Property giant Dalian Wanda Group Co said it would buy a stake in Spanish champions Atletico Madrid for €45 million, becoming the first Chinese company to invest in a premier European football club.
Dalian Wanda said it had agreed to buy a 20 per cent share in Atletico, as China’s biggest property group seeks to expand overseas and diversify its business away from a weak domestic real estate market.
The deal is likely to be a boon for Atletico which has racked up debts of more than €500m.
Arsenal complete Bielik signing
Arsenal have signed teenage midfielder Krystian Bielik from Legia Warsaw.
The Premier League club confirmed the move for the 17-year-old on their official website, with a fee in the region of £2.5 million said to have been agreed.
Poland youth international Bielik, who also had talks with German club Hamburg, is ex-pected to work initially within the Gunners’ U-21s side, with a view to a swift progression through to the senior squad.
Bielik, who made his senior debut for Legia at the age of 16, has made six appearances for the club, and can play in both midfield and defence.
Gervinho hit with two-match ban
Ivory Coast striker Gervinho will play no further part in the group stage of the African Nations Cup after he was banned for two matches for striking an opponent, the Confederation of African Football said last night.
The forward received a straight red card after landing a blow on Guinea defender Naby Keita in the second half of their Group D match in Malabo on Tuesday.
He will miss pool matches with Mali on Saturday and Cameroon next Wednesday.
“I would like to apologise to the Ivory Coast nation, my team-mates, the fans and the African Nations Cup organisers for this gesture of anger. It is not like me and does not have its place on a football pitch,” he said via his official account.
Pep contract
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insists there is no rush in renewing the contract of coach Pep Guardiola.
The Spaniard still has 18 months left to run on his current deal, but Rummenigge says talks over an extension may not start until the end of the year.
“I’ve told him that I’m not going to ask him in the coming months about his contract,” Rummenigge said.
“We’re not going to do anything before the summer and then maybe we’ll talk in the second half of 2015.”
Guardiola led Bayern to a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in his first season at the club.
Mou jokes about Gerrard loan deal
Jose Mourinho has joked that he might make a bid to sign Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard on loan when he leaves for the United States at the end of the season.
Gerrard announced at the beginning of the year that he would leave Anfield when his contract expired in July to join MLS champions LA Galaxy.
When asked if he would try to sign Gerrard, Mourinho said: “Or to get him on loan.
“I’m not happy he leaves. I would love the Premier League to keep always the best players.
“I think he has more than enough quality to play here. In spite (of the fact) he’s my opponent, I feel sorry that he’s leaving England.”
Juventus win appeal over Adrian Mutu
Juventus have claimed they will not have to pay Chelsea compensation in the Adrian Mutu case after having an appeal upheld by the CAS for Sport yesterday.
FIFA ruled in 2013 that Juventus and Livorno had to contribute some of the £14 million owed by Mutu to Chelsea for a breach of contract.
The London club released Mutu in 2004 following the Romanian striker’s positive drug test and sought compensation.
Mutu joined Juve after being let go by Chelsea, with Livorno also involved in the transfer, and both Italian clubs immediately appealed the FIFA ruling.
Mutu, now 36, lost all of his appeals in a legal battle with Chelsea which has lasted more than 10 years. He announced his retirement from football earlier this month.
Dortmund’s Klopp happy to stay up
Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp admits he would be content just to stay in the Bundesliga this season.
Klopp has given up hope of qualifying for the Champions League following an awful first half of the campaign for his side.
They head into the second half of the season in the bottom two and with 12 points to make up fourth-placed Borussia Moen-chengladbach.
“I’m not at all interested (in the Champions League),” Klopp said.
“As things stand right now, I would have no problem just staying up and then being able to train a lot next season.”