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      in Motorsport

      Former F1 champ Jenson Button on driving 1963 AC Cobra at Goodwood Revival

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      IF you had a classic car worth millions of pounds, you might go easy when taking it out for a spin.But Jenson Button will not be worrying about the odd dent when he races two irreplaceable motors this weekend.
      Former F1 Champ Jenson Button will be trying his hand at historic car racing for the first time at the three-day Goodwood RevivalCredit: Nick Dungan
      Goodwood Revival is a festival of classic cars and motorcycles which has been held on the Goodwood Estate for the past three decadesCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      The former F1 champ is trying his hand at historic car racing for the first time at the three-day Goodwood Revival in West Sussex, which starts tomorrow.
      Driving a Jaguar E-type and 1963 AC Cobra, he will be up against other top drivers in a Ferrari 250 GT — one of which sold for more than £30million — an Aston Martin DB3S from the 1950s and a Ford GT40, which once dominated the Le Mans 24-hour race
      Jenson, 41, told The Sun: “As a racing driver, you can’t think about damaging the car.
      “As soon as the visor closes you drive it as hard as you can.
      “You go for the win. If we are not winning we are not happy.”
      He has clearly not lost any of the love of speed which helped him become Formula One champ in 2009, in an era when F1 cars were more dangerous.

      Last weekend Jenson’s old McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton showed how car safety technology has moved on during a horror smash at the Italian Grand Prix.
      Lewis only got out of his Mercedes unscathed because of a “halo” bar around his head, after rival racer Max Verstappen’s car landed on top of him.
      Jenson said: “I didn’t have halos when I was racing.
      “A lot of people I raced against lost their lives because they didn’t have that technology.”
      But he reckons the crash will not affect how Lewis continues to compete with his rival.
      He added: “I think it’s good these two are going at it so hard, but at some point they are going to have enough respect for each other they won’t have a crash in every race.
      ‘YOU HIT THE BRAKE AND HOPE’
      “It’s great they have that fight, but we want to see them fighting on the circuit, not ending up in the gravel track.”
      Jenson is unlikely to face similar on-track aggression this weekend from his rival Goodwood drivers.
      Also racing will be comedian Rowan Atkinson, 66, in his 70-year-old Jaguar Mk VII and an 80-year-old Bentley Parkward Saloon, F1 legend Martin Brundle, 62, in a Mini and former Le Mans winner Jochen Mass, 74, in a Riley.
      Famous fans expected at the event include Howard Donald, 53, from Take That, and petrolhead AC/DC singer Brian Johnson, 73.
      Jenson is also a big fan of old motors, owning two beautiful Jaguars — a C-Type and an XK120.
      And he loves the thrill of driving without modern aids.
      He said: “It is old-school mechanical grit, which I think makes it fun. Seeing these cars on track, it is like dancing, there is a real flow to them going through the corners.”
      But there is a major downside.
      He added: “They also don’t stop, which is the worst thing and something I have to get used to.”
      In Sunday’s RAC TT Celebration race he will be driving a 1963 AC Cobra, once raced by the legendary American Shelby team that was the subject of 2019 Matt Damon movie Le Mans.
      Jenson said: “This thing, you hit the brake and hope it doesn’t get lost on the corner.”
      But first up tomorrow he will get behind the wheel of a Jaguar E-Type in the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy.
      In both races he will tag team the drive with his childhood pal Alex Buncombe.
      Alex, 40, who has raced on the Goodwood circuit several times in the past, has warned Jenson there is, “No margin for error”.
      ‘IF YOU GO OFF, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS’
      He told his mate: “It’s an old-school circuit. If you go off, it is very dangerous.”
      Fortunately, both cars have been updated with modern roll cages so they are much safer than they were in their racing heyday back in the 1960s.
      Goodwood Revival is a festival of classic cars and motorcycles which has been held on the Goodwood Estate for the past three decades.
      Visitors dress up in fashion from the 1940s to the 1960s and there will be a vintage bike ride led by Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy, 45.
      Away from the race track there is also plenty to keep the big crowds entertained, with restoration projects highlighting the value of the “make do and mend” mindset.
      The idea of saving old cars rather than sending them to the junkyard is key to the Revival.
      There will also be DJs, a classic car auction, a hot rods parade, cocktails and an air display.
      Jenson said: “The atmosphere is a big thing with the Revival and that’s what I am excited about.”
      A PRICELESS PARADE OF SECOND-HAND CARS
      Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR ‘722’
      Driven to victory by Sir Stirling Moss in Italy’s Mille Miglia in 1958, it is priceless. And its owner has said it will never be sold. It will feature in a track parade at Goodwood. Speed: 166mphCredit: Alamy
      1964 AC Cobra
      Made by British company AC Cars, the Cobra was adapted by American car designer Carroll Shelby. Under the hammer they can go for more than £1million. Speed: 183mphCredit: Alamy
      Jaguar D Type
      Designed to impress at the Le Mans 24-hour race, a version of this British racing car won in 1955. It also formed the basis of the E-Type. One sold for £16million in 2016, a record for a Jaguar. Speed: 170mphCredit: Alamy
      Aston Martin DB4GT
      One of the most collectable cars in the British mark’s illustrious history. With just 100 ever going into production, they can fetch £1million at auction. Speed: 152mphCredit: Alamy
      Ford GT40
      These cars famously took the top three places at the Le Mans endurance race in France in 1966. Collectors are willing to pay up to £8million to get their hands on the right one.Speed: 216mphCredit: Alamy
      Ferrari 250GT SWB
      The late racing legend Sir Stirling Moss once said this Italian beauty is “perhaps the greatest road car of any make”. They have sold for £7million. Speed: 166mphCredit: Alamy
      Jenson Button says he is looking forward to return to Williams F1 team as senior advisor More

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      Inside Michael Schumacher’s marriage, his wife Corinna’s incredible sacrifices – and reason why she first fell for him

      by

      TO the outside world Michael Schumacher was the confident clean-shaven superstar of Formula One who won seven World Championships – but to his wife of 26 years Corinna, he was so much more. On the track, he was known for his unshakeable nerves and utter precision as he hurtled around the track at breakneck speeds.
      Michael Schumacher with his wife Corinna on their wedding day in 1995Credit: Netflix
      But few know the seven-time world champion like his wife CorinnaCredit: EPA
      Supporting him from the sidelines was Corinna, who was introduced to the star by a mutual friend in 1991 and four years later they married.
      She knew a different side to the motor racing legend – a true gentleman and family man who loved nothing more than to party and throw friends into the swimming pool.
      “He’s simply the most lovable person I’ve ever met,” says Corinna, who has two children Mick and Gina-Maria, with Michael.
      Family breaks their silence
      In the new documentary Schumacher, which is released on Netflix tomorrow, she gave her first in-depth interview since Michael’s horror skiing accident in 2013. 
      Mystery has surrounded her husband’s condition since he fell and hit his head on a rock while crossing an unsecured off-piste area in the French Alps in 2013. 
      It’s known that Michael suffered brain damage as a result of the fall and that he is “different” in the wake of his injuries but until now little else has been said. 
      Giving a rare insight into their lives, Corinna said: “No matter what happens, I’m going to do everything I can. We’re all going to do that.

      “We do everything we can to make Michael better and make sure he’s comfortable and just to make him feel like he’s with his family and to continue our bond.”
      In a heartbreaking admission, Corinna revealed her husband nearly decided against taking to the slopes on the day of his accident.
      She recalled: “Shortly before it happened in Méribel, he said to me, ‘The snow isn’t optimal. We could fly to Dubai and go skydiving there.” 
      Corinna said: “I never blamed God… It was just really bad luck, all the bad luck anyone could ever have in their life.”
      She was by Michael’s side from the early days when he was just a fledgling star with unimaginable pressure on his shoulders, after being tipped as one of F1’s greatest racers.
      I never once thought, ‘He’s a terrific racing driver at the start of a dazzling career.’ No one could have guessed that would happenCorinna Schumacher
      It was the small moments that attracted Corinna to him, including when she cooked a meal in celebration of his birthday and he was “the only one” to help her clean the dishes.  
      “I thought, ‘That’s a proper bloke,” she recalled. “And yes, he was really funny and that’s what I saw in him.
      “I fell in love with him simply because he was a wonderful person. I just sensed that he was something special to me. 
      “I never once thought, ‘He’s a terrific racing driver at the start of a dazzling career.’ No one could have guessed that would happen.” 
      Penniless go-karter to F1 god
      Michael likely never imagined it either. It was his father Rolf, a builder who later ran a go-kart track, who set him on the path to racing superstardom.
      At four years old, he tested pedal karts with motorcycle motors that had been made by his dad and two years later won his first club go-kart championship.
      But taking to the tracks was no easy feat for young Michael because he had little money behind him and was forced to “use the cheapest equipment”.
      He recalled: “I fished discarded tyres out of the bin, put them on my go-kart and won races with them. 
      “I was always glad to have won with the worst and not the best equipment. Having to really fight like that was an additional motivation for me.”
      At around 13, Michael competed against future rival Mika Häkkinen for the first time, who noted he was “difficult to race against”  because he “knew every corner”. 
      I fished discarded tyres out of the bin, put them on my go-kart and won races with themMichael Schumacher
      In 1988, watching in the crowd was Willi Weber, Michael’s future manager, who asked him to join his team and test F3 cars but the teen was uncertain.  
      “Of course, money was an issue,” Weber said. “Michael Schumacher had nothing at that time, not even 500 marks (around £218) to finance a season, which even then cost six hundred to seven hundred thousand”.
      Later that evening, he was delighted to be told he would earn 2,000 marks – around £873 – a month as part of a five-year contract.  
      Michael quickly rose through the ranks and was soon considered a threat to legendary F1 figure Ayrton Senna, who died after a crash in 1994. 
      He joined Ferrari two years later – which was thought to be the ultimate challenge because they had not won the Drivers’ Championship since 1979.
      Michael worked tirelessly for the F1 team but struggled to achieve his first World Championship with them until 2000. 
      Dedicated wife Corinna was by his side for every race until their children were born and made great sacrifices to ensure her husband’s success.
      I spent half the night sitting on the toilet in order not to wake him up to let him have a good night’s sleepCorinna Schumacher
      She says: “It might have been in the bus or somewhere behind the scenes, but I was always on the road with him. 
      “We always enjoyed it together. It was a support to him just knowing he wasn’t alone.
      “Michael planned practically everything down to the minute – get up at such-and-such a time, 15 to 20 minutes in the bathroom. 
      “One night, when we were in Suzuka, I realised there was no way I was going to fall asleep.
      “So I spent half the night sitting on the toilet in order not to wake him up and to let him have a good night’s sleep. So I read my book there.”
      Wild parties, pool dips & bad karaoke
      Michael retired in 2006 but four years later was back racing for Mercedes GP, where he spent his final years on the track before being replaced by Lewis Hamilton.  
      Corinna beamed with immense pride while talking about her husband but most fondly remembered the man who very few got to see.
      She says: “Michael is very suspicious, he always has been during the initial period until he thinks he knows someone or can trust them.
      “But if he opens up then it’s 100 per cent really, all the way.” 
      Those entrusted with this unseen side got to know Michael as a fun family man who loved nothing more than to play practical jokes and laugh. 
      We all ended up in the pool every time… even at our weddingCorinna Schumacher
      She says: “At parties, he was the first to arrive and the last to leave. He loved it… We laughed so much and had so much real fun.
      “We all ended up in the pool every time, that was Michael’s thing. Even at our wedding people were thrown into the pool! 
      “He couldn’t sing well, it was one of the things he didn’t do so well. But he always sang ‘My Way’ because he knew the lyrics.”
      Michael’s former rival David Coulthard described him as an “uncompromising, fast and determined racer” but also a loveable “family man”.
      He recalled: “I’ve had many social evenings with him, drinking Bacardi coke and he would have a cigar.
      “It was a completely different person because of course at that point there was no competition. It was just sharing a nice social moment together.” 
      ‘Accident was bad luck’
      That side of Michael is now sadly a distant memory. 
      Despite several near-misses on the F1 track and his love of high-adrenaline sports like skydiving, Corinna could have never imagined him landing in harm’s way.
      She says: “I don’t know if it’s just a kind of protective wall that you put up yourself or if it’s because you’re in a way naive but it simply never occurred to me that anything could ever happen to Michael.”
      Now the Schumacher family can do nothing else but carry on and live their lives in the way Michael would have wanted.
      Michael always protected us. Now we are protecting MichaelCorinna Schumacher
      Corinna says: “‘Private is private,’ he always said. It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. 
      “Michael always protected us. Now we are protecting Michael.
      “Of course I miss Michael every day but it’s not just me who misses him – the children, the family, his father, everyone who is close to him. 
      “Michael is here in a different way, but he’s here and I think that gives us strength.”
      Schumacher will be released on September 15 on Netflix.
      Michael Schumacher raced go-karts as a child and regularly took wheels out of the binCredit: Netflix
      Michael and Corinna danced a slow waltz at their wedding in 1995Credit: Netflix
      Wife Corinna made a number of sacrifices for her husband’s career including pulling all-nighters not to wake himCredit: Netflix
      Michael was an adrenaline junkie and is pictured here before a skydive with children Mick and Gina-Maria
      Schumacher and his wife Corinna in a passionate clinch back in 2003Credit: Corbis – Getty
      The F1 racing legend’s highs and low is being explored in the new Netflix doc SCHUMACHER
      Michael’s family briefly spoke out about his condition and explained why they wanted to keep his health struggles private
      Formula One star Mazepin blasts Mick Schumacher and says German team-mate ‘f****d last attempt’ in Dutch GP qualifying More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo may ditch stunning girlfriend Georgina just like he did me, says Natacha Rodrigues

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      A MODEL who claims she bedded footie superstar Cristiano Ronaldo behind his stunning girlfriend’s back warned her last night: “Keep a close eye on him in Manchester or he’ll drop you like he did me.”The 36-year-old soccer legend, who makes his Manchester United return against Newcastle on Saturday,  allegedly secretly messaged Natacha Rodrigues for two months before ­bedding her, not long after he met his partner Georgina Rodriguez, 27.
      Natacha has warned Georgina that Ronaldo may ditch herCredit: Peter Powell – The Sun
      Natacha said Ronaldo blocked her after they hooked up at his houseCredit: Peter Powell
      Now reality TV star Natacha, 25, has said it took her four years to get over the Portuguese forward after he blocked her from his life.
      Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, she said: “Cristiano dropped me like a brick and he could do the same to Georgina.
      “They say leopards never change their spots and professional footballers get a lot of attention from beautiful women who throw themselves at them. It will be the same in Manchester as it was in Europe.
      “Cristiano would be a great catch for anyone and Georgina must keep an eye on him if there’s to be trust between them and a future for them.”
      She added: “I was hurt by the way he dumped me by blocking me on Instagram after we slept together, and it still hurts now.
      “There’s always going to be a before and after in my life with Cristiano and the feeling there could have been more for us, even if we didn’t end up becoming boyfriend and girlfriend.”

      Man United’s £12.9million re-signing of Ronaldo — who this week became the greatest ever international goalscorer with 111 — is one of the biggest scoops in Premier League history.
      He is returning to the Reds after leaving in 2009, having made 196 appearances and scoring 84 goals during six years in Manchester.
      Today Natacha alleges that Ronaldo sent her racy texts praising her “beautiful” bottom, asking to “see it in the flesh” and handing her a baseball cap on the night of their tryst before ­messaging her: “Top secret, please.”
      She says she was first contacted by Ronaldo in 2015 when he was single after breaking up with Russian model Irina Shayk.
      Natacha sent him a snap of her bum on Instagram with the words “Enormous kiss”.
      She claims: “It was 1am and I did it as a joke. I never thought he’d reply. But at 6am he messaged me and things went from there. Looking back, I wish I hadn’t.

      “It was when I sent him a video of me twerking in my underwear that he said he wanted to see me in ­person. Cristiano always made it clear he liked my body.
      “He told me he loved my bum and wanted to see it personally.”
      When he asked the aspiring model her age and she responded that she was 21, he apparently said: “Great — brand-new with a good body.”
      Ronaldo allegedly invited Natacha to his flat in Lisbon on October 5, 2016, and later messaged, “Esse cuzinho”, which translates as: “This a**.”
      She claimed he cancelled at the last minute, saying he only had an hour to spare and wanted to be with her for longer.
      But  Natacha says he asked her to send more racy pictures, ­adding: “Send me a twerk — don’t forget.”
      Two days later he scored four goals for Portugal in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra.
      Natacha claims they  continued to message each other but it was only when the star was back in  his home town the following March   that they finally met up.
      Natacha sent him another picture of her bottom and says Ronaldo sent back a message saying: “Don’t be embarrassed. I love kissing bottoms.”
      He then “gave her the four-digit security code to his flat”.
      She alleged: “I couldn’t believe I was walking into Cristiano Ronaldo’s apartment.
      “My heart was racing but he was very nice and sweet and told me to act as if I was in my home.
      “I took my shoes off and poured myself a juice before sitting down next to him. We spoke about his apartment and where I was from.
      “I then took the lead, stood up, took down my trousers and bent over to show him my bottom. He smacked it and said he loved it.”
      Natacha, who has made a name for herself in her Portuguese homeland by appearing on a reality TV show called Love On Top, claimed to The Sun on Sunday in November 2017 how they had sex in March that year “everywhere but Cristiano’s bedroom” in his apartment overlooking Lisbon’s main boulevard Avenida da Liberdade.
      She says he then sent her the ­message: “I enjoyed it. We will see each other again one day. Top secret, please. Kisses.”
      Yet soon after, he blocked her calls and stopped all social media contact.
      It is not the first time he has faced  links to a woman whose bottom he was reportedly attracted to.
      In 2017, Brazilian “Miss BumBum” Erika Canela claimed to The Sun on Sunday how Ronaldo invited her round for dinner after chatting her up on WhatsApp.
      It came after he allegedly bedded another star of the beauty pageant, and Erika said: “Maybe he’s got a Miss BumBum fetish.”
      Natacha added that she hopes Ronaldo has now “settled down”.
      His girlfriend Georgina, who is expected to come to Manchester with him, gave birth to their daughter Alana Martina on November 12, 2017.
      The Spanish brunette is now a star in her own right, with 27million Instagram followers, while being a full-time mum to her first child and Cristiano’s three older children.
      ‘MISS BUMBUM FETISH’
      Natacha said: “I read Cristiano has re-signed for Manchester United and I’m happy for him. I think Georgina will want to and should move to ­Britain with him.
      “Despite what ­happened with us, I hope and pray they stay together and stay in love.
      “They seem to make the perfect couple and, despite everything, I think Cristiano could have changed as a person and a partner. His family has grown and he’s older and wiser.”
      Natacha confirmed she is still blocked on Instagram and has not had further contact with Ronaldo.
      She said: “Sadly, after ­people heard about my affair, I faced a social media backlash from people who didn’t like what happened and felt they could judge me.
      “My life has changed a lot since. I gave birth to a beautiful little girl called Lara Rose in January 2019 and I’m very happy.”
      And she said of Ronaldo and ­Georgina: “If they are happy together, and I’m sure they are, then I’m happy for them.
      “If Cristiano was my boyfriend I don’t think I’d trust him after what happened between us.
      “I’m just happy I’ve been a little part of his life, even though it didn’t end the way I might have wanted.”
      Natacha said her affair with Ronaldo turned her life upside downCredit: Peter Powell – The Sun
      Natacha says Georgina Rodriguez will have to keep her eye on RonaldoCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Ronaldo’s life will change with his return to Manchester United
      Cristiano Ronaldo’s fiancée ­Georgina Rodriguez stuns in diamonds worth £78,000 at the Venice Film Festival 2021 More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo may ditch Georgina just like he did me, says Natacha Rodrigues

      by

      A MODEL who claims she bedded footie superstar Cristiano Ronaldo behind his  stunning girlfriend’s back warned her last night: “Keep a close eye on him in Manchester or he’ll drop you like he did me.”The 36-year-old soccer legend, who makes his Manchester United return against Newcastle on Saturday,  allegedly secretly messaged Natacha Rodrigues for two months before ­bedding her, not long after he met his partner Georgina Rodriguez, 27.
      Natacha has warned Georgina that Ronaldo may ditch herCredit: Peter Powell – The Sun
      Natacha said Ronaldo blocked her after they hooked up at his houseCredit: Peter Powell
      Now reality TV star Natacha, 25, has said it took her four years to get over the Portuguese forward after he blocked her from his life.
      Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, she said: “Cristiano dropped me like a brick and he could do the same to Georgina.
      “They say leopards never change their spots and professional footballers get a lot of attention from beautiful women who throw themselves at them. It will be the same in Manchester as it was in Europe.
      “Cristiano would be a great catch for anyone and Georgina must keep an eye on him if there’s to be trust between them and a future for them.”
      She added: “I was hurt by the way he dumped me by blocking me on Instagram after we slept together, and it still hurts now.
      “There’s always going to be a before and after in my life with Cristiano and the feeling there could have been more for us, even if we didn’t end up becoming boyfriend and girlfriend.”

      Man United’s £12.9million re-signing of Ronaldo — who this week became the greatest ever international goalscorer with 111 — is one of the biggest scoops in Premier League history.
      He is returning to the Reds after leaving in 2009, having made 196 appearances and scoring 84 goals during six years in Manchester.
      Today Natacha alleges that Ronaldo sent her racy texts praising her “beautiful” bottom, asking to “see it in the flesh” and handing her a baseball cap on the night of their tryst before ­messaging her: “Top secret, please.”
      She says she was first contacted by Ronaldo in 2015 when he was single after breaking up with Russian model Irina Shayk.
      Natacha sent him a snap of her bum on Instagram with the words “Enormous kiss”.
      She claims: “It was 1am and I did it as a joke. I never thought he’d reply. But at 6am he messaged me and things went from there. Looking back, I wish I hadn’t.
      ‘ENORMOUS KISS’
      “It was when I sent him a video of me twerking in my underwear that he said he wanted to see me in ­person. Cristiano always made it clear he liked my body.
      “He told me he loved my bum and wanted to see it personally.”
      When he asked the aspiring model her age and she responded that she was 21, he apparently said: “Great — brand-new with a good body.”
      Ronaldo allegedly invited Natacha to his flat in Lisbon on October 5, 2016, and later messaged, “Esse cuzinho”, which translates as: “This a**.”
      She claimed he cancelled at the last minute, saying he only had an hour to spare and wanted to be with her for longer.
      But  Natacha says he asked her to send more racy pictures, ­adding: “Send me a twerk — don’t forget.”
      Two days later he scored four goals for Portugal in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra.
      Natacha claims they  continued to message each other but it was only when the star was back in  his home town the following March   that they finally met up.
      Natacha sent him another picture of her bottom and says Ronaldo sent back a message saying: “Don’t be embarrassed. I love kissing bottoms.”
      He then “gave her the four-digit security code to his flat”.
      She alleged: “I couldn’t believe I was walking into Cristiano Ronaldo’s apartment.
      “My heart was racing but he was very nice and sweet and told me to act as if I was in my home.
      “I took my shoes off and poured myself a juice before sitting down next to him. We spoke about his apartment and where I was from.
      “I then took the lead, stood up, took down my trousers and bent over to show him my bottom. He smacked it and said he loved it.”
      Natacha, who has made a name for herself in her Portuguese homeland by appearing on a reality TV show called Love On Top, claimed to The Sun on Sunday in November 2017 how they had sex in March that year “everywhere but Cristiano’s bedroom” in his apartment overlooking Lisbon’s main boulevard Avenida da Liberdade.
      She says he then sent her the ­message: “I enjoyed it. We will see each other again one day. Top secret, please. Kisses.”
      Yet soon after, he blocked her calls and stopped all social media contact.
      It is not the first time he has faced  links to a woman whose bottom he was reportedly attracted to.
      In 2017, Brazilian “Miss BumBum” Erika Canela claimed to The Sun on Sunday how Ronaldo invited her round for dinner after chatting her up on WhatsApp.
      It came after he allegedly bedded another star of the beauty pageant, and Erika said: “Maybe he’s got a Miss BumBum fetish.”
      Natacha added that she hopes Ronaldo has now “settled down”.
      His girlfriend Georgina, who is expected to come to Manchester with him, gave birth to their daughter Alana Martina on November 12, 2017.
      The Spanish brunette is now a star in her own right, with 27million Instagram followers, while being a full-time mum to her first child and Cristiano’s three older children.
      ‘MISS BUMBUM FETISH’
      Natacha said: “I read Cristiano has re-signed for Manchester United and I’m happy for him. I think Georgina will want to and should move to ­Britain with him.
      “Despite what ­happened with us, I hope and pray they stay together and stay in love.
      “They seem to make the perfect couple and, despite everything, I think Cristiano could have changed as a person and a partner. His family has grown and he’s older and wiser.”
      Natacha confirmed she is still blocked on Instagram and has not had further contact with Ronaldo.
      She said: “Sadly, after ­people heard about my affair, I faced a social media backlash from people who didn’t like what happened and felt they could judge me.
      “My life has changed a lot since. I gave birth to a beautiful little girl called Lara Rose in January 2019 and I’m very happy.”
      And she said of Ronaldo and ­Georgina: “If they are happy together, and I’m sure they are, then I’m happy for them.
      “If Cristiano was my boyfriend I don’t think I’d trust him after what happened between us.
      “I’m just happy I’ve been a little part of his life, even though it didn’t end the way I might have wanted.”
      Natacha said her affair with Ronaldo turned her life upside downCredit: Peter Powell – The Sun
      Natacha says Georgina Rodriguez will have to keep her eye on RonaldoCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Ronaldo’s life will change with his return to Manchester United
      Cristiano Ronaldo’s fiancée ­Georgina Rodriguez stuns in diamonds worth £78,000 at the Venice Film Festival 2021 More

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      It’s a lucky escape for Mrs Kane… Man City ruined my marriage, says Riyad Mahrez’s former wife Rita Johal

      by

      THE ex-wife of Man City ace Riyad Mahrez has claimed he turned his back on her and their family after signing for the club.Today singer Rita Johal says the winger, who earns £160,000 a week, transformed from a down-to-earth dad who shopped in Asda into a “big head” after his move from Leicester City.
      Rita said: ‘Harry Kane’s wife probably had a lucky escape’Credit: Nick Obank – The Sun
      Rita said: ‘It was 2014 and I didn’t have a clue who he was. He wasn’t a big name then’Credit: Instagram
      And she thinks England ace Harry Kane’s wife Kate should breathe a sigh of relief now that his £160million transfer to Man City has collapsed.
      Rita, 28, exclusively told The Sun on Sunday: “I can’t comment on other people’s lives but moving there changed my husband.
      “Harry Kane’s wife probably had a lucky escape. Others should be careful.
      “Riyad let fame go to his head. He changed when he went to Manchester City.
      “But a footballer’s career is short-lived.
      “They should remain grounded and loyal to those they care for, even when they have moved up to a bigger club, because when it’s all over they will realise who’s truly there.”
      Rita told how she changed her faith for Muslim Riyad, stopped drinking alcohol and accepted a quiet life with the star when she first met him seven years ago.
      But when he moved north for £60million in 2018, she says Riyad, 30, turned cold towards her.

      Now he has moved on and is engaged to influencer Taylor Ward.
      Rita said: “The Riyad I met is a different person to the one he is now. He parties, he acts like a flash footballer.
      “I don’t hate him, that’s a strong word, but I am shocked and saddened by what he has done.
      “He suddenly left me, blaming the pressures of playing at Manchester City.
      “Now he spends all his time jetting around the place on holiday without a care in the world.”
      Rita, who has worked as a film extra in Kingsman: The Secret Service, and Cinderella, was walking in Oxford Street in her home city of London when Riyad tapped on her shoulder.
      She said: “It was 2014 and I didn’t have a clue who he was. He wasn’t a big name then.
      “But he was charming and I liked him. He was lovely to me, constantly telling me I was beautiful, asking about my life, making me feel special.
      “He said he loved me and wanted me to have his children.”
      The pair became inseparable and just four months later they married in a secret ceremony.
      Rita said: “We had a small wedding at home.
      “I loved him, I wanted to do that. I changed the way I was for him. I changed my faith.
      “I stopped drinking, as he didn’t drink. I loved his values. And I wanted a solid family life.
      “I wanted us to be strong together like my own parents and he felt the same way.
      “Our wedding was low key at home with two priests and our close family.
      “We were madly in love and we wanted to be together for ever.”
      They went on to have daughter Inaya in 2015.
      During the pregnancy, Rita suffered such bad pre-eclampsia she feared she would die and was wary of trying to have another child.
      But a year later the couple ­­welcomed a second daughter, Ayla.
      She said: “I was terrified about having more children but Riyad really wanted us to extend our family. I was scared but he kept reassuring me everything would be OK. We were overjoyed when Ayla was born.
      “At first we were just a normal family.
      “Riyad wasn’t flash. Yes, he was a footballer, but we were just your regular couple with our two little girls.
      “He went and played football, I was a stay-at-home mum. We would watch films together.”
      But in July 2018, Manchester City confirmed his signing on a five-year contract. The transfer fee of £60million made him the club’s then most expensive player.
      Rita says that is when their lives changed completely. Rita, now living in Beaconsfield, Bucks, said: “The loving, humble and caring Riyad disappeared.
      “He started to believe his own hype. He had yes men who told him what he wanted to hear. I started to see the change in him.
      “He stopped asking me how my day went and what I was going to do.
      “I think I became the boring wife at home and he had this glitzy lifestyle away from me.
      “He started to just ignore me.
      “Obviously I asked what was going on and he would say, ‘I am pressured, it is the football, I am stressed’.”
      Things went downhill further until the Manchester City ace moved out of the family home in 2019.
      Rita says: “It got worse and worse. Eventually he moved into our spare room.
      “And then one day he left and checked into a hotel.
      “He just left the family. He left us — he chose a new life.
      “I begged him to come home. He said he couldn’t because he felt so pressured because of football.
      “The truth is he was bored. It was dreadful for me.
      “His fans bullied me online and I felt like a failure.
      Rita and Riyad in happier times at the BT Sport Awards in 2017Credit: Splash News
      Riyad and Rita celebrate with the Premier League trophyCredit: Getty – Contributor
      “For a long time I didn’t have the strength to speak about it.
      “And then when I did, because I had publicised the fact he had walked out, I was the one accused of cheating.
      “There was a huge backlash on social media and I was bullied again, even though in my eyes I was the victim.”
      Last February Riyad started dating Taylor Ward, the daughter of Real Housewives Of Cheshire stars Dawn and Ashley Ward, himself a former footballer.
      Taylor, 23, moved into his luxury flat in December last year and earlier this year they bought a £2million home in Cheshire.
      And in June, the Algeria national team captain proposed with a £400,000 custom-made engagement ring.
      Rita, who is now dating 28-year-old music producer Fumez The Engineer, said: “I found out that he was going out with Taylor via Instagram, because people kept tagging me in photos of him.
      “He didn’t have the decency to tell the mother of his children that he had a new partner.
      “I found out that he was engaged to Taylor on Instagram too. I wish him all the happiness there is but he appears to live a different lifestyle now.
      “He stopped talking to me for a long time after he left. I don’t know why. I did nothing wrong.
      “He will mainly talk via my mum, which is ridiculous. It’s hurtful.
      “I just hope once the glitz of football has gone he doesn’t live to regret it.”
      Riyad and fiancée Taylor with a £400,000 ringCredit: Instagram
      Riyad in action playing for Man CityCredit: Getty
      England ace Harry Kane is now remaining at Spurs, pictured with wife KateCredit: Rex
      Man City star Riyad Mahrez split from his wife and is now dating RHOC star Dawn Ward’s daughter Taylor More

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      in Soccer

      It’s a lucky escape for Mrs Kane… Man City ruined my marriage, says Riyad Mahrez’s ex-wife Rita Johal

      by

      THE ex-wife of Man City ace Riyad Mahrez has claimed he turned his back on her and their family after signing for the club.Today singer Rita Johal says the winger, who earns £160,000 a week, transformed from a down-to-earth dad who shopped in Asda into a “big head” after his move from Leicester City.
      Rita said: ‘Harry Kane’s wife probably had a lucky escape’Credit: Nick Obank – The Sun
      Rita said: ‘It was 2014 and I didn’t have a clue who he was. He wasn’t a big name then’Credit: Instagram
      And she thinks England ace Harry Kane’s wife Kate should breathe a sigh of relief now that his £160million transfer to Man City has collapsed.
      Rita, 28, exclusively told The Sun on Sunday: “I can’t comment on other people’s lives but moving there changed my husband.
      “Harry Kane’s wife probably had a lucky escape. Others should be careful.
      “Riyad let fame go to his head. He changed when he went to Manchester City.
      “But a footballer’s career is short-lived.
      “They should remain grounded and loyal to those they care for, even when they have moved up to a bigger club, because when it’s all over they will realise who’s truly there.”
      Rita told how she changed her faith for Muslim Riyad, stopped drinking alcohol and accepted a quiet life with the star when she first met him seven years ago.
      But when he moved north for £60million in 2018, she says Riyad, 30, turned cold towards her.

      Now he has moved on and is engaged to influencer Taylor Ward.
      Rita said: “The Riyad I met is a different person to the one he is now. He parties, he acts like a flash footballer.
      “I don’t hate him, that’s a strong word, but I am shocked and saddened by what he has done.
      “He suddenly left me, blaming the pressures of playing at Manchester City.
      “Now he spends all his time jetting around the place on holiday without a care in the world.”
      Rita, who has worked as a film extra in Kingsman: The Secret Service, and Cinderella, was walking in Oxford Street in her home city of London when Riyad tapped on her shoulder.
      She said: “It was 2014 and I didn’t have a clue who he was. He wasn’t a big name then.
      “But he was charming and I liked him. He was lovely to me, constantly telling me I was beautiful, asking about my life, making me feel special.
      “He said he loved me and wanted me to have his children.”
      The pair became inseparable and just four months later they married in a secret ceremony.
      Rita said: “We had a small wedding at home.
      “I loved him, I wanted to do that. I changed the way I was for him. I changed my faith.
      “I stopped drinking, as he didn’t drink. I loved his values. And I wanted a solid family life.
      “I wanted us to be strong together like my own parents and he felt the same way.
      “Our wedding was low key at home with two priests and our close family.
      “We were madly in love and we wanted to be together for ever.”
      They went on to have daughter Inaya in 2015.
      During the pregnancy, Rita suffered such bad pre-eclampsia she feared she would die and was wary of trying to have another child.
      But a year later the couple ­­welcomed a second daughter, Ayla.
      She said: “I was terrified about having more children but Riyad really wanted us to extend our family. I was scared but he kept reassuring me everything would be OK. We were overjoyed when Ayla was born.
      “At first we were just a normal family.
      “Riyad wasn’t flash. Yes, he was a footballer, but we were just your regular couple with our two little girls.
      “He went and played football, I was a stay-at-home mum. We would watch films together.”
      But in July 2018, Manchester City confirmed his signing on a five-year contract. The transfer fee of £60million made him the club’s then most expensive player.
      Rita says that is when their lives changed completely. Rita, now living in Beaconsfield, Bucks, said: “The loving, humble and caring Riyad disappeared.
      “He started to believe his own hype. He had yes men who told him what he wanted to hear. I started to see the change in him.
      “He stopped asking me how my day went and what I was going to do.
      “I think I became the boring wife at home and he had this glitzy lifestyle away from me.
      “He started to just ignore me.
      “Obviously I asked what was going on and he would say, ‘I am pressured, it is the football, I am stressed’.”
      Things went downhill further until the Manchester City ace moved out of the family home in 2019.
      Rita says: “It got worse and worse. Eventually he moved into our spare room.
      “And then one day he left and checked into a hotel.
      “He just left the family. He left us — he chose a new life.
      “I begged him to come home. He said he couldn’t because he felt so pressured because of football.
      “The truth is he was bored. It was dreadful for me.
      “His fans bullied me online and I felt like a failure.
      Rita and Riyad in happier times at the BT Sport Awards in 2017Credit: Splash News
      Riyad and Rita celebrate with the Premier League trophyCredit: Getty – Contributor
      “For a long time I didn’t have the strength to speak about it.
      “And then when I did, because I had publicised the fact he had walked out, I was the one accused of cheating.
      “There was a huge backlash on social media and I was bullied again, even though in my eyes I was the victim.”
      Last February Riyad started dating Taylor Ward, the daughter of Real Housewives Of Cheshire stars Dawn and Ashley Ward, himself a former footballer.
      Taylor, 23, moved into his luxury flat in December last year and earlier this year they bought a £2million home in Cheshire.
      And in June, the Algeria national team captain proposed with a £400,000 custom-made engagement ring.
      Rita, who is now dating 28-year-old music producer Fumez The Engineer, said: “I found out that he was going out with Taylor via Instagram, because people kept tagging me in photos of him.
      “He didn’t have the decency to tell the mother of his children that he had a new partner.
      “I found out that he was engaged to Taylor on Instagram too. I wish him all the happiness there is but he appears to live a different lifestyle now.
      “He stopped talking to me for a long time after he left. I don’t know why. I did nothing wrong.
      “He will mainly talk via my mum, which is ridiculous. It’s hurtful.
      “I just hope once the glitz of football has gone he doesn’t live to regret it.”
      Riyad and fiancée Taylor with a £400,000 ringCredit: Instagram
      Riyad in action playing for Man CityCredit: Getty
      England ace Harry Kane is now remaining at Spurs, pictured with wife KateCredit: Rex
      Man City star Riyad Mahrez split from his wife and is now dating RHOC star Dawn Ward’s daughter Taylor More

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      in Soccer

      It’s a lucky escape for Mrs Kane… Man City ruined my marriage, says Riyad Mahrez’s ex Rita Johal

      by

      THE ex-wife of Man City star Riyad Mahrez has claimed he turned his back on her and their family after signing for the club.Today singer Rita Johal says the winger, who earns £160,000 a week, transformed from a down-to-earth dad who shopped in Asda into a “big head” after his move from Leicester City.
      Rita said: ‘Harry Kane’s wife probably had a lucky escape’Credit: Nick Obank – The Sun
      Rita said: ‘It was 2014 and I didn’t have a clue who he was. He wasn’t a big name then’Credit: Instagram
      And she thinks England ace Harry Kane’s wife Kate should breathe a sigh of relief now that his £160million transfer to Man City has collapsed.
      Rita, 28, exclusively told The Sun on Sunday: “I can’t comment on other people’s lives but moving there changed my husband.
      “Harry Kane’s wife probably had a lucky escape. Others should be careful.
      “Riyad let fame go to his head. He changed when he went to Manchester City.
      “But a footballer’s career is short-lived.
      “They should remain grounded and loyal to those they care for, even when they have moved up to a bigger club, because when it’s all over they will realise who’s truly there.”
      Rita told how she changed her faith for Muslim Riyad, stopped drinking alcohol and accepted a quiet life with the star when she first met him seven years ago.
      But when he moved north for £60million in 2018, she says Riyad, 30, turned cold towards her.

      Now he has moved on and is engaged to influencer Taylor Ward.
      Rita said: “The Riyad I met is a different person to the one he is now. He parties, he acts like a flash footballer.
      “I don’t hate him, that’s a strong word, but I am shocked and saddened by what he has done.
      “He suddenly left me, blaming the pressures of playing at Manchester City.
      “Now he spends all his time jetting around the place on holiday without a care in the world.”
      Rita, who has worked as a film extra in Kingsman: The Secret Service, and Cinderella, was walking in Oxford Street in her home city of London when Riyad tapped on her shoulder.
      She said: “It was 2014 and I didn’t have a clue who he was. He wasn’t a big name then.
      “But he was charming and I liked him. He was lovely to me, constantly telling me I was beautiful, asking about my life, making me feel special.
      “He said he loved me and wanted me to have his children.”
      The pair became inseparable and just four months later they married in a secret ceremony.
      Rita said: “We had a small wedding at home.
      “I loved him, I wanted to do that. I changed the way I was for him. I changed my faith.
      “I stopped drinking, as he didn’t drink. I loved his values. And I wanted a solid family life.
      “I wanted us to be strong together like my own parents and he felt the same way.
      “Our wedding was low key at home with two priests and our close family.
      “We were madly in love and we wanted to be together for ever.”
      They went on to have daughter Inaya in 2015.
      During the pregnancy, Rita suffered such bad pre-eclampsia she feared she would die and was wary of trying to have another child.
      But a year later the couple ­­welcomed a second daughter, Ayla.
      She said: “I was terrified about having more children but Riyad really wanted us to extend our family. I was scared but he kept reassuring me everything would be OK. We were overjoyed when Ayla was born.
      “At first we were just a normal family.
      “Riyad wasn’t flash. Yes, he was a footballer, but we were just your regular couple with our two little girls.
      “He went and played football, I was a stay-at-home mum. We would watch films together.”
      But in July 2018, Manchester City confirmed his signing on a five-year contract. The transfer fee of £60million made him the club’s then most expensive player.
      Rita says that is when their lives changed completely. Rita, now living in Beaconsfield, Bucks, said: “The loving, humble and caring Riyad disappeared.
      “He started to believe his own hype. He had yes men who told him what he wanted to hear. I started to see the change in him.
      “He stopped asking me how my day went and what I was going to do.
      “I think I became the boring wife at home and he had this glitzy lifestyle away from me.
      “He started to just ignore me.
      “Obviously I asked what was going on and he would say, ‘I am pressured, it is the football, I am stressed’.”
      Things went downhill further until the Manchester City ace moved out of the family home in 2019.
      Rita says: “It got worse and worse. Eventually he moved into our spare room.
      “And then one day he left and checked into a hotel.
      “He just left the family. He left us — he chose a new life.
      “I begged him to come home. He said he couldn’t because he felt so pressured because of football.
      “The truth is he was bored. It was dreadful for me.
      “His fans bullied me online and I felt like a failure.
      Rita and Riyad in happier times at the BT Sport Awards in 2017Credit: Splash News
      Riyad and Rita celebrate with the Premier League trophyCredit: Getty – Contributor
      “For a long time I didn’t have the strength to speak about it.
      “And then when I did, because I had publicised the fact he had walked out, I was the one accused of cheating.
      “There was a huge backlash on social media and I was bullied again, even though in my eyes I was the victim.”
      Last February Riyad started dating Taylor Ward, the daughter of Real Housewives Of Cheshire stars Dawn and Ashley Ward, himself a former footballer.
      Taylor, 23, moved into his luxury flat in December last year and earlier this year they bought a £2million home in Cheshire.
      And in June, the Algeria national team captain proposed with a £400,000 custom-made engagement ring.
      Rita, who is now dating 28-year-old music producer Fumez The Engineer, said: “I found out that he was going out with Taylor via Instagram, because people kept tagging me in photos of him.
      “He didn’t have the decency to tell the mother of his children that he had a new partner.
      “I found out that he was engaged to Taylor on Instagram too. I wish him all the happiness there is but he appears to live a different lifestyle now.
      “He stopped talking to me for a long time after he left. I don’t know why. I did nothing wrong.
      “He will mainly talk via my mum, which is ridiculous. It’s hurtful.
      “I just hope once the glitz of football has gone he doesn’t live to regret it.”
      Riyad and fiancée Taylor with a £400,000 ringCredit: Instagram
      Riyad in action playing for Man CityCredit: Getty
      England ace Harry Kane is now remaining at Spurs, pictured with wife KateCredit: Rex
      Man City star Riyad Mahrez split from his wife and is now dating RHOC star Dawn Ward’s daughter Taylor More

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      in Soccer

      After Jack Grealish’s dodgy trousers with Ellie Brown – here’s other footballers’ WORST outfits

      by

      JACK Grealish has hit the big time with his £100million transfer to Man City making him the priciest English player ever – but as the 25-year-old showed, he can still look like he’s wearing jumble sale cast-offs.But dodgy fashion is all part of the game.
      Jack Grealish wore some daring trousers on a night out with Ellie BrownCredit: AaronParfitt
      Sun stylist and TalkSport fashion expert Abby McHale calls foul on footie’s outfit outrages, dishing out yellow cards for mild offenders and red for the worst.
      RED CARD
      Tom Davies is known for his OTT looks but this was too muchCredit: Getty
      WHERE to begin . . .  Everton player Tom Davies is known for his OTT looks but I wonder if he might not have realised that he had stepped out in his dressing gown on this particular day.
      Maybe he couldn’t see straight through his sepia-tinted specs.
      Tom may love fashion but he has scored an own goal with this odd outfit from the dressing- up box.

      YELLOW CARD
      Glen Hoddle and Chris Waddle’s style hasn’t stood the test of timeCredit: Jon Bond -The Sun
      GLENN HODDLE and his Spurs and England teammate Chris Waddle wore wet-look jackets with mullet hairstyles in the photoshoot for their Diamond Lights single in 1987.
      Sadly their style has not stood the test of time – and nor has their music.
      YELLOW CARD
      Gareth Bale’s cut-off jeans weren’t even the worst thing about this outfitCredit: Solarpix
      IT seems Gareth Bale got dressed from the wrong ward-robe on this day back in 2013 when he chose a white cardigan, cut-off pedal pusher-style jeans and a man bag.
      Gareth, then 24, may have been preened to perfection – just look at those sideburns – after returning to his hotel following a training session for Real Madrid, but this outfit is in a white state.
      RED CARD
      Graelish and Paul Gascoigne share a flamboyant fashion senseCredit: Rex
      WHILE Jack Grealish has been compared to Paul Gascoigne for his natural flair on the pitch, it seems they share a taste for flamboyant fashion, too.
      Check out this garish suit that Gazza wore in 1996. He may have been playing for Glasgow Rangers at the time – but that doesn’t excuse him dressing up like a bagpipe.
      YELLOW CARD
      Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Jamie Redknapp were dubbed the Liverpool Spice Boys for these jacketsCredit: Getty
      THEY might look like the Men from Del Monte, but Liverpool’s hottest players Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Jamie Redknapp bravely wore these white Armani suits to the 1996 FA Cup final against Manchester United – and were dubbed the Liverpool Spice Boys.
      What a fashion statement. And then they went on to lose the match 1-0 and became a laughing stock.
      RED CARD
      Oli McBurnie’s tracksuit was made worse by being tucked into knee-length socks
      IT’S not just top-tier players who try to push the fashion boundaries, as Sheffield United star Oli McBurnie shows in this brown tracksuit with primary blue and red chevrons across it.
      He ought to pull his socks up when it comes to his outfit choices . . .  but not literally, like he has done here.
      RED CARD
      Wayne Rooney took short shorts to a whole new level in 2003
      WAYNE ROONEY showed the thigh is the limit with these short shorts, sucking on an extremely large lollipop while on holiday with Coleen in 2003.
      OK, he was only 17, but he looked more like a baby than a pro footballer.
      The only player to make two appearances in our fashion faux pas hall of fame, his dress sense has matured slightly, now that he is Derby’s manager.
      RED CARD
      Ashley Cole was no angel in an all-frills white suitCredit: Getty
      APPEARING with his then wife Cheryl at a National Lottery photocall back in 2006, Ashley Cole looked like he’d fallen from heaven in this all-white ensemble, with buttoned-down shirt, frills and a heart necklace.
      But sadly Ashley was no angel in the marriage, and the dynamic dressing duo split soon afterwards.
      RED CARD
      You wouldn’t know Paul Pogba was worth £90m in this outfitCredit: BackGrid
      YOU wouldn’t think Man United’s French midfielder Paul Pogba is worth around £90million when you see him in this outfit. Maybe it was spitting and the 28-year-old was sheltering from the rain – he was up north, after all, watching his teammates play Wigan in the FA Cup.
      My advice, if you’re living north of Watford Gap – invest in a brolly.
      RED CARD
      Hector Bellerin’s fashion experiment didn’t quite pay off two years agoCredit: Getty
      TOO cool for school, Arsenal’s Spanish defender Hector Bellerin often experiments with his clothing.
      However, here he looks like a cross between an extra in The Matrix and Zoolander.
      Maybe he ought to stick to what he knows best – while in a footie strip.
      YELLOW CARD
      The 2005 Man Utd squad didn’t look like a team of millionaire playersCredit: Eamon and James Clarke
      LOOKING like a sad Blazin’ Squad tribute act, the 2005 Manchester United team certainly didn’t seem like millionaire footballers – hands in pockets and wearing their stone-washed denims.
      We all have those fashion crossroads in life and at least Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes have improved their clobber since, regularly suited and booted as TV pundits.
      England star Jack Grealish spotted on celebrity dating app Raya More