SPORTS: JOINING JUVENTUS WAS AN EASY DECISION FOR ME– CHRISTIANO RONALDO

Tuesday July 17, 2018

By Aiden Graw

www.mknewslink.com

SOCCER NEWS:

Cristiano Ronaldo says joining Juventus was an ‘easy decision’ and not one that many players his age would take.

The 33-year-old was unveiled in Turin on Monday following a club-record £99million move from Real Madrid, where he scored 450 goals in 438 games.

The Portuguese threw his Madrid future into question following the Champions League final win over Liverpool, and the Spanish giants were willing to accept an offer from the Italian champions for their star man.

While Ronaldo said the move was well thought-out, it was not a tough choice to move to Juventus.

“Juventus is one of the best clubs in the world,” he said. “It was a long-thought out move, but it was an easy decision to join the best club in Italy and a very important step for my career.

“Juventus have a great coach and a great president accustomed to winning. It was an easy decision to come here.

“It’s a big challenge in my career; a lot of players my age choose to go elsewhere with all due respect.

“It makes me happy to play at such a big club, I‘m very grateful to Juventus for this opportunity.”

 TRANSFER NEWS:

MANCHESTER UNITED EYE IVAN PERISIC AND ANTE REBIC

The big rumor out of Old Trafford this morning is the reported double swoop for Croatian pair Ivan Perisic and Ante Rebic worth more than £90m.

Manchester United have been strongly linked with Inter Milan midfielder Perisic in the past and Jose Mourinho is a known admirer. The wide-man scored in both the semi-final and final of the World Cup as Croatia finished runners up.

24-year-old Rebic meanwhile, was one of the breakthrough stars of the tournament, and scored the opener in the group stage win over Argentina.

Reports suggest that any deal to prize him away from German club Eintracht Frankfurt would cost as much as £44m, with Arsenal also said to be interested.

Manchester United could yet make a profit on Dutch international Daley Blind, after agreeing a deal for his return to Ajax.

Blind was a £14m arrival at Old Trafford from Ajax following the 2014 World Cup, where he played a key role as The Netherlands reached the semi-final.

The utility man was a regular when fit under Louis van Gaal and in Jose Mourinho’s first year in charge but made just 17 appearances last season.

His return to Amsterdam, which was confirmed in a Tweet last night, will initially cost a similar fee, but could rise a further £4.5m in add-ons

BARCELONA ANNOUNCE 910m EURO INCOME WITH A PROFIT OF 13m EURO AFTER TAX

When you break your transfer record twice in six months, at a total cost of over £200m, you perhaps don’t expect to achieve record financial results for the year. But that’s exactly what Barcelonahave done.

Despite shelling out £96m and £106m for Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho respectively, the Catalan giants have announced an income of €910m, with a profit of €13m after tax.

Granted, they also sold Neymar for a world record £200m to Paris Saint-Germain, but it is still a remarkable feat for the club which, frighteningly, says it is on course to “reach €1,000million of income in 2021”.

Their spending spree seems unlikely to end any time soon. A £53m bid has already been tabled for Chelsea star Willian, while some sources have even claimed that an unlikely move for N’Golo Kante could be on the cards.

This summer they have already agreed deals for 21-year-old Brazilian Arthur with Gremio and Sevilla’s French centre back Clement Lenglet, at a total outlay of around £60m.

LOCAL SPORT: 2018 CECAFA-CRESTED CRANES TRAVEL TO RWANDA

The 2018 CECAFA Women Championship kicks off this Thursday on 19th July 2018. 20 players of the Uganda Women Nation Team (Crested Cranes) have travelled to Rwanda ahead of this year’s Championship.

5 Countries are to participate in this Championship which will be played on a round robin format. Crested Cranes’ first fixture will be against Kenya on 19th July.

The contingent travelled by road on Monday.

The final squad;

Aturo Ruth, Nakaziro Daisy, Adeke Juliet, Namuddu Viola, Nankya Shadia, Aluka Grace, Namukisa Aisha, Nabisaalu Bridget, Akiror Tracy Jones, Yudaya Nakayenze, Nambatya Favour, Lillian Mutuuzo, Alupo Norah, Naluyimba Esther, Nabbumba Phiona, Nakachwa Spencer, Nalukenge Juliet, Namuleme Zainah, Namwase Monica, Babirye Winnie.

Team Officials;

Ronnie Kalema-Leader of Delegation

Faridah Bulega – Head Coach

Kaziba Edward – Assistant Head Coach

Magala James – Goalkeepeing Coach

Mable Kabatalindwa – Team Doctor

Ssali Paul – Team Manager

Olive Mbekeka-Fitness Trainer

Margaret Kubingi-Chairperson Uganda Women Football Association

Nsereko Kawuma Hamzah – Team Media Officer

20 PLAYERS SUMMONED FOR UGANDA CRANES TOUR OF KASESE

The Uganda Cranes regional tours are back. The first opportunity to host the National senior team this year will head to Kitara Region Football Association in Kasese on Saturday 21^st July 2018.

Twenty players have been summoned to start training on Wednesday evening at the StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo.

The team will travel to Kasese on Friday morning.

The Squad: Saidi Keni (Proline FC), Isma Watenga (Vipers Sc), Musitafa Mujuzi (Proline FC), Bashir Asiku (Vipers SC), Geoffrey Wasswa (Vipers SC), Joseph Nsubuga (SC Villa Jogoo), Paul Patrick Mbowa (URA FC), Aggrey Madoi (Vipers SC), Tadeo Lwanga (Vipers SC), Nicholas Kasozi (SC Villa Jogoo), Ivan Eyam (Kataka FC), Yayo Kato Lutimba (Vipers SC), Moses Waiswa Ndhondi (Vipers SC), Abraham Ndugwa (Masavu FC), Milton Karisa (Vipers SC), Allan Kyambadde (SC Villa Jogoo), Martin Kizza (SC Villa Jogoo), Joel Madondo (K-Jinja SS), Nelson Senkatuka (Bright Stars FC) and Dan Sserunkuma Muzeyi (Vipers SC)

Uganda Cranes regional tours are sponsored by Airtel and Nile special.

The Uganda Cranes will resume 2019 AFCON Qualification Campaign in September 2018 with a match against Tanzania at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

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