Pato reiterates desire for European return

The former Milan forward dismissed questions about a potential move to Palmeiras, reaffirming his intention to return to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean
Alexandre Pato has reiterated his desire to secure a transfer to a European side.

The former AC Milan striker's loan spell with Sao Paulo comes to an end next month and president of his parent club Corinthians, Roberto de Andrade, previously said they are "praying to sell" him.

Pato, who has been linked with Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, said he would be cheering for Palmeiras against Santos in the Copa do Brasil final, even though such a result could potentially rob Sao Paulo of a place in the Copa Libertadores next year.

"Santos are a great club, but I will be supporting Palmeiras," Pato said.

"[President] Paulo Nobre is a good guy and has done a great job at Palmeiras. We have to rely on our own work.

Cristiano Ronaldo: I want to retire with 'dignity', not in USA, Qatar or Dubai

Cristiano Ronaldo said Friday that he wants to end his career “with dignity” and not playing in “the United States, Qatar or Dubai”. The Real Madrid and Portugal star, the subject of a new documentary that premiered on Monday in London, said Thursday in an interview on ITV’s The Jonathan Ross Show that he expected to play six or seven more seasons and hoped to finish his career at the highest level. The remarks ostensibly referenced the recent wave of top players who have finished their careers outside of Europe’s top leagues, among them MLS imports Didier Drogba, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and David Villa, along with Xavi, the lifelong Barcelona midfielder who signed with Qatari club Al Sadd in May. “That does not mean it’s bad play in the leagues of the United States, Qatar or Dubai, but I do not see myself there,” Ronaldo said. Ronaldo, who turns 31 in February, became Real Madrid’s all-time leading goalscorer last month and has th...

Falkirk chairman calls for restructure of ‘outdated’ Scottish league

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Young people to lose access to unemployment benefits as part of welfare reforms

YOUNG people will not be able to get unemployment benefits until they turn 25 under reforms introduced by the Turnbull Government today. The coalition has unveiled wide-ranging welfare reforms in parliament today, including changes to the Newstart program. It hopes to stop people aged 22 to 24 getting Newstart or the Sickness allowance, and they will instead be shifted to the Youth Allowance payment. This will reduce the amount of money that they will be able to get, costing a single person living away from home about $90 a fortnight. They will also be required to study in order to qualify for the payments. “The key aim of this measure is to provide incentives for young unemployed people to obtain the relevant education and training to increase employability,” according to an explanatory memorandum for the bill. However, it says Youth Allowance does allow students to earn a higher amount of money from part-time or casual work than Newstart, before this begins imp...

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