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Sport shorts: Man City boss Pep Guardiola hits back at ‘false’ Chinese claims
Ten things from the world of sport on Tuesday 23 July
Chinese state news agency Xinhua has accused City of showing “utter disrespect” to their hosts and fans.
An editorial said: “For the Premier League champions, their appearance in China was nothing more than a commercial obligation, and their lack of enthusiasm and the indifferent treatment of their hosts stands in stark contrast to representatives of other clubs.”
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In response Guardiola said: “I should say I don’t agree and also that it’s false.
“To make a statement like this they have to know exactly what happened here in our club. To come to Asia and experience the culture, the restaurants – it’s amazing to get to know other people.
“That’s why I can’t understand what people are saying. Maybe one journalist is a bit upset, I don’t know why – but it’s far away from the reality.”
2. Messi set for new Barca deal
Lionel Messi looks likely to finish his career at Barcelona following reports that the Catalans are to offer their captain a new contract. Argentine star Messi, 32, has two years left on his current deal, but the Spanish champions want to see him stay for four more years until he is 36.
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The Guardian reports that Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo will not face criminal charges over allegations that he raped a woman at a Las Vegas hotel in 2009. Prosecutors say that there is not enough evidence to bring charges against the Portugal captain.
4. Anderson out of Ireland Test
England bowler Jimmy Anderson won’t be fit to face Ireland in the Ashes warm-up Test match starting tomorrow at Lord’s. The 36-year-old injured his calf playing for Lancashire on 2 July. England are confident their all-time Test wicket taker will be fit for the first Ashes Test against Australia starting on 1 August.
Last week Ben Stokes was nominated for the New Zealander of the Year award, but the England cricketer has confirmed he has pulled out. Stokes, who starred for England in the Cricket World Cup final win against the Kiwis, said in a statement: “I am proud of my New Zealand and Maori heritage but it would not sit right with me to be nominated for this prestigious award. There are people who deserve this recognition more and have done a lot more for the country of New Zealand. I have helped England lift a World Cup and my life is firmly established in the UK - it has been since I was 12 years old.”
6. Baseball star has beard clause in contract
It has been revealed that the Boston Red Sox’s newest pitcher Andrew Cashner negotiated a “beard clause” in his contract with the Major League Baseball team. Cashner has not shaved since 2016 and according to Mass Live he’s “happy to be in Boston where he joins a hairy Red Sox pitching staff”.
7. World Cup dream over for Cipriani?
Danny Cipriani has been dumped from England’s Rugby World Cup training squad in a move that appears to end his chance of playing in September’s showpiece tournament. It’s reported that the Gloucester fly-half, voted the Premiership’s player of the 2018-19 season, was axed “without receiving a word of explanation from Eddie Jones”.
Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane denies that he has disrespected Gareth Bale and claimed that the Welsh forward refused to appear as a substitute in the pre-season defeat against Bayern Munich. Zidane said: “The other day he didn’t get changed for the game because he didn’t want to. The club are trying to find a way out for him.”
Antoine Griezmann has fuelled speculation that Barcelona could be poised to lure Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette to the Camp Nou. Griezmann, who has just signed for Barcelona from Atletico Madrid, was asked in an interview which player he admires. “I would love to play with Lacazette,” he said of his French international team-mate. “He’s a friend of mine, we played together in the national team. He’s an amazing player, has a lot of talent.”
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea wants to become the next captain of the Old Trafford club after agreeing a new deal with the Red Devils. The Spaniard, 28, is set to sign a new £375,000-a-week contract.
