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Atletico, who won the inaugural Brazilian championship in 1971, are 21st in the 22-team table with 13 points, ahead of Paysandu on goal difference.
Meanwhile, second-placed Ponte Preta named former Brazil goalkeeper Zetti as their new coach.
Zettti, who led Fortaleza to promotion from the second division last year, replaces Oswaldo Alvarez, who left the team to take over at Japan's Tokyo Verdy.
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Konstantinidis returns to PAOK from Panathinaikos
ATHENS, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Greek international midfielder Pantelis Konstantinidis completed his return to former club PAOK Salonika when he signed a one-year contract with the option of a second, the club announced on Friday.
The 29-year-old, who has 20 caps, has spent the last three years at Panathinaikos with whom he won the league and cup double in 2003/4.
He is the second big name to return to PAOK in the off-season following the signing of Greek captain Thodoris Zagorakis from Bologna.
"I am very satisfied that I am returning to PAOK," said Konstantinidis.
"I return feeling more mature and more experienced and I believe that together with the other players I will help the team reach its goals."
Panathinaikos, meanwhile, are expected to complete the loan signing of Hungarian striker Sandor Torghelle from relegated English club Crystal Palace in the coming days.
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Figo moves from Real to Inter Milan
By Simon Evans
MILAN, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Former World and European Footballer of the Year Luis Figo signed for Inter Milan on Friday, ending his five-year spell with Real Madrid.
The 32-year-old Portuguese international had a year left on his contract with the Spanish club but after completing a medical agreed a two-year deal with Inter.
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Real spent a then world record $56 million to buy Figo from rivals Barcelona in July 2000 in one of the most controversial transfers in Spanish football history.
Figo becomes the third player to move from Real to Inter during the close season following Argentines Santiago Solari and Walter Samuel as Inter coach Roberto Mancini looks to end the clubs 16 year wait for an Italian title.
The skillful winger will operate in a midfield featuring Argentine internationals Juan Sebastian Veron and Esteban Cambiasso and will be expected to provide the ammunition for Inter's prolific Brazilian striker Adriano.
Despite remaining one of the biggest names in the game, Figo will have a point to prove at Inter following a disappointing end to his time in Madrid.
The winger fell out with Real coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo after being consigned to the bench for the latter part of last season and had been given permission to negotiate with other clubs.
Real are reported not to have demanded a fee for the player who had also been linked with Liverpool and Valencia.
Figo began his career at his home club of Sporting Lisbon, making his name as part of the golden generation of Portuguese youngsters who won the World under-16 and under-20 championships in 1989 and 1991.
He moved to Spain in 1995 to sign for Barcelona, quickly becoming a favourite among the club's fans for his committed and skilful performances on the right wing.
He won seven trophies in a five-year spell at the Catalan club, including two league titles, two King's Cups and the Cup Winners' Cup.
But Figo was transformed from hero to villain in the eyes of the Nou Camp faithful when he defected to arch-rivals Real in July 2000.
The midfielder, viewed as Real's first Galactico signing, helped his new club to the league title in his first season and played an important part in their victories in the 2002 European Cup and 2003 Spanish championship.
Now he faces a new and tough challenge as Inter's fans, tired of years of domination by rivals AC Milan and Juventus, expect him to play a key role in their title challenge.
Figo could make his debut for Inter in the Italian Super Cup against champions Juventus on August 20 -- a week before the start of the Serie A season.
The Portugal international will be presented to the press at Inter's training ground on Saturday.
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Birmingham complete signing of Pandiani
LONDON, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Birmingham City have completed the signing of Uruguay striker Walter Pandiani from Spanish side Deportivo Coruna, the Premier League club said on Friday.
The two clubs agreed a three million pounds ($5.34 million), three-year deal after the 29-year-old spent a successful loan spell at St Andrew's during the second half of last season.
Pandiani originally moved to Birmingham on loan in February after Depor opened disciplinary proceedings against him for publicly criticising coach Javier Irureta and some of his team mates.
The burly English-style centre-forward, noted for his strength in the air, moved to Depor from Penarol five years ago but struggled to secure a first-team place and had a spell on loan at Real Mallorca before returning to Deportivo.
Pandiani impressed during his loan spell, scoring four goals in 14 appearances.
Birmingham who were 12th in the Premier League last year, open their new campaign at Fulham on August 13.
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Salas returns to Universidad de Chile
SANTIAGO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Chile striker Marcelo Salas has returned to his homeland to play for Universidad de Chile, the club where he began his career.
Salas, 30, signed a one-year contract late on Tuesday after more than two weeks of negotiations. He said he had turned down several offers to play for clubs abroad.
"I thought about it for a long time and decided I wanted to be in my country, with my daughters," he told reporters. "I was fed up with all the travelling and being alone."
Salas, whose recent career has been plagued by injuries, played for the club from 1993-96, scoring 50 goals. Since then he has played for Lazio and Juventus in Italy and had two spells with River Plate in neighbouring Argentina.
In June, he became Chile's leading international goalscorer after claiming his 35th goal in a 3-1 win over Bolivia.
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Sanchez dismissed as UNAM beat Guadalajara in Mexico
MEXICO CITY, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Outspoken UNAM coach Hugo Sanchez was sent off again as his team beat Guadalajara 1-0 in a passionate Mexican championship match on Sunday.
Sanchez, who has tried to improve his behaviour after frequently dismissals in the past, said he suspected he was being victimised after he was ordered from the touchline late in the game.
"It surprised me," he said. "It seems there are indications on the part of the (Mexican Football) Federation pressuring the referees to find a motive to send me off."
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The former Real Madrid and Mexico striker has angered the Mexican federation with his non-stop criticism of national team coach and bitter personal rival Ricardo La Volpe.
UNAM president Aaron Padilla said he was also baffled by the dismissal.
"Hugo has promised not to get sent off in the championship, he has been behaving himself and we don't know why he was sent off," he said.
Argentina striker Bruno Marioni scored with a spectacular left-foot volley on the hour as the Pumas kept up a 100 percent record after two games at the start of the Apertura championship.
Guadalajara, who field only Mexican players, have one point.
Cruz Azul, who beat Atlas 1-0, are the only other team to have won both their opening games.
The Cement Mixers are playing under assistant coach Isaac Mizrahi after the kidnapping of Ruben Omar Romano, who was abducted by heavily-armed men as he drove home from a training session last month.
On Friday, police said that the kidnappers had made the first contact for negotiations, raising hopes the 47-year-old Argentine could soon be released.
In other matches, defending champions America drew 0-0 at Pachuca and Toluca, coached by Argentina's 1978 World Cup winning midfielder America Gallego, beat newly-promoted San Luis 2-1.
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Hoegmo appointed Rosenborg Trondheim coach
OSLO, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Per Mathias Hoegmo has been appointed as coach of Norwegian champions Rosenborg Trondheim, the club's sporting director Rune Bratseth said on Monday.
Hoegmo replaces Per Joar Hansen, who stepped down on Sunday after the team's 2-1 defeat by Lillestrom.
The club had started the season chasing a record 14th consecutive league title but instead are suffering their worst run since the 1970s. They are languishing in eighth place in the 14-strong league.
Former Tromso coach Hoegmo was recently working as a soccer expert for Norway's national broadcaster NRK.
His first game in charge will be on Wednesday when Rosenborg travel to Steaua Bucharest for the first leg of their third round qualifying encounter in the Champions League.
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Everton complete Phil Neville signing
(Updates after signing completed, adds quotes)
LONDON, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Everton have completed the signing of Manchester United's England defender Phil Neville for an undisclosed fee, the Merseyside club said on Thursday.
The 28-year-old full back, who has 52 international caps, signed a five-year contract after passing a medical.
He completed the transfer in time to be eligible for Everton's Champions League third qualifying round tie with Spanish side Villarreal, the first leg of which takes place at Goodison Park on Tuesday.
Neville, who can also play in midfield, has spent his entire 10-year playing career at United after coming through the trainee ranks alongside brother Gary.
He won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the Champions League.
However, he struggled to command a regular starting position last season and with next year's World Cup on the horizon he opted to move.
"I spoke to Alex Ferguson and it was made clear that I wasn't going to get enough football next season," Neville told the Everton website.
"I was frustrated last season, he knew that, and we came to an agreement that it would be best if he gave me permission to talk to other clubs."
Everton manager David Moyes said: "We are absolutely delighted to have concluded a deal with a player of Phil Neville's calibre and experience.
"Phil is a quality footballer who will, I feel certain, improve and enhance the squad we are putting together here at Everton.
"He is very much a professional's professional."
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Kleberson joins Besiktas in four-year deal
ISTANBUL, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Brazilian midfielder Kleberson signed a four-year deal with Turkish club Besiktas on Monday after two disappointing years at Manchester United.
The 26-year-old, a World Cup winner in 2002, struggled at United after joining from Atletico Paranaense in 2003 and lost his place in the national side as a result.
"Today I have come from one big club Manchester United to another big club so I am very happy," Kleberson told reporters at a signing ceremony in Istanbul.
Besiktas executives said they had been trying to sign the Brazilian for a year. The deal consists of a three-year contract with the option of a one-year extension, the club said.
He will join Brazilian striker Ailton, who signed for Besiktas last month from Schalke 04.
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Celtic's Balde set to join Olympique Marseille
PARIS, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Celtic's Guinean defender Bobo Balde is set to join Olympique Marseille, the Ligue 1 club said on Monday.
"He should sign a three-year deal before Wednesday," Marseille's sports director Jose Anigo told the club's website.
"It should work. I have not often seen someone who wanted to come so badly."
The Guinean, 29, joined Celtic from Toulouse in 2001 and has been a mainstay of the Glasgow club's defence.
He was dropped for a match by new manager Gordon Strachan after the 5-0 defeat to Artmedia Bratislava in the first leg of second qualifying round of the Champions League.
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