London, Dec 18 : Professional football club Real Madrid has made a claim that they have struck a secret agreement to buy Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.

According to Bernabeu director Pedro Trapote, the deal has already been agreed upon, but has not been publicized due to a clause in the arrangement, which prevent the news being made official.

Trapote had told a confidante of the deal after Real's 2-0 defeat against Barcelona last weekend, reports Spanish daily El Mundo, which also added that Ronaldo agreed to stay at United this season only if they let him go next summer.

Mohali, Dec 18 : Daljit Singh, curator of pitch at Mohali Stadium, the venue of the second cricket Test between India and England, has predicted a decisive match slated to start here on December 19.

Addressing media persons here last evening, Daljit told that their organisation has always tried to make a result-oriented wickets so as to keep the charm of competitive Test cricket alive.

Sydney, Dec 18: Recent failures to score runs by Australian opener Matthew Hayden has put his Test future in doubts with retirement whispers growing that he may not last to fulfill his dream to play a farewell Ashes tour in England next year.

As Australia's batting strongman failed again in Perth, his former opening partner Justin Langer admitted that he did not know what the future held for his best friend and is unsure if the struggling opener wants to play his farewell Ashes tour.

London - Former Blackburn Rovers manager Graeme Souness insisted on Wednesday that he has no interest in returning to Ewood Park to replace Paul Ince, who was dismissed on Tuesday.

"I don't know anything and have had no contact at all from Blackburn Rovers," Souness told the Lancashire Telegraph.

"It doesn't surprise me to see my name in there but I'm not your man, I can definitely say that."

Souness left Blackburn for Newcastle United in 2004.

Blackburn chairman John Williams said he hopes to have a new man in place before Saturday's Premier League game at home to Stoke City.

London - Portsmouth confirmed on Wednesday that they have accepted a bid from Real Madrid for midfielder Lassana Diarra.

The 23 year old, who has not played for almost a month because of an ankle injury, joined the club from Arsenal in January for around 5 million pounds (7.6 million dollars).

It is believed the Spanish giants could be offering as much as 24 million pounds for Diarra.

"We have always said we would only allow our players to leave if we received an exceptional bid," a spokesman told the club website.

Stuttgart - Bernd Schuster is a candidate for the VfB Stuttgart coaching post as current incumbent Markus Babbel can only continue in his role until the end of the season as he hasn't got a coaching licence, the Sport-Bild reported Wednesday.

Stuttgart denied the report that Schuster, who was sacked as Real Madrid coach last week, was being considered for the job and refused to comment further on the situation.

The German football federation (DFB) and German football league (DFL) announced Tuesday that Babbel must obtain a full German coaching licence if he wants to be in charge of VfB Stuttgart beyond the end of the season.