Barcelona sign Murillo on loan
Barcelona: Barcelona have signed Colombian international centre-back Jeison Murillo on loan from Valencia until the end of the season, the two clubs announced on Thursday. The La Liga leaders have struggled defensively this season, conceding 19 goals in 11 league games before a run of three consecutive clean sheets, while also losing defenders Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen to injuries. Barcelona said that they will have an option to make the deal for Murillo permanent in June for 25 million euros ($28.7 million). Spanish media reported that Barca coach Ernesto Valverde had made a special request for the club to sign Murillo, despite the 26-year-old having played only one La Liga match all season. Murillo has played 27 times for Colombia and has previously spent two years at Inter Milan.
Asensio ruled out of Club WC final
Pune: Real Madrid midfielder Marco Asensio is set to miss the FIFA Club World Cup final against home favourite Al-Ain after sustaining a right leg muscle injury that could sideline him for a month, the Spanish powerhouse said on Friday. During the few minutes he played in Madrid's 3-1 win over Kashima Antlers of Japan in the semi-final, Asensio struggled again with muscle discomfort and missed the group training on Thursday, reports Efe news. "Following tests carried out on Marco Asensio by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a grade II muscle injury in the right rectus femoris," the club said in a statement. Although the statement did not reveal how long Asensio was expected to be sidelined, the estimated recovery time in these cases is a month. Seeking their third Club World Cup in a row and the fourth in general, Real Madrid is to take on first-timers Al-Ain who reached the final with three wins under its belt.
Ramanathan gets wild card in tata open
Pune: India's number one singles player Prajnesh Gunneswaran was on Friday handed a wild card entry into the main draw of the Tata Open Maharashtra ATP tournament, to be held here from December 31 to January 5. Gunneswaran and Ramkumar Ramanathan will be the two wild card entrants while S K Mukund and Saket Myneni will have to go through the qualifiers. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will inaugurate the upcoming Tata Open Maharashtra to be played at the Mhalunge Balewadi Stadium. "Tata Open Maharashtra is one of Asia's best ATP World Tour event and we want to continue to grow to become the best by having the best players, providing best infrastructure and give a platform to upcoming talents from the country like Prajnesh who has rightfully earned the wild card entry for the event," said tournament director Prashant Sutar. Currently ranked 107, Gunneswaran will become the first Indian singles player in the main draw which has five players from top-50.
Delhi set to take on Madhya Pradesh
New Delhi: All but out, Delhi will be hoping for a miraculous turnaround when they take on a formidable Madhya Pradesh led by Naman Ojha in their sixth round Ranji Trophy encounter starting on Saturday. Regular speedsters Kulwant Khejroliya (back from injury) and Navdeep Saini (back from A Tour) will be sharing the new ball while Himmat Singh is back after a successful Emerging Asia Cup along with skipper Nitish Rana. Unmukt Chand also gets a shot at redemption and is expected to open alongside Hiten Dalal, who has shown a lot of spunk up the order. Kunal Chandela, the find of last season, might have to sit out for this match against a Madhya Pradesh team that has one of country's fastest bowlers Avesh Khan in their ranks. Add to it, Madhya Pradesh also has consistent Rajat Patidar (558 runs) and world record holder Ajay Rohera, who had hit 267 not out on his first-class debut. Naman Ojha's experience and Aryaman Birla's youthful exuberance will also be a test for the Delhi side.