American forward Pepi joins Augsburg from Dallas
AUGSBURG, Jan 4: American forward Ricardo Pepi signed with Augsburg of Germany’s Bundesliga from Major League Soccer’s Dallas on Monday, agreeing to a 4 1/2-season contract that includes an option to extend through the 2026-27 season. The Augsburger Allgemeine reported the German club was paying more than 13 million euros plus potential add-ons for the 18-year-old, which would be the highest amount for a transfer of a homegrown American player from MLS. “We are certain that he will continue to improve here in Augsburg and that we’ll have a lot of fun together over the coming years,” Augsburg general manager Stefan Reuter said. The reported fee would be a record transfer for Augsburg, which has been in the Bundesliga since its promotion in the 2011-12 season. (AP)
Serie A set to resume despite 10% players testing positive
ROME, Jan 4: One out of every 10 players in Serie A is positive with the coronavirus as the Italian league prepares to resume after a two-week break for the holidays. Still, despite about 60 players reported as having contracted COVID-19, full slates of 10 matches involving all 20 clubs are scheduled to be played both Thursday and Sunday. Last-place Salernitana is the hardest hit with nine of its players having COVID-19, while clubs like Inter Milan (Edin Dzeko), Napoli (Victor Osimhen) and Juventus (Giorgio Chiellini) are each missing leading players because of the virus. Even former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, now back with Parma in Serie B, has tested positive. (AP)
Torres unable to register yet at Barça even after signing
Barcelona, Jan 4: Ferran Torres was presented as a Barcelona player, though the Spanish team isn’t able to register him yet. Barcelona director of football Mateu Alemany said the club knew there was no room for Torres in the squad “in terms of salaries” when he was bought last week from Manchester City for an initial fee of 55 million euros. “However, we have been making moves in different areas,” Alemany said, “and we are convinced we can register him.” Torres said he returns to Spain a better player having been coached by Pep Guardiola at City, which he joined in 2020. (AP)
Monaco replace Kovac with Club Brugge coach Clement
Monaco, Jan 4: Monaco appointed coach Philippe Clement on a 2 1/2-year deal after firing Niko Kovac during the midseason break. The 2017 French league champion said on its website that the 47-year-old Clement signed on until June 2024 from Belgian side Club Brugge. Clement played 333 games, and scored 45 goals, as a defender for Club Brugge. He took charge in June 2019 and won two Belgian league titles to make it three in a row, after winning with Genk the previous season. (AP)
Djokovic given exemption to play at Australian Open
Brisbane, Jan 4: Novak Djokovic will get a chance to defend his Australian Open title after receiving a medical exemption to travel to Melbourne, ending months of uncertainty about his participation because of the strict COVID-19 vaccination requirements in place for the tournament. The top-ranked Djokovic wrote on Instagram on Tuesday he has “an exemption permission” to travel to Australia. Djokovic, who is seeking a record 21st Grand Slam singles title, has continually refused to reveal if he is vaccinated against the coronavirus. (AP)