Though famed for his grace and elegance as a player, Zinedine Zidane apparently has other priorities as a coach, after he made brawny, bustling Finnish striker Eero Markkanen his first signing for Real Madrid’s B team on Wednesday.
Now boss of the UEFA Champions League winners’ “Castilla” reserve side, Zidane sought out the relatively unknown Finn and bought him from Swedish club AIK Stockholm, where his six goals in 14 appearances were enough to convince one of the game’s greats that he is worth a gamble.
“Coming to AIK was a dream come true,” Markkanen said in a statement issued by AIK announcing the move. “Thanks to hard work, my teammates, [AIK coach] Mr Alm and his coaching staff —another dream is now coming true.”
Photo: EPA
No details of the transfer fee have been released.
Unheralded when he joined the Stockholm club from Finland’s JJK Jyvaskyla, Markkanen was only six months into a three-year contract at AIK when Castilla came calling.
For the 23-year-old Finn, who has one cap for his country, the move marks the latest stage in a meteoric rise, but that Markkanen, who makes the most of his 197cms to dominate in the air, is so different to his new mentor, offers an intriguing insight into the mind of Zidane the coach.
Asked how the France legend became aware of Markkanen, an AIK staff member said: “No one knows. Apparently, Zidane went to the sporting director of Madrid with a DVD of Eero and said: ‘I want this guy.’”
Having signed a four-year deal, Markkanen will now come under the watchful eye of the FIFA World Cup winner with France, who played for Real from 2001 until his retirement in 2006.
As Zidane transitions from Real manager Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant, to being the man calling the shots, it remains to be seen if he can replicate his success on the pitch from the Castilla dugout.
Just as Zidane saw passes on the field that no one else did, he may have noticed something in Markkanen that others missed.
In other transfer news, Barcelona on Wednesday said they have bought 30-year-old Valencia defender Jeremy Mathieu for 20 million euros (US$27 million), with a buyout clause of 50 million euros.
Barcelona have been seeking to bolster their defense since veteran Carlos Puyol retired.
Though he is not an established France international, Mathieu is recognized as a powerful operator at leftback and in central defense.
The Catalan club had made several offers to Valencia for Mathieu, who last week issued a public letter calling on los Che to negotiate his release.
“I have a chance to play for the world’s biggest club and that’s all I want right now,” he said.
Barca said in a statement that Mathieu will sign a four-season contract. The previous day, the club sold striker Bojan Krkic to Premier League side Stoke City for an undisclosed fee.
Bojan, 23, has penned a four-year contract with the Potters and becomes their fifth signing of the summer, Mame Biram Diouf, Steve Sidwell, Phil Bardsley and Dionatan Teixeira.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes told the club’s Web site: “Anyone who knows European football will be aware of him [Bojan] as a player and the fact that he sees his future at Stoke City is really exciting and an endorsement of the club itself. He’s desperate to prove himself in the Premier League and we’re pleased to be able to offer him that platform.”
Bojan was expected to fly out to Germany to join his new teammates, including former Barca defender Marc Muniesa, at Stoke’s pre-season training camp.
Bojan, capped once by Spain, came up through the Barca academy and scored 41 goals in 163 appearances for the first team before joining AS Roma in 2011.
After failing to leave a lasting impression there he was sent on loan to AC Milan and spent last year on loan at Dutch giants Ajax and helped the Amsterdam club secure a record 33rd Eredivisie title.
Elsewhere on the Spanish transfer market, Granada agreed a deal with Primeira Liga side Porto for Algeria international Yacine Brahimi, the Portuguese side announced on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old French-born attacking midfielder has agreed a five-season 6.5 million euro deal with a 50 million euro buyout clause, the club said.
Brahimi played up to Under-21 level for France before switching to Algeria.
Capped seven times, he impressed at the just concluded World Cup in Brazil, where he scored his first international goal to help Algeria reach the second round of the tournament for the first time.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely