International football headlines

The latest international football news for 9 January 2012

Wesley Sneijder
Wesley Sneijder

Galatasaray talk to Sneijder
Galatasaray say they have opened negotiations with Inter Milan over the transfer of unsettled midfielder Wesley Sneijder.
"Galatasaray announces it has begun negotiations with the FC Internazionale for the transfer of Wesley Sneijder," read a statement on Galatasaray's official website.
"The public will be informed of developments."

Lazio breeze into Coppa Italia semi-finals
Sergio Floccari set up the Brazilian to score with two cool finishes in the second half, after Stefan Radu had headed the hosts in front from a 30th-minute corner.
They will learn their opponent in the two-legged semi-final when Juventus and AC Milan clash in Turin on Wednesday evening.

Ozil lands German best player award
In a poll conducted by the German Football Association (DFB), the Real Madrid midfielder picked up almost a third of the vote to win the title.
"I am proud of this award," said Ozil on the DFB website. "It is recognition of my performances over a long period of time and the opinion of the fans is always particularly important to me."
Lazio striker Miroslav Klose took second place with 13.89 per cent of the vote with Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus third on 13.1 per cent.

Berlusconi wants Guardiola
AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi admits he has tried to lure Pep Guardiola to the San Siro and although he will continue to try and convince the Spaniard to join the Rossoneri, the chances of him joining are slim.
he 41-year-old left Barcelona in the summer after winning two Champions Leagues and three Primera Division titles in a four year spell in charge at the Nou Camp.
Guardiola moved to New York to take a year sabbatical, but that has not stopped him from being linked with a host of top clubs throughout Europe.
Speculation is set to increase after Guardiola told a news conference at the FIFA Ballon d'Or gala in Zurich that he wants to return to management.
"I don't have a team to go to but I would like to go back to coaching," he said. "I have taken a decision to return to coaching but beyond that no decision has been taken."

Benitez says time almost up for Chelsea 'legends'
Chelsea interim coach Rafael Benitez has heralded a changing of the guard at the Premier League club by saying that new players are needed for them to carry on winning.
The Londoners' joint-second top scorer of all time, Frank Lampard, looks unlikely to be offered a new deal with the 34-year-old's contract expiring at the end of the season, his agent says.
Media reports have said other fan favourites Ashley Cole and captain John Terry could also be sacrificed in the next two years after Chelsea showed they mean business by letting Champions League-winning hero Didier Drogba leave in May.
"I think it's always easy to talk about the legends and you have to have a lot of respect for them," Benitez told newspapers ahead of Wednesday's Capital One Cup semi-final first leg against Swansea City.
"What they've achieved for this club has been fantastic. But you have to have new players and carry on winning games. That's what the fans are expecting."