Former basketball player JORGE GARBAJOSA -- currently working for the Spanish Basketball Federation's (FEB) corporate social responsibility department -- ARTURO AGUADO and ALFONSO CABEZA will be the candidates for the FEB's presidential election on July 9. The term to present a campaign for the FEB presidency expired on June 20, and these three candidates "were the only ones who presented the 18 guarantees necessary to enter the election" (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 6/21). ... Former England captain DAVID BECKHAM "has spoken out in support" of the Remain campaign ahead of Thursday's referendum to decide if the U.K. should stay in the European Union or leave it. Beckham, 41, posted an image on Instagram of himself and former ManU teammate ERIC CANTONA, who is French, "noting that Europe is a team and it needs to play together to succeed." Beckham: "We live in a vibrant and connected world where together as a people we are strong. For our children and their children, we should be facing the problems of the world together and not alone" (PA, 6/21). ... Former ManU Manager LOUIS VAN GAAL "has been linked with the AC Milan job, according to reports in Italy." Gazzetta dello Sport suggested that the Dutchman "has been shortlisted" to replace SINISA MIHAJLOVIC, who was sacked in April. Other candidates to fill the San Siro vacancy include ex-Tottenham Manager ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS and RONALD DE BOER (London INDEPENDENT, 6/21). ... British cyclist MARK CAVENDISH has been included in Team Dimension Data’s "provisional squad" for the Tour de France, along with six African riders. The team is led by Eritrean DANIEL TEKLEHAIMANOT. The African-based Dimension Data, formerly known as MTN Qhubeka, has established itself as a "leading team in major tours" (REUTERS, 6/21).
TOGETHER AGAIN: Former League Championship side Derby County Manager PAUL CLEMENT has been appointed as Bayern Munich's assistant manager. Clement "links up again" with Manager CARLO ANCELOTTI. The pair "previously worked together" at Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris St. Germain (BBC, 6/21).
ZLATAN TO RETIRE FROM INT'L PLAY: Sweden striker ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC said that "he will retire from international football at the end of Euro 2016." The "controversial" player and captain of his country, now 34 years old, has been "strongly linked" with a move to ManU this summer. He will "draw a close to his international career in the coming weeks, also ruling out any chance he will play at the Rio Olympics in August." He said, "I will not participate in the Olympics because my last game will be the last game in this Euro. So let's hope it goes [on] as long as possible" (London TELEGRAPH, 6/21). Ibrahimovic's agent has "dropped the strongest hint yet" that the striker will join ManU -- because he wants "revenge" on new Man City Manager PEP GUARDIOLA. In '09-10, Ibrahimovic "endured one of the low points of his glittering career under Guardiola" at Barça and claimed that he had been "made a worse player by the Catalan, saying he was a Ferrari but driven like a Fiat." Ibrahimovic's agent MINO RAIOLA said, "I think he wants revenge on Guardiola" (London DAILY MIRROR, 6/21).
BLANC TO LEAVE PSG: LAURENT BLANC will leave Paris St. Germain by the end of the week, "despite signing a two-year contract extension in February." The former French World Cup winner "is going through the final discussions over his departure from the Parc des Princes," his agent JEAN PIERRE BERNES confirmed on Monday. Bernes said, "Before the end of the week, PSG and Laurent Blanc will be separated. We're in discussions with PSG directors and it's being done in an excellent atmosphere from both sides" (DAILY MAIL, 6/21).
