MADRID – Real Madrid has signed Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City on loan until the end of the season with an option to buy the Togolese striker.
The Spanish club announced the deal Tuesday on its website, saying it has ‘a unilateral option’ to purchase the 26-year-old in the offseason.No financial details were released, but Spanish COPE Radio earlier said Madrid will pay US$5,5 million for the forward, who had been little used at the Premier League club after falling down the pecking order. That amount is what Adebayor was reportedly set to earn for the remainder of the current season.Madrid can buy Adebayor, the 2008 African Footballer of the Year, at the end of the season with COPE putting the price tag at US$23,7 million.Manchester City said Adebayor would undergo his medical in the Spanish capital yesterday.Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is desperate to bolster his attack, with Gonzalo Higuain injured and Karim Benzema on unconvincing form. Babel finalises move to HoffenheimBERLIN – Dutch striker Ryan Babel on Tuesday quit Premier League side Liverpool and finalised his transfer to Bundesliga team Hoffenheim on a two year contract for a fee of seven million euros (US$9,5 million).’I am looking forward to my new task at Hoffenheim,’ said the 24-year-old.’My first impressions are very positive. I hope now to be able to quickly get into the team.’The former Ajax star could even make his Bundesliga debut on Saturday against Schalke 04.’We are very proud to be able to sign Ryan Babel, an internationally experienced player from a top club like Liverpool,’ said Hoffenheim manager Ernst Tanner.’We are convinced that he is a big addition for us with his character traits and his sporting qualities.’Babel replaces Senegal striker Demba Ba who has been loaned to Premier League side West Ham for the rest of the season after falling out with the German club when he refusing to attend Hoffenheim’s winter training camp. Van Bommel joins AC MilanMUNICH – Netherlands midfielder Mark van Bommel is leaving Bayern Munich for AC Milan, a move that gives him the chance of winning a league title in a fourth country.The Serie A leaders said Tuesday that the 33-year-old Van Bommel has signed a contract through June 30.’Van Bommel is an important player with international (experience),’ Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said. ‘Milan took the best player available in that position.’Van Bommel was poised to make his Milan debut yesterday in the Italian Cup quarterfinals against Sampdoria along with another newly signed Dutch international, Urby Emanuelson.’We have two new acquisitions who could play, one certainly,’ Allegri added. ‘We don’t have any time and we haven’t tried anything out but they’re very experienced and skilled players and I think they can play just as well.’Van Bommel’s contract with Bayern had been due to expire at the end of the season. Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said the German champions granted his wish to be released early from his contract because of his services to the club.The Dutchman joined Bayern from Barcelona in August 2006 and had been the club’s captain since the 2008-09 season. Before moving to Spain, he played for PSV Eindhoven.He played 185 games for Bayern and scored 16 goals. – Nampa-AP, AFP
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