being offered to both Lafai and Havili.The St George Ill

BARCELONA, Spain -- Bayern Munich secured the transfer of midfielder Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona on Sunday, reuniting him with coach Pep Guardiola. Barcelona said that Bayern had agreed to pay the Spanish club 25 million euros for Thiago. The deal also included an agreement to play a friendly match between the two clubs at some point in the next four years. Bayern said that Thiago would sign a four-year contract and that the cost to the German club would only reach (euro)20 million, with proceeds from the friendly and an agreement by Thiago to forego personal payments making up the difference. Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said the 22-year-old Thiago "was the great wish of our new coach, Pep Guardiola." Rummennigge added that Thiago "is a fantastic player with great prospects who will strengthen Bayern," the Bundesliga and Champions League title holder. Thiago helped Spains under-21 team win the European championship last month, scoring a hat trick in the final against Italy. Born in Italy to Brazilian parents, Thiago came up through Barcelonas training academy and debuted for its first team in 2008. Guardiola made Thiago a fulltime first-team player in 2011-12 and he played in 45 games, but injuries limited him to 36 appearances last season under coach Tito Vilanova as Barcelona won the Spanish league title. Yet despite his displays of playmaking, dribbling and a good shot from distance, he was never able to become a first-choice starter in Barcelonas midfield held down by Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Cesc Fabregas. Guardiola said this week that Thiago was a "super player" and that he was urging Bayern to sign him. Thiagos contract with Barcelona had a buyout clause of (euro)90 million, but it included the stipulation that if he played in less than 60 per cent of the games in a season the buyout price would be lowered to just (euro)18 million. Barcelona club president Sandro Rosell said on June 13 that he hoped Thiago would "follow the steps of Xavi (Hernandez), (Andres) Iniesta and the other players who have become references for this club." "I understand that the player wants to play, but even Xavi had to wait. I hope he has the patience that others have shown," he said. However, playing time would have been even harder to come by at Barcelona with the arrival of Neymar, and Thiago had been linked to moves to several clubs including Manchester United. Thiagos transfer to Bayern follows the signing of Germany midfielder Mario Goetze from Borussia Dortmund. Thiagos brother, Rafina, is also under contract with Barcelona and played for its "B-team" in the second division last season. Cheap Custom Bucks Jersey . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Custom Oscar Robertson Jersey . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. http://www.custombucksjersey.com/custom-oscar-robertson-jersey-large-77u.html . - The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca. Custom Bucks Jerseys . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. Bucks Jerseys China . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. Tim Lafais former Canterbury teammates have backed the St George Illawarra bad boy to return to the NRL despite his recent run-in with the law.Lafai, together with fellow Dragons player Siliva Havili, was on Tuesday stood down by the club after the pair were charged by police with affray and offensive behaviour for a drunk brawl on Sunday.The indiscretion is the tipping point of a disappointing season for the 25-year-old Lafai, who has been a shadow of the player that helped Canterbury to the 2014 grand final.After moving to the Dragons over the summer, Lafai has scored just three tries in 16 games before being dumped from first grade by coach Paul McGregor prior to Sundays incident.But while former Bulldogs teammate Aidan Tolman was sad to see Lafais career spiral in Wollongong, he was confident the Samoan international would return as one of the games most potent centres.(Im) bit disappointed for him because when he was here, in particular the end of 2014 and some games in 2015, he was up there as one of the best centres in the game in terms of attack and what he was doing in defence, Tolman said.ddddddddddddtd be disappointing for him but I imagine hell get back there sooner or later. Hes a quality player and more importantly, a quality person. Im sure hell get back there.St George Illawarra said the NRL integrity unit had been advised of the incident and counselling was being offered to both Lafai and Havili.The St George Illawarra Dragons have determined to stand down contracted players, Siliva Havili and Tim Lafai, effective immediately and until further notice, from all club activities, for breaching the clubs code of conduct, the Dragons said on Tuesday in a statement.The club has been advised that both Havili and Lafai have been charged with affray and offensive behaviour by police, following an incident which occurred in Wollongong on Sunday morning. ' ' '