≥ Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski trained with a protective mask and could face Barcelona in Wednesday’s Uefa Champions League semi-final, first-leg, despite a broken cheekbone, teammate Jerome Boateng confirmed on Monday. “He moved well and made a good impression. It looks like he’s fit and motivated to play,” Bayern defender Boateng said at Munich after training with Lewandowski. “He didn’t have any fear. He is very brave and he will get used to the mask, I don’t think it’ll be much of a problem.” Lewandowski, 26, the top scorer for the German champions with 23 goals, sat out Bayern’s 2-0 league defeat at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday in an attempt to be fit for the first leg at the Camp Nou. The striker broke his nose and cheekbone and was concussed during a clash with goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak late in Munich’s German Cup semi-final defeat to Borussia Dortmund last Tuesday. Bayern have said they will leave the decision to Lewandowski as to whether he plays, but the Poland international posted a picture of himself wearing the mask on Sunday with the text “Ready for the next challenge” in Polish.
Mainz
The Bundesliga side have offered veteran midfielder Elkin Soto an extra year’s contract after he dislocated his knee in a horror injury that threatens to end his career. The Colombian, 34, travelled to see a German knee specialist yesterday and is expected to have an operation soon. He tore the cruciate and medial ligaments after dislocating his left knee during a first-half clash with Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart during Mainz’s 2-1 defeat to Hamburg on Sunday. Soto was carried off on a stretcher in clear distress. “I have been around for a long time, but I have never seen a knee like that,” said Mainz’s visibly shaken team manager Christian Heidel.
Tottenham Hotspur
Former England and Tottenham Hotspur striker Jimmy Greaves has suffered a severe stroke and is in intensive care in hospital, his family said Monday. A family statement said Greaves, 75, had been taken ill on Sunday and was taken to hospital. “His wife, Irene, and four children have asked for privacy during what is a worrying time for the family,” read the statement. “Jimmy had a minor stroke in 2012, but appeared to have made a full recovery. He was to be inducted into the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame on May 13 at a sell-out ceremony at White Hart Lane.” Greaves was part of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad and, with 44 goals in 57 games, is the country’s fourth-highest scorer of all time. He scored 266 goals in 379 matches for Tottenham during a golden era for the London club and also played for Chelsea, AC Milan and West Ham United.
Wolfsburg
Germany striker Max Kruse is set to join Wolfsburg from Borussia Moenchengladbach for next season after confirming he has had a medical check with his team’s Bundesliga rivals. The forward, 27, who has won 11 caps for Germany but was not part of the squad that won the 2014 World Cup, has a contract with Gladbach until 2017, although a clause in his contract means he can leave at the end of the season. Kruse confirmed on Sunday before Borussia’s 2-1 away win over Hertha Berlin that he has had a medical with Wolfsburg. “I haven’t signed a contract anywhere and I believe we will slowly come to a solution,” Kruse said, who has also been linked with Borussia Dortmund, Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen.
Juventus
The Serie A champions have stressed that Carlos Tevez is not for sale and they expect the Argentina striker to honour his contract with the club. Reports in Italy claimed Tevez was looking to leave the Turin giants this summer to return to Argentina despite having one year left on his contract with Juve. “I know that in his career he has moved a lot and that he is nostalgic about his country,” Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta said. “However, there are no premises for interrupting his contract which expires in 2016.” The former Manchester United, Manchester City and West Ham United striker is in his second season at Juve. Tevez has proved pivotal to the club clinching a fourth straight scudetto, scoring 20 league goals this season to lead the Serie A charts. “He has done really well,” Marotta said. “He has scored almost 40 goals in 57 appearances and at Juve we have been able to enjoy his extraordinary performances.”
Follow us on twitter at @NatSportUAE
