Ronaldo on bench as Juve warm up for Atletico clash
MILAN: Cristiano Ronaldo is set for a rare start on the bench as Juventus host struggling Frosinone on Friday looking to pull 14 points clear in Serie A with an eye towards next week’s Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid.
Portuguese star Ronaldo brought his tally to 20 goals for Juventus in all competitions last weekend in a 3-0 win over Sassuolo. But the 34-year-old will start on the bench for just the second time this season before the former Real Madrid star returns to the Spanish capital next week.
Paulo Dybala returns to the starting line-up, forming an attacking trident alongside Mario Mandzukic and Federico Bernardeschi. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri’s defensive problems have been eased with trio Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini back training. Juventus captain Chiellini is expected to return on Friday.
BLATTER SUMMONED IN 2006 WORLD CUP PROBE
LAUSANNE: Sepp Blatter has been summoned to explain how Germany was awarded the 2006 World Cup as prosecutors in Switzerland investigate suspected corruption in the bidding process, the disgraced former FIFA supremo said Thursday.
Swiss authorities are targeting Franz Beckenbauer, former captain and coach of the German World Cup winning sides, who was president of the German 2006 bid, with a suspect 6.7 million euros payment at the heart of the investigation. Currently serving a six-year ban from football Blatter will meet the Berne prosecutor, who has been working oin the case for two years, on March 28.
BALE CHARGED WITH INCITING DERBY FANS
MADRID:GARETH Bale risks being banned for an upcoming Clasico against Barcelona after being reported by La Liga on Thursday for inciting Atletico Madrid supporters following his goal in Real Madrid’s 3-1 derby win last week. Bale scored Real’s third goal after coming on as a secondhalf substitute in the game at the Wanda Metropolitano, but he is accused of an overly provocative goal celebration in response to jeers from home fans.
UNITED CONFIRM HUGE PAY-OFF TO MOURINHO
LONDON: Manchester United revealed on Thursday that sacking Jose Mourinho cost the club nearly £20 million.
The sum of £19.6 million ($25 million) which is listed under “exceptional items” in the club’s second-quarter results, includes pay-outs for the members of Mourinho’s staff who left with him after he was sacked in December. The fortunes of the Premier League club have been transformed since Solskjaer took the helm as interim boss.
BARCA USING LOAN TO FINANCE OPERATIONS
BARCELONA: Spanish champions Barcelona have used an investment fund to help their finance operations, an attempt to compete with clubs such as Manchester City and Paris St Germain funded by Gulf money, a club source said on Wednesday.
The financing through investment funds is unprecedented in Spanish soccer and uncommon in the international game.
The source told Reuters that Barca had received a financing package of 140 million euros last year from Pricoa Capital Group and Barings, to be paid back in five years. He said 90 million euros came for Pricoa and 50 million from Barings. “This is a rolling fund which is perfect for the club because it has very low.” interest rates,” the source said.