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• Mets land Juan Soto on record $765M contract

  Juan Soto has made his decision. He'll be staying in the same city, albeit with a new team.

  Multiple outlets reported Sunday that the New York Mets have landed baseball's most coveted free agent with a massive 15-year, $765 million contract that ranks as the largest in professional sports history.

  Soto chose the Mets over a handful of suitors that included the crosstown-rival New York Yankees, the team he spent the 2024 season with and helped reach the World Series.

  The contract surpasses the 10-year, $700 million deal the Los Angeles Dodgers gave two-way superstar and 2024 National League MVP Shohei Ohtani last December as the largest ever in terms of overall value. And while the majority of Ohtani's guaranteed money was deferred, the Associated Press reports that Soto's agreement contains no deferments.

  Soto's contract is also the longest in MLB history in terms of length, exceeding the 14-year, $340 million extension his former San Diego Padres team-mate, Fernando Tatis Jr., signed in 2021.

  The New York Post reports that Soto's deal also includes an opt-out clause following the 2029 season, which would allow the four-time All-Star outfielder to re-enter the free-agent market at age 31.

  The Yankees, who acquired Soto from the Padres a year ago in a seven-player trade that sent five players to San Diego, reportedly made a final offer of $760 million over 16 years, according to the Associated Press.

  Soto was indisputably the crown jewel of this year's free-agent class as a 26-year-old who established himself as one of the game's premier offensive players ever since entering the majors at age 19 with the Washington Nationals in 2018. An exceptionally disclipined hitter, the Dominican native has drawn 125 or more walks in four straight seasons and his .421 career on-base percentage is the highest of any active player with at least 500 plate appearances.

  The five-time Silver Slugger recipient also owns a career .285 batting average with a .953 OPS while compiling 201 home runs and 592 RBIs over seven MLB seasons.

  Soto helped the Nationals to the franchise's lone World Series title in 2019 by hitting .282 with 34 homers and 110 RBIs in his second major league season. He spent four-plus seasons with Washington before being traded to the Padres midway through the 2022 campaign after turning out a reported 15-year, $440 million extension.

  The Padres moved Soto to the Yankees prior to his final year before free agency in a deal that ended up aiding both teams, with the slugger playing a major role in the Bronx Bombers' run to their first World Series appearance since 2009.

  Soto hit a career-high 41 homers in his lone season with the Yankees to go along with a .288 average and 109 RBIs in 157 games, and finished third in voting for the 2024 American League MVP award won by team-mate Aaron Judge.

  The Mets have annually been among MLB's biggest spenders since owner Steve Cohen purchased the team in November 2020 and were already active in free agency this off-season. The team signed another former Yankee earlier this week by adding pitcher Clay Holmes on a three-year, $38 million contract and also reached a two-year, $34 million agreement with starting pitcher Frankie Montas.

   

• Napoli 0-1 Lazio: Isaksen the hero as Partenopei miss chance to return to Serie A summit

  Napoli missed the chance to return to the Serie A summit following a 1-0 defeat by Lazio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

  The Partenopei were beaten for the second time in the space of four days by the Biancoceleste, who also prevailed 3-1 in their Coppa Italia last-16 clash at Stadio Olimpico on Thursday.

  Marco Baroni's side were victorious once again as Gustav Isaksen struck a wonderful winner 11 minutes from time, moving them level on points with third-place Inter.

  Scott McTominay and Isaksen went closed during the first half, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia shot narrowly wide just before the break.

  Both sides struck the woodwork after the restart; Fisayo Dele-Bashiru hitting the crossbar from distance, while Frank Anguissa's header was denied by the post.

  However, the visitors snatched all three points in the 79th minute. Tijjani Noslin - Thursday's hat-trick hero - found Isaksen, who rounded off a swift counter by curling a wonderful 20-yard effort beyond Alex Meret.

  Data Debrief: Three is the magic number for Lazio

  For the first time in their history, Lazio have won three consecutive Serie A matches away at Napoli.

  Their sixth victory by a single-goal margin this term - more than any other team in the division - they have also scored a league-high 12 goals in the 75th minute or later.

  Isaksen was the matchwinner with his third goal of the season, already matching his tally for the entire 2023-24 campaign.

• 'It's been an amazing ride' - former Man Utd and Portugal star Nani retires

  Former Manchester United and Portugal star Nani has announced his retirement from football at the age of 38.

  The ex-winger brings the curtain down on a decorated career, which began at Sporting CP, where he would enjoy three separate spells.

  Nani's most successful period came during his eight-year stint with Man Utd, with whom he won four Premier League titles, the Champions League and Club World Cup.

  He was also part of the Portugal side that won Euro 2016, captaining the side during the final victory over France following Cristiano Ronaldo's early withdrawal through injury.

  Nani made 112 international appearances between 2006 and 2017 - making him the Selecao's fifth most-capped player, while he represented them at five major tournaments. 

  His club career was played across seven different countries - having also turning out for the likes of Fenerbahce, Valencia, Lazio, Orlando City and Melbourne Victory, before finishing his career with a short stint at Primeira Liga side Estrela Amadora.

  "The time has come to say goodbye, I have decided to finish my career as a professional player," he posted on his social media channels.

  "It's been an amazing ride and I wanted to thank every single person who has helped me and supported me through the highs and lows during a career which lasted over 20 years and gave me so many unforgettable memories. 

  "Time to turn a new leaf and focus on new goals and dreams."