عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Newcastle Sign Czech Goalkeeper Hornicek from Braga

Sporting de Braga's Lukas Hornicek during a training session in Braga, Portugal, 29 July 2026. (EPA)
Sporting de Braga's Lukas Hornicek during a training session in Braga, Portugal, 29 July 2026. (EPA)
TT
TT

Newcastle Sign Czech Goalkeeper Hornicek from Braga

Sporting de Braga's Lukas Hornicek during a training session in Braga, Portugal, 29 July 2026. (EPA)
Sporting de Braga's Lukas Hornicek during a training session in Braga, Portugal, 29 July 2026. (EPA)

Newcastle United have ‌signed Czech goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek on a five-year deal from Portuguese club Braga, the Premier League side said on Monday.

The 24-year-old, who made his senior international debut in May, signed for a reported fee of €30.6 million ($35.26 million)

"The last few days have been an emotional rollercoaster from when I first heard about the move and ‌now I'm ‌so happy to be here," ‌Hornicek ⁠said in a ⁠statement.

"It's a brilliant opportunity in a new league, which I'm very excited about. From the very first moment I arrived here, I received a fantastic welcome and really felt the warmth of the ⁠club. Everyone has been brilliant ‌in helping me ‌settle in.

"I know Newcastle is a huge football ‌city, with 52,000 fans at St. ‌James' Park creating an incredible atmosphere and pushing the team every game. I can't wait to play in front of them."

Hornicek arrives after ‌a strong campaign with Braga, helping them reach the Europa League ⁠semi-finals, ⁠keeping seven clean sheets - the most by any goalkeeper in the competition.

He joined Braga on loan from Czech club Pardubice in 2019 before making the move permanent and establishing himself as first-choice goalkeeper in 2025.

Hornicek earned a call-up to the Czech squad for the World Cup in North America but did not feature as they exited in the group stage.

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

Retired Great Nadal to Play in Exhibition Matches

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal takes part in a training session in Manacor on the Spanish Balearic Island of Mallorca on January 30, 2013. (AFP)
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal takes part in a training session in Manacor on the Spanish Balearic Island of Mallorca on January 30, 2013. (AFP)
TT
TT

Retired Great Nadal to Play in Exhibition Matches

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal takes part in a training session in Manacor on the Spanish Balearic Island of Mallorca on January 30, 2013. (AFP)
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal takes part in a training session in Manacor on the Spanish Balearic Island of Mallorca on January 30, 2013. (AFP)

Retired Spanish tennis great Rafael Nadal will return to the court in front of a crowd for the first time since retirement in October to celebrate his academy's 10th anniversary.

The Rafa Nadal Academy confirmed Wednesday the 40-year-old, who won 22 Grand Slams in a glittering career before retiring in November 2024, will participate in some exhibition matches.

Nadal will compete at his academy in his hometown Manacor in Mallorca "in a series of exhibition matches together with big names from the sport", said the academy in a statement.

The other players will be announced in the coming days, and will be "some of his rivals and friends who have accompanied him throughout his career".

A clay court expert, Nadal won the French Open 14 times in a remarkable career which spanned more than 20 years.

Sports

Maresca Defends VAR Officials After Man City Benefit from Error

Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Manchester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - September 13, 2026 Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca celebrates with Enzo Fernandez after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Manchester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - September 13, 2026 Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca celebrates with Enzo Fernandez after the match. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Maresca Defends VAR Officials After Man City Benefit from Error

Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Manchester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - September 13, 2026 Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca celebrates with Enzo Fernandez after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Manchester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - September 13, 2026 Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca celebrates with Enzo Fernandez after the match. (Reuters)

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca on Wednesday expressed sympathy for VAR officials after his team benefited from a clear error in their 1-0 win against Manchester United.

Erling Haaland scored a controversial winner in the 60th minute at Old Trafford on Sunday to make it four wins out of four for City in the Premier League.

Haaland was initially flagged offside, but VAR ruled he was being played onside by United defender Patrick Dorgu, neglecting to take account of the position of Enzo Fernandez, who was clearly offside and was interfering with play.

Refereeing body Pro Ref acknowledged an "error of judgment", saying that the video assistant referee should have recommended an on-field review.

But Maresca spoke up for the officials ahead of Thursday's League Cup third round match against Championship side Norwich.

"Sometimes they go for you, the decisions, sometimes they go against you," he said. "But also it's not easy, I think, for the VAR, for the people that are in front of the screen, and in 10 seconds, 20 seconds they have to make a decision.

"It's not easy for them. Sometimes they make some mistakes. I make mistakes, players make mistakes, I think it's part of our job."

Maresca said he was unhappy with the intense focus on the offside goal following an impressive win for his team, who were reduced to 10 men when Phil Foden was sent off in the first half.

The Italian, who replaced Pep Guardiola as manager in June, reminded reporters of a controversial incident when he was Guardiola's assistant in the 2022/23 season.

Bruno Fernandes's goal was given despite the presence of Marcus Rashford in an offside position in a 2-1 win for United at Old Trafford.

Maresca said he was still waiting for officials to say sorry.

"Three years ago, when I was here, it happened exactly the same against Man United," said the former Chelsea boss.

"We lost the derby there. The goal was not a regular goal, if you remember. To be honest, no one apologized. We are still waiting for the apology for that goal.

"Sometimes it happens for you, sometimes it happens against you. It's football."

Maresca brushed aside a question on whether he was pleased there would be no VAR in place in the early rounds of the League Cup, bringing the focus back to Sunday's win.

"I'm pleased with the unbelievable performance from the players on Sunday," he said. "I'm very pleased with that. Talking about one moment after that game, when we played for 70-75 minutes with 10 players, I think it's quite poor. I think the performance was unbelievable."

Sports

Bologna Fires Coach after Just 4 Matches, Hires Raffaele Palladino on Deal to 2029

Bologna's coach Domenico Tedesco during the Italian Serie A soccer match Bologna FC vs US Sassuolo at Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, 6 September 2026. EPA/ELISABETTA BARACCHI
Bologna's coach Domenico Tedesco during the Italian Serie A soccer match Bologna FC vs US Sassuolo at Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, 6 September 2026. EPA/ELISABETTA BARACCHI
TT
TT

Bologna Fires Coach after Just 4 Matches, Hires Raffaele Palladino on Deal to 2029

Bologna's coach Domenico Tedesco during the Italian Serie A soccer match Bologna FC vs US Sassuolo at Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, 6 September 2026. EPA/ELISABETTA BARACCHI
Bologna's coach Domenico Tedesco during the Italian Serie A soccer match Bologna FC vs US Sassuolo at Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, 6 September 2026. EPA/ELISABETTA BARACCHI

Bologna fired coach Domenico Tedesco on Wednesday after just four Serie A matches and replaced him with Raffaele Palladino.

Sunday’s loss at Napoli left Bologna 16th in the league table, with just one point from its opening four matches.

Tedesco had only been in charge since June.

In a brief statement, Bologna thanked Tedesco for his “professionalism and competence” and said Palladino had been given a contract through the end of June 2029, The Associated Press reported.

The 42-year-old Palladino previously led Monza, Fiorentina and Atalanta.

His first match in charge will be on Saturday at home to Torino, before the extra-long international break.

It is not the first coaching change of the fledgling Serie A season as Fabio Grosso was fired this month by Fiorentina, which rehired Paolo Vanoli.