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Barca agrees deal for Argentina defender Milito

MADRID: Real Zaragoza has agreed to sell Argentina defender Gabriel Milito to Barcelona, the Primera Liga clubs said on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old centre back, who is on duty with Argentina at the Copa America, is to move on a four-year contract for a fee Spanish media reported to be 17 million euros ($23.37 million), rising to 20.5 million depending on results.

"He is a leader on the pitch and in the dressing room and a great professional," Barca sports director Txiki Begiristain told the club's website on Wednesday.

"He was one of our main objectives and a priority to reinforce the defence."

Milito joined Zaragoza from Independiente in 2003 for $3.5 million after a move to Barca's arch-rivals Real Madrid fell through at the last minute.

Nedved stays with Juventus, Andrade arrives

VINOVO, Italy: Czech winger Pavel Nedved will stay with Juventus next season after agreement was finally reached on a new contract, the Serie A club said on Wednesday.

The former European Player of the Year had hinted he could retire if there was no agreement and Italian media said there was initially a gap of 800,000 euros ($1.1 million) between what the 34-year-old wanted and the club was willing to offer.

However, Nedved will now extend his six-year stay in Turin for at least another season, with midfielder Mauro Camoranesi also committing his future to the club.

Juve also confirmed that Portugal defender Jorge Andrade, 29, had arrived from Deportivo de La Coruna.

Former center back Fabio Cannavaro, who left for Real Madrid at the start of last season after Juve were demoted to Serie B in Italy's match-fixing scandal, was never a real target because he is 33, the club said.

Phoenix signs Hill in quest for first championship

PHOENIX: The Phoenix Suns' bid to capture its first NBA championship got a boost on Wednesday when it signed seven-time All-Star Grant Hill.

Hill, 34, signed a two-year deal worth $1.8 million in the first year and about $2 million in the second, local media reported.

The 12-year NBA forward has a 20-point career average in six seasons with the Detroit Pistons and six with the Orlando Magic. He averaged 14.4 points for the Magic in 65 games last season.

Hill has had an injury-plagued career with five operations on his left ankle and one for a hernia during his time in Orlando but remains one of the most explosive players in the game.

The Suns were 61-21 last season but lost in the Western Conference semifinals to eventual champions San Antonio Spurs.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons re-signed twice All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups.

The 30-year-old was named second team All-NBA in 2006 and third team in 2007 when he averaged 17 points and 7.2 assists.

(China Daily 07/13/2007 page23)