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      ‘I didn’t know how to tell my kids he was gone’, says Christian Atsu’s fiancee after ex-Newcastle ace’s tragic death

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      CHRISTIAN ATSU’S fiancee has opened up on the heartbreak of dealing with the death of the former Premier League star.Atsu, who had previously played for Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton in England, was starring for Hatayspor in Turkey when an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck on February 6 2023.
      Christian Atsu tragically lost his life in the Turkish earthquake last yearCredit: PA
      The 7.8 magnitude quakes hit an area of 140,000 square milesCredit: Getty
      Atsu’s wife Claire Rupio has now opened up on what life has been like since thenCredit: Twitter/X
      The apartment building Atsu was in collapsed before a second earthquake of equal strength hit hours later, hitting an area of 140,000 square miles across southern Turkey and Syria, killing at least 60,000 people.
      After a desperate 12-day search, Hatayspor manager Murat Uzunmehmet announced Atsu’s body had been found in the rubble.
      One year on from the tragedy, Atsu’s fiancee and mother of their three kids Claire Rupio has now opened up on the tragedy and how it has impacted their lives since.
      The day before the earthquake Atsu had scored a late winner for Hatayspor, with Claire detailing how he had called the family in their Newcastle home before the game.
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      Speaking to The Athletic, she said: “He’d called the kids before the game. Then after the game we’d spoken to congratulate him on the goal.
      “It was just normal, he was supposed to call on Monday, but he didn’t.”
      The next call Claire received was from Atsu’s twin sister Christiana Atsupie Twasam, who herself had been informed of the news by Atsu’s close friend and agent Nana Sechere.
      Claire said: “I heard it on the radio first when I was driving them to school and I thought it’s Turkey, but he’ll be fine, nothing will happen to him, that would be absurd.
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      “Then I saw a lot of missed calls from Christiana after I’d dropped the kids and I thought, ‘What’s happening?’
      “I called her back and she said, ‘His building has collapsed’. I was in shock, I thought, ‘That can’t be true’. I had to take the children out of school before it finished; I didn’t want them to hear it from anybody else.
      Christian Atsu scored incredible goal just hours before ex-Chelsea and Newcastle player reported missing in Turkey earthquake
      “I told them there had been an earthquake where Daddy was playing and they haven’t found him yet. They deserved the respect to know everything. They were very upset and crying. I tried to stay positive and tell them he will be fine.”
      Hope came through when reports – confirmed by the Ghana FA and a Hatayspor official – said Atsu had been rescued and was in hospital. But this would prove not to be the case.
      Nana explained: “I spoke to someone I trusted who said he hadn’t seen Christian and had been to the hospitals. That’s when alarm bells started to ring.”
      Nana and Christiana had both joined the search for Atsu in Turkey along with older brother Isaac and close friend Katalin Comoe, where they tragically confirmed he had been killed.
      In the middle of the night they received a call, with Nana, accompanied to the site by Isaac, saying: “They had found a body they strongly thought was Christian.
      “Two officials took us to a body bag lying on the floor,” he says. “We had seen so many, that even before they were opened (we knew they) weren’t the right shape or size for Christian.
      “But I could tell by the shape of it that it was Christian. We saw him and we broke down.”
      He then called Claire to inform her, with Claire saying: “It was around 3am on Saturday, and when I saw Nana’s name come up on my phone I knew: this is it.
      “I picked up and he was just crying. He said, ‘I’m so sorry’, and he couldn’t say anything more.
      “I needed to figure out how I was going to tell my kids that their dad is gone. It was terrible, there was so much going through my mind.”
      Atsu’s body was found after 12 days of searchingCredit: Splash
      The earthquake’s tragically killed at least 60,000Credit: Getty
      After taking them to football practice, Claire then revealed how she broke the news to Joshua (nine), Godwin (six) and Abigail (three).
      She said: “I told them, ‘They have found your dad, but he didn’t make it’. It’s something I wish no parent has to do.
      “It was heartbreaking, he was everything to them. Losing anyone is difficult, but we couldn’t even say goodbye.”
      Atsu’s body was flown back to Ghana for the funeral in the capital city of Accra, where he was given a military guard of honour.
      Claire attended with the children, and said of the funeral: “There was so much support and love showed to him.
      “There were people with his face on T-shirts and everyone was very welcoming. I love the culture and how they celebrate (someone’s life) with dancing and singing.”
      Atsu’s body lay in state for the public to pay their respects.
      Claire added: “I didn’t want the kids to have that as the last image of him and they respected that, so we walked past with our heads down. I couldn’t really process it; I just went through it.”
      She continued: “When people say, ‘How are you coping?’ I don’t cope. I just survive every day. Mentally, you’re fine for a few days, maybe a week, but then lots of emotion comes.
      “Sometimes I message Christian on WhatsApp — I just need to let it out. ‘Why are you not here?’ or maybe one of the kids needs him.”
      Atsu would have celebrated his 32nd birthday on January 10, with the month proving to be “very emotional” for Claire.
      The same goes for Christiana, who says she broke down on a visit to Chester.
      She said: “I went to Chester. But I broke down there. He was not there.
      “I know grieving has five stages, but I don’t know where I am at the moment. Sometimes I’m in denial, sometimes acceptance, it fluctuates and I feel like I’m not progressing.
      “I’ve lost my mum and my dad, but Christian leaving has had more impact on me than anything.”
      Atsu’s charitable work in Ghana is being commemorated in March with the Christian Atsu Memorial Foundation.
      He had built a school and was funding a number of other projects.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      There are other plans to honour his legacy too, with Nana saying: “I want to do that through football.
      “I want to make sure his name is not forgotten and it’s kept alive in Ghana and beyond.”
      Atsu was given a military guard of honour when his body made it back to GhanaCredit: AFP More

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      Kyle Walker’s pregnant wife Annie Kilner fears she’ll go into early labour after stress of split, friends say

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      KYLE Walker’s pregnant wife Annie Kilner fears she may go into labour early after the stress of their split, friends have claimed.The former WAG, who dumped Kyle last month after learning he’d fathered a second child with Lauryn Goodman, is seven-months pregnant with their fourth child.
      Annie, 30, announced she was separating from Walker after he led a double life
      Walker and Annie have three sons and another baby on the way
      Annie received a devastating Instagram message out of the blue from Lauryn, who told her that Kyle had fathered another baby with her
      Friends said Annie, 30, fears she may go into early labour because of the stress of their split.
      They added: “Annie is at breaking point because of the spotlight that has been put on her.
      “She is in the final stages of her pregnancy and is terrified about going into labour early.
      “Annie is wrestling with her emotions because of her separation from Kyle and is deeply concerned about the impact of all the children involved.
      MORE ON WALKER
      “She feels she can’t leave the house now because of the scrutiny and interest in her which she has no desire to be a part of at this time.
      “She is being supported by her family and friends but this has all been incredibly traumatic for her.”
      Annie’s sister Sian has been vocal on social media in her support of Annie and earlier this week blasted Lauryn for getting involved with Kyle.
      Lauryn told Annie she had a second child with Kyle over Christmas.
      Most read in Football
      The bombshell Boxing Day revelation saw the love rat Manchester City defender turfed out of the family’s sprawling £2.5million pad.
      In an online statement Annie revealed the pair, who share three sons together, were splitting.
      Footie love rat Kyle Walker cheated on his wife and mistress with a third woman — a mystery model
      She wrote: “I am posting this in response to growing recent media enquiries about my marriage to Kyle and in an effort to protect my family against the intensity of the media spotlight.
      “Sadly, after many years of marriage and three wonderful children together; I have decided to take some time away from Kyle.
      “I do not wish to comment on the position any further. For now, I ask that the privacy of myself and our three young children is respected during this difficult time.”
      And, her fuming dad has also begged her not to go back to the footballer – or he will disown her.
      Annie has privately vowed to proceed with a divorce and has even hired Coleen Rooney’s victorious Wagatha Christie lawyer, Paul Lunt.
      ‘IDIOT CHOICES’
      Manchester City ace Kyle told The Sun he bitterly regrets betraying his “soulmate” Annie.
      In a frank confession the forward admitted he’d made “idiot choices and idiot decisions” after sleeping with reality TV star Lauryn.
      Kyle said: I can’t begin to think or imagine what Annie is going through. I’ve tried to ask her but there’s pain and hurt.
      “The man that’s meant to love, care and be there for her, did this.
      “There have been days in this ordeal where I’ve just wanted to curl up in a ball and go to sleep.
      “The only person to blame is me.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Lauryn became pregnant after a secret rendezvous with Walker in London and gave birth to a girl in July last year.
      The influencer also has a three-year-old son with Walker, from a brief relationship while he and Annie were apart.
      Annie is mum to three of Kyle Walker’s children and is now expecting a fourth
      Walker is now living alone in a rented £3million property and accepts that his marriage is over
      Wife Annie has since ditched her wedding ring More

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      Viral Afcon fan apologises to wife and children after awkward moment he asked for woman’s number caught on camera

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      AN IVORY COAST fan apologised to his wife and children after he was seen in a viral video asking another woman for her number during the Africa Cup of Nations.Anselme Santos attended his host country’s crunch Last 16 clash with reigning champions Senegal at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium on Monday.
      An Afcon fan apologised to his family after he was seen asking another women’s numberCredit: Life TV
      Anselme Santos appeared on TV to speak about the incident
      The two African giants drew 1-1 after Ivorian star Franck Kessie cancelled out Habib Diallo’s opener.
      But it was Emerse Fae’s side that punched their ticket to the quarter-finals where they will face Mali after eliminating Sadio Mane and co on penalties.
      Kessie scored the winning penalty but it was Santos who became the talk of the town after the dramatic Afcon encounter.
      The fan was spotted speaking closely to a woman in the stands whilst other Ivorian supporters celebrated around them.
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      The lady clearly looked disinterested by the approach but he insists it was only friendly banter during the “euphoria” of Ivory Coast’s triumph.
      Santos later revealed he is “saddened” and “really upset” with himself after watching the viral video and went on to apologise to the woman as well as her entire family.
      The father also asked for forgiveness from his own family who watched him at the stands.
      Santos told Life TV: “Since we were at the hotel we were with the Senegal fans, having fun, we danced, we ate, we got the bus to the stadium, everyone was having fun.
      Most read in Football
      “We arrived at the stadium, we had the first goal, Senegal fans were trying to tease us but that’s the game.
      “At the stadium we’re having fun, everyone is happy. If you went to the stadium to be sad it’s not good, if Senegal fans sat one side and us the other there would be no atmosphere.
      “So that’s how you saw it in the video, I was sitting further up [away from the woman] and I was walking down when I saw her waving the Senegalese flag.
      “In the euphoria, we’re having fun, we’re teasing each other, I told her, ‘Give me your number’.
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
      “I didn’t insist and when she didn’t want to I went back to my friend nearby in the stands. I didn’t see her again.
      “I don’t think it was insisting, it was just fun at the stadium, we were teasing, I didn’t go to the stadium to pick up a woman.
      “When I say, ‘Give me your number, give me your number’, it’s not necessarily because I wanted their number, we were having fun, it’s all good.
      “When I got back to the hotel, I saw the video on all of the social networks. When I saw it, frankly, it saddened me.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “I am a father, I have a family, I would like to take this opportunity to apologise [to] my family, my children, my wife.
      “And then I take this opportunity to ask for forgiveness from this lady, her family, her community, her husband, her children, we were having fun and it happened but, frankly, I’m really upset about what happened.”
      Ivory Coast beat Senegal and made it to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finalsCredit: AP More

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      Kyle Walker will remain Man City captain after opening up about betraying wife and secret lovechild, says Pep Guardiola

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      PEP GUARDIOLA has confirmed Kyle Walker will remain as Manchester City captain.The England defender spoke to The Sun at the weekend expressing his regret at the way he has treated his wife Annie.
      Guardiola has confirmed Walker will remain as his City captainCredit: Getty
      It comes after Walker admitted his regret over how he has treates his wife AnnieCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Walker, pictured here with Annie, has admitted to fathering two children with model and influencer Lauryn Goodman in recent yearsCredit: Instagram
      He admitted fathering two children with model and influencer Lauryn Goodman in recent years.
      Guardiola said he will not talk about the personal lives of his players but said there is no plan to strip the Three Lions defender of the armband.
      Asked if the captaincy remained unchanged, he said: “Absolutely, because it’s a decision for the team and not mine.
      “I will not talk about personal issues. I support him and his family but I don’t say one word about the personal lives of my players.”
      READ MORE ON KYLE WALKER
      The news Walker will stay on as captain comes after he admitted that he almost followed England team-mate Harry Kane in joining Bayern Munich last summer.
      He saw the move as a way to escape the constant speculation around his family life.
      The defender verbally agreed a reported £15million move to the German champions in July.
      He said on the proposed move: “I tried to escape. Did I want to leave City? No, of course I didn’t. We’re the best team in the world at the minute.
      Most read in Football
      “But it was a chance to get away from England and the media I was going to get. I was aware the clock was ticking. I came very close to moving.
      “I was going to a great club, a massive club. But in the end I couldn’t go.
      “If I’m in Germany and this happens, Annie leaves and I’m now in Germany on my own. My kids wouldn’t be around the corner where I can see them.
      “There’s pain and emotion at the moment but I can go to the house, take the kids to school, and my little lad to football.”
      He spoke of his pain at betraying his wife Annie and admits that he would not blame her if she chose to go through with a divorce.
      He said: “I think there’s too much pain and too much hurt.
      “For now, I just need to be the best dad that I can be.”
      Walker will lead his City team as captain in tomorrow night’s Premier League fixture with Burnley, who are managed by his former team-mate and ex-City captain Vincent Kompany. More

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      Kyle Walker reveals why he’s spoken out over Lauryn Goodman fling as he admits ‘I’ve made stupid choices’

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      REGRETFUL Kyle Walker admitted he “made stupid choices” as he opened up about fathering a second love child with Lauryn Goodman.The Manchester City defender, 33, confessed his heartbreak after being kicked out of his Cheshire home and losing his “soulmate” Annie Kilner.
      Kyle confessed he made ‘stupid choices’Credit: Dan Charity
      Annie is mum to three of Kyle Walker’s children and is now expecting a fourth
      Kyle said he has chosen to break his silence on the scandal for the sake of his family.
      In an open and honest conversation with The Sun, he said: “I am a private man but I accept that I am a public figure and I need to address what I’ve done.
      “It hasn’t helped that it has been played out in the media.
      “But I’ve chosen to speak now in the hope that I can at least explain myself and enable my wife and children to have the privacy they so desperately need and deserve.”

      Kyle recalled meeting his wife Annie, who has now taken off her wedding ring, when he was just 17-years-old.
      The childhood sweethearts have since welcomed three sons, and are expecting a fourth.
      “I never envisaged my private life being like this. I never thought I would be a father of six,” he added.
      Now, the devastated dad said his heartbreaks every time he has to say “goodnight” to his son over Facetime – as he lives alone in a rented £3million property nearby.
      Most read in Football
      Wife Annie has since ditched her wedding ringCredit: BackGrid
      Kyle admitted his regrets in a tell-all interview with The SunCredit: Dan Charity
       “My little boy goes to sleep with me every night and to not have him . . . I’m used to being away for long periods of time with England,” he said.
      “We say goodnight on FaceTime. But to know that I’m not with him because of my mistake.”
      TAKING RESPONSIBILITY
      Kyle took full ownership over the pain caused by his secret fling with Lauryn.
      He also apologised to Annie, mum to three of his children and confessed “the only person to blame is me”.
      The footballer confessed his struggle with coming to terms with everything since the bombshell Boxing Day revelation.
      Kyle said there are times he just wants to “curl up in a ball and sleep”.
      “The only person to blame is me. I have roles and responsibilities that I’m aware of and I’ve made stupid choices. But I need to own up to my mistakes — I owe it to everyone,” he added.
      My move to Munich to escape
      KYLE told how he almost followed Harry Kane to Bayern Munich to escape the looming baby scandal.
      The defender verbally agreed a reported £15million move to the German champions in July.
      He said: “I tried to escape. Did I want to leave City? No, of course I didn’t. We’re the best team in the world at the minute.
      “But it was a chance to get away from England and the media I was going to get.
      “I was aware the clock was ticking. I came very close to moving. We were having conversations. I was going to a great club, a massive club. But in the end I couldn’t go.
      “If I’m in Germany and this happens, Annie leaves and I’m now in Germany on my own.
      “My kids wouldn’t be around the corner where I can see them.
      “There’s pain and emotion at the moment but I can go to the house, take the kids to school, and my little lad to football.”

      “My actions have caused a lot of pain to a lot of people. I’m sorry because, as a family, this isn’t meant to happen.”
      “What I’ve done is horrible and I take full responsibility,” he added.
      “I made idiot choices and idiot decisions. I can’t begin to think or imagine what Annie is going through. I’ve tried to ask her but there’s pain and hurt.
      “The man that’s meant to love, care and be there for her, did this.”
      He said despite his football achievements, he can’t understand how he could hurt his “best friend” so deeply.
      “That’s something I need to find in myself,” said Kyle.
      “I need to find out why I have done this and why situations have occurred. I am human and I’ve made mistakes on and off the field.

      It comes as…

      “The ones off the field are definitely more damaging and have been more hurtful to me.”
      The England Ace insisted “family comes before anything on this planet”.
      It comes after Lauryn gave birth to a son and later publicly named Kyle as the dad in April 2020,
      He was thrown out of the family home and moved into a rented £8,000-a-month pad.
      But, his wife rekindled their relationship for the sake of their children.
      By August 2022, Lauryn relocated closer to the Man City defender and he then met his son, Kairo, for the first time.
      Then in early October 2022, Kyle travelled to London for groin surgery and secretly met Lauryn.
      The pair later slept with each other, which the England ace said “wasn’t intentional or premeditated”.
      “A lot was going on. It’s not an excuse. I’d ruptured my groin, I had a World Cup to get fighting fit for,” he told The Sun.
      Lauryn then revealed she was expecting their second baby, in early November, and Kyle tried to keep everything under wraps.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      But, a day after Boxing Day, Lauryn took matters into her own hands and sent Annie an Instagram message, telling her: “I don’t have two baby daddies — I have one.”
      She also shared a photo of Kyle on a playdate with Lauryn and the two children in a park.
      The England and Manchester City defender has been kicked out the family homeCredit: Getty More

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      Kyle Walker reveals pain of saying goodnight to son on Facetime after being kicked out of home over Lauryn Goodman fling

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      DEVASTATED Kyle Walker has opened up about the pain of being kicked out of his family home and having to say ‘goodnight’ to his son over Facetime.The England ace, 33, revealed his regrets after making “idiot choices and idiot decisions” amid his fling with Lauryn Goodman and their secret child.
      Kyle Walker has admitted he regrets betraying his soulmate wife Annie Kilner in an astonishingly honest interviewCredit: Dan Charity
      Annie is mum to three of Kyle Walker’s children and is now expecting a fourth
      Wife Annie has since ditched her wedding ringCredit: BackGrid
      The Manchester City defender was thrown out by long-suffering wife Annie Kilner, after the Lauryn dropped the bombshell Boxing Day revelation.
      She sent a message on Instagram admitting Kyle had fathered a second love child with herself.
      Kyle is now living alone in a rented £3million property as Annie prepares to welcome their fourth child.
      She has has since ditched her wedding ring and is strapped up with celeb lawyer, Paul Lunt, and PR guru Rachel Monk.

      In a candid interview with The Sun, Kyle’s voice broke as he said: “My little boy goes to sleep with me every night and to not have him . . . I’m used to being away for long periods of time with England.
      “We say goodnight on FaceTime. But to know that I’m not with him because of my mistake.”
      He also apologised to Annie, mum to three of his children and confessed “the only person to blame is me”.
      “What I’ve done is horrible and I take full responsibility,” he said.
      Most read in Football
      Kyle vowed not to have any contact with Lauryn — beyond ongoing financial arrangementsCredit: Getty
      The ace said he takes full responsibility for the pain causedCredit: Dan Charity
      “I made idiot choices and idiot decisions. I can’t begin to think or imagine what Annie is going through. I’ve tried to ask her but there’s pain and hurt.
      “The man that’s meant to love, care and be there for her, did this.”
      He described days during which he just wants “to curl up in a ball and go to sleep”.
      “My actions have caused a lot of pain to a lot of people. I’m sorry because, as a family, this isn’t meant to happen,” he added.
      Kyle also insisted that there had never been a relationship between himself and Lauryn when they first met in his early 20s.
      But, in April 2020, Lauryn gave birth to a son a nd later publicly named Kyle as the dad.
      After a brief stint living in a rented £8,000-a-month pad when Annie threw him out, Kyle was welcomed back into the family for the sake of the children.
      However, despite vowing no contact with Lauryn, he met his son Kairo for the first time in August 2022 when they relocated closer to the Man City defender.
      Then in early October 2022, Kyle travelled to London for groin surgery and secretly met Lauryn.
      The pair later slept with each other, which the England ace said “wasn’t intentional or premeditated”.
      “A lot was going on. It’s not an excuse. I’d ruptured my groin, I had a World Cup to get fighting fit for,” he told The Sun.
      By the beginning of November, Lauryn had informed Kyle she was pregnant with their second baby.
      He recounted the moment he nearly fainted and turned “white” when she told him over the phone as he prepped for a session at the training ground.
      Kyle also recalled how playing football amid the pressure was a “release” and said he tried to keep the news secret because he’s “a private person”.
      My move to Munich to escape
      KYLE told how he almost followed Harry Kane to Bayern Munich to escape the looming baby scandal.
      The defender verbally agreed a reported £15million move to the German champions in July.
      He said: “I tried to escape. Did I want to leave City? No, of course I didn’t. We’re the best team in the world at the minute.
      “But it was a chance to get away from England and the media I was going to get.
      “I was aware the clock was ticking. I came very close to moving. We were having conversations. I was going to a great club, a massive club. But in the end I couldn’t go.
      “If I’m in Germany and this happens, Annie leaves and I’m now in Germany on my own.
      “My kids wouldn’t be around the corner where I can see them.
      “There’s pain and emotion at the moment but I can go to the house, take the kids to school, and my little lad to football.”

      However, day after Boxing Day, Lauryn took matters into her own hands and sent Annie an Instagram message, telling her: “I don’t have two baby daddies — I have one.”
      She also shared a photo of Kyle on a playdate with Lauryn and the two children in a park.
      The footballer said he suspected Lauryn would drop the bombshell after discovering Annie was pregnant with their fourth child.
      “She was screaming down the phone, saying Annie’s pregnant. I said she wasn’t. It was none of her business. I felt I had to lie to her because I knew if I told her the truth it was going to blow,” explained Kyle.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “The pregnancy was the straw that broke the camel’s back.” More

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      ‘It was a slow death’ says Kyle Walker as he relives devastated Annie finding out he’d had 2nd secret child with Lauryn

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      KYLE Walker tells The Sun today that his family are “all I’ve got” — and he has let them down.The England and Manchester City defender admitted he was ­selfish not to tell his pregnant wife about his second secret child — and says: “It was a slow death for me and for Annie.”
      Kyle Walker, 33, admitted he was selfish not to tell his pregnant wife about his second secret childCredit: Dan Charity
      The England and Manchester City defender says ‘it was a slow death for me and for Annie’Credit: Getty
      Kyle, Annie and children after City’s triumph in the Club World Cup final in Jeddah last month
      Annie’s world imploded just after Christmas when she received a devastating Instagram message out of the blue from Lauryn Goodman, who told her that Kyle had fathered another child with her.
      For the first time he publicly admits: “I’m sorry that I have had a second child with Lauryn and hurt my best friend.
      “It’s horrible to say that out loud.
      “I’ve hurt someone I truly believe is my soulmate.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      “It’s tough to not have her.
      “She’s my right-hand man.
      “I think of her so highly that she probably won’t understand and I probably don’t really tell her.
      “This isn’t an interview for me to tell the world how much I care about her because that’s down to me and Annie and what we feel.
      Most read in Football
      “Annie knows I’m sorry.
      “I’m sorry because as a family this isn’t meant to happen.
      “They are all I’ve got.
      “I’m not asking for pity.
      “I’ve let Annie and my boys down, I’ve let my mum and dad down, my nan down.”
      Last year, Lauryn, 32, welcomed their second child — a baby girl — conceived during a brief liaison in London.
      Annie then became pregnant with their fourth just weeks later and is due to give birth in March.
      Kyle said: “It pains me to think (of how she is coping while pregnant).
      “I’ve never not been there.
      “To not be there when she needs me the most, but to know that you’ve caused that hurt, that’s something I have to live with now.”
      Lauryn told Annie she deserved to know the truth and provided DNA results and legal letters that confirmed her worst fears.
      I’ve let Annie and my boys down, I’ve let my mum and dad down, my nan downKyle Walker
      In a bombshell admission, Kyle says he lived with the lie for 14 months, even after Annie, 30, became pregnant for a fourth time.
      Despite everything, he is desperate to save the marriage but accepts this could be the final nail in the coffin.
      He said he would not blame Annie if she chose to divorce him — and vowed to become a better role model.
      He said: “I think there’s too much pain and too much hurt.
      “For now, I just need to be the best dad that I can be.”
      By contrast he added of Lauryn: “There was no relationship.
      “That is something Lauryn could never honestly say.
      “We’ve never been out for food.
      “We’ve never been to the cinema.
      “I admit Lauryn was a friend for a long time.
      “I probably met her back when I was 20, 21.
      “We then have our episode in 2020.
      “I’m 33 now, that’s a good nine years before there has been anything of the sort.
      “After that there was nothing of the sort.
      “To have a relationship with someone… would she even know how many sugars I have in my coffee, if I have sugars?
      “She couldn’t tell you.
      A move to Bayern to flee fallout
      KYLE last night told how he almost followed Harry Kane to Bayern Munich to escape the looming baby scandal.
      The defender verbally agreed a reported £15million move to the German champions in July.
      He said: “I tried to escape. Did I want to leave City? No, of course I didn’t. We’re the best team in the world at the minute.
      “But it was a chance to get away from England and the media I was going to get.
      “I was aware the clock was ticking. I came very close to moving. We were having conversations. I was going to a great club, a massive club. But in the end I couldn’t go.
      “If I’m in Germany and this happens, Annie leaves and I’m now in Germany on my own.
      “My kids wouldn’t be around the corner where I can see them.
      “There’s pain and emotion at the moment but I can go to the house, take the kids to school, and my little lad to football.”

      “Lauryn had me trapped in a corner from October when she told me about a second child.
      “She would ask me to jump and I would say, ‘How high?’. This was to meet growing and unreasonable demands in return of not destroying my family.”
      Kyle admits he should have told his wife the truth when Lauryn became pregnant again.
      But he knew it would almost certainly end their marriage — and force him from the family home.
      He said: “It was selfish. I didn’t tell her because I wanted to be with her and the kids. Should she have heard it from Lauryn? No, no. 
      “That was the least I owed her. I was aware that the clock was ticking and I still chose not to tell Annie.” 
      It was selfish. I didn’t tell her because I wanted to be with her and the childrenKyle Walker
      But in a startling admission the World Cup star said: “I do and I don’t regret it.
      “I regret not telling her because she had a right to know and that’s the least I owe my best friend.
      “I don’t regret it selfishly because I got to spend days with my children.
      “I got to take the kids to the World Cup — they were there.
      “I’ve won a treble with City.
      “To see my kids’ faces when we won the Champions League is something I’ll never forget.
      “So whilst I deeply regret not telling Annie, I got to experience it as a family.
      “It was a double-edged sword between my conscience being clean and losing my family.”
      The full-back holds out the “unrealistic” hope Annie will give him another chance but accepts the misery he has inflicted on her.
      He toys with his wedding ring as he ponders: “Would people think she was mad to take me back? One million per cent.”
      A tattoo of the letter “A” for Annie is under his wedding band.
      She too has “K” for Kyle inked onto her finger — but has ditched the ring.
      Kyle adds: “People are entitled to their opinions, but they don’t know what goes on behind closed doors.
      “We’re not perfect.
      “Everyone goes through ups and downs in life.
      “But I wouldn’t blame her if she divorced me.
      “I would understand that she had got to a point where enough was enough.
      “I have to respect her decision.
      “I wouldn’t be angry or shocked if she did.
      “The ball is firmly in her court on what she decides to do with the future.
      “For me, again, I can keep on saying sorry but sorry’s not going to change anything.
      “All I can do is build a better future with or without Annie.”
      After Kyle fathered his first child with Lauryn, Annie described his betrayal as “obscene”.
      But she took him back and they married in late 2021 at plush Mottram Hall in Wilmslow, Cheshire.
      To not be there when she needs me the most, but to know that you’ve caused that hurt, that’s something I have to live with nowKyle Walker
      But their marriage was unable to escape from the shadow of his infidelity. 
      Wiping tears from his eyes, Kyle admits: “I lost a part of her.
      “Up until probably about three months ago she never told me she loved me.
      “She refused to tell me she loved me.
      “She said when she felt she could tell me that again then she would. And then all of this happened.”
      Kyle called Annie a “fantastic mum”, adding: “Recently, she has let me ring her phone which has been a massive help.
      “That just shows the mum that she is to the kids.
      “She doesn’t want to take that away.
      “They have always wished me good luck before the games and they did before the FA Cup win against Tottenham.
      “Little things like that show the character she has as a mum.
      “No matter what happens, the girl, the woman, my wife, will be my best friend until I die.
      “I’ll respect her decision fully.
      “I can’t change the past.
      “I can hopefully change the future.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “Is it a reset button?
      “The reset button should have been pushed the first time.”
      So grateful to Pep and Southgate
      GRATEFUL Kyle last night than-ked his Man City manager Pep Guardiola and England’s Gareth Southgate for standing by him.
      Kyle called the Spaniard “unbelievable”. He said: “He didn’t know what was happening.
      “I didn’t want to tell him because I didn’t want him to think I wasn’t mentally there.
      “I can’t thank him enough for the understanding and belief he’s shown in me through four years.”
      Pep, 53, made Kyle captain despite objections from some fans. And the pair embraced on the pitch last Friday after a 1-0 win against Spurs in the FA Cup.
      Kyle was visibly emotional and punched the air repeatedly.
      He said Southgate — who made him England captain against North Macedonia last year — sent a supportive text message after his latest sex scandal.
      He declined to reveal details but said: “For your national team manager to reach out in a time of need goes beyond football.”

      Annie, above, received a devastating Instagram message out of the blue from Lauryn, who told her that Kyle had fathered another baby with her
      The ace said: ‘Annie knows I’m sorry. I’m sorry because as a family this isn’t meant to happen’Credit: Dan Charity
      Kyle admits he lived with the lie for 14 months, even after Annie fell pregnantCredit: Dan Charity More

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      in Soccer

      Liverpool star Luis Diaz welcomes baby girl months after his dad’s horror 12-day kidnap ordeal

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      LIVERPOOL star Luis Diaz’s wife Geraldine Ponce has given birth to their second child.The pair published adorable pictures of baby daughter Charlotte last night.
      Luis Diaz is pictured with baby daughter Charlotte and her older sister Roma, 2, last nightCredit: Instagram
      The family wrote alongside the snaps ‘now we are Roma and Charlotte’. Pictured, Luis and his wife Geraldine Ponce with their two childrenCredit: Instagram
      Liverpool star Diaz lifted his shirt to reveal the words ‘Libertad Para Papa’ (‘Freedom for my father’) after scoring against Luton ahead of his dad’s releaseCredit: PA
      Geraldine, also mum to Roma, two, wrote alongside one of the snaps showing the proud parents and their children: “Now we are Roma and Charlotte.”
      Roma celebrated her second birthday last November, while Luis’s dad was still being held by kidnappers in their native Colombia.
      Geraldine also posted a message from a relative on social media which said: “Welcome my beautiful Charlotte. God bless you. And congratulations mummy and daddy.”
      The Liverpool winger also published a touching photo of him in a hospital head cap cuddling up to his youngest daughter on one side while his wife kissed her on the cheek.
      Read More on Luis Diaz
      Now we are Roma and Charlotte Geraldine PonceInstagram
      And in a joint message on social media, the couple wrote alongside one of the photos of the latest addition to their family: “It’s a long-awaited and desired girl, who came into our lives with incredible magic.
      “On our seventh anniversary, April 25, we decided it was time to see our family grow.
      “Just a month later, also on the 25th, this time in May, we received the news that we did not expect to hear so soon, our baby was already with us.
      “And today, January 25, on a day that we already considered special, our little girl arrived. God has blessed us with our daughter.
      Most read in Football
      “Charlotte has arrived to fill us with laughter, love and unforgettable moments. Now the 25th of each month belongs to her. Welcome our magical princess.”
      The footballer’s father Luis Manuel Díaz Jimenez, 58, feared he wouldn’t make it out alive as he endured a terrifying 12-day ordeal after being kidnapped by ELN guerrillas in Colombia.
      He was freed in a handover involving a Colombian priest close to the Venezuelan border on November 9 last year.
      His son continued playing through the harrowing episode, scoring a late goal after coming on as a substitute in Liverpool’s November 5 win over Luton.
      He then returned to Colombia to be reunited with his dad in emotional scenes following his release.
      He went on to score two goals for his country in a historic victory over Brazil in a match his father watched from the stands.
      The ELN, branded a terrorist organisation by the US government and the EU, admitted responsibility for the kidnapping before Luis Manuel’s release.
      Four alleged members of a gang called Los Primos, said to have carried out the kidnap and handed Mr Diaz over to a regional ELN unit called the Northern War Front, were subsequently arrested and are believed to be still in prison awaiting trial.
      Luis kisses his wife’s forehead during the birthCredit: Instagram
      Luis reunites with his dad after his kidnap ordeal
      Luis with his mum and dad Luis ManuelCredit: Supplied
      Luis Diaz scored twice late on to fire Colombia to victory over BrazilCredit: Getty
      Luis Diaz’s dad waving to press at the airport after he was releasedCredit: AFP More