Borussia Dortmund have sacked head coach Nuri Sahin after a disappointing 2-1 loss to Bologna in Tuesday’s Champions League match, marking the club’s fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions.

The decision follows a string of poor performances that have left the club in 10th place in the Bundesliga, 20 points adrift of league leaders Bayern Munich.

Sporting CEO Lars Ricken expressed that the club had “lost faith” in Sahin, explaining that the decision was painful but necessary.

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“We have unfortunately lost faith that we will achieve our sporting goals,” Ricken said. “We value Nuri Sahin and his work very much, we hoped for a long collaboration, but after the game in Bologna, this was unavoidable.”

Sahin, who had been promoted to head coach in the summer following his role as assistant to Edin Terzic during Dortmund’s surprise Champions League final run last season, acknowledged the disappointment.

“Unfortunately, I was not able to live up to Dortmund’s sporting ambitions at this point in time. I wish this special club all the best.”

The defeat against Bologna caps a difficult season for the club under Sahin’s stewardship.

Despite their strong showing in last season’s Champions League, where they lost to Real Madrid in the final, Dortmund have struggled in the Bundesliga and were eliminated from the German Cup by Wolfsburg.

Their away form, in particular, has been disastrous, with only four wins and nine losses in 15 matches away from the Westfalenstadion.

Dortmund’s leadership, which has historically favored former players in managerial roles, now faces the task of finding a suitable replacement for Sahin.

German media reports suggest potential successors could include Erik Ten Hag, the former Manchester United boss who has been spotted attending Dortmund games recently, or Roger Schmidt, formerly of Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen.

In the interim, U19 coach Mike Tullberg has been appointed to take charge of the first team, starting with Saturday’s home match against Werder Bremen.

The sacking of Sahin is the latest chapter in a turbulent managerial history for Dortmund since the departure of Jurgen Klopp in 2015, with the club having cycled through eight different head coaches in that time. Only Lucien Favre managed to stay longer than two years.

Sahin’s tenure as manager was a significant moment for Dortmund, as he was one of the club’s own, having come through the ranks and played over 270 games for the team, including being part of the squad that won the 2011 Bundesliga title.

However, his time at the helm of the senior team has proven to be short-lived as Dortmund now seek a new direction.

Manchester City have completed the signing of 19-year-old defender Vitor Reis from Brazilian club Palmeiras, the Premier League champions announced on Tuesday.

The Brazilian youth international joins on a four-and-a-half-year deal for a reported fee of £29.6 million ($36.2 million).

Reis, a right-footed centre-back, expressed his enthusiasm about joining the English giants. “I’m excited to join Manchester City, one of the biggest clubs in the world,” said Reis.

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“Everyone has seen the amazing achievements in recent seasons, and I want to make my mark as we seek more trophies. Working with Pep Guardiola is something every young player wants to do, and I know he can help me to develop into the best player I can be.”

City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, highlighted the qualities that attracted the club to Reis.

He said, “Vitor Reis is one of the most promising young defenders in the world, and we’re delighted to have been able to bring him here. He is excellent on the ball and outstanding in the air — he has all the attributes needed to be one of the best.”

The signing of Reis is City’s second addition of the January transfer window, following the arrival of Uzbekistan international Abdukodir Khusanov.

Reports indicate that the club is also pursuing Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush before the window closes.

Manchester City, currently fifth in the Premier League table, have faced challenges this season due to a series of defensive injuries.

However, the team showcased their attacking strength with a dominant 6-0 victory over Ipswich on Sunday.

Brazilian football superstar Neymar has disclosed the emotional journey behind his decision to join Barcelona over Real Madrid, revealing that his choice was driven by passion rather than practicality.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with fellow Brazilian icon Romário on Friday, Neymar shared how his admiration for the Catalan club and the chance to play alongside Lionel Messi ultimately influenced his career-defining move.

“I don’t regret my choice to pick Barcelona over Real Madrid. I went with my heart there,” Neymar said.

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Neymar revealed that his love for Barcelona stemmed from the days of Ronaldinho, a fellow Brazilian legend who lit up Camp Nou during his prime.

“Barça was the team I loved. I always watched, and I always said: I want to play there. It happened,” Neymar explained.

The forward recalled the dramatic transfer saga that unfolded, with representatives from both clubs vying intensely for his signature.

“Those were intense days. It was two or three days where I wasn’t even training, just going from my house to the office to resolve this,” Neymar said.

Caught in a tug-of-war between two of football’s biggest clubs, Neymar described being overwhelmed by the constant calls and discussions.

“Real Madrid’s people were calling me from one side, and Barcelona’s people were calling me from the other. Both presidents were talking to me. I couldn’t rationalise. I imagined myself playing for both.”

In the end, his emotional connection to Barcelona won out.

“My heart spoke louder,” he admitted.

A significant factor in Neymar’s decision was the opportunity to play alongside Lionel Messi, whom he had admired for years.

“I obviously wanted to play with Messi!” Neymar said, reflecting on the partnership that would later produce historic moments for Barcelona.

Despite fulfilling his dream of joining Barcelona, Neymar revealed that the initial months at the club were far from smooth.

Adapting to a new environment and the pressure of expectations left him doubting himself.

“I spent the first six months at Barça with butterflies in my stomach. I was like…, I can’t dribble anyone, I can’t get by anyone, I’m doing everything all wrong,” he said.

One of his lowest points came during a match against Athletic Bilbao, where he broke down in tears at halftime.

“I went into the washroom crying by myself, thinking, ‘What am I doing?’ Then Messi knocked on the door,” Neymar recounted.

Messi, along with fellow Brazilian Dani Alves, stepped in to reassure Neymar and encourage him to play without pressure. Their support helped him regain his confidence and develop into one of the top players in the world.

Looking back on his career, Neymar expressed gratitude for the lessons he learned, even from his mistakes.

“All of the mistakes I had in my career, in my life choices were to help me grow, help me mature. So I don’t regret anything,” he concluded.