Arsenal sign defender Kiwior
LONDON, Jan 24: Arsenal strengthened its defensive resources for its run at the Premier League title by signing Poland center back Jakub Kiwior from Italian team Spezia on Monday.The Premier League leaders did not disclose the fee for Kiwior. British media reported he cost 21 million pounds ($26 million).The 22-year-old Kiwior played for Poland at the World Cup last year and was at Arsenal’s stadium on Sunday to watch his new team beat Manchester United to regain its five-point lead.Kiwior, who had a spell in Belgium with Anderlecht earlier in his career, moved to Serie A from MSK Zilina in August 2021. He made 43 appearances for Spezia.Kiwior is a left-sided central defender so will provide competition for Gabriel in that position.(AP)
Alves moved to new detention center for security reasons
BARCELONA, Jan24: Dani Alves was transferred to a new detention center because of security reasons after being accused of sexual assault, Catalan officials said Monday.The new detention center has “smaller residential modules” where it is easier to guarantee the safety and coexistence of inmates.Authorities said the type of crime that Alves is being accused of was not taken into consideration in the decision to transfer him.Alves spent three nights at another facility that holds about 200 inmates. The new one accommodates about 80 detainees, including convicted prisoners and others awaiting trial.Alves is expected to share a cell with another inmate for now.The 39-year-old Alves is being accused of sexually assaulting a 23-year-old women at a nightclub in Barcelona late last year. A judge ordered the Brazil defender to remain jailed without bail after hearing the testimony of Alves, his accuser and a witness.(AP)
Indian eves beaten 1-3
CAPE TOWN, Jan 24: After a strong outing against home team South Africa in a four-match series which the Indian women’s hockey team won 3-0, the Savita-led side lost 1-3 to World No.1 Netherlands in a hard-fought match here.Riding on good form, the Indian side got off to a strong, attacking start with young sensation Beauty Dungdung scoring a brilliant field goal in the 24th minute of the match.Netherlands scored the equaliser in the 29th minute. It was a PC converted by Felice Albers.While both teams played on par with each other in the third quarter, no goals were scored but Netherlands went into top gear in the final quarter scoring two important goals to end the match with 3-1 on board. It was Yibby Janssen and Freeke Moes who scored in Netherlands’ victory.On January 26, India will play Netherlands again in the second match. (IANS)
Poland hire Santos as coach
WARSAW, Jan 24: Fernando Santos is going from coaching Cristiano Ronaldo to leading another soccer great, Robert Lewandowski.A month after parting company with his native Portugal, Santos was presented in Warsaw on Tuesday as the coach of Poland’s national team.The 68-year-old Santos became Poland’s third foreign-born coach – after Leo Beenhakker and Paulo Sousa – and arrives with experience of leading high-profile players such as Ronaldo, who Santos even benched last month during the knockout stage of the World Cup. Santos is tasked with improving Poland’s underwhelming record at recent major tournaments. Paulo Bento and Liverpool great Steven Gerrard, recently fired by Aston Villa in the Premier League, were linked with the job after the Polish soccer federation said it would be hiring a foreign coach. (PTI)
Man City sign Perrone
LONDON, Jan 24: Manchester City have continued with their policy of signing young Latin American talent with the acquisition of 20-year-old Argentinian midfielder Maximo Perrone.Perrone has signed contract with City until June 2028 in a deal thought to be worth around 8 million pounds (almost 10 million US dollars).He follows in the footsteps of Julian Alvarez, who joined from River Plate in January 2022 and has since gone on to be a World Cup winner with Argentina’s national team. Perrone made his debut for Velez in March 2022 and featured in 33 games in total, scoring three times with two assists.”He also helped the Buenos Aires club to the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores but missed both legs of the last-four defeat to Flamengo (PTI)
Inter lose 0-1 to Empoli
MILAN, Jan 24: Inter Milan’s Italian Super Cup celebration was ruined with a 1-0 home loss to Empoli in Serie A on Monday.Milan Skriniar was sent off with two yellow cards in the first half to leave Inter with 10 men, and 19-year-old Tommaso Baldanzi scored for Empoli midway through the second half following a poor effort from Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana.Before kickoff, Inter presented the Super Cup trophy to its fans following its 3-0 win over city rival AC Milan in Saudi Arabia last week.Inter remained third, one point behind Milan, which visits Lazio on Tuesday. Empoli, which extended its unbeaten run to five matches, moved ahead of Juventus into ninth. Also, Bologna was held 1-1 at home by last-place Cremonese. (AP)