Newcastle disappointed as Rivaldo stays at Barcelona

World Cup in brief

* Newcastle's hopes of signing Rivaldo have been dashed by the Barcelona player's decision to stay at the Nou Camp.

* Newcastle's hopes of signing Rivaldo have been dashed by the Barcelona player's decision to stay at the Nou Camp.

The Magpies had been interested in signing the striker, who has one year left on his contract. But Rivaldo will be out of contract in 12 months and be able to collect a hefty signing-on fee, with Lazio expected to lead the bidding.

* Expect a Senegalese diaspora after the World Cup. The coach Bruno Metsu said yesterday he has had two offers to take over national teams, on top of a firm proposal from a Turkish club. "I cannot name them, because the coaches are still in place, and that would not be correct," he said, though the Frenchman did confirm an offer from Gaziantepspor. His midfielder Salif Diao says he has agreed a five-year deal with Liverpool but still does not know when he will be joining them. "Yes, I have agreed a five-year contract," he said. "I am ready to go. I don't know yet when I will be moving over there. I have to wait until after the World Cup. I have to see the coach. I don't know exactly what is happening." It appears the 25-year-old may not link up with his new team-mates until December. Sedan are anxious to keep hold of him for as long as possible, but part of the agreement is that the Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier can bring him to England if his squad is depleted by injuries when preparations for the new season begin in mid-July. However, if Houllier is happy with the strength of his squad Diao will make the switch to the Premiership during the winter transfer window. His team mateEl Hadji Diouf is also in negotiations with Liverpool for a move from Lens, while, the Greek club Olympiakos have started negotiations with Lens to buy the defender Ferdinand Coly.

* The Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce has switched his attentions to keeping Youri Djorkaeff at the Reebok stadium, having completed the signing of Jay-Jay Okocha. Djorkaeff signed a short-term contract in February, and Allardyce said: "I think Youri is ready to have a chat with us and I think that will happen in the next week or so."

* Mallorca's Cameroon international striker Samuel Eto'o has been banned for four games by the Spanish Federation's disciplinary committee following incidents in a league match against Valencia in April. The Federation launched an investigation after television pictures showed Eto'o headbutting the Valencia forward Miguel Angel Angulo as the players left the pitch.