Ajax sign Tottenham target Veltman
Ajax captain Joel Veltman has signed a three-year contract extension with the Eredivisie giants. The 25-year-old defender’s previous deal in Amsterdam was due to expire next year but he is now set to remain with his boyhood club until June 2020.
Netherlands international Veltman has made 166 appearances for Ajax and won the Eredivisie title in 2012-13 and 2013-14.
His performances during Ajax’s run to the final of the Europa League last season were reported to have attracted the attentions of Tottenham. Ajax have also signed former Feyenoord and Willem II goalkeeper Kostas Lamprou on a free transfer.
Lamprou, who played for Ajax as a junior, has agreed a one-year deal with Marcel Keizer’s side, who face Nice at the Amsterdam ArenA today with their Champions League qualification tie all square at 1-1.
BRIEFS
Levante-Real Zaragoza match fixing probe dropped
An investigation into the alleged fixing of a LaLiga match between Levante and Real Zaragoza in 2011 has been dropped. The long-running legal process has been brought to a close due to a lack of evidence indicating that any crime was committed. A judge in Valencia ruled on Tuesday that there was insufficient proof that any individual had attempted to fix the outcome of the match. Anti-corruption authorities in Spain had been investigating whether Zaragoza’s 2-1 victory over Levante, which secured their escape from relegation in the 2010-11 season, had been arranged in advance.
Balotelli, Favre going nowhere!
Nice centre-back Dante said on Tuesday he is delighted that star forward Mario Balotelli and coach Lucien Favre decided to stay at the Ligue 1 club. Nice face a trip to Amsterdam to take on Ajax in the Champions League qualifying second leg today in their first ever participation in Europe’s premier competition. Although Balotelli will be missing after suffering a hamstring injury in the 1-1 first leg draw in southern France, in which he scored Nice’s goal, Dante is relieved the temperamental Italian has remained on the Cote d’Azur.
Vecino undergoes Inter medical
Fiorentina midfielder Matias Vecino has undergone a medical at Inter Milan, the Serie A club said on its website on Tuesday. The Uruguay international, capped 13 times, joined Inter Milan for a fee of €24 million under a four-year contract, Italian media report. Vecino is Inter’s fifth signing in the summer transfer window and the second from Serie A rivals Fiorentina after fellow midfielder Borja Valero.
Integrity: NFF goes tough on defaulters
The Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday called on the Football Associations in the 36 States and the FCT to forward to it names of persons in their jurisdiction who are still defiantly wearing multiple hats in Nigerian Football. The circular gave the names of football officials who have complied with the NFF directives as Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, Alhaji Bature Sale, Usman Haruna Ilerika, Godwin Bamigboye, Anguwan Sumali Kwali and J. O. Olayemi.
