News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Former Brazil and Real Madrid striker Ronaldo Nazario was discharged from an Ibiza hospital on Tuesday after suffering "heavy flu" while on holiday.
The 41-year-old was admitted on Friday after reportedly suffering from pneumonia. Hospital sources told Spanish media that Ronaldo left on Tuesday.
Ronaldo assured fans on social media on Sunday that he was fine and would soon be ready to go home after suffering "a heavy bout of flu."
Ronaldo retired from football in 2011 following a hugely successful career which featured stints at PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Brazilian sides Corinthians and Cruzeiro as well as Real Madrid. He won the Ballon d'Or award for the best player in the world in 1997 and 2002.
Eto'o joins Qatar Sports Club on free transfer
Former Cameroon captain Samuel Eto'o joined the 13th club of his long career when he signed for Qatar Sports Club on a free transfer, days after leaving Turkish club Konyaspor by mutual consent.
The Doha-based club announced the signing on Twitter, saying the 37-year-old would be unveiled later on Tuesday.
Eto'o, a four-time African footballer of the year, becomes the latest big-name arrival to join the Qatar Stars League after ex-Spain international Xavi and former Netherlands playmaker Wesley Sneijder.
He played with Xavi at Barcelona and Sneijder at Inter Milan, winning the Champions League with both teams.
Eto'o is Cameroon's all-time leading goalscorer with 56 goals, and twice an African Cup of Nations winner.
Jorge Costa appointed as Mumbai City FC head coach
Former Portuguese international player Jorge Costa will be the new head coach of Mumbai City FC, the Indian Super League franchise announced on Tuesday.
Costa, 46, who excelled both as a player and manager, will bring a surfeit of experience, having been at the helm of clubs in Europe such as Portuguese clubs SC Braga Paos Ferreira, Romania's CFR Cluj, Greek sides AEL Limassol and Anorthosis Famagusta and the Gabon National Team.
Costa, who played 50 internationals for Portugal, will join the islanders following his latest stint with French Ligue 2 side FC Tours. He will be the fourth head coach in the history of Mumbai City FC after Peter Reid, Nicolas Anelka and Alexandre Guimaraes.
The former Portuguese centre-back played at the highest level of international and club football for over a decade-and-a-half, with his most decorated moment coming in 2004, when he captained FC Porto to UEFA Champions League glory.
Costa, who has signed a one-year contract with the club, said he believes that it has "some of the finest Indian talents" and "I am excited at the prospect of working with them".
Miguel Palanca signs for FC Goa
FC Goa on Tuesday announced the signing of Spanish left-winger Miguel Palanca for the fifth Indian Super League.
The 30-year old will help solidify FC Goa's attacking play. Palanca adds plenty of experience to the Gaurs, having made over 250 appearances in La Liga (Spain), A-League (Australia), Ekstraklasa (Poland) and Cypriot First Division.
Palanca was a product of RCD Espanyol's youth ranks, playing for the first team and B-side in the 2006–07 season. He made his La Liga debut in 2007 against Sevilla FC.
He then spent one season at Real Madrid where he made his debut for Real Madrid in the El Classico against FC Barcelona, before moving on to CD Castellon for the 2009-10 season in the second division.
Palanca then signed a two-year contract with Elche CF and subsequently moved on to CD Numancia where he had a successful stint for one-and-a-half seasons in the second tier. He has also gone on to represent Australian club Adelaide United FC in the A-league, Gimnàstic de Tarragona in Spain and spells in Poland and Cyprus, before being roped in by the Gaurs.
"I am extremely delighted to be signing for FC Goa. The club's past record in the league and the players who are already there along with the overall project are what attracted me the most and I can't wait to get started in the ISL," Palaca’s statement read.
AC Milan sign Chelsea midfielder Bakayoko on loan
AC Milan have signed midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko from Chelsea on loan with the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season, the two clubs said on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old player has joined the Italian top-flight club for a reported loan fee of five million euros ($5.70 million), which will rise by 35 million euros if AC Milan decide to make his move permanent.
The Rennes youth product, capped once by France, moved to the English Premier League club last year from French side Monaco, which he joined in 2014.
Bakayoko made 29 league appearances last season, scoring two goals.
