Juventus set to unveil Ronaldo
TURIN: Cristiano Ronaldo has landed in Turin ahead of his official unveiling as Juventus’ superstar summer signing on Monday afternoon, the Serie A champions announced on Sunday.
“Now arriving in Turin: @Cristiano!” the club wrote on its Twitter account, alongside a photo of Ronaldo with his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez in front of the private jet that brought him to Italy at Turin’s Caselle airport.
Juventus then posted a video of the plane landing and the player disembarking with his entourage before being whisked off by club officials in a car with blacked-out windows.
Ronaldo was expected to land in Italy on Monday morning after surprising the world and asking for a 100 million-euro ($116 million) move from European champions Real Madrid, with daily Repubblica reporting that as many as 20,000 fans were expected to greet him at the airport.
However Ronaldo, who won four of the last five Champions Leagues with his former club, will now head for the Allianz Stadium for medicals on Monday before facing journalists’ questions at a media conference scheduled for 2200 IST.
There the five-time Ballon d’or winner will sign a four-year contract worth a reported 30 million euros a season in a deal that Italian media says will cost Juventus a total of 350 million euros.
ROONEY MAKES TRIUMPHANT MLS DEBUT
WASHINGTON: England career goals leader Wayne Rooney was thrilled at his triumphant Major League Soccer debut Saturday, assisting on a goal in DC United’s 3-1 victory over Vancouver.
The 32-year-old striker, star attraction in the opening match for United’s new 20,000-seat stadium, entered in the 58th minute.
Former Manchester United star Rooney helped set up Paul Arriola’s goals in the 69th and 80th minutes after Argentine midfielder Yamil Asad provided United the lead for good in the 27th minute.
“Excellent. It was a great victory,” Rooney said. “I thought we played some fantastic football. It was a big night for the club opening the stadium and it was important to get the win.”
Rooney, who played for hometown Everton last year, signed a 3 1/2-year deal worth $13 million with United on Tuesday.