NEWARK, N.J. — Vince Carter opted out of the final year of a contract withthe New Jersey Nets that would have paid the All-Star guard $16.3 million thiscoming season.

Nets’ President Rod Thorn said Saturday the team was informed Friday thatCarter would test the free agent market, but he remained optimistic the30-year-old swingman would return next season.

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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE (TICKER) — Kevin Harvick captured the pole for Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Camping World 200 race at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Harvick lapped the 1.038-mile oval in 29.449 seconds in his Chevrolet Monte Carlo, clocking 129.335 miles per hour to win his 16th career Busch Series pole and third in New Hampshire.

Points leader and defending race champion Carl Edwards qualified second in his Ford Fusion with a lap of 29.461 seconds at 129.283 mph. Edwards has a 776-point lead over David Reutimann in the standings.

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MADRID – Uruguay striker Diego Forlan is poised to sign for Atletico Madrid, his club Villarreal disclosed on Saturday.

“Villarreal and Atletico Madrid have reached an agreement on the transfer,” Villarreal said on its official site without revealing the fee or length of the contract.

The deal follows reports that Atletico’s Fernando Torres is likely to be heading to Liverpool after the Premiership side tabled a 27 million pound bid for the Spanish forward.

Forlan, who has 54 Spanish first division goals to his name, joined Villarreal in 2004 from Manchester United.

LONDON – England striker Wayne Rooney will follow in the footstepps of Manchester United legend Dennis Law by wearing the number 10 jersey at Old Trafford next season.

The 21-year-old is to swap the number eight shirt he has worn since his arrival at United three years ago for the number worn by legends such as Mark Hughes, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and of course Law.

“When I was offered the chance to wear the number 10 shirt I jumped at it. Some of the greatest players have become legends wearing number 10 – none more so than Denis Law,” said Rooney.

SINGAPORE – A rusty Australia made heavy work of minnows Singapore Saturday, struggling in the heat before two goals from Mark Viduka and a Harry Kewell rocket handed them a morale-boosting 3-0 victory.

Newcastle goal poacher Viduka headed home in the 50th minute in front of a passionate 45,000 fans at the Kallang National Stadium and the Liverpool attacker added a second 15 minutes from time.

Viduka sealed victory with four minutes to go.

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By Mike Perez Special to PA SportsTicker

MADRID (Ticker) — English Premiership powerhouse Liverpool appeared to move closer to signing Spain striker Fernando Torres after his current club, Atletico Madrid, agreed a deal on Saturday for Villarreal’s Diego Forlan.

Torres has been linked with a $54 million move to Liverpool, who are owned by American sports moguls Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

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LONDON (TICKER) — Argentina striker Carlos Tevez admits he would relish the chance to play for Real Madrid – but insists he has not heard from the Spanish champions.

Madrid is one of a host of clubs across Europe linked with Tevez, who last season played a key role in helping West Ham avoid relegation from the English Premier League.

The 23-year-old admits a move to the Bernabeu appeals, but said: “I would like to play at Real Madrid, but there is no offer. I have yet to hear anything from Real.”

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PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho took a turn in carrying the torch ahead of the 2007 Pan-American Games, to be held in Rio de Janeiro from July 13-29.

Grinning broadly throughout, Ronaldinho carried the flame for a short while during its trip to his home town of Porto Alegre in the south of the vast country.

“I’m very touched. This is a great honour for me, especially as it’s in my town,” said Ronaldinho.

The Pan-American Games flame was lit on June 11 by Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and will travel through 42 cities and towns – representing the 42 countries in the region – before coming to rest in Rio.

NEW YORK — The former Knicks executive who is suing coach Isiah Thomas forsexual harassment alleged in court papers that Thomas urged a cheerleader toflirt with referees and guard Stephon Marbury cursed at her, according tonewspaper reports Saturday.

Anucha Browne Sanders, a former senior vice president of marketing andbusiness operations, filed documents to answer the Knicks’ attempt to have herlawsuit dismissed.

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MADRID – Real Madrid have agreed a deal to sign Chelsea’s flying Dutch winger Arjen Robben according to reports in a Spanish newspaper on Saturday.

AS claims that Real have come to an agreement with the father and agent of Robben and are waiting for Chelsea to rubber stamp a 20-million-euro transfer.

Robben is currently in negotiations with Chelsea over a contract extension until 2012, although he has not always been in favour with the club’s Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.

The 23-year-old is thought to be among Real’s top three summer transfer targets alongside AC Milan’s Brazilian playmaker Kaka and Arsenal’s Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas.