FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Sal Zizzo is undergoing a physical at Fortuna Dusseldorf and is expected to sign a one-year loan deal with the 2nd Bundesliga club within the day. The Rhine-based club also confirmed negotiations with the former UCLA Bruin, but warned that they were still awaiting his final decision about the mov

yanks-abroad.com

> Comment

UEFA president Michel Platini has warned big-spending clubs that he plans to introduce tighter financial regulations within "two or three years" that would put an end to huge spending sprees in football. Real Madrid has spent $338.4 million to acquire three of the world's most sought-after players in a matter of weeks, including Ronlado and Kaka. Manchester City, meanwhile, is offering Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o $18.9 million a year, which would make the Cameroon international the highest-paid player in world.

Toronto Sun

> Comment

After his five-month loan to Italian superclub AC Milan, David Beckham is expected back with the Los Angeles Galaxy and scheduled to play on July 16 against the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium. But when he takes the field the mood will be far less giddy than the one that heralded his arrival in the U.S. in 2007. nd then the check came. After his first training session with the Galaxy, in Washington two days before a nationally televised game against D.C. United, he helped organize a dinner with 10 other players at Morton's steak house in Arlington, Va. Beckham had enjoyed the players-only meals at Real Madrid, and if he was going to be just one of the lads in the Galaxy locker room, things needed to get off on the right foot. Beckham was earning a $6.5 million salary, and his income, with endorsements, would balloon to $48.2 million. Martino was making a salary of $55,297 -- before taxes -- and living in one of the U.S.'s most expensive cities. Nearly everyone at the table was thinking, Is Beckham going to pick up the check? But nobody said anything. Beckham, meanwhile, had never been in this situation before. The players on his other teams had all been millionaires, and Real Madrid paid for all team meals anyway. The Galaxy provided only a $45 per diem on the road. What would Beckham do? What should he do? Donovan eyed the bill from his seat. He had paid for teammates' dinners in the past, and he'd made his position clear even before Beckham's arrival. "He'd better be picking up meals too," Donovan had told teammates, "or else I'll call him out on it."

SI.com

> Comment

The Insider has learned that Columbus star Guillermo Barros Schelotto, the reigning MLS most valuable player and among the top midseason favorites for the award this year, is again attracting interest from his native Argentina. One club has stepped forward, though its identity was not immediately made available. Schelotto has told colleagues that he would prefer to return to the Crew next year, if Columbus wants him.

The Washington Post

> Comment

The newest Galactico, Cristiano Ronaldo, has revealed he had to quit Manchester United as he feared serious injury if he didn't. Ronaldo cited the rough physical nature of the Premier League as one of the factors that convinced him to join the free-spending Spanish giants.

goal.com

> Comment