German international goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen tied his future to Barcelona by extending his contract with the Catalan giants to 2022 on Monday.
“FC Barcelona have reached an agreement with Marc-Andre ter Stegen to extend and improve his contract until June 30, 2022,” Barca said in a statement.
“His buyout clause will rise to 180 million euros.”
Ter Stegen has won nine trophies in three seasons since joining from Borussia Moenchengladbach in 2014.
However, after sharing duties with Claudio Bravo in his first two campaigns, the 25-year-old has established himself as Barca’s undoubted number one in goal since the Chilean joined Manchester City in August.
Tying down Ter Stegen is just the latest in a series of high-profile contract renewals at the Camp Nou as Barca prepare for a new era after the departure of coach Luis Enrique.
Neymar, Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic have all signed long-term deals in the past year, whilst Lionel Messi is expected to become the highest paid player in the world with a bumper renewal in the coming weeks.
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Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Marco Reus has been ruled out for several months with a partial tear of the cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Reus suffered the injury in Saturday’s German Cup final and Dortmund says, “Further examinations will be conducted over the next few days to determine what course of treatment is required. Borussia Dortmund will therefore not make any precise prognosis on the possible length of the player’s absence.”
Reus, who had been left out of Germany’s Confederations Cup squad after a season plagued by injury, suffered the latest blow in the first half of Dortmund’s 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the German season’s showpiece in Berlin.
Dortmund’s win gave the 27-year-old Reus his first title in a career of persistent injury setbacks.
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Kevin Strootman has agreed a new five-year contract at Roma after helping the Giallorossi finish second in Serie A.
The Netherlands midfielder, 27, has recovered well following two injury-ravaged seasons and he was a key player as Roma qualified for the Uefa Champions League group stage ahead of Napoli.
After committing to the club until June 2022 on Monday, Strootman told Roma’s official website: “I want to win something here and I will do all I can to make that happen.
“Everyone at Roma supported me with my injury setbacks, and that’s another reason why I’m so happy to stay.”
Strootman, who arrived in the Italian capital from PSV Eindhoven in July 2013, made 34 appearances in all competitions for Roma in 2016-17, scoring four goals.
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Joe Hart faces an uncertain future with Manchester City after returning from a year with Torino as the Premier League club reportedly negotiate the world-record capture of Benfica goalkeeper Ederson.
Media reports in England and across Europe suggest Pep Guardiola’s City, who finished third in the domestic league, are in talks to sign 23-year-old keeper Ederson.
On Sunday the Brazilian admitted he had “probably” played his last game for Benfica, hours after clinching a campaign double with victory in the Portuguese Cup, while over in Italy, England stopper Hart represented Torino for the last time.
After conceding three goals in the final game of his loan spell, a 5-3 home victory over Sassuolo, Hart bid farewell to the Torino fans. He will not return to Turin as the Serie A club cannot afford him.
On Instagram he wrote: “Thank you Torino... I am so proud to have played for your special football club. The way you have treated me and my family is something that we will never forget.”
Hart returns to the Etihad Stadium unsure what City managerGuardiola has planned for him.
Claudio Bravo endured a shaky start to life in England following his summer switch from Barcelona and while Willy Caballero has been released, the potential capture of Ederson could isolate Hart.
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Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri insists Real Madrid are the favourites to win Saturday’s Uefa Champions League final.
The Italian champions will face the Primera Liga winners and European Cup holders in Cardiff this weekend, two years after they lost to Barcelona under Allegri in the Berlin final.
Juve have had slightly less time to prepare as they concluded their successful Serie A campaign with a win at Bologna on Saturday, while Real wrapped up the Spanish crown on May 21.
Allegri has called for calm, however, telling a pre-match news conference: “We have to approach this week with great serenity, heading towards the game without anxiety.
“We must be optimistic but it does not seem fair to say that Juventus will be the favourites.
“Real are in their third final in four years and are used to playing in them, even though we have been there twice in three years. It will be a wonderful event and we deserve to be there.
“The boys have given their all and we go there with greater knowledge and conviction than we had two years ago, even though we are playing against Real and they are the favourites.
“Getting to the Champions League final gives me great joy, and I’m lucky to be able to sit on the bench in Cardiff on Saturday.”
Defender Giorgio Chiellini added: “We do not want to repeat the mistakes we made in Berlin.
“It is in my nature to try and take the positives out of every experience, even from the bad times.”
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AC Milan chief executive Marco Fassone admits the club will enact a “plan B” if they are unable to keep hold of in-demand teenage goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The 18-year-old has already made over 70 Serie A appearances for Milan and won the first of his three Italy caps against France last September.
His performances have reportedly attracted interest from Italian champions Juventus, LaLiga winners Real Madrid and English giants Manchester United.
Fassone is keen for the young stopper to agree a new deal at San Siro but says Milan will find a way to fill the void if he departs.
He told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “There is hope we will keep him, but we are not only dealing with matters of the heart but with contract issues.
“When we met him and his agent (Mino Raiola) we confirmed our desire to keep him and his eyes betrayed his desire to stay with us. We are expecting a short answer.
“Our intention is not to sell him, but if that happened we are thinking about a plan B.”
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Argentine manager Mauricio Pellegrino says he is leaving Copa del Rey finalist Alaves.
Pellegrino made the announcement on Monday, two days after Alaves lost the final to Barcelona.
The former defender leaves after only one season at the team’s helm.
Alaves, the Basque Country club promoted to Spain’s top flight this season after 10 years in the lower divisions, finished ninth in the Spanish league.
The club was yet to announce Pellegrino’s replacement.
* Agencies
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