Dubai group ends interest in Charlton takeover

Zabeel Investments have pulled out of a deal to buy Charlton, the Championship club confirmed today.

The Dubai-based investors, who had also been linked with a takeover of Newcastle, made an indicative offer for the club earlier this month.

A Charlton statement said: "Zabeel Investments has informed Charlton that the decision not to proceed was taken on the basis that its focus moving forward will be on domestic opportunities in Dubai that complement the current Zabeel Investments portfolio.

"This combined with the current debate around foreign ownership of football clubs and the worsening economic climate in the UK contributed to the decision of Zabeel Investments to pull out.''

The news will come as a blow to the Addicks, who have reported debts of £20million and were ready to sell.

The club are in the final year of their parachute payments having been relegated from the Premier League in 2007 and dropped to 20th in the table following Tuesday night's home defeat by Bristol City.

Zabeel were this week reported to have turned their attentions to Everton, although they insist they are no longer in the market for an English club.

The statement continued: "Zabeel Investments has made it clear to Charlton that this decision was not made as a result of any discoveries during the due diligence process.

"Contrary to recent press reports, Zabeel Investments has confirmed to Charlton that it has not approached any other club since it made an indicative offer for Charlton Athletic on October 10, nor has it authorised any approach on its behalf.

"In addition, Zabeel Investments has confirmed it has no current intention to acquire any English football club for the foreseeable future.''

A spokesman for Zabeel Investments added: "Zabeel Investments has the highest regard for both the supporters of Charlton and the way in which Charlton is managed and wishes the team every success in their quest for promotion this season and moving forward.''

Emery heals rifts to inspire Valencia

MADRID, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Valencia have been transformed from a strife-ridden side that flirted with relegation last season to the early Primera Liga leaders thanks to new coach Unai Emery's ability to unite the dressing room.

The east coast side, who visit Recreativo Huelva on Sunday, started the last campaign as contenders for the title but fell apart after the club panicked and sacked Quique Sanchez Flores and appointed Ronald Koeman in his place.

The Dutchman helped cause a rift within the squad by dropping stalwarts Santiago Canizares, David Albelda and Miguel Angel Angulo and telling them they were surplus to requirements.

Valencia plummeted down the standings and although they won the King's Cup, Koeman was sacked just before the end of the campaign.

Emery, 36, arrived from Almeria in July with one season of top-flight experience, but has made in immediate impact with few changes to the squad. A great tactician and motivator, he has won over a tough dressing room in a short space of time.

"He has surprised us all because he knows how to get the most out of the squad. He came in with his arms wide open and has tried to get the best from every one of us," said Albelda, who has been restored to the side.

Winger Vicente has said there are many similarities now with the side Rafael Benitez led to the league title in 2002 and 2004. They top the standings with six wins from seven games, and have scored 17 goals to just four conceded.

Struggling Recre are third from bottom and without a win in six outings, though they put on a much-improved performance under new coach Lucas Alcaraz last weekend, drawing 1-1 at Valladolid.

Second-placed Sevilla are at home to Andalucian rivals Malaga on Sunday with both teams on winning streaks, while third-placed Villarreal host an Atletico Madrid side seeking a lift from three consecutive league defeats.

Champions Real Madrid receive Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabeu in Sunday's late game but will be without suspended Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Barcelona will be looking for their sixth consecutive league victory when Almeria visit the Nou Camp on Saturday.

Juve hope Camoranesi returns for derby

ROME, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Injury-hit Juventus are hoping Italy midfielder Mauro Camoranesi can recover from a leg muscle problem to help them build on their Champions League win over Real Madrid in Saturday's derby against Torino (1830 GMT).

The 2-1 triumph on Tuesday ended a five-match winless run for Juventus, who are seven points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan in 12th place, and gave under-fire coach Claudio Ranieri some breathing room.

However, the heat will be straight back on if Juve suffer a third consecutive league defeat this weekend and fitness problems are complicating his bid to turn things around.

Claudio Marchisio will be out for almost four weeks after hurting his ankle against the Spanish champions. The midfielder joins a long injury list that includes goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, striker David Trezeguet and midfielder Christian Poulsen.

Camoranesi, who has been out since a 2-1 defeat to Palermo at the start of the month, trained with his team mates on Wednesday and might be fit the Torino match, the club said on their website.

The pressure is also on Ranieri's counterpart Gianni De Biasi as Torino have lost their last three games and have not tasted victory since beating Lecce 3-0 on the opening day.

Former Italy boss Roberto Donadoni will be among the candidates to replace De Biasi if the poor form continues, according to media reports.

Torino will be without first-choice goalkeeper Matteo Sereni, who suffered an ankle knock in training on Wednesday, and suspended defender Francesco Pratali.

Champions Inter entertain Genoa in fine fettle after thrashing last-year's runners-up AS Roma 4-0 last weekend and beating Cypriots Anorthosis Famagusta on Wednesday to go clear at the top of Champions League Group B.

AC Milan, who are three points behind Inter in sixth, visit Atalanta in Bergamo amid growing excitement at David Beckham's possible loan move from Los Angeles Galaxy.

Struggling Roma, nine points off the pace in 14th, face a tough trip to Udinese, who have 14 points from seven games.

Udinese share second place with Napoli, who visit Lazio, and Catania, who take on Siena on Saturday (1600).

Bayern face threat from familiar foe

BERLIN, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich's recovery is unlikely to survive the visit of a familiar foe on Saturday unless they heed the words of captain Mark van Bommel.

Juergen Klinsmann's side are back within five points of the leaders as they prepare to face a VfL Wolfsburg side coached by former Bayern boss Felix Magath (kickoff 1330 GMT).

It is the sort of match they should be relishing after 3-0 win at home to Fiorentina in the Champions League but Van Bommel knows Tuesday's scoreline masked an uncomfortable truth.

While the Bavarians had arguably their best game of the season in attacking terms, they left huge gaps in defence and better finishing from Fiorentina, who had a total of 23 shots, could have made it a different story.

"We were very lucky not to concede at least one goal against Fiorentina," Van Bommel told reporters after the match.

"There's a lot we have to improve on."

Bayern will be hit by the absence of defender Philipp Lahm, after he suffered an ankle injury against the Italians. Christian Lell is likely to step in.

Otherwise the injury situation is looking good and coach Juergen Klinsmann believes the club are seeing the benefit of the tougher training regime he imposed on taking over before the start of the current season.

"Out physical condition is giving me a lot of confidence," Klinsmann told reporters after the Fiorentina victory.

"We're in good shape, and we're just starting to see the early results of our extremely demanding training over the last three months.

"The players aren't pulling up short any more, they have it in them to run 60 yards even as late as the 86th minute. We're also developing an element of consistency."

Victory over Fiorentina followed a 1-0 win away to Karlsruhe last weekend, a result that left them in the lower half of the table but within sight of leaders Hamburg.

Once again, Hamburg are not in action until Sunday, when they visit second-placed Hoffenheim, meaning Bayern have the chance to put further pressure on their title rivals with a Saturday victory.

The fixture list has presented Bayer Leverkusen with an even better opportunity, as victory at home to Cologne on Friday would take them up from third to first.