The Spanish club managed to remain in profit over the last four financial years despite the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the 893 million euros renovation project of their Bernabeu stadium, set to be concluded by the end of 2023.
* The Velo d'Or will receive an upgrade in pomp this year with the establishment of a ceremony for the annual cycling award, organisers Velo Magazine said on Monday, putting the prestigious honour on par with its footballing counterpart, the Ballon d'Or. The ceremony will be held on Oct. 24 in Paris, and will have awards for the best men's and women's riders, as well as two new awards for classics and two awards for French cyclists.
* The English Football League (EFL) has approved the sale of Leeds United to 49ers Enterprises, who will assume full ownership of the second-tier English club, Leeds said on Monday. Former Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani reached an agreement in June to sell his stake to the 49ers group, the investment arm of the NFL franchise San Francisco 49ers who have been a Leeds shareholder since their initial investment in May 2018.
* Lille have signed Iceland midfielder Hakon Haraldsson from FC Copenhagen on a contract until 2028, the Ligue 1 club said on Monday. The two sides did not reveal the transfer fee but both Danish and French media reported that Lille had paid Copenhagen 17 million euros (US$19.11 million) for the 20-year-old.
* No. 2 seed Qinwen Zheng of China needed just 58 minutes to blank Italy's Sara Errani 6-0, 6-0 in the opening round of the 34 Palermo Ladies Open on Monday in Palermo, Italy. Zheng, ranked No. 26 in the world, had a 4-0 edge in aces, converted six of seven break points and won 51 of the match's total 74 points en route to the double bagel.
* Fifth-seeded Tatjana Maria of Germany had to rally for a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory over Carole Monnet of France in the first round in Budapest. Maria converted six of seven break points during a match that needed 2 hours and 35 minutes.
* A flotilla of 39 boats sailed from the Austerlitz Bridge to the foot of the Eiffel Tower on Monday morning as Paris 2024 organisers tested the 6km route along the Seine river that will kick off the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. The opening ceremony, expected to draw at least 600,000 spectators and see 50 boats sailing the route, will be the first one in the history of the Summer Olympics to be held outside a stadium.
* Researchers have found evidence suggesting that repetitive heading of balls during a professional soccer career is associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment in later life, according to a study commissioned by England's Football Association (FA). The independent research study, jointly commissioned by the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), was conducted by the University of Nottingham and spoke to over 450 retired professional footballers over the age of 45.
* Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he was happy with the speed of the Premier League club's transfer business in the close-season window and there could be further additions to the squad. Arsenal signed Declan Rice from West Ham United for £105 million (US$137.27 million) on Saturday. The England midfielder was their third signing of the window after Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
* The Australian state of Victoria will not host the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to projected cost overruns, placing the future of the quadrennial multi-sport gathering in doubt. Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said that the cost of the Games, which were to have been held in four regional hubs, could blow out to more than A$7 billion (US$4.8 billion) from a budgeted A$2.6 billion if they went ahead.
