THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2015 SPORTS Premier League spending will only increase — experts

LONDON: Foreign clubs are the main beneficiaries of Manchester City), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) and Son They can also offer financial packages that are very years,” he added. “So spending is not only going to the Premier League’s transfer dealings and will contin- Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) respectively. attractive to international players. continue, it is going to increase. Clubs will still have ue to be so with forthcoming increases in broadcast Gross transfer fees to overseas clubs of 585 million “Not only is the Premier League a net importer of the ability to spend at these kind of levels if they so revenue, financial analysts predicted as the summer pounds were 10 per cent up on the previous year, talent, way ahead of other leagues in gross and net choose.” According to Deloitte’s figures, Premier window finally closed this week. according to the annual analysis by the Deloitte busi- spending, but Germany and France have actually been League clubs’ record gross spend of 870 million Although many fees remain unofficial, it was gener- ness advisory firm. “Since the introduction of the new net exporters.” Given that a lucrative new domestic pounds was more than double that of Italy’s , ally agreed that of the 10 most expensive deals involv- (Premier League) broadcast deal for 2013-14, spending broadcast deal, a 70 percent increase on the existing the second highest. ing English clubs since the end of last season, seven of on overseas players has nearly doubled,” Deloitte’s Alex one, comes into effect next season, with overseas But there was an unexpected benefit in the the players were bought from other leagues. Thorpe told Reuters in an interview. rights still to be negotiated, Thorpe sees no reason strength of the pound against the euro, which accord- Germany’s Bundesliga benefited most, with VfL “In 2012 it was 300 million pounds. This summer it why the current trends will not continue. ing to corporate broker Foenix saved them 85 million Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen receiv- was 585 million. “That shows how broadcast revenues “Looking to the future, the biggest factor driving pounds in buying players from European clubs. The ing almost 100 million pounds ($153.09 million) have driven the increase in clubs’ spending in the transfer spending has been broadcast revenue, so that next transfer window for all Europe’s major leagues between them for Kevin de Bruyne (sold to international market. And it’s not just the transfer fees. has already been taken care of for the next three opens on Jan. 1. — Reuters Conte targets Euro ticket

MILAN: Coach has demanded Italy seal their Euro 2016 ticket this weekend but has warned that only first team regulars will figure in his travelling plans for next summer’s tournament in France. Italy host Malta in Florence on Thursday before travelling to Palermo to host a Bulgarian side desperate to relaunch their qualifying campaign with four games remaining in Group H. Victory from both games would see Italy book their ticket for the European Championships with two games to spare. Conte, who led Juventus to three consecutive titles prior to taking over the Italy job, advised his squad to put aside what is going on in domestic competition. “It’s an important week for us. With two wins against Malta and Bulgaria we can qualify for Euro 2016,” said Conte, who took over from Cesare Prandelli following Italy’s first-round exit from last year’s World Cup. “I want the players to forget what’s happening in their various clubs. All we should be focusing on is winning our games. “We want to win them all and finish top of the group to give our confidence and self-esteem a boost.” Italy are only one point behind group leaders Antonio Conte Croatia, who on paper have 14 but were deducted a point following a 1-1 draw with Italy in June after a group’s whipping boys. They are bottom of the pile it.” Conte added Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne to swastika was scrawled on the pitch before the fix- with one point from six games in which they mostly his squad after Toronto FC striker Sebastian Giovinco ture in Zagreb. But among Italy’s squad, competition frustrated their opponents by defending en masse suffered an injury knock. for places is tight. Conte has rejuvenated his squad and striking on the counter. Conte says he wants no There is still no room for Liverpool misfit Mario with players like Simone Zaza, but the striker’s move slip-ups over the coming two fixtures. “It’s crucial we Balotelli, who has returned to AC Milan on loan in a back to Juventus following a successful loan spell at take the six points, it would allow us to start prepar- bid to resurrect his career, and in the meantime Sassuolo could come at a price if he fails to play reg- ing for June. Malta’s squad has grown a lot in the Brazil-born Eder has laid claim to one of the striker’s ularly. “I will pay close attention to what’s going on past years, they defend with eight players and spots. Sampdoria striker Eder has hit four goals in and who is playing... if some of the players are not they’re a tough nut to crack for most teams.” two Serie A games so far to top Italy’s scoring charts playing then they will be at risk.” AC Milan Andrea Bertolacci agreed and pledged his loyalty to Conte’s cause. “I don’t While Bulgaria have given Italy plenty of food for with Conte’s assessment. “We know we can qualify if know if I will start but I’m giving my all every day thought in past encounters, notably holding them we win these two games, so on Thursday and and I’m here if and when the coach calls on me,” he to a 2-2 draw in Sofia last March, Malta are the Sunday we’ll be lining up looking to rubber stamp said. — AFP Toure-less Ivory Coast

FRANCE: France’s forward Anthony Martial kicks the ball during a training session days ahead of the team friendly match against Portugal. — AFP launch title defence Marked man Martial must JOHANNESBURG: An Ivory Coast team lacking find place at Man United superstar Yaya Toure launches this weekend what they hope will be a 10-match climb back to the pinnacle of African football. LONDON: If Anthony Martial felt unsure dle. But United manager Louis van Gaal’s The Cup of Nations title-holders have a about the scale of the challenge awaiting emphasis on Martial being a “multi-func- Group I date with fellow-west Africans Sierra him at Manchester United, it will have tional forward” suggests he may be Leone in a fixture switched from Freetown to been made plain by a comment from his asked to serve at least part of his appren- Nigerian commercial capital Lagos because of new team-mate Morgan Schneiderlin. ticeship on the flanks. the Ebola epidemic. It will be the first of four Addressing journalists at France’s In Van Gaal, Martial could hardly have qualifying games for the ‘Elephants’ as they training camp, which the 19-year-old asked for a coach with a better reputa- seek to top the table and secure a place at the Martial had just left in order to sign for tion for developing young talent. The 2017 tournament in Gabon. Ivory Coast had a United, Schneiderlin said that Wayne Ajax team that Van Gaal led to matchday 1 bye last June in a three-team mini- Rooney had spoken to him about the Champions League glory in 1995 league completed by Sudan. club’s newest recruit. “Wayne Rooney remains a symbol of the power of youth New France-born Ivory Coast coach Michel came to speak to me and asked me who and Patrick Kluivert was a year younger Dussuyer must do without Manchester City this Martial was, because the English than Martial when he scored the winner stars Toure and Wilfried Bony plus Newcastle press were starting to really talk about it,” against AC Milan in the final. United midfield enforcer Cheick Tiote. Schneiderlin said. “‘Do you know him? In that there is a caveat, however, with National team captain Toure, voted African What’s he like?’ Those were his ques- several youngsters having been given Footballer of the Year a record four consecutive tions.” chances at Old Trafford in recent months- times since 2011, asked to be excluded while Not only is Martial alighting at Old Tyler Blackett, Jesse Lingard, Paddy he considers his international future. Trafford as the most expensive teenager McNair to a lesser extent-only to then Now 32, the midfielder who specialises in in the game’s history, having cost a sink from sight. United’s recent record turning edge-of-the-box free-kicks into goals reported initial fee of £36 million ($55.1 when it comes to big-money signings suffered a dip in form when he returned last million, 49 million euros). He is doing so does not bode particularly well, with Di February from the triumphant 2015 Cup of as a relative unknown. Maria having left after a year and Juan Nations Cup campaign in Equatorial Guinea. It is believed the fee could rise to £58 Mata, Ander Herrera and Marouane Dussuyer, a former goalkeeper who guided million, but though the deal is said to be Fellaini still finding their feet. Martial, Guinea to the Cup of Nations quarter-finals this heavily incentivised-including a provi- though, said he was unfazed by the year before quitting, hopes Toure is taking only sion for Martial winning the FIFA Ballon weight of expectation, telling MUTV: “I a temporary break. Yaya Toure d’Or-it inevitably prompts unhelpful don’t feel the pressure.” “I met Yaya in London and said I was count- diate task is to restore confidence and end the Oliseh away to Tanzania in Group G without comparisons. Only Gareth Bale, Cristiano He has also spoken about how the ing on him to continue,” said the successor to run of defeats.” Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, who did Ronaldo, Luis Suarez, Neymar, James birth of his first child in July has sharp- compatriot Herve Renard. “He is a great foot- Ivory Coast defeated Sierra Leone 2-1 and 5- not answer calls from the new coach. Rodriguez and Angel di Maria have cost ened his focus, after he was criticised for baller and I hope he is going to resume his 1 in 2015 Cup of Nations qualifiers with both Record seven-time African champions Egypt more than that and all were fully fledged nonchalance during his early days at adventure with the ‘Elephants’.” Burly striker matches staged in Abidjan because of the are in the same mini-league and hope cloudy world-beaters at the time of their respec- Monaco. Bony is injured and Dussuyer says Tiote did not Ebola virus. In-form Leicester City winger Riyad midweek weather in often scorchingly hot respond after various attempts were made to tive transfers. Thierry Henry, with whom He will not want for team-mates of a Mahrez travels to Lesotho with Algeria, the top Chad continues as they seek a return to the big contact him. Martial is often compared, was similarly similar age in a squad that contains 19- ranked African team who will expect three time after three failed qualifying campaigns. The Ivory Coast coach will be pleased by the more Group J points after overwhelming Group M outsiders Gambia and Mauritania raw when he left Monaco for Juventus in year-old James Wilson, Luke Shaw, who is recent UEFA Champions League form of 1999, but he was two years older, had 20, and 21-year-old Memphis Depay, Seychelles three months ago. must be encouraged by matchday 1 displays as Seydou Doumbia with CSKA Moscow. On loan Mahrez bagged four goals in his first three they prepare to host former African champions twice as many games behind him and who has quickly been supplanted as the to his former club from Roma, the striker English Premier League matches and Dinamo Cameroon and South Africa respectively. had already won a World Cup. club’s star signing. In Schneiderlin, scored twice during a dramatic play-off tri- Zagreb striker El-Arbi Hillel Soudani is another Gambia forced a 0-0 draw in South Africa Henry himself has described the deal Martial also has a fellow Francophone umph over Sporting Lisbon that secured a impressive Europe-based ‘Desert Fox’. under new Swiss coach Raoul Savoy and as a “massive gamble”. Like Henry, Martial (Fellaini is another) to help him adapt to group place. Ghana midfielder Andre Ayew hopes he can Mauritania held Cameroon goalless in Yaounde is a striker who started his senior career life with both United and France, albeit Ghana-born Sierra Leone caretaker coach replicate his three-goal form with Swansea City until Vincent Aboubakar snatched a final- as a winger and he is similarly drawn to one who has only just set foot in both Sellas Tetteh does not believe the absence of in a top-of-the-table Group H clash away to minute match-winner. Minnows Swaziland the left flank, from where he can cut camps himself. Toure will weaken the two-time African cham- Rwanda. caused the biggest matchday 1 upset by win- inside onto his right foot and shoot at His move to Manchester having come pions. “The absence of Yaya will not make our Ayew missed the 7-1 mauling of Mauritius ning away to Guinea and will bank on more goal. The fact he has been handed the just days after his first France call-up, it task easier,” said the coach who guided Ghana while Rwanda created a matchday 1 shock goals from experienced midfielder Tony number nine shirt, coupled with has been a whirlwind week, and there to 2009 world youth championship glory and under 30-year-old Northern Ireland-born Tsabedze when they host pointless Malawi. Rooney’s early-season struggles as will be no time to catch his breath-his had a short spell in charge of Rwanda. coach Johnny McKinstry by winning in The 2017 Cup of Nations line-up will comprise United’s lone striker, suggests he will be United debut will be a home game “I recently inherited a Sierra Leone squad Mozambique. the 13 group winners, the best two runners-up given a chance to play through the mid- against Liverpool. — AFP with low morale after several losses. My imme- Nigeria begin life under former star Sunday and hosts Gabon. — AFP Qatar feels heat ahead of World Cup qualifier

DOHA: Qatar coach Jose Daniel Carreno “We think we have enough strong points provide Qatar with another three points. league side Al Arabi, now managed by heading to Russia. At the beginning of 2015, admitted yesterday his team is under pressure to enable us to play in the Russian World Cup Tougher tests lie ahead however, with Gianfranco Zola. “Teams suffer when they play Qatar may have been a strong outside bet for to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the coun- in 2018.” Qatar is aiming to avoid becoming matches against the top two sides in Group C the smaller teams. Maybe we will suffer when Russia. Confidence was high after winning the try’s last chance to reach the finals before the first nation since Italy in 1934 to host the at the start of this week’s games, Hong Kong we play Bhutan but we will try and score an Gulf Cup in 2014, Qatar’s first trophy abroad, hosting the event four years later. World Cup without ever having played in the and China, within the next six weeks. early goal to open up the match.” Confidence where they beat neighbours Saudi Arabia 2-1 Speaking ahead of the AFC Group C match finals. So far in qualification they have a 100 Hong Kong play in China today. Carreno, among the 2022 hosts was boosted by a 4-0 in the final. But a poor Asian Cup-where they against Bhutan in Doha on Thursday, Qatar’s percent record, having played and won one who only took over as Qatar coach in June fol- friendly win against Singapore last week. were thrashed 4-1 by UAE, beaten 2-1 by first home game of the qualifiers, the affable game, a 1-0 victory in the Maldives. The three lowing the sacking of Algerian Djamel A convoluted qualification system means Bahrain and 1-0 by Iran-has dampened expec- Uruguayan said he was confident his team points though masked a poor performance Belmadi after a dismal showing in the Asian Qatar is aiming to be one of the group win- tations. would respond to the challenge. “Yes, definite- and the fact that Qatar only won in Male due Cup, said the key against Bhutan would be to ners or four best runners-up from the AFC’s However, if Qatar fails to qualify for Russia, ly there’s pressure but it’s a kind of pressure to a 99th minute goal. score early. “The Maldives was a good lesson eight groups of five teams. one happier lesson from history is that 1934 we enjoy,” he told reporters at a Doha press Thursday’s match against Bhutan-who lost for us that we will benefit from in the future,” These 12 will then be placed into two was not only Italy’s first finals but also the first conference. their first two qualifiers 7-0 and 6-0 — should said Carreno, the former coach of Qatar groups of six, with the first two in each group time the “Azzuri” won the World Cup. — AFP