Vanderlei Luxemburgo come to Flamengo to improve the club's fortunes

Vanderlei Luxemburgo

A former Brazil and Real Madrid coach, Luxemburgo was fired by Atletico Mineiro last month after failing to lift the club out of relegation zone. Luxemburgo has replaced Silas, who was fired on Monday after leading Brazil's most popular club to just one victory in 10 matches.

Flamengo lie 15th in the 20-team league standings, three points above the relegation zone. He has won five Brazilian league titles. Luxemburgo played for Flamengo between 1971-78 and briefly coached the team in 1990.

Macheda will be joining Lazio?

Federico Macheda

Macheda said: "Will I be joining Lazio in the January transfer market? Reports last week suggested Lazio had agreed a deal to take the player back to the club when the transfer window opens again.

"What can I say, I am very pleased to hear that, especially as these words have come from a coach with the charisma and history of Ferguson." United signed the player in September 2007 before he had penned a professional deal at Lazio. [Sir Alex] Ferguson has said that I am not for sale. No, I don't think so.

Yossi Benayoun he has suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon

Yossi Benayoun he has suffered a ruptured Achille tendon

Yossi Benayoun

Benayoun suffered a torn calf muscle in the Carling Cup defeat to Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on September 22. The midfielder was only expected to be out for three weeks and had linked up with the Israel squad for the forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers at home to Croatia on Saturday and in Greece next Tuesday. However, the national team's medical staff have discovered a more serious injury to the player's Achilles and it is now feared he will be out of action for several months.

The Israel captain told his FA's website: "I arrived with hope of helping the national team but unfortunately this is not a simple injury ... an additional test will reveal what needs to be done." Benayoun will now return to England where Chelsea's medical staff will carry out further tests. "I'm sitting here in the hotel quite sad about this," Benayoun added. "I'm eating myself up from inside when I think about how long I've waited to come to the national team and contribute. Since this is one of my few remaining opportunities to play in the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, I really wanted to take part in these two games." Right before the two important games, I suddenly get hurt.