Capello 'is new Russia coach'

Push and shove: Aston Villa's Charles Nzogbia battles with Burton Albion's Marcus Holness during yesterday's pre-season friendly (PA)

Fabio Capello has been appointed Russia's new coach, according to the national team captain Andrei Arshavin. The Arsenal player announced the news on his personal website. "Russia's national coach has been appointed – he is Fabio Capello. We wish him success in his new job," Arshavin said.

However, the Arsenal forward might have jumped the gun as the official line from the Russian FA, the RFU, is that talks with the 66-year-old Italian will continue next week. Capello, who quit as England boss in February, came to Moscow on Thursday to meet the Sports Minister, Vitaly Mutko, and the acting RFU chief, Nikita Simonyan.

Elsewhere in international football, the president of the German Bundesliga, Reinhard Rauball, has called on Fifa's president, Sepp Blatter, to resign over the bribery scandal that has come to light involving the game's world governing body.

"As it stands, Blatter should have over his duties as soon as possible to someone," he said. "For the sake of credibility of the reform process, Fifa needs someone who is willing to make a fresh start."

Rauball said he had told Blatter of his feelings in a personal phone call. He added: "Sepp Blatter was aware of these movements of money, although only later. Why did he not fulfil his duty of care on behalf of the national member associations of Fifa?"

Thiago Silva has completed his move from Milan to Paris St-Germain. The Brazil centre-back has signed a five-year contract as half of what is set to be the biggest transfer deal of the summer, estimated at £50 million.

The other half involves Silva's former Milan team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic following him to the French capital.

On the domestic front, new manager Paul Lambert saw his Aston Villa side beat Burton Albion 2-1 in a pre-season friendly, with new signing Brett Holman scoring a late winner as Villa battled back from behind.

One off the Premier League's new boys, Reading, thrashed AFC Wimbledon 7-0 with Simon Church scoring a 15-minute hat-trick.

Everton, meanwhile, beat Morecambe 4-1 with goals from Francisco Junior, Apostolos Vellios, Jack Rodwell and Victor Anichebe.

The match was a testimonial for the Morecambe manager, Jim Bentley, and some charitable Everton defending allowed him to net a late consolation for the Shrimps after appearing as a substitute.