14 Thursday, June 6, 2019 Sports Al Arabi sign German striker Buffon looking for ‘new challenges’ in Italy after PSG exit AFP who won the World Cup in PARIS 2006 and is Italy’s most-capped Lasogga on three-year deal player with 176 appearances, GIANLUIGI Buffon said did not say he would retire as a TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK of Al Arabi Club, said that Wednesday that he will return player and did not specify what DOHA the signing of the German to Italy after agreeing to leave challenges he was seeking. Lasogga, is an important Paris Saint-Germain at the end “Ernest Hemingway wrote AL Arabi have announced step to achieve the aspira- of the month, with the World that there are only two places in the signing of German strik- tions of the fans of the Ara- Cup winner looking for “new the world where people can live er Pierre-Michel Lasogga on bi club in the future, as the challenges” in his home country happily: at home and in Paris. a three-year deal, the club player has the qualities of a after a year in the French capital. Today onwards, this will also tweeted on Tuesday. good striker. Ligue 1 champions PSG had apply to me: Paris, in some way, Lasogga who recently The president also announced earlier that both will always remain my home,” A file photo of PSG’s Gianluigi Buffon gestures during the UEFA Cham- played for Bundesliga 2 side wished Lasogga success with club and player had agreed not he wrote in a statement pub- pions League match against Manchester United. (REUTERS) Hamburger SV, is Al Arabi’s the team next season, stress- to renew the former Italy cap- lished on PSG’s website. second signing of the sum- ing that the future is bright tain’s contract, which expires on Buffon joined PSG last net that contains just about eve- past season was a poor one for mer following the arrival of for Al Arabi club. June 30, after an underwhelm- summer after ending a trophy- ry honour in football. both Buffon and a team with Iceland’s skipper Aron Gun- The 27-year-old attacker ing spell between the PSG sticks. packed 17-year career at Italian However the Champions lofty ambitions on the Euro- narsson. played 27 matches last season “Today my adventure out- giants Juventus and played 25 League has eluded him despite pean stage. Al Arabi, under former for Hamburg and found the side Italy ends: PSG offered me times in all competitions last him spending the bulk of his They missed out on both Iceland World Cup coach back of the net 13 times. La- a contract renewal that I didn’t season, winning the Ligue 1 title career at Juve, one of Europe’s domestic cup competitions and Heimir Hallgrímsson, fin- Pierre-Michel Lasogga sogga also spend the 2017/18 feel it was right to sign given my and the curtain raiser Champi- biggest clubs, and it was hoped most importantly were dumped ished last season in sixth- season on loan with English desire for new experiences and ons Trophy. that he might break his duck out of the Champions League place and the Dream Team Commenting on the new Championship side Leeds professional challenges,” the This season’s league title with the Parisians. by Manchester United, blowing will hope to challenge for the signing, Sheikh Khalifa bin United where he scored 10 41-year-old wrote on Instagram. was the 10th of Buffon’s career, However despite winning a 2-0 first-leg lead to go out on title next season. Hamad al Thani, President goals in 31 appearances. The veteran goalkeeper, adding to a bulging trophy cabi- the league at a canter, the away goals. Johansson, architect of UEFA Alexander-Arnold still on cloud nine Champion League, dies at 89 ahead of Nations trophy to AIK - his favourite The former UEFA club. Born in a working class boss, was one of the family in the Stockholm sub- League semis urb of Bromma, Johansson drivers behind the at age 12 showed his organi- transformation and zational skills when he and REUTERS some friends formed a sports PORTO, PORTUGAL On a high! rebranding of the club to play several team sports, including football. LIVERPOOL full back I’m obviously still on a European Cup into He was later involved Trent Alexander-Arnold, massive high, it’s a the UCL in 1992 at AIK, heading the club’s still on a high from becom- dream come true and board from 1967 to 1980, and ing a Champions League it’s something that you DPA was Swedish Football Associ- winner, is hoping for more always want to do. You STOCKHOLM ation chairman between 1985 celebrations as he prepares and 1990. for Thursday’s Nations never think that it LENNART Johansson, the Johansson’s down- League semi-final against could actually be longest serving president of to-earth style was hailed the Netherlands. possible, but to have a European football’s govern- when he was voted into the The 20-year-old, who major trophy under the ing body UEFA, has died, the Swedish Football Hall of played a key role in Liver- belt now is massive Swedish Football Association Fame in 2007. pool’s sixth European Cup said Wednesday. But controversy also success, is battling with and hopefully we’ll be Johansson passed away dogged Johansson. He was Manchester City’s Kyle able to push on for peacefully on Tuesday at age widely criticized in 2005 for Walker for the right back club and country and 89, it added. his views on women’s football spot in Gareth Southgate’s get some more. He served as UEFA presi- when he said that “sweaty” team. dent from 1990 to 2007, and girls sell. After the 2-0 triumph Liverpool & England was one of the drivers be- He also denied accusa- over Tottenham Hotspur in hind the transformation and tions of corruption. Madrid and then enjoying right-back rebranding of the European UEFA said a moment of Liverpool’s open-top bus Trent Alexander-Arnold Cup into the UEFA Champi- silence will be observed at celebration, the defender ons League in 1992. all UEFA matches this week met up with his England “Lennart Johansson is our to mark his passing. The Na- team mates at St George’s looking strong after fail- greatest international football tions League semi-finals and Park on Tuesday before fly- ing to qualify for last year’s leader of all time, no Swed- a slew of Euro 2020 qualifiers ing out to Portugal and he World Cup. ish national has had a similar are due to take place. says he was given a great Defender Virgil van influence on world football,” “He was a devoted lover welcome in the camp. Dijk, who was man of the Swedish Football Association and servant of football, who “The reception has been match in Madrid, and mid- chairman Karl-Erik Nilsson A file photo of Lennart Johansson during the ceremony of UEFA Champions league draw in Monte Carlo, put his passion at the heart unbelievable. They’re really fielder Georginio Wijnal- said in a statement. Monaco in 2003. (EPA-EFE) of his life,” UEFA president happy for us and positive. dum are both in Ronald 1992 was also the year Aleksander Ceferin said. For the Tottenham lads it Koeman’s squad for the Johansson’s native Sweden “It brings everyone at friends, family and the wider graced Joseph Blatter. “He will always be re- must be tough for them, Nations League final four. hosted the European champi- UEFA tremendous sadness world of football. A huge loss As a tribute to Johansson, membered as a visionary but they’ve come and con- “It’s an incredibly tough onship where Denmark won to learn of the death of our to the game.” Johansson also the Swedish Football Associa- leader, and as the architect of gratulated us and were one game. Even if I didn’t know the title after a surprise win former president, Lennart served as vice president of tion in 2001 created the Len- the UEFA Champions League, of the first to do it,” he said. them both personally, over Germany. Denmark se- Johansson,” UEFA said in a world football’s ruling body nart Johansson Trophy for the and world football will be al- “Even if it was the other you’d still know that the cured a berth after Yugoslavia statement. FIFA, but failed in a 1998 bid Swedish league champions. ways be grateful to him for all way round you have to put Netherlands are coming was dropped from the tourna- “Our thoughts and con- for the FIFA presidency when In November 2018, Johans- he has achieved for the beau- what happened with our back to where they once ment due to the Balkan wars. dolences are with Lennart’s he was beaten by the later dis- son was able to present the tiful game.” clubs to one side and focus were. on winning something for “They play some re- your country. ally good football, they’ve “We’re a team now, a got a really good squad, Eriksen ready to few days ago we weren’t, really young and exciting. CAF orders replay of abandoned African but now we are so we need It’s a bit similar to us in the to recognise that and if we terms of the way they are leave Spurs for pull together for the same going about things and it’s Champions League final at neutral venue aim then we’ve got a great exciting to see,” he said.