AP Source: Mbappé to stay at PSG after rejecting Real Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe has decided to extend his contract, where his current deal expires on June 30, after a long period of hesitation with Real Madrid, who were courting him, French and Spanish media reported on Saturday. (AFP)
Short Url
Updated 21 May 2022
Follow

AP Source: Mbappé to stay at PSG after rejecting Real Madrid

  • The France forward has agreed to a three-year contract extension that is close to being signed
  • Instead of joining 13-time European champion Madrid, which have chased him for so long, Mbappé is staying to try to deliver PSG their first Champions League title

PARIS: Kylian Mbappé is set to stay at Paris Saint-Germain after again turning down the chance to join Real Madrid.
The France forward has agreed to a three-year contract extension that is close to being signed, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the contract talks publicly.
The 23-year-old Mbappé’s contract is expiring in June and he would have been available on a free transfer.
Instead of joining 13-time European champion Madrid, which have chased him for so long, Mbappé is staying to try to deliver PSG their first Champions League title.
Madrid managed to beat PSG in the Champions League this season but not in the transfer market once again.
The Spanish giant’s failure to sign Mbappé is a significant blow for its president, Florentino Pérez, who has been trying to get the transfer over the line for a year.
PSG turned down Madrid’s official bid of 180 million euros ($190 million) — the same amount they signed Mbappé for from Monaco in 2017 — and even another reported amount of 200 million euros ($211 million) was not enough to sell their star despite him having only a year remaining on his contract. Mbappé said he wanted to leave at the end of last season, but only on the right terms for PSG.
The non-transfer reflects the shifting power dynamics in European football. Pérez was one of the architects of the European Super League breakaway from the UEFA Champions League that imploded within 48 hours in April 2021.
PSG opted out of joining the 12 Super League founders, allowing their president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, to gain one of the most powerful roles in the game as head of the European Club Association.
Pérez is still pursuing his Super League dream in conflict with UEFA.
Signing Mbappé would have provided a statement signing for Pérez from a team that only emerged as a rival in the last decade through its Qatari funding.
But the energy expended in pursuing the transfer, and optimism from Madrid, which are chasing their record-extending 14th European Cup win when they meets Liverpool in next Saturday’s Champions League final in Paris, has come to nothing.
The tension between the clubs was evident when PSG were knocked out of the Champions League in the Round of 16 by Madrid in March — despite leading 2-0 overall with two Mbappé goals — and Al-Khelaifi remains under UEFA investigation for allegedly confronting match officials after the loss.
Madrid are being thwarted yet again, having tried to sign Mbappé after he left Monaco in 2017 — and even before that.
He visited Madrid’s facilities aged 14, and was greeted by France great Zinedine Zidane, but he instead chose to launch his stellar career at Monaco.
Mbappé’s first professional goal came at the age of 17 years, 62 days, which beat the Monaco club record held by Thierry Henry.
Henry is France’s record scorer with 51 goals. Mbappé is already on 26 and may well overtake him as a PSG player.
He is PSG’s second-highest scorer with 168 goals and could surpass Edinson Cavani’s record of 200 next season.
However, Mbappe misses out on the chance to play alongside France teammate Karim Benzema for Madrid in what would have been a devastating partnership and the envy of Europe.
Over the past year they have been prolific together for Les Bleus and both netted when France won the Nations League final.
But when France defend their World Cup title later this year in Qatar, they’ll only be teammates on the national team.


2 Saudi players knocked out on day 1 of Saudi Smash 2024 table tennis tournament in Jeddah

Updated 7 sec ago
Follow

2 Saudi players knocked out on day 1 of Saudi Smash 2024 table tennis tournament in Jeddah

  • Ali Alkhadrawi creates chances but is unable to take advantage of them as he loses in three games to Japanese professional Maharu Yoshimura
  • Abdulaziz Bu Shulaybi faces tough test against Lin Gaoyuan of China, and is on receiving end of a masterclass from a player considered one of the best in the world

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia suffered an early setback at the Saudi Smash 2024 table tennis tournament at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on Saturday, when Abdulaziz Bu Shulaybi and Ali Alkhadrawi were eliminated in the first round of the men’s singles competition.
Ali Alkhadrawi was first to fall, defeated by Japanese professional Maharu Yoshimura, who won three games straight to progress to the round of 32.
Competing in front of a home crowd, and with pride etched on his face, Alkhadrawi put up a brave fight. He got off to good start, opening up a 6-3 lead in game one, and had his chances in the third, too, including three game points. However, Yoshimura rallied on both occasions, showing great character as he recorded victories of 11-9, 11-4 and 15-13 to deny the local hero.
Bu Shulaybi, a wildcard entrant to the event, faced a tough test against Lin Gaoyuan of China, who is considered one of the best players in the world. He gave it his all but also lost in three games, ending up on the receiving end of a masterclass in the game as the No. 6 seed comfortably won 11-4, 11-2, 11-4.


Verstappen wins sprint race at Miami Grand Prix

Updated 04 May 2024
Follow

Verstappen wins sprint race at Miami Grand Prix

  • The reigning three-times world champion and current championship leader led from pole and was never challenged after a chaotic opening lap
  • Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez was third as the world champions gave themselves a points boost ahead of qualifying later on Saturday

MIAMI GARDENS, United States: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen cruised to victory in the Miami Grand Prix’s sprint race on Saturday finishing a full 3.3 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
The reigning three-times world champion and current championship leader, who is looking for a third straight Grand Prix victory at Miami on Sunday, led from pole and was never challenged after a chaotic opening lap.
Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez was third as the world champions gave themselves a points boost ahead of qualifying later on Saturday.
Dutchman Verstappen held off Leclerc’s strong start to secure his place at the front but there was plenty of action and incident in the middle of the pack.
Haas’s Kevin Magnussen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton jousted hard but in the end the Dane picked up three penalties, adding 25 seconds to his time, after frequently leaving the track and gaining advantage.
Hamilton also received a penalty, leaving him outside the points positions in 16th after speeding in the pit lane.
The safety car was brought out after the first lap which saw a start line incident involving Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll and Lando Norris.
But away from those skirmishes, it was business as usual for Verstappen, who adds another eight points to his season tally with the victory.
“I think my engine wasn’t good in the start and so then I had to speed it a bit, luckily everything worked out in turn one,” said Verstappen.
“Then we had the safety car just to calm things down a bit after that. Steadily we could increase the gap a little bit, but it wasn’t entirely perfect so we still have a bit of work to do,” he added.
“We can still fine tune the car a little bit, so hopefully we can improve for later on in qualifying and especially for tomorrow in the race.”


Future champions shine as Riyadh hosts junior Asian tennis contest for first time

Updated 04 May 2024
Follow

Future champions shine as Riyadh hosts junior Asian tennis contest for first time

  • Tournament featured 57 leading female and male junior players from 20 countries

RIYADH: The Asian Tennis Federation’s 14&U Grade A tournament concluded on Saturday in Riyadh, the first event of its kind to be held in the Kingdom.

The tournament was hosted by the Saudi Arabian Tennis Federation at the Mahd Academy, and featured 57 leading female and male junior players from 20 countries, including Iran, India, Hong Kong and Thailand.

The “A” category is the highest-grade system within the ATF, with the winner of the singles competition earning 1,200 points.

The week’s top winners were Dharma Pantaratorn from Thailand and Kiyarash Sadghi from Iran.

Many of the junior players, such as 12-year-old Aylara Kakabayeva from Turkmenistan, were visiting Saudi Arabia for the first time.

“I took seventh place. It was really good. It feels very good playing here. It feels like you’re playing in a pro tournament like the Grand Slam,” she told Arab News.

The tournament proved to be a meeting point for the youth taking part. Saudi national team player Hamza Elmansoury, 11, said that his best moments were making “friends from different nationalities like Georgian India, Syria and Iran.”

Saudi tournament referee Reham Almansour said: “My favorite part was seeing and watching these talented players coming from all around Asia.”

The tournament is part of the STF’s drive to develop and promote competition for local talents.

STF development officer Pablo Mosquera said that the event allowed local players to get ranked without traveling long distances and making huge investments.

“So, they have, basically, in their backyard, an opportunity to get points,” he said.

“The whole point about tennis is bringing everyone together, especially in these international tournaments, especially the age group of under 12 or 14,” STF technical director, Hassan El-Aroussi added.

The federation plans to host more international tournaments, particularly junior competitions, in cooperation with the International Tennis Federation.

These expansive goals are driven by “our love of tennis,” El-Aroussi said. 


Real Madrid win the Spanish league after Barcelona lose at Girona

Updated 15 min 5 sec ago
Follow

Real Madrid win the Spanish league after Barcelona lose at Girona

  • Madrid reclaimed their domestic crown after beating Cadiz 3-0
  • Barcelona then lost 4-2 at Girona

BARCELONA: Real Madrid have won their record-extending 36th Spanish league title after increasing their lead over second-place Girona to an insurmountable 13 points with four games remaining.
Madrid reclaimed their domestic crown after beating Cadiz 3-0 earlier Saturday, and Barcelona then lost 4-2 at Girona. Only a victory by Barcelona would have stopped Madrid from celebrating.
Madrid also have a chance to add to their unequaled 14 European Cups.
Madrid host Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday with their semifinal evenly balanced after a 2-2 first-leg draw in Germany.
Either Paris Saint-Germain or Borussia Dortmund will await the winner in the June 1 final.
Girona leapfrogged Barcelona and pushed their Catalan rival into third place at 14 points behind Madrid.


Haaland hits four as Man City keep title pressure on leaders Arsenal

Updated 5 min 58 sec ago
Follow

Haaland hits four as Man City keep title pressure on leaders Arsenal

  • City responded to Arsenal’s victory just hours earlier with a goal blitz at the Etihad Stadium
  • Haaland, who was visibly unhappy to be substituted in the closing stages, made it 36 goals in all competitions this term less as he curled a fine finish into the far corner in the 54th minute

LONDON: Erling Haaland scored four times as Manchester City thrashed Wolves 5-1 to move within one point of Arsenal after the Premier League leaders beat Bournemouth 3-0 on Saturday.
City responded to Arsenal’s victory just hours earlier with a goal blitz at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side took the lead in the 12th minute when Rayan Ait-Nouri clattered into Josko Gvardiol, conceding a penalty that Haaland stroked past Jose Sa.
Haaland bagged City’s second in the 35th minute as he rose highest at the far post to meet Rodri’s cross with a majestic header that looped over Sa.
Deep into first half stoppage-time, Nelson Semedo tripped Haaland to give City another penalty that was drilled home by the Norway striker.
Hwang Hee-chan got one back for Wolves in the 53rd minute after a mistake by City keeper Ederson.
But Haaland, who was visibly unhappy to be substituted in the closing stages, made it 36 goals in all competitions this term less as he curled a fine finish into the far corner in the 54th minute.
Julian Alvarez’s 85th minute finish capped City’s sixth consecutive league win, extending their unbeaten run in the competition to 20 games.
The reigning champions, who have a game in hand on Arsenal, will clinch an unprecedented fourth successive English title if they win their last three matches.
They head to Fulham next Saturday before visiting Tottenham on May 14 and hosting West Ham five days later.
At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal cruised to a fourth successive victory, with Bukayo Saka’s penalty putting them ahead on the stroke of half-time.
Leandro Trossard slotted past Bournemouth keeper Mark Travers in the 70th minute before Declan Rice capped a dominant display by blasting home in stoppage-time.
Chasing their first title since 2004, Arsenal’s 26th Premier League victory this season equalled the club’s top-flight record for a single campaign.
“It was probably the best first half we’ve played all season,” Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said.
“We were unbelievable. Everything flowing, super composed on the ball. We generated so many chances, we could have gone three, four, five up easily.”
Arsenal travel to Manchester United in their penultimate game next weekend before hosting Everton on May 19.
Burnley’s hopes of avoiding relegation suffered a huge blow as Newcastle ran riot in a 4-1 win at Turf Moor.
Vincent Kompany’s second bottom side are five points from safety, with only two games left to avoid an immediate return to the Championship after last season’s promotion.
Callum Wilson put Newcastle ahead with a 19th minute tap-in and Sean Longstaff doubled their advantage in the 35th minute.
Bruno Guimaraes made it three in the 40th minute with a powerful strike before Arijanet Muric saved Alexander Isak’s 50th minute penalty.
Isak made amends five minutes later when he grabbed his 20th league goal this season, making Dara O’Shea’s 86th minute header no consolation for bedraggled Burnley.
At Bramall Lane, fourth bottom Nottingham Forest took a giant step toward survival with a 3-1 win against already-relegated Sheffield United.
Gonzalo Montiel brought down Ben Brereton Diaz and the Blades forward picked himself up to lash in the 17th minute penalty.
But Callum Hudson-Odoi grabbed Forest’s equalizer in the 27th minute with a superb strike that curled into the far corner.
Ryan Yates slammed in Forest’s second from close-range after 51 minutes and Hudson-Odoi curled home in the 65th minute.
That gave the Blades an unwanted record as the first club to concede 100 goals in a 38-match Premier League season.
Forest, awaiting the result of their appeal against a four-point deduction for financial breaches, are three points ahead of third bottom Luton, who drew 1-1 with Everton on Friday.
West London rivals Brentford and Fulham shared a dour 0-0 draw.