Man City ponder swoop for Adriano

Manchester City chairman Thaksin Shinawatra has revealed they are pondering a move for Inter Milan’s unsettled striker Adriano. Thaksin told reporters in Hong Kong: “We’re looking to see whether we’ll do a swap deal or not.

“Adriano was a top player, but he lost form when his father died, and he put on weight. Now he’s returning to form.”

Thaksin also said City will target a midfield man as well as Inter’s 25-year-old Brazil international.

Clubs learn Champions League fate

Celtic face a difficult task in the Champions League after the draw for the group stage paired them with holders AC Milan, Benfica and Shakhtar Donetsk. Rangers also face a tough task, against Barcelona, Lyon and Stuttgart.

Chelsea have been drawn with Valencia, whom they defeated at the quarter-final stage of last season’s competition.

Liverpool take on Porto, Marseille and Besiktas, while Manchester United face a rematch with Roma and Arsenal play four teams they have not met before.

Barcelona’s Eto’o out for at least two months

Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o will be out of action for at least two months after suffering a partial tear of a tendon in his right thigh, the Primera Liga side said on Thursday.

The 26-year-old suffered the injury just two minutes after coming on as a substitute in Wednesday’s 5-0 victory over Italian champions Inter Milan in the Gamper Trophy at the Nou Camp.

The three-times African Player of the Year missed a large chunk of last season after injuring his right knee during a Champions League match against Werder Bremen in September 2006.

Doctors initially estimated the injury would keep him out for two to three months but after an operation it took him five months to return to action.

Curbishley cool on Adriano move

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley played down talk of a move for Inter Milan’s Adriano even though the club said they were interested in signing the striker. Adriano, 25, has also been linked with Manchester City, while Serie A side Lazio have also stated their interest in landing the Brazilian.

A statement by the Hammers said: “We are investigating the possibility of a loan deal at this stage.”

But Curbishley said: “I don’t know too much about it to be fair.

“I don’t know if it is talk to stir things up, if you like, we will have to see. I just think it is something that has cropped up.

“Is it speculation or is there something in it? I don’t know.”

Adriano has slipped down the pecking order at Inter and fellow Serie A side Lazio would take him depending on his attitude.

Milan brush aside Genoa

Inter Milan began their Serie A title defence with a 1-1 home draw with Udinese on Sunday after an Ivan Cordoba own goal in injury time, while AC Milan won 3-0 at promoted Genoa helped by Kaka’s brace.

Inter took an early lead through midfielder Dejan Stankovic after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s clever pass but goalkeeper Julio Cesar was sent off for handball outside the box on 57 minutes and the champions were unable to hold out.

Milan taught Genoa a lesson on their return to the top flight after a 12-year absence with Massimo Ambrosini’s powerful header and Kaka’s cool finish and penalty giving the European champions an easy victory.

Fiorentina had an equally comfortable 3-1 home win over Tuscan rivals Empoli to show they could still be a force this term despite striker Luca Toni leaving for Bayern Munich.