Briefs 2-Scolari says was not in England to talk to Man City

May 9 (Reuters) - Sports news in brief from around the world:

Soccer - Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said he had not been negotiating with Manchester City about taking over as manager on his recent visit to England.

"I was in England recently, not to negotiate with Manchester City but to speak with Chelsea's Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira, two of the players who I will include in Portugal's (Euro 2008) squad," he said in an interview with state TV.

Media reported last week that the English Premier League club had made an offer to Scolari to replace their Swedish manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and the deadline to accept was before the start of Euro 2008, which runs from June 7-29.

Soccer - Valencia midfielder David Albelda has withdrawn his legal challenge against the Primera Liga club to be paid out of his contract, the player's lawyer said on Friday.

The Spain international started the action after being dropped from the side by former coach Ronald Koeman in December, along with Santiago Canizares and Miguel Angel Angulo, and told they would not play for the team again this season.

Koeman was sacked last month, and his replacement Salvador Gonzalez Voro has recalled all three to the squad.