contracts and should be here. Whether they are going to play or not is a different story but they are Real Madrid players. If you are only here to play (every match) you should go. If Guti said he didn't like it here and was going to go and find another club he should have gone but as he is here it is because he didn't find another team and he should appreciate the work." On the on-off on-off transfer of Robinho he said : "I think he's going to come. The move could be completed in the next few days." Chilavert Given Suspended Sentence Former Paraguayan goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert has been given a six-month suspended jail sentence after submitting fake documents in a claim for compensation against his former club Strasbourg. Chilavert accused the club of not paying €2.4 million he claims he was promised on top of his monthly salary. Sochaux took the case to court. Chilavert was ordered to pay €10,000 in court costs and €1 to the clubs president Patrick Proisy. Despite producing false documents Chilavert was not charged with forgery. Robinson Signs on For Seven Years England and Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson has signed a new seven year contract tying to the club until 2012 when he will be 32. 6 July 2005 Gerrard Changes His Mind A day after insisting he wanted to leave the club Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard 'explained' his reasons for changing his mind : "I admitted I've made mistakes and the club has acknowledged they've made some mistakes as well but now we've sorted it out and I'm doing what I wanted to do all along, which is stay at Liverpool. I've now apologised to Liverpool and they've apologised to me, which is important." "I'll be signing the deal, maybe even today. I'd also like it known there are no clauses in that contract. This won't be happening again next summer or ever again, so far as I'm concerned. I've committed my long-term future to the club and I want all the speculation to end now. This is what I've wanted all along." Sochaux Sack Lacombe Sochaux have sacked Guy Lacombe. Abdel Djaadaoui has been named caretaker coach. Sochaux finished 10th in Ligue 1 last season. Milan Closer to Gilardino Alberto Gilardino's agent Beppe Bonetto has revealed that the two clubs are €3.7 million apart in their valuation of the player : "Talks are still going on but there is just €3.7 million difference between what Milan are offering and the €32 Parma want. However, we often have contact with Juventus even if there has never been an offer from Chelsea." Pizarro Desperate to Leave "I’m not interested in playing Champions’ League football with Udinese, I want to join a great side. The club must keep their promise that they made to me, the one allowing me to move on at the end of the season. I don’t have any preferences. I would be more than happy to join one from Juventus, Inter or Roma." Totti Loses Court Case Francesco Totti has been ordered to pay former agent Franco Zavaglia €3.11 in damages. Totti was unhappy with the terms of his contract renewal with Roma in 2001 and broke his deal with Zavaglia. The sports justice system ruled in Zavaglia's favour. 5 July 2005 Palermo Willing to Sell Toni Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini has revealed that he is willing to sell star striker Luca Toni for €16 million. The giant striker scored 20 goals last season and established himself at international level. Murdoch Saves Torino Satellite broadcaster Sky Italia (owned by Rupert Murdoch) will give Torino a two year advance (in the region of €24 million) in order to stave off the threat of bankruptcy. Torino owe €35 million in unpaid taxes. Gerrard Wants to Leave "I fully intended to sign a new contract after the Champions League final but the events of the past five to six weeks have changed all that. I have too much respect for the club and people at it to get involved in a slagging match." - Steven Gerrard Teixeira Holds up Robinho's Transfer "The amount of money that will be paid for Robinho has already been agreed. There isn't any problem with the money, the problem is that the president of Santos, Marcelo Teixeira, wants to have the player at Santos at least one more year. This has made the negotiations stop but I hope that everything can get resolved as soon as possible." - Robinho's agent Wagner Ribeiro 4 July 2005 Gerrard's Future in the Balance Steven Gerrard's agent, Struan Marshall, has revealed that talks between the player and Liverpool over a new contract have broken down - "Talks have stalled and are unlikely to be re-opened" he told the BBC. Gerrard has two years left to run on his Liverpool contract and has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid although transfers to Chelsea and Manchester United cannot be ruled out. If Gerrard plays in Liverpool's Champions League first round qualifier against TNS of Wales next Wednesday he would be cup tied for the rest of the competition so his future should be decided within the next week. 1 July 2005 Roma Hit With Transfer Sanctions FIFA have banned Roma from signing any players for a year following the controversial signing of Philippe Mexes. Mexes claimed he was free to leave and joined Roma last season. Roma offered €4.5 million for Mexes but Auxerre claimed he was worth €18 million. Ironically FIFA have also ordered Roma to pay Auxerre €8 million for the defender whose performances on the pitch suggest he isn't worth 1/10th of that figure. Vieri Released A statement on Inter's website read : 'Inter and Christian Vieri have reached a mutual agreement to rescind his contract with the club, due to expire on 30 June 2006. Negotiations between the player and the club progressed smoothly at every stage, and the documents related to the mutual rescission of the contract were registered at the Lega Calcio offices this morning. FC Internazionale thanks Christian Vieri for his contribution to the history of the club over the past six years.'