Napoli sign Udinese forward Lorenzo Lucca
ROME: Italian champions Napoli completed their latest signing on Friday with the arrival of Udinese forward Lorenzo Lucca.
Boxing Sport News
2031 Ryder Cup to be hosted in Girona, Spain, says Catalan golf federation
BARCELONA: The 2031 Ryder Cup will be held in northeastern Spain, the president of the Catalan golf federation has told The Associated Press.
Liverpool line up swoop for Frankfurt striker Ekitike: reports
LONDON: Liverpool are preparing to launch a bid for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike after missing out on Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, according to reports on Friday. The Premier League champions have switched their focus to Ekitike following Newcastle’s refusal to sell Sweden striker Isak, who is valued at around £150 million ($201 million) by the Magpies. The Reds are trying to complete a deal for France international Ekitike by this weekend after he reportedly indicated he was willing to move to Anfield. Liverpool are set to offer over £70 million ($94 million) for Ekitike, who has also attracted interest from Newcastle and Manchester United. The 23-year-old scored 22 goals in all competitions for Frankfurt last season after joining the Bundesliga club from Paris Saint-Germain. Liverpool have an opening in their forward line after Diogo Jota’s recent death in a car crash in Spain. The Reds are also believed to be willing to sell Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, while Colombia forward Luis Diaz has been the target of a rejected bid from Bayern Munich. Liverpool have already splashed out £116 million on Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz, as well as signing defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth respectively. Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has also linked up with Arne Slot’s side since the end of last season after agreeing his move from Valencia in 2024.
McIlroy five back as Harman leads British Open
PORTRUSH, United Kingdom: Rory McIlroy continued to battle driving woes during a topsy-turvy front nine of his second round at the British Open on Friday, as 2023 champion Brian Harman moved into the lead at Royal Portrush.Home favorite McIlroy was level par at the turn and one-under for the tournament, five strokes behind Harman, as he continues his bid for a second Claret Jug.World number one Scottie Scheffler, one shot off the overnight lead of four-under, is among the later starters and could face rainy conditions in the afternoon.Harman, who won by six shots at Hoylake two years ago, started with consecutive birdies before another on the par-five seventh hole took him into the outright lead.The American reached six-under for the tournament through his first 11 holes, one shot clear of Tyrrell Hatton, Danish youngster Rasmus Hojgaard and Harris English.McIlroy delighted the crowds surrounding the opening hole with a birdie to immediately move to two-under after his first-round 70.The world number two, who only found two of 14 fairways on Thursday, leaked a drive on the second well right but still saved par despite having to take a penalty drop.His roller-coaster tournament continued with bogeys on the third and fifth holes sandwiching another birdie on four, as his errant driving prevented him from taking advantage of excellent scoring conditions.Justin Rose, who lost to McIlroy in a play-off at the Masters in April, made his first bogey of the tournament on the sixth hole but was three-under overall after his front nine.McIlroy’s playing partner Tommy Fleetwood bounced back from an opening 73 with three straight birdies to start his second round, moving to two-under for the tournament through nine.Robert MacIntyre,
Give him some brains – Oleksandr Usyk questions Daniel Dubois’ pre-fight antics
Oleksandr Usyk has questioned Daniel Dubois’ “brains” in the build-up to Saturday’s undisputed world heavyweight bout at Wembley.
Pacquiao is back, but how back is he? Saturday’s fight against Barrios will reveal all
LAS VEGAS: Manny Pacquiao insisted he was back, and from a purely technical standpoint, he was correct.
Kefu calls on Wallabies forwards to go berserk against Lions
(Refiles to correct spelling of berserk in headline)
Rory McIlroy puts 2019 Open at Portrush in past, cards 70 - ESPN
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Six years is a long time to wait, but as Rory McIlroy stepped onto the first tee box at Royal Portrush on Thursday and the loud, but nervous cheers from the heavy Northern Ireland crowd washed over him, the time that had passed since the Open took place here in 2019 appeared to be just enough.