Italian duo join Ballack chase
Juventus and Milan have reportedly joined the long queue forming for Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack.
Reports in Germany on Friday claim that the two Italian giants have contacted his agent for the latest on his contract situation.
The German international is only tied to his present club until June 2006, which means he will be available on a free transfer if he doesn’t extend his agreement before then.
Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Inter have already been associated with the former Bayer Leverkusen ace.
However, his representative has pointed out that they’ve only received one concrete offer to this date.
"Michael is about to make the most important decision of his footballing life," Michael Becker told the Bild newspaper.
"The only real offer has so far come from Bayern themselves. The others have just made contact."
Whispers claim that the Munich outfit have offered their captain a contract up until 2010, worth around £20m in total.
Italian schedules to be released Tuesday after appeals hearing
ROME (AP) - Italian soccer officials will release the season's schedules Tuesday - the same day that Genoa's appeal against its demotion to the third division for match-fixing will be heard.
A judge had ordered the schedules not be finalized until appeals had been heard over Genoa allegedly rigging a game at the end of last season, threatening the Aug. 28 start of the season.
Besides Genoa, the status of several teams are in doubt due to financial problems. Teams must meet standards of fiscal responsibility and solvency to begin the season.
Even though relegated to Serie B last season, Bologna has three chances of being promoted back into the top flight. It could replace Genoa if its demotion is confirmed or come in for Torino, which was denied promotion due to financial problems.
Bologna has also sent a letter to Italy's soccer federation asking that Reggina's finances be examined because they don't meet the league standard.
Genoa, Empoli, and Torino filled the promotion places from last season's Serie B. Genoa concluded the season by beating Venezia 3-2 in a game that was allegedly fixed.
Treviso and Ascoli, which finished fifth and sixth in Serie B, could also be bumped up. Perugia finished fourth but has since been demoted to the third division for financial troubles.
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ps: The Italian SuperCup is not on RAI....SportItalia is covering it