NBA star Garnett buys Roma stake

Roma have confirmed that Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett has agreed to purchase a small stake in the Serie A club.

The 35-year-old baskteball player accepted the offer from James Pallotta, one of the four Boston-based executives who purchased the team in August.

Over the past few years, Garnett has been very vocal in his interest in football, revealing passion for English side Chelsea and star player Didier Drogba.

Garnett becomes the second NBA player to purchase a stake in a football club after Miami Heat star Lebron James invested in Liverpool earlier this year.

James attended his first game at Anfield to watch the club draw 1-1 against Manchester United in October.

The Garnett and James deals are tied together because Roma president Thomas DiBenedetto is also a limited partner in the Fenway group, which owns the Boston Red Sox baseball team and Liverpool.

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Cassano faces a further six months on the sidelines

AC Milan forward Antonio Cassano has revealed he faces a further six months on the sidelines as he recovers from heart surgery.

The Italy international was forced to undergo an emergency procedure after falling ill following Milan's victory at Roma at the end of October.

It was hoped the striker might be fit to return to action before the end of the season and thus force his way into the reckoning for Euro 2012.

However, Cassano has revealed it will be June before he is kicking a ball in anger again.

"I have to wait six months to play," Cassano said. "Until then, walk, walk, walk."

Cassano said the support of his Milan team-mates has been overwhelming, and particularly that of strike partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"He's one of my best friends," Cassano said. "I have a great relationship with him and with all of Milan."

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Nocerino keen to play with Tevez

AC Milan midfielder Antonio Nocerino has revealed he wants Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez to join the Serie A champions in January.

Roberto Mancini is keen to see Tevez leave Etihad Stadium on a permanent deal when the transfer window opens, but he may be forced to settle for a loan.

Speaking to Sky Sport 24 on Wednesday, Nocerino said he would welcome the out-of-favour Argentine to the San Siro.

"(Tevez) is a great player. I hope he can come to Milan," Nocerino said.

Midfielder Nocerino arrived at the club from Palermo on the last day of the transfer window on August 31, and has quickly developed into a key player for Massimiliano Allegri.

He is in the middle of a productive campaign, having netted six league goals this season.

However, Nocerino played down his achievements to date, claiming he is only doing his bit to contribute to AC Milan's cause at the top of the table.

"I scored six goals, and I consider myself to be quite a prolific scorer. I'm just a normal guy who plays with so many champions," he said.

Nocerino also expressed his gratitude to his first club Juventus, where he started his career, for nurturing his talent.

"I owe so much to Juventus because I had grown up there," he said.

"Now I am part of Milan, however, I am happy here and I hope we can celebrate at the end of the season."

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Pato,Inzaghi set to leave Milan

AC Milan forwards Alexandre Pato and Filippo Inzaghi have both been linked with moves away from the Serie A club.

Pato is the number one target of Ligue 1 outfit Paris Saint-Germain and the French club are ready to table a big offer for the Brazilian when the January transfer window opens.

The 22-year-old striker is reported to be the subject of an offer of just above 41 million pounds as PSG look to bolster their forward options.

The reports surfaced in the Italian media after an apparent breakdown in relations between Pato and Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri.

Pato is said to have taken offence at Allegri's public comments that criticised him but Milan have insisted the player will stay at the San Siro.

Inzaghi is another player being linked with a move away from Italy, with Spanish outfit Espanyol said to be interested in signing the veteran.

The 38-year-old is also a reported target of two English Premier League sides.

The transfer window opens on January 1.

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Thiago wants Milan captaincy

Thiago Silva wants to become AC Milan captain and is hoping to spend the rest of his career at the San Siro.

The 27-year-old Brazilian became the club's first foreign skipper since Nils Liedholm in 1961 when he was handed the armband for last month's Serie A fixture against Chievo, and has admitted that earning that honour on a regular basis has become a target of his in the long term.

"I hadn't originally wanted to be captain, but then I became the Brazil skipper and I changed my mind," he told Ansa.

He is currently placed behind the likes of Massimo Ambrosini, Gennaro Gattuso and Christian Abbiati in the pecking order for the role at San Siro, but his vision for the future revolves around a lengthy stint with the Rossoneri.

"In 2016, I will speak with (CEO) Adriano Galliani about renewing my contract for another five years. We will see what happens."

Thiago Silva's compatriot Ganso has been linked with a move to Milan, and the defender said the 22-year-old Santos star could have a very positive impact.

"If we bought him in January he would make a big difference in both Serie A and the Champions League," he said.

Thiago Silva signed for Milan in 2008, making his debut for the club at the start of the 2009-10 season.

"But there is certainly nothing concrete at the moment. I also read that Manchester United would like to extend his contract."

On Boxing Day, Berbatov netted a hat-trick against Wigan. In addition to Leverkusen, a number of other clubs have been linked with his signing, including Tottenham and Fulham.

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Milan agreed deal for Seydou Keita

Reports have emerged that AC Milan have agreed a deal for Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita.

Sport has reported that the Barcelona midfielder will move to the Rossoneri at season’s end.

The defensive midfielder is tied to the Blaugrana until June 2014, but it’s reported he has a clause in his contract allowing him to walk away two years early.

The clause is activated if the 31-year-old is not given a minimum number of appearances during the campaign.

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Napoli signs Eduardo Vargas

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has announced the club have signed Universidad de Chile star Eduardo Vargas.

The details of the deal have not been revealed by either club, but reports suggest the Serie A outfit paid a fee in the region of 13.5 million euros to land the Copa Sudamericana top goalscorer.

"I would like to officially announce we have signed (Eduardo) Vargas," De Laurentiis told Radio Marte.

"A few minutes ago, I was called by doctor De Nicola, who visited the player and gave a green light about his physical shape."

"We have signed the contracts, and we have beaten competition from very strong clubs to sign the player."

"This is evidence that we are always on the lookout for young talents from around the world who can help improve our squad."

The 22-year-old, who had been linked with Inter and Chelsea, forced his way into the Chile national team after some impressive performances, making six appearances under coach Claudio Borghi in 2011.

Vargas was the top scorer in this season's Copa Sudamericana, with 11 goals for the competition, including three in Universidad's 4-0 aggregate triumpg over LDU Quito in the final.

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Serie A wrap: Juve face scoreless draw

Juventus reclaimed top spot in Serie A courtesy of a dour 0-0 draw with Udinese at the Stadio Friuli on Wednesday.

Udinese's only real first-half opening came from a mistake by Giorgio Chiellini, with the Juventus defender botching an attempted headed clearance to put Mauricio Isla in on goal.

But Juve custodian Gianluigi Buffon was alive to the danger and made himself big to block Isla’s attempted lob.

The odd defensive lapse aside, Juve were relatively comfortable throughout and came desperately close to taking the lead on two occasions shortly before the interval.

Claudio Marchisio curled a shot just wide from the edge of the area, before Chiellini drew a fine reaction save out of Samir Handanovic with his clever flick from Andrea Pirlo’s free kick.

Juve were forced to settle for a point which, while disappointing, did at least see them climb back above AC Milan and into top spot on account of their superior head-to-head record.

Udinese, meanwhile, remain third and three points adrift of the co-leaders.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, Inter Milan had to come from a goal down but still managed to post a 4-1 win over bottom side Lecce.

The visitors took an early lead at San Siro, but a flurry of second half goals from Giampaolo Pazzini, Diego Milito, Esteban Cambiasso and Ricky Alvarez cancelled out Luis Muriel's opener.

Napoli remain in sixth spot after their 6-1 thumping of Genoa at home.

Four goals in the opening 45 minutes set Walter Mazzarri's men on their way to victory, with an Edinson Cavani brace and strikes from Walter Gargano, Marek Hamsik, Goran Pandev and Juan Zuniga powering them to an emphatic win.

Roma enjoyed a 2-0 win at Bologna after Rodrigo Taddei and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo found the net, as the home side finished the match with 10 men after defender Daniele Portanova was sent off.

Lazio could only manage a 0-0 draw at home against Chievo, while two goals from Guido Marilungo helped Atalanta to a 4-1 home victory over Cesena.

Novara and Palermo played out a 2-2 draw at the Stadio Comunale Silvio Piola, and Parma and Catania drew 3-3 in a thriller.

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Milan eye Torres loan

AC Milan is exploring the possibility of signing Chelsea striker Fernando Torres on a six-month loan according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Milan are keen to boost their attacking options in the second half of the season because of the lengthy absence of Antonio Cassano due to health problems, and they have earmarked unsettled Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez as the perfect candidate to strengthen their squad.

However, Milan is only interested in signing the Argentina international on loan, while City wants to offload Tevez permanently.

As a result, the Serie A champions are looking at alternatives and have reportedly set their sights on Torres.

Milan are believed to be close to finalising a deal with Catania for striker Maxi Lopez, but club owner Silvio Berlusconi is eager to acquire a high-profile player, and would rather sign Torres instead.

The Spain international has been unable to make an impact at Chelsea since joining the Blues from Liverpool in January 2010 for a fee of around 50 million pounds, and there has been plenty of speculation about his future in recent weeks.

It seems unlikely that Chelsea are open to farming the 27-year-old out on loan following recent comments from manager Andre Villas-Boas.

The Portuguese boss stressed last week that he still has confidence in Torres and declared the striker not for sale at any price.

Elsewhere in Serie A, Milan's cross-town rivals inter are reportedly lining up a move for promising Universidad de Chile youngster Igor Lichnovsky.

La Gazzetta dello Sport report Inter are desperate to add some reinforcements to their defence during the transfer window, and boss Claudio Ranieri reportedly sees the 17-year-old Lichnovsky as the perfect addition to their ageing squad.

Lichnovsky is a product of the Universidad de Chile youth academy and made his first-team debut earlier this year.

The centre back is considered to be one of the brightest prospects in South America at present and has previously been linked with a move to Premier League giants Chelsea.

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Serie A wrap: Juve beat Novara 2-0

Juventus returned to the top of the Serie A with a comfortable 2-0 win over strugglers Novara at Juventus Stadium on Sunday.

Simone Pepe gave the Turin club breathing space four minutes in before Fabio Quagliarella wrapped up the scoring in the second half with a fine header from Andrea Pirlo's corner.

Meanwhile, Andrea Ranoccia's 63rd-minute header secured Inter Milan their third straight win in Serie A, this time a 1-0 result against a miserly Cesena at Stadio Dino Manuzzi.

Ranoccia converted Maicon's cross after the home side had gone close firstly through Eder and later Luca Ceccarelli.

Inter's third straight win lifts them to fifth on the table, but still 10 points behind league leaders Juventus.

Title challengers Lazio and Udinese played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Stadio Olimpico.

Edy Reja's men conceded the opener at home when striker Antonio Floro Flores headed in the opener, but the hosts were ahead after netting on either side of half-time.

Bosnia and Herzegovina international Senad Lulic struck a low shot past Slovenian shot-stopper Samir Handanovic, before Germany striker Miroslav Klose volleyed home his eighth league goal after the restart.

But Francesco Guidolin's side, who sit a spot above Lazio in third, ensured they took away a point when Antonio di Natale set up Giampiero Pinzi for a 74th-minute equaliser.

Roma climbed into seventh after a surprise 3-1 away win against Napoli at Stadio San Paolo.

Goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis handed Roma the dream start when he fumbled a cross into his own net on three minutes, before Pablo Osvaldo doubled their lead against the run of play, turning in a Francesco Totti pass on the hour-mark.

Slovakia attacker Marek Hamsik gave the hosts a lifeline when he pulled one back with a good finish from an angle, but Brazilian Fabio Simplicio's deflected effort in stoppage time guaranteed Roma the points.

Lucas Pratto made up for Genoa's frustrating loss to Inter in midweek with the winner in a 2-1 victory against Bologna.

Pratto scored his first goal in Serie A five minutes from time, latching on to Andrea Caracciolo's pass to fire low into the bottom corner.

Marco Rossi had put the home side in front moments before the break, but saw his goal cancelled out by Gaston Ramirez's leveller 10 minutes after the interval.

Parma clawed their way back for a thrilling 3-3 draw with two late goals against Lecce.

Daniele Gallopa's goal four minutes into extra time broke Lecce hearts after Graziano Pelle had pulled it back to 3-2 for the home side in the 86th minute.

Earlier, Sergio Floccari gave Parma a first-half lead with a penalty only to see Lecce go 3-1 up through a David di Michele double and a Juan Cuadrado strike.

Catania eased past Palermo 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Francesco Lodi and Maxi Lopez to end a four-game winless drought.

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