Real Madrid signed holding midfielder Asier Illarramendi from Real Sociedad on Friday as it intensified its efforts to capture Spain's latest generation of talent.

Sociedad club president Jokin Aperribay said Madrid paid Illarramendi's buyout clause worth 32 million euros ($42 million) plus another 6 million euros ($8 million) in taxes to secure his release.

Juventus has completed the signing of Italy defender Angelo Ogbonna from city rivals Torino.

Ogbonna put pen to paper on a five-year deal on Thursday, tying him to the Serie A champion until 2018.

Superstar forward Ilya Kovalchuk stunned the New Jersey Devils by retiring from the NHL on Thursday to return home to Russia.

In leaving, the 30-year-old Kovalchuk walked from $77 million left on the 15-year contract that he signed with New Jersey, including guaranteed annual salaries of at least $11 million over the next four seasons.

Manchester United expects striker Wayne Rooney to be sidelined for a month after injuring his hamstring in a training session ahead of a friendly against a Thailand All Stars team in Bangkok.

Rooney flew back to England in the early hours of Friday morning, having been in Thailand less than 24 hours.

Napoli has completed the signing of striker Jose Maria Callejon from Real Madrid.

Callejon has penned a four-year deal to 2017.

As Formula One expands its reach into the United States, there's still a missing ingredient that could keep some fans away from the crowd — an American driver on the grid.

There hasn't been an American in Formula One since 2007 when Scott Speed drove for Toro Rosso. But the pressure is building for an American to make the jump now that the United States successfully hosted the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, last year and is set to hold second grand prix in New Jersey as soon as 2014.

Ferrari's president has insisted Felipe Massa has "our total confidence" despite the Brazilian driver's recent struggles which have included crashes in several recent races.

On a visit this week to the company's headquarters Massa met with Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo, who told him he was encouraged by his strong starts in the past two races and was hopeful "he will soon secure the results that will show his talent in full."

Kobe Bryant is working hard to get back on the court and not wasting any time thinking about Dwight Howard.

Bryant on Wednesday said his surgically repaired Achilles' tendon is "progressing faster than anybody expected," though he won't start shooting again until next month.

Just about every NBA team would like Dwight Howard.

Only the Houston Rockets could get him, and on Wednesday a couple of his other suitors announced their backup plans — while one lost out on another big target.

Mark Cavendish's team said it believes someone threw urine at the British rider during Wednesday's time trial at the Tour de France.

"Yes, that's true I think. I was behind him. I didn't see it, but I think it's true," Omega Pharma-Quick Step team press officer Alessandro Tegner said.