Real Madrid have struck a deal to sell merchandise online via the Chinese platform Alibaba, the club confirmed yesterday.
“We have strengthened still more our bond with the country through this agreement with Alibaba, a globally recognised leader in online commerce,” Real president Florentino Perez said.
“It allows us to launch the official Real Madrid shop in China for over 600 million Chinese consumers online.”
Real are at the start of a pre-season tour of China where they will play friendlies against Inter today and Milan on Thursday.
Panama finish third at Gold Cup
Goalkeeper Luis Mejia saved three penalties in the shootout to help Panama stun the United States in the third place playoff at the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday after the sides had ground out a 1-1 stalemate in Pennsylvania.
The US survived repeated waves of attack by Panama during both regulation and extra-time to set up the penalty shootout.
Each team converted their first two penalties before Mejia stonewalled the Americans on their next three.
He made a diving stop against US captain Michael Bradley, then blocked DaMarcus Beasley’s final attempt to end the match.
West Brom make Diaby offer
West Brom have offered a contract to Abou Diaby, whose injury-hit career at Arsenal has been described by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger as his biggest regret.
Diaby, 29, was released by the Gunners when his contract expired during the summer having been hit by a number of injuries over the last four years.
The France international managed just two appearances over the previous two seasons but has been offered a Premier League lifeline by the Baggies – with head coach Tony Pulis confirming an offer is on the table for the former Auxerre midfielder.
“The big thing with Abou is getting him fit and having the confidence from the medical team to do that,” he said.
Lampard to miss All-Star match
Frank Lampard will miss Major League Soccer’s All-Star Game as a calf injury continues to delay his debut for New York City FC.
Major League Soccer announced on Saturday night that Lampard had been replaced by New York Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty in the squad to face Tottenham in Colorado on Wednesday night.
Lampard was selected for the All-Star Game along with the LA Galaxy’s Steven Gerrard, with the pair named in commissioner Don Garber’s selections for the game despite the fact that Gerrard had at the time played only 45 minutes of a friendly for the Galaxy.
Motta hopes to leave Paris SG
Thiago Motta is hoping to leave Paris St Germain for Atletico Madrid before the summer is out but admits his future is not in his hands.
The 32-year-old Italy midfielder is contracted with PSG for one more season but is angling for a move to Spain as soon as possible.
“The club knows my will is to leave,” he told L’Equipe.
“We have talked, we continue to talk. In the end, it will be (PSG owner) Nasser Al-Khelaifi who will decide my future. I play on, but it is important I am honest and sincere. My will is to leave.
“With dialogue, we will find a solution,” he added. “It is not necessary (to force anything). We are men and we can talk quietly. I am convinced that we can find a solution for the good of everyone.”
Aubameyang not leaving Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has dismissed speculation linking him with a move away from the Bundesliga club this summer by insisting he is happy in Dortmund.
Aubameyang has been linked with a return to Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain or a move to Arsenal, but after scoring in a 2-0 friendly win over Juventus on Saturday, the Gabon international said he is going nowhere.
“You can take it for granted that I am not going to waste any time thinking about giving up how happy I am at Borussia, in the city of Dortmund and with this team,” he said
“If I didn’t believe that I could win titles with Dortmund, then I wouldn’t be here.”
Schalke sign striker Di Santo
Schalke have completed the signing of Franco Di Santo from Bundesliga rivals Werder Bremen after activating a release clause in the player’s contract.
Di Santo left Bremen on Saturday morning after that clause was activated. He underwent a medical and was officially unveiled as a Schalke player later on in the evening, in time to link up with his new team-mates for a three-day training camp which started yesterday.
The former Chelsea and Wigan striker could make his debut in a friendly against Porto tonight.