London -

Buenos Aires  - The global economic crisis has strongly hit transfers of Argentine players abroad in the most recent window, with a 70 per cent drop in income, media reports said Wednesday.

Argentine clubs went from getting 43 million euros (55 million dollars) in the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2007-2008 to just 12.5 million euros (16 million dollars) during the same period this year, the Argentine daily Critica reported.

London  - England manager Fabio Capello gave his backing to England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup on Wednesday.

"I think England would be a fantastic place for the World Cup," Capello told Sky Sports News.

"The stadia are OK, the people are fantastic as well so I think it needs to come back here after so many years.

"I hope this will be in 2018 because England is the place where football was born. I think England needs football to come back home."

London  - Premier League clubs reacted with relief on Wednesday after broadcaster BSkyB agreed what is believed to be a billion-pound-plus (1.45 billion dollars) deal to retain live rights between 2010 and 2013.

Sky have won four of the six packages of 23 games, paying a figure close to the 1.31 billion pounds they are paying under the current deal.

The deal gives clubs a measure of security in uncertain times.

The Premier League refused to confirm which packages Sky have taken, but it is thought they will again have first-choice of games.

Rome  - David Beckham's attorneys are discussing with Los Angeles Galaxy the footballer's possible stay at AC Milan past the end of his loan contract on March 8, Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said on Wednesday.

Galliani told the Milan website that the California club are the legitimate owners of the 33-year-old English star but that Milan would be happy to take him over for good.

London, Feb 4: Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is being dubbed "Ronopoly" - all thanks to his `hobby' of buying properties.

The Man Utd ace has already bought four pads and is currently spending thousands of money out on a hotel - just like in the board game.

The 24-year-old is reportedly planning to put 8million pounds into a hotel boasting sea views on Porto Santo, an island near his native Madeira.

The hunk already owns a 4-million pound mansion in Cheshire and a string of pads abroad, reports the Sun.