Arsenal break club record to clinch Lacazette deal
The transfer fee is also a new record sale for the Ligue 1 outfit, worth an initial 53m euros, according to a statement on the Lyon website.
The deal beats the 50m euros that Arsenal paid to bring Mesut Ozil to the Emirates from Real Madrid in 2013, while it sees Lyon break their highest sale for the second time in a month after seeing midfielder Corentin Tolisso move to Bayern Munich for 47.5m euros.
Arsenal said the 26-year-old had signed a "long-term contract", which British media reported to be for five years.
Oscar leads big names behaving badly in China
As the Chinese Super League (CSL) hits the halfway point of the season this weekend, the megabucks lavished on imported players has triggered unprecedented interest, but the headlines have been dominated by foreigners behaving badly.
While nobody is chasing them out of the country just yet, Brazilian international Oscar -- who received the mammoth ban for sparking a mass brawl last week -- is not even the latest acquisition to run into trouble.
Beijing Guoan's Turkish striker Burak Yilmaz was sent off on Monday night after appearing to slap an opponent during a melee at the end of a bad-tempered scoreless home draw with Fabio Capello's Jiangsu Suning.
Prior to the rush of blood in which he lashed the ball directly at two Guangzhou R&F opponents, attacking midfielder Oscar, who cost an Asian-record 60 million euros from Chelsea in the January window, appeared to have settled well into life at Shanghai SIPG with a string of highly-rated performances.
Far better than Argentine forward Tevez who has so far failed to ingratiate himself with fans at neighbouring Shanghai Shenhua and is rumoured to be eyeing a move away from China despite signing a contract reported to be worth a staggering 38 million euros ($40 million) a year in January.
Lavezzi, another Argentine forward on big money following his move last year from Paris Saint-Germain to Hebei China Fortune, was told by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) last month to "regulate his words and actions more" after promotional photos emerged of him in a slant-eyed pose, causing outrage on social media.
- Worth the money -
Forward Hulk, while flourishing with nine CSL goals on the pitch alongside fellow Brazilian Oscar at SIPG, was also hauled before the CFA last month over allegations that he punched the Guizhou Zhicheng's assistant coach and made anti-Chinese comments in the players' tunnel at half-time.
The burly striker and the club both denied the claims and the CFA said there was "no evidence" against Hulk after an investigation.
Yang Qinnong, 25, a diehard SIPG fan, said the money his club shelled out on Hulk and Oscar -- at a combined cost of 116 million euros ($132 million) -- had been worth it.
READ MORE: Resurgent Balotelli extends Nice contract
Resurgent Balotelli extends Nice contract
"OGC Nice are delighted to confirm that Mario Balotelli has signed a new contract with the club," Nice wrote on their Twitter account, without revealing the length of the deal.
A source close to the negotations on Thursday had suggested Balotelli could extend his stay in Nice by two years with a monthly salary of 450,000 euros ($502,000).
Balotelli, who played in Italy for AC Milan and Inter Milan and England with Liverpool and Manchester City, joined Nice last August and scored 17 goals in 28 appearances as the club came third -- their best finish in 41 years.
Balotelli's move to Nice was seen by many as a last roll of the dice for a player who endured two miserable seasons in 2014-15 and 2015-16 before landing at the Allianz Riviera on a free transfer.
The Italian helped fire Nice into the qualifying rounds for next season's Champions League -- after Lucien Favre's side finished behind Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain -- but Balotelli was also sent off three times.
READ MORE: Monaco raid Barca for starlet Mboula
Messi's gritty hometown braces for a glam wedding
On Friday, soccer superstar Lionel Messi will be married there to Antonella Roccuzzo at a lavish celebration bringing together some of the world's best-paid soccer players, just up the street from one of the city's poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods.
Some 21 members of the hugely popular FC Barcelona team, including Luis Suarez and Neymar, as well as stars like Gerard Pique -- accompanied by partner Shakira, perhaps more popular than the Catalan defender himself -- will be flying into this port city 180 miles (300 kilometers) north of Buenos Aires.
The luxurious City Center casino-hotel complex, where guests will stay and the ceremony is expected to take place, borders a poor neighborhood known as the birthplace of the bloody drug gang Los Monos.
"Messi's marriage -- like the casino's presence in the neighborhood -- is a metaphor for inequality," provincial official Carlos Del Frade, author of several books on Rosario's exploding drug trade, told AFP.
A mere 400 yards (meters) from the bright lights and neon of City Center, two people on a motorcycle opened fire June 17 on four women belonging to Los Monos. The attack claimed the life of Petrona Cantero, 56, the sister of Ariel Cantero, the historic leader of Los Monos, who is now serving a prison sentence.
Drug gang-linked violence has claimed more than 1,000 lives in the past five years in this gritty port city, Del Frade said.
Last year, the homicide rate in Rosario was double the national average of seven per 100,000 inhabitants, according to a report from the Ministry of Security of Santa Fe province, which includes Rosario.
In the Las Flores neighborhood, just behind the City Center complex, Los Monos holds virtually total power, according to Del Frade, who said the gang amounts to the "de facto government" there.
'He feels comfortable here'
Historically, Rosario has long had a strong working class, and today's violence stems largely from widespread unemployment, political scientists and economists say.
Messi's father, a metalworker here in the 1990s, emigrated with his family to Barcelona in 2000, amid the grave economic crisis then facing Argentina.
Today, the government in Rosario says it feels confident the safety of the illustrious visitor and his guests can be assured, regardless of the high crime rate.
READ MORE: Premier League new boys Huddersfield sign Porto striker
Jamaica perfects art of developing sprinters
But while athletics contemplates life without its biggest superstar, Anthony Davis will already be working hard to unearth the next young Jamaican sprinter capable of following in Bolt's blisteringly fast footsteps.
Davis is the director of sport at Kingston's University of Technology, or UTech, the de facto sprint factory which produced Bolt and virtually every other major Jamaican sprinter of significance.
The modest facility's alumni reads like a who's who of Jamaican sprinting, including Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter and Elaine Thompson, the 100m & 200m 2016 Olympic champion.
"Everybody wants to be the next Usain Bolt because he is a superstar," Davis told AFP.
Jamaica is considered the sprint capital of the world following a decade of dominance at successive Olympics and World Championships, a success which belies the Caribbean nation's population of just 2.7 million.
Sprinter Tyquendo Tracey attributes Jamaica's success to national character.
"Most of us are born with sheer determination. It is hard to beat a Jamaican," Tracey said.
"The determination comes from the high level of competition including high school. We always have this level of competitiveness."
Monaco raid Barca for starlet Mboula
Monaco have already signed Belgian international midfielder Youri Tielemans from Anderlecht, young defender Jordy Gaspar from Lyon, Swiss international goalkeeper Diego Benaglio from Wolfsburg and midfielder Soualiho Meite from Belgian side Zulte Waregem.
READ MORE: Man Utd boss Mourinho refutes tax fraud accusations
Man Utd boss Mourinho refutes tax fraud accusations
The 54-year-old Portuguese, who coached Madrid from 2010 to 2013, has been accused of "two offences against the public treasury", the prosecutor's office said in a statement on Tuesday.
They claim that Mourinho, who took over at United last year, failed to declare 3.3 million euros ($3.7m, £2.9m) during his time in the Spanish capital -- 1.6 million euros in 2011 and 1.7 million euros in 2012.
But a statement released by Mourinho's representatives Gestifute Media said he had not been informed personally of the accusations.
They also circulated a copy of a tax document dated July 3, 2015, which covers the period in question.
According to Gestifute, Mourinho "paid more than 26 million euros in taxes, at an average rate above 41 percent and accepted regularisation proposals from the tax authorities in 2015 relating to the years 2011 and 2012, and resolved by agreement his situation for the year 2013".
The statement also said that Mourinho had received a certificate from the authorities confirming that he was "up to date with all his tax obligations".
The accusations come as Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was summoned to appear before a judge next month, accused of tax evasion of 14.7 million euros.
The 32-year-old Portuguese star is facing four charges of fraud through offshore companies between 2011 and 2014 and will appear before a judge on July 31, judicial sources told AFP.
The four-time world player of the year, who said last week his "conscience is clear", is threatening to leave Madrid over the affair, according to Spanish and Portuguese media.
READ MORE: No offer received for Ronaldo, says Real boss
No offer received for Ronaldo, says Real boss
"No one has sent us an offer for either Cristiano or anyone else," Perez told Onda Cero radio station.
"Ronaldo is a lot more powerful and more important than all of us who are here," he added.
Perez's first task after being reelected unopposed as Real Madrid president on Monday will be to appease Ronaldo amid speculation the four-time world player of the year wants to leave.
"As no other candidature was put forward to the board ... it is proclaimed that Mr Florentino Perez Rodriguez is president of Real Madrid," the Spanish and European champions said in a statement.
The 70-year-old construction magnate's third term in charge of Europe's most successful club spanning 15 years -- 2000-2006 and since 2009 -- will be rubber stamped at a ceremony at the Santiago Bernabeu later Monday.
And among the first issues he will have to deal with is Ronaldo -- who he bought in 2009 from Manchester United for a record 94 million euros ($105.3 million).
Ronaldo is threatening to leave Spain after running into problems with tax authorities.
The frenzy of speculation began soon after Ronaldo was accused last week of a 14.7 million euro tax evasion through offshore companies.
The Portuguese international is currently in Russia competing for the European champions in the Confederations Cup.
READ MORE: Former Man Utd youth coach gets new job
Former Man Utd youth coach gets new job
Joyce, 52, spent eight years developing the Premier League's giant's youth programme before a short spell as manager of Wigan Athletic.
"Leading by example throughout his career, Warren has produced quality technical players, quality tactical players, and ultimately well rounded players on and off the field," said Brian Marwood, managing director of City Football Services, who oversaw Joyce's recruitment.
During his time with United's youth team, 73 players went on to play in the English Premier League and Championship and 44 became internationals.
Joyce was also a former player-manager of Hull City and head coach for two years at Royal Antwerp. As a player, he made a total of 884 appearances for Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End, Plymouth Argyle, Burnley and Hull.
READ MORE: Monaco sign promising midfielder Meite
Monaco sign promising midfielder Meite
The Paris-born former Lille player has agreed a five-year contract for a fee reported to be in the region of eight million euros ($9m).
His arrival is expected to be in anticipation of Monaco selling French international Tiemoue Bakayoko, who has been tipped to join English champions Chelsea.
Bakayoko's midfield partner, the Brazilian Fabinho, has also been linked with a transfer away from the Stade Louis II.
READ MORE: Aubameyang, Mbappe top transfer wish lists
From Oscar to Pato, five big Chinese signings
Ahead of the opening of China's four-week transfer window on Monday, AFP Sport looks at five major signings by CSL teams and how they have fared:
Oscar (Shanghai SIPG)
The biggest transfer in Asian football history saw SIPG manager Andre Villas-Boas sign a fellow Chelsea alumnus, attacking midfielder Oscar, for a whopping 60 million euros ($67 million).
Arriving to a hero's welcome in January, Oscar immediately started repaying his hefty price tag with goals in the AFC Champions League as the Shanghai side set up a forthcoming quarter-final clash with Chinese rivals Guangzhou Evergrande.
The 25-year-old Brazilian international quickly became a fans' favourite.
Carlos Tevez (Shanghai Shenhua)
Shenhua also made waves in Shanghai in January by signing Tevez, the former Manchester City, Manchester United and Juventus striker, from Boca Juniors on a reported annual salary of 38 million euros, making him one of the world's highest-paid footballers.
But the Argentine forward, 33, has failed to win over the fans and infuriated them after being spotted at Disneyland the same day he missed an important match due to injury.
In danger of becoming a hate figure.
Hulk (Shanghai SIPG)
The bulldozer of a Brazilian forward, 30, has been a huge success since signing for 56 million euros last year from Zenit St Petersburg in Russia.
The 30-year-old international bullies defences in the CSL and AFC Champions League, and together with Oscar and fellow Brazilian Elkeson comprises a terrifying forward three that would cut it in any league in the world.
Hit trouble when he was accused of punching the assistant coach of an opposing team. Hulk and Shanghai SIPG denied the allegation.
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Spurs' Kane ready for England captaincy
England manager Gareth Southgate has eased Manchester United forward Rooney, 31, out of the picture and says he will decide who captains his side on a match-by-match basis.
He has praised Kane's "leadership qualities" and despite only being 23, the Spurs hotshot says he is ready to carry the responsibility that comes with the armband.
Asked if he thought it might be too soon for him to take on the captaincy, Kane replied: "For me personally, I don't think so.
"I've been captain for Spurs a few times. You wear an armband and it gets built up a lot to be a captain.
"It is a fantastic thing, but in this team –- and in this day and age –- there should be more than just one leader out there.
"For me, I don't think it would (be too early), but that is a matter of opinion really."
READ MORE: Beckham Miami team edges closer after land deal
Beckham Miami team edges closer after land deal
Miami-Dade County commissioners voted by 9-4 to approve the transfer of a three-acre parcel of land worth $9 million to Beckham's consortium, which reportedly hopes to launch its MLS team by 2021.
Beckham's group had already purchased six acres of land next to the site for some $19 million in Miami's Overtown district.
"We look forward to working with the Miami community to bring our vision for the neighborhood to life," Miami Beckham United said in a statement, describing the deal as a "major milestone" towards its MLS team.
"Our loyal fans in Miami and around the world have been waiting for this moment for years, and we're thrilled that we're getting closer to our kick-off."
The group hopes to build a 25,000-seat stadium on the site. Beckham's group has said the cost of the stadium, which still needs to be approved by city planners, will be met by private investors with no public funds being used in its construction.
"We are not here to take money from the county or the city, we will pay for this project ourselves, privately, we will pay property taxes and we will be good neighbors," Miami Beckham United official Tim Leiweke said.
Beckham announced in 2014 that he intended to bring a team to the South Florida city, exercising an option he was granted when he joined the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.
READ MORE: From Foe to Tiote – five player deaths
From Foe to Tiote - five player deaths
- Marc-Vivien Foe, June 2003 -
Cameroon midfielder Foe collapsed after a heart attack during a Confederations Cup semi-final against Colombia in Lyon, France. The former Manchester City, West Ham and Lyon player was carried from the pitch as medical staff tried to revive him with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and oxygen. After trying to restart his heart for 45 minutes without success he was declared dead, aged just 28. His death prompted improvements in both the testing of footballers for heart problems and the treatment they can receive during matches, including training club medical teams in CPR and using defibrillators.
- Antonio Puerta, August 2007 -
Spain international Puerta, 22, collapsed while playing for Sevilla in a La Liga match against Getafe and died three days later from multiple organ failure stemming from prolonged cardiac arrest. It was three months after he had helped Sevilla to win the UEFA Cup. Sergio Ramos has a tattoo tribute to Puerta and wore a T-shirt dedicated to him as Spain won the 2010 World Cup. "Antonio has always been with me. The next game, I went out on the field with his shirt and for a long time after that, I wore one that was dedicated to him," said Ramos.
READ MORE: Adoring Madrid fans demand Ballon d’Or for Real star
Adoring Madrid fans demand Ballon d'Or for Real star
Ronaldo scored twice in Real's 4-1 thrashing of Juventus in Cardiff on Saturday as Madrid became the first side to retain the Champions League.
Sporting a newly cropped haircut, Ronaldo was the star of a spectacular lights and firework show as 81,000 fans crammed into Real's Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
"Cristiano Ballon d'Or," the Portuguese sang along with the fans as he was lifted into the air by his teammates.
Ronaldo is the hot favourite to win the annual award for the best player in the world for a fifth time that would see him equal Barcelona rival Lionel Messi's record as Real also beat out Barca to win La Liga.
"The truth is it has been a spectacular season," added Ronaldo.
It is the first time Madrid have won both La Liga and the Champions League in the same season for 59 years.
"Thanks for the love you have shown since the first match," said Madrid captain Sergio Ramos.
"We knew this season was going to be different.
"The team has worked hard from the first minute...we have done a marvellous double."
Earlier, overseen by strict security measures, the Madrid squad greeted local government dignitaries before parading the famous trophy in an open top bus around the Cibeles fountain in the city centre where thousands of fans had gathered.
"The players have entered into the legend of Real Madrid and of football, as has our coach," said club president Florentino Perez, as he reserved special praise for Zinedine Zidane.
"He is the only one to win two consecutive Champions Leagues," added Perez. "That is why he is already the best coach in the world."
READ MORE: Record pay-out for champions Chelsea
Zidane back among the immortals
When Zidane's majestic strike flashed into the net to give Madrid victory in the 2002 Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen, the French star must have believed he would never surpass that golden moment in Europe's top-tier tournament.
Yet at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, he joined the managerial immortals as Madrid's 4-1 rout of Juventus made him the first coach to win successive European Cups since the great Arrigo Sacchi of AC Milan in 1989 and 1990.
Not even Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola has achieved that epic feat.
"All the coaches you mentioned, they're great coaches. I don't want to say I'm very good because before I was scandalously bad and now I'm supposed to be the best," Zidane said modestly.
"I have the chance to be with this great squad. In the long run, everyone's been very important. For me that's the success."
Madrid's impressive win rightly sparked praise for Cristiano Ronaldo's predatory brace.
But it was Zidane who provided the inspiration for Madrid's first La Liga and Champions League double since 1958.
After taking the lead through Ronaldo, Madrid were rocked back on their heels by Mario Mandzukic's stunning overhead kick equaliser before the interval.
However, Zidane turned the tide in the space of a few words when he faced his uncertain players in the dressing room.
Imploring his stars to believe in themselves as much as he did in them, Zidane struck the right tone and eased their fears that the trophy may slip from their grasp.
Ronaldo admitted it was in those moments that the match was won.
"Zidane gave us a very positive half-time team talk and told us he really believed in us," he said.
READ MORE: Ballon d’Or in play as Ronaldo bears down on Messi
'History' awaits Madrid and Juventus
Ramos is hoping to lift the trophy for the third time in four years, which would make Zinedine Zidane's team the first to have successfully defended it in the Champions League era.
Juventus, who have lost four finals since winning the tournament for a second time in 1996, are seeking to complete the first treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and European Cup crowns in their history.
"We have an appointment with history," Ramos told reporters on the eve of the game in the Welsh capital.
"We never dreamed of this opportunity, but the stats are there.
"For us it's a wonderful opportunity to take the cup home. Then history speaks for itself."
The final carries with it a bewildering array of potential milestones and intriguing personal subplots.
As well as becoming the first team to retain the trophy since Arrigo Sacchi's all-conquering AC Milan in 1990, Madrid can complete their first Liga and European Cup double since the 1957-58 season.
Chasing a fourth Champions League win, Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo needs one goal to equal Lionel Messi's tally of 11 and become a Champions League top scorer for the fifth year in a row.
Juventus can become the eighth European club to have completed the Treble and the second from Italy, after Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan in 2010.
But no team has lost more European Cup finals than their six and they have lost their last four in succession, including a 1-0 defeat by Madrid in the 1998 decider in Amsterdam.
Juve right-back Dani Alves can become the first player to win three European Trebles, having previously achieved the feat twice with Barcelona.
Meanwhile, three players -- Juve pair Sami Khedira and Gonzalo Higuain and Madrid striker Alvaro Morata -- and Real coach Zidane will be going up against their former club.
READ MORE: Record pay-out for champions Chelsea
Record pay-out for champions Chelsea
The broadcast deals, including a bumper domestic contract, ensured generous end-of-season payments for all 20 Premier League clubs who shared a total of £2.4 billion.
Figures on the league's website showed Leicester, who earned £93 million after their stunning title success last year, received £116 million this season, when they finished 12th.
Second-placed Tottenham Hotspur earned about £145 million -- slightly less than Manchester City and Liverpool owing to the difference in their "facility fees", awarded for appearances on TV.
Domestic rights to broadcast the Premier League were sold for £5.1 billion over three seasons, dwarfing the previous deal.
The league shares money from its central commercial deals and overseas broadcast rights on an equal basis, which means all 20 clubs got nearly £5 million each for the former and £39 million for the latter.