Barcelona president Joan Laporta said on Monday (May 31) that talks over a new deal with forward Lionel Messi  are progressing well, and that the club will be announcing more new signings shortly.

Messi’s current contract expires at the end of June and he is free to discuss a move to another club, but media reports on Tuesday suggested an agreement was imminent

“We’re talking and it’s going well. It doesn’t depend on the audit,” Laporta told a news conference.

“Talks are ongoing with Messi’s people and, as I said, they’re going well. We hope to keep making progress. It’s not done but we know that Leo wants to stay.

“We’ll have more economic information when the audit is finished, but we had this operation in mind before that. I’m sure, as (new signing Sergio) Aguero said, that he wants to play with him.”

Laporta was talking at the presentation of Eric Garcia, a second new arrival at the Camp Nou this week from Manchester City following Aguero.

Both players will join when their contracts expires at the end of June.

He also said that more arrivals were imminent, and that the squad overhaul was designed to show Messi they can compete.

“It’s not a question of money for Messi, and he’s showing a lot of understanding. What he wants is a competitive team capable of winning the Champions League and La Liga,” Laporta said.

“We need to have big refresh and we’re working on it. There will be more presentations of players, we’re working to sign players that improve the first team.

“We need to balance the squad, you will see what’s being worked on. Next week there will be more news.”

Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum and Lyon striker Memphis Depay – both out of contract this summer – have been heavily linked to Barcelona.

Bayern Munich chief executive officer Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is retiring from the club six months earlier than expected, and will be replaced by former goalkeeping great Oliver Kahn.

Rummenigge made the request to step down from his position on June 30, and not Dec. 31 as originally planned, Bayern said in a statement on Tuesday.

“It is the most strategically sensible and logical time,” the 65-year-old Rummenigge said. “We’re coming to the end of the financial year, and at the same time a new phase is beginning with a new coaching team. The new season should be the responsibility of Oliver Kahn as the new CEO right from the start.”

Bayern will start the new season with former Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann in charge of the team. Nagelsmann is taking over from Hansi Flick, who left after leading Bayern to back-to-back Bundesliga titles and will take over the Germany team after the European Championship.

Rummenigge will continue to have a say in European soccer for the next three years. He retains his seat on UEFA’s executive committee which he took in April when he replaced Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, who stepped down amid the turmoil of the Super League plan.

Rummenigge, a former striker who scored 162 goals in 310 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern, became vice-president of the club in 1991. Since becoming CEO in 2002, Rummenigge has helped the Bavarian club increase turnover from 176 million euros ($215 million) to 679 million euros ($830 million). The public limited company behind Bayern posted a profit in every financial year during the period, helping build reserves rarely seen in debt-ridden European soccer.

“Together with (former club president) Uli Hoeneß, he shaped FC Bayern into one of the best clubs in elite international football — both in sporting and economic terms,” Bayern president and supervisory board chairman Herbert Hainer said.

Bayern won the Champions League twice (in 2013 and 2020) as well as 14 Bundesliga and 10 German Cup titles while Rummenigge was chief executive.

The 51-year-old Kahn is being entrusted with ensuring the successes continue. He joined Bayern’s supervisory board in 2019 with a view to becoming CEO in 2022 but will now take over on July 1.

“In the past 18 months, I have become acquainted with all facets of the club and know very well how FC Bayern works and what challenges lie ahead,” Kahn said.

Kahn joined Bayern from Karlsruher SC in 1994 and went on to win eight Bundesliga titles, six German Cups, and the Champions League in 2001. He made 86 appearances for Germany, winning the European Championship in 1996 and finishing World Cup runner-up in 2002.

Kahn was named World’s Best Goalkeeper three times, European Goalkeeper of the Year four times and German Footballer of the Year twice.

“We are all convinced that Oliver Kahn is the right man to successfully shape the future,” Hainer said.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) on Tuesday June 1, confirmed the eventual qualification of Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna for the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.

According to a letter addressed to the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and signed by ITTF Competition Director Gabor Felegyi, Aruna who is the first African in the history of the Olympic Games to make it to the quarter-final stage of the singles event is expected to join 85 others across the globe to compete in the men’s singles event at Tokyo Olympic Games next month.

It is with great pleasure, I advise the qualification of Quadri Arena to compete in the table tennis Men’s Singles event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, on the basis of World Ranking allocation according to the June 2021 ITTF Olympic Qualification Ranking,” Felegyi stated.

He however, stated that NOC is expected to confirm Aruna’s participation on or before June 16.

With this development, Aruna will be making his third appearance at the Olympic Games having featured in London 2012 and Rio 2016 and he will join his compatriots – Olajide Omotayo, Olufunke Oshonaike and Edem Offiong to compete in the singles event at Tokyo.

It was at Rio 2016 in Brazil that Arena stunned the world with his performance as the first African to reach the quarterfinal after edging out some of the best players in the world including former world number one, Timo Boll of Germany before losing to the eventual winner, Ma Long of China in the quarterfinal.

An excited Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of NTTF, Ishaku Tikon said he has been proved right with the confirmation by ITTF as the exploits of Aruna in the last two years were enough to secure a place for him in Tokyo.

“When Aruna got injured during the African Qualifying tournament in Tunis last year, I told the world that he will make it to Tokyo as he is ranked among the top 10 in the Olympic ranking.

Despite the setback in Tunisia, Aruna did not relent in his performance and for me I am so excited as a Nigerian because his qualification will surely motivate others to look up to him and aim for the best in Tokyo,” Tikon said. Already 64 players have so far been confirmed for the men’s singles event while the remaining six slots are expected to be allocated as wildcards

With the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon already gathered in Austria, their Nigerian counterparts in Friday’s friendly match in Vienna, the Super Eagles are also assembling in high number.

Super Eagles media officer, Babafemi Raji says 17 players are already in camp ahead of Friday’s first encounter. The second match is due for June 8.

Already in camp are the three goalkeepers – Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho and John Noble.

Also in camp are vice captain, William Troost-Ekong as well as Alex Iwobi, Shehu Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidozie Awaziem.

Jamilu Collins, Etebo Oghenekaro, Valentine Ozonwafor, Anayo Iwuala, Abraham Marcus, Terem Moffi, Peter Olayinka and Samson Tijani completed the list of 17 players already in Austria.

The four Grand Slams say they want to “create meaningful improvements” in supporting players after Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the French Open.

Osaka, 23, pulled out on Monday – a day after the Slams threatened her with expulsion for not talking to the media.

The Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open have offered their “support and assistance” to her.

“We commend Naomi for sharing in her own words the pressures and anxieties she is feeling,” they said.

“We empathise with the unique pressures tennis players may face.”

The four major tournaments have faced criticism for the way they have handled the issue at Roland Garros.

What does Osaka’s withdrawal mean for tennis?
Osaka withdraws from French Open and reveals ’bouts of depression’
Japanese world number two Osaka announced last week she did not want to do interviews to “protect her mental health”.

On Sunday, Osaka won her opening match against Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig in straight sets and was fined $15,000 (£10,570) for not doing post-match media.

Later that day, a joint statement from Grand Slam organisers said Osaka could face expulsion from the tournament if she continued to avoid them.

On Monday, Osaka pulled out of the French Open and, in the same statement, revealed she has been suffering with “bouts of depression” since winning her maiden major title at the 2018 US Open.

Osaka added she was going to “take some time away from the court now”.

“We wish to offer Naomi Osaka our support and assistance in any way possible as she takes time away from the court,” the Grand Slams said.

“She is an exceptional athlete and we look forward to her return as soon as she deems appropriate.”

The tone of their statement was markedly different to the strongly worded one issued on Sunday, which threatened “more substantial fines and future Grand Slam suspensions” if she continued to avoid the media.

“While players’ wellbeing has always been a priority to the Grand Slams, our intention, together with the WTA, the ATP and the ITF, is to advance mental health and wellbeing through further actions,” it added.

“Together as a community we will continue to improve the player experience at our tournaments, including as it relates to media.

“Change should come through the lens of maintaining a fair playing field, regardless of ranking or status. Sport requires rules and regulations to ensure that no player has an unfair advantage over another.

“We intend to work alongside the players, the tours, the media and the broader tennis community to create meaningful improvements.”

Players rally around in support of Osaka
Osaka’s withdrawal continued to be a major talking point on day three at Roland Garros, with a number of her fellow professionals offering support following their matches.

Coco Gauff, the American world number 25, said she hoped her friend could “push through this” and return “better and stronger”.

“Mental health is a dear subject to me and I feel for her,” 17-year-old Gauff said.

“I hope as a tour that we can find ways to help her and help players going through situations like her.

“The only thing I can do is just reach out and be supportive.”

France’s Gael Monfils said he hoped Osaka would make a “speedy recovery”, saying the sport needs her “back on the court, back in the press conferences and back happy”.

“It’s a very tough situation for her. I feel for her, because I have been struggling quite a lot as well,” added Monfils, who has been open about his own feelings during the pandemic.

“It’s a big moment for everybody, even outside of tennis, what we are experiencing now.”

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams acknowledged that speaking to the media was “definitely not easy to do for anyone”.

“For me personally, I know every single person asking me a question can’t play as well as I can and never will, so no matter what you say or what you write, you’ll never light a candle to me,” said the 40-year-old American.

“That’s how I deal with it. But each person deals with it differently.”

Carlo Ancelotti has left Everton to become head coach of Real Madrid for a second time.

The 61-year-old Italian, who managed Real Madrid for two years between 2013 and 2015, has left Everton after 18 months in charge at Goodison Park.

He succeeds Zinedine Zidane at Real and the move leaves Everton searching for a sixth permanent manager in five years.

Ancelotti has signed a three-year deal at Real and said the move represented “an unexpected opportunity”.

He added: “I have complete respect for everyone associated with Everton and hope they can achieve the exciting opportunities they have in front of them.

“While I have enjoyed being at Everton I have been presented with an unexpected opportunity which I believe is the right move for me and my family at this time.”

Real will present Ancelotti to the media on Wednesday, while Everton said they “will begin the process of appointing a new manager immediately”.

Daily Euros bonus podcast: Balague & McNulty discuss Ancelotti’s switch
‘A brutal truth’ – analysis
Phil McNulty, BBC chief football writer

Everton will have been left stunned by the speed of developments in the last 24 hours as owner Farhad Moshiri’s “Hollywood” manager leaves.

Ancelotti’s arrival was regarded as a real coup by Moshiri, persuading one of the game’s most decorated and respected figures to come to Merseyside to restore Everton to former glories.

The 61-year-old’s reign has been a mixed bag with dreadful home form balanced out by results like their first win over Liverpool at Anfield since 1999 – but ultimately a 10th-place finish in his first full season was a disappointment.

Ancelotti, however, was still held in huge regard by Everton supporters, who have been left bitterly disappointed by his decision to depart.

The brutal truth is that for all Moshiri’s finance and ambition, Everton still cannot regard themselves as anywhere near the elite, which always makes them vulnerable to clubs such as Real Madrid setting sights on their prize assets.

The usual suspects are being linked, such as Eddie Howe after he turned down Celtic, former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo and ex-Everton boss David Moyes – although that is unlikely to happen after he verbally agreed a three-year deal at West Ham after taking them into Europe. Moshiri, though, is something of a wildcard and may have ideas of his own.

‘Carlo Fantastico’ – did you know?
Of managers to have taken charge of at least 10 Premier League games with Everton, their average of 1.53 points-per-game under Carlo Ancelotti is better than under any other previous boss. David Moyes sits second on 1.5
A man to overturn Real’s woes
Ancelotti has won 15 major trophies during his career and is one of only three managers to win three European Cups – along with Liverpool legend Bob Paisley and former Real boss Zidane.

The Italian has domestic titles with AC Milan in his homeland, Chelsea in England, Paris St-Germain in France and also in Germany with Bayern Munich.

Having previously won the Champions League twice with Milan, he guided Real Madrid to a landmark 10th success in the competition in 2014 but departed as manager a year later.

Real won the Champions League three times under Zidane but ended the 2020-21 campaign without a trophy, having finished second in La Liga behind city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has been quick to state his former manager Rafael Benitez – who lives on Merseyside – is an obvious choice for the Everton job.

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Could Rafa Benitez do the job at Everton? I know for a fact he would take it.

“Real Madrid were waiting for Mauricio Pochettino. Paris St-Germain triggered a renewal of his contract. So the only way for Pochettino to go to Real or Spurs is to publicly say ‘I’m leaving’. So that meant Real had to see what is out there.

“It’s a team that has players Ancelotti had in his time there. Florentino Perez decided to sack him having won the Champions League, he felt the team wasn’t working hard enough.

“Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos were asked about him and they said ‘keep him’. He got sacked, the relationship with Perez went sour earlier on and wasn’t great.

“But we reach a moment where Real Madrid need someone that can bring a happy face to the camp and exploit a mixture of youth and veteran figures.”