PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014
PAGE 43
Sports
Southampton swap Osvaldo for Taider S
Taider (r) battles Germany’s Mario Gotze for the ball
Benzema extends Madrid deal
outhampton have confirmed the signing of Inter Milan midfielder Saphir Taider, with club-record signing Dani Osvaldo going the other way. Taider, 22, who played 25 times in Serie A last season, joins on a season-long loan. The Algerian played against Belgium and Germany at the 2014 World Cup. “It’s part of our philosophy to bring in talented young players, and Saphir fits that bill,” said Saints boss Ronald Koeman. “I’ve spoken to him about the positions he can play in and he showed me real ambition. He brings competition to the squad.” Both transfers have options in place for a permanent move next summer. “Over the course of the year, we will make a decision about the future of the player,” Koeman added. Dani Osvaldo scored three times in 13 games for Southampton. Club Chairman Ralph Krueger also hailed Taider’s arrival. Taider becomes the fourth signing of the summer, after the arrival of Dusan Tadic, Graziano Pelle and Ryan Bertrand.
T
he Frenchman has inked a new contract with the Spanish giants which expires in 2019, having spent the last five years with the club. Real Madrid have announced that Karim Benzema has sealed a new contract with the club which expires in 2019. The Frenchman has been at the club since 2009, when he moved to the Santiago Bernabeu from Olympique Lyonnais for a fee of around €35 million. His current agreement with the European champions was due to expire next summer, leading to speculation over his future, but Madrid have confirmed that he has put pen to paper on a new deal. “Real Madrid announce the extension of the contract between the player Karim Benzema and the club until June 30, 2019, the next five seasons,” the club statement read. Benzema has won La Liga once, the Copa del Rey twice and the Champions League on one occasion. During their European Cup winning campaign last term, the 26-year-old scored five goals in 11 appearances, in addition to 17 in La Liga.
Manquillo during his presentation
Man Utd consider De Jong option
M
Liverpool sign Manquillo
L
iverpool has completed the signing of Atletico Madrid defender Javier Manquillo on loan with a view to a permanent deal. The Anfield club announced the deal on Wednesday and Manquillo becomes manager Brendan Rodgers’ seventh summer signing. Manquillo says “I’m very happy to have signed for a club like Liverpool. I think it’s one of the biggest in Europe. Any footballer would want to come and play here,” speaking to the club’s official website. “When they tell you Liverpool want to sign you, I think like any player, you are going to be absolutely amazed and you don’t think of anything else than going straight there,” Manquillo added. The 20-year-old started his career with Real Madrid before joining city rivals Atletico in 2007. He has also represented the Spanish national side at various youth levels but is yet uncapped for the senior side. Liverpool host Southampton on August17 in their first match of the new English Premier League season.
De Jong
anchester United have made the first move in a bid to sign Netherlands international Nigel de Jong in a €10 million deal. Old Trafford executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has held meetings with the AC Milan midfielder’s representatives, with the Dutchman keen to work under Louis van Gaal again. Having already brought Ander Herrera to the club this summer, manager Louis van Gaal made it clear to club officials that he is happy to work with what he has in the midfield area at least until his no.1 target, Kevin Strootman, fully recovers from a serious knee injury. But executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has been working tirelessly behind the scenes in a bid to strengthen the Dutchman’s options and, having identified De Jong as a potential recruit, had met with the Milan midfielder’s representatives in London. Those talks are understood to have gone well, with De Jong desperate to link up with Van Gaal. The Dutchman could now become United’s third major summer signing, following on from the arrivals of Herrera and Luke Shaw. Van Gaal is understood to have given the move the green light, having worked well with De Jong in his former role as Netherlands coach and in particular at this summer’s World Cup.