Soccer

Subterms

    More stories

    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Stunning 20,000-seater new football stadium set to be built in Mediterranean city loved by Brits as £42m plan unveiled

      by

      A STUNNING new stadium is set to be built in a city much-loved by Brits travelling to Spain. CF Intercity have secured the rights to build a 20,000-seater ground in Alicante. CF Intercity have secured the rights to build a 20,000-seater ground in AlicanteAlicante is a much-loved destinationCredit: GettyIntercity president Salvador Marti believes it will cost the club around £42million to build.The 100,000 square metres of land formerly housed a ceramics factory.Intercity currently plays its home matches at the 2,000-capacity Estadio Antonio Solana.An ambitious sports and cultural leisure complex will also be built to help secure an economic hub for Valencian community.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe land is strategically located, close to all motorway connections, five minutes from the centre of Alicante and ten minutes from the airport.In 2024, 421,321 Brits travelled to Alicante, according to Olive Press News Spain.Intercity currently competes in the third-tier Primera Federacion and is Spain’s first publicly listed football club.Right now, work is being done in six different areas of Alicante, including in some neighbouring municipalities. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe acquisition of these plots is taking place at the same time as Legends, a leading global company specialising in premium events, is making progress on the development of the business plan for Alicante Park.Legends holds a preferential right for the development and management of the site.Work restarts on ‘world’s greatest football stadium’ that had been abandoned for 16 years as £250m revamp is agreedIntercity noted the purchase option is subject to the relevant administrative and technical permits from local authorities.The land is current classified as rural meaning that, in principle, no construction work can be carried out on it.Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Burnley might be close to instant Premier League promotion but fans want ‘toothless’ Clarets to start scoring goals

      by

      DEFENCES might win you titles, but fans of “toothless” Burnley are demanding football’s tightest team start entertaining by scoring some goals too.The Clarets are second in the Championship largely due to their miserly backline. Scott Parker is bidding for Premier League promotion with a third different sideCredit: GettyThe Clarets sit second in the Championship but have scored 37 goals this termCredit: GettyBut they could blow their immediate return to the Premier League thanks to their less-than-impressive strike rate.To say that Burnley’s football hasn’t been riveting would be an understatement.They have irked fans with ten 0-0 draws so far this term – the joint-most by a club in an entire Championship season since 2008 – with 16 games to go.But the Clarets have by far the best defensive record in English professional football, conceding just NINE goals in 29 matches.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThat’s ten fewer than any other side in the country, with Leeds and Birmingham next best on just 19, while they have conceded five fewer than any team playing in the top two tiers of any league in Europe.In fact, Burnley have conceded the fewest goals of any team in Premier League and EFL history after 31 matches. Their record even surpasses Jose Mourinho’s famously stingy 2004-05 Chelsea side, who had conceded ten goals after 31 games on their way to a Prem record low of 15 goals conceded in a season.Burnley’s rock-solid defence, which boasts the likes of Chelsea loanee Bashir Humphreys and Manchester City product CJ Egan-Riley, has seen them keep 22 clean sheets this term.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAnd while England’s young goalkeeper James Trafford has been excellent between their sticks, the Clarets can’t do the business up the other end of the pitch.It’s been 46 days and counting since fans have watched one of their own score at Turf Moor – a fortress where they remain unbeaten.Jonjo Shelvey completes shock Championship transfer after six-cap England star, 32, saw contract TORN UP by Turkish clubChelsea loanee Bashir Humphreys starts at left-back for BurnleyCredit: RexMichal Helik’s Oxford own-goal on Tuesday was the first goal scored at Turf Moor since Burnley’s 2-1 win over Watford on December 21.Turf Moor had witnessed three consecutive goalless draws before Tuesday and the home fans ironically chanted “we’ve scored a goal!” earlier this week.Nonetheless, the hopeful Clarets are pushing for automatic promotion due to an extraordinary defensive record of NINE consecutive clean sheets.That is one of just 12 runs of nine consecutive clean sheets in Football League history. The last side to record a longer run was Torquay United in August 2010, when they registered ten straight clean sheets. Burnley can match that record at home to Hull next week.Manchester United hold the Premier League record with a run of 14 shut-outs in 2008.Many Burnley fans are sick of watching 0-0 draws at homeCredit: PABut despite their league position and just two defeats all season, a section of fans are turning on manager Scott Parker’s “predictable” style of play.Burnley supporter and TurfCast Youtube host Joe Redmond told talkSPORT: “Hindsight is a wonderful thing. “I wanted to keep Vincent Kompany last season and at the start of this one.”It’s a tough debate. If we get back to the Prem, I think we’ll be more pragmatic than what we were like last season.”But at the moment we’re not winning enough games. We should be beating more teams. Us fans expect 0-0 draws now.”It’s not us just missing chances, it’s the fact that we’re not creating anything.”Burnley have been held to ten 0-0 draws this seasonCredit: GettyAfter Tuesday night’s win, a contributor told TurfCast: “I’m not a fan of Parker. He’s so predictable.”I won’t escape that 1-0 win. We are toothless in front of goal.”We look terrified of putting the ball in the back of the net.”Burnley’s non-penalty expected goals total of 28.2 is the third lowest in the division.Combine a lack of goal-mouth action at both ends of the pitch, and Burnley’s league games this term are currently seeing the fewest goals per game in a season in EFL history.Meanwhile Parker has repeated the defensive soundness that got his Bournemouth and Fulham sides promoted a few years back.But unlike times of old, Parker doesn’t have a reliable goalscorer like he once did in Aleksandar Mitrovic or Dominic Solanke.The club’s 37 goals leaves them 11th for most scored, with midfielder Josh Brownhill the top goalscorer with nine this season.By comparison, promotion rivals Leeds, who sit two points clear of the Clarets, have scored 60.But do Burnley fans even want their side to go up after how bad last season went?Redmond said: “Me personally, yeah. Don’t get me wrong it is a slog in the Premier League.”Last season was my worst-ever season as a Burnley fan. I hated every single minute of it. We were getting tanked every single week.”But you want to be the best you can be. You want to be dining at the top table with the top teams. “If it means getting battered every week and we have to regroup, then so be it.”But eventually, if you keep going up, you’ll stay up and level up.”What, perhaps, is most telling is what happened after Parker led Fulham and Bournemouth up.The Cottagers sacked the Englishman after they were relegated upon their return, but sealed an immediate promotion under Marco Silva in 2022/23.Meanwhile, the Cherries stayed in the Prem but axed Parker within a month of him guiding the club there.If Mitrovic’s 43 goals brought Fulham back to the Prem, Burnley’s lack of goals might cost them.In their last 100 Championship matches, Burnley have lost just FIVE games. But they also have old gaffer Kompany to thank for that.Unlike Kompany’s side, Parker’s aren’t exciting to watch.Parker defended his side’s defensive strength as “remarkable” amid claims they lack entertainment value.The 44-year-old said: “Our default position as a team is let’s get out of here, let’s protect our goal, let’s keep this to a nil.”And I get that it’s not fashionable or certainly not what some people want to hear.”But currently what this team have and what we have as a group is nothing short of remarkable, what we’ve done in the defensive phase.”I understand on the entertainment side, it is probably less so, but that’s a work in progress.”Former Tottenham star Marcus Edwards signed from Sporting Lisbon in January, and fans were asking for him to play against Oxford.The Clarets meanwhile did hit five past Plymouth Argyle at the Home Park Stadium at the end of January.READ MORE SUN STORIESBurnley’s run of 18 games unbeaten is the second-longest stretch behind Liverpool (19) in the top-four tiers this term.While, an FA Cup fourth-round victory away at Southampton on Saturday will surely boost morale. Especially if they bang in a few goals. More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Tycoon who paid for divorce with property fraud after wife left him for Arsenal legend Cesc Fabregas wins £4.5m battle

      by

      A TYCOON who paid for his divorce with a property fraud after his wife left him for Cesc Fabregas has won a £4.5million legal battle.Elie Taktouk married Lebanese model Daniella Semaan in 1998 but they split 13 years later when she dumped him for the ex-Arsenal star.Elie Taktouk carried out a property fraud after divorcing Daniella SemaanShe is now married to Cesc FabregasCredit: AFPDuring a bitter divorce battle, Taktouk lost the the £5.5million marital home in Belgravia to his ex and her new partner.The 50-year-old was then jailed for seven years in 2021 over a multi-million pound property fraud.He was ordered to pay £4.5million in a confiscation ruling two years later following the scam.A judge ruled Taktouk should serve eight years in jail consecutive to his seven year sentence if the money was not paid in default.Read more newsBut Taktouk has now won the right to appeal that order at the Court of Appeal.This is so judges can “receive fresh evidence from the appellant’s brother, Dr Wassim Taktouk, who is the executor of the estate of their late father”.The court heard previously how Taktouk’s dad Youssef Taktouk was one of the richest men in Ibadan, Nigeria, and was worth around £187million.Both he and brother Dr Wassim Taktouk were shareholders in his father’s company Wasseli.Most read in FootballA previous judge examined whether he inherited anything that could be subject to the confiscation order following his father’s death.But Taktouk argued: “I cannot comment on a company I had no control over, no power over.”My father gave me and my brother a ten per cent share each when we were younger, in 1992, I think when I was still a teenager.”I don’t have any details of his wealth.”The court also heard how Taktouk drove a Porsche and rented a £21,000 a month property in Kensington.Between September 2014 and August 2021, he bought £78,000 worth of luxury items from Harrods.Taktouk was convicted of 11 counts of fraud and forgery offences relating to a failed property redevelopment in Knightsbridge.The director of JMT Property Ltd was privately prosecuted by property developer Adrian Noël and his father Frank.They had made an initial investment to buy the property – and then made ten additional investments at Taktouk’s request for works to be done while he was project manager.But he used the cash to fund his extravagant lifestyle to the tune of £2.5million – although the total loss was believed to be £3,237,347.Taktouk has two children from his marriage to model Daniella.She and ex-Chelsea star Fabregas first met in Japanese restaurant Nozomi in 2013 – sparking a bitter divorce battle.READ MORE SUN STORIESFabregas now shares three children with Daniella, who he married in May 2018.The couple live in Italy where the ex-Arsenal skipper manages Serie A side Como.Daniella married Taktouk in 1998Credit: InstagramHe was previously jailed for seven yearsCredit: Paul KeoghDaniella and Fabregas met in a Japanese restaurantCredit: InstagramThe couple have three childrenCredit: InstagramDaniella now lives in Italy with her football manager husbandCredit: Instagram More

    • 188 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Several of Dream Team’s most popular players will not play at all in Gameweek 23

      by

      GAMEWEEK 23 is a tricky one for Dream Team managers to negotiate.Not least because several of the game’s most popular players are without a single fixture.Take the weekend off, lads!Credit: Dream TeamThe FA Cup fourth round makes up the bulk of the action with 17 of the 20 Premier League clubs set to play in the competition from Friday until Tuesday.However, as the three top-flight teams eliminated in the third round, Arsenal, Brentford and West Ham have ZERO fixtures between them this coming Gameweek.Mikel Arteta, Thomas Frank and Graham Potter may be privately thankful for the chance to recharge their troops but this twist of fate has left plenty of Dream Team bosses with problems to solve.Bryan Mbeumo (£4.7m) is the most selected player among those set to blank in Gameweek 23.The Bees’ talisman is currently the most transferred-out player this week but he still features in 20.3% of teams at the time of writing, making him the fifth-most popular midfielder in the game!Mbeumo still features in over a fifth of teamsCredit: GettyThe Cameroon international has been one of the Premier League’s best players this season and his tally of 14 goals is unsurpassed among players in his position.But his owners will either have to find a replacement before Friday’s 6:30pm deadline or make their peace with a zero-pointer.Mbeumo is by far and away the most popular asset in Brentford’s ranks but Nathan Collins (£2.7m), Yoane Wissa (£3.2m), Mark Flekken (£3m) and Mikkel Damsgaard (£3.5m) also appear in a smattering of teams.Most read in FootballAs for the Gunners, William Saliba (£4.8m) and Gabriel (£5m) are the fifth and sixth most selected defenders in the game respectively.While only Emi Martinez (£3.8m) features in more teams than David Raya (£4.5m) among the goalkeepers at present.Gabriel and Saliba will have their feet up this weekendCredit: GETTYUp top, Kai Havertz’s (£4.6m) ownership of 10.6% puts him sixth among strikers.Martin Odegaard (£4.9m), Declan Rice (£4.5m), Gabriel Martinelli (£4.1m) and Jurrien Timber (£4.1m) are all relatively popular too.There are some gaffers out there loaded up on Arsenal players who enjoyed a fantastic Gameweek 22 that will come crashing back to Earth in Gameweek 23 unless they’ve saved up some transfers.West Ham’s blank is less relevant as their most popular asset is Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£3.4m) with an ownership of 2.6%.Some onlookers would have been impressed Jarrod Bowen’s (£5.4m) return from injury against Chelsea on Monday night, which earned him 12 points, but now is certainly not the time to recruit the reliable 28-year-old.Patience is a virtueCredit: RexIn contrast to Arsenal, Brentford and West Ham’s time off, Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton all have two fixtures to fulfil in Gameweek 23.GAMEWEEK 23 FIXTURES BY CLUB:ARSENAL – BLANKASTON VILLA vs TottenhamBOURNEMOUTH vs EvertonBRENTFORD – BLANKBRIGHTON vs ChelseaCHELSEA vs BrightonCRYSTAL PALACE vs DoncasterEVERTON vs Bournemouth & LiverpoolFULHAM vs WiganIPSWICH vs CoventryLEICESTER vs Manchester UnitedLIVERPOOL vs Plymouth & EvertonMANCHESTER CITY vs Leyton Orient & Real MadridMANCHESTER UNITED vs LeicesterNEWCASTLE vs BirminghamNOTTINGHAM FOREST vs ExeterSOUTHAMPTON vs BurnleyTOTTENHAM vs Aston VillaWEST HAM – BLANKWOLVES vs BlackburnScore PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOW More

    • 188 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Ultimate sports presenters’ rich list as new Match of the Day hosts’ salaries are revealed

      by

      MARK Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates take on the shared responsibility of hosting Match of the Day from next season.According to reports, they will be paid less than pundit Alan Shearer, who was declared as earning between £445,000-£449,999 for the 2022-23 and £380,000 last year.Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will be fronting MOTD next seasonCredit: PAGary Lineker is stepping down after 25 seasons in the jobCarle Balding has an estimated net worth of £1mCredit: BBCWhile in contrast, their salary pales into comparison to Gary Lineker’s mega wage.But, who tops the ultimate sports presenters’ rich list?Let SunSport reveal all from numbers crunched online of their estimate net worths.10. Clare Balding, £1millionA staple of our TV screens for decades, Balding has worked on horse racing for Channel 4, and reported for the Beeb’s Olympic coverage a staggering SEVEN times!Read more football news Balding also appeared on Today at Wimbledon from 2015, eventually taking over from Sue Barker as lead presenter, after she retired in 2022.Her interview skills were put to the best by BT Sport, who gave her her own show.On The Clare Balding Show, she interviewed sporting superstars including Mike Tyson, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Lewis Hamilton, and Tom Daley.9. Jeff Stelling, £2millionThe ultimate professional, Stelling was the eyes and ears of football fans wanting updates on their teams for years on Saturday afternoons.Most read in FootballHe famously fronted Soccer Saturday – keeping pundits like Paul Merson, Charlie Nicholas and Matt Le Tissier in check.Wayne Rooney Eyes Pundit Spot on BBC’s Match of the DayStelling has taken his stories from the sports world on tour around the country with his own stage show.He currently fronts talkSPORT’s breakfast show.Jeff Stelling now hosts talkSPORT’s breakfast showCredit: talkSPORT8. Alex Scott, £2millionPoor Alex appears to have been snubbed by the Beeb of late.Not only was she left off the coverage for the Paris Olympics, the former footballer wasn’t chosen as one of the three new Match of the Day presenters either.Despite her daring outfits livening up Football Focus, the show’s dwindling viewing figures have led to reports suggesting it could soon be axed.Scott’s wealth has been boosted by appearances on Strictly Come Dancing and she’s lucky in love – dating pop star Jess Glynne.Glam Alex Scott is in a relationship with singer Jess GlynneCredit: Getty7. Laura Woods, £2.5millionWoods worked her way to the top by starting as a runner on Sky Sports.But she became a household name thanks to her brilliant talkSPORT breakfast show.Woods is now the leading host for TNT Sports’ Champions League coverage, as well as the face of ITV’s football coverage.She is currently enjoying materninty leave after giving birth to her first child, little boy Leo.Laura Woods has reportedly amassed a £2.5m fortune thanks to her TV and radio workread more sport features6. David Jones, £3millionDavid Jones fronts the live coverage of Super Sunday and Monday Night Football.Over the years, he’s kept tempers in check with pundits such as Roy Keane and Graeme Souness, although he had on-screen spats with the latter.Jones is a Sky Sports News OG – joining the channel for their launch in 1998 alongside Georgie Thompson.Outside of presenting, he has a role as non-executive director of his beloved Sunderland AFC.David Jones’ Sky Sports career dates all the way back to 1998Credit: PA5. Mark Pougatch, £3.5millionCalm and collected Pougatch fronts ITV’s major coverage of both football and rugby.He replaced Adrian Chiles as ITV’s chief football presenter six years ago to cover Champions League and England fixtures.Before that, he spent 22 years at BBC Radio 5 Live.He also joined BT Sport in the summer of 2016 to host the show BT Sport Score, to rival Sky Sports’ Gillette Soccer Saturday.Mark Pougatch is ITV’s chief football presenter and fronts their rugby coverage4. Gabby Logan, £4millionGabby is a stalwart when it comes to presenting sport shows on our box.From 2007, she started presenting for BBC sport and was used as a replacement for Lineker on Match Of The Day.She is the face of athletics on the channel and has presented the Olympics, London Marathon, Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championships’ coverage.She was also part of the BBC’s presenting team for Euro 2024, which made her totally suitable for her upcoming role sharing MOTD hosting duties.Consummate professional Gabby Logan will share MOTD hosting dutiesCredit: Getty3. Mark Chapman, £4millionChappers is the purist’s host for the BBC.His dry wit and knowledge of the game has been admired by fans who tune into Match of the Day 2 show on a Sunday.Chapman also hosts Sports Report on BBC 5 Live, one of the longest-running programmes on British radio, and the world’s longest-running sports radio programme, plus The Monday Night Club.In 2023, he joined Sky Sports to present their Carabao Cup output.MOTD 2 audiences are already familiar with Mark Chapman’s work2. Kelly Cates, £8millionCates is riding high in her career, after revealing she is making the switch from Sky to BBC for Match of the Day.The much-loved football presenter is the daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish.She was one of the OG Sky Sports News presenters, when that launched in the late 90s.Like Chapman, Cates has also recorded shows on BBC 5 Live. Kelly Cates has worked for Sky Sports and the BBC through the years1. Gary Lineker, £30millionThe winner, by some way, is BBC’s highest paid presenter.Lineker, 62, began his TV journey on comedy quiz show They Think It’s All Over as a team captain.In 1999, the former England star replaced Des Lynam as the anchorman for all football coverage and he fronts Match of the Day.READ MORE SUN STORIESAccording to the latest figures, Lineker is paid £1.35million a year by the BBC.Better still, his podcast empire – Goalhanger Podcasts – is raking in a fortune.Gary Lineker has amassed an astonishing £30m fortuneCredit: PA More

    • 238 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Arsenal’s Class of 2024 pals Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly could make Arteta’s dream of conquering Europe with kids come true

      by

      MIKEL ARTETA has dreams of winning the Premier League with Arsenal’s very own Class of ’92.Under the mentorship of Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United began to dominate English football from 1992 with academy stars like David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and Gary and Phil Neville.Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri have really come into their own for Arsenal this seasonCredit: GettyThe pair are best of friends having known one another for most of their livesCredit: GETTYThe Emirates faithful have already taken an immense shining to the teenagersCredit: GETTYLewis-Skelly and Nwaneri could be end up being Arsenal’s equivalent to Manchester United’s Class of ’92Credit: GETTYBy the end of the 2002-03 campaign, that group of Fergie Fledglings had won eight Prem titles, three FA Cups and one Champions League crown.Back in August, with 23-year-old Bukayo Saka his only Hale End starting XI representative, Arteta said: “I want to have a team that’s half academy, half foreign and win the Premier League and Champions League consistently.”At the time, it sounded like a far-fetched press conference soundbite.Six months on, and Arteta’s Class of ’24 are making headlines in 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri and 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly.READ MORE ON ARSENALAfter joining the seniors on a pre-season tour of the States last summer, Lewis-Skelly has quickly become a cult hero from left-back, leapfrogging experienced pros like Oleksandr Zinchenko.Midfielder Nwaneri has been around Arteta’s squad for a few years now, making his name in September 2022 as the youngest-ever Prem debutant at 15 years and 181 days before another cameo off the bench at West Ham in February 2024.But this season, the pair have seized their moment together, taking on the challenges of the top flight side by side. Jack Wilshere – who managed both in Arsenal’s U18s – previously suggested their immense talent was “uncoachable” at times.They have already made a combined 41 first-team appearances this term. Nwaneri has seven goals in 22 games. Lewis-Skelly has one goal in 19 games.Most read in FootballArsenal player ratings vs Man CityARSENAL stunned Man City 5-1 at the Emirates on Sunday evening.It was an incredible result against their rivals of recent years.Here, we take a look at how the Gunners rated…David Raya – 7/10Had very little to do in the first half but made a brilliant save in the 22nd minute to deny a goalbound header from Josko Gvardiol. Made another stunning save two minutes from the half-time interval, stopping a deflected Savinho shot from close range. Powerless to stop Erling Haaland’s 55th-minute header from briefly levelling the scores.Jurrien Timber – 6Didn’t offer his usual attacking threat going forward but was solid defensively. Picked up a pointless yellow breaking up a harmless counter-attack in the 24th minute. Almost scored late in the second half.William Saliba – 5Didn’t have much to do in the first half but won all his aerial battles in the first 45 minutes. Marshalled the defence well early in the second period but was embarrassingly outjumped and outmuscled by Haaland for City’s equaliser – a major flaw of his that continues to be exposed.Gabriel Magalhaes – 6Like his defensive partner, he was seldom called into action in the first half. Dominant in the air in his battles with Haaland, who he trolled after Odegaard’s goal.Myles Lewis-Skelly – 8Continues to endear himself to the Emirates faithful with composure and tenacity beyond his years as he brilliantly floated between left back and midfield. Put real daylight between the two sides with a thumping finish just after the hour mark. This young lad is a real bright prospect for both the Gunners and England.His trolling of Haaland by copying the Norwegian’s ‘Lotus’ celebration went down a storm with fans.Thomas Partey – 7Steady in the heart of midfield and broke up play well when required. Fired the Gunners back into the lead in the 57th minute with a deflected shot from outside the box.Martin Odegaard – 7Was in the right place at the right time to benefit from the aftermath of an uncharacteristic Manuel Akanji error and break the deadlock. Was at the heart of everything good the north Londoners did going forward.Declan Rice – 6Combative, as always, in the middle of the park and played a role in the home side taking the lead, teeing up Havertz who squared the ball to Odegaard.Leandro Trossard – 6Was particularly lively on the left in the first half, giving Matheus Nunes a real run for his money. His end product, however, wasn’t the best.Gabriel Martinelli – 6Lively on the right wing in the early goings. Found the back of the net in the fifth minute after some beautiful play from Odegaard but was needlessly offside. Forced a good save out of Ortega with a rasping effort in the 68th minute.Kai Havertz – 6Lively early doors, testing Stefan Ortega with a tame shot in the first minute. Teed up Odegaard for a tap in a few moments later. Missed a golden opportunity to double the lead in the 25th minute, dragging the ball wide with the goal at his absolute mercy. Made amends for his howler by finishing an even harder chance in the 76th minute. He well and truly needed that as he looked absolutely devoid of confidence.SUBSEthan Nwaneri – 83 (on for Trossard) – 7Put the cherry on top of the cake with an outrageous effort in second-half stoppage time.Mikel Merino – 83 (on for Odegaard) – 5Raheem Sterling – 89 (on for Kai Havertz ) – N/ARiccardo Calafiori 89 (on for Lewis-Skelly) – N/ARead more on all the latest Arsenal news.Arteta said: “They are very lucky to have each other. There is a bond there. For them, it is special.“When you see those two walking next to each other, talking to each other, there is a chemistry there.”Mikel Arteta looks ahead to Arsenal’s clash with Newcastle in Carabao Cup semi-final second leg Ahead of starting together for the first time in Arsenal’s 5-1 Carabao Cup victory over Bolton in September, Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly snuck out onto the Emirates pitch before kick-off to soak it all up.In last week’s 2-1 win at Girona, on his first Champions League start, Nwaneri scored a curling beauty to earn Man of the Match.At full-time, as he had photos with his award by the side of the pitch, who was stood less than six feet away as his hype man? Of course, Lewis-Skelly.In the 1-0 victory at Wolves last month, Lewis-Skelly was controversially sent off just before half time – on the day he and Nwaneri became the first two English players aged 18 or under to start a Prem match for Arsenal for 26 years.Lewis-Skelly was emotional and distraught. Nwaneri had been subbed at half-time, so decided to spend the second half in the Molineux dressing room with Lewis-Skelly, watching the rest of the match on a TV screen, celebrating Riccardo Calafiori’s late winner together.They truly are inseparable, joining the Arsenal academy in 2015 as eight-year-olds following a stint at Chelsea. Nwaneri recently revealed: “We have been best friends since we were six.”Now we’re in the Arsenal team together. It’s crazy, isn’t it?” Yes, it is.They live close to each other in London, and would often train together. Around the London Colney training base, they are constantly walking as a duo. On flights to games, they are seat buddies.With England’s U17s, they studied together for their GCSEs at the 2023 European Championships in Hungarian hotel rooms.The only place they are separated, weirdly, is in the Emirates first team dressing room.Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri studied for their GCSE’s togetherCredit: GETTYDue to safeguarding restrictions, as Nwaneri is under 18, he must get changed away from the group before and after games.That will change next month when Nwaneri celebrates his birthday, not that he will have a wild party, such is his reserved and shy personality. He is not yet a natural on camera in interviews.They may be close pals, but Lewis-Skelly’s personality is the complete opposite – emotive and expressive, often bombarding Arteta with questions during training sessions.Having been booked as a sub at the Etihad back in September before making his Prem debut in the 2-2 draw against Manchester City, he squared up to Erling Haaland at full-time.And last weekend, scoring his first senior goal against City, he cheekily mimicked Haaland’s meditation celebration.This is nothing new. Subbed off in the 2-1 victory over Tottenham at the Emirates last month, Lewis-Skelly opted to rev up the crowd and point to the badge when walking around the side of the pitch.And in the aftermath of that Spurs win, Lewis-Skelly was seen laughing and joking with club legend Ian Wright about his grandma in front of the cameras.In contrast, in Girona, as he walked in front of the away end who were singing his name, Nwaneri kept himself to himself, quickly applauding before walking towards the bench.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe too scored against City in the 5-1 thumping, celebrating by simply walking away and shrugging his shoulders.They may be chalk and cheese, but Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri are taking England and Europe by storm, hand in hand. Perhaps Arteta will get his wish after all.Myles Lewis-Skelly could be the key to Mikel Arteta winning trophies with ArsenalCredit: GETTY More

    • 300 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      I was baffled when Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at Man Utd – then he left me with cuts and grazes on my leg in training

      by

      CRISTIANO RONALDO’S former Manchester United team-mate has lifted the lid on playing against him in training.Phil Bardsley had many a battle against the Portuguese legend as both were youngsters breaking into the side in 2003.Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Man Utd after impressing Sir Alex Ferguson in a pre-season friendlyCredit: GettyRonaldo and Phil Bardsley (right) used to go toe-to-toe in trainingCredit: GettyRonaldo joined from Sporting for £12million earlier that year after catching the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson in a pre-season friendly against United.On his arrival at Carrington, Bardsley told talkSPORT: “He’d come in with his quirky little jumper on, with these little braids coming down, and everyone was like, ‘Who’s this kid?'”The first-team players were aware because he played against them in a pre-season game and he was magnificent in that game.”But when he came to the club, he was very slight, not much English at the time, but you could see glimpses of something.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLFull-back Bardsley often went head-to-head with Ronaldo in training to get him up to the speed of the Premier League.The 39-year-old, who played 18 times for United, revealed: “It’d be Cristiano taking me on and it’d be a case of me improving one-on-one defending, while he improves his finishing and his attacking play.”But we’d just come off and there’d be cuts and grazes down your shins and on your ankles when you try to stop shots and I’m blocking his shots. We both have cuts on our legs from it.”It was tough and you know what? People talk about him and probably in his early stage he went down too much, which is probably right.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS”For a Portuguese player coming to a new country, a physical league… but he was tough.“His battles over the years with Ashley Cole were, from a neutral point of view, you just couldn’t wait for it. Cristiano Ronaldo opens up on ‘f—ing clueless’ coaches he’s played for, Messi relationship and calls himself the GOAT”It was just tit for tat for 90 minutes and it was great competition, great to watch.“But I think over his career as well, those sort of periods helped him become tougher and stronger.”Ronaldo, who celebrates his 40th birthday today, went on to make 346 appearances for United over two spells, scoring 145 goals.And, overall, having hit the back of the net 923 times for club and country, Ronaldo is convinced he is the GOAT.He said: “I am the best player ever, I believe that.”I’m fast, I’m strong, [I score] with my head, with the left, no one has ever been more complete than me.“You may prefer Pele, Messi, Maradona, I understand and respect that.“If I finish on 920, 925 goals… it doesn’t matter to me at all. I am the best in history. Period.READ MORE SUN STORIES“If I reach 1,000 goals, great. If not, that’s fine too. Numbers don’t lie.”As for Bardsley, after leaving United he went on to play for Sunderland, Stoke and Burnley.Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More

    • 163 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Watch Jose Mourinho slap Fenerbahce translator after comical ‘toilet’ mistake during press conference

      by

      JOSE MOURINHO jokingly slapped his Fenerbahce translator after a comical mistake in his press conference.Mourinho, who took over at Fenerbahce this summer, almost had the press room in shock when his translator confused the work “twilight” with “toilet”.Jose Mourinho’s translator hilariously thought he had said ‘toilet zone’ in his press conferenceCredit: XMourinho corrected him to ‘twilight zone’ and gave him a cheeky slapCredit: xThe hilarious moment had the press room in stitchesCredit: xThe Special One was talking to the media after Fenerbahce’s 3-2 comeback win over Caykur Rizespor on Sunday when things took a turn.Discussing how he can find a balance between the “paradise” and “hell” of being a football manager, Mourinho claimed that he is able to enter the “twilight zone”.However, his translator was left confused by the Portuguese gaffer’s accent and asked him to clarify if he had used the term “toilet zone”.Mourinho quickly corrected his colleague and gave him a loving slap on the shoulder in the process.READ MORE ON JOSE MOURINHOThe funny gaffe left the press room in stitches, while fans online were loving the typically Mourinho moment.On social media, one fan wrote: “Mourinho’s reaction is hilarious”.While another added: “I love him so much”.A third commented: “Jose is the gift that keeps on giving”.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAnd a fourth posted: “This is hilarious”.Mourinho began his coaching career as a translator himself.Jose Mourinho launches new side hustle alongside Fenerbahce job as John Terry vows to be first customer The 62-year-old acted as the Portuguese translator for legendary manager Sir Bobby Robson during his time as Sporting Lisbon and Porto boss in the 90s.Even without any experience as a coach, Mourinho left Robson impressed with his knowledge of the game.He once said: “He’d [Mourinho] come back and hand me a dossier that was absolutely first class.“[They were] As good as anything I’d received. Here he was, in his early-30s, never been a player or a coach to speak of, giving me reports as good as anything I ever got.”The pair enjoyed a remarkable success after Robson made Mourinho his assistant at Porto, reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 1993-94 season, only to be toppled by Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona.They won consecutive Portuguese titles in 1995 and 1996, and when the Dutch legend walked away from the Camp Nou that year – Robson was the man they hired.Mourinho began his career as a translator for Bobby Robson in PortugalCredit: PA:Press Association More