Football features

NEVER underestimate the power football has to surprise.
Over the years, SunSport has seen it’s fair share of weird transfers. Players swapping their glamour days for a runout at Barnet, for example.

Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano shocked the world when they signed for West Ham in 2006Credit: PA:Press Association

And then there are some who the so-called big clubs take a punt on – swooping on an unsuspecting ‘smaller club’ to make an odd signing.
In the wake of Barnsley being linked with an audacious move for Mario Balotelli, here’s some of the weirdest transfers we’ve ever come across.
NICKLAS BENDTNER
On the final day of the transfer window in August 2012, Juventus were short of a centre forward.
But even Arsenal fans, who had grown tired of Nicklas Bendtner’s off-the-field antics, were shocked the Italian giants went for their Danish striker.

Especially since the previous season he had failed to pull up any trees at Sunderland.
That didn’t deter Juve who gambled on the forward, but injury problems restricted him to just 11 appearances – and he failed to score.
Unsurprisingly, the Serie A side didn’t take up an option of buying him permanently.

Arsenal fans were left stunned when Serie A giants Juventus took troubled striker Nicklas Bendtner off their handsCredit: AP:Associated Press

Bendtner failed to score in 11 games for the club and a permanent move was quashedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
BOJAN KRCIC
The former Barcelona man was the epitome of the question; can he do it on a rainy Tuesday night at Stoke?

The simple answer was no, despite Bojan had the benefit of playing for the home side too.
Mark Hughes concluded the surprise deal for the man labelled the next Messi in 2014 for just £1.8million.
“Anyone who knows European football will be aware of him as a player and the fact that he sees his future at Stoke City is really exciting,” Hughes beamed at the time.
16 goals in 85 games later he was flogged to MLS side Montreal Impact in 2019.

Bojan Krcic swapped Barcelona for StokeCredit: Action Images – Reuters
TEVEZ AND MASCHERANO
Probably one of the most audacious double-signings in Premier League history.
No wonder then West Ham boss Alan Pardew had a smile like a Cheshire cat at their unveiling back in 2006.
The Argentinian duo were plucked from Corinthians, and only stayed with the Hammers for a season with Tevez joining Manchester United and Mascherano signing for Liverpool.
Tevez would write his name in the history books by scoring a goal that secured the club’s Premier League safety.
Later, Pardew revealed he had only asked his chief executive to buy James Milner and then his Christmas came early.

Carlos Tevez helped save West Ham from relegationCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
LUTHER BLISSETT
Cruelly called Luther ‘Miss it’ by away fans, Blissett is a Watford legend and their all-time top goalscorer.
After winning the First Division Golden Boot in 1983, AC Milan paid £1million to bring him to Italy.
But Blissett struggled to settle in Italy, scoring just five times in 30 appearances in the club.
His dietary requirements were also unfulfilled.
“No matter how much money you have here, you can’t seem to get Rice Krispies,” he said.

AC Milan gambled on Watford legend Luther Blissett, who failed to settle in ItalyCredit: AP:Associated Press
EDGAR DAVIDS
One of the finest midfielders of his generation, it was a shock to see Edgar Davids end up at Barnet.
After all, this was a former Dutch international who had won the Champions League with Ajax, and played for AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan and Barcelona in a star-studded career.
Still, in 2012 – still living in North London after a spell at Spurs and then Crystal Palace – he became player manager of League Two Barnet.
However, he struggled to keep his discipline on the pitch – getting sent off three times in his first eight games of the 2013-14 season and picking up a booking in every one of those matches.
His bizarre managerial career took a new turn when he decided to wear the No1 jersey normally worn by goalkeepers, insisting he was setting a trend for midfielders to don that number. He resigned in 2014.

After starring at Ajax, Juventus, AC Milan and Tottenham, Edgar Davids opted to end his career at League Two BarnetCredit: Getty Images – Getty
FERNANDO HIERRO, YOURI DJORKAEF AND JAY JAY OKOCHA
There was no doubt Sam Allardyce had big plans for Bolton Wanderers.
Although they were in their twilight years, between 2002-2004 Real Madrid legend Fernando Hierro, France World Cup winner Youri Djorkaef and the remarkably gifted Jay-Jay Okocha all played for the club at the same time.
Okocha joined from PSG on a free transfer, and soon became a fans’ favourite.
Djorkaeff scored an impressive 21 goals from 87 games from midfield, initially snubbing interest from Manchester United and Liverpool for three years with the Trotters.
While Hierro finished his career playing for Wanderers aged 37.

Youri Djorkaef and Jay-Jay Okocha were part of a dream team of foreign signings at BoltonCredit: Reuters

Real Madrid legend Fernardo Hierro enjoyed his final year as a pro with the TrottersCredit: PA:Empics Sport
ROBERTO MANCINI
Mancini enjoyed a stellar career at Sampdoria, where he helped the club win Serie A, four Coppa Italia titles, as well the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Three years followed at Lazio, but no one could’ve envisaged what was going to happen next.

Mancini joined Peter Taylor’s Leicester City on loan – making his debut against Arsenal in 2001 at the grand old age of 36.
However, he failed to complete 90 minutes in his only five games for the club.
His contract was torn up in February, when Mancini decided he wanted to manage Fiorentina.

Roberto Mancini joined Leicester City at 36 from Lazio, but failed to reach previous heightsCredit: PA:Press Association More

IN these cases, it’s not what happens behind closed doors, stays behind close doors.
These gorgeous Wags have all embarrassed their footballing beau’s by revealing their intimate bedroom secrets.

Abbey Clancy is one of many Wags who have embarrassed their partners by revealing their bedroom secretsCredit: Getty – Contributor

From sexy nicknames to sex bans, we’ve heard it all.
Let SunSport remind you of when Wags have said too much about their sex lives.
WANDA NARA
Wanda isn’t afraid of telling the world about what goes on in her boudoir.
Earlier this year, the Argentinian beauty said she gives oral sex every night after a fan tried to taunt her about a rumoured x-rated sex tape.

But, when it comes to Icardi, she revealed she won’t try to lure him into the bedroom when his team have lost a game.
She was asked her thoughts on ex- boss Antonio Conte’s claims that footballers should make as little effort as possible during sex.
Nara said: “I do not know what to say.
“He should try it before a match but Mauro is very professional and does not do anything before a match.

Argentine beauty Wanda Nara once revealed she gives oral sex every nightCredit: Instagram

The wife of Mauro Icardi also revealed if her husband’s team lose he doesn’t want to have sex with herCredit: Refer to Caption
“Only after and if the match went well.
“If it does not go well, he does not even want to look at me.”
ABBEY CLANCY
This year, Abbey made the startling revelation that she didn’t have sex with husband Peter Crouch while she was pregnant with their fourth child, because they “hated each other.”
The blonde beauty  revealed the two barely got on during the early stages of her pregnancy with youngest son Jack.
Speaking during the couple’s livestream with Love Magazine: “In seven weeks we haven’t had one argument.
“When I got pregnant with Jack we hated each other – we didn’t even have sex.”
Clancy also banned Crouch from having sex with her in 2013, while she was filming Strictly Come Dancing for 13 weeks.
And after winning the Glitterball Trophy, she revealed they were going to make up for last time.
She told the Daily Star: “Let’s just say Peter is looking forward to having me back.
“He just kissed me and twirled me around when I won. I need to spend some quality time with him.”

Clancy revealed she didn’t have sex with Crouch when she was pregnant with their fourth childCredit: Refer to Caption

Clancy said the pair “hated each other”
MELISSA SATTA-BOATENG
The incredibly beautiful Wag wasn’t afraid to dish the dirt on husband, Kevin-Prince Boateng.
Football fans will know Boateng has had his problems with injuries over the years.
And believe it or not, Melissa said she had the answer. They were having too much sex.
“The reason why he is always injured is because we have sex seven to ten times a week,” Satta-Boateng once claimed.
She added: “I’m afraid that’s the reason for the strain,” with Kevin-Prince out of action for most of 2012 with a thigh complaint.

Melissa Satta-Boateng revealed the reason behind husband Kevin-Prince Boateng’s injury problemsCredit: Instagram

Melissa-Satta Boateng said the pair were having too much sex Credit: Instagram
VERA RIBEIRO
When your missus is a sex therapist, you can expect your love life to be an open forum.
So, Portugal goalie Rui Patricio knew just what he was doing when he shacked up sexologist Vera.
Ribeiro hit the headlines in 2018 when she advised Portugal stars to masturbate at the World Cup to relax.
“Nothing positive can come from abstinence”, she said.
“The football player should not abstain from having sex before games, but we also know that in terms of routine they are not in contact with families either.
“We cannot associate sports performance with the occurrence of sex.”
And in 2019, Vera released a book called The Manual of Seduction, that included sex tips like using an electric tooth brush, Halls cough sweets, and a water balloon in the bedroom.

Rui Patricio’s Wag Vera Ribeiro is a sex therapistCredit: Instagram

Ribeiro once said players should not abstain from masturbation before big gamesCredit: Instagram
VICTORIA BECKHAM
When it comes to talking about sex, Mrs Beckham isn’t shy about discussing her bedroom antics with the former Manchester United.
After all, this is a man she once called “Golden Balls” and said she had a mirrored-ceiling in their former Hertfordshire estate ‘Beckingham Palace.’
“There’s a room like a tart’s boudoir, with leopard print everywhere and a mirrored ceiling,” she once said.
“Then there’s our bedroom, which is quite virginal and white, with a big four-poster, old-oak bed.”
And when David posed for an underwear ad for Emporio Armani in 2008, Victoria gushed about his manhood after questions were raised that Becks had some photoshop help in the tackle department.
She even likened his penis to a piece of farm machinery.
“I’m proud I still have a really good sex life with David. He is very much in proportion,” she enthused.
“He does have a huge one, though. He does. You can see it in the advert. It is all his. It is like a tractor exhaust pipe!”

Saucy Victoria Beckham isn’t afraid to dish about her sex lifeCredit: Victoria Beckham / instagram

Victoria once boasted about David Beckham’s manhoodCredit: INSTAGRAM
REBEKAH VARDY
As a regular on ITV’s Loose Women and columnist for various celebrity magazines, Vardy has happily discussed her sex life openly.
But her most famous revelation was the reveal that Gareth Southgate hadn’t put his players on a sex ban during the 2018 World Cup.

“Gareth Southgate has been amazing with allowing the families and players lots of contact,” she told OK! Magazine.
Rebekah brought along her children for the occasion, which she admitted might’ve got in the way of their sex life.
“There is no sex ban, but I think we’d struggle to do it anyway with the kids around – it wouldn’t work logistically!”

Rebekah Vardy talks about her sex life in columns and on ITV show Loose WomenCredit: Instagram

Jamie Vardy’s wife revealed that England players weren’t on a sex ban at the 2018 World CupCredit: Instagram

Wanda Nara sizzles with topless selfie leaving little to imagination as Mauro Icardi’s wife sends Instagram crazy More

Brazil kicked off their World Cup qualifier at home to Venezuela on Friday night with seven Premier League players in the starting line up.
Ederson was in goal – surprisingly selected ahead of Alisson. 

Firmino celebrates scoring against VenezuelaCredit: AFP or licensors

Thiago Silva was at the heart of the defence, with Allan and Douglas Luiz providing the midfield protection. And up front were Roberto Firmino, Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus.
But this all Premier League attack failed to fire. Brazil had almost all the possession.
Against cautious opponents the game often seemed like an exercise in attack versus defence.
But there were few clear chances, and only a single second half goal from Firmino to preserve Brazil’s 100 per cent record after three rounds of the competition.

In part Brazil’s difficulties were understandable. Venezuela have secured some goalless draws against Brazil in recent times, most notably in last year’s Copa America.
And the lack of time for training clearly harms the team that wants to attack.
A CENTRE FORWARD PROBLEM
But there is also a centre forward problem. Brazil appear to lack a natural for the number nine role.

Richarlison played as a centre forward in the World Cup qualifierCredit: AFP or licensors
Indeed, the centre forward position has passed around all three of the Premier League stars.

Going into the last World Cup Gabriel Jesus seemed to have solved the problem.
But he, very rarely for a Brazil centre forward, failed to score in Russia.
Brazil coach Tite has since decided that he is a striker at his best attacking from wide positions rather than a penalty area specialist. 
Roberto Firmino was then given the role. But, as Liverpool fans well know, he works best as a facilitator, lying deep and threading through his passes.
For this game, with Neymar absent, Tite used Firmino in this role, describing him memorably as “more bow than arrow.”
And so this time Richarlison moved into a central role. This can work – but not against opponents such as Venezuela, who lie so deep.
Richarlison is a front to goal striker who needs space to shine, and his back to goal game lacks subtlety when the team are trying to pass their way through massed defensive ranks.

Richarlison struggles against opposition who sit back and defendCredit: AFP or licensors
URUGUAY UP NEXT
The next match, on Tuesday, may be more to his liking, Brazil are away to Uruguay, whose morale is soaring after a superb 3-0 win away to Colombia on Friday.
One thing that Uruguay do not lack is centre forwards. They still have the old firm of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, who scored the first two goals against the Colombians.
And they have prepared some long term replacements. Maxi Gomez of Valencia is injured at the moment.
But they can also count on recent Benfica signing Darwin Nunez, who came off the bench on Friday to score a cracking third goal.
The striking thing about Uruguay’s strikers is the way they are prepared to sacrifice themselves for the team.
They began Friday’s game in their customary 4-4-2, with Suarez staying high and Cavani occasionally dropping into midfield. 
Cavani gave them the lead, but with Colombia throwing everything at them, coach Oscar Washington Tabarez reorganised at half time. 
On came Nunez. But Uruguay were not playing with three up front. Nunez played on the left wing, tracking back the runs of the Colombian right back.

Brazil face Edinson Cavani and Uruguay nextCredit: AFP or licensors

Cavani did the same on the left – and the fact that a player with more than 50 international goals is prepared to work this hard speaks volumes for Uruguay’s team spirit, and for the mentality of Manchester United’s recent acquisition.
So who comes out on top on Tuesday?  Will it be another triumph for Edinson Cavani?
Or, against less defensive opponents than Venezuela, might Brazil’s Premier League attack find the space to show their stuff?

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