Germany midfielder Sami Khedira, who played a major part in Germany's progress to the World Cup semi-finals, is joining Real Madrid from VfB Stuttgart on a five-year deal, the clubs said on Friday.

England's World Cup goalkeeper David James has signed a one-year deal to play for Championship (second division) Bristol City, the club said on Friday.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger discarded his usual diplomacy when he dismissed the Premier League's new squad rules as "disastrous for football" on Friday.

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, in the headlines at the World Cup for the handball incident against Ghana, was on target for Ajax Amsterdam in the Champions League on Wednesday but they were held 1-1 at home by PAOK Salonika.

Bristol City have launched an audacious bid to sign David James. The England goalkeeper is a free agent after leaving Portsmouth and had been strongly linked with a move to Celtic.

Manchester City have begun trimming their squad by holding talks with Lazio over the sale of the left-back Javier Garrido for £2.5m. The defender is available at Eastlands following the arrival from the Italian club of the Serbia international Aleksandar Kolarov.

Diego Maradona, looking close to tears, accused the national team director Carlos Bilardo of betrayal following his departure as the coach of Argentina.