Premier League newboys Cardiff City have broken their transfer record for a third time in a matter of weeks by striking a deal with Sevilla for Chile midfielder Gary Medel.
Cardiff said the 26-year-old had agreed a four-year deal, subject to obtaining a work permit, but did not say how much they paid for their record signing.
British media reported a fee of £11 million.
“We’re delighted to have secured the services of Gary – a tenacious and intelligent international midfielder,” Cardiff manager Malky Mackay told the club’s website.
Dominant Porto claim Super Cup
First-half goals from Lica, Jackson Martinez and Lucho Gonzalez handed champions Porto an easy 3-0 win over cup holders Vitoria de Guimaraes in Aveiro to lift the Portuguese Super Cup on Saturday night.
Porto seized their fifth consecutive Super Cup and first trophy under new coach Paulo Fonseca with a commanding performance.
The almost 30,000 fans at the packed Aveiro stadium were treated to a series of flowing attacking plays from Porto that also made the most of some lax defending.
PSV wonderkid Bakkali hits three
PSV Eindhoven’s 17-year-old wunderkind striker Zakaria Bakkali capped an unforgettable week with a brilliant hat-trick as the 1988 European Cup winners thumped NEC Nijmegen 5-0 in the Dutch championship.
Three days after the Belgian scored his first goal for PSV on his senior debut for the club in a Champions League third round qualifying match, Bakkali repaid the faith of manager Phillip Cocu by finding the back of the net in the sixth, 47th and 82nd minutes.
“He (Bakkali) played a very strong game today. I’m very happy about his development in the first team of PSV Eindhoven,” Cocu told FOX Sports.
Remy to miss Newcastle opener
Newcastle United’s on-loan striker Loic Remy will miss his side’s opening Premier League clash with Manchester City on Aug. 19 due to injury, manager Alan Pardew said yesterday.
“Remy has a calf injury,” Pardew told Newcastle’s Evening Chronicle.
“It’s just a strain but it’s an area that is stopping him from running at the moment. We need to get some work into him.”
Remy linked up with Newcastle on a season-long loan from Queens Park Rangers last week, having scored six goals in 14 appearances for the west London club who were relegated to the Championship last season.
Fabregas out of Spain friendly
Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas has dropped out of the squad visiting Ecuador for a friendly this week after injuring his ankle, the world and European champions said yesterday.
Fabregas twisted ligaments in his right ankle during Barca’s pre-season 3-1 friendly win over a Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
The Spanish champions did not say how long the midfielder would be out of action but he is a doubt for their La Liga opener at home to Levante next Sunday.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque will not call up a replacement and the team will travel to Guayaquil for Wednesday's game with a squad of 20.
Marcelo makes Hannover switch
Hannover have confirmed the signing of Brazilian defender Marcelo from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
The 26-year-old centre-back, who has also played for Polish side Wisla Krakow and Santos in Brazil, will have his first training session with the Bundesliga side tomorrow.
Hannover coach Mirko Slomka told the club’s official website: “Marcelo was a regular starter at PSV Eindhoven and has the qualities that you look for in a modern-day central defender: consistent tackling, physical presence and good play from the back.”
“I’m delighted he’s decided to join 96.”
Kiessling has a future – Bierhoff
Stefan Kiessling could still play for Germany at next summer’s World Cup, according to the Germany national team general manager Oliver Bierhoff.
Despite finishing last season as the Bundesliga’s top goalscorer with 25 goals, the Bayer Leverkusen forward has not appeared for the national team in over three years.
“It always hurts to see players making a name for themselves, but not really making the step into the national team,” Bierhoff told Sky television.
“During my time, that was Martin Max. Joachim Loew has said that all of the doors are open and it’s up to the player to force his way in.”