Serie A talks stall

The Italian league has postponed discussions over a strike threat from the players because too many Serie A presidents failed to show up at a meeting yesterday.

The league said Italian football federation president Giancarlo Abete will address Monday the biggest sticking point in the contract: a proposal that would allow clubs to force players who are no longer wanted to train away from the first team or accept a transfer.

Serie A president Maurizio Beretta said he is confident that a strike will be avoided. Earlier this month, captains of all 20 clubs signed a document threatening a strike if the contract is not signed before the start of the season one week from today.

Inter Milan

Negotiations for the transfer of Samuel Eto'o from Inter Milan to the Russian club, Anzhi Makhachkala, have reportedly resumed.

Eto'o reportedly met with Anzhi officials in Milan and agreed to a three-year contract worth €20 million (Dh106m) net per season, which would make him the highest-paid player in the world. Inter and Anzhi have not agreed on a transfer fee, however.

Anzhi latest offer was €24 million (Dh127m), while Inter are now asking for €29m. The Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Eto'o's agent, Claudio Vigorelli, and Fifa intermediary agent Peppino Tirri discussed the deal over lunch yesterday and that Anzhi are expected to make a final offer shortly.

Juventus

Christian Vieri, the former Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan striker, had to go to hospital after being bitten on the nose by a former business associate on the Spanish island of Ibiza, his lawyer said yesterday.

"It was a reckless and inexplicable act," said Danilo Buongiorno, who added that there had been no dispute between the former partners.

Vieri, 38, has filed a complaint for assault.