Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed to a "sensational return" to ManU, the club announced on Friday, in a €15M ($17.7M) deal with a potential further €8M ($9.4M) in add-ons, according to sources. The 36-year-old has returned to Old Trafford 12 years after leaving the club and will sign a two-year contract. ManU "posted a collage of Ronaldo from his previous playing days at the club on Twitter" along with the words, "Welcome home, @Cristiano." The Portugal international left ManU after six seasons for Real Madrid in '09 for a then world-record fee of £80M but will now make an "emotional return."

It was reported in June that Ronaldo's representatives were "gauging interest from some of Europe's top clubs," and Man City was one of the clubs that "looked at the possibility." Talks between Ronaldo, ManU and Juventus began on Thursday night. Ronaldo did not train with Juventus on Friday, and instead left Italy on a private jet. Juventus Manager Massimiliano Allegri later confirmed that Ronaldo had asked to leave the club before the transfer deadline on Tuesday (ESPN.com, 8/27). Even by "the standards of football transfers, which often defy all rational thought, this was a headspinning 24 hours" (London TELEGRAPH, 8/27).

The deal highlights the "enduring appeal of Ronaldo -- both on and off the pitch -- despite his advancing years." ManU's N.Y.-listed shares rose 7% on Friday, valuing the club at more than $3B by market capitalization. Ronaldo's imminent return to the EPL marks the "latest twist in a remarkable summer" for high-profile soccer transfers. Despite being in the "tail-end of their careers," both Ronaldo and Lionel Messi "remain highly attractive to commercial partners." Although ManU's finances have "suffered from the pandemic," the club has "avoided asking shareholders for more capital." However, Juventus on Wednesday approved a €400M ($472M) equity fundraising to strengthen its balance sheet (FINANCIAL TIMES, 8/27).

New Zealand Rugby named French building materials company Altrad the All Blacks' jersey sponsor in a six-year deal beginning in '22. In addition to the All Blacks and senior women's team (the Black Ferns), the French company will also be on the front of jerseys for the All Blacks Sevens, Black Ferns Sevens, Māori All Blacks and the New Zealand U20s. It is the second major partnership NZR has completed with a European company following the six-year deal with British multinational petrochemical company INEOS, which was confirmed in June. The French company was in talks with NZR in April to replace current shirt sponsor AIG, with that arrangement "coming to a close" at the end of the '21 season.

The All Blacks and France will play against each other with the "same logo plastered across their chests." It's "not uncommon for international teams to share the same logo of a jersey manufacturer but to feature the same sponsor is unusual" (STUFF.co.nz, 8/27). The deal is reported to be worth in the region of £90M ($123.9M) to the NZR over the span of the agreement (RUGBYPASS, 8/27).

LaLiga on Friday said it had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over FIFA's decision earlier this year to extend the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying window until September 10, with LaLiga clubs due to play league matches just 24 hours later. On Thursday, LaLiga said it had "held a meeting with all concerned teams, who agreed not to release their players for international duty." FIFA extended the CONMEBOL window due to qualifiers originally scheduled for March being moved becaus of the COVID-19 pandemic. LaLiga's decision to seek legal backing "comes just two days after" FIFA President Gianni Infantino called on LaLiga and the EPL to "show solidarity" and "preserve and protect sporting integrity" after clubs from both leagues said they would not allow players to travel to South America (REUTERS, 8/27).

Meanwhile, EPL managers have "backed the clubs' decision not to release players for matches in red-list countries during September's international break." Man City Manager Pep Guardiola said it "made no sense" to release players. Guardiola: "We have to say again today what is the position of the club and the Premier League because it is not just Manchester City. It is a problem of the calendar and the schedule." Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp: "As the club we cannot do that [release players], not just because we lose them for games but we also lose them for 10 days training" (BBC, 8/27). U.K. PM Boris Johnson is expected to snub a direct plea from Infantino to help solve the conflict by relaxing the U.K.’s coronavirus quarantine rules (London TELEGRAPH, 8/26).

Italian venue Mugello has "emerged as a potential candidate" for a '21 F1 Grand Prix date as the sport's execs "scramble to save the Turkish GP." The Istanbul race "remains in doubt" after the U.K. government "decided to keep Turkey on its COVID-19 red list when the latest updates were announced on Thursday." The next review of the U.K.'s list is not expected until September 16. Mugello is being considered as a possible replacement, despite F1 "previously stating that there would be no European races" after the "planned run of flyaway events" begins with the Russian GP on September 26. The Italian venue, which "successfully hosted its first F1 race last September, would be a popular choice with fans, teams and drivers." However, it would have to "make sense commercially for all parties, and that could yet prove to be a stumbling block" (MOTORSPORT, 8/27). 

Meanwhile, McLaren F1 has introduced a "new and innovative" Paddock Engineering Centre for the Belgian Grand Prix, "aimed at improving the work environment for engineers and reducing the team's carbon footprint." Having worked with motorsport truck specialists Schuler, McLaren has "revamped its working space behind the pit garages with a new facility." As well as "ensuring that its infrastructure is better suited to the demands of a current F1 team," the new design means McLaren can "reduce the number of trucks it takes to races to just four," down from six (MOTORSPORT, 8/27).

FIFA said that it is "negotiating the complex evacuation" of soccer players and other athletes from Afghanistan. The Australian government evacuated 50 female athletes on Tuesday after sportswomen "expressed fears for their safety under the Taliban regime." And "many of the country's female footballers have gone into hiding." FIFA said it is working with "governments and relevant organisations." Two explosions at Kabul airport on Thursday killed at least 60 people and injured 140 others. FIFA wrote to a number of governments earlier in August to request the evacuation of female players (BBC, 8/26).

The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will be played in Prague this year after the Czech capital was "named as the replacement venue following the withdrawal of Budapest" (BBC, 8/27).

AC Milan announced a new partnership with water brand Lete, which will become the club's official water partner (AC Milan).

UEFA and South Korean tire manifacturer Hankook Tire renewed their partnership, with Hankook committing to a fourth consecutive multi-season sponsorship cycle (UEFA).

W Series drivers Ayla Agren and Beitske Visser have been "taken to hospital after a multi-car crash at the Belgian Grand Prix" (BBC, 8/27).

EPL side Wolverhampton Wanderers has formed a new partnership with global payment firm AstroPay in a one-season deal, while also renewing its deal with bookmaker Boyle Sports for another year (EUROPEAN GAMING, 8/26).

The Tennis Channel announced the launch of its first 24/7 dedicated tennis network in India. The channel will be available on Samsung TV Plus and will provide a selection of live tennis (TENNIS.com, 8/27).

Hong Kong has been named as one of the co-hosts of the '25 National Games of China along with Macau and Guangdong province (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 8/26).

"I was asked to do a video supporting the vaccination program, which I thought was responsible, and of all the things that I've received abuse for over the summer, of which there's been several, that's probably the one I've received the most abuse over. So I'm probably going to keep out of that argument for the time being" -- England Manager Gareth Southgate, on the response he received after appearing in a video encouraging people to take a COVID-19 vaccine (ESPN.com, 8/27).

The N.Y. Times' Rory Smith writes that this week, which has been marked by speculation about Kylian Mbappe moving to Real Madrid and other stars making headline moves, could "mark a definitive shift into an era in which the transfer of players is not a means to an end, but an end in itself, where what matters most is ... the act of signing them, the fact of possessing them."

The London Telegraph's Luke Edwards writes that "Cristiano Ronaldo won't bring back the golden years but this is the day Manchester United fans have dreamed of."

I’m going to say it. This doesn’t make Manchester United better. It does bring attention though.

— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) August 27, 2021

‘Agent Bruno’? 💼 😂
Welcome back home @Cristiano 🙌🐐 https://t.co/YoFBamTIAQ

— Bruno Fernandes (@B_Fernandes8) August 27, 2021

Im very happy to announce that I'm continuing with @redbullracing for next year. Now our focus is on winning the championship for the team.
Muy feliz de anunciarles que continúo con el equipo para la próxima temporada, ahora el enfoque es en ganar el Campeonato para Red Bull. pic.twitter.com/uEdy0oGmAp

— Sergio Pérez (@SChecoPerez) August 27, 2021

Aston Villa are delighted to announce a new and exciting partnership with global multi-asset investment platform @eToro.

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 26, 2021

🤝 #NUFC are pleased to welcome multi-asset investment platform @eToro as an official club partner.

⚫️⚪️

— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 26, 2021