ITALY
De Jong inks Milan deal
Tough-tackling Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong has been included in the AC Milan side to face Bologna after signing a three-year deal, the Serie A club said. Milan have not yet announced the price of the transfer, but after he put pen to paper Milan said in a statement: “Milan have officially signed Nigel de Jong from Manchester City. The Dutch midfielder has signed a three-year contract which ends on June 30, 2015.” Dutch international De Jong, a product of Ajax, joined City from German side Hamburg SV in 2009 and played 104 times. His arrival may go part way to soothing the Rossoneri fans’ pain of losing Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, both to Paris Saint-Germain.
ENGLAND
Champions land Sinclair
Premier League champions Manchester City completed their swoop for Swansea City winger Scott Sinclair yesterday. Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has been keen to land Sinclair since the end of last season and the Italian finally got his man after making a new bid of about £6.2 million (US$9.8 million) for the former Chelsea player earlier this week. “I’m just glad everything is settled and that I’m now a City player,” Sinclair told Manchester City’s Web site. “There were times when I thought it might not happen, so I’m relieved that I’m here and I can’t wait to get started. Playing alongside some of the best players in the world is exciting for me and when you see two Champions League fixtures against Real Madrid on the horizon, it brings it all home.”
ENGLAND
QPR sign Esteban Granero
Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero has become the latest player to sign for Queens Park Rangers, the Premier League club announced late on Thursday. The 25-year-old has agreed a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee after making 60 appearances for Real. “He is a great player, first and foremost,” QPR manager Mark Hughes said. “You don’t play at a club like Real Madrid if you’re not.” Granero told the west London club’s Web site: “I’m very happy to be here. I love the passion of the English fans and, from what I know, QPR supporters are amongst the very best.”
ENGLAND
Reds sell Adam to Potters
Liverpool has sold Charlie Adam to Stoke City yesterday after the Scotland midfielder fell out of favor at Anfield. A day after sending striker Andy Carroll on loan to West Ham United, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers let Adam join Stoke on a four-year deal as he continues his reshaping of the squad. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but British media said it was in the region of £4 million. “This club’s on the up and it’s great to be a part of it,” Adam said. “I hope I can help them to improve upon the success which has been achieved over the past few years.”
SPAIN
Mallorca sign Dos Santos
RCD Mallorca have signed Giovani dos Santos from Tottenham Hotspur on a four-year deal, while Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente was waiting to see where he would end up. Dos Santos is the first significant move made by Mallorca since being barred from the Europa League in 2010 due to financial difficulties. Llorente, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has not played for Bilbao as the club wait to see if any team will pay his 36 million euros (US$45 million) buy-out clause. Meanwhile, Malaga have signed Javier Saviola from SL Benfica, while RC Celta de Vigo have taken Arsenal striker Park Chu-young on loan.
CYCLING
Hamilton repeats allegations
Tyler Hamilton says Lance Armstrong gave him an illegal blood booster at his house before the 1999 Tour de France and the two teammates compared notes on using performance-enhancing drugs as far back as 1998. Hamilton makes the allegations in his book, The Secret Race. Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France, Doping, Cover-ups and Winning at All Costs, set to be published on Wednesday next week. Armstrong agent Bill Stapleton did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hamilton and Armstrong rode together on the US Postal Service team. Armstrong has long denied doping, but last week chose not to fight drug charges made by the US Anti-Doping Agency. The book mirrors much of what Hamilton told 60 Minutes last year and what he said he told federal criminal investigators looking into doping allegations on the Postal Service team. Officials closed that investigation in February without bringing any charges against Armstrong. Hamilton details his own drug use and says usage on the team started even before Armstrong joined in 1998. He and Armstrong soon became roommates and confidants who would discuss using the blood-booster EPO and other performance-enhancing drugs. He said while visiting Armstrong’s home in Nice shortly before the 1999 Tour, he asked the Texan if he had any EPO and Armstrong pointed to the refrigerator. Hamilton described a doping plan put in place by the team for the 1999 Tour de France, with Armstrong’s knowledge, that included a motorcyclist riding behind racers with a thermos full of EPO. It was to be dispensed to riders in the team camper after race stages. He said team leaders, doctors and managers encouraged and supervised doping, and performance-enhancing drugs were handed out to cyclists in white lunch bags.
ICE HOCKEY
Eberle extends contract
All-Star forward Jordan Eberle has signed a six-year contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers that will keep him with the team through the 2018-2019 season. While no financial details were disclosed by the Oilers, media reports said the 22-year-old’s deal was worth US$36 million. Eberle led the team in scoring last season with a career-high 34 goals and 42 assists in 78 games, earning a spot in this year’s NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa. “I’m pretty excited,” Eberle said on a conference call on Thursday. “It’s something I’ve been working on in the last little bit here. With Taylor getting his done last week, I was pretty anxious.” Eberle’s good friend and roommate, forward Taylor Hall, signed a seven-year, US$42 million extension just over a week ago. “We want to be the core guys on this team,” Eberle said. “With the direction the team’s going, especially with a couple of acquisitions this summer and with the team being a year older, we’re going to have a reputation of a winning team here soon.”
MOTOGP
Stoner’s surgery successful
MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has undergone successful surgery on his right ankle, his Honda team said on Thursday. “Today in Australia, Honda’s Casey Stoner received surgery to his ankle, which was damaged after his crash in qualifying for the Indianapolis GP 12 days ago,” the team said in a statement. “The procedure was performed by Dr Lam’s team in Sydney’s North Shore Private Hospital. Doctors are pleased with how the operation went and now must wait during this initial recuperation period to see how the ankle is healing. With no complications or need for Stoner to stay in hospital, he has returned home.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care