Former Portugal striker Nuno Gomes to leave Benfica (Reuters)

LISBON, June 15 (Reuters) - Former Portugal striker Nuno Gomes is set to leave Benfica after spending a total 12 years at the club, the player said on Wednesday.

“I was informed that Benfica will not renew my contract,” Gomes said in a statement. “I am now free to analyse offers”.

The UEFA Europa League Trophy …
Getty Images - May 18, 2:08 pm EDT

Media reports in Portugal have linked the striker with a move to Europa League runners-up Braga.

The 34 year-old is the Portugal national side’s fourth top goalscorer with 29 goals from 77 appearances. He joined Benfica in 1997 and played almost 300 matches for the club, scoring over 100 goals and winning two Portuguese league titles.

He impressed at Euro 2000, scoring four goals as Portugal reached the semi-finals, and earned a move to Fiorentina, where he spent two seasons before returning to Benfica.

The striker has struggled of late to find a place in Benfica’s starting lineup, with Paraguay’s Oscar Cardozo and Argentine Javier Saviola keeping him out.

He was on the bench for most of last season but still scored five goals in seven appearances. (Reporting by Daniel Alvarenga; Editing by Brian Homewood; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

View the original article here

Read more »

Leonardo may leave Inter, Bielsa contacted (Reuters)

* Leonardo linked with PSG sporting director role

* Ex-Argentina and Chile boss Bielsa contacted by Inter

FILE - In this May 22, 2011 fi…
AP - Jun 15, 6:36 am EDT

(adds details, quotes)

MILAN, June 15 (Reuters) - Inter Milan coach Leonardo may leave and former Argentina boss Marcelo Bielsa has been contacted about possibly replacing him, the Serie A club’s president Massimo Moratti said on Wednesday.

Leonardo, who only took over at Inter in December before his side missed out on a sixth straight Serie A title when ex-club AC Milan won the scudetto, has been linked in the media with a sporting director job at another former team Paris St Germain.

“I believe there has been a first contact with Bielsa, but not by me,” Moratti told reporters having denied the rumours on Tuesday.

“Leonardo has coached with a lot of desire and passion but his aspirations for the future are not certain.

“It suits him to follow his dream and for us to look for a new coach. But it could well be that Leonardo changes his mind and we do too.”

Brazilian Leonardo led Milan to third place in Serie A in the 2009/10 season in his first job as a coach having been a director at the Rossoneri.

He left after clashing with Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi over tactics while there were also reports he wanted to spend more time with his children in Brazil.

Italian football was stunned when he suddenly reappeared as coach of Milan’s great rivals Inter in December after Rafael Benitez was sacked after just half a season in charge.

Inter, who won the treble under Jose Mourinho in 2010, struggled with Benitez as boss and improved under Leonardo but his tactics were criticised when losing to Milan in Serie A and Schalke in the Champions League quarter-finals as holders.

Argentine Bielsa has been out of work since leaving as Chile coach in February.

The 55-year-old, whose unconventional methods have found fame, bossed Argentina from 1998 to 2004 but failed to win a major trophy.

His only experience in Europe was a short spell with Spain’s Espanyol in 1998.

PSG, where Leonardo played in 1996-97, were recently bought by Qatari investors and reports in France have said Leonardo has held talks about reviving their fortunes as a sporting director.

(Writing by Mark Meadows; Editing by Justin Palmer

To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

View the original article here

Read more »