Sports
Díaz reveals Wirtz talks before Bayern ‘gamble’
Bayern Munich forward Luis Díaz has described his move to Germany as a “big gamble” and said he discussed the transfer with Liverpool‘s Florian Wirtz before leaving Anfield.
Díaz joined the German champions in a £65.5 million (€75m) deal last month, having enjoyed a stellar individual campaign last term as Liverpool romped to the Premier League title.
Sources told ESPN that Díaz first signalled a wish to leave Liverpool in the summer of 2024, but the club held firm while assessing both the squad and the market. Two separate attempts to agree to a contract extension failed due to a gap between offers and demands, leading Liverpool to reluctantly sanction his departure this summer.
And Díaz made a dream start to life at his new club on Saturday by scoring a crucial goal in Bayern’s 2-1 DFL-Supercup win over VfB Stuttgart.
“I’m very happy and pleased with how this weekend went,” the 28-year-old told ESPN. “As you pointed out, it was my first official match, my first goal, and my first title. I dreamed of coming here to achieve great things and give my best. I try to enjoy football.
“It was a big gamble and I’m very grateful to the management for reaching out to me and trusting me. It’s always up to me to respond on the pitch and contribute with what I know how to do. To be at the disposal of the coaching staff. To start this way and be together with my teammates is incredible.”
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He added: “I already had some knowledge of the Bundesliga. I love watching football and all the competitions. I had the opportunity to talk to Florian in Liverpool, and I know it’s a physical league. I hope to have a great debut. I’ve been here at the club for about two weeks, and I need time to settle in.”
Díaz celebrated the goal by paying tribute to former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota, who passed away in a car accident last month alongside his brother, André Silva.
Reflecting on the impact of Jota’s death, Díaz said: “It’s brutal. The fact that he’s no longer with us and that we’ve lost an incredible teammate is unbelievable. No one is prepared to receive this kind of news and feel OK when faced with a situation like this.
“He was a great teammate to me. We will remember him fondly. He will live on in our memories, and being able to dedicate the goal to him is something special. I had planned to do so.”
Sports
WWE champ Jade Cargill very hopeful to meet ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin at Hall of Fame ceremony
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LAS VEGAS – WrestleMania 42 is the big-ticket item on pro wrestling fans’ checklist this weekend in Las Vegas, but before the bell rings, WWE will enshrine its 2026 class into the Hall of Fame.
AJ Styles, Stephanie McMahon, Sycho Sid, Bad News Brown, Dennis Rodman, the tag team duo known as Demolition and Hulk Hogan’s match with Andre the Giant from WrestleMania 3 are included this year.
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Jade Cargill enters the arena before competing against Iyo Sky during “SmackDown” at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on April 10, 2026. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Jade Cargill, the current WWE women’s champion, is also excited about the Hall of Fame festivities. She told Fox News Digital she was a big fan of the Attitude Era of the WWE and was hopeful to meet “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
“I hope he is there because I want to meet him,” she told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. “He’s one of the people, other than Paul Heyman and Booker T, Paul Heyman I was like I have to meet him. How did this guy survive this long? He’s bigger than life. He’s just natural with it. I have to meet him, have to take a picture with him, talk to him, I have to do that.
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Stone Cold Steve Austin speaks during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 20, 2025. (WWE/WWE/Getty Images)
“And Stone Cold is the other person. I’m very hopeful that he’s gonna be there at the Hall of Fame. He was there last year. But I couldn’t like, there was so many people crowding him. And just to see Stephanie (McMahon) get her flowers is one-of-one. I love that for her.”
Austin was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 as a wrestler. Last year, he was inducted as part of the immortal moment wing. His match with Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13 was inducted last year. He’s one of eight wrestlers who are in the Hall of Fame multiple times.
WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill performs in the ring during “SmackDown” at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on March 13, 2026. (Bradlee Rutledge/WWE)
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The WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will take place at Dolby Live at Park MGM on Friday night at midnight ET.
KARACHI: With the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 entering a crucial phase, Islamabad United all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has underlined the importance of consistency, admitting his side is “not fully satisfied” despite remaining in contention for the playoffs.
In an exclusive interview with Geo News, Faheem offered a detailed assessment of Islamabad United’s campaign, the evolving standard of the PSL, and its role in shaping the careers of both emerging and established cricketers.
Reflecting on the team’s performance so far, Faheem acknowledged missed opportunities that have impacted their standing on the points table.
“If we look at ourselves as a team, we are satisfied… but not fully. One of our matches was washed out, and we lost two games that we shouldn’t have,” he said.
The all-rounder stressed that minimising losses is key in a tightly contested tournament. “Even if you lose, you should keep the margin as small as possible,” he added.
With the league stage intensifying, Faheem made it clear that Islamabad United’s immediate focus is securing a playoff berth.
“Our first goal is to qualify for the top four. Once we get there, we will aim for a top-two finish,” he said.
Having emerged as a prominent name through the PSL itself, Faheem described the league as a transformative platform for cricketers.
“The PSL is Pakistan’s top league and one of the best in the world. If you perform here, you will definitely get opportunities — whether in the national team or in leagues abroad,” he noted.
He emphasised that the tournament serves a dual purpose, offering a breakthrough stage for youngsters while also allowing senior players to revive or strengthen their careers.
“It’s not just for young players. Even for seniors, a strong performance in PSL can change your career trajectory,” he explained.
A three-time champion side, Islamabad United has long been regarded as one of the most consistent teams in the league. Faheem credited this success to the franchise’s stable core and player-centric environment.
“The management believes in maintaining a strong core group because that core wins you tournaments,” he said.
He also highlighted the inclusive culture within the squad.
“Whether you are a junior or a senior, everyone is treated equally. That creates a positive environment and helps players perform freely,” he added.
Drawing comparisons with other global T20 leagues, Faheem pointed out that the PSL stands out for its competitive qualit, particularly in bowling.
“The biggest strength of this league is its quality. If you compare it with other leagues, our bowling standard is very strong,” he said.
According to him, the intensity is not limited to one department.
“Batting, bowling, and fielding – every aspect is highly competitive, which makes PSL unique,” he remarked.
Despite being one of Pakistan’s senior all-rounders, Faheem maintained that personal milestones take a backseat to team success.
“My only goal is for the team to win. Even if I play a small role in that victory, it’s enough for me,” he said.
Faheem also spoke about the steady influx of young talent making an impact in PSL.
“Every season, new players come through. Even from U-19 and domestic cricket, youngsters are performing here,” he noted.
He expressed confidence that many of these players will soon represent Pakistan at the international level.
Concluding the conversation, Faheem shared a message for the next generation of players aiming to follow in his footsteps.
“Stay focused on cricket, keep working hard, and always put Pakistan first,” he said.
As PSL 11 heads towards its decisive stages, Islamabad United will be hoping to translate potential into results, while players like Faheem Ashraf continue to highlight the league’s growing stature as a launchpad for cricketing excellence.
Hyderabad Kingsmen won the toss and opted to bowl first against RawalPindiz in the 24th match of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Thursday.
Hyderabad Kingsmen and RawalPindiz are two newly inducted sides this season and have not faced each other previously. The Kingsmen are placed in sixth position after winning their last two games following four consecutive defeats.
The Pindiz, captained by Muhammad Rizwan, are at the bottom of the table as they have failed to open their account so far, with five defeats in as many matches.
Playing XIs
Rawalpindiz: Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Usman Khawaja, Yasir Khan, Daryl Mitchell, Abdullah Fazal, Sam Billings, Saad Masood, Asif Afridi, Mubasir Khan, Ben Sears, Mohammad Amir
Hyderabad Kingsmen: Maaz Sadaqat, Saim Ayub, Marnus Labuschagne(c), Usman Khan(w), Kusal Perera, Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Khan, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Asif Mehmood, Mohammad Ali
This is a developing story and is being updated with further details.
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