Roundup - Barcelona close in on United's Pique
Reuters - Monday 19 May 2008, 12:38
News from around the world:
Barcelona are close to signing Manchester United
defender Gerard Pique, the club's sporting director Txiki
Begiristain said on Monday.
"Things are at an advanced stage," Begiristain told a news
conference when asked whether the club was going to sign the
21-year-old, who came up through the Barcelona youth ranks.
"I can't deny that he is one of the players we're interested
in, but he is involved in the Champions League final so things
are on hold."
UEFA have appointed experienced Slovak referee
Lubos Michel to take charge of Wednesday's all-English Champions
League final between Manchester United and Chelsea in Moscow.
Michel, 40, oversaw matches at the 2006 World Cup and Euro
2004 and also refereed the 2003 UEFA Cup final.
Republic of Ireland midfielder Lee Carsley has opted not to
renew his contract with Everton in order to move to a club
closer to his Midlands home and his family, the Premier League
club said on their website.
"Lee feels he now needs to be closer to his family and
everyone at the club fully appreciates that. He has undoubtedly
been a big part in our success in the last few seasons," manager
David Moyes said of the 34-year-old who joined the club in
2002.
Staff and players at debt-ridden Scottish club
Gretna have been made redundant, administrators of the relegated
Premier League side said in a statement.
The club, which entered administration with debts of around
4 million pounds ($8 million) in March, confirmed a prospective
purchaser was in negotiations with the Scottish Football League
with a view to obtaining entry into the second division.
Editing by Miles Evans and Sonia Oxley