VICE Sports World News Roundup: January 5, 2016

Good morning, America. It's January 5th, 2016. Welcome to the VICE Sports World News Roundup. Be sure to stop by daily for your morning headlines. And, oh boy, did things really happen yesterday!

The big news, if you haven't heard it, is that Rafa Benitez was fired at Real Madrid after just seven months. He was replaced by club legend Zinedine Zidane. Will Zidane become Real's Pep Guardiola. Probably not. Will the team play pretty well only for Zidane to be fired in a few months? Probably!

Interestingly, the BBC reported that Real made a run at Guardiola six weeks ago. Guardiola is out of contract at Bayern at the end of the season.

Barcelona's transfer ban ended yesterday. The club promptly registered Arda Turan, whom Barca purchased last summer even though he wouldn't be able to play until now. The club then registered another 76 players!

The ban is over, here are the new 77 players to join all the Barcelona categories! — Igor Bozinov (@Ig0rB0zin0v)January 4, 2016

The Dakar Rally, which is taking place in South America, finally got underway after a rain delay. Things look…muddy.

Karim Benzema, who is currently embroiled in a weird sex tape blackmail scandal, apparently reached out to Mathieu Valbuena, the star of the tape and the person who was reportedly blackmailed. Benzema was presumably trying to smooth things over, but a judge denied his request.

Bundesliga clubs are beginning their mid-season training sessions (the league kicks off again next month). Mainz's players are doing some team building exercises high in the Swiss Alps, not far from Sepp Blatter's home town.

Nicklas Bendtner, alternate-world superstar, announced he'll leave Wolfsburg. I imagine he's holding out for Real Madrid or Barcelona, but will probably sign for Bournemouth. (Link in German)

Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer had the following to say about Manchester United, whom Adidas sponsors to the tune of 75 million pounds over 10 years: "We are satisfied, even if the current playing of Man United is not exactly what we want to see."

The 32th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is underway in northern China. Participants spent time diving into the icy Songhua River. Why? That is a good question.

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