Ronaldo Wants To Retire at Real Madrid

Criatiano Ronaldo insisted he wants to finish his playing career at Real Madrid after making more history with the goal that saw the Spanish giant crowned world champion on Saturday.
Ronaldo scored the only goal of the Club World Cup final against Gremio to win the tournament for the fourth time and become the all-time top scorer in the competition with seven goals.
"I would really like to, but things don't depend on me. What depends on me is what I do on the pitch," said Ronaldo, when asked if he planned to retire at Madrid.
"I am not the one who runs the club, that is for those in charge.
"My job is on the pitch and I think I am doing it well, the rest I can't control."
Ronaldo, 32, signed a new deal to 2021 with the club just over a year ago, but sparked speculation over his future after leading Madrid to the Champions League in June due to his apparent discontent with the club's lack of involvement in a tax case brought against him by Spanish prosecutors.
The Portuguese appeared in court in July over accusations he evaded £14.7 million (US$17.3 million) worth of tax between 2011 and 2014.
"Obviously, but at the right moment," said Real coach Zinedine Zidane when asked if Ronaldo should be rewarded with another new contract.
"For us it is fundamental Cristiano stays. He is at his club, his home and no one can do what he keeps doing, so hopefully he stays here until he retires."
Ronaldo has smashed Real's clun records since joining from Manchester United in 2009 and is way out in front as Madrid's all-time top scorer with 434 goals in 414 appearances.
He also picked up his fifth Ballon d'Or to match Barcelona rival Lionel Messi's record mark earlier this month and Madrid president Florentino Perez hailed Ronaldo as the heir to club legend Alfredo di Stefano, who led Real to win the first five European Cups.
"He is the best without doubt. Not just for his talent or his technique but his ambition, his effort, his leadership, it is difficult to find players like Cristiano," Perez told Real Madrid TV.
"I watched Alfredo di Stefano from when I was a kid, he is the successor to him. This is a different Madrid, but Cristiano has marked an era."
Ronaldo claimed he was th best player in history after picking up his latest Ballon d'Or and backed up that bold statement when asked about comparisons to Di Stefano.
"I don't have to keep speaking constantly about myself, I continue to believe what I said two weeks ago at the Ballon d'Or," he said.
"I am very confident person and the numbers don't lie. The numbers speak for themselves.
"I am very happy, I remain very motivated to keep winning things at a collective and individual level. I still feel strong enough continue my trajectory as a player and to win trophies which is what I like most."

Agence France-Presse
Abu Dhabi

Stubborn People Tend To Live Longer, Says Study

Stubbornness is oftentimes the cause of conflict among work peers, but the trait could actually help individuals prolong their lives.
According to a joint study by researchers from University of Rome La Sapienza in Italy and University of California San Diego School, those who possess qualities of positivity and stubbornness and who have a conscientious work ethic lived far longer than their counterparts.
Studying the mental and physical health levels of Italians subjects between the age of 90 and 101, the group discovered that the elderly participants all carried the same traits and even attributed their longetivity to their head-strong personalities.
"There have been a number of studies on very old adults, but they have mostly focused on genetics rather than their mental health or personalities," Dilip V. Jeste, lead author of the study and professor of psychiatry and neurosciences at UC San Diego, was quoted as saying in a report from The Independent.
After subjecting 29 participants who lived in remote villages in southern Italy to a series of tests and interviews, the group listed their younger relatives to confirm the personalities and life-styles of the senior citizens.
Most claimed that being strong-willed had psychological benefits, particularly since the subjects tended to care less about how other people perceived them.
"The main themes that emerged from our study, and appear to be the unique features associated with better mental health of this rural population, were positivity, work ethic, stubbornness and a strong bond with family, religion and land," Jeste added, claiming that those who had passion for rural life also lived considerably longer.
Jeste's group, meanwhile, hopes to follow up on their findings with more longitudinal studies and apply their methods on a much larger scale.
The study, "Researchers Find Common Psychological Traits in Group of Italians Aged 90 to 101," was published in the journal International Psychogeriatrica.

KhristianIbarrola/ra/Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN

World Dream: A Cruise Ship Like No Other

I was soaked in sweat at the end of that perilous mission. I had been thrown into it without any prior knowledge or experience. I survived the "zombies" - but just barely!
Was it dream? Or was it fantasy? Perhaps it was a mix of both, but what I had just experienced was a virtual reality (VR) game where I was strapped upright onto a swivel base, where in that reality I would be battling zombies. And as my avatar ran, so did I, for real, while strapped in place and swivelling 360°.
That was an exhilarating, heart-stopping, adrenalin-pumping workout for 10 minutes.

'Reality' is amazing
The Finger Coaster is one unique experience you should be so lucky to try out.
This experience was part of the many VR games available at the Esc Experience Lab onboard World Dream, the latest luxury cruise ship to hit the waters. There is also another zombie VR game while "riding" a very scary roller-coaster, VR race games involving sports car racing and even a Star Wars-themed one, and two other different VR experiences.
This is how you get to be a 'sky-diver' or an 'ocean diver'.
Want to try skydiving or deep-sea diving? With the Icarus equipment, you can.
But perhaps the most popular VR experience was the Finger Coaster. What? Well a screen will prompt you to pencil in your version of a roller-coaster - the crazier, the better. And it has to be long enough, or else the system would not allow it. Then it would create a 3D imaging of the actual roller-coaster.
After that, you are strapped into a mock roller-coaster to experience a virtual ride with all the bumps and shakes and ups and downs of your very own roller-coaster creation.
Crazy? Definitely! It was also quite fun watching others "ride" their self-made rides - the shrieks, the screams, the joy - quite entertaining and infectious.
We were quite lucky to be among a select group to witness the launch of World Dream, the sister ship of Genting Dream.
World Dream is the second in the Dream Cruises fleet of ships (the first luxurious Asian cruise line), that belongs to the Genting Group.
It was launched on Nov. 17 by Genting Group CEO and chairman Tan Sri Lim KokThay in the presence of Genting Hong Kong president Colin Au and Genting Cruise Lines president Kent Zhu, among other bigwigs, during a glitzy show onboard which cut away to a live video of gigantic champagne bottle being smashed against the ship (the usual ship-christening tradition), followed by a bagpipe band and a glorious fireworks display that could be seen all around Kai Tak and in Hong Kong harbor.
The ship's godmother was also announced - it was none other than Lim's wife, Puan Sri Cecilia Lim. She is also the godmother of Genting Dream, which had moved its home port from HK to Singapore two days earlier.
She took her task as goodmother quite seriously, I noticed. Very sportingly, she happily tried out the Finger Coaster VR experience with her friends the very next day.

Dining at sea
Virtual reality is fun but the real bits are equally enticing. First off, the food options. Onboard are inclusive restaurants, which means you do not have to pay for your meals as the cost is already factored into your cruise fare. The restaurants are: The Lido, on Deck 16 (which has an extensive buffet selection and great ocean views) and Dream Dining (on two levels) for Chinese set meals.
If you feel like trying something else (which is chargeable), you're in for a treat. There are some fine-dining establishments as well as others that are more affordable. For those who enjoy fine Cantonese dining, there is the 'Silk Road & Cabaret, which has a cabaret show for diners; Umi Uma, which offers fantastic Japanese food ever, here - the unagi and the kurage being the standouts among many fine dishes); the popular Prime Steak House & Seafood Grill, for meat and seafood lovers; and Blue Lagoon, which serves South-East Asian favourites and and is open 24 hours a day.
Passengers have a super treat onboard as the shows they put on nightly at the Zodiac Theatre are world-class. The lighting and the backdrop from the state-of-the-art LED lighting is simply amazing. And that's just for starters.
The performers are award-winning international artistes and the twice-nightly 45-minute shows are stunning.
There are even teasers of the show late in the night at Bar 360, as I found out during my two-night cruise.
Outside of the show you can party at the only Zouk (the famous Singapore-based international dance franchise) on a ship. There is even a Zouk Beach Club where you can party by the pool. And for some family time, there's the Cinema as Sea at Zouk and at th Lobby area.
For personal time, leave the kids at the Little Panda Club. Or play the games at the Arcade.
There are all kinds of planned activities throughout the day and night, which all guests can take part in; these are listed daily in the Dream Daily newsletter.
So besides just swimming in the pool, there might be games at the pool area, "safe" archery, bubble football, water slides, a rope course and climbing wall and much more to burn off the calories.
Or get their therapists to pound it away at the Crystal Life Spa (or Crystal Life Asian Spa for Asian-style treatments). I tried a short combo of their classic massages very late at night and it sure helped ease my aches and pains.
For more indulgence, there's always retail therapy onboard!

Ship within a ship
The cabins and staterooms are big and comfortable, and some (like mine) actually have a balcony.
If you need WiFi, it can be purchased and you can then download the app which will display everything you need, from activities to dining reservations, on your phone.
However, there is another part of the ship called the Dream Palace where luxury is taken to greater heights. Massive state rooms, private pool and sun deck, private restaurant all stylishly and luxuriously appointed.
If you are a guest there, it truly seems like a different world, where you are pampered wirh the service of personal butlers.
Dreamy, yes? But that just about sums up the experience onboard this ship!

S.S Yoga/The Star/ANN.

Returning Bale Rescues Real From Al Jazira Upset

Gareth Bale came off the bench to book Real Madrid's place in the Club World Cup final as the European champion recovered from the shock of going behind to beat Emirati champions Al Jazira 2-1 on Wednesday.
Despite dominating throughout, Madrid trailed at half-time to Romarinho's opener in a match also marred by use of the video assistant referee (VAR) that ruled out a goal for both sides.
Madrid's pressure finally paid off 10 minutes into the second half when Cristiano Ronaldo levelled before Bale broke Al Jazira's resistance with his first touch eight minutes from time.
"It:s great to get the goak," Bale told Real Madrid TV. "When you come on you want to make an impact, but the most important thing is to win and be in the final."
Real will go for its fifth trophy of the year whrn it faces Brazilian side Gremio on Saturday.
Bale was making only his second substitute appearance since September due to a series of muscle injuries.
But he showed what Madrid has been missing for most of the season with a calm finish after replacing the profligate Karim Benzema.
"I need to be patient, I've had some problems and it takes time. I need to listen to my body," said the Welshman.
Al Jazira, only invited to the competition as champion of the host country, enjoyed its 15 minutes of fame at the break after a remarkable first 45 minutes.
Madrid scored five in the first half against Sevilla on Saturday and could easily have had anothet handful but for some exceptional goalkeeping from Ali Khaseif.
The Al Jazira cqptain made an incredible stop to turn a deflected Ronaldo header onto the bar then get down well to parry efforts from Luka Modric and Karim Benzema.
Benzema also has a goal ruled out for a push by Ronaldo in the build-up, but Madrid thought it had finally gone ahead when Casemiro's header deflected off an Al Jazira head and looped over Khaseif.
However, after a four-minute delay for the VAR referral, Brazilian referee Sandro Ricci disallowed the goal due to Benzema being in an offside position despite the fact the Frenchman was arguably not interfering with play.
"I don't like it to be honest," added Bale on the use of VAR. "Obviously they are going to try it out. For me, soccer is better without it but it is other people who make the decisions."
In total Madrid had 18 shots on goal in the first half, but was shocked four minutes before the break when the host caught the Real defense cold on the counter-attacl.
A poor clearance from Nacho gifted awat possession inside the Madrid half and Romarinho showed great composure to cut inside and curl his shot inside Keylor Navas' far post.
A monumental upset looked on when Al Jazira had the ball in the net for a second time two minutes into the second half.
However, this time VAR came to Madrid's rescue as Mbark Boussoufa was offside by the finest of margins before slotting home.
Zinedine Zidane's men grabbed that let-off gratefully and were level eight minutes later when Ronaldo was played in by Modric and smashed a shot past Khaled Al Senaani, who had replaced the injured Khaseif moments earlier.
Madrid continued to lay siege to the Al Jazira goal, but the misfiring Benzema shot straight at Al Senaani then hit the post with two other glorious chances.
Benzema was eventually replaced by Bale, who an instant impact as he slotted home Lucas Vasquez's cutback to Real's relief.

Agence France-Presse
Abu Dhabi

Ibrahimovic Making 'No Impression' In Man United Comeback: : Parker

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not fully fit and "made no impression" when he came on as a substitute in Sunday's Manchester derby defeat, ex-Manchester United full-back Paul Parker says.
Since returning for a second stint at the club after major knee surgery, Ibrahimovic has been used off the bench on five occasions, including four times in the Premier League.
He was an unused sub as United labored to a 1-0 home victory over Bournemouth on Wednesday night, as Romelo Lukaku spared its blushes with a first-half header.
The 36-year-old, who made his comeback in the 4-1 victory over Newcastle United on Nov. 18, has yet to score a goal or provide an assist this season.
"Zlatan came on at the weekend against City and made no impression at all. He didn't really jump, was beaten in the air, and was beaten to the ball," Parker told ESPN FC at his base in Singapore.
"I don't think at the moment that Manchester United fans could say 'great to have him back' ihe was to be left out for Lukaku."
Parker, who won five trophies at Old Trafford between 1991 and 1996, is not convinced that the former Sweden international will be able to replicate his 2016-2017 form, when he scored a stunning 28 goals in 46 matches, including 17 in 28 games in the Premier League.
"I wonder how fit he really is. He never played any games prior to him coming back to test the knee. Training doesn't do it," he said.
"One thing that he never did (in the 2-1 derby loss to Manchester City) was run in behind, and everyone now is a little bit skeptical about how fit he is at the moment."
Parker added that he hoped that England full-back Luke Shaw would stay at Old Trafford, despite reports that a £5 million (US$6.7 million) payout may persuade him to leave in the January transfer window.
Southampton product Shae, 22, made only his fourth appearances this season in the win against Bournemouth for a measly total of just eight games in 2017 after signing a four-year contract in 2014.
"He's working hard, saying all the right things, and he wants to play for Manchester United. I really do believe he wants to prove himself.
Oherwise, he'd be shouting and screaming about the manner in which he's been treated (by manager Jose Mourinho)," Parker said.
"It could have been handled better by Mourinho. I believe there should have been a bit of compassion toward what he's had to go through physically and mentally after breaking his leg in Europe (against PSV in September 2015).
"He should be allowed to play his game so people can see how good he can be, in a relaxed atmosphere, rathe than being always intense and worried that he's going to be pulled out on the back of a poor performance."
Former manager Louis van Gaal, heavily criticized for his conservative play in two years at the club, described the Mourinho couched outfit as "boring" and "defensive" - something that Parker agrees with ahead of Sunday's trip to West Bromwich Albion.
"Manchester United have to win and they have to win with comfort," Parker said. "It's coming to the point where more people are asking the question: Can Manchester United play expansively? Can they go out and show the style they should be showing, with the players they've got?
"There'a no question mark about the players they've got, but they haven't been allowed to show what they've got because it's definitely there."
United, which won the Europa League in 2016-2017 after finishing sixth in the Premier League, is 11 pointa behind Manchester City after Sunday's derby defeat at Old Trafford.
City set a new top-flight record of 15 consecutive wins with its 4-0 success at Swansea on Wednesday night.

Jason Dasey is Singapore-based Senior Editor of global soccer website ESPN FC.
Twitter: @JasonDasey

Milan Sets Up Inter Quarterfinal Clash

New coach Gennaro Gattuso got back-to-back wins as AC Milan booked a quarterfinal clash with city rival Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia after a comfortable 3-0 last 16 win over Verona on Wednesday.
Gattuso earned his first win as Milan boss in Serie A action against Bologna last time out and his side put in another solid display against league struggler Verona.
Goals from Suso, Alessio Romagnoli and Patrick Cutrone set up a Dec. 27 date with Serie A leader Inter, which needed a 5-4 win on penalties to squeeze past Serie C side Pordenone after their tie on Tuesday ended 0-0 after extra time.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was jeered by the Milan crowd before the game with insulting banners brandished amid claims he wants the contract extension he signed last summer cancelled on the grounds he was pressured into it, amidst rumors his agent is lining up a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Giacomo Bonaventura continued his fine form after his double against Bologna, playing a role in Suso's 22nd-minute opener, and setting up Romagnoli's second on the half-hour, with Cutrone heading in after 56 minutes before Bonaventura was substituted to the applause of the Milan crowd.
"What has changed with Gattuso? He gives us grit and heart. Next up the derby," said Cutrone after Milan's first win in its last eight Coppa Italia meetings with Verona.
Earlier, a late Jordan Veretout penalty sent Fiorentina through with a 3-2 win over Sampdoria to set up a quarterfinal with either Lazio or Cittadella on Dec. 26.
In a fiery clash in Tuscany, in which three of the goals came from spot kicks, Khouma Babacar opened the scoring for Fiorentina after two minutes, as the host came out firing after its Serie A defeat to Sampdoria in September.
But Sampdoria got back level six minutes before the break when Edgar Barreto fired in off a corner, with Veretout converting the first of his two penalties on the night after 59 minutes after video assistant referee (VAR) was used when Babacar was brought down in the box.
An Edgar Barreto header hit the crossbar as Samdoria pushed forward with Gianluca Caprari also hitting the woodwork, before Gaston Ramirez broke through to pull the visitors level with a penalty after being brought down by Davide Astori.
Fiorentina won a late spot kick again thanks to VAR.

Agence France-Presse
Milan

Man City Sets Win Record, Lukaku Lifts Man United

David Silva scored twice as runaway Premier League leader Manchester City won 4-0 at Swansea City on Wednesday to set a new English top-flight record of 15 consecutive victories.
Pep Guardiola's side, 2-1 winner at second-place Manchester United on Sunday, won comfortably at the Liberty Stadium to eclipse the mark of 14 successive wins set by Arsenal in 2002.
United bounced back from its deby defeat by beating Bournemouth 1-0, while slip-ups for Liverpool and Arsenal allowed Tottenham Hotspur to seal into fourth place by beating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0.
"Winning 15 games in a row gives us a lot of confidence. If people are happy watching us, that is the best gift," Guardiola said. "You suffer and enjoy, like a manager you see many things. When the team play good, we are happy."
City remains 11 points clear of United and has now scored 52 goals in its 17 league games to date as it strides towards what seems like an inevitable title coronation.
Guardiola made four changes to the team that had prevailed at Old Trafford in a game marred by an angry post-match brawl that is being investigated by the Football Association, with Sergio Aguero earning a recall.
Silva broke the dead-lock at bottom club Swansea in the 27th minute by flicking in Bernardo Silva's cross from the right.
Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick made it 2-0 shortly after and David Silva added a third early in the second half, neatly chipping Lukasz Fabianski following a give-and-go with Raheem Sterling.
Aguero put the cherry on the cake in the 85th minute by surging away from a pose of defenders and finishing with a low shot.
Romelo Lukaku scored the game's only goal as United got back to winning ways against Bournemouth.
The Belgian striker, who is alleged to have been heavily involved in the derby dust-up, headed in Juan Mata's 25th-minute cross and pointedly failed to celebrate.
"I am pleased with the three points. It was a difficult match," United manager Jose Mourinho told the BBC. "They had one more day's rest than us, they were fresher than us and mentally fresher because a big match takes more from our players."
Tottenham jumped from seventh place to fourth courtesy of its 2-0 win over Brighton at Wembley, which arrived courtesy of an overhit Serge Aurier cross and Son Heung-min's fourth goal in four games.
Spurs, for whom Erik Lamela made his first start in 14 months, are four points below third place Chelsea in the last Champions League berth.
"I think it's fantastic for us," said Spurs manager Mauricio Pocchettino. "Three victories in a row - so important for us. I'm happy with the performance."
Liverpool is fifth, on goal difference, after a 0-0 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion.
Jurgen Klopp recalled Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino following Sunday's 1-1 derby draw with Everton and thought Dominic Solanke had poached a late winner, only for the goal to be rulled out for handball.
West Brom has now gone a club-record 16 games without a win in all competitions, but the point took Alan Pardew's side out of the relegation zone.
Arsenal dropped to seventh, a point beloe sixth-place Burnley, after a goalless draw at David Moyes's improving West Ham United.

Tom Williams
Agence France-Presse/London