Calderon vows big January signings

(GETTY IMAGES)

Spanish club presidents tend not to be shy, retiring types. So yesterday the top men at Real Madrid and Seville took to the airwaves again. Ramon Calderon, president of Real Madrid, announced the club are to make two major signings in January, adding, improbably, he did not know who.

"You want headlines and I'm going to give you them," Calderon told Radio Marca. "They will be young, quick, and able to play in the Champions League."

This rebutted reports that Hernan Crespo, 33, was coming from Internazionale, but fuelled speculation surrounding former Birmingham striker Mauro Zarate, now at Lazio, and Ajax's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. Calderon, who has previously pledged to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas and Kaka, said in the summer Real would "make two or three world-class signings", adding, out of character, "I won't give names because I don't want to raise false expectations." Real Madrid, in second, visit Getafe this evening.

Seville's Jose Maria del Nido used the club's radio station to warn tonight's visitors Barcelona. "The statistics show Barça have had the best start in their history, but we will be the toughest bone they've had to chew since the start of the competition," he said. Leaders Barça recall Carles Puyol and Samuel Eto'o.

In Serie A leaders Inter are likely to be without Patrick Vieira for tomorrow's visit of fourth-placed Napoli. Milan, in second, go to Palermo without the suspended Kaka while Juventus, in third place in the table, are at home to Reggina today.