Saudi Arabia - players.bio

Bayern a ‘top club’, but Kane focused on Spurs

LONDON: Tottenham striker Harry Kane said his head has not been turned by speculation linking him with a move to Bayern Munich as the England captain prepares for a huge few months for club and country. Kane failed to engineer a move to Manchester City last year and has just over 18 months left on his contract at Tottenham. Bayern are rumored to be preparing a bid for the 29-year-old to succeed Robert Lewandowski as the German champions’ center-forward.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina to tackle UAE in Abu Dhabi days before World Cup kickoff

DUBAI: Football fans in the Emirates will be able to get a close look at one of the greatest players of all time only days ahead of what could well be his last World Cup, when Argentina take on the UAE in a friendly match on Nov. 16 at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. The Abu Dhabi Sports Council on Monday announced that Lionel Scaloni’s squad will jet into the UAE capital for their final pre-tournament preparations before heading off to Doha. They will hold an open training session at Al-Nahyan Stadium on Nov. 13. Tickets for both events are already on sale.

Neuer ruled out for Bayern game at Viktoria Plzen

MUNICH, Germany: Bayern Munich goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer will miss Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Czech side Viktoria Plzen with a bruised shoulder, his club said. The German champions will clinch a place in the last 16 with two games to spare should they win and Barcelona fail to beat Inter Milan at Camp Nou.

Clubs to receive over $200 mn World Cup compensation

LAUSANNE: FIFA will distribute 209 million dollars (215 million euros) to clubs that release their internationals for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the same amount as four years ago in Russia, football’s world governing body announced on Tuesday. Each club will receive “approximately 10,000 dollars” for each one of the days the relevant player remains with his national team during the tournament, including the preparation period.