Short Corner
Vermaelen signs for Vissel Kobe
AFP
Belgian international defender Thomas Vermaelen has become the latest high profile player to move to Japanese team Vissel Kobe, according to a report in the Belgian daily Het Laatste Nieuws.
The 33-year-old, whose contract with Barcelona has now expired, will team up with David Silva, Lucas Podolski and his former Barca captain Andres Iniesta.
Vermaelen, who is reported to have turned down an offer to join Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht, passed his medical and visited the club’s training complex.
Vermaelen began his career at Ajax before moving on to Arsenal and Barcelona with a loan spell at Roma.
He has played 74 times for Belgium, most recently in the 3-0 Euro qualifier win against Scotland in June.
Wolves return to Europe after 39 years
AFP
Wolves marked their return to European football after a 39-year absence with a 2-0 home win over Crusaders of Northern Ireland in the Europa League second qualifying round on Thursday.
Diogo Jota and Ruben Vinagre were on target at Molineux in the first leg clash.
However, it was a nervous evening for the Premier League side with Vinagre’s goal only coming in injury time after a mistake by goalkeeper Sean O’Neill.
Rangers were also 2-0 winners over bogey team Progres Niederkorn at Ibrox.
The part-timers from Luxembourg dished out one of the biggest upsets in Rangers’ history when they dumped Pedro Caixinha’s side out of the same competition two years ago.
Joe Aribo and on-loan Liverpool youngster Sheyi Ojo were on the scoresheet in a game which saw skipper James Tavernier miss a second-half penalty.
Aston Villa sign Luiz
Reuters
Aston Villa have signed Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz from champions Manchester City for an undisclosed fee, the promoted Premier League club have said.
Villa did not give financial details but the BBC reported the deal for the 21-year-old was worth 15 million pounds ($18.66 million) which took their close season spending past 100 million pounds for 10 new players.
“Douglas is an extremely talented young player with an outstanding pedigree who I am sure will fit nicely into our style and system of play,” Villa boss Dean Smith said.
Luiz joined City in 2017 but never played for Pep Guardiola’s side, spending the last two seasons on loan in Spain’s Girona.
Villa, who are preparing for their first season back in the English top flight since 2016, visit Tottenham Hotspur in their opening league fixture on August 10.
Mendy adds to Real injury woes
AFP
Real Madrid’s Ferland Mendy has been added to Zinedine Zidane’s growing injury list after the Spanish club confirmed on Thursday the France left-back had suffered a calf injury.
Mendy, 24, signed for the La Liga giants in July and heaps further pressure on Zidane’s squad after midfielder Marco Asensio ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and winger Brahim Diaz suffered a thigh problem.
Newspaper AS reported Mendy, who cost the Bernabeu outfit a reportedly 50 million euros ($55 million), could miss up to four weeks.
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