Ronaldo Heads to Real Madrid
Real Madrid said Saturday it had signed Brazilian star striker Ronaldo from Inter Milan.
In a short statement, the soccer club said Ronaldo will arrive in Madrid on Monday. More details from the club were expected later.
Inter confirmed the deal on its Web site, but did not give any details either.
Spanish news reports said the Spanish powerhouse will pay $34.6 million for the transfer of one of the world’s leading strikers.
In addition, the deal reportedly includes the transfer of an undetermined Madrid player to Inter, although the player will not move to Italy until January. The report valued the total deal at $44.5 million.
In announcing the Ronaldo deal late Saturday, Inter also confirmed that it had acquired Argentine striker Hernan Crespo.
Ronaldo reportedly wanted to leave Italy due to difficult relations with Inter’s Argentine Coach Hector Cuper, among other reasons.
Upon returning to Spain, Ronaldo will join one of the most talented clubs in the sport. Real’s roster already features such international stars as France’s Zinedine Zidane, Portugal’s Luis Figo, Brazil’s Roberto Carlos and Spain’s Raul Gonzalez.
Golf
Gene Sauers shot a five-under-par 66 to take a one-stroke lead after the third round of the Air Canada Championship at Surrey, British Columbia. The 40-year-old Sauers, who won the last of his two PGA Tour titles in 1989 and hasn’t had a full tour card since 1996, had a 13-under 200 total.
Australians Peter Lonard and Robert Allenby were a stroke back after 68s.
South Korea’s Mi Hyun Kim pitched in for eagle on the 17th hole for a share of the third-round lead with France’s Patricia Meunier-Labouc in the State Farm Classic at Springfield, Ill.
Kim, the 1999 tournament winner who is seeking her third victory of the year, shot a four-under 68 to match Meunier-Labouc (72) at 13-under 203 on the Rail Golf Course. Kim holed a an eight iron from 106 yards for the eagle on the 355-yard 17th hole.
South Africa’s John Bland had a hole-in-one in a tournament-record eight-under 63 to take the second-round lead in the Allianz Championship at West Des Moines, Iowa. Bland used a five-iron to ace the 175-yard 16th, and made a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for an 11-under 131 total and a two-stroke lead over Bob Gilder.
Motor Sports
Jeff Burton won the rain-shortened Gatorade 200 at Darlington, S.C. The race was stopped 300 yards from the halfway point of the event, just short enough to stop it from being an official event. But after an hour wait, the event was finally called and the pace car led the field over the line.
It was Burton’s third-straight Busch series win at Darlington. Jason Keller finished second, Jeff Green was third and was followed by Busch series points leader Greg Biffle and Jack Sprague.
Rain has washed out most of the on-track activities at Darlington this week, with qualifying for both the Busch race and today’s Winston Cup event being called off.
Bruno Junqueira overcame an increasingly treacherous track to win the pole position for the inaugural Shell Grand Prix of Denver.... Five-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher grabbed the pole for the Belgian Grand Prix, the first time he will start in front at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.
Thousand Oaks’ Doug McComb earned his first win in the Southern California Auto Club Late Model series in the 50-lap main event at Irwindale Speedway in front of 5,642.
In the 35-lap Grand American Modified series feature race, Travis Thirkettle earned his second consecutive victory.
Miscellany
Philadelphia Flyer forward John LeClair has been cleared to resume skating, seven weeks after surgery to remove scar tissue from his back.
Joseph McCluskey, who won a bronze medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 1932 Summer Olympics, died at his home in Madison, Conn. He was 91.
