Juventus marked their return the continental football with an emphatic win, while Barcelona have also put one foot in the Champions League group stage. Italian giants Juventus all but assured their path into group stages with a 4-0 thrashing of Slovakian side Artmedia Petrzalka at the Stadio Delle Alpi.

Goals from Mauro Camorenesi (pictured), Alessandro del Piero, Giorgio Chiellini and a final-minute strike from Nicola Legrottaglie leave the club almost certain to progress into their first European campaign for two years. …click here to read more

Alex Ferguson has admitted he is aiming to add a striker to his Manchester United squad before the start of the season. United have been heavily linked with a bid for Tottenham Hotspur star Dimitar Berbatov as Ferguson looks to improve his attacking options.

With Wayne Rooney struggling with a virus, Cristiano Ronaldo out until October, and Louis Saha continuing to battle with his fitness, Ferguson is short of cover up front. The likes of Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Karim Benzema have also been linked with moves to Old Trafford, and Ferguson confirmed he has several options to consider. …click here to read more

Chelsea have submitted a big-money bid for Real Madrid and Brazil forward Robinho. Reports had earlier claimed that the Blues submitted a £19.7 million offer for the former Santos star. “Further to media reports, Chelsea Football Club can confirm we have made an offer to Real Madrid today for the transfer of Robinho,” the London club stated.

Robinho was said to feel unwanted by Real during their lengthy chase for Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, during which he was touted as a makeweight. The 24-year-old was also disappointed by the Liga club’s insistence that he remain in Spain instead of joining the Brazil Olympic squad, in which he was named as an overage player.

Robinho was reported by the Spanish press as wanting to work with new Chelsea boss and fellow Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari.

“It would be a dream for me to work with Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is one of the best coaches in the world,” he told them. …click here to read more

World champions Italy, Brazil and Argentina all got their men’s Olympic football campaigns off to winning starts in Beijing.

Group A

Argentina were grateful that Barcelona allowed Lionel Messi to stay in Beijing despite winning their appeal to recall him as the diminutive winger scored the first and set up another to secure a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast.

There were shades of offside for the opener as Messi latched onto Juan Roman Riquelme’s superb through ball to slot past goalkeeper Vincent Angban. …click here to read more

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has ended the protracted speculation about his future by confirming he will sign a new contract at the Emirates Stadium. Adebayor, 24, has been the subject of interest from Barcelona and Milan throughout the close season - but he has now said he is keen to commit his long-term future to the north London club.

“Now I can tell everyone that, yes, I will sign a contract,” he said. “I’m feeling very good here and at the moment my heart is with Arsenal.

“I never told anyone I would be leaving this club, never ever. I’m very happy we’ve found a solution. …click here to read more