Digest

SOCCER

Pele 'doing very well' and grateful for support

Brazilian soccer legend Pele has moved to reassure fans that he is in good health as he continues his fight against cancer.

The 81-year-old posted a photo on social media in which he is seen smiling alongside his wife Marcia Aoki at their home in Guaruja, outside Sao Paulo.

"I'm sending this photo to you, just to say thank you," he said in a message accompanying the image. "I am so grateful for having my wife with me, for the laughter, for the peace of my home, and for all your loving messages. I am doing very well and taking care of my health."

The three-time World Cup winner has undergone several sessions of chemotherapy in Sao Paulo since having a tumor removed from his colon last September.

In February, he spent more than two weeks in hospital due to a urinary tract infection.

Yankees, LeBron set to buy stake in Milan

Baseball's elite are getting involved with one of Europe's most celebrated soccer clubs.

The New York Yankees are becoming a minority investor in Italian champion AC Milan, the second soccer team the baseball power will partially own after New York City of the MLS.

A Los Angeles-based fund that includes LeBron James also is becoming a minority investor in the seven-time European champion under RedBird Capital Partners, The Financial Times reported Tuesday. RedBird is nearing a deal to purchase a controlling interest in Milan for 1.2 billion euros ($1.2 billion).

Gerry Cardinale, who founded RedBird in 2014 and is a managing partner, announced a preliminary agreement in June to buy Milan from fellow American firm Elliott Management. The closing will take place by the end of September.

Yankees Global Enterprises, the baseball team's parent company led by the Steinbrenner family, will take a stake of about 10 percent in Milan, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

GOLF

British Open champion Smith joins LIV Golf

British Open champion Cameron Smith has become the latest leading player to sign up to the breakaway LIV Golf Series which on Tuesday announced that he was in the field for its next event.

The Australian was one of six new recruits for the Saudi-backed tour for the LIV Golf Invitational Boston, from Sept 2-4.

As the world's No 2, the 29-year-old Smith will become the highest-ranked player to compete in a LIV Golf event.

Smith was linked repeatedly to LIV Golf shortly after winning the 150th British Open, at St Andrews, last month, but avoided discussion of the subject while playing in this month's PGA FedEx Cup playoffs.

A LIV statement issued Tuesday said Smith would be among five other players making their debuts among a field of 98 at the International in Massachusetts including compatriot Marc Leishman, leading Chilean golfer Joaquin Niemann, Harold Varner III (world no 46), Cameron Tringale (55) and India's top-ranked pro Anirban Lahiri (92).

LIV Golf's record $25 million purses and 54-hole format have attracted several big-name players, including Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson.

ICE HOCKEY

Thompson inks $50m extension with Sabres

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson cashed in on a breakout season by agreeing to a seven-year, $50 million contract extension on Tuesday.

Thompson gets a hefty raise from his current three-year, $4.2 million contract, which runs out after this season. The new deal represents the faith the Sabres have in the 24-yearold, who's coming off a team-leading 38-goal season. Thompson had 68 points in 78 games last season as he nearly doubled his goal and point totals from his first four NHL seasons combined.

"His success last season is a testament to his unrelenting dedication to his craft and commitment to bettering the team both on and of the ice, which we believe will help us reach even greater heights moving forward," general manager Kevyn Adams said in a statement.

Thompson's 38 goals ranked 19th in the league, and he finished tied for eighth with eight multi-goal games, including his first career hat-trick on Feb 19.

Agencies