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      I’m a former England and Champions League star, but I’m embarrassed to say I played for West Ham

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      FORMER Newcastle star Kieron Dyer has opened up about his ill-fated spell at West Ham.The former winger played for the Hammers between 2007 and 2011, making 35 appearances for the East London club during that time as he struggled with injury.
      Dyer says his then undiagnosed liver condition contributed to his injuriesCredit: Getty
      Dyer suffered a broken leg 10 days after joining the clubCredit: Getty
      Unbeknown to him at the time, he was struggling with a liver condition which contributed massively to his susceptibility to injury.
      In an interview with TalkSPORT yesterday, Dyer admitted that despite this, he gets “embarassed” when people call him a West Ham player because he never got to put his best foot forward for the Hammers.
      Dyer signed for West Ham when he was 28 in what was meant to be the prime of his career.
      But he was desperately unlucky with injury during his spell at the Boleyn.
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      The winger broke his leg just 10 days after making his debut for the club.
      At the time, Dyer was unfairly maligned for his inability to stay fit – but his diagnosis with a liver condition after he hung up his boots meant things made sense.
      In 2019, he was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis – an incurable liver disease.
      Dyer received a liver transplant to save his life this year.
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      Dyer says that when he was playing he was unaware of his condition, and this contributed to his susceptibility to injury – although he says Hammers fans were always supportive of him.
      He told Jim White’s TalkSPORT show: “I still get embarrassed being called a West Ham player.
      “It pains me because I went there at the peak of my career. I was one of the top-paid players and I could just never stay fit, I feel embarrassed for the fans and for myself.”
      When Jim White replied that those injuries were likely caused by his liver condition he said: “Yeah of course.
      “But at the time, to be on the wages that I was on, it pains me because they should have had the best of me.
      “They had probably seen the worst of me, I like the fans as well, they were always respectful to me, I just couldn’t get on the pitch for them.”
      Dyer had previously played in the Champions League during his time at Newcastle, and won 33 caps for England.
      He would leave Upton Park in 2011 to join Ipswich Town, his former club, on a short term loan deal.
      After his spell at Ipswich, he joined QPR on a permanent basis in 2011 where he made just five league appearances.
      Following a short spell at Middlesbrough, Dyer retired in 2013.
      Read more on The Sun
      Since hanging up his boots, Dyer has entered the world of coaching.
      He currently works as a coach at Chesterfield in a consultancy role.
      Who are these famous footballers? More

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      Andre Onana reveals four-letter nickname Man Utd team-mates gave him after he declared dream of being a police officer

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      ANDRE ONANA has revealed the nickname given to him by his Manchester United team-mates after revealing his dream to be a copper.The goalkeeper joined the Red Devils in a £47million transfer from Inter Milan in July and has since starred in every competitive match.
      Andre Onana has been given a new nickname at Man UtdCredit: Getty
      However, some of his performances in recent months have come into question following a series of mistakes.
      Onana’s most recent error came in a crucial Champions League clash with Galatasaray last week.
      Following a free-kick from Hakim Ziyech, he let the ball slip through his gloves as the Turkish Super Lig side pushed to come back from 3-1 down.
      The Red Devils were eventually held to a 3-3 draw, a result that put their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages in major doubt.
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      Despite his below-par performances Onana has established himself as a big personality among the United dressing room, so much so that he has been given a new nickname.
      His Man Utd team-mates now call him “the Boss” because he loves taking responsibility and dreamed of working for the police.
      Speaking on the official Premier League YouTube channel, Onana revealed that he would have become a police officer had he not made it as a footballer.
      He said: “I think I’d be a police officer, as I love to take responsibility. That’s why even my teammates call me ‘the boss’.
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      “I love politics too, I’m always keen to learn about it. It helps me understand how the world works.
      “For me, working as a police officer is assuming one of the most honourable jobs in the world.”
      Man Utd are at risk of losing Onana in January, with the goalkeeper set to join up with the Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
      Altay Bayindir would likely then step in for him for the month. More

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      Champions League and World Cup star who sparked manhunt after retiring loses fight over £6million loss in housing empire

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      EX-LIVERPOOL right-back Steve Finnan who once triggered a bizarre manhunt has lost a legal battle to claim £6 million in compensation.The 47-year-old – briefly untraceable in 2015 – blamed lawyers for the collapse of the housing empire he built with brother, Sean.
      Ex-Liverpool right-back Steve Finnan has lost a legal battle to claim £6 million in compensationCredit: PA:Press Association
      It turned out to be a disaster and the pair fell out leaving Mr Finnan, who is Irish, alleging to be more than £6 million out of pocket.
      Representing himself in court he sued former lawyers Charles Russell Speechlys LLP.
      But this week the case was kicked out by High Court judge Master Katherine McQuail.
      She said the ex-footballer couldn’t prove he was any worse off after seeking legal advice than he would have been otherwise.
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      The Irishman was in the Reds lineup which clawed back the legendary 2005 Champions League final win against AC Milan in Istanbul.
      Finnan is the only footballer to play in the World Cup, Champions League, UEFA Cup, Intertoto Cup, all four levels of English league football and the conference.
      But in June 2005 he was arrested after running over an 81-year-old man from Liverpool who later died from his injuries.
      After retiring in 2010, his decision to keep a low profile saw fans launch a bizarre campaign to find him.
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      It came as organisers failed to track him down for a 2015 reunion of the Champions League winning team – he was found “safe and well” a short time later.
      Unlike former teammates such as Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, Finnan had gone into property not punditry.
      He bankrolled a south west London-based property business, run through two companies which he owned with Sean, who managed the firm.
      Among the portfolio was a massive house near Wimbledon Common, properties in nearby Ridgeway Place, and several flats elsewhere.
      Master McQuail said the “first expression of the claimant’s concerns” about the business had come in an email from Mr Finnan to the companies’ solicitor in 2016.
      She said he complained that despite “significant funding from the claimant by way of loans, the companies appeared to have no money, at least in part because Sean had spent it personally.”
      He said money had been wasted on legal issues which were “down to Sean”, that his brother’s dealings with a contractor had been “needlessly expensive” and that there was a risk the companies would default on loans.
      Mr Finnan instructed Charles Russell Speechlys to file “unfair prejudice” petitions against Sean who denied misconduct but admitted their relationship had broken down.
      He changed lawyers but the case did not go to trial and the brothers settled outside court, with Sean agreeing to transfer his shares to Mr Finnan and to pay him £4 million.
      That sum was not paid and in 2019 Mr Finnan had his brother made bankrupt claiming he only got £187,570 from the sale of the company and £89,345 following the sale of another property.
      Amid the ordeal he auctioned off his Champions League winners’ medal.
      Mr Finnan went on to sue his former solicitors, claiming that he should have been advised to request repayment of director’s loans rather than file the “unfair prejudice” petitions.
      He claimed he lost £3.3m in loans to the companies, £2.6m in shares, about £400,000 in lawyers’ bills, as well as other money, totalling more than £6m.
      But the solicitors said Mr Finnan was determined to pursue legal proceedings against his brother.
      And they said Mr Finnan failed to show how he could have got out from the ordeal in any better position than he in fact did because companies had no money to repay the loans anyway.
      Master McQuail said Mr Finnan had in fact made demands for repayment of the directors’ loans – and got nothing.
      She added: “Neither Sean nor the companies responded by meeting the demands with payment at any stage after Charles Russell Speechlys were instructed.”
      She said Mr Finnan’s claims were “contradicted” by his own evidence and his correspondence showed this.
      Master McQuail added how there was “no reasonable ground” for bringing the claim and struck it out.
      Read more on The Sun
      Limerick-born Mr Finnan began his career with non-league Welling United, rising through the football pyramid to play for Liverpool between 2003 and 2008.
      He played for Ireland 52 times. More

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      Our dad won the Champions League and dominated Africa Cup of Nations – now we’re both Premier League cult heroes

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      EVERY Premier League fan will have likely heard of the name Ayew.Brothers Jordan and Andre have been playing in England for years.
      Abedi Ayew is regarded as one of the best African players of all timeCredit: AP:Associated Press
      But their dad was a legend in his own right.
      Abedi Ayew made 73 appearances for the Ghana national team during his career, also captaining the side.
      He led the Black Stars to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 1982 and is considered one of the best players in the country’s history.
      Abedi has won the African Footballer of the Year award three times, Ghana Footballer of the Year once and was named in the top 10 of the FIFA Best World Rankings in 1991.
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      He also won the Champions League with Marseille in 1993.
      Now, his sons are all established on the international scene.
      Andre has made 114 appearances for the national team, while Jordan has made 90.
      Their brother, Ibrahim, has also played for the Black Stars.
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      Andre Ayew left Nottingham Forest in MayCredit: Getty
      Jordan Ayew currently plays for Crystal PalaceCredit: Getty
      The 35-year-old, who plays for Gibraltar Football League club Lincoln Red Imps, has made just six international appearances.
      Andre currently plays for Ligue 1 side Le Havre having moved from Nottingham Forest at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
      He previously played for Swansea and West Ham and has made 102 Premier League appearances.
      Meanwhile, Jordan is still starring in England’s top tier.
      The 32-year-old joined Crystal Palace in 2018 and has since made 191 appearances.
      He has made 17 appearances so far this season, scoring once and providing four assists.
      The striker previously played for Aston Villa and Swansea in the Premier League.
      Ibrahim Ayew (L) made six appearances for GhanaCredit: Reuters More

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      Man Utd legend Patrice Evra spots major hint ‘something is wrong’ for Raphael Varane at Old Trafford

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      MANCHESTER UNITED legend Patrice Evra insists “something is wrong” regarding Raphael Varane.Varane missed United’s 2-1 Premier League victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford with manager Erik ten Hag claiming he is dealing with a sore back.
      Manchester United star Raphael Varane hasn’t been seen in the starting line-up for a whileCredit: Getty
      Man Utd legend Patrice Evra claims ‘something is wrong’ with VaraneCredit: Getty
      The centre-back hasn’t started for the Red Devils since October’s Champions League win against Copenhagen.
      The former France international was on the bench during Saturday’s loss at Newcastle with left-back Luke Shaw filling in for him at the back next to Harry Maguire.
      However, Ten Hag reinstated Shaw in his natural position against Chelsea and had Victor Lindelof team up with Maguire at centre-back.
      Evra believes the recent team selections make no sense when it comes to his fellow Frenchman.
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      The former full-back insists the Dutch tactician can’t just omit a four-time Champions League winner like Varane unless there is a serious reason.
      Evra told Amazon Prime: “Something is wrong.
      “Luke Shaw, no matter if he plays good or bad, I don’t want to see him at centre-back.
      “He’s a left-back. when you play for a club like Manchester United and have defenders like Lindelof, Maguire, Varane, and you still have to use Luke Shaw at centre-back, there’s something wrong.
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      “I played centre-back in some games for United but because of an emergency. I played centre-back for Juventus because I was old.
      “Luke Shaw is still young, the movements are completely different so you can get injured really easily.
      “I’m really happy that Luke Shaw is back in his real position, we’ll get more balance.
      “I don’t take away any credit when he plays centre-back because he was fantastic against Newcastle.
      “But you have a four-time Champions League winner and he’s not in the team.” More

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      Pep Guardiola promises to retire if Man City win Treble again this season

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      PEP GUARDIOLA has vowed to “RETIRE” if Manchester City repeat their Treble antics this season.City scooped the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies last season in a historic campaign for the club.
      Manchester City won a historic treble last seasonCredit: REX
      The Citizens will be hard-pressed to repeat the stunning featCredit: GETTY
      Manager Pep Guardiola has vowed to retire if City retain all three trophies this seasonCredit: GETTY
      The defending English champions are currently six points behind table toppers Arsenal, a gap which has led many to wonder if they can repeat their incredible feat of the 2022/23 campaign.
      Guardiola, however, is confident of finishing first in the Prem title race and has sensationally claimed he’ll walk away from the club if they do so.
      Ahead of City’s Prem clash with Aston Villa, he told Amazon Prime: “If we win the treble this season, I’ll retire.
      “That’s for sure.
      “I know it is extremely difficult, how many incredible teams have been in England.
      “And just one with Sir Alex Ferguson has done it and ourselves last season.
      “When we spoke, prepare well for the first game and how we try to do it and then the second and now the third.
      “We will see our level and the competition itself dictates your level, the opponent dictates, the challenge is higher but in September, October, November, thinking about the title, forget about it.”
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      City have struggled for consistency this season without star midfielder Kevin de Bruyne pulling the strings.
      But Guardiola is adamant his troops will find form when required to and win an unprecedented fourth straight Prem title.
      He said: “My feeling today is we’re going to win the Premier League.
      “If we play at the levels that we showed against Liverpool and Tottenham, we’re going to win it again.
      “People don’t believe it already after three draws but we feel we’re going to do it again, knowing that it is not easy because no team has done it yet (won four in a row).
      “The difficulty is there and was last season but, if you ask me today what I’m feeling, we’re going to do it again.”
      Pep Guardiola is confident of getting his hands on the Premier League title againCredit: Getty More

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      Best XI of transfers on cards for January including Toney to Arsenal, Osimhen to Chelsea and Todibo to Man Utd

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      WITH injury crises hitting multiple clubs and teams beginning to take a look at the business end of the season, the rumour mill is in full effect.We’re expecting a busy period of transfer spending in the Premier League with several top clubs unafraid to splash the cash in January.
      Ivan Toney could move for £100million in JanuaryCredit: PA
      Victor Osimhen would cost even moreCredit: Reuters
      Here’s a look at the best players being lined up for moves…
      David de Gea
      De Gea has resisted offers from Saudi Arabia and the MLS as he bides his time on choosing his next club.
      The former-Manchester United stopper became a free agent in the summer after United were unwilling to extend his £350,000-a-week contract and has remained without a club ever since.
      Newcastle and Barcelona are now set to battle it out to sign De Gea in January with both teams experiencing long term injuries to their first-choice goalkeepers.
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      David de Gea has been linked with a move to Newcastle and BarcelonaCredit: AFP
      Denzel Dumfries
      Dumfries starred for Inter as they battled their way to last year’s Champions League final.
      Calciomercato have reported that Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham are set to battle it out for the £43.5m rated right-back this January – with Spurs prepared to offer Emerson Royal to Inter as part of a deal.
      Dumfries has been linked with a move to several Premier League clubsCredit: AFP
      Jean-Clair Todibo
      Todibo is one of the French national team’s most highly-rated defenders and is hotly tipped for a move in January.
      The centre-back is rated at £39million with United the favourites to sign him due to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS owning Nice.
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      Spurs and Liverpool also reportedly hold an interest in the 23-year-old.
      Manchester United and Spurs are set to battle it out for Jean-Clair TodiboCredit: Alamy
      Antonio Silva
      Antonio Silva has become a stalwart at the heart of Benfica’s defence despite only being 20 years old.
      The centre-back has an £85million release clause in his contract that Manchester United are reportedly willing to meet.
      Silva has become a rock at the back for Benfica despite being 20-years-oldCredit: AFP
      Alphonso Davies
      The Canadian is arguably the best left-back in the world and tearing it up for Bayern this season but could leave Bavaria soon.
      The defender is unhappy with Bayern’s latest contract offer according to Bild and has Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester City willing to better their offer.
      Alphonso Davies is one of the best left-backs in the worldCredit: Getty
      Jota
      Al-Ittihad’s Jota has experienced a difficult time in the Saudi League after being left out of the first team squad by Nuno Esperito Santo.
      The ex-Celtic winger reportedly fancies a reunion with former manager Ange Postecoglou at Spurs but the Aussie is still weighing up a move.
      Jota and Postecoglou could reunite in JanuaryCredit: PA
      Douglas Luiz
      Douglas Luiz has starred for Aston Villa this season with the Villans currently sitting in fourth.
      Arsenal are long-term admirers of the midfielder and are keen to pair him with Declan Rice in their midfield.
      Arsenal are long-term admirers of Douglas LuizCredit: Getty
      Joao Palhinha
      Another midfielder Arsenal are looking at pairing Declan Rice with is Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.
      The Portuguese midfielder narrowly missed out on a move to Bayern Munich on September’s deadline day and the Germans are likely to reignite their interest.
      The midfielder could reignite his move to BayernCredit: AP
      Pedro Neto
      Pedro Neto was electric for Wolves this season prior to his injury, bagging one goal and eight assists in his ten Premier League appearances.
      Arsenal are long-term admirers of the winger and could look to bring them in as they look to win the Premier League title this year.
      Arsenal have tracked Pedro Neto since before his move to WolvesCredit: Getty
      Ivan Toney
      With Ivan Toney’s gambling ban set to end on January 17 a number of Premier League teams are falling over themselves to sign the £100million-rated forward.
      Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs are the current front-runners for the 27-year-old’s signature.
      Read more on The Sun
      Ivan Toney is nearing his return from a gambling banCredit: PA
      Victor Osimhen
      Victor Osimhen was Serie A’s top scorer last season with 26 goals as Napoli romped to the league title.
      Chelsea are prepared to break the £115million transfer record that they paid for Moises Caicedo in the summer to sign Osimhen.
      Osimhen hasn’t quite replicated last season’s formCredit: Getty
      The best XI of players linked with a moveCredit: The Sun More

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      Who is Kate Abdo’s husband Ramtin Abdo?

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      KATE Abdo is one of the most recognised football presenters in the world.Therefore, it comes as no surprise that fans of the sports broadcaster are keen to know more about her life off camera – including her marriage to husband Ramtin Abdo.
      Kate Abdo pictured in May 2023Credit: Getty
      Who is Kate Abdo’s husband Ramtin Abdo?
      English sports broadcaster, Kate Abdo, is married to businessman and investor Ramtin Abdo.
      Born in Manchester under the maiden name Giles, she took her husband Ramtin Abdolmajid’s surname – shortened to Abdo – when they wed.
      Aside from this, not much is known about the couple’s relationship, with the pair keeping their romance private from the public eye.
      When did Kate Abdo and Ramtin Abdo get married?
      In October 2023, fans were left in hysterics at Thierry Henry’s reaction after Kate Abdo joked that she was getting engaged.
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      The CBS Sports host and the Arsenal legend were joined by Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards as usual on Champions League nights, when the presenter revealed at the start of the show that she had a big announcement.
      There were audible gasps from Carragher before he quipped: “Are you getting engaged?”
      Abdo responded: “Yes, I am getting engaged, he doesn’t know yet.”
      However, it was only a joke as glamorous Kate is already married, having tied the knot to her husband Ramtin in 2010.
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      But as she made the gag, the cameras quickly cut to Henry – and some fans were convinced that he looked gutted.
      One said: “He almost threw up on the table,” while a second added: “He looks mortified.”
      What does Ramtin Abdo do for a living?
      As mentioned above, Ramtin Abdo is a businessman and investor.
      According to various reports, Ramtin has an estimated net worth of £10million.
      Kate on the other hand has also managed to amass an impressive fortune thanks to her successful career.
      The sports broadcaster is reported to have an estimated net worth of £2million – thanks to a job that has taken her all over the world.
      Kate began her broadcasting career in Germany covering the Bundesliga as a production assistant and has since worked in the UK, Spain, France, and the United States.
      Because of this, she speaks fluent French, German and Spanish.
      So, including English, multilingual Kate speaks an impressive FOUR languages – and she’s previously impressed fans with her skills live on air.
      During a show in November 2022, Kate and her ex-football star co-hosts were shown Champions League interviews by PSG star Kylian Mbappe, Federico Valverde of Real Madrid, and RB Leipzig boss Marco Rose.
      Kate then effortlessly translated the questions and answers from all three for the English-speaking viewers – earning the star a fist-bump from Thierry Henry.
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      Meanwhile, Micah Richards said: “Wow, Kate! Three interviews, three languages!
      “The first one French, second one Spanish, third German. Das ist gut, Ja!” More