David Beckham and his teenage son Brooklyn were involved in a car crash outside Arsenal’s training ground in Hertfordshire, north of London, but did not suffer any injuries, according to a source close to Beckham.
“David and Brooklyn did not suffer any injuries and as I understand it both passengers in the other vehicle were unharmed. David and Brooklyn were shaken by the accident but thankfully OK,” added the source, who declined to be named.
The Telegraph newspaper said Beckham, 39, the former England captain, was picking up his 15-year-old son when his Audi RS6 was involved in a collision with another car but were saved by the deployment of the car’s airbags.
Pele improving
Brazilian legend Pele’s health continued to improve yesterday, with doctors removing renal support temporarily to assess the evolution of a urinary tract infection.
The 74-year-old three-time World Cup champion was put on kidney support treatment last week. In a statement, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein said the treatment would be suspended until today, when doctors would decide whether or not to reinstate it.
The statement said that Pele, who is often called the greatest soccer player in history, was “lucid, talking”, and that his respiratory and blood readings were stable.
Depor fan killed before Atletico game
A Deportivo La Coruna supporter has died after he was injured when dozens of rival fans clashed near the stadium before the club’s La Liga match at Atletico Madrid yesterday.
The 43-year-old Depor fan, who was not identified by name, had to be fished out of the freezing Manzanares river near Atletico’s Calderon stadium and suffered cardiac arrest, hypothermia and head injuries, emergency services said.
Hospital sources later said he had died shortly after 2 pm after failing to respond to efforts to revive him.
Atletico and Spain’s professional soccer league (LFP) condemned the violence.
Okaka attracts German interest
Sampdoria striker Stefan Okaka could move to the Bundesliga after reports said that two German clubs were preparing to table an offer for the Italy international.
Okaka is currently in talks with Sampdoria over a new contract as his deal expires in June 2016.
But the Corriere dello Sport yesterday said that there is great interest from two Bundesliga sides for the player.
Although the identity of the clubs are unknown, the report states the deal would be worth €8m plus a huge wage boost for the player.
I needed a goal, says Van Persie
Robin van Persie felt he was back in business after capping Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Hull with a superb final goal.
The Dutchman struck for the first time in a month as he netted United’s third in a one-sided encounter at Old Trafford.
Van Persie’s form had been the subject of heavy scrutiny ahead of the game after an ineffectual display at Arsenal the previous week.
But manager Louis van Gaal kept faith with his compatriot and was rewarded as Van Persie wrong-footed James Chester on the edge of the area and rifled a left-footed shot into the roof of the net after 66 minutes.
“If you score a goal like that it gives you confidence and the team, and if I am really honest I needed that,” said Van Persie.
“You just have to keep working and those goals, or any goals, will come.”
Fuchs questions Di Matteo tactics
Schalke defender Christian Fuchs has questioned the strategy used by coach Roberto Di Matteo for their 5-0 defeat to Chelsea in midweek.
Di Matteo got it right on Saturday with Schalke defeating Mainz 4-1 in the Bundesliga, but Fuchs says he does not know why the Italian had to change things for their Champions League tie against his former club.
“I feel really good playing in a 3-5-2 formation,” Fuchs said, responding to the question as to why Schalke had played differently on Wednesday.
“Good question. He must have had his ideas, but it didn’t work. We can only learn from that.”
Bayern keen on long Guardiola stay
Bayern Munich are keen to extend the contract of their coach Pep Guardiola, although chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insists there is no rush.
Guardiola is contracted to the Bavarians until 2016 but talks have yet to commence on a renewal.
That is because Rummenigge does not expect Guardiola to commit so soon, even though he remains optimistic that the Catalan will have a long and prosperous future with the record German champions.
“He’s the best coach Bayern Munich could have had,” Rummenigge said.
“I hope he stays a long time with us. I know him and I know he is not the sort of person who likes to renew his contract early or places much value in a long-term deal.”