Football: Capello staying put despite PSG offer - RFU

Italian Fabio Capello is expected to stay on in his job as boss of the Russian national side until at least the 2014 World Cup, the Russian Football Union said, after he reportedly received an offer to join French big spenders Paris Saint-Germain.

Former England manager Capello joined the Russian national team in 2012 on a mission to bring it up to world class standards for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the 2018 edition which Russia will itself host.

The Russian press said Thursday that Capello’s son and agent Pierfilippo had held negotiations in the French capital on behalf of his father the day earlier but that he had failed to reach an agreement with PSG.

“The Russian Football Union (RFU) has a contract with him (Capello) until the end of the 2014 World Cup. The RFU is happy with his work and expects him to serve out the contract until the end,” the RFU said in an official statement.

“All the conditions of the current contract are being fulfilled,” it added.

Russia’s Sport Express daily said that Capello and PSG had been close to agreeing terms but talks broke down over the legal small print, in particular the notice period he was required to give the RFU.

“I am staying in Russia,” the Sovetsky Sport daily quoted Capello as saying from holiday in Italy.

Russian media said the RFU released its statement late Wednesday after it was sure that Capello would indeed by staying on as coach.

Capello was one of the top names rumoured to be interested in the PSG job with Carlo Ancelotti expected to leave the club before the new season, possibly as manager of Real Madrid after the departure of Jose Mourinho.