Wed, Jun 30, 2010 page19

• SPORT SOCCER SHORTS

  • AGENCIES
  • • 
    • 
    • 

  ■SPAIN

  Former coach to the rescue

  A group headed by former coach Llorenc Serra Ferrer has decided to buy the majority shareholding in Real Mallorca, the cash-strapped club said yesterday. Mallorca are in the process of going into voluntary administration in a bid to sort out their finances, lumbered by debts of up to 85 million euros (US$104 million). “We are taking up this option to buy,” Serra Ferrer was quoted as saying on the club Web site. “The first thing to do is to thank the people who have thought similarly about trying to make Mallorca viable in sporting, economic and social terms.” Serra Ferrer’s group will take over the shareholding of Mateu Alemany, who has been trying to find investors since former president Vicenc Grande’s real estate company filed for insolvency in 2008. Spanish daily El Mundo quoted sources, who said the group had paid around two million euros. Against an unstable background including delayed payments to players, Mallorca were one of La Liga’s surprise packages last season. They only missed out on a place in the Champions League qualifying round on the final day of the campaign, ending fifth in the standings. Serra Ferrer, 57, was born in Mallorca and spent the first ten years of his coaching career with the club before spells with Barcelona, AEK Athens and Real Betis.

  ■SPAIN

  Henry, Toure to leave Barca

  Barcelona have agreed to sell France striker Thierry Henry and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure, the club said on Monday. Henry, who returned from the World Cup last week after France’s surprise early exit, agreed a move before heading out to South Africa following a season when he has spent most of the time on the bench. “Now it is up to him to complete it,” Barca director Joan Oliver said on the club Web site after the last board meeting under outgoing president Joan Laporta. “This will allow Barca to save money on his wages in the next financial year.” Henry, 32, was reputedly one of the highest paid players in Pep Guardiola’s squad and had one year left on his contract. He has been linked with a move to the New York Red Bulls in the US. Barcelona have also been negotiating with Manchester City over the future of Toure who, like Henry, had requested a transfer. Toure, 27, has been seeking a move to gain more regular first-team action.

  ■SPAIN

  Real sign Angel di Maria

  Real Madrid have signed Argentina midfielder Angel di Maria from Benfica, the club said on their Web site on Monday. The 22-year-old, who has helped Argentina reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup in South Africa, is the first signing the club have made since Jose Mourinho replaced Manuel Pellegrini as coach last month. The club did not release any figures but Spanish media reported the deal was worth around 25 million euros (US$30.85 million). Di Maria helped Argentina’s under-20s win the 2007 World Youth Cup in Canada and also a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

  ■ENGLAND

  Boselli joins Latics

  Argentine striker Mauro Boselli has signed a four-year contract with Wigan for an undisclosed fee. Boselli will transfer from Estudiantes, who he helped win the Copa Libertadores and reach the Club World Cup final last year. He scored tallied 32 goals in 57 appearances for the club. “At 25 years old he is at a perfect moment in his career to come and play in the Premier League, and he has all the right qualities to make his mark at this level,” Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said on the club Web site yesterday.
• Most Popular

  • 1

    Taiwan shuts down as Krathon nears

  • 2

    Taipei mayor defends typhoon holiday declaration

  • 3

    Dozens of Taiwanese missing in China

  • 4

    Storm kills one, work canceled for second day

  • 5

    I took a common sense test — and my result appalled me