This file photo taken on September 9  Khalil Mack Balck Jersey , 2012 shows British singer George Michael performing on stage during a charity gala for the benefit of Sidaction, at the Opera Garnier in Paris. George Michael died aged 53, according to his publicist on December 25, 2016.

BRITISH pop singer George Michael  Anthony Miller Bears Jersey , who rose to fame with the band Wham! and sold more than 100 million albums in his career, has died aged 53, his publicist said on Sunday.

"It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period  Jordan Howard Bears Jersey ," the publicist said in a statement.

"The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time."

Thames Valley Police said the ambulance service had attended a property in Goring in Oxfordshire, where the singer lived, at 1342 GMT on Sunday and a 53-year-old man was confirmed dead at the scene.

"At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. A post-mortem will be undertaken in due course," the police said.

Singer Elton John published a picture of himself with Michael on his Instagram account.

"I am in deep shock. I have lost a beloved friend - the kindest  Roquan Smith Bears Jersey , most generous soul and a brilliant artist," the British star wrote.

Michael was due to release a documentary in 2017 after a period of living as a virtual recluse in which he hit the headlines for a series of bizarre incidents linked to drugs.

Earlier this month it was also announced that producer and songwriter Naughty Boy, whose real name is Shahid Khan, was working with Michael on a new album for next year.

Michael was best known for his 1980s hits "Last Christmas"  Khalil Mack Bears Jersey , "Freedom", "Careless Whisper" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go".

-- 'Dreadful year' --

Many tributes to Michael referred to other music world deaths in 2016, starting with David Bowie in January and including Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt who died on Saturday.

"2016 - loss of another talented soul. All our love and sympathy to George Michael's family," the band Duran Duran  Authentic Anthony Miller Jersey , which were 1980s contemporaries of Wham!, said on their official Twitter account.

Former BBC Radio One disc jockey Tony Blackburn said: "Unbelievable, George Michael has died at the age of 53. RIP. This dreadful year goes on and on. So sad, a real talent".

Canadian musician Bryan Adams tweeted: "I can't believe it. Such an incredible singer and a lovely human being  Authentic Jordan Howard Jersey , far too young to leave us."

US singer La Toya Jackson wrote on Twitter: "You have given the world an amazing gift! What a talent! What a loss!".

Tributes poured in from outside the music world too.

Football presenter and former England captain Gary Lineker tweeted: "No, not George Michael as well. Another musical great leaves us this year. 2016 can just sod off."

"Star Trek" actor George Takei wrote: "Rest with the glittering stars, George Michael. You've found your Freedom, your Faith. It was your Last Christmas  Authentic Roquan Smith Jersey , and we shall miss you."

-- Drug charges, health scares --

Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou to a Greek Cypriot father and English mother in north London in 1963.

He met Andrew Ridgeley at high school and the pair went on to form Wham! in 1981.

With their good looks, perma-tans, highlighted hair and hedonistic image  Authentic Khalil Mack Jersey , the duo captured the go-getting spirit of the age and fast became one of Britain's biggest pop acts.

In 1985, Wham! became the first major Western band to perform in China as it was slowly beginning to open up to the outside world under reformist leader Deng Xiaoping.

Following years of speculation over his sexuality, Michael came out as gay in 1998 after being arrested for committing a lewd act in the public toilet of a Los Angeles park.

It was the first of several incidents that were to overshadow his musical career in his later years.

He notched up police cautions for cannabis and crack cocaine possession and in 2010 was sentenced to eight weeks in jail after crashing his car into a London shop while under the influence of cannabis and prescription medication.

In 2011, he spent several weeks in hospital in Vienna after contracting pneumonia  Anthony Miller Jersey , later saying that he had been close to death.

There were fresh concerns in 2013 when he had to be airlifted to hospital after falling out of his chauffeur-driven Range Rover as it travelled at high speed on a motorway.

NICE， France， Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Mario Balotelli has been selected into Nice's 18-man squad for their last Europa League match hosting Russian side Krasnodar on Thursday after three-week injury absence.

The Italian superstar striker， who returned to full training on Tuesday， had missed the French League leaders' last four competitive fixtures with a calf problem sustained in November.

"It's good，" said Balotelli when asked about his recovery from injury during an exclusive interview with several Chinese media. "I'm fit. If the manager wants me to play， I'll play."

The 26-year-old Super Mario thus declared that he could feature in Nice's top-of-the-table Ligue 1 encounter against champions Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.

"I feel good，" he added. "It depends on the coach， of course."

Despite Balotelli's absence， Lucien Favre's team， who's been leading the French top flight for 11 straight rounds， has picked up seven points from three games to maintain a three-point lead over second-placed Monaco.

PSG， the four-time defending champions， are a place and point further back， and will be desperate to get back to winning ways after two successive games without victory.

Balotelli said he's highly motivated for Sunday's game， regardless of who the opposition is.

"Paris Saint-Germain， Toulouse， Lyon， it's not the name that c