WORLD OF SPORT

Wagner happy with No 2 shirt at Bayern Munich

When you think of striker’s traditional numbers in football, the ones that jump out are usually Nos 9, 10 or even 7. But German striker Sandro Wagner, 30, will be going for something a little more unorthodox after he completed his move to join Bayern Munich from Hoffenheim on a twoand-a-half deal yesterday. Wagner, who was a youth player at Bayern until he joined Duisburg in 2008, will be wearing the No 2 shirt for his new employers. That is a shirt number normally associated with the right-back in a team, but Wagner said it is appropriate for his situation. “There weren’t many numbers available,” he said. “The 2 was one of the numbers offered to me. Unfortunately 14 was taken, as that’s my favourite number. I think 2 is quite appropriate. It’s my second spell here so it’s a nice number. I’m looking forward to wearing it and I hope it brings me luck.” As to making the move back to where he had begun his footballing career, Wagner said: “Bayern are the best club in Germany and one of the best in the world. When I got the offer, I didn’t have to think about it for long.” ▷▷▷

Balotelli would play for Manchester City for free

Italian striker Mario Balotelli has revealed he would return to play for former club Manchester City for free. The 27-year-old has scored 16 goals in 21 games in his second season at Ligue 1 side Nice, but hankers for big trophies again. “My aim is to return to a big club to win something important again,” Balotelli told yesterday’s Gazzetta dello

Sport. “I’d like to get back to having a strong squad behind me. I want to play in the [Uefa] Champions League and win something.” He added that a return to City would appeal because, “I had my best season there and there’s a unique atmosphere at the club. I’d return to play there even without a salary.”

Snubbing rivals leads to charges for Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon have been charged by the English Football League (EFL) after they failed to refer to bitter foes Milton Keynes Dons by their full name during their League One match in September. The two clubs share a bitter rivalry with AFC Wimbledon being formed in 2002 by Wimbledon FC supporters who were angry at the Football Association’s decision to relocate the club to Milton Keynes. The rivals first met in the League One in March and again in September, with Wimbledon referring to their opponents as “MK” or “Milton Keynes” in their match-day programmes and scoreboards, leading to a probe and now action by the EFL.