Football Briefs

SOUTH African striker Benni McCarthy has raised the stakes in his face-off with Porto by telling the former European champions he will not renew his current contract which expires in two years.

“We have already discussed this point and he won’t renew,” his agent Rob Moore told Portuguese radio station Radio Renascenca. Moore said Porto had rejected a bid for McCarthy from Blackburn Rovers but the 27-year-old was still intent on playing in the English premiership this season.”He still has two years left on his contract and he will play it out,” Moore said.* ARSENAL’S French international Robert Pires will delay making a decision over his future at Highbury until early next year.Pires has been linked with moves to Juventus and Galatasaray after failing to agree fresh terms with the Gunners but remains in north London.But he told yesterday’s Evening Standard newspaper: “We’ll talk again in January.There is nothing new about my contract situation and things are not going to change now.* LYON president Jean-Michel Aulas insists Chelsea will have to pay 45 million euros (32 million pounds) plus a player for Ghana international midfielder Michael Essien.Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon was understood to be going to Lyon on Thursday for a meeting with Aulas who has raised the stakes by demanding the 45 million euros Chelsea were prepared to pay for Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard plus a player.Essien refused to play in Wednesday’s season opener Champions Trophy between the league champions and Cup winners Auxerre on Wednesday night which Lyon won 4-1 with a hat-trick from new Norwegian signing John Carew.* BRAZILIAN Striker Baptista, who refused an offer from English club Arsenal, could finally join forces with Real Madrid, Spanish newspaper Marca claims.According to the sports paper, the 23-year-old Brazilian and the Spanish club have already agreed a deal.Marca claim that Sevilla apparently have no choice but to accept the deal.Sevilla had formally agreed an offer from Arsenal but the Brazilian wasn’t happy to join the London side because he wants to stay in Spain for a further year so that he can obtain Spanish nationality.- Nampa-ReutersMoore said Porto had rejected a bid for McCarthy from Blackburn Rovers but the 27-year-old was still intent on playing in the English premiership this season.”He still has two years left on his contract and he will play it out,” Moore said.* ARSENAL’S French international Robert Pires will delay making a decision over his future at Highbury until early next year.Pires has been linked with moves to Juventus and Galatasaray after failing to agree fresh terms with the Gunners but remains in north London.But he told yesterday’s Evening Standard newspaper: “We’ll talk again in January.There is nothing new about my contract situation and things are not going to change now. * LYON president Jean-Michel Aulas insists Chelsea will have to pay 45 million euros (32 million pounds) plus a player for Ghana international midfielder Michael Essien.Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon was understood to be going to Lyon on Thursday for a meeting with Aulas who has raised the stakes by demanding the 45 million euros Chelsea were prepared to pay for Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard plus a player.Essien refused to play in Wednesday’s season opener Champions Trophy between the league champions and Cup winners Auxerre on Wednesday night which Lyon won 4-1 with a hat-trick from new Norwegian signing John Carew.* BRAZILIAN Striker Baptista, who refused an offer from English club Arsenal, could finally join forces with Real Madrid, Spanish newspaper Marca claims.According to the sports paper, the 23-year-old Brazilian and the Spanish club have already agreed a deal.Marca claim that Sevilla apparently have no choice but to accept the deal.Sevilla had formally agreed an offer from Arsenal but the Brazilian wasn’t happy to join the London side because he wants to stay in Spain for a further year so that he can obtain Spanish nationality.- Nampa-Reuters