MANCHESTER UNITED
English Premier League giants Manchester United have agreed a deal for Sporting Lisbon’s Argentine international defender Marcos Rojo with Nani heading in the other direction, the Portuguese club announced on Tuesday.
Sporting said in a statement that the two clubs had agreed a transfer fee of EU€20 million (Dh97.7m) with Nani returning to his former team on a season-long loan as part of the deal.
United followed suit later Tuesday with a brief statement on their website confirming the move.
“Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached an agreement with Sporting Lisbon to sign defender Marcos Rojo, subject to a medical and agreeing personal terms,” it read.
“A further announcement will be made when the process is complete.”
The 24-year-old Rojo, who can play in both central defence and at left-back, was one of Argentina’s standout performers at the World Cup in Brazil where he helped his country reach the final before losing to Germany.
He spent the past two seasons at Sporting having joined from Spartak Moscow in July 2012.
Nani, 27, returns to Portugal seven years after leaving Sporting for Old Trafford.
BENFICA
Brazilian international goalkeeper Julio Cesar has joined Portuguese side Benfica after being released by English Premier League outfit Queens Park Rangers, the Portuguese club announced on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old – who had a mixed World Cup being hailed for his performance in the penalty shootout win over Chile in the last-16 but conceded seven in the semi-final thrashing by Germany – has signed a two-year contract with the Lisbon club, having had his contract in London cancelled.
QPR said on their website that the player had left the club “by mutual consent with immediate effect”.
Having excelled with Inter Milan in Italy for several seasons, he raised more than a few eyebrows when he joined QPR, then in the Premier League, in August 2012.
He stayed with the club even after they were relegated, but spent the end of last season on loan to Canadian MLS club Toronto FC, and was still under contract at Loftus Road until June 2016.
SEVILLA
Sevilla say Argentina midfielder Ever Banega trained with their squad on Tuesday, confirming his transfer from fellow Spanish club Valencia.
The player, who formed part of Argentina’s World Cup squad, said it was “an important opportunity” for him when he was presented to fans at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.
The Andalucian club had reached agreement with Valencia over his transfer on Sunday, but Banega had to pass a medical examination early Tuesday.
Sevilla said on its website that the 26-year-old “was received with applause by his new teammates” at the club’s training ground.
Banega said he was very keen to place himself at coach Unai Emery’s disposal. No details of the transfer were made available by Sevilla.
Valencia placed the underperforming Banega on the transfer list in January.
NORWAY
Norway defender Brede Hangeland has quit the international stage, bringing the curtain down on a 12-year career during which he captained his country, won 91 caps and scored four goals.
“For many years I have had very high demands on my body and at the age of 33 it feels essential to make this decision,” the beanpole Crystal Palace centre half said in a statement released by the Norwegian FA on Tuesday.
“There is never a good time for this type of decision but before the start of a new qualification phase ... I am quite confident that it is the right decision.”
Norway, who take on UAE in a friendly on August 27, open their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign against Italy in Oslo on September 9.
Hangeland made his Norway debut against Austria in November 2002 and was made captain by then-coach Age Hareide six years later.
“I have great respect for his decision,” said Norway coach Per-Mattias Hogmo. “Brede is a wise man, he’s had a fantastic career in the national team and he has been a captain with a capital C.”
Hangeland joined English Premier League Palace from relegated Fulham, the club he joined in 2008, earlier this month.
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