MotoGP team Aspar Team will "change its name to honor" ÁNGEL NIETO, the 13-time MotoGP world champion who died in August. The team announced on Tuesday it will be known as Ángel Nieto Team (MARCA, 12/26). ... Former All Black ADAM THOMSON regained mobility and is "expected to make a full recovery" from the illness that has kept him hospitalized for more than a week. The 35-year-old was admitted to a Japanese hospital last Tuesday after experiencing "excruciating" pain that left him unable to walk and "initially had doctors baffled" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 12/27). ... Man City midfielder YAYA TOURÉ "reversed his decision" to retire from int'l football and said that he "wants to help bring through the next generation of Ivory Coast players." Touré, 34, retired in Sept. '16 with more than 100 caps (REUTERS, 12/27). ... BERNARD TOMIC has withdrawn from qualifying for the Brisbane Int'l, "casting further uncertainty over his tennis future." The Australian former Davis Cup player "has entered qualifying for the Australian Open next month but there has been no indication that his involvement in those rounds are in doubt" (Brisbane COURIER-MAIL, 12/27). ... Uruguayan footballer SEBASTIÁN ABREU this week set the Guinness World Record for most professional clubs, "signing a deal with the 26th of his long career." The 41-year-old, who made 70 appearances for his country over 16 years, is "still going strong," and will join Chilean club Audax Italiano for '18. Abreu's career "has taken in 11 countries, including seven teams in Mexico and four in Brazil" (London DAILY MAIL, 12/27).
