THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018 19

Gelson Martins joins Atletico Madrid Mourinho wants two AFP | Madrid Boateng poised more new signings ortuguese winger Gel- Pson Martins will join Atletico Madrid from Lis- bon-based Sporting on a five-year deal as a free for PSG move agent, the Spanish club an- nounced yesterday. AFP | Berlin was suspended for the shock stumbling block to a possible The 23-year-old Portu- 2-0 defeat to South Korea, transfer for Boateng to Paris guese international was one ayern Munich centre-back which confirmed Germany’s is likely to be UEFA’s financial of nine players to quit Sport- BJerome Boateng could join exit after the group stages. fairplay rules, which forbids ing after they were attacked Paris Saint-Germain providing However, the burly cen - clubs from spending more than by fans, soem armed with the price is right, the German tre-back has hinted at his de- they earn. sticks, during a training ses- giants’ chairman Karl-Heinz sire to leave Bayern, who are In the last 12 months, French sion following their failure Rummenigge suggested yes- reportedly chasing Benjamin champions PSG, one of the to qualify for next season’s terday. Pavard, Vfb Stuttgart’s French world’s wealthiest clubs and Champions League. “There is no direct con - World Cup winner who can owned by Qatari shareholders, “His speed and fine drib- tact between the clubs at the play right-back or centre-back. bought Brazil star Neymar, for Jose Mourinho bling skills make him a val- moment, but there is contact “Basically, we have enough a world record 222 million eu- ued addition to our team between the agents, Jerome players in the position, both ros from Barcelona, and Kylian and a threat to the opposi- has two,” Rummenigge said in quantitatively and qualitative- Mbappe, for 180 million euros ESPN | Manchester strengthen before the Aug. tion’s defenders,” the club Philadelphia on Bayern’s tour ly,” said Rummenigge, in re - from Monaco. 9 deadline is right-back, de- said. of the USA. gards to Boateng, with Earlier this month, European anchester United man- spite an injury to Antonio “Now, we have to wait and see Bayern cen- football’s governing body UEFA Mager Jose Mourinho has Valencia. if we can find a base at the end tre-backs reopened a financial fair play said he wants two more play- The Ecuador international of the day to get together and Mats Hum- case against big-spending PSG ers before the transfer window was forced off with a calf in- Four candidates need to find a compensation mels and over the Neymar and Mbappe shuts but admits he may not jury during the 0-0 draw with that is acceptable to both sides,” Niklas Sue- transfers. get them. San Jose Earthquakes in Santa for Egypt national Rummenigge added. le both in United have signed Fred, Clara on Sunday and Mourin- coach job PSG’s German coach Thom- the Germa- Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant so ho does not think the 32-year- as Tuchel reportedly met with ny squad. far this summer but Mourin- old will be able to feature AFP | Cairo Boateng before the World Cup However, Jerome Boateng ho is still searching for new against AC Milan, Liverpool or in May, according to magazine the biggest additions. Real Madrid in the remaining The Egyptian Football As- Sport Bild. He would like to bring two tour games. sociation said it was choos- However, Bayern chairman more players to Old Trafford “I don’t think he will be ing the national team’s next Uli Hoeness said no formal ap- ahead of the new season but available to play any one of coach out of four candidates proach has yet been made. accepts it may be difficult. the three matches of the In- who are being considered “If there was a concrete offer, “One thing is what I would ternational Champions Cup,” by a committee. I would have been informed. like,” he told ESPN FC. “An- Mourinho said. “It’s not a mo- The candidates being That is not the case at the mo- other thing is what is going to ment to take any risks. Antonio considered are the Span- ment,” said the Bayern boss. happen.” is a player that’s not a young ish Quique Sanchez Flores, Boateng, a 2014 World Cup Asked directly how many boy anymore. We have to take Mexican coach Javier Agu- winner with Germany, is cur- new signings he would like, care of him and to try to have irre, Vahid Halilhodzic from rently valued at 45.5 million Mourinho said: “I would get him ready for the start of the Bosnia, and Colombia’s euros ($53.2 million). two more players.” season. Jorge Luis Pinto, the feder- He had a poor World Cup He went on to suggest he “We bought a fantastic play- ation said on Twitter. campaign after being sent off had two names in mind but re- er [Diego Dalot]. Young, 19 The candidates are being for two yellow cards in the last- fused to give any more details. years old, but I think probably considered by a committee gasp 2-1 win over Sweden and One position Mourin - the best right-back at that age comprising former Egyptian ho says he is not looking to in European football. football players Magdi Ab- delghani and Hazem Emam, and former international referee Essam Abdel-fattah, Ozil looks forward to friendlies the federation said. France’s Pavard Reuters | Singapore

rsenal’s Mesut Ozil avoided Cech says he’ll fight wins World Aany talk of the controver- sy surrounding his retirement for Arsenal spot from international football as the German midfielder opted to AFP | Singapore Cup goal of the focus on the club’s pre-season friendly tournament in Singa- etr Cech said on pore yesterday. PWednesday he was pre- The 29-year-old quit the na- pared to fight for his place tournament tional side on Sunday citing as Arsenal’s first-choice “racism and disrespect” due to goalkeeper and denied any his Turkish roots as key to the contact with Chelsea over decision after he was singled a return to Stamford Bridge. out for criticism when Germany Arsenal player Mesut Ozil (C) attends training session with team mates during The 36-year-old veteran’s bombed out of the recent World the pre-season tour for the International Champions Cup match in Singapore spot has come into ques - Cup in the group stages. tion after a patchy season Making his first public ap- last year, and following new pearance since his retirement manager Unai Emery’s sign- statement triggered a bad-tem- Ozil has ‘respect of every ing of Bernd Leno from Bay- pered debate in Germany about er Leverkusen. relations with its largest im- player’, says Arsenal boss But Cech, who lost his po- migrant community, Ozil was sition at Chelsea to Thibaut all smiles at a fan event in Sin- AFP | Singapore the World Cup in Russia. Cortois, said it was not first gapore. “We want to help all the time he had faced competi- “It’s very exciting to be in rsenal boss Unai Em - players and Mesut to feel here tion for number one jersey. Singapore. It’s our second Aery said Mesut Ozil has with us like he’s at home, like time here and we really enjoy nothing but respect from his a family,” Emery, who is in his coming,” he told a gathering team-mates after his decision first weeks as Arsenal coach, of Arsenal fans a day ahead of to quit Germany’s national said. Klopp hands a friendly against Atletico Ma- team claiming racism sparked “We are every player’s fam- Benjamin Pavard’s goal against Argentina drid at the National Stadium. uproar in his home country. ily and for him to work every Sturridge Liverpool They also play Paris St Germain Emery yesterday said Arse- day, to work well with his lifeline AFP | Paris with Argentina at 2-2 in the on Sunday. nal were taking pains to make team-mates, is good for us... 57th minute. “We are expecting good sure Ozil, 29, feels comforta- I’m very happy with him. I’m AFP | London rance right-back Benjamin France went on to win the matches against Paris St Ger- ble at the club as controversy looking at every player and I FPavard has won the 2018 game 4-3 before beating Cro- main and Atletico Madrid. They rages in Germany over his ac- think Mesut, he has here the urgen Klopp says Daniel World Cup goal of the tourna- atia in the final on July 15. are great teams with great play- rimonious walk-out following respect of every player.” JSturridge can be a “de- ment award for his stunning Pavard’s effort won a pub- ers, it’s a test for us to get ready cisive player” for Liverpool strike against Argentina, FIFA lic vote to be named the best for the new season, so it’s some- after impressive displays announced on Wednesday. of the 169 goals scored in the thing to look forward to.” he announced it through social first few training sessions with from injury-plagued striker The 22-year-old Stuttgart tournament, seeing off com- Ozil was also criticised for media. the club. in pre-season matches. defender ran onto a left-wing petition from Colombian meeting Turkish President Re- Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson “Training has been good and Sturridge, 28, went to cross from Lucas Hernan - midfielder Juan Quintero’s cep Tayyip Erdogan in May, and midfielder Alex Iwobi sat Emery has been a major in - West Brom on loan in Jan- dez and sent a right-footed free-kick against Japan and where the pair were photo - alongside Ozil at the fan event fluence to what we are doing uary but was injured early half-volley spinning into the Luka Modric’s goal in Croa- graphed holding up an Arsenal in Singapore with the former on the training ground,” the on and managed just six ap- top corner to level eventual tia’s group-stage thumping of shirt, and he has yet to com - admitting new coach Unai Em- 18-year-old England youth in- pearances. champions France’s last-16 tie Argentina. ment on his retirement since ery had been very active in his ternational said.