Royle denies Weah walk-out

George Weah's future at Manchester City has been plunged into doubt with rumours that he has walked out on the club. The City manager, Joe Royle, however, last night denied that Weah has left but admitted there have been differences of opinion between the pair.

George Weah's future at Manchester City has been plunged into doubt with rumours that he has walked out on the club. The City manager, Joe Royle, however, last night denied that Weah has left but admitted there have been differences of opinion between the pair.

Weah, signed from Milan in the close season, has been in and out of the City side and often on the bench for away games. The African was upset when he was substituted against Newcastle last weekend and his agent flew in to discuss the situation.

Weah went back to Milan to spark talk that he had left Maine Road and would not be back for training today. But Royle played down the "row" and claimed that they had talked through Weah's worries. "We have had a chat, but everything has calmed down," he said. "George was just a bit upset but we've gone through it together and he's fine."

Newcastle United will be reported to Fifa, the game's world governing body, by the agent Ronen Katzav over their bid to sign the Chilean Clarence Acuna. The club's chairman, Freddie Shepherd, went direct to Acuna's club, Universidad, to agree a price for the midfielder who has arrived on Tyneside to complete the £1.4m transfer.

Katzav is claiming that Newcastle cut him out of the deal after he had set it up and is using his right as a licensed agent to complain.

Katzav maintains that Newcastle "knew nothing" of Acuna until he brought him over for a trial, a trip he paid by paying for his plane fare from Chile.

The agent also claims that Shepherd used him to reduce the price from Universidad's original valuation of £2.3m and that the club is unwilling to pay Katzav the percentage he says he is due.

Alan Stubbs is to turn down a £1m move to Derby County, prefering instead to see out his contract at Celtic. The centre-half, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, is happy to carry on at Celtic and see what is on offer - either from the club or elsewhere. He is prepared to go back to England, but the Derby deal does not appeal to him.

Deportivo La Coruña's Yugoslav international midfielder Slavisa Jokanovic will travel to London today to close a transfer deal with Chelsea, according to reports in Spain.

The 32-year-old midfielder, who has more than 50 caps to his name, has found himself surplus to requirements at the Spanish champions this season.

Barcelona's Rivaldo threatened to quit the club yesterday and return to his native Brazil. The striker was responding to accusations in the Spanish press that he had used an ankle injury as an excuse to take a holiday in Brazil.

"If the fans and directors are not happy with me I will go back to Brazil because it is certain my family do want me," he said. "I would leave all the money and go. I have always tried to be honest and sincere, but it is difficult to work with so many lies being told about me."