Kompany turns down offer to be Guardiola’s assistant: Reports
Brussels: Vincent Kompany has turned down an offer from Manchester City to become Pep Guardiola’s assistant coach, according to various Belgian media reports on Friday.The former City captain is under contract as player-manager of Anderlecht until 2022, having left the Etihad Stadium last year following a trophy-laden 11-year spell in England. Kompany, who has never concealed his desire to one day be City manager, said he wanted to stay at Anderlecht. On Thursday, Belgium’s most successful club responded to recent financial difficulties as Wouter Vandenhaute took over from Marc Coucke as president. Anderlecht finished only eighth in the Belgian league season, which was curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic, their worst post-war position. City boss Guardiola has been looking for a new assistant since Mikel Arteta left Manchester to become Arsenal manager last December. (AFP)
Federer becomes highest paid athlete
Zurich: Swiss tennis great Roger Federer has become the first from his sport to top Forbes’ list of highest paid athletes. With an estimated $106.3 million earned over the past 12 months, Federer edged out Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo from the top spot.The factors that went into Forbes’ calculation were athletes’ revenue, including prize money, salaries, contract bonuses, endorsements, royalties, and appearance fees from June 1, 2019, until June 1, 2020.A key factor that went into Federer edging out the football stars was that the latter had to take heavy salary cuts during the coronavirus pandemic.The three athletes immediately below Federer are all football players with Ronaldo on second with estimated earnings of $105 million. His arch rival and Argentine great Lionel Messi is third with an estimated $104 million while Brazil’s Neymar comes fourth with $95.5 million. (IANS)
Van Gaal slams Man Utd
London: Former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has slammed the club’s approach in the transfer market during his time at helm. The Dutchman took over at Old Trafford in 2014 after leading Netherlands to World Cup third-place finish.He led Manchester United to a FA Cup title but was sacked in favour of Jose Mourinho prior to the 2016/17 season. He has now hit back at the club’s inefficiency in the transfer market.”Manchester United did not have the qualities to become champions and had an outdated selection with 10 players over 30, five over 35,” Van Gaal told Voetball International .”So I told them I was going to rejuvenate and which players should come. I didn’t get one of those.”Then you end up in a different segment and as a coach you have to push your boundaries. You don’t expect that at the richest club in the world,” he added. (IANS)
