By DAN KARELL
When Antonio Conte signed a new contract extension at Juventus last month, he made a request to sign two strikers. One, Fernando Llorente was signed on a free transfer in January. The other, looks set to come this summer.
Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez is reportedly on his way to the twice-successive Serie A champions, making them the team to beat for the title next season. According to the reports in England, Juventus have agreed a transfer fee of £10 million ($15.42 million) plus additional bonuses depending on goal scored, team’s success in the UEFA Champions League, etc. The deal will be completed per the agreement of personal terms between club and player.
The 29-year-old Argentine joined City in the summer of 2009 for £47 million ($76 million) from Manchester United, enduring a wild time under former boss Roberto Mancini, going AWOL at one point before returning to the squad and getting first team minutes.
Last season, Tevez scored 16 goals in 47 matches in all competitions, though he failed to score in the Champions League.
Here are some more stories to catch up on from around the world:
UEFA PUNISHES CLUBS FOR MATCH-FIXING
In a potentially groundbreaking moment in the fight against match-fixing in the game of soccer, UEFA have announced bans to three clubs for match fixing from all European competitions including the Champions League and Europa League.
Turkish teams Fenerbahce and Besiktas, and Romanian side Steaua Bucharest, were all handed down penalties on Tuesday after disciplinary proceedings from UEFA. Besiktas, who qualified for the Europa League next season after a third-place finish in the domestic league, have been disqualified from competing next season.
Fenerbahce have been expelled from the Champions League next season, and will be ineligible from competing in Europe for two seasons afterwards as well. Finally, Steaua have been provisionally banned for one season from European competition, whenever they next qualify for it.
Fenerbahce and Besiktas both have had trials back in Turkey over match-fixing, with a number of people going to jail over bribes and other improper conduct with match officials and players, while Steaua’s president Gigi Becali was recently sentenced to three years in prison for match-fixing.
MEXICO FALL TO PARAGUAY, EL SALVADOR RECORDS SHOCK WIN
You could have made the excuse that the Mexico Under-20 team was unlucky to lose their opening game against Greece, but the same could not be said for Tuesday’s match.
Mexico hit the bar on two occasions but failed to score a goal, succumbing to Paraguay, 1-0, in their second match at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Turkey. Paraguayan forward Derlis Gonzalez scored the game’s only goal on a counter attack, hitting home on the half-volley over Mexico goalkeeper Richard Sanchez.
Armando Zamorano of Mexico had a chance to score in the 20th minute but his left-footed strike pinged off the post. Paraguay also hit woodwork later in the match, as Gonzalez came so close to doubling the lead, if not for slamming his shot off the same post.
In stoppage time, Mexico’s Jonathan Espericueta had a free kick from nearly 30 yards out go over the wall, freeze the Paraguayan goalkeeper in his tracks, but cannon off the crossbar and away to safety. The loss puts Mexico at the bottom of Group D and means they must defeat Mali on Friday to have a chance to advance as a third-place team.
Also in action in Turkey on Tuesday, El Salvador recorded a historic win, their first in an Under-20 World Cup, defeating Australia, 2-1, Colombia took care of Turkey, 1-0, and Greece and Mali played to a scoreless draw.
DORTMUND INTERESTED IN EL TECATITO
Borussia Dortmund is searching far and wide for a replacement for Mario Götze, off to Bayern Munich this summer, and is currently eying arguably the hottest Mexican talent in the past 12 months.
Jose Manuel Corona, also known as “El Tecatito” in homage to Tecate, the Mexican beer company that sponsors his club team, Monterrey, is currently playing with the Mexico Under-20 team in Turkey, but the 20-year-old has already broken into the Rayados first-team. Corona played 26 times in Liga MX last season, and was a key part of the squad in their CONCACAF Champions League title defense, and their matches at last December’s Club World Cup, which they’ll be a part of again this coming winter.
Reports out of Germany state that Corona will be out of contract with Monterrey on June 30, leaving Dortmund to be able to acquire the Mexican youngster on a free transfer after the Under-20 World Cup.
———
What do you make of these reports? Think Juventus is the team to beat with Tevez? Do you believe UEFA’s punishments were fair? Do you see Corona going to Dortmund?
Share your thoughts below.