How Ravanelli's criticism led to a training ground fight

Middlesbrough's defender Curtis Fleming has spoken of the ill- feeling that existed at the club towards the Italian, Fabrizio Ravanelli, during his time there, and how resentment against his carping eventually boiled over.

Fleming claimed Ravanelli was so disliked by the other players at the Riverside after his criticisms of the club that they did not even try to break up a training ground fight between himself and the Italian, who is now playing for Marseilles.

"I don't think I'm the most aggressive person in the world normally," Fleming said, "but I think Ravanelli knew where he stood after that. "

The 29-year-old Dubliner added: "He didn't say anything to our faces, but it was in the papers every day what we were eating, what we were drinking. But the players of Boro know they must look after themselves."

Meanwhile, in Spain another of the club's former players, Juninho, has declared he misses the physical side of British football since his pounds 12m move to Atletico Madrid. "I miss the whacks of British football and I become very irritated when I see my team-mates time-wasting," he has been quoted as saying.

Ray Harford is expected to sign a new three-year contract at West Bromwich Albion within the next few days, according to the Hawthorns club.