London, Jan 17 : Brazilian striker Kaka, who has been given the green signal to join Manchester City after the club increased their offer to a phenomenal 243 million pounds, has already issued a snub to the City by revealing that he prefers rivals Manchester United and Arsenal.

Ac Milan's star said Premier League sides are too predictable apart from United and the Gunners, who are the most "agile" in England.

Buenos Aires - Argentina coach Diego Maradona on Friday named Barcelona striker Lionel Messi "the best (player) in the world," even through Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned 2008 World Footballer.

"I voted for Cristiano Ronaldo, Adebayor and Ibrahimovic, because I could not vote for Messi," said Maradona. "Logically, the best in the world, for me, is Messi."

London- Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks said on Friday that he expects manager Rafael Benitez to sign a new contract with the English Premier League leaders in the coming weeks.

Benitez, whose contract expires in the summer of 2010, told the Liverpool Echo newspaper on Friday that he had rejected the existing offer because he wants more control of all footballing affairs, including transfers.

But Hicks told Sky Sports on Friday that he and co-owner George Gillettt will be working with Benitez to iron out the Spaniard's concerns.

Madrid - Ramon Calderon's short and stormy reign as president of crisis club Real Madrid came to an end on Friday over the latest affair involving unqualified delegates at a club assembly.

Calderon was yet to confirm the move but it seems that he was left with no option but to resign after being abandoned by his directors at a stormy midday board meeting.

Calderon, 57, was under massive pressure to quit since Tuesday, when Marca revealed that he had sneaked unqualified delegates into the club's annual general assembly on 7 December, in order to have his proposed budget and other measures passed.

Zurich - FIFA has kicked off the two-year-long simultaneous bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

A circular letter was sent out by football's governing body to national associations on Thursday inviting them to express their interest to submit a bid for either or both tournaments.

There are 145 associations eligible to bid for the 2018 event and 198 for 2022. South American countries are excluded from hosting both events as Brazil is due to host the World Cup in 2014, while African nations are prevented from the running for 2018 as South Africa is hosting the 2010 tournament.

Madrid - Real Madrid will be without veteran midfielder Guti for around a month, the troubled Spanish giants announced on Friday.

Guti, 32, has torn the cuadriceps muscle in his left leg, according to the club doctors.

He has not played since December 20 and will not be out until the middle of February. Thus he is doubtful for Real's Champions League round of 16 clash against Premier League leaders Liverpool.

The injury to Guti will open the door for new signing Lassana Diarra to establish himself in the Real midfield.