Brazilian football legend Pele had hip surgery in the United States last month and is still there undergoing physiotherapy, a newspaper reported on Thursday. The Folha de Sao Paulo said surgeons in New York City operated on the 75-year-old to fix a loose hip implant he received in 2012.
Winner of three World Cups with Brazil, the ex-striker is widely regarded as the best footballer of all time. He scored 1,281 goals in 1,363 matches.
The newspaper quoted his doctor Roberto Dantas Queiroz as saying doctors also treated Pele for fibrosis in the hip area. Pele was expected to stay in the United States until February.
The newspaper said he spent Christmas with his daughter Kelly and his grandchildren, who live in New York. On Christmas Day he published a photograph on Twitter of himself standing up smiling with his family. The hospital where he was reportedly treated declined to comment to AFP. It was the latest in a series of operations for Pele. The previous one was a spine operation in July.

Chile federation ends talks with coach Sampaoli
Copa America winners Chile are looking for a new coach after the national federation called a halt Thursday to its negotiations with Jorge Sampaoli, a Chilean official announced.
The federation’s Gaspar Goycoolea said after four meetings the federation had taken the view that “it was impossible to reach an agreement” with the Argentine manager. “Unfortunately there’s no possibility of making progress, taking into account Jorge Sampaoli’s publically stated wish to leave the ship,” he told a press conference in Santiago.
Sampaoli had been giving mixed signals about his future as coach of La Roja this week. On Monday he hit out at reports in the local media  linking him to tax evasion and holding an offshore bank account. “In this atmosphere, I don’t want to work or live any more in this country,” Sampaoli had told Chilean website Faro Deportivo.
He claimed he was being held “hostage” by his contract which had a $6 million buy out clause. Sampaoli, under contract until 2018, said it was impossible for him to pay that sum. Then on Wednesday he appeared to backtrack, telling a press conference: “It’s not true that I don’t want to live or work in Chile. On the contrary I want to dispel this misunderstanding,” he insisted.
“I’ve been living here for seven years and I’ve had some unforgettable times.”
Discussing the buy out clause Goycoolea said: “We were willing to significantly reduce the figure and give him the chance of delayed payments, but that was rejected by the coach.”
If Sampaoli does confirm his exit his compatriot Marcelo Bielsa, jobless since walking out on Marseille at the start of the Ligue 1 season in France, could return to the post he held between 2007-2010.
Another contender according to local media is Eduardo Berizzo, the manager of Celta Vigo in Spain’s La Liga. Aside from qualification for the 2018 World Cup Chile are also preparing to defend their Copa title at the Copa Centenario in the United States later this year.

Man City agree terms for Australian Caceres
Premier League giants Manchester City have agreed terms for the transfer of Australian A-League star Anthony Caceres, his club Central Coast Mariners said. “The Central Coast Mariners can today confirm that the club has agreed to terms with English Premier League club Manchester City for the transfer of 23-year-old midfielder Anthony Caceres that will take immediate effect,” the club said on their website.
Caceres made 62 appearances for the Mariners following his A-League debut in 2012.
Coach Tony Walmsley said he was looking forward to seeing him reach his potential on the world stage.
“We need to celebrate when players at the Central Coast Mariners are sold to bigger clubs. It’s our charter. It’s our intent,” Walmsley said.