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    £126m Man City and Liverpool transfer target Florian Wirtz is youngest of TEN siblings who only got a TV for Euro 2016

    FLORIAN WIRTZ missed most of Kevin De Bruyne’s first season at Manchester City — because the German star’s family did not even own a telly until 2016.Yet this summer, playmaker Wirtz could replace icon De Bruyne at the Etihad to make Pep Guardiola’s side essential viewing once again.Florian Wirtz has been the gem of Bayer Leverkusen for the last two seasonsCredit: GETTYThe 23-year-old played a huge role in Leverkusen winning the Bundesliga title in the 2023/24 campaignCredit: GETTYHis exploits have seen him become a bonafide Germany internationalCredit: GETTYWirtz is one of TEN children born from his father, Hans-Joachim, and his mum, Karin GrossCredit: ALAMYCity are fighting it out with new champions Liverpool and German giants Bayern Munich to seal a deal for £126MILLION-RATED Wirtz.Boss Xabi Alonso may also attempt to take Wirtz with him from Bayer Leverkusen to his reported new club Real Madrid in the coming weeks.FA Cup finalists City want him to take over from De Bruyne, who pulls down the curtain on an unforgettable, trophy-laden decade at the club when leaving on a free this summer.And it is easy to see why Guardiola is after the 22-year-old, who appears as grounded as he is talented and hard-working.READ MORE ON FLORIAN WIRTZBorn in Pulheim, on the North-West outskirts of Cologne, Wirtz has NINE siblings — with four brothers and five sisters.He is the youngest of the ten kids, though only he and sister Juliane are the children of both dad Hans-Joachim, 71, and mum Karin Gross, 64, with the rest from previous relationships.Wirtz’s parents were once mistaken as his grandparents by a red-faced DAZN reporter during a man-of-the-match interview in March last year.Like Florian, 23-year-old Juliane is also a professional footballer and plays for Werder Bremen — all the siblings apart from Marie play football.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSFlorian Wirtz’s sister, Juliane, is also a professional footballer who plays for Werder BremenCredit: REUTERSWirtz didn’t have a TV until he was 14 as his dad didn’t buy one until Euro 2016Credit: GETTYFlorian and Juliane’s first club was local side Grun-Weiss Brauweiler, where his dad is still chairman.The family spent so much time there that they did not feel it necessary to buy a TV for their home until just before Euro 2016. If they wanted to watch games, they would view them together in the clubhouse.Florian Wirtz talks about his highlights playing for Bayer Leverkusen Wirtz honed his lethal shooting by firing footballs at the family piano as an 18-month-old, before joining Cologne at seven and stayed for ten years.Bayern tried to sign him in 2020, along with Hoffenheim and Leverkusen.He picked the latter for two reasons, with the first being that then-manager Peter Bosz promised him he would throw him straight into the first team.The other was because he wanted to continue at his Cologne school, which was only 15 miles away from Leverkusen.Wirtz was an average academic student, doing just about enough to graduate from high school.But, unsurprisingly, he excelled at sport and was a competent handball player — helped by his mum Karin being a professional coach in the discipline — and gymnast.Florian’s close relationship with his mother stems back to her attending all his training sessions growing up.Karin looks after his finances, while Hans handles his contracts.Wirtz told Sports Illustrated last week: “The sporting perspective is much more important than the money. I think my parents would be angry if I were too fixated on money,“After I moved to Leverkusen at 16, my parents managed my salary and sent me 150 Euros a month. That shaped me.”The star and his girlfriend Aaliyah Mohamed are keen cooks, who are said to mix up the menu every day except for Saturdays when it is almost always boiled potatoes and warm beetroot with horseradish.But Karin is always on hand to help with any new recipes and also cooked for her boy for a fortnight after Die Mannschaft star did his ACL in March 2022 and could not walk.Wirtz was still in rehab by the time Spanish manager Alonso, 43, took over at Leverkusen in October 2022.But the then-teenager showed his leadership skills by travelling home and away to stay connected to the team, even though he could not play.Wirtz’s influence means, famously, no coach has ever dropped him.And indeed, former Liverpool star Alonso built his invincible, Double-winning side — the one that denied Harry Kane the Bundesliga title last term — around the youngster.Wirtz made an electric return from injury, having worked harder than required throughout his recovery.He netted a hat-trick off the bench to clinch the title in a 5-0 battering of Bremen in April, and was named the league’s player of the season.Alonso compared Wirtz to the German’s boyhood idol Lionel Messi for how easy he made the game look.Despite his stellar season, Wirtz never looked close to leaving Leverkusen last summer.Liverpool and Manchester City will have to shatter the Premier League’s record transfer record to sign Florian WirtzCredit: REXCity are eying Wirtz as a potential replacement for club legend Kevin de BruyneCredit: PAWirtz could be joined in the Prem by team-mate Jeremie Frimpong, who Liverpool are eyeing as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-ArnoldCredit: GETTYBut 12 months on, he is expected to go and City — also chasing AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, 26, and Morgan Gibbs-White, 27, of Nottingham Forest — are right in the mix.Should he opt for England, he could be joined by his best mate Jeremie Frimpong, 24, who is on Liverpool’s list to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold.The pair have a shared love of rap music and fashion, while Wirtz is a fan of Mercedes cars.Bayern feel they are in pole position for Wirtz, with sources in Germany claiming Hans-Joachim prefers the switch, particularly at this stage of his son’s career.The German giants may have to rejig their formation to fit in Wirtz, though, and there are question marks over how the set-up would work with fellow No 10 Jamal Musiala.Former City and Bayern midfielder Didi Hamann, 51, claimed: “I have my doubts that it will work with Musiala. Both are central players and want to play there.“Both of them next to each other at No 10 — that works on the computer, but not in practice.“One will suffer, maybe even both of them.”Never discount the pull of Bayern on German players.Read More on The SunBut the Prem appeals, as Wirtz himself noted last week by stating his desire to “leave my comfort zone at some point and experience something new”.Now it’s over to the big guns to battle it out for his signature. More

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    Ruben Amorim gives update on quit threat as Man Utd boss says ‘I cannot see the team having these results…’

    RUBEN AMORIM has no intention of quitting Manchester United — but knows the pressure will ramp up if he fails to win the Europa League.The Portuguese boss confirmed he paid for 30 of his staff to take their families to Wednesday’s all-English ­final showdown with Tottenham in Spain.Ruben Amorim has no intention of quitting Manchester UnitedMan Utd boss Amorim knows the pressure will ramp up if he fails to win the Europa LeagueAmorim stunned supporters  after ­Sunday’s defeat to West Ham when he admitted he will have to be replaced if he cannot turn United around at the start of next season.Amorim, who has won only six out of 25 Prem matches in charge, said: “Since I arrived here I am always talking about the standards.“I cannot see the team having these results — especially in the Premier League — and not say anything and not take the responsibility.“It’s just that. I have a clear idea what to do. I understand the problems of the team and I am far from quitting.Read More on Man Utd“What I am saying is we need to perform this season and in the future or else they will change us.“That is a normal thing. That was my feeling after West Ham and is still my feeling today.”Amorim has tried to play down the importance of the Bilbao showdown.But he accepts losing to Tottenham, who last won silverware in 2008, would crank up the pressure.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHe added: “For sure, if we don’t win, that is clear . . .  but I am not concerned about that. “It’s going to be really bad. I don’t want to use that as an excuse, it’s going to be really tough.”Casemiro STAYING at Man Utd? Amorim’s Shock U-Turn Explained!Amorim’s move to pay for tickets out of his own pocket — after the club said they would not fund them — was an attempt to boost morale following a difficult time at Old Trafford.With up to  450 redundancies announced as part of co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting measures, staff fear more cuts will follow should United fail to beat Spurs. Amorim explained his decision to pay for the tickets and said: “In this moment for our club sometimes it is hard when to give, when to take, to respect the people that are losing their jobs.“It is complicated for the club to start giving to other members of staff so it is a really hard position.“That situation was explained so my reaction was to help. It is not going to change my life.“So I wanted to help the staff be there and comfortable and be a better staff for the final. Three stars sidelined“Then they talk to the players and the players have the same reaction.“Everybody wants their families there, the staff there but it’s hard to manage things in our club. So it’s a simple thing.”Amorim confirmed Leny Yoro, Matthijs De Ligt and Diogo Dalot will not feature on Friday’s Prem clash at Chelsea  in the hope they can be fit for the Europa League final.The United boss  said: “I don’t know if they are going to be available. Read More on The Sun“We are going to try and push because it is a final and all the players want to play in that.“They will not go to Chelsea but there is a  possibility we will get some of them back.” More

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    ‘Straight from the kebab shop into church’ – Palace legends from Man Utd 1990 FA Cup Final defeat remember glory days

    THEY were Crystal Palace’s greatest ever team.Winners of an epic FA Cup semi-final and losers in a classic final which would save Sir Alex Ferguson’s skin, before they achieved a club-record third-placed top-flight finish the following season.Ian Wright scores his second goal for Palace in the 3-3 epic final against Man UtdCredit: PA:Press AssociationRichard Shaw (right) grapples with Neil Webb at Wembley in 1990Credit: AlamyPalace hero John Salako (right) takes on United’s Mike PhelanCredit: RexAndy Gray (right) tries to get the better of Clayton BlackmoreCredit: GettyAnd before Oliver Glasner’s Eagles face Manchester City in Saturday’s showpiece, SunSport reunited three of Palace’s boys of 1990 – Andy Gray, John Salako and Richard Shaw – with assistant manager Alan Smith on the intersection of Wembley Way and Memory Lane.Salako and Shaw, the youngest members of the last all-English team to contest an FA Cup Final, are 56 now, while Gray is 61.But put them back together and they talk like wide-eyed kids again.Those glory days feel like only yesterday, as they remember how a team largely recruited from non-league and lower-league clubs, or promoted from the youth system, toppled the mighty Liverpool and so nearly defeated Ferguson’s United.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLRemember those 36-hour mid-season booze benders in Tenerife? Or the long Caribbean tour after the Final?And what about the time Gray sparked a racism storm by training in a sheepskin overcoat? Or when Smith was arrested mid-match at White Hart Lane as a suspected trespasser?And how they celebrated that astonishing 4-3 semi-final win over Liverpool by eating a Chinese takeaway on a bench in Croydon, still wearing their Palace blazers.“We had lost 9-0 at Anfield that season, a night when we actually played well,” says Gray.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“So there were no plans to celebrate winning the semi as we didn’t rate our chances,” says Salako, “Was that the night when I woke up face-down on a pavement in Thornton Heath with my blazer still on?”“No, that was a different night,” replies Shaw.Diehard Crystal Palace fan with arm in sling goes viral after using his HEAD to clap FA Cup heroes at Wembley“That was probably a usual Saturday night,” agrees Salako.This pair of Palace youth products grew up together, under the guidance of Smith, who managed the youth team, the reserves and would later succeed Steve Coppell as first-team boss on two occasions.Shaw and Salako, who were 21 when they played in Palace’s first major final, still affectionately refer to Smith as ‘Dad’. For Shaw, whose mum was a single parent, Smith was a genuine father figure.Salako, a gifted winger who would play five times for England, was well-known as a church-goer.When Palace’s semi-final against Liverpool was scheduled for a Sunday – a rarity, 35 years ago – a journalist from this newspaper asked him whether he would put his Christian beliefs to one side and play on the Sabbath.“I did like to go to church on a Sunday,” says Salako.“But only if you got home in time from the Blue Orchid (nightclub),” says Shaw.“Straight from the kebab shop into church,” agrees Salako, “I’m not really the most devout of Christians.”While Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang, who won the Cup in 1988, were infamous, that Palace team were cut from the same unfashionable cloth.These were players who came up the hard way, were never intimidated by reputations and were outstanding at dead-ball routines, decades before specialist set-piece coaches.“I think our characters were stronger than Wimbledon’s, not just physically but mentally,” says Gray.Salako and old pal Andy Gray during SunSport’s exclusive interviewCredit: Darren FletcherRichard Shaw enjoyed his trip down Memory LaneCredit: Darren FletcherThe trio were joined by former Palace assistant manager Alan SmithCredit: Darren FletcherShaw, Smith, Gray and Salako loved their lunch with SunSport at a posh golf clubCredit: Darren Fletcher“And we had better players,” agrees Smith, “like (keeper) Nigel Martyn, signed for £1million from Bristol Rovers, and Andy Thorn, from Wimbledon, who was a big influence.”“We just weren’t as outspoken about it,” says Salako, “but we were tough. I mean, Ian Wright would scratch your eyes out.”During that 1989-90 campaign, Palace’s first since promotion to the top flight, Coppell and Smith made a habit of flying to Tenerife with their players on Saturday nights, with more drinking than training before they returned on Monday morning.Yet Smith almost missed one trip when he had his collar felt at White Hart Lane – thanks to Gray playing in an unfamiliar position on the wing.“Steve (Coppell) made me walk round to the opposite side of the pitch to give Andy some instructions.” Smith explains.“There was a trench past the touchline, I dunked down in there and all you could see was my head and I’m shouting to Andy.“Suddenly we scored, I jumped out of the trench and got arrested. I said ‘I’m the assistant manager and the policeman said, ‘You’re taking the p*** mate’.“He asked if I had any ID, I said, ‘I’ve got my Palace tracksuit with my initials on’.“He escorts me round the back and says, ‘We’re taking you to Bow Street police station’, I said, ‘No you’re not, we’re going to Tenerife tonight!’”Those Tenerife trips, on which Alan Pardew – scorer of the Villa Park semi-final winner against Liverpool – was the social secretary, became legendary.But the post-final trip to the Caribbean, laid on by sponsors Virgin Atlantic, was two-and-a-half weeks of pure hedonism.We played two matches but we weren’t at our best because we were absolutely s**t-faced,JOHN SALAKO“We went to the Cayman Islands and Trinidad, then Ocho Rios in Jamaica,” says Shaw.“Yeah, we played two matches but we weren’t at our best because we were absolutely s**t-faced,” says Salako.A year after the Cup Final, Palace chairman Ron Noades would cause major controversy by claiming that his club’s black players needed ‘a few hard white men to carry them through the winter’.But Gray, perhaps surprisingly, claims: “Ron wasn’t a racist, Ron was an absolute blinder.”And Shaw interjects: “We know what prompted those comments.”“Yes,” says Salako, “Andy used to train in a full-length sheepskin overcoat and it gave Ron the idea that Andy couldn’t stand the cold.”This was apparently a party-piece of Gray’s – who refers to himself as ‘Brixton through and through’ and is lovingly regarded as something of an eccentric loose-cannon by his former team-mates.Smith would fume at Gray training in his big coat but Coppell – an expert man-manager – insisted that if it made him happy, he should carry on doing so.Coppell, says Smith, would make a positive of Palace’s ‘non-league mentality’.“That camaraderie, that chemistry,” says Salako.Pardew was a glazier recruited from Yeovil for £4,000. Cup Final hero Ian Wright was plucked from Greenwich Borough. Gray, after being released by Palace as a teenager, returned via Corinthian Casuals and Dulwich Hamlet.Yet Gray, who also played for Tottenham, Aston Villa and England, was an outstanding attacking midfielder.For all three of the former players, that outsider mentality still persists.Shaw has spent much of his post-playing career coaching at Palace, Watford, Coventry, Millwall and, most recently, Cardiff.Yet he marvels at the fact we’re having lunch at a posh golf club in Surrey, as Salako and Gray order fish and chips.“We used to stop off at a chippy after every away match,” recalls Smith, “the team coach would pull up and Spike the kitman would go in and order 15 cod and chips.“Dave West, our physio, once suggested we should have pasta instead and Coppell threw a wobbler and said ‘stick to basics’.”After Liverpool had been defeated, the build-up to the Cup Final was a dream for youngsters Salako and Shaw, who had been loaned, respectively, to Swansea and Hull earlier that season.“We got fitted for our suits at Top Man,” recalls Shaw, “then we went to the Abbey Road studios in our Palace shellsuits and recorded ‘Glad All Over’ as the Cup Final song.”Gray, Pardew, Gary O’Reilly and Geoff Thomas would re-enact the Beatles album cover on the zebra crossing outside the studio.“On the day of the match, there were supporters everywhere, lining the streets,” says Shaw, “we’ve watched these Cup Final build-ups on the telly as kids and now we are part of one, on the coach with a TV camera.”The match was a breathless 3-3 draw – O’Reilly heading Palace in front, before Bryan Robson and Mark Hughes turned the match. And then came Wright.Palace’s striker and talisman had broken his leg just six weeks earlier but made a miraculous recovery – according to Coppell, via the help of a gin-soaked faith healer who blew raspberries, spoke directly to God and who had previously helped ‘cure’ his strike partner Mark Bright of injury.“Wrighty was like a coiled spring, a bundle of energy,” says Salako.He scored twice in a breakthrough performance for a player who would become Arsenal’s all-time record goalscorer.His second, early in extra-time, came from a Salako cross.ON VIRG OF GLORYBy DAVE KIDDJOHN SALAKO claims Maxence Lacroix is ‘the next Virgil van Dijk’ and believes Crystal Palace can win their first major trophy in Saturday’s FA Cup Final.Palace legend Salako was a winger in the 1990 final and a coach in the 2016 showpiece – both of which the Eagles lost to Manchester United.Salako, now a matchday ambassador at Selhurst Park, says Oliver Glasner has presided over some of the best football he has ever seen from a Palace side.And ahead of the final against Manchester City, Salako hailed the signing of French centre-half Lacroix from Wolfsburg last summer as a key factor in Palace’s success.Salako said: “Lacroix, for me, is the next Van Dijk. He is sensational.“He is a giant. They’ve got a real leader. He’s 25 but plays with the knowledge of a 31 or 32-year-old. He’s fantastic alongside Marc Guehi and Chris Richards.“When Glasner came in last season, it was easily the best football I’d seen from Palace. We smashed it – we got 19 points from the last seven games.“Losing Joachim Andersen and Michael Olise last summer, we thought that was going to really have a bad effect.“But Ismaila Sarr stepped in, Lacroix has been phenomenal and (wing-back) Daniel Munoz has been player of the season.“Defensively, I think we’ve got more than enough to cope with City.“Oliver’s got a system. He loves the back three and wing-backs, two in midfield and three up front. But tactically and as a man-manager, he is fantastic.“Jean-Philippe Mateta has grown in stature. It was a shame about his head injury at Millwall, that stopped him getting 20 goals this season and Adam Wharton has been sensational in midfield.“The one thing that stood out for most of the season was that we needed more magic from Eberechi Eze.“He’d only scored two Premier League goals but he scored for England against Latvia and that has been the catalyst for a really hot run of form recently.”Palace suffered a 5-2 defeat at the Etihad last month – but would have gone 3-0 up in that match but for a narrow offside decision.Salako said: “That will give us the belief that we can get at City going forward. They are vulnerable defensively.“My only worry is that City have so much trophy-winning experience and this is their only opportunity to win something this season but Palace have a really good chance.”“The goal that finished Jim Leighton’s United career,” Salako recalls, “I ran so far to celebrate with the Palace fans that I ended up with cramp.”Hughes would equalise before Ferguson ruthlessly axed Leighton for the replay, replacing him with the veteran Les Sealey, and United won a forgettable encounter 1-0 through Lee Martin’s goal.“After the replay, I went into the United dressing-room hoping to swap shirts,” says Salako, “Hughes, Robson, Steve Bruce and Co all mugged me off, they stuck their fingers up and told me to f*** off.”Then Smith recalls how, when he managed Palace against United in an FA Cup semi-final five years later, Ferguson told him ‘I wouldn’t be here if we hadn’t got that 3-3 draw’.And then come memories of other Palace-United encounters.How Shaw was the player who got Eric Cantona sent off for retaliation, immediately before his infamous kung-fu kick on a Palace fan at Selhurst Park.How Salako was on the bench as a coach when Palace lost their only other FA Cup Final to Louis van Gaal’s United in 2016 – when Pardew did his famous ‘dad dance’ after Jason Puncheon scored the opening goal.“Only Alan would do that,” smiled Salako, “I was thinking ‘hang on, it’s only 72 minutes, shouldn’t we win the match first…”Read More on The SunAnd the memories continue, all the way through lunch. Salako has to go home but Shaw says ‘I’ve loved this, I could have carried on all night’.They are 56 now and Gray is 61. But here, today, they are boys again. The boys of 1990. Palace’s finest and glad all over. More

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    Nottingham Forest set to launch investigation into medical team’s handling of Taiwo Awoniyi injury with Marinakis fuming

    NOTTINGHAM FOREST are set to launch an internal investigation into their medical team’s handling of Taiwo Awoniyi’s horror injury on Sunday.The 27-year-old Nigerian striker remains in hospital, in an induced coma, after having surgery to repair a ruptured intestine on Monday.Nottingham Forest will launch an internal investigation after Taiwo Awoniyi’s injuryForest owner Evangelos Marinakis was furious with the way the medical team handled Awoniyi’s injuryAwoniyi suffered severe abdominal injuries when he collided with a post during his side’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City.Surgeons took the decision to stabilise Awoniyi’s condition by placing him in an induced coma, which will help restrict his movement and regulate his heart rate.However, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is still fuming at how the stricken striker was allowed to continue playing by the club’s medics and coaches.SunSport understands the Greek tycoon has ordered a comprehensive internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding that controversial decision.Read More on FootballForest’s vastly experienced club doctor Dr Prithish Shyam Narayan will be quizzed along with club medics and coaches, so that Forest get a precise picture and understanding of what happened on Sunday.Marinakis was so incensed at Awoniyi’s plight he raced onto the pitch at full-time to quiz manager Nuno Espirito Santo.Now he wants answers before deciding if any further action is required.In a hard-hitting statement issued by Forest on Monday, the club made it clear it will not tolerate any player being endangered.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSIt said: “The seriousness of Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury is a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game and why a player’s health and well-being must always come first.”This principle is not just policy for us, it is the deeply held conviction of our owner.”The statement went on to seemingly criticise the club’s own medics when it concluded: “There was only shared frustration between all of us that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.” More

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    ‘It’s time’ – England could host World Cup after seven decades as Fifa chief tells FA to ‘seriously think’ about it

    ENGLAND could host the World Cup after a SEVEN-DECADE wait following a top Fifa figure’s encouragement to bid for the tournament.The nation hasn’t bid for the tournament since the controversial 2010 vote for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar, in which it was alleged that Fifa members were bribed to vote for the host countries.England hasn’t hosted the World Cup since lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1966Credit: GETTYThe FA failed to land the 2018 or 2022 World CupsCredit: GETTYFifa Vice-President Victor Montagliani believes it’s time the tournament returns to Old BlightyCredit: GETTYEngland hasn’t staged a World Cup since the historic 1966 tournament, which saw Sir Alf Ramsey’s troops win the competition on home soil.And Fifa vice-president Victor Montagliani believes it’s high time the tournament returns to these shores.During an interview with The Times, he said: “I can’t see why, not just England but the United Kingdom shouldn’t be hosting the World Cup.”I think it would be a fantastic World Cup and I think they should seriously think of putting their foot forward to host.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS”We all know what the game means in the UK and I think it’s time.”The 2026 World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, while the 2030 tournament set to be split across Spain, Portugal, Morocco and South America.Saudi Arabia will stage the 2034 tournament having run unopposed for the hosting rights.The Women’s World Cup will take place in the UK in 2035 and could be a potential catalyst for the men’s tournament to return to these shores in 2038 or 2042.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSEngland could bid to host the 2038 or 2042 World CupsCredit: GettySpeaking on Fifa’s rotation model, Montagliani said: “I support what we have done in recent history, I think it’s the only way.”Now it shouldn’t be the Fifa president’s decision alone, he has a board, he has a council.Major change to World Cup final confirmed by Fifa chief Gianni Infantino with Coldplay to perform half-time show “But I think the old way we used to do it where people just waste their money and then all these shenanigans happen.That’s ridiculous. Let’s get away from that.“Let’s become a proper business. Let’s have an event management strategy so that we’re properly rotating it, everybody gets a crack at it.“The reality is that the World Cup generates 80 to 90 per cent of Fifa’s income, which then sends 80 per cent of that back to its members for the development of football.”And if Fifa doesn’t generate that money there is a significant number of the 211 countries that do not have the funds to develop football.”Next year’s North American World Cup will be the first tournament to include 48 teams.But South American footie chiefs have called for future tournaments to be expanded to an incredible 64 TEAMS, a total Montagliani believes would devalue the prestige which comes with qualifying for the competitionHe said: “Sixty-four teams is just too much in my opinion. We still haven’t kicked the ball for 48 teams, although I think we’ll be fine.Read More on The Sun“We’re OK where we are and I’m not comfortable with any more — scarcity is still important.”It still needs to be difficult to get to a World Cup and I think at 48 you’re still going to have some nations you may think should be at a World Cup but fail to qualify.” More

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    Aberdeen vs Celtic SUSPENDED due to medical emergency in crowd as players raise the alarm

    THE Scottish Premiership clash between Aberdeen and Celtic was suspended due to a medical emergency.Players on the pitch appeared to notice something was wrong and raised the alarm.Players attracted the referee’s attentionCredit: SKY SPORTSReferee Steven McLean immediately stopped the gameCredit: SKY SPORTSAberdeen and Celtic medics raced to the fan’s aidPlayers looked concerned as treatment was administeredCredit: PAMedical staff and police raced to the supporter’s aidCredit: Kenny RamsayStars from both sides could be seen waving their arms in the air in an attempt to attract attention.Referee Steven McLean noticed the pleas of concern and immediately stopped the match and waved the medics on.The Aberdeen medical team were seen sprinting across the pitch to head into the crowd to administer treatment and were joined by their Celtic counterparts.Players on the pitch looked visibly concerned as treatment was administered.Commentator Chris Sutton said: “Some things are more important than football.”After a sizable delay of a few minutes, commentator Ian Crocker provided a positive update.He informed viewers that the fan was now sat up and on his feet.Crocker then said the fan was placed in a wheelchair and taken away from the stand for further treatment.Most read in FootballPictures show the fan – appearing to be awake and alert – on the wheelchair at the side of the pitch.Applause could be heard around Pittodrie.Play was able to resume after a delay of seven minutes.A further update was then provided by the Sky Sports commentator at the start of the second half.Crocker revealed that the fan was now in a ‘stable’ condition.He did, however, add that the supporter had been taken to hospital.Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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    Diletta Leotta stuns in figure-hugging flowered dress as elegant DAZN host attends Charity Gala Dinner

    DILETTA LEOTTA is no stranger to donning a stunning outfit.But she well and truly stole the show at a charity dinner on Tuesday night with a floral get-up.Italian football presenter Diletta Leotta is no stranger to a striking outfitCredit: SHUTTERSTOCKThe 33-year-old stole the show at a Charity Gala dinner at the Stadio Olimpico in RomeCredit: INSTAGRAM@DILETTALEOTTALeotta illuminated the eventCredit: SHUTTERSTOCKThe DAZN presenter donned a figure-hugging floral dress for a Charity Gala dinner the day before the Italian Cup final between AC Milan and Bologna.Lieotta completed her outfit with a swanky silver necklace and several rings on her fingers.The 33-year-old, who is married to former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, shared a snap of herself on the red carpet to her Instagram story for her 9.3 million followers to see.Leotta enjoyed a whirlwind relationship with Karius after meeting him in late 2022.READ MORE ON DILETTA LEOTTAThe couple have a daughter called Aria, who was born in August 2023.Leotta tries her best to attend her hubby’s Schalke matches when she’s not required on screen.And she recently suffered a “traumatic” experience in the form of an invasive security check at a German airport while travelling back to Italy.During an appearance on Radio 105, she recalled: “I had to go back to Italy, and as I was going through the metal detector, a policewoman came and wanted to check me.Most read in Football”At one point, I took off almost all my clothes.JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSDiletta Leotta is married to former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris KariusCredit: AFPThe couple welcomed their first child into the world in August 2023Credit: INSTAGRAM@DILETTALEOTTTA”I was wearing almost nothing under my arms and told her, ‘Look, I have nothing under my arms’.”But she insisted on tickling me under my arms, which was incredible torture.Diletta Leotta shows off new ‘Bond girl’ look as DAZN host puts on revealing display in low cut ski suit”She also told me to take off my shoes and tickled me under my feet.”It was traumatic because my brother held me like that (with his arms raised) and tickled me under the armpits.”He was really strong. He tickled me all over my body and I used to wet my pants.” More

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    ‘You haven’t done anything’ – Al Nassr fans want Cristiano Ronaldo GONE after suffering dismal trophyless season

    CRISTIANO RONALDO has been criticised by a section of supporters online.The Portuguese’s Saudi side Al-Nassr have endured another trophyless season.Cristiano Ronaldo has endured another trophyless season in Saudi ArabiaCredit: GettyRonaldo, 40, has remained prolific in front of goal – bagging 33 times in all competitions this term.But despite the former Manchester United star’s exploits in front of goal, Al-Nassr are third in the Saudi Pro League – 11 points behind leaders Al-Ittihad.They were also knocked out of the Asian Champions League by Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale last month.Al-Nassr have not won the title since Ronaldo signed in December 2022.READ MORE ON CRISTIANO RONALDOAnd they have also failed to secure a domestic cup or the Asian Champions League.Ronaldo and Co did lift the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023.Several fans online, however, have criticised their marquee player.Replying to Ronaldo posting “Let’s go” on X, one social media user huffed: “We do not want you in the next session.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSWhile a second fumed: “Go away please, AlNassr doesn’t want you.”A third posted: “You’ve achieved a lot in your history, yes we know that. You have a history, yes we know that, but you haven’t done anything so far, and we know you won’t offer us anything in the future, so please leave the club and go to Portugal, which you’ve always dreamed of. You’ll enjoy it there.” Cristiano Ronaldo appears to argue with himself as he fights back tears after Al-Nassr cup KOAnd a fourth raged: “Bro you’re holding Al Nassr back, please retire, thank you.”Ronaldo has several high-profile team-mates at Al-Nassr.The former Real Madrid icon is joined in attack by the likes of Sadio Mane and Jhon Duran.While Marcelo Brozovic and Aymeric Laporte are also among Al-Nassr’s ranks, with former AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli in charge.Prior to signing Ronaldo, Al-Nassr won the Saudi top flight nine times.Their most recent triumph came in 2019, with former Leicester ace Ahmed Musa their star man.Ronaldo, 40, has not won the Saudi Pro League or Asian Champions LeagueCredit: AFP More