CHELSEA
Luis to return to Atletico
Chelsea’s Brazil defender Filipe Luis is poised to return to Atletico Madrid after one season at Chelsea,where he failed to hold down a regular first-team place, Atletico president Enrique Cerezo said on Tuesday. The 29-year-old made 26 appearances in all competitions in 2014-2015, with Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho preferring to use Spain international Cesar Azpilicueta. Mourinho on Tuesday said: “I think we are selling Filipe Luis now or tomorrow.”
MANCHESTER CITY
Pellegrini praises Sterling
Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini said he is pleased with the start Raheem Sterling has made with his new club. Sterling gave a glimpse of his searing pace and link play with Spanish star David Silva in a penalty shootout win over Italy’s AS Roma in Melbourne, Australia, on Tuesday. Sterling, the most expensive English soccer player in history, took just 2 minutes, 17 seconds to open his account for City in the International Champions Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was the 20-year-old Jamaica-born Londoner’s first game for City since his move from Liverpool last week in a five-year deal worth an initial £44 million (US$68.75 million), which could rise to £49 million. “I am very happy with him and I am very happy that we have bought him,” Pellegrini said.
MLS
Mourinho backs Drogba
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has backed Didier Drogba to make a success of a move to Major League Soccer after reports linking the Blues legend to a career swansong in North America. Several MLS teams are reportedly in the hunt for Drogba, with the Montreal Impact and the Chicago Fire the front-runners after opening talks with the 37-year-old Ivory Coast striker. Drogba has been a free agent since his contract with the English Premier League champions expired at the end of last season following a second stint at the club. “I think he is the perfect choice. If I owned a club — I do not and I never would — I would immediately think about a player like him, a man like him, to be the center of the club universe,” Mourinho said. Mourinho added that Drogba had turned down the chance to work at Chelsea as a coach after his playing career comes to a close.
FIFA
Superclassic match canceled
A friendly between Brazil and Argentina, scheduled to take place in the US in September, has been canceled as part of the fallout from the investigation into alleged corruption involving FIFA. The head of the company handling logistics for Argentina’s national soccer team on Tuesday said that the match has been called off as the two Argentine businessmen who own Full Play, a sports marketing company which had rights for the friendly, remain under house arrest in Argentina after being indicted in May by the US Department of Justice. This year’s edition of the Superclassic of the Americas was originally scheduled to be played in San Francisco on Sept. 5. “It is public knowledge — all the problems involving Full Play right now,” World Eleven chief executive officer Guillermo Tofoni said, adding that there is still a chance the South American rivals will play, but not with Full Play’s involvement. “We are still trying to make sure the game happens between the two teams somewhere in the United States. It just would not be called the Superclassic, because that belongs to Full Play,” he said.
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