European News: Villarreal striker Diego Forlan is being hailed as one of the best forwards in Spain - just six months after being off-loaded by Manchester United for his inability to hit the back of the net.

It may come as a surprise to many fans at Old Trafford, who saw the Uruguay international fail to hold down a regular first-team place after struggling for so long to score his first goal for United.

But it has been a different story since he joined the Primera Liga club in the summer. He scored on his debut for his new employers against champions Valencia, and since then Forlan has scored nine more goals to make him the third highest goalscorer in the league behind Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldo of Real Madrid.

Forlan now has the opportunity to etch a place in history at Villarreal as he needs only five more goals to make him their highest scorer in a season.

And his performances have not gone unnoticed in the Spanish press, with a number of papers describing him as the in-form striker in the Primera Liga.

"Things are going a lot better for me than they did in England," said Forlan. "But it is important now to keep my feet on the floor because the team still have not done anything and the season is very long.

"Obviously at the moment all is well, but the end of the campaign is when it counts."

Forlan's predatory instincts saw him score twice against league leaders Barcelona a fortnight ago, as the leaders slipped to only their second defeat of the season. He also netted twice last Sunday as the side from El Madrigal defeated Levante 4-2.

Meanwhile, former Everton midfielder Thomas Gravesen has blamed the state of the pitch at the Santiago Bernabeu for Real Madrid's Copa del Rey humbling at the hands of Valladolid. Real were dumped out of the cup by the second division outfit on away goals, despite Michael Owen's 10th strike of the season.

And Gravesen, who made his full debut in the game, thinks the worn and bobbly pitch did not help Madrid play to their best.

"The pitch at the Bernabeu is in a lamentable state," Gravesen said."And it is difficult to play brilliant football because you are slipping continuously."

Despite the defeat, the Dane was happy with his performance and that he got to play the full 90 minutes in an experimental line-up.

He said he felt "better" in the second half when coach Wanderley Luxembourgo moved him into the centre of midfield after spending the first 45 minutes in a wider role.

"I will go on improving, although it irritates me not to be able to play better because of this pitch," he added.

Italian league leaders Juventus insist Adrian Mutu does not have a serious drug problem and have backed him to rebuild his career in Turin.

Mutu has agreed to join the Serie A leaders, and terms on a five-year contract have been finalised, but any move cannot be completed until the English Football Association release his registration.

The Romanian striker was sacked by Chelsea in October and banned for seven months by the FA after testing positive for cocaine during a random drugs test. His ban, which was extended worldwide by FIFA, runs until May 18th.

Despite his controversial exit from Stamford Bridge, Juventus administrator Antonio Giraudo is confident Mutu's spell at the Delle Alpi will be trouble free. Giraudo told Gazzetta dello Sport: "We have signed an absolute champion, not so much for the present but for the near future."