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      Inside Pep Guardiola’s £100m empire as Man City boss splits from wife – from £2.7m pad to ‘wrecked’ £460k car collection

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      FOOTBALL boss Pep Guardiola is used to dominating the football world, guiding Manchester City to trophy after trophy.But sadly, things off the pitch are not going so smoothly, following his reported split from wife Cristina Serra, who he has been with for more than 30 years.Pep’s wife Cristina has been at his side throughout his football careerCredit: GettyThe couple and their children have enjoyed lavish holidays over the yearsPep announced a sponsorship deal with Puma which is likely to have landed him a seven-figure pay dayCredit: PA:Press AssociationPep owns multiple luxury properties, has had numerous brand sponsorship deals and earns an eye-watering £19.7million a year from the Blues.But it remains to be seen how the couple, who wed in 2014, might split his fortune if they divorce, amid reports from Spain that they are still “cordial, stable and friendly”.It has been reported by Barcelona-based newspaper Sport that the pair came to a decision to separate in December while they were together in Pep’s homeland.Manchester City declined to comment about the split rumours.READ MORE CELEB FEATURESPep is said to have met his wife when he was just 18 years old, while Cristina was 16 and working in her family’s clothes store called Serra Claret.Both certainly have a good eye for the finer things in life, with Pep admitting it is his wife who often picks his pricey match-day outfits.Here we look at Guardiola’s gigantic £100million fortune, which includes a restaurant, luxury cars and a designer wardrobe that rivals most models.Stylish footballPep started off his career playing for Barcelona from the age of just 17, eventually debuting for their first team in 1990.Most read in FootballIt didn’t take long for him to be snapped up by fashion designers and by 18 he was modelling for designer Antonio Miro – which led to him meeting his wife.It was reported that every item from the Catalonian designer sold out just a few days after the event. Pep Guardiola reveals Kyle Walker has asked to LEAVE Man City with England defender set or £400K-A-WEEK Saudi transferPep has guided Manchester City to huge successCredit: PAHe’s credited his wife with his style choices, which have always drawn attentionCredit: GettyIt is, perhaps, unsurprising that Pep has become known for his style at the Etihad Stadium, often sporting turtle-necks and branded jumpers instead of always going for stuffy suits. Among his outfits is his signature grey ‘hoodigan’, which was made by Theresa May’s favourite Italian designer Herno and reportedly costs £1,200.But’s he not always the one behind these iconic outfits.He said: “My wife is the best in the world at many things, but especially in fashion. So she says normally to me, don’t wear this or wear that, so I follow her.“I am smart enough to know that when people are much, much better than me, follow their advice, and hers is really good.”After retiring from his playing career, Pep made his name as a superstar manager at Barcelona and Bayern Munich before signing in 2016 for Manchester City, netting himself a mega pay-day.While at Bayern Munich, he was reported to be bringing in £15million per year, netting him a cool £45million for the three years at the Bundesliga club.Pep is currently paid £19.7million a year, in a newly-extended deal that expires in 2026.Pulling powerHe collaborated with Nissan… despite having dented many of his own carsCredit: NissanPep was an ambassador for the Qatar World CupCredit: AFPPep reportedly started on £12million back in 2016, and has topped his income up on the side with some smart sponsorship deals.His most eye-popping brand partnership is with Puma, who are also the kit sponsor for Manchester City, in a deal worth £650million.Guardiola is thought to have netted seven figures for the personal collaboration.Previous brand deals have included Nissan, clothing brand Gore-Tex and – more controversially – being an ambassador for the Qatar World Cup in 2022.Home gameHe lives in a £2.7million pad in Manchester, which is also part of a hotelCredit: MENThrough the flat he has access to an 18m poolCredit: instagramSince moving to Manchester back in 2016, Pep has made the city a home and splashed out on a truly lavish flat.He spent £2.7million on the luxury home in City Suites, which is said to be in the “most desirable address” in Salford.It isn’t hard for him to embrace his passion for fashion as it’s next to designer shops as well as high-end restaurants and wine bars. The unusual residence – considering most footballers in the area opt for a sprawling mansion in leafy Cheshire – is in a private section of a 16-floor hotel.The property gives Pep access to an 18-metre indoor pool, an exquisite spa and sauna facilities as well as a 24-hour gym. Other benefits included two private parking spots, a 24-hour concierge team, dry-cleaning services and access to a private executive lounge.  It’s not his only home. Pep also snapped up an 8,000-square-foot mansion in Pedarlbes, the most expensive area in Barcelona, for a mere £8.55million back in 2021.The gorgeous white house has breathtaking views of the city thanks to its position in the foothills of Sant Pere Màrtir mountain.It features a spacious living area, a high-end kitchen, a large private swimming pool and balconies across two storeys to take advantage of the picturesque landscape.While he has two luxurious homes, he hasn’t shied away from renting pricy places too. During a one-year sabbatical in 2012, he splashed out on a fancy New York flat that set him back £19,500-per-month and overlooked Central Park.The Upper West Side abode used to be the home of other celebs including X-Files actor David Duchovny and Barbra Streisand.It boasted four bedrooms, bathrooms, and a study where Pep was said to have learned and practised German before taking over at Bayern Munich.Food for thoughtHe is one of three investors in Tast Catala in ManchesterCredit: Instagram/@tastcatalaIt is currently helmed by a chef whose restaurants have won four Michelin starsCredit: Instagram/@tastcatalaAnd it’s not just homes that Pep’s acquired over the years.He is a co-owner of Tast Catala in Manchester. The eatery opened its doors in 2018 and now has chef Paco Perez – whose restaurants have four Michelin stars between them – at the helm creating the menus. The acclaimed establishment focuses on bringing a taste of the Costa Brava to Manchester and can host up to 120 diners.While it won’t break the bank to dine there, it’s certainly not cheap, with mains costing more than £20. Pep’s also invested in another passion of his: wine.It was reported in 2021 that he had forked out £200,000 on a Spanish vineyard’s finest vintage bottles and reportedly drinks a glass or two after football matches.Friends told The Daily Star that he spent as much as £500,000 on fancy reds including the very best Riojas, prized Priorat and Ribera del Duero labels.A source said: “His main interest is that of a collector of fine vintages, and he sees the value of them as investments… Not only does he enjoy a glass of wine, he really knows his stuff too.”Drive for successThe footie boss reportedly dented his pricey BentleyCredit: BentleyOutside of his property portfolio, Pep has invested in some rather expensive motors over the years. And while they’re said to lose money the second you drive them off, the football boss has certainly managed to lower the value even further with a series of bumps and scrapes.Since moving to Manchester in February 2016, Pep has damaged a series of cars collectively worth £460,000. They included a £200,000 silver Bentley, GTX700, a £150,000 Range Rover, an £80,000 black Mercedes GLE and a £30,000 Mini Cooper.A source said: “Pep is brilliant at many things, but driving doesn’t appear to be one of them, he has struggled with the roads in Manchester and had a couple of bumps.”Pep’s Manchester City recordAfter joining Manchester City in February 2016, Pep had his first season without winning a trophy since he went into club management.The team’s form declined in the second half of the season despite a promising start.Things started to look up in the 2017-18 season after Pep identified the issues in defence the team had. Pep guided City to a record-breaking 100 points and the title, earning him a contract keeping him at the club until 2021.Under his guidance, Manchester City have won the Premier League five times and the Champions League once.They’ve also taken home a FIFA Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, two FA Cup wins, four Carabao Cups and two FA Community Shields.He has also been voted Premier League Manager of the Season four times.This season they are currently sixth in the Premier League, so it doesn’t look like Pep will be adding another title to the cabinet.Authors Lu Martin and Pol Ballus wrote in the 2019 book Pep’s City: The Making Of A Superteam: “Today he’s behind the wheel of his black Mercedes.”He has a reputation from his Barcelona days of being a hapless driver and this is his fourth car he has owned since coming to Manchester.“His wing mirrors don’t survive for long and he’s also managed to fill a diesel Range Rover with petrol and mangle a silver Bentley.”Time is moneyHe owns a series of expensive watches, which double as an investmentCredit: SuppliedHis expensive tastes don’t end with cars and clothes – he also owns an array of pricey watches.Among them was a Richard Mille (RM) RM 27-01 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal, which he was pictured with on a golf course, that costs around £590,000 due to there only being ten in the world.Other ultra-expensive timepieces seen on his wrist include a £455,000 RM 022 Tourbillon Aerodyne, a £75,000 RM 010 ‘Manchester City’ and the RM 004 All Gray, which costs more than £150,000.READ MORE SUN STORIESLast year Pep was seen wearing a RM 67-02 watch – they typically cost £228,000 but his timepiece was a United Arab Emirates edition, which is not for sale.He has also been seen sporting a £55,000 Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph 5905P and a £12,500 Rolex Cellini. 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      How Tottenham can kill off Arsenal’s title hopes with Ange Postecoglou’s ‘wheels of chaos’ tactic

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      ARSENAL face a make-or-break North London derby as they look to shrug off back-to-back cup defeats.Mikel Arteta’s side drew against Brighton before falling to a Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle.Ange Postecoglou’s wheels of chaos could kill off Arsenal title hopesCredit: GettyBut Mikel Arteta will need to be brave if he is to earn a huge win against SpursCredit: GettyThey then exited the FA Cup after a penalty shoot-out loss to Manchester United.Yet all is not lost, because the Gunners have the chance to regroup and refocus their attention on the Premier League title battle, currently six points behind Liverpool.However, their next match could be a season-defining game for them as they host bitter rivals Tottenham on Wednesday.Ange Postecoglou’s side have been in sticky form of late, beating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup before needing extra time to triumph over National League side Tamworth.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSunSport’s Will Pugh and tactical guru Dean Scoggins have highlighted five areas how Spurs could KO Arsenal’s title bid this season.Organised chaosThere is a perception about Tottenham that they play a very wild style of football, and while this is true to a degree there is more than meets the eye within Postecoglou’s system.The Aussie manager’s uniquely rigid attacking structure incorporates a left-hand set and a right-hand set of players.And in the last few weeks, that system has – believe it or not – been adapting amid a flurry of errors from young and inexperienced players parachuted into the team due to an injury crisis.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSThe current treatment room list means the likely centre-back pairing for this game will force Radu Dragusin to be paired alongside Archie Gray, with brand new goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky in goal.Spurs will look to nullify their mistakes by playing out from the back even more than has been seen previously, with Yves Bissouma dropping into the space between them as they split to receive the ball.Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou channels his inner Gladiator as he defends his gung-ho tacticsTottenham have been ravaged by injury that has seen Postecoglou tweak his tacticsTypically Spurs build up with just one pivot player, but this has changed to two in recent weeksSpurs normally deploy two wheels of chaos on either side of the pitchIn attack, Tottenham look to operate as a pair of wheels on either side of the pitch but without much crossover to the other flanks.In this system, only the centre-backs, holding midfielder and striker are asked to stick to their main position, often allowing them to dominate possession due to overloads.Unfortunately, this system can make Spurs susceptible to teams setting up against them, as Arsenal did at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this season.Underlap, overlap, wandering freeTottenham are a team who often do not look to generate chances through crossing from out wide, but do tend to score a lot with cutbacks.This is often due to Spurs relying heavily on underlaps with the wingers hugging the touchline while the fullbacks – likely to be Pedro Porro and Djed Spence against Arsenal – invert centrally.Spence, a right-footed full-back, has been particularly impressive deputising for Destiny Udogie at left-back in the last few weeks.In a perfectly executed gameplan, this pair of wheels allow for the full-backs to move forward into a dangerous area before being able to find a cutback for a more central team-mate.The three-player units on either side of the field allow for underlapping full-backs to be as deadly as a wingerA quick passage of passing can unleash an underlapping defender into a dangerous areaOne of the main sources of Postecoglou’s frustration this season has often come with Spurs giving the ball away and the wheels literally falling off.But to that end the former Celtic boss has tweaked his tactics. The first change to the system has been to concede some ground and move the team deeper to accommodate for Gray and Dragusin not being as quick as Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.The full-backs are also not going forward as quickly, with Porro in particular showing much more discipline in the last few weeks.The third change has been to use to two pivots to collect the ball and build up instead of one, with Bissouma and one other dropping in to help the ball progress.Sterling effortIt does not take a genius to figure out Bukayo Saka’s absence from the Arsenal team has hit them hard.The Hale End graduate has been a talismanic figure for the Gunners since breaking into the team, and was their spearhead across their last two title challenging campaigns.While most teams may tend to split attacks more evenly across the field, Arsenal often played much more down the right, mainly due to Saka’s excellence and his strong link with Martin Odegaard.Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus had both played in the role before getting injured themselves, which almost certainly means Raheem Sterling is going to be asked to play there against Spurs.The former Liverpool and Manchester City star will be key for Arsenal if they are to get anything from the game.Raheem Sterling will be asked to deputise for Bukayo Saka with Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus both injuredSterling will need to emulate the way Saka receives the ball on the touchlineThe winger can step inside with the ball and drag the defenderThis could allow for an overload with a bombing full-back or a pass to Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz or Gabriel MartinelliWhat Arteta will ask the ex-England international to do is pick up the ball on the run, rather than with his back to goal, allowing him to then make a diagonal run into an interior position.Movement like this will allow Sterling to crossover with Kai Havertz in a nightmare rotation for the Spurs defence, offer a lay off to Odegaard, or try and find Gabriel Martinelli as he bombs up the left flank.The presence of Spence up against Sterling will create a unique opportunity for Arsenal to exploit, with Jurrien Timber potentially being allowed to go up the space left on the outside.Sterling, 30, has flattered to deceive since arriving at the Emirates on loan.He had an indifferent game against Man Utd on Sunday, but could have a watershed match against Spurs as he is finally given the chance to prove he can help the misfiring Gunners hit their mark.Art stoppersThere is a perception around Arsenal that they have failed to hit the same heights as they did last season, having struggled to score in open play in many games this campaign.Despite going out of the FA Cup, Arsenal still have the chance to make a Carabao Cup final if they can muster a heroic performance against Newcastle at St James’ Park.They can also close the gap on the top of the league if some results go in their favour, which would serve to turn the current negative narrative of the club around.Arteta has built the bedrock of his team on being defensively sound, and are actually set up in such a way that they have an extra player screening to prevent counter-attacks.Arsenal are build on a rock solid defensive foundationDeclan Rice and Mikel Merino are screening midfielders ideal for stopping counter-attacksBut Arsenal can often look too rigid as a result of this safety first approachAnd unless Arteta unlocks one of them to run beyond the midfield his team could lack a creative sparkDeclan Rice and one of Mikel Merino or Thomas Partey are often the players charged with this duty, but the key to unlocking Spurs may need to come from Arteta taking the shackles off of his team.While Arsenal have a dangerous attack on paper, the lack of movement from midfield – while often proving defensively sound – hurts their chances of open play goals due to there not being enough movement to give opposition defenders cause for concern.Consequently, this has led to their attack becoming stodgy due to it being too rigid.However, to break down Spurs, Arsenal may need to unlock one of these screening players to make runs beyond the defence and give the defence food for thought.King Dom’s comeToothless Tottenham needed to bring on talisman Dominic Solanke to beat Tamworth in the FA Cup.There was a lot of debate over whether he would be a better signing for them than Ivan Toney, but 11 goals and six assists already this season have proven Solanke to be the right deal.But there are still many aspects of his game which do not get the credit they deserve, such as his effort, ability to track, pressing and overall world class team ethic.Solanke is often overlooked for a lot of the off-ball work he makes to open space up for team-mates.These exploits can include his runs forcing a defender to commit to marking him or pinning defenders.Against Arsenal he is likely to target William Saliba rather than Gabriel Magalhaes in the air.Spurs will look to use the England international as a key pivot player up front, using him to play off the two wheels on either side of their attack.Solanke is often able to unlock defences when he has runners such as Brennan Johnson going beyond the defensive line in behind, with this ability being integral to a number of goals through pre-assists.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe 27-year-old will be key for Spurs’ front-footed defence against Arsenal, while his team-mates know if they can use him to his best he will help them create a dangerous chance even if he is not the one to finish it off.And it is thanks to the likes of Solanke, that the last game Arsenal would want at the moment is Tottenham. 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      Sick world of ‘football trafficking’ where desperate kids are shipped to UK like Man United star… then sold into sex

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      SMILING for the cameras, Amad Diallo looked delighted this week as he signed a stunning new deal with Manchester United.The dazzling prodigy – originally from the Ivory Coast – has fulfilled the dream of so many African youngsters of a lucrative career at one of the world’s richest clubs.Amad Diallo is now Manchester United’s biggest rising star after being trafficked to Europe aged just 12Credit: GettyThe football ace at Boca Barco in ItalyCredit: Boca BarcoThousands of African youngsters share the same dream, only to find they have been sold a lie by sick traffickersCredit: GettyIt’s a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for the gifted youngster whose footballing journey began with him being trafficked to Europe as a 12-year-old.His dramatic equalising goal against arch-rivals Liverpool last Sunday follows his brilliantly executed volley to seal victory in the Manchester derby.His story will now be one of riches and, if he can help revive slumbering giant United, glory too.Yet, for thousands of other African youngsters, the promises of trials at clubs like United, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain made by shysters claiming to be agents are a sick con.READ MORE FEATURESThese ‘agents’ demand thousands in upfront payments which often amount to the life-savings of a player’s family.The trials never materialise. The ‘agents’ disappear with the cash and the teenagers are abandoned, leaving them at risk of being sexually exploited or left destitute.A few years ago a young lad turned up at the reception at Tottenham’s old White Hart Lane ground saying he’d come from overseas for his trial with the club.The youngster had been conned, there was no trial. Spurs’ safeguarding procedures kicked in and the police and local authorities were contacted.Most read in FootballCharity Foot Solidaire has estimated that as many as 15,000 teenage footballers are shipped out of West African countries every year under false pretences.Former Watford midfielder Al Bangura has told how attempts were made to force him into the sex trade after he was trafficked into the UK.Amad runs the show again but Rashford is lucky to stay on the pitch and Onana has night to forgetFleeing his native Sierra Leone after elders tried to make him follow in the footsteps of his late father and become the leader of a voodoo cult, he made for neighbouring Guinea aged just 14.There a Frenchman promised to help him secure his dream of bringing him to the UK to become a Premier League footballer.Bangura revealed: “I didn’t know he had another different intention – to get me into the sex trade.”On arriving in the UK, he says he was taken to premises where he met men who hadn’t come to discuss his football career. “All of a sudden I saw two or three guys come around me, trying to rape me and make me do stuff,” he remembered.”Because I was young and I was small, I just started screaming. They probably thought I knew what I was there for – obviously I know what I came over here for, I was here to play football.”I was just crying and proper screaming and I tried to make my way out – I was cold, I was crying, I was shaking, I didn’t know what to do, I was all over the place.”I made my way outside. I didn’t know where to start, I thought it was the end of my life.”Al Bangura opened up about how he was almost led into the sex tradeCredit: GettyWatford fans protest over a Home Office ruling that Bangura should return to Sierra Leone in 2007. The ruling was eventually overturnedCredit: Getty Images – GettyBangura managed to escape and seek asylum. He was spotted by a talent scout and joined Watford when he was 16 and later awarded a work permit based on his footballing abilities.The youngster played for the Hornets in the Premier League and also played for Brighton, Blackpool, Forest Green Rovers and Coventry City.Bangura, now 36, has worked with the Premier League and charities to raise awareness on trafficking.”I think there’s loads of vulnerable kids in Africa who want to achieve what I’ve achieved in my life,” he said.”There’s loads of kids who might not even tell their parents, or their parents might use their last money to make sure they come over here to play football and they end up doing something else.”It’s important for me, having been through what I’ve been through in my life, for me to say I’ve been through that, I’ve survived, but what about the young kids coming up, will they survive?“Are they going to be able to cope with that? So we really need to find a way to stop all of that.”It’s quite emotional to talk about it now, I’m happy I’ve got over it, but it’s sad for me.”Crooked agents Dr Serhat Yilmaz – a Lecturer in Sports Law at Loughborough University – describes football trafficking of children as “a dark form of modern slavery”.Ramshackle football academies have sprung up on dustbowl pitches across West Africa with youngsters chasing the dream of a lucrative contract with a top European team.Crooked agents wheedle cash out of families after promising child players a trial at a footballing giant.Instead many are abandoned or enslaved on reaching Britain and other leading footballing nations.An investigator with the Spanish National Police says the number of trafficking cases is “sharply increasing” there.One youngster, 17-year-old Tidiane, originally from Conakry, Guinea, believed his dream of playing professional football in Spain had come true.Scouted while playing in his homeland, his family raised cash to pay a smuggler who promised a place in a Barcelona academy.“I was brought to Spain in March 2023 with documents saying that I had come on a school exchange trip, along with several other Guineans my age,” he revealed.The youngsters were told that they would be supported by an academy while continuing to go to school.Football trafficking is ‘a dark form of modern slavery’, says an expertCredit: GettyTidiane added: “After 15 days, we still hadn’t started school or football training.“They didn’t tell us anything, and after a month and a half, we were asked to pay again, even though it hadn’t been planned.“We were lost, so we fled late one night while everyone was sleeping.”With no money and his ID card confiscated by his smuggler, Tidiane was reduced to scavenging for food and sleeping in parks for five months.In October 2023, he was rescued by the Caritas charity who are helping him restart his schooling.The teenager said: “My story is far too common in Spain, many of us end up in the clutches of ill-intentioned people who take advantage of youth and their dreams.”International governing body FIFA’s Article 19 – written in 2003 – forbids clubs from signing international players below the age of 18.Since then, amid football’s scramble for new young talent, agents, players and clubs have been trying to break it.Article 19 has a clause allowing a club to sign a player under the age of 18 if it can be proved the child’s family was moving to that country for “reasons other than football”.It means job opportunities for the child’s parents can suddenly emerge in the city of the club that is interested in signing the youngster.Diallo’s journeyManchester United star Amad Diallo managed to leave his Ivory Coast homeland and, aged 12, and join an Italian club.His footballing journey – well before arriving at Old Trafford – left him a pawn in the sometimes murky world of signing young African talent.Born in Abidjan, the Ivory Coast’s capital in 2002, his precocious talent suggested he had the ability to follow countrymen Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Gervinho to stardom in Europe.In 2014, the youngster – then known as Amad Diallo Traore – joined minnows ASD Boca Barco not far from Parma. His brother Hamed Junior Traore, also a gifted footballer, would join him.The pair were able to make a new life in Italy under the family reunification system as their parents were Italian residents.My story is far too common in Spain, many of us end up in the clutches of ill-intentioned people who take advantage of youth and their dreams.TidaneYouth coach Denis Cerlini would later tell the BBC: “We didn’t discover Amad, but rather he just came to us. It was a great stroke of luck.”The brilliant youngster and his brother were noticed by Giovanni Galli, the ex AC Milan goalkeeper who played for Italy at the 1986 World Cup, who was working for an Italian third division club.Galli invited the brothers for a trial, remembering: “I quickly saw they were simply too good for us. Amad played with bigger boys and drove them insane with his dribbling.”Instead, Galli tipped off Serie A club Atalanta who signed Diallo in 2015. His brother signed for Empoli.Then in 2017 agent and talent scout Giovanni Damiano Drago was arrested as part of Operation Baby Elephant, an investigation into the trafficking of footballers.In a plea bargain, Drago gave information to police about the immigration status of Diallo and other young players. It left the scout with a suspended sentence of one year and 10 months.Former AC Milan icon Giovanni Galli noticed Amad and his brotherCredit: GettyA young Amad poses with former Manchester United star Paul PogbaFive people were arrested, accused of smuggling Diallo, his brother and three other young footballers into Italy.DNA tests by investigators proved Diallo and his ‘brother’ – now on Bournemouth’s books – were not related to the purported parents. It was all an elaborate sham.Incredibly, the scam led to Diallo – who was a child when he was trafficked – being fined £42,000 by the Italia FA. Hamed Junior Traore received a fine for the same amount.Diallo dropped his fake surname Traore on his 18th birthday.Dreams & nightmaresIn January 2021 Diallo joined Manchester United for £18.7million from Atalanta. He has been described as the “jewel in the crown” of new manager Ruben Amorim’s team.In West Africa, thousands of young footballers will be admiring the now 22-year-old’s progress, dreaming of their own lucrative career.Some, desperate for the riches European football can offer, take matters into their own hands.On the migration routes along the Mediterranean coast and in the camps of Calais and Dunkirk I’ve met many aspiring young footballers trying to make it to the UK by flimsy boat.Dr Ini-Obong Nkang, 32,  author of the book Football Trafficking: A Legal Analysis of the Trade of African Minors – says the key to preventing trafficking is to boost African leagues.Dr Nkang told The Sun: “Dig deep, and you’ll find South African players aren’t being trafficked because South Africa has the most developed league on the continent.“They can see for themselves that, ‘OK, if I stay here and join an academy, I can still make a future for myself’.“In West Africa – where the bulk of trafficked players come from, the leagues are not up to scratch. That has to change.”READ MORE SUN STORIESDiallo’s goals against Liverpool and Manchester City made him the toast of Old Trafford.For other African youngsters dreaming of football’s wealth and glory, their journey to Europe at the hands of traffickers brings only misery.Amad has been described as the “jewel in the crown” of new manager Ruben Amorim’s teamCredit: GettyHe joined Manchester United for £18.7m from Atalanta in 2018Credit: EPA More

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      Kyle Walker’s wife Annie is SCRAPPING her £27m divorce bid as cheating Man City star eyes £400k-a-week move

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      JUST last year, Kyle Walker’s long-suffering wife Annie Kilner was preparing for war and telling pals she was considering divorce.But after a cosy Christmas with the Man City star and their children — and amid growing speculation he is being courted for a multi-million-pound move to play in Saudi Arabia — that could all change once again.Kyle Walker’s long-suffering wife Annie Kilner has put the brakes on talk of a split, and kept her ring finger covered on night out in DecemberCredit: BackGridThe City and England defender has moved back into their marital homeCredit: GettyKyle is being courted for a multi-million-pound move to play in Saudi Arabia, above arriving for court date with Lauryn in July last yearCredit: Darren FletcherKyle posed with Annie and their four children in matching pyjamas during ChristmasCredit: InstagramThose close to Annie, 33, tell The Sun she has put the brakes on talk of a split and instead moved the City and England defender back into the marital home.An insider said: “It was just a few months ago that Annie served Kyle with divorce papers, but she’s having second thoughts.“He’s a top target for the Saudi Arabia clubs and if he decides to take a deal it’ll be life-changing — and not just because of the massive amount of money he’ll be making.”Any move to the Arab state is still up in the air, but Kyle, 34, is a top target for big-hitting sides including Al Nassr, where Portuguese ace Cristiano Ronaldo is captain.READ MORE IN SPORTDeals being mooted by clubs in the oil-rich nation are said to be worth upwards of £20million, with Kyle easily expected to bank £400,000 a week if he chooses to try his luck abroad.And friends close to Annie say the money will do the talking.They added: “Annie is no fool. She sought legal advice about the finances last year and knows that the deal in Saudi is worth a lot.“Annie says it’s not about the cash but keeping their family together, yet his earning potential is something she will have thought about.Most read in Football“She is savvy and has been mapping out a plan for a long time.Posed in matching Christmas pyjamas“Annie always puts the children first but she has to think about herself too — and financially she wants to know she would be secure whatever happens between them.Kyle Walker will spend Christmas Day back with estranged wife Annie Kilner after they agreed to put the turmoil of their divorce to one side for the sake of their kids“Kyle has assured her that whatever happens, she would have the financial support.”The couple put on a united front at Christmas as they posed in matching pyjamas with their four children, Roman, 13, Riaan, eight, six-year-old Reign and baby Rezon.It was a picture-perfect scene compared to last December when their lives were turned upside down by the news that Kyle had fathered a secret daughter with reality TV star Lauryn Goodman.Annie, who started dating Kyle when she was 16, was pregnant with their fourth child at the time.He already shares four-year-old son Kairo with Lauryn following a relationship with her during a brief split from Annie.Of the family’s cosy reunion at Christmas, a fellow Wag said: “It seems like Kyle is happy to be back home with his family and they are looking to the future.She is savvy and has been mapping out a plan for a long timeFriends“Not sure if anything is set in stone about their relationship, but they are more together than they’ve looked before — as if the time spent together over Christmas helped them both to appreciate what they have.“Whatever their future holds, they will make it work for their lads who are everything to them.”Kyle made a grovelling apology to devastated Annie in The Sun in January last year.At the time he said he was desperate to save the marriage but admitted he would not blame Annie if she chose to divorce him.Last month, in a sign their relationship was back on track, Kyle smiled like the cat who got the cream as he showed off his wedding ring on a night out at the darts.Kairo and Kinara watch Kyle during Euro 2024Credit: Instagram @lauryngoodman91Lauryn Goodman takes Kyle to court to seek financial settlement for their childrenCredit: Darren FletcherHe was in high spirits at Alexandra Palace in London as he watched the World Championship, shortly after moving back home for the festive season.Annie also put her ring back on — but has attempted to discreetly cover her hand in public in recent weeks to avoid speculation.Our insider added: “Spending time with Kyle at Christmas has made Annie rethink everything.“She let him move back into the family home and it was amazing for her to see Kyle and how great he is with their kids.“Despite what has gone on between them, Kyle is a brilliant father.“She knows now isn’t the right time to start going down the legal route of separation and has taken the advice that timing is key when it comes to a divorce.Spending time with Kyle at Christmas has made Annie rethink everythingInsider“They’ve got the children to think about — they’re still young — and that’s been a major factor in Annie’s thinking.“She isn’t rushing into anything and is biding her time, especially with all the talk about Saudi and a possible move there.”The couple have only been married since November 2021, but met in his hometown of Sheffield when they were teenagers.Kyle was first accused of cheating in 2016 when he was caught messaging Playboy model Carla Howe while in France with the England squad for the Euro championships.Then in 2019, Ex On The Beach star Laura Brown messaged Annie to confess she and Kyle had enjoyed a string of romps, including one time in his £200,000 Bentley 4×4.Annie immediately dumped Kyle, who moved into a flat, where he ended up hosting a sex party with a friend and two call girls during the Covid lockdown.While single, he started a relationship with Lauryn, who quickly fell pregnant and gave birth in 2020.Annie took him back and they wed in an intimate ceremony at Mottram Hall in Cheshire 18 months later.But The Sun recently revealed that Annie’s friends claimed she was looking at her options as far back as 2019, with her insisting: “Marrying Kyle would give me security if he ever does it again.”‘Some said she should cut her losses and run’She apparently asked at least four footballers’ wives for advice before marrying the love rat in case history repeated itself. One said: “Some said she should leave him at the time — just cut her losses and run. But others warned that marrying him would be the only way she could really secure herself financially.”In messages seen by The Sun from five years ago, before the couple tied the knot, Annie glumly conceded, “It’s the same old s**t — he’s been doing it for ten years”, before asking pals for their opinions on how to future-proof herself financially.Appearing to predict that he would betray her again, Annie wrote to a friend at the time: “He’s going to have a lonely end.”Annie turned out to be right about his repeat actions, as he briefly rekindled things with Lauryn weeks after Kairo was born and lived a lie for more than a year after discovering she was expecting his second child. She isn’t rushing into anything and is biding her time, especially with all the talk about Saudi and a possible move thereInsiderLauryn later took Kyle to court to seek a financial settlement for their kids.After Lauryn’s bombshell confession to Annie about daughter Kinara, he told The Sun in an emotional interview that he had lied to both womenHe added: “It was a double-edged sword between my conscience being clean and losing my family.“I’ve hurt someone I truly believe is my soulmate. Annie knows I’m sorry. I’m sorry because as a family this isn’t meant to happen. They are all I’ve got.”A Middle East move for the England ace would follow a tough current season at City. He still has 19 months left on his Etihad contract, but admitted he would “never say never” when rumours were flying last year. Now, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad from Saudi’s pro league are keen on securing his signature.READ MORE SUN STORIESIf Kyle does take the plunge, he would follow in the footsteps of England teammate Ivan Toney, who landed a £20million-a-year deal with Al-Ahli last summer after transferring from Brentford.But whether he gets to enjoy that money with or without Annie is very much still in the balance.The ace and Annie posed in this throwback snapCredit: Instagram More

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      in Soccer

      Inside football’s most explosive divorces…from star’s £10m payout to bitter split over twins fathered by another man

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      FOOTBALLERS’ love lives are notoriously messy – with numerous reports of playing away.And that can lead to explosive and VERY costly divorces. Kyle Walker, who shares four kids with Annie Kilner, is set for a courtroom showdown after she served him divorce papersCredit: BackGridIt comes after he fathered two kids with his on-off mistress Lauyn GoodmanCredit: GettyKyle was previously in a legal battle with Lauryn over child support paymentsCredit: PAKyle Walker’s bitter split from his wife, Annie Kilner, is the latest case shaking the sport.Annie finally filed for divorce earlier this year after their marriage was wracked by a series of scandals.In 2020, she agreed to stay with Kyle, 34, after it was revealed he had fathered a child with Lauryn Goodman during a brief affair and she stood by him during a bitter court battle which saw the Manchester City ace ordered pay a substantial amount.But, after it emerged that Kyle had fathered a second child with his on-off mistress, she is now preparing to battle it out in court for half of his staggering £27million fortune.READ MORE FEATURES But Kyle is far from alone in seeing his marriage end in explosive claims and courtroom showdowns over the players’ eye-watering wealth.’Not fair’Former Arsenal right-back Emmanuel Eboue, 41, had one of the most acrimonious divorces in football. Kyle Walker’s wife Annie Kilner files for divorce and gears up to fight for star’s £27m fortuneEmmanuel Eboue says he lost a fortune to his ex-wife after their bitter divorceCredit: TwitterThe former Arsenal star blamed a lack of education for his lossesCredit: TwitterDuring his seven-year stint in the Premier League, he built an enviable fortune but lost it all in a bitter split with his ex-wife, Aurelie Bertrand, in 2017.She was awarded all their assets in the divorce, including their two mansions and his fleet of luxury cars – and he later claimed he had to wash his clothes by hand as he couldn’t afford to use his washing machine.Most read in FootballIn 2017, he told the Sunday Mirror: “I can’t afford the money to continue to have any lawyer or barrister. I am in the house but I am scared.”Because I don’t know what time the police will come. Sometimes, I shut off the lights because I don’t want people to know that I am inside. “I suffered to buy my house, but I am now scared. I am not going to sell my clothes or sell what I have. I will fight until the end because it is not fair.”Emmanuel also claimed naivety was to blame for his losses, saying that he signed everything Aurelie asked him to without question.He added: “I look back and say ­’Emmanuel, you have been naive… why didn’t you think about that before?’ It is hard. Very, very hard.”The money I earned, I sent it to my wife for our children.”He claimed of the €8 million he earned playing with Galatasary in Turkey – between 2011 and 2015 – €7million was sent to his ex wife.Paternity blowAfter 12 years of marriage, Geremi filed for divorce after a DNA test revealed he was not the father of Laure’s kidsThe Cameroonian star says it left him in “emotional shock”Credit: AFPCameroonian footballer Geremi filed for divorce from his wife Laure in March after a bombshell that blew the marriage apart.The former Chelsea star, 45, claimed he was “psychologically damaged” after finding out the 16-year-old twins he raised as his own were actually fathered by her ex.In court documents seen in March, the midfielder claims that the children were born after she had a fling while they were still together. It read: “No children have been born from this union” and also slammed her “repeated lies”. It also said that Laure had destroyed the harmony” of their marriage “through her abject behaviour”.The twins were born in 2008 and Geremi revealed they were the motivation for the pair tying the knot four years later.The court filing in March this year said that the revelation had “caused him a huge emotional shock”. Love ratRyan Giggs and his wife battled it out after she tried to take a large chunk of his fortuneCredit: Getty – ContributorRyan had a long-term affair with his brother’s wife NatashaCredit: Dan Kennedy – The SunRyan Giggs’ wife Stacey filed for divorce in 2017, after ten years of marriage, over numerous infidelities, including an eight-year affair with his brother’s wife, Natasha.He also cheated on Stacey with former beauty queen and Big Brother contestant Imogen Thomas. As one of the highest-paid players, the former Manchester Utd star had amassed a £40million fortune and the bitter split looked set to end in an explosive courtroom battle over the cash.But in November 2017, it was announced that they had reached an agreement and the figures were kept under wraps.In a statement, their lawyers said: “The terms of the settlement are confidential, but both wished to express their sincere thanks to their respective legal teams.”They are pleased to leave this chapter of their lives as firm friends.”Mummy’s boyAchraf Hakimi’s divorce had a shocking and unexpected plot twistCredit: GettyMany wondered whether Achraf had always anticipated a divorce from his wifeCredit: GettyParis Saint-Germain player Achraf Hakimi’s divorce from his wife, Hiba Abouk, had a shocking plot twist that very few saw coming.Model and actress Hiba, who has two kids with the footballer, filed for divorce after he was accused of rape by French prosecutors in March 2023.During the court battle Hiba reportedly asked for half of Hakimi’s £18.4million fortune.But in a bizarre twist it was revealed that most of his assets were actually in his mother’s name and even his substantial salary, reportedly £170,000 a WEEK, was paid into his mother’s bank account.Legally, Hakimi owned very little in his own name, leaving his furious ex with limited claim to his wealth.The revelation led to speculation that Achraf had planned his financial arrangement in anticipation of the divorce.Timeline of Kyle Walker and Annie Kilner’s relationshipEarly years – Kyle and Annie first meet in Sheffield when she was 15 and he was 17Euro 2016 – Walker caught messaging Playboy model Carla HoweApril 2019 – Annie dumps Kyle after his alleged romps with reality TV star Laura BrownApril 2020 – Kyle allegedly hosts sex party with two escorts during covid-19 lockdownFebruary 2020 – Lauryn Goodman gives birth to Kairo, her son with WalkerNovember 2021 – Walker and Kilner marry in secretMarch 2023 – Lauryn announces her second pregnancySpring 2023 – Kyle allegedly flashes and kisses another woman in a Vodka Revolution bar in CheshireAugust 2023 – Lauryn gives birth to a daughterJanuary 2024 – Annie announces split from Kyle after two years of marriage. It emerges Kyle is the dad of Lauryn’s second child. Kyle begs for forgiveness in exclusive Sun interview. Lauryn brands him a ‘pathological narcissist’October 2024 – Annie files for divorceMessiest divorce The couple were hugely popular and seen as Italy’s answer to Posh and BecksCredit: GettyTheir 2005 wedding was a spectacle filmed for national TVCredit: GettyBefore their acrimonious split, they seemed happy and had three kids togetherCredit: RexFrancesco Totti and Ilary Blasi were branded Italy’s Posh and Becks after they married in 2005, on national TV, and went on to have three kids together.But their 2022 split, after 17 years of marriage, was one of the most sensational in the country’s history and things quickly got messy. It was revealed that Ilary had hired a private investigator after suspecting him of cheating.But Francesco, 48, also accused Ilary of infidelity, claiming she was the first one to betray their marriage. The AS Roma icon said: “It is not true that I was the first to betray.”I said I was not going to speak, and I did not, but I have read too many hoaxes in recent weeks. Some have even made my children suffer.”The divorce battle escalated over financial assets, as Totti accused his ex of running off with his expensive watch collection.In turn, he hid all her luxury handbags until she safely returned his belongings. In an interview, he said: “What was I supposed to do? I hid the bags, hoping for an exchange.”They also fought over their lavish home in Rome and custody of their three children. In November, Ilary claimed the Roma star left their eight-year-old home alone when he went away – an allegation he strongly refutes, saying she was being looked after by a ‘professional babysitter’.”The police came knocking on Totti’s door and a woman, allegedly a babysitter, opened the door,” says Italian journalist Daniele Fisichella.”It’s not clear whether it was actually a babysitter -Totti was away – or it was the concierge working at Totti’s residence. “If anyone wants to write a TV series, ‘The Totti’s’, that obviously could be part of it. It’s been going on for the last two years, to be fair… it seems that the end, it’s very far away.” The pair are still battling it out in court.Bankrupt star David James ended up paying his wife £3million in their divorceCredit: Getty – ContributorFor years, David James was one of the most recognisable faces in English football. The goalkeeper played for top clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester City, and West Ham. He is said to have been earning £50,000 a week while playing for Portsmouth.He has four children with ex-wife Tanya, but the couple split in 2005 when he left her for his childhood sweetheart, Amanda Salmon, who wooed him by sending X-rated images of herself in a G-string.Tanya late said she found out about the affair when she saw a text he received during her birthday meal which read: “I would love to have your warm body next to mine right now.”The sender came up on his phone under the name Corgi Cars as David tried to hide her identity.During their bitter divorce battle, Tanya claims the star went back on his word of paying their children’s school fees and only gave her a “paltry” amount to live on after he took care of the household bills.But after paying Tanya £3million in the divorce settlement, the 51-year-old’s huge empire came crashing down and in 2014 he declared himself bankrupt, despite the £20million he had made from his time as a footballer.He was forced to auction many of his valuables, including his football memorabilia. In his 2004 biography, former Liverpool teammate, Stan Collymore wrote about David: “If he had a new car and he pranged it, he would just go and buy a new car – so there were five cars parked in the drive.”If he bought a new pair of shoes and he scuffed them, he wouldn’t clean them. He would just chuck them in the spare room and buy a new pair.”Too much disposable income, I suppose. Too easy just to bin stuff. Too easy to spend money like you’re going to be earning that kind of money for the rest of your life.”Huge payoutThierry Henry ended up paying his ex-wife nearly £10million after they splitCredit: GettyClaire was devastated when he walked outCredit: GoffINF.comIn 2003, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, 47, married Claire Merry. The couple welcomed their daughter, Tea, in 2005. However, after just four years of marriage, the French international announced he was leaving his wife, shortly before his transfer to Barcelona on a £130,000 a week contract.Claire was said to have been devastated when Henry walked out on their marriage amid rumours he had formed a “close friendship” with a Spanish actress.In court, Claire cited “unreasonable behaviour” as grounds for divorce. Thierry did not dispute the claim.In September 2007, a judge granted the divorce in a one-minute hearing at the High Court’s Principal Registry. Claire requested £10million and was reportedly awarded close to the figure, although Henry kept the £6million Hampstead mansion the couple shared. He has since demolished it and built a larger home in its place.He married Bosnian model Andrea Rajacic in 2011 and they have three children together.Locker room gossipThomas Tuchel and Sisi married in 2009 but ended their marriage 13 years laterCredit: GettyThe couple share two daughters together, Emma and KimCredit: GettyEngland’s new manager, Thomas Tuchel, 51, married his ex-wife Sisi while he worked in Germany in 2009. The couple eventually had two daughters, Emma and Kim. She quit her profession as a journalist to raise their young children.When he was offered a role as Chelsea manager, she moved to the UK in August 2021, and they bought a home near the club’s training ground in Surrey. But after 13 years together, their marriage broke down. Court documents show that Sisi had cited irreconcilable differences for their split. READ MORE SUN STORIESThree months after the divorce was finalised, he was seen out and about with his new girlfriend, Natalie Guerriero, 37, and it was revealed they have been dating since May 2022 – just a month after the split. According to the New York Post, his complicated love life and “erratic” behaviour had become a talking point in the Chelsea locker room. Shortly after, he was fired as the Blues’ boss.The breakdown of their marriage became a topic of conversation in the Chelsea locker roomCredit: Getty More

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      in Boxing

      Tyson Fury’s warrior rival Usyk was taught to fight with a knife by soldier dad & is haunted by missing final moments

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      IT’S the highly anticipated rematch that will see British boxing legend Tyson Fury attempt to unify the heavyweight titles.Six months after the Gypsy King’s first-ever defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in May, the pair will face each other for a second showdown tomorrow night. Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will face off for a second time on December 21Credit: GettyTheir last bout in May ended with Usyk as the victorCredit: GettyOleksandr Usyk pictured as a baby with soldier dad and older sister ViktoriaCredit: East2WestUkrainian heavyweight Usyk, who is the first to hold all the major heavyweight titles in 24 years, carries with him the fighting spirit of his dead soldier dad and a boxer pal killed by the Russians.His father, also called Oleksandr, was twice injured while serving the Soviet army in Afghanistan.He taught his son to duel with a blade, something that could have come in useful when the boxer joined Ukraine’s territorial defence battalion after Russia launched an all-out invasion of his country two years ago.The city where Usyk, 37, was born and grew up is under the control of Vladimir Putin’s invading forces.Read More in The SunAnd his boxer friend Oleksiy Dzhunkivskyi was shot dead by the dictator’s troops when they entered Irpin, close to the capital Kyiv, in 2022.Usyk, nicknamed The Cat, wanted to continue defending his nation, but was urged by soldiers to win for his country with his fists instead.The boxer’s dedication to his sport cost him his chance to say goodbye to his father properly – because he didn’t get back in time from winning a gold medal at the London Olympic Games in 2012 before he died.Talking about his late father, he said:  “Everything I have now is thanks to him. He put a lot in me, he taught me about the priorities in life, which are family, sports and education. Most read in Boxing“He was a military man. My mother hated it when he taught me how to fight with a knife.” She’d shout ‘Sasha, he’ll grow up to be a criminal’.”Tyson Fury warned there’s ‘nothing he can do to stop what’s gonna happen’ in rematch with ‘bogeyman’ Oleksandr UsykParents Oleksandr and Nadezhda were proud of his medalsCredit: East2WestThe boxer with mum NadezhdaCredit: East2WestBrush with deathUsyk was born in Simferopol in Crimea where his security guard dad had met his mum Nadezhda, who worked in construction.His father did not talk much about his time serving with the Soviet army, which had invaded Afghanistan in 1979.But Usyk recalled: “I saw the consequences of this post-war condition and what happened to him. He often had headaches, he had very high blood pressure.“I remember that until the last he had some nightmares in which he called out the names of his comrades who were killed.”Usyk senior was injured twice while fighting for the USSR, which controlled by Ukraine until 1991.His son, who was born under Communist rule in 1987, first had a passion for football.The family moved to a village called Rybotyn in the north of Ukraine where he nearly died from pneumonia as a child.Usyk said: “It was really bad. The doctor even told my mother that I might not survive.” Mum Nadezhda revealed: “As a child, Sasha was a very sick child.”Then my son spent a whole year in the Chernihiv hospital.”My heart was aching and the doctors were afraid to make any predictions for the future.”Oleksandr Usyk was born under Communist ruleCredit: instagram/usykaa/Usyk took up boxing at 15Credit: instagram/@usykaaPunch on pitchThe family returned to Simferopol when he was a teenager, still at school.His father was a harsh disciplinarian, who would give him a “slap on the head” if his grades fell below C.“He raised me to be a man from childhood,” he said. “He forced me to wash socks and underwear, clean the room, and iron my trousers. He said that if I don’t learn this, if I don’t learn discipline, then I won’t succeed in life. “He said: ‘The way a man behaves in life, behind the wheel, with women, shows his true strength. If he can’t cope, if he’s dirty, neglected, and doesn’t know how to behave with women, then he’s not a real man’.”He’d recovered enough from his illness to play football for his school team – something that ended when he punched an opposition player during a match.Aged 15 he took up boxing instead – encouraged by his dad, an amateur boxer.My children are asking, ‘Daddy, why do they want to kill us?’ I don’t know how to answer thatOleksandr UsykHis swift reflexes and dedication led him to success in the ring, which impressed his childhood sweetheart Yekaterina, generally called Kateryna.She once admitted: “I didn’t consider him at all, except as a friend. He said ‘If I win the fight today, will you go somewhere with me tonight?’ I say: ‘Win, we’ll see there.” He won. And that’s it.”Usyk became a national hero when he picked up a gold medal at the Olympic Games in London in 2012 in the heavyweight division.It was a victory that was to be followed by tragedy – because his dad died a few days later back in Ukraine while Oleksandr was abroad.He remembered:  “He watched me become Olympic champion, but I didn’t make it back in time to show him the gold medal.”When I arrived he was already lying in the coffin.”I handed him the medal, put it in his dead hand and then left the room.”What was most difficult to cope with is that rather than heading home directly from London, Oleksandr had stopped off to collect a supercar, which delayed him going home.During an emotional interview with TNT he said: “I wanted to bring it with me and show him what a cool car I had. My mom called me at 3am and told me the news.”Usyk’s dad saw him win an Olympic gold but died before he saw his son againCredit: Getty Images – GettyThe boxer wept as he told the story on TNTCredit: X @boxingontntHe later revealed the emotional phone call to his dad after winning the gold, saying: “I called my dad and started screaming: ‘Yes! We won!’ My father told me: ‘I congratulate you, son. I love you’. “My father never told me he loved me. It remains in my memory as something special. I tell my children every day that I love them.”War in UkraineIn 2013 Usyk became a professional boxer, becoming a world champion in the cruiserweight division, which is just below heavyweight.A year later Russian-backed separatists took control of Crimea and parts of the east of the country.He was the undisputed champion when he defeated Brit Tony Bellew in 2018.After that Usyk stepped up to heavyweight, twice beating Anthony Joshua, the second time after Russia had launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine.That fight had been in doubt because The Cat wanted to defend his country rather than be a sportsman. He returned to his homeland in February 2022, armed himself with a rifle and joined the territorial defence force.He later recalled the night bombs began to rain down on his house in Bucha, on February 24, 2022 – his daughter Yelizaveta’s birthday.He said: “My children are asking: ‘Daddy, why do they want to kill us?’ I don’t know how to answer that.”A month after signing up to fight he was persuaded to go on training for the bout with Brit Joshua.Instead, he is providing financial support for the rebuilding of his heavily bombed homeland.In his first bout, it was reported that Fury had to agree to give £1million of his reported £115m fight fee to the reconstruction of Ukraine in order for the contest to go ahead. Usyk is funding the rebuilding of a property in Irpin where one of his friends was killed by advancing Russians who seized the city in February 2022. It was recaptured by Ukrainian forces on March 28 of the same year. He said: “In this house, there was a boxing gym of my good friend. He and I were in the national team, we went to boxing competitions together. “Oleksiy Dzhunkivskyi was shot by Russian soldiers right in this hall.”World champ Oleksandr Usyk after beating Tony Bellew in 2018Credit: PA:Press AssociationThe fighter (centre, in black) joined the Kyiv Territorial Defence in Ukraine in 2022Credit: Refer to CaptionUsyk and Yekaterina have three kidsCredit: instagram/@usykaaEeyore toy Usyk’s wife and three children, Kyrylo, Mykhalio and Yelizaveta, live in the capital, Kyiv.Unlike Fury’s wife Paris, who has appeared in reality shows with her husband, Kateryna stays out of the limelight.Usyk often speaks about how much he loves her and their children.Sometimes he can be seen clutching a cuddly Eeyore toy which was given to him by his daughter after the Russian invasion separated them.Usyk carries the Eeyore toy given to him by his daughterCredit: Instagram/@usykaaOleksandr Usyk with his daughterCredit: instagram/@usykaaThe dedicated, incredibly fit pugilist has been getting up at 4.45am every day to get in shape for the biggest bout of his career.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd before he walks out to the roaring crowd for a second time on Saturday, the spirit of his late father could be with him.Usyk said, with tears in his eyes: “Sometimes he comes to me the day before the fight. Yes, sometimes he comes the day before the fight and smiles.” More

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      in Soccer

      Inside MOTD’s ‘new signing’ Kelly Cates’ rise to top, from famous babysitter to brutal reason her footie career ended

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      LISTENING intently to her dad and his mates’ football chat as a youngster, Kelly Cates could not have had a better preparation to host Match Of The Day.For her father is Sir Kenny Dalglish — pride of Celtic and Liverpool’s Kop, with a record 102 Scottish caps, three European Cups and a clutch of league titles to his name as both a player and a manager.Kelly Cates could not have had a better preparation to host Match Of The DayCredit: GettySharing a light-hearted moment pitchside with her dad, Reds legend Kenny DalglishCredit: AlamyKelly aged four at Anfield in 1980 with mum, dad, brother Paul and the League Championship trophyCredit: GettyAnd those mates often included ­fellow medal-laden Reds Graeme Souness and Alan Hansen, both now top pundits themselves.Kelly’s one-time babysitter Graeme once said: “She is fantastic at this job because she has been in a football house all her life, listened to the daft chat on football from all of us since she was tiny.“I’d be in the living room, Alan Hansen would be in there, opinions going out all over. “She had a great insight into how this football world works.”Read More on SportWhile Kelly has absorbed the game from some of its greatest names, it’s her own deft skills behind the mic that have seen her rise to the very top in sports broadcasting.Now, alongside friends Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman, the 49-year-old is reported to be about to take over the Match Of The Day presenter’s chair from Gary Lineker.In a considerable coup for the BBC, reports suggest the corporation has managed to prise Kelly away from Sky Sports to present its flagship football programme.But she can still expect a text from her dad when she is on air if King Kenny is riled by the punditry from her guests.Most read in FootballShe revealed last month: “He texts [when she is on air], especially if my mum’s not there.Selleck ’tache“It’s if he doesn’t have anybody to sound off on. I was driving into work and decided not to sign my Sky Sports contract – it’s the scariest decision I ever made“He’ll hear a bit of our conversation, and then he will text me to chip in.“If it really bothers him, he’ll phone me on the way home.”Born the eldest of four children in Glasgow, Kelly was brought up in Southport, Merseyside, after her dad signed for Liverpool from Celtic in 1977.Her mum Marina once said: “Glasgow and Liverpool are very similar.“It’s the people — they are so friendly in both cities. “So it was very, very easy for us to settle here.”At the time Kelly was almost two years old and her brother Paul, who went on to play for Newcastle, ­Norwich and Wigan, was a baby.Two more siblings, Lynsey and Lauren, followed.Liverpool fan Kelly was always immersed in football, and said: “When I was a baby my mum took me to matches to watch my dad play.My earliest memories are of being in the players’ lounge with the other players’ childrenKelly Cates“I don’t remember a time when I didn’t go to football games.“My earliest memories are of being in the players’ lounge with the other players’ children.”Kelly in 1979 with dad Kenny’s Liverpool team-mate Graeme Souness, who used to babysit herDad Kenny with family friends Souness and Hansen celebrate Liverpool’s European Cup in 1978Credit: GettyKelly with fellow Sky presenters Clare Tomlinson and Carrie Frais in 1998Credit: RexGraeme — Kenny’s fellow Scotland international — was sometimes roped in for childcare duties. A black and white photo from 1979 shows four-year-old Kelly poking out her tongue at the hardman midfielder with the Tom Selleck ’tache and bushy hair.He recalled: “Kenny and I roomed together for ten years or more with Liverpool and Scotland and I was a regular at his place.“I was single and would turn up for Christmas lunch. “I used to babysit — or not necessarily babysit. “I’d ­volunteer to take Kelly out in her pram in the afternoons.I was single and would turn up for Christmas lunch. I used to babysit — or not necessarily babysit. I’d ­volunteer to take Kelly out in her pram in the afternoonsGraeme Souness“Without realising it, she was my introduction to some lovely young ladies. “I’d be walking along, and then, ‘What a gorgeous baby, you seen this baby?’ ”Despite her father’s elevated status as a Liverpool and Scotland legend, Kelly recalled: “When he was home he was just Dad.“I recall going to a Rod Stewart concert at Ibrox [stadium] once and him being stopped every ten metres walking around the pitch.“I was about seven and found it so weird — like, ‘What do they want with him?’“It was the same with his team-mates — to me they were always just Dad’s friends, sitting around arguing about football.”Her own efforts as a player were not a roaring success.Kelly with fiery pundit Roy KeaneCredit: MatchDay Images LimitedKelly is reported to be about to take over the Match Of The Day presenter’s chair from Gary Lineker – pictured Gabby LoganCredit: PAKelly’s pal and MOTD co-host Mark ChapmanCredit: GettyKelly said: “When I was 11 I was playing football on some concrete. I ran down the wing thinking, ‘Oh, this will be easy’, tripped over and knocked myself out. “That was the end of my football career.”After A-levels in maths, further maths, physics and chemistry, she won a place to read maths at the University of Glasgow.Then when Sky Sports News was launched in 1998, she made the brave move to give up her studies and join the fledgling station.She said: “The channel was looking for young people who loved football.“It was new, and no one was watching, so they pretty much said to us,“There wasn’t a massive budget but Sky just wanted young, enthusiastic people and they didn’t want to take too much of a risk by putting their best people on it.‘Go and play at being on the telly!’“It was a huge decision to leave university, but I thought, ‘This isn’t an opportunity I’m going to get again’.”On her broadcasting inspirations, Kelly mentions Des Lynam — who fronted Match Of The Day through the 1990s with brilliant understatement — and Gabby Logan, another daughter of a football icon, former Wales international and manager Terry Yorath.Kelly said: “Des was the gold ­standard. “He had that sense of being engaged with fans and got every ­single aspect of it right.“I loved that tone. “It’s the kind of tone that I like watching and ­listening to.“It kind of makes sense that I’d aim for, but not quite reach, that.“I always looked at Gabby’s career progress and watched her journey.“It was brilliant to see, and even though she’s not much older than me, it felt like she was always the next step.”It was undoubtedly a male-dominated profession, but Kelly insisted: “I wasn’t a trailblazer.“There were already people who put the groundwork in, like Gabby and Hazel Irvine. “I never have [encountered sexism] but I know other female reporters have.“Obviously you see a lot more women on screen now, but I’d like to see that backed up in the same numbers behind the cameras as well.“Now I’m older, I feel much more protective of younger women coming into the industry.”After Sky Sports News, Kelly worked as an interviewer and presenter for sports channels Setanta and ESPN. Then came work as a reporter for ITV at the 2010 World Cup, and for Channel 4 at the 2012 London Paralympics.She presented a Football League highlights show for Channel Five before being lured back to Sky Sports in 2016.At the helmOriginally at the helm for Football League matches, Kelly went on to become one of the most respected presenters on big Premier League fixtures.Working with Gary Neville, Jamie “Carra” Carragher and Roy Keane, she considers the current era to be a “golden age” for punditry.She said: “It’s not necessarily the players who play football naturally who talk about it in the best way.“It’s the ones who really worked at their game. “Carra, when he was playing, would go home and watch videos of Franco Baresi and other great defenders constantly, so he learnt.”Now Kelly — who also hosts a BBC Radio 5 show — is rated among the nation’s very foremost broadcasters by her peers and fans alike.Her friend and TV colleague Gabby, 51, says Kelly has an “effortless broadcast style and depth of knowledge that can pretty much rival anybody”.And she added that Kelly can also “disarm the likes of Roy Keane with a single eyebrow when she wants to shut him up”.Kelly’s formative years immersed in football mean she brings an understanding of the stresses that managers have to cope with daily.She continued: “I’ve had managers get a bit annoyed by a question but it’s often not me they are angry at. “They are under a lot of pressure.”In 2007 Kelly married TV ­producer Tom Cates and the couple had two daughters.They split in 2021, and Kelly said last month: “The girls are with their dad at weekends.“Although we’re not together, we get on fine and he’s really flexible with the girls, so we manage it mostly between us.I worked for ESPN years ago and they had a mantra of ‘Take the sport seriously but don’t take yourself seriously’. For me, that’s the best approachKelly Cates“The girls are getting a bit older now and they think they don’t need as much [from us] — that’s what they tell us, but they do.”In 2021 she revealed she was wary of dating, and added: “I don’t have a picture in my head of why a middle-aged, slightly overweight, mother-of-two could possibly be attractive. “It’s not that I’m putting myself down, it’s not a lack of confidence or low self-esteem — it’s that I just don’t know what that would look like.“I don’t want to spend my precious free time with a random.“Imagine going out with somebody and you sit there halfway through and think, ‘God, this guy’s an idiot’, you’ve just wasted a babysitter.”If Kelly has indeed landed sports broadcasting’s jewel in the crown, don’t expect this down-to-earth and seemingly unflappable presenter to start picking up airs and graces.READ MORE SUN STORIESLast month she said with characteristic modesty: “I worked for ESPN years ago and they had a mantra of ‘Take the sport seriously but don’t take yourself seriously’. “For me, that’s the best approach.”Gary Lineker is stepping down as MOTD hostCredit: BBCA HAT-TRICKOF QUALITY TV TALENTBy SHAUN CUSTIS, Head of SportYOU may not agree with the BBC’s decision to split presenting duties on Match Of The Day. But if that’s the way they have decided to go, they could not have picked three better people for the job.I’ve worked with Kelly Cates many times and she is the consummate professional.The fact many people didn’t realise she is the great Kenny Dalglish’s daughter speaks volumes for her talent on TV.She wasn’t handed her career.She had to prove herself to get the top jobs and did so by developing a relaxed but knowledgeable style which puts guests at ease and chimes well with viewers.Her fellow presenters, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan, have also more than earned their stripes. Chapman is a brilliant all-rounder who, in my view, is the best sports presenter on radio and TV, while Logan rose up through the radio ranks to host the biggest shows on BBC Sport.They are a dynamic trio. More

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      How football’s new power couple Marcus Rashford and wag Grace Jackson could rake in millions as the next Posh and Becks

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      SHE was the Love Island bombshell sent into the TV villa to shake up old flame Joey Essex and tipped to rake in millions, just like Molly-Mae Hague.And now Grace Rosa Jackson is the new beauty on the arm of England ace Marcus Rashford, 27, who she has been dating for several months.TV star Grace Rosa Jackson is dating England ace Marcus RashfordCredit: RexManchester United star Marcus has been on a series of dates with GraceCredit: GettyAn insider told The Sun the pair are “smitten” after the footballer “whisked her off on numerous dates around Cheshire” and they are said to “get on really well and have lots in common”.Marcus appears to have found the perfect blend of brains and beauty in Grace, 26, who is a savvy businesswoman as well as a fashion model and social media influencer.And brand expert Carla Speight thinks football’s latest power couple is a true “meeting of the minds” who could even become the new Posh and Becks.“Grace has got the potential to be the next Victoria Beckham — she’s already aware of the industry and she will do Marcus a lot of good, too,” Carla says.READ MORE ON GRACE Marcus is 27 now, so if he’s smart he will be looking beyond his football career.Carla Speight, brand expert“He had a taste of how far he could go with his successful school meals campaign during the pandemic, so he knows he can use his profile as a force for good.“It will be interesting to see what power move they will make together.“Marcus is 27 now, so if he’s smart he will be looking beyond his football career. He’s signed up to Jay-Z’s management company, Roc Nation.“He could follow in the footsteps of David Beckham. Marcus has already done the sportswear stuff, but has been otherwise low-key, so it will be interesting to see where this Love Island ­influence takes him.”Most read in Football‘Born for Love Island’Mancunian Grace was predicted to become the first millionaire from this year’s Love Island series — with brands queuing up to sign her, including retail giant PrettyLittleThing.In fact, immediately after leaving the villa in August, Grace signed a lucrative six-figure contract with fashion firm EGO, which her rep claimed was “a huge moment” because “no other islander has done anything like this for a first deal”.Love Island fans spot ‘clue’ that Grace’s head has already been turned by Casa hunkMany compared her to Molly-Mae Hague, the now ex-girlfriend of boxer Tommy Fury, who went from serving customers in Boots and working as a part-time lifeguard to raking in more than £6million as a model and ­influencer, with 8.3million followers.A source at the time told The Sun: “Grace is on course to be a millionaire already and a lot of brands are calling her the next Molly-Mae.”Even before heading into the Love Island villa, Grace had a blossoming career, having modelled for Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty line and online store Fashion Nova — as well as working alongside Conor McGregor to promote his Irish stout. She was also reported to have been a co-owner of Social Clubhouse, a social media management firm that launched in 2021, and events company Vamos, although she is no longer listed on the books of either at Companies House.This September, she set up her own media business, Grace Rosa Ltd. Grace’s Instagram page, which boasts 593,000 ­followers, showcases the sexiest, skimpiest and most ­stylish outfits of 2024 — which she seems to have cleverly monetised.The snaps, which she savvily signposts for fans to “shop the look”, are from enviable locations around the world and have led online ­commentators to say she was “born for Love Island”.She entertains fans with posts from stunning beaches in Marbella and Miami, Ibiza yacht parties, chic ­Parisian bars, red carpet premieres in ­London and, occasionally, from her home town of Manchester.To sit in and be single — I can’t understand why I would do that at my peak and in my mid-20s.Grace Rosa JacksonWith such a hectic schedule, it’s no surprise the aspiring star ­previously struggled to find love, once complaining: “They can’t keep up with my lifestyle!“I like to go out and go abroad a lot . . . it’s the life that I want and it helps with business. “To sit in and be single — I can’t understand why I would do that at my peak and in my mid-20s.”Grace hooked up with telly lothario Joey Essex in the Love Island villaCredit: ITVA brand expert says ‘Grace has got the potential to be the next Victoria Beckham’Credit: instagram/gracexrosaMarcus was engaged to childhood sweetheart Lucia Loi, who he met aged 15, but they split in 2023Credit: GettyIt’s that reason, and the chance of life-changing career opportunities from exposure, that led Grace to appear on Love Island in June.At the time, she said: “This is something that would push me out of my comfort zone — I don’t really date a lot. I get myself in situationships with people I know that I shouldn’t give my time to.”And producers were thrilled by the prospect of her entering as a bomb-shell, too. An insider dubbed Grace “the perfect contestant” due to her stunning looks and one other big ­ratings-puller — she was the ex of The Only Way Is Essex star Joey Essex. He was Love Island’s surprise contestant and the only islander this year who was already famous.As soon as Grace entered the villa on Day 12, the reality show veteran’s head was turned, despite him having already coupled up with Liverpudlian make-up artist Samantha Kenny.On the show, Grace revealed they’d “had a thing” after meeting in Ibiza the previous summer. The pair had also been pictured at a Halloween party in matching themed outfits as Batman villains Harley Quinn and The Joker.But she revealed their “intense” romance ended on “frosty terms”, which left her “hurt and confused”.Despite downplaying the relationship, the pair were soon making up for lost time. They had a series of steamy snogs, in spite of Samantha, before Grace chose to whisk Joey away for a night of passion in the separate Hideaway private villa.Footage of the couple’s antics was said to be so X-rated that sex-scene-loving Love Island bosses were “spoilt for choice” and had to leave footage on the cutting room floor.An insider explained at the time: “Because they knew each other before, their entire relationship is on fast forward and it’s steamy stuff — Joey can’t keep his hands off her.”They coupled up shortly after, with Grace believing they could go the distance outside the villa due to her being willing to move to Essex — said to be a hurdle during their previous fling. But within days, their romance had crumbled after new blonde bombshell Jessy Potts won over the reality hunk.While it didn’t work out for Joey and Grace, who also briefly dated fellow contestant Reuben Collins, she insisted there was no animosity and “no awkwardness” after they went “back to real life”. She also had plenty of distractions to keep her mind off the Towie star thanks to the raft of new opportunities boosting her career, as she continues to benefit from the ­exposure of such a high-profile reality romance.And now Grace’s star could be on the rise again since being linked to Three Lions wonderboy Marcus.The footie ace was previously engaged to childhood sweetheart Lucia Loi, who he met aged 15, but they split in the summer of 2023.The striker is now Man United’s second highest-paid star on £325,000 a week — but he could earn considerably more if their romance lasts and they join forces for deals.I can see Grace reviving Wag culture, which died a death after Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy. Grace could bring the spotlight back on to the ladies.Carla Speight, brand expertBut unlike Wags without careers, who are forced to depend upon their sports star partners, Grace is a force to be reckoned with away from Marcus’s millions. With his football fandom and her fashion following, they could be a top-tier power couple to rival any of the Premier League couplings.“I’m sure every girl dreams of dating a footballer and Marcus is definitely an upgrade from Joey Essex,” says Carla. “I can see Grace reviving Wag culture, which died a death after Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy. Grace could bring the spotlight back on to the ladies.“With her skillset, she could be very useful to the Wags of these footballers. READ MORE SUN STORIES”She could guide Marcus as well with the brand deals and future opportunities, because she has done that for herself. With his profile and her business head, this is a real meeting of minds.“She has enough profile to ­survive without Marcus, but it will help her level up. It will be interesting to see where they go next.”Grace found fame on ITV dating show Love IslandCredit: instagram/gracexrosaThe beauty has a large social media followingCredit: ITVMancunian Grace was predicted to become the first millionaire of this year’s Love Island seriesCredit: instagram/gracexrosaStriker Marcus is currently United’s second highest-paid player on £325,000-a-weekCredit: Getty More