Bayern announce Mario Gomez transfer to Fiorentina
BERLIN: Bayern Munich announced on Monday that striker Mario Gomez will join Italian side Fiorentina. Champions League winners Bayern said an agreement had been reached “in principle” for the 27-year-old, who found his place in the Bavarian team taken by Mario Manduzkic last season.The two clubs had been negotiating over the transfer for some time, with Bayern saying last week the deal was dead as the Florentine club were reportedly unwilling to meet the German double winners’ 20 million euro ($25.7 million) asking price. Bayern’s communications director Markus Horwick said a contract until 2017 should be signed “in the next one to two weeks.” Gomez is expected to earn around four million euros a season. Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport claim the transfer will cost Fiorentina 15 million euros. Gomez was under contract in Munich until 2016 but was known to have become frustrated at having to play second fiddle to Mandzukic last season. He was eager to orchestrate a move abroad in order to get more first team football, especially with the World Cup only a year away. Despite being benched for most of the campaign, he still managed 19 goals last season, including two in the German Cup final. Known as “Super Mario” after the computer game character, Gomez joined Bayern in 2009 from Stuttgart for 35 million euros. He has scored 25 goals for Germany in 58 appearances. (Agencies)
Barcelona agree to sell David Villa to Atletico
MADRID: Atletico Madrid have reached a deal in principle to sign Spain striker David Villa from Barcelona, the Catalans said on Monday. Having signed for Barca in a 40 million euro ($51.5 million) deal from Valencia in 2010, the 31-year-old, who struggled to hold down a regular first team place at the Camp Nou last season, will cost Atletico just 5.1 million euros. “FC Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid have reached an agreement in principle for the transfer of the player David Villa to the Madrid club,” said Barca in a statement. “The operation will cost a maximum of 5.1 million euros, made up of 2.1 million euros this season, two million more if the player remains at Atletico in 2014/15 and another million if he extends his contract until 2015/16. “In the meantime Barcelona retain the rights to 50 percent of any future transfer of the player.” Villa will henceforth fill the void left by Colombian striker Radamel Falcao’s transfer from Atletico to Monaco. Villa began his career at Sporting Gijon before moving on to Real Zaragoza and then Valencia in 2005. He scored 108 goals in 166 league games for Valencia, becoming one of the hottest strikers in Spanish football. (Agencies)
I-League club United SC’s future uncertain
New Delhi: After AIFF’s development side Arrows, another major I-League outfit, United Sports Club’s future has been thrown into uncertainty thanks to absence of sponsors. The Kolkata-based club’s problems started after it lost its financially-hit sponsors Prayag as a fallout of the chit-fund scam in Bengal. “We are going through problems as far as sponsors are concerned. Prayag is no more our sponsors and we have struggling ever since,” team director Nabab Bhattacharya told PTI from Kolkata. Even as the fear of the club closing down looms, Bhattacharya said they will try their level best to rope in a sponsor before the seventh edition of the I-League kicks off later this year. “There is no question of closing down. We are confident of getting a sponsor before the league,” Bhattacharya said when asked if the club would shut shop if it failed to rope in a sponsor. The club, which is home to some of the top I-League players including long-standing Nigerian striker Ranty Martins, has been on the lookout for sponsors for over two months. Former Dempo SC star Ranty has scored over 150 goals in the league. Sources close to United SC said that the club has not been able to convince the sponsors. Bhattacharya added that a few political leaders have also pledged their support to the club. On Ranty, who had in the past expressed his desire to stay on at the club, Bhattacharya said it “was difficult to say anything until and unless things are resolved.” (PTI)
Haddin wants end to Ashes hurt
Nottingham: Australia’s Brad Haddin said on Monday the tourists are desperate to end their Ashes “hurt” when they face England in the latest edition of Test cricket’s oldest rivalry. The familiar foes begin a five-match series at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge ground on Wednesday with England bidding for a third straight series win over Australia — something they last managed in the 1950s — after a home success in 2009 was followed by a first triumph ‘Down Under’ in 24 years in 2011. But vice-captain Haddin hopes the pain of those reverses will help fuel Australia’s bid to reclaim the urn. “It hurts and that won’t go away,” the wicket-keeper said at Trent Bridge on today in an interview broadcast on Sky Sports. “We’d love to make amends for that in this series and our progress over the last few weeks has been good. Now we’re just excited about one of the Tests being in a couple of days’ time. I think it’s important to live in the moment, there’s no point worrying what’s gone before. “We can sit and talk about some great games in Australian cricket and English cricket, but it’s now about another exciting Test series in a couple of days’ time. “It’s a new campaign now. New dreams are made and new experiences are about to be had so it’s important we move forward and enjoy this for what it is.” (AFP)
Negi declared joint winner in World Open chess
New Delhi: India’s young Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi was jointly declared the winner of the USD 43,000 World Open Chess, which concluded in Virginia. Negi finished tied first with 10 others in the Open Section in a close and exciting finish to the tournament at Arlington on Sunday. Another Indian Grandmaster, Magesh Panchanathan, finished 11th. Earlier this week, Negi came through a stiff competition to win the DC Open title by scoring 7.5/9, clearly half point ahead of his nearest rival at the same venue. (PTI)