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      Diego Maradona’s former club forced to ask neighbours to give them their ball back as fans look on at comical scenes

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      DIEGO MARADONA’S former club embarrassingly had to ask for a ball back from local neighbours.Balls often fly out of stadiums, and many fans will be wondering where they end up and how they are retrieved.Diego Maradona started his professional career at Argentinos JuniorsCredit: Icon Sport – GettyMaradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal will live on in football folkloreCredit: Getty – ContributorAnd now a hilarious video has emerged on X showing how Argentinos Juniors, one of Maradona’s old clubs, get their balls back.The clip shows two club employees, both sporting the same T-shirts, knocking on the door of a local house in an attempt to retrieve a lost ball that had left the stadium.What made it even funnier was when one of the men got on his hands and knees to peer underneath the door to see if anyone was at home.It appeared that the ball landed on the rooftop of the building, with a steward in an orange jacket explaining that to the two Argentinos Juniors workers.Read more FootballThe game in question was ‘the ‘El Bicho”s 4-0 win over Estudiantes in the Argentine Primera Division, the country’s top flight. Juniors play at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona, named after the legend, whose career started at the Buenos Aires outfit. Maradona, who tragically passed away in November 2020, played 166 times for Juniors, scoring 116 goals from 1976 to 1981. He came through the youth ranks at the club, joining them in 1969. Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKMaradona lifted the World Cup in 1986 with Argentina, playing a starring role in Mexico. He played every minute of every game for his country throughout the tournament, scoring five goals and laying on five assists. ‘How can you sell him?’ Ole Gunnar Solskjaer blasts Man Utd for Scott McTominay’s transfer to NapoliThe first of those goals was his infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in a 2-1 quarter-final victory. Juniors are not the only side to have named a stadium after Maradona, with Napoli doing the same to honour their former forward after his death. More

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      Premier League cult hero Anichebe, 37, slammed by National League captain as takeover bid leads to ‘club meltdown’

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      FORMER Premier League star Victor Anichebe has been criticised by Gateshead captain Greg Olley after the club failed to reach the National League playoffs.Anichebe, 37, has been linked with a takeover of the fifth-tier club for over two months.Gateshead captain Greg Olley has criticised Victor Anichebe’s takeover processCredit: YouTubeAnichebe has been pursuing a takeover of GatesheadCredit: PAIt was initially claimed that a deal was imminent, but a full agreement is yet to be reached.Although a deal has not been completed yet, Anichebe has made his presence known around the Gateshead International Stadium.The ex-forward has already spoken to key figures within coaching and recruitment.Anichebe, rumoured to be worth around £11million, has also held several meetings with first team head coach Carl Magnay.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHowever, club captain Olley believes his presence has had a negative impact on form.And that dip saw Gateshead miss out on a spot in the National League playoffs.In an explosive interview after the final match of the season, Olley said: “The takeover situation has been lingering over us for four or five months now.”We were told it was going to be the fastest takeover in football history, which obviously if you hear rumours of a takeover your interest spikes.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”The club managed to hide all of that and no-one really found out until a month ago and you talk about contributing factors why players aren’t playing well, why the club’s not thriving, it’s a massive factor.”After two or three months of hearing whispers and it’s still not happened, you’ve got new owners bringing lads in, speaking to players and you’ve got the people at the top right now trying to potentially stay on.Every Premier League club’s most famous and also most surprising fan”You hear so many rumours and potentially being lied to about what’s happening or is it going to happen soon.”To then, the new owner coming into the changing room when he hasn’t officially taken over, talking to us as a team, saying what he expects, what he wants – but the fact of the matter is he hasn’t taken over yet so how has he been allowed to come in, unsettle the dressing room, to then talk about who he is wanting to keep on next year, who he wants to build around?”There has almost been a little bit of a divide in the camp until the last few weeks when we’ve tried to resolve it and bring us all back together. It’s been tarnished for a while, for a few months.”Anichebe retired from professional football in 2017 following spells with Everton, West Brom and Sunderland.He was also capped 11 times by the Nigeria national team. More

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      Supercomputer predicts final Premier League table with race for Champions League places going down to the wire

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      THE race for the Champions League spots is set to go down the wire as Prem teams jockey for position.With English sides having performed well in Europe this term, the Premier League has been awarded an extra Champions League place for next season.The race for Europa took a further twist as Forest failed to beat Crystal PalaceCredit: GettyThis means that the top five will all enter Europe’s premier competition in the 2025-26 campaign.Having already won the title, Liverpool have sewn up their place at Europe’s top table for next season.Second placed Arsenal are then in pole position to join the Reds, sitting six points above sixth with three matches remaining.Manchester City currently occupy third – with Newcastle fourth and Chelsea fifth.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLFollowing last night’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest are now on the outside looking in at sixth.While Aston Villa are seventh, but will still believe that they are in the hunt.With the race hotting up, boffins and brainiacs over at AceOdds have crunched the numbers to determine how the final Premier League table is likely to look.They reckon that out-of-form Arsenal will win two of their final three matches to seal second spot, and thus a place in the Champions League next season.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSMikel Arteta’s side will travel to Liverpool this weekend, before hosting Newcastle the following Sunday and finishing with a trip to relegated Southampton.In third, the supercomputer has Manchester City finishing two points back from Arsenal.Premier League manager starts new tradition of joining fans at local pubs if club wins It reckons that Pep Guardiola’s men will collect seven points from their last three games; as they travel to Southampton and Fulham either side of a home assignment against Bournemouth.Newcastle are tipped to finish in fourth place, as the Carabao Cup winners are backed to collect two wins and a defeat from their final three matches.Eddie Howe’s side will host Chelsea and Everton either side of their trip to Arsenal.Somewhat surprisingly, the supercomputer backs Aston Villa to win all three of their remaining games to vault up from seventh into fifth.Unai Emery’s men travel to Bournemouth this weekend, before hosting Tottenham in a match likely to be moved from its current Sunday slot to next Friday night – with Spurs potentially distracted by the upcoming Europa League final, should they make it.Villa then finish their campaign with a trip Manchester United, who will likely have played in the Europa League final in Bilbao four days earlier.The supercomputer reckons that Chelsea will only collect four more points to fall out of the top five.The Blues have awkward trips to Newcastle and Nottingham Forest to come, either side of a home assignment against Man Utd.Forest are backed to win two of their remaining three games, against Leicester, West Ham and Chelsea, but still finish behind the Blues on goal difference.Sixth place will earn a spot in the Europa League.Winning the FA Cup also carries a Europa League place, meaning that Crystal Palace could qualify by winning the competition.Should City win the FA Cup, by virtue of them having already qualified for Europe higher up the table, the Europa League spot would pass down to the team that finishes seventh in the league.Newcastle qualified for the Europa Conference League by winning the EFL Cup.But if the Toon qualify for the Champions League or Europa League via their league position, that Europa Conference League spot would be passed down to the next-best placed team in the Premier League table.This means that the team in eighth could earn a Europa Conference League spot.By winning this season’s Europa Conference League, Chelsea would earn themselves a place in next season’s Europa League.But Enzo Maresca’s side will hope to have already secured at least a Europa League spot via their Premier League finish.Finally, the Supercomputer predicts Man Utd and Tottenham to finish 14th and 16th respectively.Read More on The SunIf one of those two teams wins the Europa League, however, they will automatically enter the league phase of next season’s Champions League, despite their lowly Prem positions.An English side winning the Europa League, coupled with Crystal Palace winning the FA Cup, would see 10 Premier League sides in Europe next season – with six in the Champions League, three in the Europa League and one in the Europa Conference League.Tottenham or Man Utd could salvage a Champions League spot by winning the Europa LeagueCredit: Getty More

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      EFL play-off semi-final moved due to fixture clash with Premier League club 120 miles away

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      AN EFL play-off semi-final has had its date changed due to a fixture clash with a Premier League game.The top-flight affair takes place 120 miles north of the play-off match, but the Premier League has taken priority in the scheduling pecking order. Lloyd Jones opened the scoring in Charlton’s 4-0 win over Wycombe in April – their play-off game has been movedCredit: AlamyMorgan Gibbs-White and Forest need to beat Leicester to aid their Champions League pushCredit: PAThe EFL clubs in question are Wycombe Wanderers and Charlton Athletic, with the pair set to meet in the League One promotion lottery. Wycombe will host the first leg at Adams Park, and were supposed to kick off at 7.45pm on Saturday. May 10, but that has since been changed. The reason for that is that Nottingham Forest play east Midlands rivals Leicester City the day after and crucially, Forest’s city rivals Notts County are set to face AFC Wimbledon in the League Two play-offs that same day.Both games were scheduled for the same day in Nottingham, and as a result, County’s game – which was supposed to kick off at 6.30pm on Sunday, May 11 – has now been moved to the Saturday, swapping with Wycombe’s clash with Charlton. Read more footballAs such, Mike Dodds’ side will now take the 6.30pm kick-off on Sunday, with Notts to face Wimbledon on Saturday evening at 8pm at Meadow Lane. Forest kick off against Leicester at 2.15pm on Sunday at the City Ground as they look to turn around their lapse in form in their hunt for Champions League qualification.Nuno Espirito Santo’s side fell out of the top five in the Premier League table with home defeats by Manchester City and Brentford, and they were held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace on Monday night.They sit sixth with three games to play, two points off fifth-placed Chelsea, who beat champions Liverpool 3-1 on Sunday. Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKIt will be the first time ever that the Chairboys and the Addicks have played each other in play-offs. Nathan Jones’ south east Londoners did the double over the Buckinghamshire side in the regular season, thrashing them 4-0 at Adams Park in the third-last game of the campaign. Enzo Fernandez and Noni Madueke lead Chelsea’s dressing room celebrations after win over LiverpoolAt The Valley, they scraped a 2-1 victory thanks to a double from Miles Leaburn. More

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      Anthony Joshua in talks over ‘serious investment’ in former Premier League club as boxer looks for new business venture

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA has revealed he’s on course to punch a serious investment in Watford.The former two-time unified heavyweight champion, who has earned over £219MILLION in his boxing career, grew up in the town and has given back to the community through his Clean Herts Community initiative over the years.Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua grew up in WatfordCredit: ACTION IMAGESAJ has given back to the local community over the years through his Clearn Herts Community initiativeThe London 2012 Gold medallist now wants to invest in Watford Football ClubCredit: GETTYBut the Watford warrior, 35, now wants to use his millions in the bank to help get the Hornets buzzing again.He told SecondsOut: “We wanted to move into private equity, venture capital funds.”As you earn, naturally, you want to save.”So rather than me spending recklessly I’m trying to invest money into certain asset classes and that was an opportunity that presented itself.READ MORE BOXING NEWS“Nothing’s come of it yet. It’s a serious investment. If it comes off it’s one that should do well.“If they went back to the Premier League, then I’d need to get a shop on Market Street because the traffic that would be coming through Watford would be phenomenal.“If we don’t do it then good luck to them anyway because they’re a great team.”Watford ended the Championship season in 14th place, a whopping 11 points off the final play-off place.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSAJ would love to be an investor at Vicarage RoadCredit: GettyJoshua has been on the sidelines since his crushing fifth-round KO defeat to Daniel Dubois in their Wembley war last September.AJ is currently eyeing a long-overdue Battle of Britain with rival Tyson Fury, who recently performed a public U-turn on his latest retirement.Eddie Hearn provides update on Anthony Joshua’s injury and Tyson Fury fightBut their mammoth domestic dust-up won’t take place any time soon as Joshua is set to go under the knife in the coming weeks to address a long-standing elbow injury.When quizzed about his ring return, he told DAZN: “I’m trying to get my body right.”I have got to actually have a little surgery on my elbow.”A small surgery sometime in May. I’m finalising the details.”That will see me out of the gym for maybe six to eight weeks, and then when I’m healed, I will be back.” More

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      Chelsea vs Man Utd clash MOVED as a result of Aston Villa and Tottenham’s new fixture

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      CHELSEA’S clash against Manchester United has been moved as a result of rivals Tottenham.The Blues had been set for a crunch clash against Ruben Amorim’s men on Friday May 16, with an 8pm start time.Chelsea vs Man United has been given a new kick-off timeCredit: AlamyHowever, it has now been given a new kick-off after Spurs saw their upcoming game with Aston Villa moved to the same day.Ange Postecoglou’s men were eager to switch their Sunday May 18 clash to a new date, with the Europa League final on Wednesday May 21.Tottenham are virtually there after securing a 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their semi-final.Spurs look destined to play United, who are 3-0 up against Bilbao.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd to make things fair, Tottenham’s Villa clash will now also take place on Friday May 16.The match, which takes place in the Midlands, will start at 7.30pm.But that has had a knock-on effect with United’s trip to Chelsea that same evening.It was originally due to commence at 8pm.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSHowever, it will now start at 8.15pm instead to even out the gap in scheduling.And fans are now set to be treated to a bumper night of Premier League action, with both games being broadcast on Sky Sports.Should they both make it to the Europa League final, United and Spurs may decide to rest several key figures.That would be a boost for both Chelsea and Villa, who remain locked in a race for the final Champions League spots.The Blues currently occupy the fifth and final place, three points ahead of seventh-place Villa.But as well as United, Enzo Maresca’s men still have to face fourth-place Newcastle.And they end their campaign with a trip to sixth-place Nottingham Forest in a potential winner-takes-all clash. More

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      Man Utd ‘hold talks with long-term transfer target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s brother in shock move’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED might finally sign Milinkovic-Savic – but not the ones fans might expect.The Red Devils have courted Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, since Jose Mourinho was in the dugout at Old Trafford.Vanja (top row, left) and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (top row, second right) are both Serbian internationalsCredit: EPASergej has been on Man Utd’s radar for yearsCredit: GettyThe Serbian midfielder, who grew his reputation at Lazio, left the Serie A outfit in 2023 to join Al-Hilal.The 30-year-old has played 26 times in the Saudi Pro League this term, scoring 10 goals to leave Al-Hilal second in the table, six points off league leaders Al-Ittihad.And, while that form suggests he could still do a job at struggling United, it’s his BROTHER the Red Devils are reportedly keeping tabs on.Vanja, 28, plays as a goalkeeper for Torino, and he has featured 34 times this term in the Italian top flight. READ MORE MAN UTD NEWSHe’s even faced his brother numerous times in his career.Now, after all those years of pursuing Sergej, it appears that United have pivoted to his brother, to at least get one Milinkovic-Savic into their ranks.Vanja’s contract at Torino has one more year to run, expiring in 2026, and, according to Matteo Moretto and Fabrizio Romano, United have held “exploratory contacts” with the Spanish-born Serb.Interestingly, the potential move could see Vanja REJOIN United, after the Serb initially agreed to sign for the Red Devils back in 2014.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKUnited announced the capture of the ‘keeper for €1.75 million from Serbian side FK Vojvodina. Milinkovic-Savic, who stands at a towering 6’8″, was technically on United’s books for 18 months before departing, not playing a single game for the club.Inside Leeds stars’ wild title celebrations as Bamford and Ampadu ‘leave Burnley fanbase in meltdown’ with karaoke songThe reason for that? He couldn’t obtain a work permit that would allow him to play.As a result, he continued to live in the Serbian capital Belgrade during his time contracted to the English club, and he trained with other clubs locally to him to maintain his match fitness. He joined Polish club Lechia in November 2015 to end his nightmare spell at Old Trafford.Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordHe moved to his current side Torino in January 2017 and has been there since. It’s fair to say that there were mixed emotions from United fans on social media when they learned of their club’s interest in Milinkovic-Savic. One joked: “We might be signing a Milinković-Savić after all,”, while another admitted that he had “never heard of him before”. Another tweeted: “Bringgggggg! Even my granny is better than Onana and Bayindir”. More

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      Moment Ronaldo staggers out of restaurant and is helped into car under sheet with his football club’s fans left fuming

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      RONALDO stumbled out of a restaurant before being bundled undercover into a waiting car, leaving fans of his relegated Spanish club furious.The legendary Brazil striker looked unsteady on his feet and appeared to slur his words as he left the Madrid eatery while fans waiting outside shouted his name.Ronaldo staggered out of a Madrid restaurantCredit: instagramFans were furious as it comes against the backdrop of Real Valladolid’s relegationCredit: instagramHe was shielded by a white sheet and bundled into a carCredit: instagramInstead of signing autographs, two-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, 48, made a beeline for a chauffeur-driven vehicle parked outside.He was helped to the car under a white sheet then covered his face with his hand as he took a breather slumped on the back seat.The star’s striking exit sparked a backlash among Real Valladolid fans.They have made owner Ronaldo public enemy No1 after his failure to show his face at the team’s home stadium since the opening match of the season last August.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe Real Valladolid Supporters Club Federation demanded Ronaldo – who watched Jack Draper in the Madrid Open tennis final on Sunday – sells the club following his weekend antics.They wrote on X, accompanying the footage from the restaurant: “This is the current president and maximum shareholder of Real Valladolid.“This video, apparently taken yesterday on the day the club he owns made history by losing eight consecutive matches for the first time in its almost 100 years of history, is doing the rounds on social media.“This is his legacy and what he cares about.Most read in Football“Let his image be seen around the world, our Real Valladolid is not dying, it is being killed and every day that goes by without a sale, the deeper the hole gets.”Leading local newspaper Diario de Valladolid said: “Ronaldo spotted in a bad way at the exit of a restaurant in Madrid.Ronaldo reveals cult hero Real Madrid team-mate was ‘very bad’ before turning to poker “The Real Valladolid president left it with problems and had to be helped by his companions.”Some diehard fans sought to defend him, though.In response to suggestions Ronaldo was “happier than usual”, one replied: “So what? How many of you who have done nothing in your life do the same?“Leave him alone.“Everyone is free to do what they want, stop judging others. He was a great player.”Another added: “He’s not driving, he’s being driven. He spends his own money and doesn’t ask for borrowed cash.“He’s already retired and he’s not playing tomorrow, so who does he have to explain himself to?”’NOT A GOOD IMAGE’But a third fan commented: “Most of us have found ourselves at one time or another in the same state as Ronaldo but if you think about the situation of the club he bought it’s not a good image.“The club has already been relegated to the second division and he’s one of the people responsible.”Angry Real Valladolid supporters threw fake €500 notes with Ronaldo’s face on them on to the pitch on Saturday during the team’s home match against Barcelona as they begged him to sell up.They also chanted “Ronaldo go home” in a 12th-minute protest which took place while the team were winning 1-0.Barcelona, though, scored twice early in the second half to win 2-1 and take another step closer to the Treble.Recent reports claimed the sale of Real Valladolid appeared to be reaching its final stages after the Brazilian signed a pre-agreement to transfer ownership.Read More on The SunBut a confidentiality clause prevented further details from being disclosed until later this month.Ronaldo has yet to comment on the video footage of him leaving the Madrid restaurant on his social media.Real Valladolid fans protested against Ronaldo’s ownershipCredit: GettyFake €500 notes were distributed for Saturday’s defeat to BarcelonaCredit: ReutersRonaldo has not been to a home game since August – but watched Jack Draper in the Madrid Open tennis finalCredit: Getty More