Barcelona’s Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o has agreed personal terms with Inter, his agent said on Thursday as a swap deal involving Zlatan Ibrahimovic moved closer.
After another meeting with Inter officials in Milan, Josep Mesalles said a deal had been reached and he would now go back to Barcelona to settle matters there.
“The only problem is a loyalty bonus with Barcelona. It should be settled in a week or so,” he was quoted as telling the ANSA news service after leaving the meeting.
Ibrahimovic left the Inter squad on tour in the US on Thursday and returned to Europe because of the transfer negotiations, the Serie A club said on their Web site.
The Sweden striker, who injured his hand in the Italian champions’ friendly defeat by Chelsea in California this week, has yet to agree terms with European champions Barca.
The complicated swap deal, which involves Barcelona also paying cash, could mean Barca midfielder Aleksandr Hleb moving to Inter on loan if Eto’o and Ibrahimovic sign.
The 28-year-old Eto’o, who joined the Catalan side in 2004, has a year left in his contract with Barcelona.
He was the club’s top scorer in the Spanish league last season, with 30 goals.
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
The Crusaders yesterday produced a clinical performance in difficult conditions to beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 and claim home advantage in next week’s Super Rugby semi-finals. Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams scored first-half tries to reward an outstanding performance from the Crusaders’ forwards in wet, slippery conditions and bitterly cold temperatures. Scrumhalf Noah Hotham defied the conditions in the second half to score a superb solo try and, after kicking a conversion and penalty to make the score 22-0 at the hour mark, flyhalf Rivez Reihana scored a try which took the game beyond the Reds. “Typical Christchurch weather, cold, wet
Ryan Yarbrough picked up a dazzling World Series ring from his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Then he went out and beat them. The New York Yankees starter on Sunday pitched one-run ball over six innings, struck out a season-high five and blanked the Dodgers’ top four hitters in a 7-3 win. “I feel like I’m in a really good place right now and really trying to continue that,” Yarbrough said. “I’m having a lot of fun.” The 33-year-old left-hander made 44 relief appearances between the Dodgers and Blue Jays last season. The Dodgers designated him for assignment on July
Spain starlets Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled on Thursday as La Roja beat France 5-4 in a thriller in Stuttgart, Germany, to set up a UEFA Nations League final with Portugal. Yamal bagged a brace, while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France’s makeshift defense to ribbons. Mikel Merino and Pedri were also on the score sheet for the UEFA Euro 2024 champions. Kylian Mbappe netted a second-half penalty, but Spain were 5-1 up and cruising, before Les Bleus suddenly woke up as their opponents took their foot off the pedal. France’s three late goals — a