CYCLING | Page 4 NBA | Page 6 Kruijswijk Cavaliers keeps pink, rebound Trentin to rout wins stage Raptors Friday, May 27, 2016 FOOTBALL Sha'baan 20, 1437 AH Ronaldo fi t and GULF TIMES ready to fi re Real to more European glory SPORT Page 3 SPOTLIGHT Mourinho signs United contract Atletico will win Agencies fantastic time with him at Inter and London we said when I left that we might work together again,” he said. Asked whether he had spoken to ose Mourinho has signed Mourinho in the past week, Ibrahi- a contract to take over as Man- movic answered: “I have spoken to chester United’s manager, with Mourinho every day since I left Inter. Champions League the club expected to make a We talk a lot. He is the man to bring Jformal announcement today. Manchester United back to the top. If The Portuguese and his agent, you want action, you get Mourinho. Jorge Mendes, have been in talks He is a winner.” with Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice-chairman, throughout the week and the 53-year-old finally put pen to paper yesterday. fi nal, predicts Xavi The length of the contract is believed to be three years and Mourinho travelled to Manchester ‘They deserve it because of the work they are doing. Of course it is yesterday to take off icial photographs for the announcement. not the philosophy of play that I like the most, because they speculate Manchester United sacked Louis van Gaal on Monday after two largely and wait in defence, but I think this is the moment of Atletico Madrid’ unsuccessful years at Old Traff ord, giving Mourinho the chance to take over at the club that had been his first choice since he left Chelsea in December last year. The Portuguese has already dis- cussed transfer targets with the Old Traff ord hierarchy with Andre Gomes, John Stones, Alvaro Morata, Mauro Icardi high on the manager’s wish list. Mourinho will have a minimum of £150m to spend on new players with Zlatan Ibrahimovic a potential signing on a free transfer. United have already held initial talks with the 34-year-old Sweden striker but both parties want to have a bit more time before they make a decision. Zlatan said yesterday that he had “concrete off ers from clubs in England as well as Italy and from sides outside Europe” and talked of his admiration for Mourinho. “I had a FOOTBALL All four international recruits to stay with Al Rayyan next season By Sports Reporter son,” he informed. Doha “Uruguayan player Gonzalo Viei- ra, whose contract ended after one season, there is an agreement to ex- fter a great season, QSL tend his contract and we wish him champions Al Rayyan have and all the players luck in the coming further reasons to cheer for season,” he added. the coming season. He said the coach will take a call AYesterday, the club announced on the local players. “We are wait- that it had secured the services of ing for the vision of the coach to see their four foreign players for the next which players he needs for the next season. The team will be heading to season. We are here to support his vi- Spain for a training camp from July sion. We would also like to thank the 28 to August 20. fans for their support this season and After winning the Falcon Shield, we hope the same kind of support to and winning the maximum number spur us on again next season.” of awards at the Qatar Football As- Ali Salem further informed that sociation awards ceremony earlier the club will hold its training camp in this month, the club’s Head of Foot- Spain. “The camp will take place in hen Xavi Hernandez sits philosophy of play that I like the most, Modric, Isco, James, Bale, Cristiano, “This has been shown in China with ball, Ali Salem Afi fa, told QSL that Spain and it will be from the 28th of down to talk about foot- because they speculate and wait in de- Benzema… All of them are spectacular their investment in players. The Chi- he’s expecting the 2016-17 season to July until the 20th of August. There ball, he gestures with the fence, but I think this is the moment of players and we will see a fantastic fi nal. nese push has surprised me, it is very be a tough one. will be some friendly games as well as same precision, passion Atletico Madrid. I will watch it at home in Barcelona, and strong and they are going above eco- “The 2015-16 season was a very technical and physical training. The Wand rhythm he once passed with on “Football always gives you a second am looking forward to it.” nomic levels even of Europe. So I think special season for our club. Al Rayy- team will start its training in Qatar some of the most important football chance, and it is the same fi nal as two Having recently concluded his fi rst Asian sides can compete in the future an won the league after 21 years and from the 10th of July.” pitches in the world. years ago in Lisbon. Now we have the season in Qatar, Xavi said he would also with European clubs at the FIFA Club broke many records in the QSL,” he Football is all in the mind, he ex- fi nal in Milan and I think this is the time love to lift the Asian equivalent of the World Cup.” said. “I am expecting the next season plains. Control, control, control. Pass, of Atletico Madrid.” continental club competition. Although the legendary Catalan mid- to be more diffi cult, and we must pre- Qatar juniors down pass, pass. A hand motion to his head is The midfi elder, who has played and “Why not in the future win an Asian fi elder has started to develop his coach- pare in the best way since Al Rayyan Stade de Reims 2-0 followed by a number of swift sideways scored in numerous El Clasico matches, Champions League with Al Sadd? It is ing side at Qatar’s Aspire Academy, he are going to be participating in the movements left and right, replicating added that Real Madrid have the slight very diffi cult, the Chinese and the Japa- insists his ambitions on the pitch are AFC Champions League next season.” atar junior football team beat his irrepressible distribution of the ball advantage of more fi nal experience to nese compete there. There are Iranian not yet over. He is still looking to add On whether there are going to be QFrench side Stade de Reims to his teammates. draw upon: “The favourite in terms of sides, the Saudis and the Emiratis. They further titles to the 28 trophies he has any changes in the squad for next 2-0 in a friendly match in Paris on Those same hands have also lifted the history could be Real Madrid, as they are teams with a lot of history behind amassed with Barcelona and Spain. season, Ali Salem said: “We have re- Wednesday. Coached by Oscar Cano, greatest trophies in the game—includ- have more experience in fi nals and these them and an economic level which is “I never got tired of lifting trophies,” newed (coach Jorge) Fossati’s con- the squad is in France to prepare for ing the 2015 UEFA Champions League situations. So they have the edge in that important, but why not Al Sadd in the he says, smiling. “I am competitive by tract. He will provide the club with his the AFC Under-19 Championship to fi nal, in Berlin, as the winning captain regard. But I still believe and think that future again?” Xavi asks. nature and I like to win. I love to com- needs in terms of players and it will be be played in Bahrain this October. of FC Barcelona. it will be Atletico Madrid this time.” The 2010 FIFA World Cup and two- pete and I have had the luck to be in Bar- co-ordinated with the club board.” Qatar are the defending champions “I believe that Atletico will take home Discussing some of the players he time UEFA European Championship celona for so many years and win a lot of He added that the club would be of the event when they beat North Ko- the trophy,” said Xavi, in an interview most enjoys watching from each side winner also feels he has witnessed a sig- trophies—in the Spanish national team retaining its four international play- rea in the fi nal in Myanmar in October with www.sc.qa in Qatar, as he looked in tomorrow’s fi nal, Xavi added: “In nifi cant improvement in Asian football. as well with one of the best generations ers. “The four international players 2014. Bassam Hissam and Ahmed al- ahead to tomorrow’s fi nal in Milan be- Atletico Madrid’s team you have Koke, “I think there has been important im- Spain has seen. will be returning including Spain’s Mohannadi scored the two goals for tween Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. Saul, Griezmann, Fernando Torres… provement in Asian football in the last few “We won so many titles and trophies, Sergio Garcia, Paraguayan Caceres, the Qatar juniors. Coach Cano made “I think this is the moment of Atletico.” These are players with natural talent years, and it will keep growing because and I was privileged in that regard and I South Korean Koo Myung and Uru- numerous changes to the squad to “They deserve it because of the work who can change a match in a moment.