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Barca agree to sell striker Villa to Atletico
Barcelona have reached an agreement to sell Spain striker David Villa to Atletico Madrid, the Spanish champions said in a statement on Monday.
The 31-year-old, Spain's all-time leading scorer, will move for a fee of up to 5.1 million euros with Barca reserving 50 percent of the rights over any future transfer.
Gomez to join Fiorentina from Bayern
Mario Gomez will leave Bayern Munich and join Serie A's Fiorentina for next season, ending four years at the Bavarian club during which he scored goals at a prolific rate, won titles and yet ended up losing his first-team place.
Treble-winning Bayern confirmed that the clubs had agreed terms for the 28-year-old Germany international.
"It was Mario Gomez's wish to leave Bayern Munich for Fiorentina," Bayern's chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told the Bavarian club's official website (www.fcbayern.telekom.de).
Fiorentina have steered clear of big-name signings in the last few years and are battling to hold on to key player Stevan Jovetic.
Gomez will have to go without Champions League football next season as Fiorentina finished fourth in Serie A last season, one place off the Champions League playoff spot.
The Germany striker became the Bundesliga's most expensive signing when he moved to Bayern from VfB Stuttgart four years ago and has a prolific record for the Bavarians, scoring 75 goals in 115 leagues.
Ronaldo wants to retire at Real Madrid: Perez
Cristiano Ronaldo wants to play out the rest of his career at Real Madrid, club president Florentino Perez said in an interview on Monday.
The Portugal forward and former World Player of the Year has a contract with the Spanish giants until 2015 but media speculation has linked the 28-year-old with a possible move away from the Bernabeu.
"The person who wants to retire at Real Madrid is Ronaldo, and Real want him to retire here too," Perez, who has just been returned for another four-year term as president, told broadcaster Univision in quotes carried in the Spanish media.
"There haven't been any negotiations (on a new deal) because he is on holiday. Be in no doubt, Cristiano will retire here because he wants to. Just as (Zinedine) Zidane and other great players have done."
Everton sign Wigan's Kone
Ivory Coast striker Arouna Kone has joined Everton on a three-year deal in a move re-uniting him with his former Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez.
The Premier League club said on their website (www.evertonfc.com) on Monday that Kone had joined for an undisclosed fee from relegated Wigan.
The powerful 29-year-old scored 13 goals for the FA Cup winners last season under Spanish boss Martinez, who moved to Everton as the replacement for Manchester United-bound David Moyes.
Martinez first signed the Ivorian international from La Liga club Levante in 2012.
Former Barcelona defender Abidal returns to Monaco
Former France defender Eric Abidal has rejoined big-spending Monaco on a one-year deal after his contract ended at Barcelona.
Monaco said on their website (www.asm-fc.com) that the 33-year-old left back, who began his professional career with them in 2000, was returning after 13 years with Lille, Olympique Lyon and Barcelona.
Abidal said an emotional farewell to Barcelona last month after the Spanish club decided not to renew his contract.
The defender, who won 61 caps for his country and played in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, had fought his way back into the squad after having a liver transplant last year.
Monaco are bankrolled by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev and have been active in the transfer market since winning promotion to Ligue 1 at the end of last season.
Their signings include Colombian striker Radamel Falcao from Atletico Madrid for a transfer fee that media reports said was in excess of 50 million euros.
Aston Villa striker Benteke makes transfer request
Aston Villa's Belgium striker Christian Benteke has asked for a transfer and will be allowed to leave if a suitable offer is made, the Premier League club said in a statement reported by British media on Monday.
Benteke's 19 league goals last season, following his move from Belgian club Racing Genk on a four-year deal for a fee of about seven million pounds in August, helped a struggling Villa side avoid relegation.
The club's manager Paul Lambert was quoted by the BBC as saying he still hoped the 22-year-old, who was fourth-highest scorer in the Premier League last term, would stay at Villa Park.
"While we're hugely disappointed that Christian has put in a transfer request, it's important that people appreciate we are trying to build something strong and vibrant here at the club, something this club demands and stands for, and we want Christian to be part of that," Lambert said.
Benteke, who has been linked with several clubs including Villa's Premier League rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, has not travelled on the Midlands side's pre-season tour to Germany because he has been given extra time off until July 18.
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