Diego back for second spell at Atlético

Club Atlético de Madrid have re-signed their 2012 UEFA Europa League winning midfielder Diego from VfL Wolfsburg on loan until the end of the season.The 28-year-old – 33 times an international for Brazil – scored six goals in 43 appearances in all competitions for Los Rojiblancos during a loan spell at the Vicente Calderón in 2011/12. His...

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Premier League transfer spending sets £760m record

1 February 2014Last updated at 01:14 By Bill WilsonBusiness reporter, BBC News Manchester United bought Juan Mata this month from Chelsea for £37.1m Transfer spending by Premier League clubs has set a new record of £760m this season, industry experts say. Club spending in the 2013-14 season included £130m in January’s transfer window,...

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Ducati MotoGP test team already on track at Sepang

The official MotoGP test does not get underway until Tuesday, but Ducati began a private test with its development team at the Sepang circuit today, as this picture (below) posted by test rider Michele Pirro illustrates:“Busy day at #sepang for heat. The two-month break were felt, but the feelings are good. Tomorrow we will continue the development @DucatiMotor @sidisport @Spyke_spa @SanCarlo # blauer helmets # polizia” Next...

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MotoGP: Team Gresini Shows Off Its 2014 Colors

The Go & Fun Honda Gresini MotoGP team was introduced today in San Marino, the Fausto Gresini-led squad of Alvaro Bautista and Scott Redding showing off the new livery of their Hondas. Bautista will ride the factory spec RC213V while Redding will make his MotoGP debut on the new RCV1000R in the new “Open” category. “Everything for me is completely different here: it’s a new challenge, which is what I like,” Redding said at...

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Borussia Dortmund have signed Serbian midfielder Milos Jojic on a four and a …

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Taarabt eyes Balotelli link

AC Milan have confirmed the loan signing of Moroccan international Adel Taarabt from Queens Park Rangers FC until the end of the season.The former RC Lens attacking midfielder, who has spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Fulham FC, becomes Clarence Seedorf’s fourth recruit of the January transfer window, arriving at San Siro...

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Premier League transfer spending hits £700m for first time

31 January 2014Last updated at 11:44 By Bill WilsonBusiness reporter, BBC News Manchester United bought Juan Mata this month from Chelsea for £37.1m Transfer spending by Premier League clubs this season has passed the £700m mark for the first time, says Deloitte. So far, £725m has been spent in the 2013-14 season, including £95m during...

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Toyota rules out 2015 World Rally Championship return and eyes 2017

Toyota has quelled speculation that it could rejoin the World Rally Championship as early as 2015 – despite president Akio Toyoda speaking openly about a return for the first time.Toyoda made a guest appearance on television channel J-Sport’s power stage coverage during the Monte Carlo Rally, where he talked about Toyota coming back to...

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Arsenal midfielder Ramsey doubtful for Bayern tie

Arsenal FC could be without midfielder Aaron Ramsey for both legs of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie against FC Bayern München because of a thigh injury.Ramsey has been out of action since picking up the problem during Arsenal’s 3-1 victory at West Ham United FC on Boxing Day. The 23-year-old was expected to return towards the...

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Real Madrid hoping Bilbao do not burst their bubble in La Liga

Madrid: Real Madrid’s 11-match unbeaten run has lifted confidence and closed the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid but their form faces a stern test at Athletic Bilbao’s new San Mames stadium on Sunday.The Basque club, fiercely proud of their heritage and always keen to thwart their detested rivals from the capital, are...

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Hyundai Shell World Rally Team aims to accelerate development at Rally Sweden

The Hyundai Shell World Rally Team is looking to continue its ambitious learning curve at the next round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Rally Sweden, which takes place next week.Heading into only its second competitive rally outing, the Alzenau-based team will be determined to complete the challenging 24 special stages with both...

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Bundesliga: Bayern Munich resume march towards second straight Bundesliga …

With Bayern Munich edging towards a second straight Bundesliga title, the focus in German football has shifted to becoming the best of the rest. Bayern opened up a 13-point gap at the top of the table with a dramatic turnaround victory at Stuttgart, emphasising, if it were at all necessary, that they are in a league of their own once again this season.With few now doubting that Pep Guardiola will crown his first season in charge...

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Leverkusen loan Guardado

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed versatile Mexican international Andrés Guardado on loan from Valencia CF until the end of the campaign, with an option to make the deal permanent.“The offer from Leverkusen was a great chance for me to start something new,” said left-back cum left midfielder Guardado, who leaves Valencia after 48 Liga appearances...

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Sibiu Rally: Safety concerns lead to cancellation

Round three of the 2014 FIA European Rally Championship, the Sibiu Rally Romania, has been postponed amid safety concernsThe event was planned as a winter event, but has been cancelled in its original date due to exceptional heavy snowfall and forecasts of more severe weather around the competitive route that led to fears that safety would be compromised.Despite the rally not being due to take place for another month – having...

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Paris swoop to bring in Cabaye from Newcastle

Paris Saint-Germain have captured France midfielder Yohan Cabaye from Newcastle United FC for an initial fee thought to be in the region of €23m.Cabaye, 28, has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Ligue 1 champions after passing a medical on Tuesday morning and could make his debut as early as Friday when Paris host FC Girondins...

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Losi Announces New 5IVE Mini WRC RTR

It seems our friends over at Losi have been busy lately in the large scale department with recent release of the 1/5 Desert Buggy Xl and now the newest addition to the 5IVE moniker, the 5IVE Mini WRC. This 1/5 Ready to Run is officially licensed after the John Cooper Works Mini Countryman that competes in WRC competition. Based on the...

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Gresini unveils Redding, Bautista MotoGP colours

The Go&Fun Honda Gresini team launch is currently underway in San Marino, providing the first look at this year’s MotoGP colours.With energy drink Go&Fun continuing as title sponsor for a second season, the green and white livery is unchanged for 2014.But there will be a new bike and new rider with Moto2 star Scott Redding signed up for Gresini’s new Open class Honda. Redding joins Alvaro Bautista, starting his third...

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Maurice Petty inducted into NASCAR Hall of Fame

The Petty dynasty is now completely represented in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.Maurice Petty, 74, was formally inducted Wednesday night into the Hall at Charlotte, N.C., joining his father, brother and cousin as members of the exclusive group.Maurice Petty was the first member of the fifth class to be inducted during Wednesday night’s ceremony. “The Chief” was inducted by brother Richard Petty, 76, the seven-time NASCAR champion...

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Manchester City takes English Premier League lead

High-scoring Manchester City moved into the English Premier League lead, scoring four times in the second half to rout Tottenham 5-1 Wednesday night.Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic and Vincent Kompany scored for City (17-4-2), which moved one point ahead of Arsenal (16-3-4) and three in front of Chelsea (15-3-5), which was held to a 0-0 tie at home by West Ham.City has 68 goals in the league this season...

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English Premier League Where to Watch Live: Tottenham vs Manchester City …

Manchester City will have top spot on their minds when they travel to back-in-the-groove Tottenham in the English Premier League on Wednesday. Where to Watch Live The game is scheduled for a 7.45 pm GMT start with live coverage on Star Sports HD1 in India . The match can also be watched via live streaming online in India HERE. Live...

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Brazil dropped from 2014 MotoGP calendar?

Brazil’s proposed return to the MotoGP World Championship looks set to be delayed by at least one season.The country, which last hosted a MotoGP event at Rio in 2004, joined fellow South American nation Argentina in gaining a new place on the provisional 2014 calendar.But while Argentina was listed with no caveats, the Brazilian round was subject to FIM Homologation of the Brasilia circuit.The MotoGP race is planned for late...

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DFL presents Bundesliga Report 2014: Ninth straight turnover increase

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Bundesliga: German top flight reveals record financial results

The Bundesliga posted a record turnover of 2.17bn euros (£1.78bn) in the 2012-13 season to remain the second biggest league in Europe. The 4.4% rise means it stays behind only the English Premier League. All but one of the German top flight’s 18 clubs posted a profit before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA). Recent...

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Bundesliga Revenue Grows 4.4 Percent

The Bundesliga says revenue grew by 4.4 percent in 2012-13, its ninth straight record season.Its annual report published Tuesday says the operating profit was 383.5 million euros ($523.44 million).Revenue reached 2.17 billion euros ($2.96 billion) and 17 of the 18 top division clubs had operating profits before interest, taxes, depreciation...

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Farfan: ‘An important step’

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Farfan: ‘An important step’

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Fabian Johnson is set for a spell on the sidelines after breaking his hand …

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Ducati to unveil 2014 livery after MotoGP tests

Ducati is not expected to unveil its new MotoGP race livery until after the conclusion of pre-season testing.Ducati’s Julian Thomas told Crash.net that Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso will continue with black bikes when 2014 track action gets underway at Sepang early next month, with the official red livery set to be unveiled during a team presentation in March.The Italian factory has normally been the first to unveil its...

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Tidemand wins Rally Sweden ‘warm

2013 Junior World Rally champion Pontus Tidemand took victory on the Mountain Rally last weekend.Tidemand was taking in the event, the second round in the 2014 Norwegian Rally Championship, as part of his preparation for next week’s Rally Sweden, where he will pilot a M-Sport-run Ford Fiesta RS WRC in what will be only his second outing in a World Rally Car [see separate story - HERE ].The youngster did well too winning all six...

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Ostberg warms up for Rally Sweden with second on Mountain Rally

Citroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT driver Mads Ostberg took the runners-up spot on the Mountain Rally in Norway last weekend.The Norwegian was using the event as ‘test’ ahead of Rally Sweden, round two of the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship, next week. He eventually finished 1 minute 36.3 seconds behind Pontus Tidemand’s Ford Fiesta RS WRC, while Anders Grondal was third in his Subaru Impreza STi.“Second place overall is okay,” Ostberg...

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Balotelli needs love, says Italy coach Prandelli

“Balotelli will learn,” Prandelli told reporters. “He will need a lot of love, he is a guy who we give a lot to and is important for Milan.”The AC Milan forward added to his long list of misdemeanours on Sunday when he was booked for making what Italian media described as a vulgar gesture with his hand to Cagliari supporters after scoring in his side’s 2-1 win.He was booked for the incident and then got into an altercation with...

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Milan take Essien from Chelsea on free transfer

José Mourinho thanked Michael Essien for “giving everything to the club” after allowing the Ghana midfielder to leave Chelsea FC for AC Milan.Essien, 31, has joined the Rossoneri on a free transfer, ending a spell of more than eight years at Stamford Bridge, punctuated by a loan spell under Mourinho at Real Madrid CF last term. He has signed...

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Tidemand wins Rally Sweden ‘warm

2013 Junior World Rally champion Pontus Tidemand took victory on the Mountain Rally last weekend.Tidemand was taking in the event, the second round in the 2014 Norwegian Rally Championship, as part of his preparation for next week’s Rally Sweden, where he will pilot a M-Sport-run Ford Fiesta RS WRC in what will be only his second outing in a World Rally Car [see separate story - HERE ].The youngster did well too winning all six...

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Hayden, Aoyama go green, silver and black in Aspar MotoGP deal

Aspar has announced that Malaysian energy drink Drive M7 will be its new title sponsor for the 2014 MotoGP season – with Nicky Hayden and Hiroshi Aoyama’s Open class Hondas to be painted in the company’s green, silver and black colours.The move is somewhat unexpected given that Power Electronics was still listed as Aspar’s title sponsor on the latest, January 14, version of the 2014 MotoGP entry list.Aspar has been backed by...

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Bradley Smith ready to seize opportunity with ‘both hands’

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Bundesliga Round 18 in Pictures

Bremen and Braunschweig fail to scoreAnd speaking of stinkers. The pitch was snowy, and the temperatures were cold, but that’s not enough to excuse this goalless draw. Scoring chances were few and far between, with visitors Braunschweig having a slight example. The lone point does the Lions little good, though, as they stay last in the table.*http://ift.tt/1n5Dw...

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Juan Mata arrival sparks David Moyes’s Bundesliga transfer tour to transform …

It was an unusually high-profile approach for such a high-profile manager, butMoyes has taken the decision that by travelling in person he will be ableto, as one source put it, “do the sales job” of persuading his targets tocome to United.Having finally been told by Real Madrid that Coentrao will not be loaned thismonth United have considered a move for Southampton’s Luke Shaw, who theygreatly admire, but that is an offer that...

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