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      in Boxing

      I’ll smash Jake Paul for what he said about Molly-Mae – this fight is personal, says Tommy Fury

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      AS major boxing grudge matches go they don’t get much bigger – or unlikely – than the upcoming fight between Tommy Fury and Jake Paul.The Love Island star and the US YouTuber will finally meet in the ring after years of trading verbal blows, and two postponements, in the most eagerly-anticipated bout of 2023.
      The upcoming fight between Tommy Fury and Jake Paul is finally happening after years of trading verbal blowsCredit: Rex
      23-year-old Tommy is pumped up for the fight against the US YoutuberCredit: AFP
      Tommy Fury said of Jake ‘He’s absolutely rubbish, I’ve been in boxing all my life. He can’t fight’Credit: Getty
      To say 23-year-old Tommy is pumped up for the fight is an understatement, thanks in no small part to Jake, 26, ruining his rival’s baby announcement and branding Tommy’s influencer fiancée Molly-May Hague the couple’s “breadwinner”.
      Ahead of the fight at the Diriyah Arena, Tommy left those in Saudi Arabia in no doubt of his determination to exact a bitter revenge on rival Jake for his barbed comments about Molly-Mae.
      As one insider at the build-up in Riyadh said: “Tommy says he wants to get revenge, and he won’t feel like he’s got it until he has knocked him clean out.
      “He’s angry, and he means every word — they’re not empty threats. This is personal.”
      READ MORE ON TOMMY FURY
      Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Tommy said: “He can say what he wants because talking is his game. Fighting is mine.
      “On Sunday night, it is not about who can talk the best. It is about who can fight the best. He’s absolutely rubbish.
      ‘Jake can’t fight’
      “I’ve been in boxing all my life. He can’t fight.
      “Jake Paul, he is what he is. He’s a white-collar boxer.
      Most read in Boxing
      “He’s going in there with somebody who wants to take his head clean off with every shot and he’s going to be dealing with everything that comes with a boxer.
      “He’s not dealt with that before and it’s a big jump.”
      Never before has there been a buzz this big around a fight between two such inexperienced boxers, who have just 14 official fights between them.
      The bout is expected to break pay-per-view records, which will handsomely top up their fight fees — which are believed to be around £4million between them.
      So for the fans tuning in to watch or listening for free on talkSPORT, how much action does Tommy think they will actually get to witness?
      “Tommy TNT Fury wins the fight. 9-0. Here we come,” he predicts.
      “It will be very, very lucky for him if he escapes the fourth round. Don’t be surprised if he goes in one or two.
      “Whenever I hit this guy, it’ll be over.”
      Jake, 26, ruined his rival’s baby announcement and branded Tommy’s influencer girlfriend Molly-May Hague the couple’s ‘breadwinner’
      It will be hard to see the reality TV star, half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, taken seriously in the sport, should the bout end in defeatCredit: Social Media
      It will be hard to see the reality TV star, half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, taken seriously in the sport, should the bout end in defeat — especially as he put his boxing career on hold in 2019 to appear on Love Island, where he met his other half.
      Even his own family have joked they’ll disown him if he loses.
      Tyson said: “I expect Tommy to chin him. If he doesn’t, he can stay in Saudi Arabia.”
      A defeat for Jake, meanwhile, is unlikely to derail his career.
      Many experts believe he will just reinvent himself in another sport, having previously dabbled with Mixed Martial Arts and even featured in WWE wrestling, while his promotions firm continues to go from strength to strength.
      But despite having only previously fought six fights, all of them with non-professional boxers such as retired NBA star Nate Robinson, Jake is the bookies’ favourite to win in what they predict will be an incredibly tight contest.
      And he also has the extra incentive of being awarded a ranking in the sport, should he win.
      Former Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson has tipped him to do just that, saying anyone who disrespects Jake “is out of their minds”.
      Speaking to talkSPORT’s Spencer Oliver, Iron Mike, 56, said: “He’s won against people that he shouldn’t beat. And listen, I don’t think they brought him here to lose.
      “He makes more money than the champions of boxing. So he’s an enigma.”
      Another boxing great, Floyd Mayweather, said: “It’s good that Jake Paul is able to take his social media following and get some new eyes on the sport of boxing.
      “And it’s a good match-up with those two. May the best man win.”
      Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr, is expected to be among the 15,000 fans in the Diriyah Arena, while A-listers including US comedian Kevin Hart and superstar rappers Drake and Kanye West are also tipped to attend.
      It is yet to be confirmed if Tommy’s fiancée Molly-Mae will be joining the rest of the Fury clan in the Middle East, given she only gave birth to the couple’s daughter Bambi last month — which Jake informed the world about days before they did, much to their annoyance.
      During his pre-match trash talking, Jake claimed Tommy was forced into taking on the fight for a much-needed payday.
      The American said: “Molly is probably sitting there going, ‘Yo, I just had a baby — I can’t be the one to pay the bills the entire time’.
      “He is going to be paid 20k a fight, minus taxes. He can only pay for so many diapers. It’s a hard business.”
      Jake is so confident of a victory he even offered to change the terms of the bout during a pre-fight press conference, turning it into a winner-takes-all contest.
      He has been in Saudi Arabia for weeks on his training camp, which has been compared to some of the Rocky movies after he was filmed jogging alongside locals on the street. And speaking to Piers Morgan on TalkTV on Thursday night, Jake was supremely confident his preparation will help him get the edge over his long-time rival.
      Asked if he has “any doubt” the fight will end in anything other than victory, he replied: “No, I don’t. I’m confident in my preparation.
      “Anything can happen in a boxing match but you work to make those things not happen. He just doesn’t have the power, the capabilities, to do anything to be able to defeat me.
      Read More on The Sun
      “You’re going to see me knock this guy out.”
      Whatever the outcome, the world will be watching.
      It is yet to be confirmed if Molly-Mae will be joining the rest of the Fury clan in the Middle EastCredit: Rex
      She only gave birth to the couple’s daughter Bambi last monthCredit: Instagram
      Jake sends Tommy warning ahead of fightCredit: Twitter @MostVpromotions More

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      in Soccer

      How John Motson became the voice of football after a muddy afternoon at Hereford changed his life forever

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      BRITISH football lost its voice yesterday when legendary commentator John Motson died aged 77.For half a century, “Motty” and his sheepskin coat brought the beautiful game to life with his infectious enthusiasm, unmatchable statistics and iconic tones.
      British football lost its voice yesterday when legendary commentator John Motson died aged 77Credit: PA
      Motson takes the mic at Old Trafford in his first season of 1971/72
      And in his final season for the BBC at Arsenal in 2021Credit: Getty
      The former BBC broadcaster was behind the microphone for more than 2,000 games, including 29 FA Cup Finals, and covering ten World Cups and ten Euros.
      Last night tributes poured in from across the world to the commentator Piers Morgan hailed as the G.O.A.T — greatest of all time.
      Match of the Day host Gary Lineker called him “brilliant” and “the voice of football in this country for generations”. Ex-England star Alan Shearer wrote: “RIP Motty. An incredible career. The voice.”
      Prince William added: “Very sad to hear about the passing of John Motson — a legend whose voice was football. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”
      READ MORE ON JOHN MOTSON
      Motson’s success was down to preparation as much as perspiration in that heavy jacket, with wife Anne helping him collate information on players and games.
      They did not use a computer — preferring instead to draw on their own archive of press clippings, and Motson’s laser focus for detail produced many memorable moments.
      Before his first FA Cup Final in 1977, he walked up the Wembley steps to where the trophy would be collected and counted 39.
      Then, when Man United’s winning captain Martin Buchan strode up, Motson delivered a killer reference to John Buchan’s classic novel. He said to the millions at home: “How appropriate that a man called Buchan should be the first to climb the 39 steps to the Royal Box.”
      Most read in Football
      However he may never have been there at all if not for a muddy FA Cup Third Round replay at non-league Hereford United against mighty Newcastle in 1972.
      When Ronnie Radford hit a late 30-yard screamer to equalise, an excitable Motson screamed into the mic: “Oh, what a goal! What a goal! Radford the scorer, Ronnie Radford, and the crowd, the crowd are invading the pitch and it will take some time to clear the field.”
      Having captured the moment so perfectly, Motson would no longer be a junior commentator.
      He later said: “I was on trial at Match of the Day for a year and I got given this game, and then Ronnie changed everything.
      “He changed his life, my life, the history of the FA Cup with a goal that came out of nowhere.”
      Born in Salford, Motson moved around the country as his Methodist minister dad William went from post to post.
      His first taste of football came in London aged seven when he watched Chelsea play at Charlton Athletic, near where he then lived.
      He was instantly hooked and became a Chelsea fan, although he later pretended to support Barnet to avoid accusations of bias. 
      Motson’s first job was on a local paper in Barnet, North London, in 1963, before moving to the Sheffield Morning Telegraph four years later.
      On reading his work, one cruel editor suggested he try broadcasting instead. He joined the BBC in 1968 — but it was not until Radford’s rocket that his own career took off. It landed him a three-year contract, covering a range of sports.
      In 1974 he co-commentated with heavyweight legend Muhammad Ali on a Joe Bugner fight in London. He tried to hand the mic to Ali only to discover he had vanished.
      Motson recalled: “He was in the ring trying to box Bugner.”
      Reporting on Wimbledon tennis in 1981 he landed an impromptu interview with actor Jack Nicholson. When Motson got a message in his ear from the studio demanding the tennis latest, Jack said in his scary Shining voice: “Just give ’em the score, Johnnnyy.” 
      But it is football for which Motson will be forever remembered. 
      A huge factor in his success was Anne, who he married in 1976. She kept a log detailing all his games.
      Motson said: “My research is based mainly on my wife’s wonderful record book which she keeps dutifully and diligently every day of the season with all the teams, matches, appearances, goalscorers, newspaper cuttings, you name it.”
      However Motson was not immune to the odd blunder. He once said: “Brazil — they’re so good it’s like they’re running round the pitch playing with themselves.” 
      In the 1990s his rival Barry Davies got two FA Cup Finals so the perfectionist felt he had to raise his game. Motson, awarded an OBE in 2001, said: “You felt that if you dropped a clanger you might be out of work. I would have sleepless nights sweating on getting it right. 
      “There were recriminations if something went wrong, naked fury.”
      Getting his MBE with wife Anne who helped him collate information on players and gamesCredit: PA:Press Association
      John in the hot seat during the 1986 World Cup finals in MexicoCredit: Getty
      It started at a muddy FA Cup Third Round replay at non-league Hereford United against mighty Newcastle in 1972Credit: PA
      The affable Motson also had to face occasional bouts of rage from angry managers. Then-Man United boss Alex Ferguson, who had been a good pal, snarled at him in 1995: “You’ve no right to ask me that question, John. You’re out of order.” 
      All he did was ask if Roy Keane would be punished for being sent off for the third time in 14 games.
      His toughest career moment was in 1989 commenting at the FA Cup semi between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool at Hillsborough. His son Fred said the disaster, where 96 fans were killed, “was really something that weighed on him”.
       Motson’s last day at the BBC came at Crystal Palace’s 2-0 home win against West Brom in 2018. Palace’s then-boss Roy Hodgson presented him with a framed copy of the programmes from his first and last matches. 
      He then joined TalkSport radio soon after and was awarded a Bafta that year to mark his contribution to broadcasting. 
      He and his wife, who lived in a village near Milton Keynes, both had major health scares.
      First Anne beat breast cancer and then ten years later in 2014 her husband was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Motson said: “I knew what courage she showed in the operation. I thought to myself, ‘Come on, keep yourself together and don’t make too much fuss.’ 
      “I was trying to be nearly as brave as she was.” 
      His family said yesterday: “It is with great sadness that we announce that John Motson OBE died peacefully in his sleep today.” 
      Huge rounds of applause are sure to ring out at grounds around the country tomorrow. As the BBC’s director-general Tim Davie said: “John had the right words, at the right time, for all the big moments.” 
      grant.rollings@thesun.co.uk
      ‘HE SET STANDARD’By NICK PARKER
      FELLOW commentators and pundits paid tribute to Motty yesterday.
      Sky’s Martin Tyler said: “John was the standard-setter for us all. 
      “We basically all looked up to him — his diligence, his dedication, his knowledge. He was a very serious broadcaster but he was a real fun guy to be around.”
      Clive Tyldesley said: “As a teenager I just wanted to be John Motson. Nobody else.” BT Sport’s Darren Fletcher posted: “An iconic commentator with his own distinctive and brilliant style.
      “The soundtrack to my youth watching football #RIPMotty.”
      BT Sport and ESPN commentator Ian Darke said: “Probably the most famous football commentator of them all. Meticulously researched and retaining boyish enthusiasm and love of the game over half a century of the biggest games — he set the gold standard.”
      Ex-Blackburn forward and pundit Chris Sutton said: “He was a legendary figure in the commentary box and will be sorely missed. 
      “Thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

      Classic lines of icon
      ONE of Motty’s most famous quotes was a joke, not a gaffe.
      Commentating on a Tottenham game he said: “For those of you watching in black and white, Spurs are in the all-yellow strip”.
      It was a nod to Ted Lowe’s snooker line: “For those of you watching in black and white, the pink is next to the green.”
      Some of his other lines include: 
      “Villa . . . and still Ricky Villa! What a fantastic run! He’s scored!” — on the Argentine’s mazy winner for Spurs in the 1981 FA Cup Final replay.
      The ‘crazy gang’ of Wimbledon got the Motto treatment as they beat the stars of Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup finalCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      “And there it is, the Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club!” — when no-hopers Wimbledon beat the stars of Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup Final.
      “It’s there by David Platt. England have done it in the last minute of extra-time. England are through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup and Bobby Robson is ecstatic!” — late drama at the Italia 90 World Cup.
      “Oh dear, oh dear me . . . here is a moment that almost brings tears to his eyes” — on Paul Gascoigne after his booking against West Germany would rule him out of the final at Italia 90.
      Paul Gascoigne was hailed by Motson after his famous volleyed goal against Scotland at Euro 1996Credit: PA:Press Association
      “Here’s Gascoigne . . oh brilliant, oh yes!” — Gazza’s famous volley against Scotland in Euro 96.
      “Ohhh, this is getting better and better and better. One, two, three for Michael Owen!” — Owen gets his hat-trick in England’s 5-1 win over Germany in Munich 2001.
      David Beckham sends England to the 2002 World CupCredit: Allsport – Getty
      “Beckham . . . Yes! He’s done it!” — David Beckham’s brilliant last-gasp free-kick against Greece at Old Trafford in 2001 sends England to the 2002 World Cup.
      “Hold the cups and glasses at home . . . you can smash them now!” Beckham’s penalty beats Argentina at the 2002 World Cup in Japan, broadcast at breakfast time in the UK.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Gerrard! He’s done it! Oh Steven Gerrard!” — injury-time thunderbolt for Liverpool against West Ham in the 2006 FA Cup Final.
      “And the referee has gone across now with his hand in his pocket. He’s been told about it. He’s off, it’s red, it’s Zidane! You can’t excuse that   —   Zidane’s career ends in disgrace!” — Zinedine Zidane’s sending-off for France after a headbutt in the 2006 World Cup Final against Italy. More

    • 275 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      I died for 8 minutes – but something special happened that day & gave me will to live, says footballer David Ginola

      by

      FOOTBALL star David Ginola thought he was in remarkably good shape when he agreed to play a charity match in Mandelieu on the south coast of France – even scoring a goal.But the celebrations suddenly turned to horror when David ­collapsed and “died” for eight minutes after his heart stopped.
      Footie ace David Ginola with girlfriend Maeva DenatCredit: BackGrid
      David is backing The Sun’s Save A Life In 15 Minutes campaign, in which we are calling on people to learn CPRCredit: Splash News
      Footie ace Ginola cooling down after a game in 2001Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      His friend, fellow footballer Frederic Mendy, valiantly performed CPR, keeping the blood pumping to David’s brain until medics arrived with a defibrillator that sent a series of ­electric shocks through his body, helping his heart restart.
      David, 56, says: “When you are unconscious, you are at a crossroads, and there are two paths: Life or death.
      “Why I chose life, I don’t know, because I was unconscious. But I am a fighter.”
      David is speaking exclusively to back The Sun’s Save A Life In 15 Minutes campaign, in which we are calling on people to learn CPR.
      Read More on David Ginola
      February is the British Heart ­Foundation’s heart month and as the charity’s latest ambassador, David is promoting its free online tool, ­RevivR, which can teach CPR and defibrillation skills in just 15 minutes
      Only half of us say we would be able to perform CPR if a loved one had a sudden cardiac arrest, despite latest data showing that around 80 per cent of such attacks out-of-hospital happen in the home.
      ‘Life brings you gifts’
      There are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year and sadly fewer than one in ten people survive, often because those around them do not have the skills or ­confidence to perform CPR.
      David says: “At the match in 2016, a firefighter shocked me three times with the defibrillator then told my friend I was dead.
      Most read in Football
      “She said if the heart doesn’t start again after three times, it is over — she was wrong.
      “But my friends could see I was fighting and told her to keep going.
      “She shocked me two more times and then my heart started again.
      “I met that firefighter a year later in Nice and she cried when she saw me.
      “She said it was like seeing a ghost.
      “I have to thank her and my friend.
      Maeva was introduced to David through mutual friends in a Cannes restaurantCredit: instagram
      David, pictured with Maeva and daughter Ever, says: ‘When your heart stops beating, they need to treat you as soon as possible’
      “The doctors said that if Frederic had not acted so quickly and performed CPR for over eight minutes, I would have been dead or left in a vegetative state as my brain was starved of oxygen.”
      One reason the former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United player believes he came round was meeting his future ­girlfriend earlier that day.
      In a moment of fate, Maeva Denat, 38, was introduced to David through mutual friends in a Cannes restaurant.
      Less than an hour later, he left to play the fateful charity match.
      Model Maeva — who already has a daughter from a previous relationship — is now the mother of his five-year-old daughter, Ever, and the family live happily in the south of France ­having moved there from London during the pandemic.
      Fighting back tears, David says: “Life sometimes brings you gifts when you least expect it.
      “When I look at Ever, I realise that she wouldn’t be there if I didn’t choose to live.
      “That makes me full of joy and passion and affection because she is an amazing little girl who brings me joy. Sometimes she brings me to tears.”
      Christian Eriksen is helped by teammates after collapsing in 2021Credit: AFP
      Outwardly, the football legend seem­ed like the last person you would expect to suffer heart problems.
      But his mother Mireille died from a heart attack in 2005 aged 74, and dad Rene, now 87, had oper­ations to clear blocked arteries in 2003.
      And when it was later found that David’s arteries had been severely clogged, it was perhaps no surprise that he suffered a cardiac arrest in May 2016.
      It came just two months after he separated from his wife of 25 years Coraline, 54, the mother of his ­children, son Andrea, 31, and 28-year-old daughter Carla.
      After his heart was restarted, David was taken by air ambulance to a ­specialist cardiac hospital, Centre Cardio-Thoracique in Monaco where his blocked arteries were discovered.
      Surgeons performed a six-hour quadruple bypass.
      Thankfully, he was able to return to working as a TV host soon ­afterwards and by 2021 he was well enough to compete in a freezing Welsh castle on I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here!
      David says: “When your heart stops beating, they need to treat you as soon as possible. So performing CPR becomes vital. The doctor was relieved because I had been dead for so long, and it was a miracle I had not suffered brain damage.
      We need to educate people so at least one person in every ­family knows first aid. You will probably never have to use it but the ­knowledge will let you react if something happens.David Ginola
      “I thanked him for saving my life, but he told me, ‘My job was to ­perform the bypass. The one that saved your life was the person that performed CPR. Without him you would be dead.’”
      David later watched aghast as ­Manchester United midfielder ­Christian Eriksen, now 31, collapsed with a cardiac arrest while playing for his native Denmark at the Euros in 2021.
      He was also commentating at St James Park when a Newcastle fan suffered a suspected cardiac arrest in the stands that October.
      David said: “Those two incidents brought back bad memories, obviously. The good thing was that the medical staff reacted very quickly so they could do the right thing at the right time.
      “And that’s why it’s so important to learn CPR and how to recognise a heart issue.
      “We need to educate people and at least one person in every ­family should know basic first aid.
      “You will probably never have to use it, but the ­knowledge will allow you to react if something happens at home or at work.”
      David suffered depression after his near-death experience as he questioned his life and why he had been brought back.
      He reflects: “Life goes on and time is a healer. I have a new girlfriend for seven years now and a baby who is going to turn five in ten days’ time.
      “Life continues and you have to go along with it.
      “On the other hand, I still sometimes look at the scar on my chest and it reminds me, I was a lucky guy. I think there must be someone up there that pushed me to stay, but I don’t know why. I still have so many questions I cannot answer.
      “When I introduce Maeva to people, I say, ‘This is my girlfriend and we met the day I died.’
      “You could make a movie script out of our relationship because it’s hard to believe but this could happen to anyone. I’m proof that it does.”

      David is backing the British Heart Foundation’s Heart Month and its partnership with Omaze, which is offering the chance to win a stunning £3million house in North London.
      The draw will help raise funds for BHF’s research into heart diseases.
      Find out more at omaze.co.uk.
      For more information about Heart Month, visit bhf.org.uk/heart-month-2023.

      What are the symptoms?
      A CARDIAC arrest is an emergency that usually happens without warning.
      If someone is in cardiac arrest, they collapse suddenly and will be unconscious, unresponsive, not breathing or not breathing normally – this may also mean they are making gasping noises.
      CPR – Call, Push, Rescue
      Without immediate treatment, the person will die.
      If you see someone having a cardiac arrest, phone 999 and start CPR.
       Q) WHAT causes a cardiac arrest?
      A cardiac arrest is caused by a dangerous abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), cardiomyopathies (disease of the heart muscle), inherited heart conditions, heart valve disease, myocarditis, a heart attack, a severe haemorrhage, a severe drop in oxygen levels, electrocution or a drug overdose.
      Q) WHAT’S the difference between a cardiac arrest and a heart attack?
      A heart attack happens when the blood supply to the heart muscle is cut off. This is often caused by a clot in a coronary artery.
      A heart attack can lead to a cardiac arrest. It is important to get medical attention immediately by calling 999 for an ambulance if you have heart attack symptoms.
      Read More on The Sun
      Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, says: “Every second counts when someone has a cardiac arrest, and knowing CPR could be the difference between life and death.
      “It only takes 15 minutes to learn with our free RevivR training tool – that’s a coffee break, half-time in the football or the time you might spend scrolling through social media. It could be the most important lesson you ever learn.”
      The Sun’s Save A Life In 15 Minutes campaign More

    • 263 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Inside gilded life of Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim ahead of ‘£4bn Man United bid’ – £276bn fortune to THREE wives and supercars

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      WHEN it comes to the world’s richest dynasties, few can compare to the wealth of the Qatar royal family. Thanks to their staggering £276billion net worth they live a life of luxury filled with yachts, supercars… and football.
      The Emir, who masterminded last year’s World Cup, is the head of the Qatari royal familyCredit: Getty
      The ruler hopes to purchase Manchester United, according to reportsCredit: AP:Associated Press
      This week it was reported the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani is set to put in a £4billion bid for Manchester United.
      According to reports, the 42-year-old ruler believes the English Premier League club is not worth more than £4.5billion, and is expected to submit his bid before Friday’s deadline.
      Sheikh Tamin, who masterminded Qatar’s World Cup bid and famously draped a traditional Arab men’s cloak around Argentine winner Lionel Messi’s shoulders during the trophy presentation, has been head of state since 2013.
      He has established himself as a shrewd businessman – and already owns French side Paris Saint-Germain.
      MORE ON ROYAL FAMILIES
      Worth a whopping £1.4billion individually, Sheikh Tamin – who has three wives – and his family are known to enjoy a taste of the finer things in life. Here we delve into his opulent lifestyle.
      Vast wealth
      Named the most influential Muslim in the world last year by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, Sheikh Tamim came into power when his father abdicated and his older brother renounced his rights to the throne.
      He owns a string of properties – including Dudley House, once one of Britain’s most expensive mansions.
      Sheikh Tamin met the Queen at Windsor CastleCredit: Getty
      He owns Dudley House, once one of Britain’s most expensive homes
      The sheikh owns two homes on the exclusive Cornwall TerraceCredit: SWNS.com
      The home, now nicknamed Sheikh Shack, is on London’s Park Lane and is said to be worth a mind-blowing £200million.
      Most read in Football
      It took him six years to refurbish the 44,000-square-foot, 17-bedroom home, which boasts a 50ft ballroom, an 81ft long picture gallery, £100million worth of furniture and breathtaking views of Hyde Park.
      When he hosted Queen Elizabeth II there, she was so impressed she reportedly told Sheikh Tamim: “This place makes Buckingham Palace look rather dull.”
      The Emir also owns two homes on London’s Cornwall Terrace – the most expensive row of houses in the world.
      His main residence is the Emiri Diwan Palace, a sprawling complex located in the country’s capital city, Doha, built to reflect the state’s power and wealth.
      The Qatari royals travel in style and have owned multiple private jets – including a £165,000 aircraft dubbed a “flying palace”.
      The royal family has owned a number of private jetsCredit: controller
      The ruler owns a limited edition LaFerrari which cost £888,000Credit: Getty
      He also has an extravagant superyacht which comes with a guest elevator and private cinemaCredit: Getty
      The ruler’s official residence in Doha, Qatar’s capitalCredit: Alamy
      It came equipped with a huge dining table, luxurious remote-controlled beds and gold fittings and fixtures.
      Sheikh Tamim is also renowned for his fleet of luxury cars, and is proud owner of a limited edition red LaFerrari.
      Italian luxury car makers Ferrari only produced 499 and slapped an eye-watering £888,000 price tag on it.
      Sheikh Tamim also owns the luxurious Al Lusail superyacht, said to be worth £400million. It boasts an onboard beauty salon, guest elevator and private cinema.
      He instructed designers to build it a foot shorter than his father’s own superyacht, The Katara, as a mark of respect.
      Three wives
      Sheikh Tamim’s first wife Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, seen with him at Buckingham PalaceCredit: Alamy
      Sheikh Tamim’s first wife is also his second cousin. She accompanies him on key international visits (pictured with the King and Queen of Spain)Credit: Getty
      The ruler and his son Hamad with French President Emmanuel Macron in ParisCredit: Getty
      In accordance with traditional Sunni and Shia Islamic laws, Muslim men are permitted to marry multiple women.
      Dad-of-13 Sheikh Tamim has three wives – his first, Sheikha Jawaher, who he married in 2005, serves as his First Lady and accompanies him on official trips including to the Queen’s funeral last year.
      The couple are second cousins and share four children – two daughters and two sons.
      Sheikha Jawaher’s father was once a powerful government official and has served as a deputy foreign minister and minister of Public Health.
      Sheikh Tamim married his second wife, Sheikha Al-Anoud bint Mana Al Hajri, with whom he shares five kids, in 2009 – she was the daughter of Qatar’s ambassador to Jordan.
      A year after he took over as ruler in 2013, it was announced that he had married his third wife, Sheikha Noora bint Hathal Al Dosari, who he shares four children with.
      Investments
      The sheik has investments in some of the most iconic properties including New York’s Empire State BuildingCredit: Getty
      The Qatari royal family hold investments in some of the world’s most iconic properties including London’s The Shard, Harrods department store, Canary Wharf and New York’s Empire State Building.
      They also own shares in Barclays Bank, British Airways, Volkswagen, Porsche and Louis Vuitton.
      Their investments in the UK alone come to a whopping £40billion.
      Read More on The Sun
      Among his lucrative ventures, Sheikh Tamim is the current owner of Paris Saint Germain, having ploughed £1.5billion into the club.
      If his deal with Manchester United is confirmed, he will own two of the biggest clubs in football.
      The ruler is a keen football fan and plans to own both Paris Saint Germain and Manchester UnitedCredit: instagram More

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      Inside Wrexham revolution where footie fans buy beer by suitcase load and bucket hats sell out – thanks to Ryan Reynolds

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      DRIVING into football’s unlikely new hotbed, you are greeted with 3ft-high letters on a pub roof reminiscent of the famous Hollywood sign – but this time reading “Wrexham”.The grey skies above the Grey-hound Inn and the bitter wind blowing off the Welsh mountains, however, are hardly Californian.
      Wrexham beat  Coventry 4-3 in previous round of FA CupCredit: Getty
      Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds’ reaction as he celebrates the equalising goal against Sheffield UnitedCredit: Rex
      The Grey-hound Inn is hardly Californian but Reynolds has helped transform the fortunes of this North Wales former coal and steel cityCredit: .
      Even so, celebrity glitter has helped transform the fortunes of this North Wales former coal and steel city that’s had its fair share of hardship.
      The dozens queuing for FA Cup tickets in Wrexham AFC’s car park are quick to credit American actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney — who bought the club in 2021 — for the transformation.
      Ryan, best known for his starring role in the Deadpool films, was at the club last week with daughter James, eight, to watch his non-league side’s dramatic FA Cup clash against Sheffield United.
      And it seems the club have had a similarly transformative effect on the Hollywood star.
      READ MORE ON Wrexham
      He was pictured celebrating with fans as Wrexham looked to have pulled off a shock win against a team who sit second in the Championship, three leagues above them.
      It was not to be as a last-second equaliser saw the game end 3-3, prompting Ryan to later tweet it was “one of the most exciting things I’ve ever seen”.
      His wife Blake Lively, who stars in Gossip Girl, posted a snap of Ryan with his head in his hands and added: “I bought ESPN+ today. Just to watch my husband experience crippling anxiety live. Worth it.”
      ‘On the up’
      Talking to me outside the ground, fan Les Buxton, 66, a retired Royal Navy submariner, said: “When I heard two Hollywood stars were taking over the club I thought it was pie in the sky.
      Most read in Football
      “The club was on its knees but they’ve come in and they’ve turned the place around. I sit below Rob and Ryan in the stands and can see what this club means to them.
      “They’ve taken the town to their hearts, as well as the football club.”
      Wrexham, with a population of around 62,000, was once a heavy industry powerhouse. Its coalfield boasted 38 pits and employed 18,000 people at its peak.
      Fans queue for tickets for the next game in the FA Cup against Sheffield United at Wrexham Football clubCredit: .
      Mark, pictured, and Vaughan Roberts, managing directors of brewery Wrexham Lager, say sales of their beer have risen ‘exponentially’Credit: .
      In 1864 a football club was formed, making it the third oldest professional side in the world, and it was soon a cornerstone of the working-class city.
      A stalwart of lower-division football, its league high watermark was 15th in the old Second Division (now the Championship) in 1979.
      As Welsh Cup winners, there were European competition nights, with celebrated victories at its atmospheric Racecourse Ground against Antwerp and Porto.
      The last local coal mine, Bersham, closed in 1986 with the loss of 700 jobs. And the city and its proud football club went into decline.
      Retired building manager Graham Roberts, 74, who watched his first Dragons game 60 years ago, told me: “My father was a steel worker and my grandfather a miner.
      “Every family had someone that was a miner. When the pits closed, the town struggled, and so did the football club.”
      In 2004 the club went into administration with massive debts and was given notice to quit the Racecourse Ground by its former owner so it could be sold as a retail site.
      In 2008, after 87 years, the club was relegated from the Football League, with its Kop stand dilapidated.
      It had hit rock bottom, then stayed there. It would take a fan buy-out to save it from going under.
      Then came a twist that could have been written in Hollywood. And in a way, it was.
      Actors Ryan and Rob, who stars in US sitcom It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, bought the club, injecting glamour and £2million.
      Their ownership saga was filmed for documentary series Welcome To Wrexham — screened on Disney+ — which turned the Dragons into one of the best-known clubs in the world.
      At the Chevron Clothing shop in the High Street, manager Jamie Powis said: ‘Since Rob and Ryan came in it’s gone through the roof for us’Credit: .
      Ex-steel worker Alan Hughes, 61, said of the new owners: ‘I think they genuinely love the club and the city’Credit: .
      Kit sponsor Ifor Williams Trailers, based nearby, was joined by multinational heavyweights TikTok and Expedia as backers.
      Fans from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the US have flocked to the city, giving a boost to local commerce and business.
      In December Ryan and Rob met the King and Queen at the Racecourse Ground after visiting Wrexham to celebrate it gaining city status.
      At her constituency office, local MP Sarah Atherton told me: “Wrexham is on the up and football has been a catalyst. The global reach of Disney has helped. It’s fantastic, there’s a real buzz around the town.”
      THEIR HONOURS

      1977/78: Third Division champions
      1976: European Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finalists
      1974, 1978, 1997: FA Cup quarter-finalists
      1961, 1978: League Cup quarter-finalists
      2005: Football League Trophy
      2013: FA Trophy
      Welsh Cup: Won 23 times
      Welsh Premier Cup: Won 5 times

      A giant industrial estate on the edge of Wrexham — soon to be Europe’s biggest — announced a further 56-acre development last month, citing the “feelgood factor” engendered by the football club.
      Tim Knowles, managing director of FI Real Estate Management, which has invested more than £136million at the site, said of the Hollywood connection: “It’s supercharged Wrexham.
      “It’s so exciting. Wrexham is a great place and we know we can attract major tenants which will create more jobs.”
      At the Chevron Clothing shop in the High Street, manager Jamie Powis said: “Since Rob and Ryan came in it’s gone through the roof for us.
      “Our themed bucket hats have completely sold out and we’ve been selling T-shirts to America.”
      ‘Down-to-earth guys’
      Jamie, 49, who sells hoodies emblazoned with Ryan’s face for £45, added: “We had a couple over from Texas last week to see the game but it was sold out.
      Local MP Sarah Atherton revealed: ‘Wrexham is on the up and football has been a catalyst. The global reach of Disney has helped’Credit: .
      Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the club in 2021 for the transformationCredit: PA
      “They ended up watching it in a pub by the ground instead.”
      At the Cross Foxes pub nearby, landlady Joanne Mee said Ryan has popped in for a game of darts.
      She told me: “We just let him get on with it. He was playing darts with a friend.
      “Since Rob and Ryan took over we’ve had a massive improvement in sales and foot traffic. I think the documentary has boosted tourism.
      “We get lots of Americans coming in, drinking shots and pints.
      “The atmosphere on match day is fantastic.”
      Just up the road, Ahmet Karakaya and Zico Yunus run the Central Kebab And Pizza House, and say match days are “crazy”.
      Ahmet, originally from Turkey, said: “Before the football and after the football the fans love a kebab.
      “It’s the busiest I’ve known in my five years working here. Wrexham is booming.”
      Locals say the Hollywood pair are approachable and genuine, giving cash to a number of good causes.
      In August 2021 they donated £20,000 for four-year-old Aria Hodgkiss to have treatment for a rare brain cancer.
      Last month Ryan gave £1,600 to local indoor football team FC United of Wrexham’s under-12 boys’ side to pay for new kit.
      Mark and Vaughan Roberts, managing directors of brewery Wrexham Lager, say sales of their beer have risen “exponentially”, spurred on by the city’s Hollywood connection.
      With a picture of their great-grandfather, Wrexham and Wales footballer Jack Jones staring down from their city-centre office wall, Mark, 62, says that the celebrity pair have “brought a new lease of life to the city”.
      He adds: “We get tourists from all over because of the documentary series. The furthest was from New Zealand.
      “They take beer home in their suitcases and some of our branded merchandise.”
      Wrexham Lager’s Pride Of The Celts was first brewed in 1882, making it Britain’s oldest.
      It was served on the Titanic — prompting Mark’s joke, “It went down well”. The firm now sponsors a stand at the Racecourse Ground.
      Actor Rob has visited the brewery and Mark’s brother Vaughan, 59, said: “The club was kept alive by the fans and attendance was down to around 4,000 diehards.
      “What Ryan and Rob have done for the city is amazing but they’re just normal, down-to-earth guys. I’ve never heard a bad word said about them.”
      The celebrity pair have clearly won over the city but they have found escaping the National League — England’s fifth tier — tough.
      There’s just one automatic promotion place and last season Wrexham lost to Grimsby in a play-off semi-final.
      Tomorrow evening the Dragons, who beat Coventry in the previous round of the FA Cup, head to Bramall Lane for their replay against Sheffield United.
      In the queue for tickets, the hum of mechanical diggers can be heard as work continues for a new 5,500-capacity Kop stand.
      It’s heady days for the fans. But after so much heartache in previous years, are they worried the Hollywood duo will quit if ratings slump?
      Ex-steel worker Alan Hughes, 61, said: “If they left we would be on a sound footing but I don’t think they will. I think they genuinely love the club and the city.”
      Rob has said that he and Ryan are “in this for the rest of our lives”, while Ryan said recently: “It has been the greatest experience of my entire life.
      “I love it because it’s a project that’s going to be multi-decades. The part I find most gratifying is the support from the community outside the club.”
      Also queuing for his cup ticket, technician John Michael, 49, said: “The club has been totally reborn.
      “Ryan and Rob have brought jobs to the town and got the whole place buzzing.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Kids are now proudly walking around the city in their Wrexham strips, even if their parents support Liverpool or Manchester United.
      “Ryan and Rob have really changed people’s lives. How could you walk away from that?”
      WHY DID ACTORS BUY IT?
      WREXHAM fans can thank Netflix – not Disney – for their Hollywood takeover.
      Rob, 45, got the idea to buy a team while watching the platform’s documentary Sunderland ’Til I Die.
      He needed a wealthy entrepreneur to join him and Deadpool actor Ryan said yes even though the two men had never met.
      They were just text friends before becoming business partners. The pair made a list of clubs they might be able to afford and in November 2020 chose Wrexham because of its 158-year history.
      Ryan, 46, said “the thing that really hooked me” was “getting involved in the community around that club and growing that”.
      Another key factor was British actor Humphrey Ker, 40, who got Rob into football while working with him on It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.
      He is now executive director at Wrexham, helping to oversee the day-to-day running of the club. More

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      From an ex-teacher whose man signed for £106m to celebrity ace’s model girlfriend – the glam WAGS of the transfer window

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      FROM a Polish twerking champion to a Portuguese soap star, meet the Wags who will be adding an extra dash of glamour to the Premier League.With the World Cup interrupting the football season, the January transfer window was busier than usual – and will see a host of new faces hit our shores.
      The transfer window has given us some glamorous new Wags such as Margarida CorceiroCredit: magui_corceiro/instagram
      A football insider said: “A lot of talent has been arriving in the Premier League – both on and off the field.”
      Here, Michael Hamilton and Grace Macaskill meet the stunning women who will be cheering their partners on from the stands.
      Angelina Zabarnyi & Illia Zabarnyi
      Angelina Zabarnyi is studying philosophy at Kyiv UniversityCredit: https://www.instagram.com/angelinarr_/?hl=en
      BRAINY Angelina is the partner of Illia, 20, one of the Ukraine national team’s youngest players, who is headed to Bournemouth.
      Angelina is studying philosophy at Kyiv University but also runs her own business helping people grow their social media profile.
      read more on wags
      Illia Zabarnyi, from Ukraine, is headed to BournemouthCredit: Getty
      She is fiercely proud of her country’s fight against Russia, stating “Glory to Ukraine” on her Instagram bio.
      The couple have been dating for three years and got engaged last year.
      Fanny Neguesha & Mario Lemina
      Fanny Neguesha used to date Man City bad boy Mario BalotelliCredit: BackGrid
      WOLVES moved quickly to snap up ex-Southampton and midfielder Mario, 29, from Nice in France for an undisclosed fee.
      And his model partner, Fanny, 32, will be familiar to footie fans – she used to date Man City bad boy Mario Balotelli.
      Most read in Football
      Fanny is now dating Mario Lemina who has been snapped up by WolvesCredit: Getty
      The couple, who have been together since 2017, have a son and a daughter, who feature in their glamorous social media snaps.
      Fanny previously attempted a music career, releasing pop singles in 2016.
      Margarida Corceiro & Joao Felix
      Margarida Corceiro has appeared on Portugal’s version of Strictly Come DancingCredit: magui_corceiro/instagram
      A SOAP star in her native Portugal, Margarida, 20, has also appeared on her country’s version of Strictly Come Dancing.
      She has been dating Felix, 23, who signed on loan to Chelsea from Spain’s Atletico Madrid, since 2019 after the pair met on social media.
      Joao Felix has signed on loan to Chelsea from Spain’s Atletico MadridCredit: Getty
      Mia Regan & Romeo Beckham
      Mia Regan is a model, working with brands including Balmain, Gucci and VogueCredit: The Mega Agency
      SON of former England captain David, 20-year-old Romeo joined Brentford on loan from Inter Miami as he bids to follow in his famous dad’s footsteps.
      His girlfriend Mia, 20, from Chippenham, near Bath, has her own flourishing career as a model, working with brands including Balmain, Gucci and Vogue.
      Romeo Beckham has joined Brentford on loan from Inter MiamiCredit: Getty
      Valentina Cervantes & Enzo Fernandez
      Valentina Cervantes is a former English teacher
      ARGENTINIAN Enzo, 22, became the Premier League’s most expensive signing ever when he transferred to Chelsea from Portugal’s Benfica for £106million.
      He will be joined in West London by girlfriend Valentina, 22, who gave up her career as an English teacher to travel the world with him.
      Enzo Fernandez became the Premier League’s most expensive signing ever when he transferred to Chelsea from Portugal’s Benfica for £106millionCredit: Getty
      The couple began dating in 2019 and had daughter Olivia the next year.
      Claudia Kowalczyk & Jakub Kiwior
      Claudia Kowalczyk won the Queen of Twerking competition in Germany in 2017Credit: Instagram / @claudia.redheaded_babe
      STUNNING Claudia, who is reportedly engaged to Arsenal’s new Polish defender Jakub, 22, won the Queen of Twerking competition in Germany in 2017.
      The 30-year-old Pole also leads dance workshops around the world – as well as posting raunchy snaps and videos on Instagram.
      Jakub Kiwior, from Poland, has signed to ArsenalCredit: Getty
      Noa Van Der Bij & Cody Gakpo
      Noa Van Der Bij is a model who also works as a booker for agency Cachet ModelsCredit: @noavdbij
      DUTCH model Noa has seen her Instagram followers more than double, from 17,000 to 35,000, since hotshot Cody, 23, joined Liverpool from Netherlands outfit PSV Eindhoven at the beginning of January.
      Noa, 23, also works as a booker for agency Cachet Models.
      Cody Gakpo joined Liverpool from Netherlands outfit PSV EindhovenCredit: Getty
      Katja Kuhne & Marcel Sabitzer
      Katja Kuhne rose to fame in the German version of reality show The BachelorCredit: Refer to Caption
      LEGGY Katja rose to fame in the German version of reality show The Bachelor.
      At 37, Ukrainian Katja is nine years older than Austrian Marcel, 28, who joined Manchester United on loan from Germany’s Bayern Munich.
      Read More on The Sun
      The couple have daughter Mary Lou, born in 2019.
      Katja, who was born in Kherson, is raising funds for her country following Russia’s invasion.
      Marcel Sabitzer joined Manchester United on loan from Germany’s Bayern MunichCredit: Getty More

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      How Wrexham owner Ryan Reynolds spends his $150m fortune – from fleet of supercars to wife’s $2m engagement ring

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      IN his 32-year career as one of Hollywood’s best-loved heartthrobs, Ryan Reynolds has made an enviable fortune for himself. The Deadpool star, 46, is now worth an estimated $150million and although he lives a relatively low-key lifestyle, he has no problem splashing the cash.
      Ryan Reynolds and Blake lively are one of the most glamorous couples in showbizCredit: Getty
      Ryan’s most famous purchase came in 2021 when – alongside fellow actor Rob McElhenney – he bought non-league football club Wrexham for $2.5million.
      And the actor delighted fans as he appeared on TV to hand Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Mark Hughes a shirt as his side drew 3-3 in the FA Cup over the weekend.
      From luxury cars to expensive jewellery and private jets to business ventures, Ryan lives the life of a true Hollywood A-Lister alongside his wife Blake Lively, 35.
      Here, we look at the incredible life of one of the most influential power couples in the entertainment industry.
      MORE IN SHOWBIZ
      Luxury cars
      The couple in their LamborghiniCredit: PacificCoastNews
      Ryan is known for his love of superbikesCredit: Bruja/Jeff Steinberg, PacificCoastNews.com
      Ryan is known for his love of supercars and has an impressive collection.
      It’s been reported that he and Blake own over 20 vehicles including a Lamborghini Aventador – the 2022 edition of the car has a starting price of $507,353.
      Among his other luxury rides are a Cadillac Escalade, Mercedes-Benz 190 SL, and an Audi R8.
      Ryan has been described as an adrenaline junkie and is an avid fan of motorbikes.
      Most read in Football
      He is said to be the proud owner of a Ducati SC1000, which he’s customised with a leather seat and a heat wrap, and a Triumph Bonneville.
      The star is also fond of cheaper cars such as the Toyota Prius and BMW 7 Series.
      Designer life
      They are known for their impeccable style and love for designer brandsCredit: Getty
      Ryan and Blake are red carpet darlings and are often seen showing off their incredible style.
      It’s been reported that she doesn’t even need a stylist and often picks out and coordinates her outfits herself, unlike many of her peers.
      She once explained this in an interview: “Probably because I have control issues and a big ego – that’s probably the honest answer.”
      Blake’s closet consists of clothes from expensive designers such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dolce and Gabbana.
      In 2021, fans were able to get a rare glimpse of her wardrobe, which included bags gifted to her by designers and a mind-blowing collection of shoes.
      This includes 21 pairs of Louboutin heels – which can cost up to $3,462 for a single pair.
      According to reports, Blake once brought 40 pairs of the red-bottomed shoes to the set of one of her movies.
      Bling couple
      Blake’s ring cost nearly £1.7millionCredit: Getty
      Ryan is said to have asked Blake to marry him with a bespoke 12 carat rose gold ring that cost nearly $2million, making it one of the most expensive celebrity engagement rings.
      Ryan worked on the ring with iconic jeweller and Blake’s friend Lorraine Schwartz.
      But that’s not all – Blake is known for her love of all things that sparkle and reportedly showed off a whopping $10million worth of jewellery in one week.
      For her look on the 2018 Met Gala red carpet, she adorned herself with jewellery that cost $2million.
      She’s not the only one in the family who’s fond of the flashier things in life, however.
      Ryan, who was once an ambassador for the Swiss luxury watch brand Piaget, has been seen rocking some expensive timepieces.
      His remarkable collection is said to include classics by Cartier, Panerai, Chopard, and Omega.
      Sprawling property
      The couple tied the knot at Boone Hall PlantationCredit: Boone Hall Plantation
      Ryan has an enviable property portfolio, thanks to his illustrious career, where he’s once said to have charged over $20million for a movie.
      The couple’s breathtaking farmhouse on the outskirts of New York, which sits on 500,000 square foot of land, is said to have set them back over nearly $5.7million.
      They secretly bought the house in 2012 before the birth of their first child.
      Fans have only managed to get glimpses of the interior of the property they share with kids Inez, Betty, and Jame through Instagram posts and interviews granted by Ryan during the Covid outbreak.
      The interior has a rustic vibe with a wooden dining table, beige leather sofas, and a washed wood beam.
      Although the home is magnificent, it is also discreet with neighbours including businesswoman Martha Stewart and designer Ralph Lauren.
      The couple secretly tied the knot in September 2012 at the lavish Boone Hall Plantation, which has been featured in movies such as The Notebook.
      Business ventures and jet setting
      Ryan is the co-owner of Wrexham A.F.C.Credit: instagram/vancityreynolds
      Over the years, Ryan has invested in a number of businesses – some of those took fans and even his wife by surprise.
      He is a co-owner of Welsh football club Wrexham A.FC., the third oldest professional football team in the world, which he bought at $2.5million.
      Blake had no idea that her husband was planning a takeover of the club and was initially not impressed with the purchase.
      When asked in an interview with Jimmy Kimmel about her reaction, Ryan said: “Not good. Not great. We’re still working through that one.”
      Read More on The Sun
      Ryan has also taken on business ventures such as Aviation Gin and Mint Mobile.
      The pair are also known for their extensive work with charities – they donated over $500,000 to a Canadian water charity and matched donations of up to $1million for families displayed by Putin’s war in Ukraine. More

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      Inside Shakira’s mad war with Pique’s parents – ‘building wall’ to keep out mother-in-law to dig over ‘terrible’ hairdo

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      THEY once heaped praise on each other with Shakira affectionately referring to Montserrat Bernabéu as “my little mother-in-law.”But now the fur is flying, following the She-Wolf singer’s split from Gerard Pique, after 12 years together.
      Shakira with Gerard, his brother Marc (left) and parents Joan Pique and Montserrat Bernabeu, in 2013Credit: Alamy
      The witch doll appeared on the singer’s balcony, overlooking her in-laws homeCredit: Splash
      Shakira, who lives next door to her ex’s parents in a gated community in Barcelona, took a swipe at Montserrat, 60, in the diss track she released last week – then played the song at full volume so her in-laws could hear.
      She added insult to injury by placing a mannequin of a witch on a balcony overlooking their house.
      Now it’s reported the Hips Don’t Lie star is building a wall between the two properties, which are joined in some areas, after a cement mixer was seen in the grounds.    
      The 45-year-old Colombian is said to be furious with Gerard’s parents after they welcomed his new lover, 23-year-old Clara Chia Marti, with open arms.
      Read More in Features
      The split last summer has led to a bitter war of words between Shakira and Gerard – who share sons Milan, nine, and Sasha, seven. 
      Now the brutal tit for tat has spilled over to the rest of the family, with dad Joan Pique also getting involved.
      Gerard Pique and Shakira were a couple for 12 yearsCredit: Getty
      The split happened after Gerard met Clara Chia Marti, then 22Credit: BackGrid
      Mansions with connecting grounds
      It’s a toxic turn of events for the family, who claimed to be close during the couple’s 12-year-romance – which began on the set of the video for Shakira’s 2010 World Cup anthem, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).”  
      In 2015, after the birth of second son Sasha, the couple splashed out £4.9million on a mansion in Ciutat Diagonal, one of the most exclusive gated communities in Spain, just half an hour from the centre of Barcelona. 
      Most read in Football
      The stunning mansion, with sea views, is spread over 1,500 square feet, and boasts seven bedrooms, two kitchens, a swimming pool with a waterfall, a gym, games room and private cinema.
      Wanting to be close to their grandchildren, Montserrat, an eminent neurologist, and her lawyer husband moved into the property next door.
      At the time, relations were good and Shakira spent a lot of time with Montserrat, attending various events together and posting family snaps on social media.
      The £4.9m house is next door to Pique’s parentsCredit: Solarpix
      The palatial mansion boasts a gym, cinema room and games roomCredit: Instagram/shakira
      Close relationship
      As well as helping care for the two boys, Pique’s parents looked after the house when they were away, and were sleeping upstairs in 2018 when it was burgled, with raiders stealing expensive watches and jewellery worth thousands of pounds.
      In an interview with Vogue, Montserrat described Shakira as “a spectacular person, a simple woman with great values who also happens to be the second most important woman in showbusiness. I find her a fascinating person.”
      The pair still seemed to be close shortly before the shock split, in June 2021, when the singer gently mocked her partner’s mum for advising her to get her famous locks cut into a sleek bob, debuted at a ceremony in her honour thrown by the  French Ministry of Culture in 2012. 
      In a Vogue video, which has gone viral since the row flared up, she says: “Oh wow, how terrible, that’s a really bad haircut. 
      “I took advice from my mother-in-law. She said ‘Hey, why don’t you cut your hair? It’s really damaged.’ And me: ‘Ah, uh-huh,’”
      “Worst mistake of my life. Mother-in-law, I’m not taking cosmetic advice from you again.” 
      Shakira with Milan and Montserrat at a La Liga gameCredit: Getty
      She blamed her mother-in-law for the ‘terrible’ bobCredit: Getty
      Shock split
      Given their previously close relationship, Shakira may have expected her in-laws to condemn their son’s romance with Clara – which reportedly began months before the 2022 split.
      Rumours the former Barcelona star was having an affair emerged in June and days later, the couple shocked fans when they released a joint statement announcing their separation, adding: “For the well-being of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect our privacy. Thank you for your understanding.”
      Spanish outlet El Periodico reported that they had been living separately for a few weeks, after Shakira kicked him out of the family home.
      Three months later, she was furious when he went public with new girlfriend Clara, then 22, and she was hurt and infuriated to discover Gerard’s parents actively supported his “romance” from the beginning.
      The couple made frequent visits to his parents’ home, in full view of the scorned singer, and invited the PR student to use their swimming pool.
      Earlier this month, Shakira was said to be “devastated” after footage of a zoom interview from August 2021, seemed to show Clara in the background of the family home – ten months before the couple announced their separation – while Shakira was reportedly abroad with the boys.
      She also revealed she turned sleuth on her cheating ex after discovering a jar of strawberry jam – which he hated – had been opened, suggesting he had been entertaining a ‘guest’ while she was away. 
      Images of Clara at the couple’s house before the split emerged recentlyCredit: YouTube/Ibai
      The singer was close to MontserratCredit: Instagram
      Diss track
      The star’s bitter new diss track – BZRP Music Sessions #53 – takes a swipe at both Gerard and Clara, referring to the women’s respective ages with the lyric: “I’m worth two 22s. You traded a Ferrari for a Twingo, you traded a Rolex for a Casio.”
      But she also gets in a dig at Montserrat, spitting: “You left me the mother-in-law as a neighbour.”
      As the feud escalated, Shakira played the tracks at full volume, on repeat, so her in-laws could hear. 
      In a bizarre move, she also placed a life-size mannequin, dressed as a witch on  a broomstick, on the balcony of her house, overlooking her in-laws’ home.
      Journalist Marc Leirado said the mannequin, with long grey hair and a witch’s hat, had spooked Montserrat.
      “Weeks ago, I got some information that Pique’s mother was worried about an alleged ritual that was done to her with a black witch,” he wrote.
      The star recorded a diss track with pal BizarrapCredit: DALE PLAY RECORDS
      The witch overlooking the Piques’ homeCredit: Splash
      He says Pique’s mum had asked a member of Shakira’s staff to remove it and it was temporarily taken down before being replaced.
      It seems she is now attempting to distance herself from the Pique family further, by building a wall around the mansion, which is soon to go up for sale as part of the split settlement.
      While Montserrat remains tight-lipped about the barbs from Shakira, she removed a ‘like’ she had given to the post of Shakira’s new song.
      Joan Pique responded with a humorous swipe of his own – changing his WhatsApp profile to a picture of Kevin Costner from Dancing With Wolves, an obvious reference to the She-Wolf tag.
      Gerard has also hit back with his own mocking stunts – turning up to work at his seven-a-side league office in a Twingo and gloating that he has secured sponsorship from Casio, in a direct reference to Shakira’s lyrics.
      In a video posted online, he told fans: “The King’s League struck a deal with Casio” as his former team-mate and ex-Man City star Sergio Aguero is seen chanting “Casio” on the video wall behind him. 
      Pique then points to a new timepiece and says “this watch will last a lifetime” before handing everybody on the set a watch.
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      With the house about to be put up for sale, Shakira is planning a move to Miami with the boys but her 91-year-old dad, who has lived with her since being hospitalised after a fall last year, is not currently well enough.
      So it seems for now, the singer is stuck with the neighbours – no matter how much she hates them. 
      Gerard Pique taunts his ex with a Casio More