Manchester United completed the signing of defender Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon for 20 million euros ($27 million) on Wednesday, and sent Nani on loan to the Portuguese club.

The 24-year-old Rojo, who played for Argentina in the World Cup final loss to Germany last month and scored earlier in the tournament, signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford.

A photographer sued Justin Bieber and one of his bodyguards Wednesday for assault and infliction of emotional distress over an altercation on Hawaiian beach last year.

The lawsuit by paparazzo Aja Oxman states Bieber ordered his bodyguard to take a memory card after the photographer took photos of the pop singer leaping from a cliff into the ocean. Bodyguard Dwayne Patterson placed Oxman in a chokehold and seriously injured him and damaged his camera during the November incident, the lawsuit states.

U.S. President Barack Obama sent special operations troops to Syria this summer on a secret mission to rescue American hostages, including journalist James Foley, held by Islamic State extremists, but they did not find them, the administration disclosed Wednesday.

Officials said the rescue mission was authorized after intelligence agencies believed they had identified the location inside Syria where the hostages were being held. But the several dozen special operations forces dropped by aircraft into Syria did not find them at that location and engaged in a firefight with Islamic State militants before departing, killing several militants. No Americans died but one sustained a minor injury when an aircraft was hit.

Croatia midfielder Luka Modric reinforced his commitment to Real Madrid on Wednesday by signing a four-season contract extension through June 2018 with the club.

Modric, who joined Madrid in August 2012 from English Premier League club Tottenham in a deal worth a reported 35 million euros ($44 million), won the UEFA Champions League with the La Liga club last season.

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is stepping down from the company's board, closing a chapter on 34 years with the software giant.

Ballmer says he plans to devote more time to his ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers, civic contributions, study and teaching business at Stanford in the fall and USC next spring.

Michael Phelps received an abrupt reminder of how challenging his return to international competition may be when he was asked whether he was good enough to even reach a final at the Pan Pacific Championships starting Thursday.

Phelps, the most decorated Olympian ever and on the comeback trail from a short-lived retirement, took a deep breath before responding to the question on Wednesday and said: "Wow, you're really setting the bar high for me!"

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority began issuing notices Wednesday to 17 current and former National Rugby League players from the Cronulla Sharks over the use of illegal supplements during the 2011 season.

ASADA said in a statement that the "show cause" notices were issued in relation to the use of prohibited substances CJC-1295 and GHRP-6, both growth-stimulating peptides banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, based on evidence collected during a 16-month investigation.

James Rodriguez scored in his Spanish debut as Real Madrid earned a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Super Cup on Tuesday.

Rodriguez came on for Cristiano Ronaldo in the second half at the Santiago Bernabeu and found the back of the net in the 80th minute after he pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area following an attempt by Benzema.

Arsenal held on with 10 men to draw 0-0 at Besiktas in the Champions League playoff round Tuesday, while Bayer Leverkusen is better placed to reach the group stage after winning 3-2 at FC Copenhagen.

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey was sent off with 10 minutes left in the first leg match in Istanbul after being shown a second yellow card for tugging Oguzhan Ozyakup's shirt.

Benfica announced Tuesday that it has signed Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar from English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers on a two-year deal.

The 34-year-old Cesar had been on loan to Toronto FC in Major League Soccer since February after playing only occasionally under Rangers coach Harry Redknapp.