The 34-year-old will be reunited with his friend and ex-Barca team mate Lionel Messi after not renewing his contract at the Nou Camp following an 18-year stay. Miami are reportedly looking to sign a third former Barca player as they are keen on left-back Jordi Alba, who is also leaving the Spanish club after the end of the season.
* Bournemouth have signed Dutch winger Justin Kluivert from Serie A side AS Roma on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club said on Friday. Kluivert, son of ex-Netherlands striker Patrick Kluivert, has joined for a reported 9.6 million pounds (US$12.21 million). The 24-year-old spent last season on loan at LaLiga outfit Valencia, where he scored eight goals in 29 games.
* The Paris 2024 Olympic Games flame will be lit on Apr 16, marking the countdown to the Jul 26 to Aug 11 event in the French capital, organisers said on Friday. The flame will be lit at Greece's ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Games, and will remain in the country until its departure to France from Athens on Apr 27. It will arrive in Marseille on May 8.
* Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves is joining Al Hilal from Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers on a three-year deal, the Saudi Arabian club announced on Friday. Wolves did not disclose specific financial details but said Neves, who signed his deal in Paris, was moving for a club record fee, reported to be worth 55 million euros (US$60 million).
* Olympique de Marseille have appointed former Valencia and Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelino as manager to replace Igor Tudor who left after one season, the Ligue 1 club said on Friday. The 57-year-old Spanish coach comes with trophy-winning pedigree having led Valencia to the Copa del Rey title in 2018-19 and guided Athletic Bilbao to the Spanish Super Cup - their first trophy in 37 years - in 2021.
* Rafa Benitez has reached agreement with Celta Vigo to become manager on a three-year deal, the Spanish club said on Friday. The 63-year-old, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, the UEFA Cup with Valencia (2004) and the Europa League with Chelsea (2013), returns to coaching over a year after being sacked by Everton in January 2022.
* Burnley have signed Ireland defender Dara O’Shea from Championship side West Bromwich Albion, the newly-promoted Premier League club said on Friday. The 24-year-old, who is joining on a deal until at least 2027, had an eight million pounds (US$10.17 million) release clause but West Brom have reportedly agreed to let him leave for seven million to generate much-needed income.
* Top seed Carlos Alcaraz reached the semi-finals at the Queen's Club Championships with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov on Friday as the Spaniard warms up for Wimbledon. The world No. 2 is playing on grass for the first time since his fourth-round Wimbledon exit last year as he acclimatises to the surface and the win was his best performance this week.
* South Africa's experienced defender Janine van Wyk has had to be left out of their 23-player squad for the women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, but coach Desiree Ellis has been able to recall pacy forward Thembi Kgatlana.
* Lionel Messi said he and his family had trouble adapting after his move to Paris St Germain in 2021, and he said the boos and jeers directed at him towards the end of his stint was something team mates Kylian Mbappe and Neymar also endured. The Argentine great did not renew his contract with PSG this month after two years and he announced on June 7 that he will join MLS side Inter Miami, leaving some fans disappointed with his performance.
* Toyota's Sebastien Ogier led after the first leg of Kenya's Safari Rally on Friday while Hyundai's title contender Thierry Neuville smashed his car's suspension and retired from the day's action. Eight times world champion Ogier, who is competing part-time this season, was 22.8 seconds clear of team mate and 2022 winner Kalle Rovanpera after the day's six stages over rutted, rocky and sandy tracks.
* Karen Khachanov has been forced to withdraw from the Wimbledon Championships next month after the Russian said on Friday he had suffered a stress fracture in his back at the French Open. Ranked number 11 in the world, Khachanov reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros where he took a set off Novak Djokovic before losing to the Serbian who eventually won the title.
