PSG Signs France Defender Lucas Hernández from Bayern Munich

Bayern's Lucas Hernández celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League, group C match between Bayern Munich and Barcelona at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (AP)
Bayern's Lucas Hernández celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League, group C match between Bayern Munich and Barcelona at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (AP)
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PSG Signs France Defender Lucas Hernández from Bayern Munich

Bayern's Lucas Hernández celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League, group C match between Bayern Munich and Barcelona at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (AP)
Bayern's Lucas Hernández celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League, group C match between Bayern Munich and Barcelona at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (AP)

Paris Saint-Germain added a fifth player to its squad since the start of the summer transfer window by signing France defender Lucas Hernández from Bayern Munich on a five-year contract on Sunday after a long spell on the sidelines with injury.

Hernández hasn't played a competitive game since injuring his knee while playing for France against Australia at the World Cup in November.

“I’m really excited! I’ve been waiting to join PSG for a long time, and it’s finally happened. It’s a very special day for me and I’m very happy to be here,” Hernández said in a statement from PSG.

No official figures were given for the deal but French newspaper L’Equipe said it was worth around 40 million euros ($44 million).

Hernández won the Bundesliga title in each of his four seasons at Bayern and the Champions League in 2020, though he was an unused substitute when Bayern beat PSG 1-0 in the final.

“We would like to thank Lucas Hernández for four very successful years together. He always gave everything, we were always impressed by his fighting spirit and his passion. FC Bayern wishes him all the best for the future,” said Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen.

Following another season marked by yet another failure to win the Champions League, PSG has been active in the transfer market. In addition to hiring Luis Enrique as its new coach, the French champions have also signed Marco Asensio, Milan Skriniar, Manuel Ugarte and Lee Kang-In.

The 27-year-old Hernández won the 2018 World Cup with France, and has 33 international caps. In Paris, he will be reunited with two other French world champions, Kylian Mbappé and Presnel Kimpembe. It remains unclear, however, whether Mbappe will still be a PSG player next season amid his ongoing contract dispute.



Bayern Are in Driving Seat, but Wounded Real Could Be Dangerous, Says Neuer

14 April 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in action during a training session at the training facility on Saebener Strasse ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match against Real Madrid. (dpa)
14 April 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in action during a training session at the training facility on Saebener Strasse ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match against Real Madrid. (dpa)
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Bayern Are in Driving Seat, but Wounded Real Could Be Dangerous, Says Neuer

14 April 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in action during a training session at the training facility on Saebener Strasse ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match against Real Madrid. (dpa)
14 April 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in action during a training session at the training facility on Saebener Strasse ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match against Real Madrid. (dpa)

Treble-chasing Bayern Munich ‌are in control of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid after a 2-1 first-leg win but the Spanish giants, struggling for form, could prove dangerous with their backs to the wall, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said on Tuesday.

The Bavarians host Real in the return leg on Wednesday, hoping to book a semi-final spot to go along with their German Cup semi-final place and a 12-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.

Real, out of Spain's ‌Copa del Rey ‌and second in La Liga, nine points ‌behind ⁠Barcelona, have only ⁠one realistic shot at a trophy.

"Yes, it is a big chance for Real to improve things," Neuer told a press conference. "It is a really difficult period for a club like Real at the moment. We have experienced it ourselves in the past."

"When you are with your back to ⁠the wall you can move mountains," Neuer ‌said.

But the Spaniards will be ‌facing a Bayern team in stellar form. On Saturday they set ‌a new Bundesliga all-time goal record, with their 5-0 ‌demolition of St Pauli, to take their season tally to 105 goals with five games still remaining. The previous best mark was 101 goals in the 1971-72 campaign.

"We are in a flow ‌right now. We are still in all competitions and it's in our own hands," ⁠Neuer said. "We ⁠are sitting in the driver's seat."

Bayern can potentially secure the league title as early as this weekend if Dortmund slip up on Saturday against Hoffenheim. They also face Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup semi-final on April 22.

"We won the first match, but there is only one goal difference," the 40-year-old Neuer said. "We know the fight we have to deliver. But we have that one goal advantage."

"Our motivation is sky high so the starting point is good, but we cannot overestimate it," he said. "We have experienced how Real can hit back but we are confident."


Swiatek Banks on Nadal's Former Coach to Reignite her Season

FILED - 28 June 2025, Hesse, Bad Homburg: Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek in action against US Jessica Pegula during their women's singles final match of the Bad Homburg Open Tennis Tournament. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa
FILED - 28 June 2025, Hesse, Bad Homburg: Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek in action against US Jessica Pegula during their women's singles final match of the Bad Homburg Open Tennis Tournament. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa
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Swiatek Banks on Nadal's Former Coach to Reignite her Season

FILED - 28 June 2025, Hesse, Bad Homburg: Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek in action against US Jessica Pegula during their women's singles final match of the Bad Homburg Open Tennis Tournament. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa
FILED - 28 June 2025, Hesse, Bad Homburg: Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek in action against US Jessica Pegula during their women's singles final match of the Bad Homburg Open Tennis Tournament. Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa

Iga Swiatek is hoping to benefit from new coach Francisco Roig's experience and technical expertise when the world number four begins her claycourt season at the Stuttgart Open this week after a disappointing start to the year.

The Polish six-times Grand Slam champion lost in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and tournaments in Doha and Indian Wells before a shock second-round defeat by Magda Linette in the Miami Open last month.

That prompted Swiatek ⁠to part ways ⁠with her coach Wim Fissette and hire Roig, who worked with her idol Rafa Nadal from 2005-22 and more recently with Briton Emma Raducanu.

"I'm really happy to start with Francis," Swiatek told a press conference in Stuttgart, according to Reuters.

"I was basically looking for someone with a good eye, really technical, but also a ⁠person that is experienced enough to help me through some different kind of situations. I feel Francisco has lived through everything on tour.

"It's going really amazing ... I was able to find a new coach pretty fast, which is a positive thing because when you do that in the middle of the season, it's nice to have some security in that."

Swiatek, who has won four French Open titles on her favored clay courts, began preparations for the Grand Slam that begins on May ⁠24 with ⁠a training block at Nadal's academy in Mallorca under the watchful eyes of the Spaniard.

"I asked if it would be possible for him to come and maybe be some kind of inspiration, also hear some feedback from him," Swiatek said.

"It was a privilege to have him on court. I honestly didn't have many expectations because I know he's super busy and he has a lot of stuff to do, even though he always has different projects and everything.

"Now I'll continue with Francisco. He'll be the person that takes care of the whole process. That's the plan for now."


Iraq Coach Arnold Undecided on Future Beyond World Cup

Football - FIFA World Cup - Inter-Confederation Playoffs - Final - Iraq v Bolivia - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - March 31, 2026 Iraq coach Graham Arnold before the match. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup - Inter-Confederation Playoffs - Final - Iraq v Bolivia - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - March 31, 2026 Iraq coach Graham Arnold before the match. (Reuters)
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Iraq Coach Arnold Undecided on Future Beyond World Cup

Football - FIFA World Cup - Inter-Confederation Playoffs - Final - Iraq v Bolivia - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - March 31, 2026 Iraq coach Graham Arnold before the match. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup - Inter-Confederation Playoffs - Final - Iraq v Bolivia - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - March 31, 2026 Iraq coach Graham Arnold before the match. (Reuters)

Iraq coach Graham Arnold said ‌his future beyond the World Cup remains undecided as his contract ends after the tournament and no formal talks have yet taken place, though retirement is not on his mind.

The 62-year-old Australian, who took charge of Iraq in May of last year, said he was keeping his options open and wanted to focus fully on the World Cup, where the team will make its first appearance in 40 years.

"The book is ‌open. My ‌contract finishes straight after the World ‌Cup. ⁠There has been ⁠talk about them wanting me to stay on, but I haven't had anything formal yet," Arnold told AAP.

"I really don't want anything formal yet. I want to go to the World Cup and enjoy it and after that I've got to make a decision whether ⁠to stay on or move on."

Arnold, ‌who guided his native Australia ‌to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup ‌in Qatar, said the prospect of leading teams ‌that have struggled to reach major tournaments continues to motivate him.

"There's some nations that I look at and I think to myself, they haven't qualified for a long time, I'd ‌like to do it again," he said.

"I've obviously had the experience throughout Asia, ⁠but I'm ⁠nowhere near ready to retire."

Iraq qualified for the World Cup by beating Bolivia 2-1 in Mexico in their inter-confederation playoff earlier this month.

Arnold said Iraq's qualification campaign had reinforced his belief that the team could trouble more-established sides on the global stage.

"We're going out there with nothing to lose and everything to gain, and with the chance to shock the world," he said.

"We'll be the underdog. We'll be fighters. If no one is giving us a chance, we can go there and achieve something special."