Brazilian superstar Romario will play a four-match guest stint with Adelaide United, in a coup for Australia’s A-League.
The 40-year-old former World Player of the Year, the second-highest goal-scorer of all time, will make his Australian debut away against Central Coast Mariners on November 25, a club statement said.
Real Madrid’s Spanish international captain Raul has been left off the squad chosen by national boss Luis Aragones for next week’s Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden.
Valencia striker Miguel Angel Angulo was preferred over the 29-year-old Raul after scoring for his side in their 2-1 Champions League win against AS Roma this week.
Bayern Munich playmaker Mark van Bommel has been given the nod by national boss Marco van Basten to return for the Netherlands for Euro 2008 qualifiers next week against Bulgaria and Albania.
Van Bommel was left out of the opening two qualifiers against Luxembourg and Belarus as van Basten considered Dennis Landzaat to be in better form.
Palermo reached the second round of the UEFA Cup after thrashing English Premiership club West Ham 3-0.
Brazilian striker Fabio Simplicio scored twice and David Di Michele grabbed the other goal as the Serie A side strolled to a comfortable first round, second leg victory and an emphatic 4-0 aggregate score.
Italian striker Benito Carbone will start a four-week guest stint with Australian A-League champions Sydney FC next week, the club said.
Carbone, who spent 10 seasons in the English Premier League with Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa, and with Inter Milan in Italy’s Serie A, will make his debut against Adelaide United on Monday.
Injury-plagued Dutch international midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is set to give a much-needed boost to his struggling Bundesliga side Hamburg by rejoining them in mid-October.
The 23-year-old club captain has only played 17 out of a possible 39 Bundesliga matches since joining from Dutch giants Ajax in July 2005 but is considered crucial to a revival in their fortunes which has seen them not win since the end of July.
Thierry Henry led by example as Arsenal cruised to a 2-0 Champions League win against Porto.
The Arsenal captain was at his effervescent best as he scored the first goal and laid on the second for Alexander Hleb to ensure Arsene Wenger’s side stayed top of Group G with a 100 percent record.
Real Madrid defender Cicinho is set for an earlier than anticipated return after undergoing surgery on his right knee ligaments.
The head of Real Madrid’s medical department, Alfonso del Corral, said the operation had been a complete success.
Uruguay international striker Dario Silva, who played last season with English Premiership club Portsmouth, has been seriously hurt in a car crash.
Silva underwent surgery on Sunday and was put in an induced coma because of the serious state of his health, said the hospital treating him.
Everton maintained their unbeaten start to the Premiership season, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Newcastle as both sides ended a tetchy encounter with 10 men.
The Merseyside club, who are one of just three top flight teams yet to suffer a defeat, rose to fourth in the table after recovering from Shola Ameobi’s controversial early goal for the hosts.
