Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka Out after Operation on Fractured Hand

Munich's Leon Goretzka celebrates after scoring the 3-1 lead during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and FC Bayern Munich in Mainz, Germany, 21 October 2023.  EPA/RONALD WITTEK
Munich's Leon Goretzka celebrates after scoring the 3-1 lead during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and FC Bayern Munich in Mainz, Germany, 21 October 2023. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
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Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka Out after Operation on Fractured Hand

Munich's Leon Goretzka celebrates after scoring the 3-1 lead during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and FC Bayern Munich in Mainz, Germany, 21 October 2023.  EPA/RONALD WITTEK
Munich's Leon Goretzka celebrates after scoring the 3-1 lead during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and FC Bayern Munich in Mainz, Germany, 21 October 2023. EPA/RONALD WITTEK

Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka will miss the team’s upcoming matches after fracturing his hand during the 3-1 win at Mainz in the Bundesliga.
Bayern said Sunday that a scan confirmed the extent of the injury and the player “underwent a successful operation.” The club did not say how long the player will be out.
Goretzka, who returned from international duty with Germany with an ankle injury, suffered the hand injury shortly after scoring Bayern’s third goal in Mainz.
Defender Bouna Sarr replaced Goretzka with Konrad Laimer pushing up into central midfield. The Austrian midfielder will likely take Goretzka’s place beside Joshua Kimmich while the Germany midfielder is absent.

Bayern visits Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday.



Georgian Teenager Salia's Dream Comes True with Newcastle Move 

Vakhtang Salia, a Georgian footballer who plays as a forward for Dinamo Tbilisi and will officially join Newcastle United on his 18th birthday in August 2025, controls the ball during a match against Samgurali Tskaltubo in the Georgian top football league, in Tbilisi, Georgia, March 6, 2025. (Reuters)
Vakhtang Salia, a Georgian footballer who plays as a forward for Dinamo Tbilisi and will officially join Newcastle United on his 18th birthday in August 2025, controls the ball during a match against Samgurali Tskaltubo in the Georgian top football league, in Tbilisi, Georgia, March 6, 2025. (Reuters)
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Georgian Teenager Salia's Dream Comes True with Newcastle Move 

Vakhtang Salia, a Georgian footballer who plays as a forward for Dinamo Tbilisi and will officially join Newcastle United on his 18th birthday in August 2025, controls the ball during a match against Samgurali Tskaltubo in the Georgian top football league, in Tbilisi, Georgia, March 6, 2025. (Reuters)
Vakhtang Salia, a Georgian footballer who plays as a forward for Dinamo Tbilisi and will officially join Newcastle United on his 18th birthday in August 2025, controls the ball during a match against Samgurali Tskaltubo in the Georgian top football league, in Tbilisi, Georgia, March 6, 2025. (Reuters)

Georgian Vakhtang Salia may only be 17-years-old but he will soon be trading Dinamo Tbilisi's training ground for Newcastle United's famous St James' Park stadium.

The striker, known as Vakho, was with his friends when he heard he would be moving to Premier League Newcastle. He will relocate to England near his 18th birthday in August.

For the young prospect, who started playing aged four and debuted for Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia's top flight only a year ago, signing for a Premier League club is a dream come true.

"I couldn't believe it. But I can't believe it right up until now. It's my dream to play there," he said.

Salia is part of a rising generation of young Georgian players who have given the South Caucasus country of 3.7 million, which gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, a spot on the world football map.

Salia told Reuters that among the players he most admires are Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze, who shone during the Euro 2024 campaign, Georgia's first major tournament. They lost to eventual champions Spain in the last 16.

The Euros saw Georgia, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, win 2-0 against a Portugal side captained by Cristiano Ronaldo, another of Salia's soccer idols, in the group stage with goals from Kvaratskhelia and Mikautadze.

Salia also hopes to play for Georgia one day.

"Football in Georgia now is getting bigger," he said. "It's every Georgian's dream for Georgia to play in the World Cup and the Euros. And I hope that I'll play one day in the national team, too."

Dinamo Tbilisi head coach Vladimer Kakashvili said that Salia has every chance of becoming as good a player as his more established countrymen, even if the Premier League is a step up.

"Undoubtedly, today English football is among the best in Europe, where there are very high speeds, very high physical standards, and Vakho will need a certain period to get used to that," he said.

Salia's career at Dinamo Tbilisi so far leaves him well placed to shine in England, added Kakashvili.

"When a footballer joins the main team at such a young age, it shows that he's undoubtedly talented, that he undoubtedly works on himself, and that he is a professional of the highest level," he said.

"I think with his talent, strong work ethic, and dedication, he can play in any competition. It won't be a problem."