Football features

YOU can take the boy out of Portugal, but you can’t take Portugal out of the boy.Cristiano Ronaldo, 36, has sensationally revealed his desire to return to Sporting Lisbon – where it all began for him – before he retires.

The Juventus legend has been linked with a move to former club Manchester United, but Lisbon is where his heart is.
“I will definitely retire at Sporting Lisbon. I have to give them even if it is one season of my service,” he said.
“Absolutely not in Manchester. Sporting Lisbon scouted me while no one saw something special in me.
“They made me and Manchester United polished me, Madrid completed me and (I) am independently developed at Juventus.
“I love all my former football clubs for what they did for me, but the beginning is always the light, without Sporting Lisbon I would probably be working at McDonald’s, because McDonald’s is the place where I used to get help for food when I had nothing to eat. I am always grateful.”
Ronaldo, who was born in Madeira, has always had a fondness for his homeland – and last year donated life-saving equipment to Portuguese hospitals to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
His family, including mum Maria Dolores, brother Hugo and sisters Katia and Elma will be delighted to see him return.
And they’re not the only members of his massive family tree.
JOSE DINIS
Ronaldo has made no secret of his heartbreak of losing his father before he could see him become a global superstar.
Jose Dinis died in 2005 of liver failure, when the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was just 20 at a hospital in London.
Ronaldo’s father Jose Dinis died when Ronaldo was 20 of liver failureCredit: Instagram @katiaaveirooficial
Jose Dinis, pictured with a young Ronaldo and wife Maria Dolores, suffered with alcoholismCredit: Collect
Forced into military service, he was scarred by an unpopular war to prevent the colony of Angola winning its independence from Portugal.
According to reports, he turned to booze – later becoming a kit man for Ronaldo’s local team.
MARIA DOLORES
The matriarch of the Ronaldo clan, Maria Dolores is her son’s biggest supporter.
Regularly, she appears on social media with Cristiano celebrating one of his many achievements.
Last year, Ronaldo’s world was rocked when his beloved mother suffered a stroke in Madeira.
He rushed to be by her side, and made sure she received incredible medical care.
Maria Dolores is the matriarch of the Ronaldo clanCredit: Refer to Caption
Ronaldo rushed to be by his mother’s side when she suffered a stroke in 2020Credit: Instagram @cristiano
HUGO
Like his father, Ronaldo’s brother has also battled his demons.
Hugo, himself, has had problems with alcohol and has had stints in rehab to manage his addictions.
Ronaldo has made sure he’s been there for his brother – paying for him get the help needed from professionals.
To give him a distraction, Cristiano also gave him the responsibility of looking after his museum in Madeira.
Ronaldo has a tight bond with brother HugoCredit: Instagram, @cristiano
Hugo, himself, has had issues with alcohol and has gone to rehab in the pastCredit: Instagram, @katiaaveiroofficial
SISTERS
Eldest sister Elma is the fashionista of the family.
She regularly posts images on Instagram wearing designer clobber, and even designed her own jewellery range inspired by her mum called Roya.
Katia is a singer, who has aspirations to perform at Eurovision Song Contest.
Last year, she caused controversy when she went on an Instagram rant calling the coronavirus pandemic “the biggest fraud I’ve seen”, following the news Ronaldo tested positive for Covid-19 and would have sit out some games.
Ronaldo with his sisters Katia and ElmaCredit: Instagram @elma_oficial
Elma is the fashionista of the family and has her own jewellery lineCredit: Instagram @elma_oficial
Katia is a singer who dreams of performing in the Eurovision Song ContestCredit: Instagram @katiaaveirooficial
KIDS
Ronaldo has four children in total.
His first to be born was Cristiano Jr, who is now 10 years old ,to a surrogate mother in the US who made the ex-Real Madrid star the sole guardian.
A keen footballer like his dad, and on Juve’s books, he has also been seen modelling his father’s fashion range, CR7.
In 2017, Ronaldo welcomed twins Eva Maria and Mateo into his world.
Again, they were born in the US – reportedly to a Californian surrogate. The Daily Mail reported that the babies were conceived via frozen embryos in a surrogacy clinic.
Ronaldo and partner Georgina Rodriguez share a family snapCredit: Instagram @cristiano
Cristiano Jr is the eldest at 10Credit: Instagram @Cristiano
Mateo, Eva Maria and Alana Martina join their parents in bed for a family photoCredit: Instagram
The same year Ronaldo welcomed Eva Maria and Mateo into the world, it was revealed his partner Georgina was expecting their first child together.
Five months after the twins were born, Alana Martina came into the world.
Proud Ronaldo shared the news with a picture of Georgina, the newborn and Cristiano Jr with the new arrival on social media.
GEORGINA RODRIGUEZ
Ronaldo’s partner Georgina has become a celebrity in her own right since she began dating the football superstar.
They reportedly met at a Gucci store in Madrid in 2016, where she was a sales assistant, and made their romance official in 2017 during a trip to Disneyland Paris.
Since then, Georgina has helped Ronaldo raise his three children, before they welcomed their own.
She has gone to become a model for fashion brands, including inking a five-figure Instagram deal with Pretty Little Thing.
Georgina Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo first met in 2016
Rodriguez has gone on to become a model and appeared in various fashion shoots,
JORGE RODRIGUEZ
While not much is known about Georgina’s mum Ana Maria, her father Jorge is a convicted drug trafficker.
The Argentinian criminal has spent a decade of his life behind bars.
In 2003, he was sentenced to 11 years for masterminding a failed plot to smuggle more than £100,000 worth of 83 percent pure cocaine from Spain to France.
He was released five years later, only to fall foul of the law for smuggling £1million of cannabis resin from Morocco to Spain with accomplices.
Jorge was sentenced to a further two years, and was freed in 2013.
In 2019, he died in his native Argentina at the age of 70 after a long illness.
Georgina’s dad Jorge Rodriguez is a convicted drug smuggler
IVANA RODRIGUEZ
Georgina has a sister called Ivana.
Incredibly, Ivana has over 350,000 followers on Instagram, who she shares health and beauty tips with.

And like her sibling, she often shares pictures of herself working out to keep in shape.
There’s also a lot of love for Ronaldo on Ivana’s Insta feed, who shows her admiration for her future brother-in-law.
If he signs for Sporting Lisbon, expect to hear from Ivana too.
Ivana Rodriguez is the sister of Ronaldo’s partner GeorginaCredit: Instagram
Ivana has amassed over 350,000 followers on Instagram sharing health and beauty secretsCredit: Instagram
Cristiano Ronaldo’s mum Dolores breaks down in tears after surviving stroke More

THE life of an A-list footballer is one that’s filled with luxury.The likes of David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have earned fortunes from the game – splashing the cash on some stunning homes.
David Beckham has a plush pad with wife Victoria Beckham in central LondonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But which footballer has the most expensive house and how much is it worth?
Join SunSport for the definitive countdown as we give you the most expensive footballers’ homes.
7. John Terry, £5m
In 2014, JT  sold his pad in Surrey to Omani royals for an incredible £16m – making a tidy £10million profit.
But what John bought next was equally as impressive, and literally next door to where he previously resided.
He splashed £4.35m on Colin Montgomerie’s former home after initially renting it.
The property has seven bedrooms, six bathrooms, four receptions rooms and a two-bedroom staff annex.
He has since added an astro-turf pitch, which has boosted the property’s value to £5million.
All in all, JT boasts a property empire worth around £47million – with his latest venture in knocking down Tandem House in the area and turning it into two homes.
John Terry sold his previous home for £16mCredit: Reuters
JT’s new pad, with his former mansion with red brick walls on the right of it in this picture
6. Nicky Butt, £5.5m
The former Manchester United star is quids in with the sale of this property.
Butt did live in a stunning luxury pad complete with an indoor swimming pool and a cinema room in an exclusive area of Greater Manchester.
However, he just recently sold the six bedroom house for a whopping £5.5million.

And the buyer is in for a treat with a luxury pad complete with an indoor swimming pool and a cinema room.

Nicky Butt has sold his £5.5m mansion after two years on he market

The home boasts an amazing cinema room
The swimming pool completes the luxurious picture
5. Lionel Messi, £6m
Boasting sea views and being in a no-fly zone, Messi’s abode – valued at £5.5milion – in Barcelona offers a tranquil experience.
Located in the exclusive suburb of Castelldefels, it’s the perfect spot for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner to reside.
Just 12 miles away from the Camp Nou, Messi’s home has a small football pitch, a swimming pool, an indoor gym and a playground for his three children.

Close friend Luiz Suarez used to live nearby while Philippe Coutinho still does, should a team debriefing be needed.

The Messis live in a stunning mansion in the exclusive suburb of CastelldefelsCredit: Instagram @antoroccuzzo88

The home boasts a stunning and spacious loungeCredit: Instagram @antoroccuzzo88

Messi has a room dedicated to a collection of shirts in his home

Messi often plays football in his garden with his Dogue de Bordeaux called HulkCredit: Instagram @leomessi
4. Cristiano Ronaldo, £8m
In 2018, Ronaldo moved to Juventus.
And he needed a house that was fit for the new king of Turin.

His current digs feature two adjoining villas found on a private road guarded by security, which leads to an entrance gate.

The villas themselves have separate entrances, and are surrounded by lush gardens and vegetation.

Ronaldo is believed to have fallen in love with the home because of its similarities with his Madrid property.

There’s a state-of-the-art gym that he and former shop assistant Georgina love to use together. And there’s also a swimming pool, which Ronaldo cools down in by doing a few laps following a strenuous session lifting weights.

The property is so high up, ‘it’s as if Turin were at the feet of CR7, a tribute of the city to the long-awaited and newly-arrived champion,’ La Gazzetta dello Sport reported at the time of purchase.

Ronaldo’s home in Turin features two adjoining villasCredit: Instagram

Ronaldo relaxes on one of the many terracesCredit: AFP or licensors

The property boasts amazing views of the city of TurinCredit: Instagram

Ronaldo has found a place to sunbathe in his current Italian homeCredit: Instagram / @cristiano

The property boasts plenty of space for the whole Ronaldo familyCredit: Instagram

Ronaldo relaxes in one of the many lounge areas of the homeCredit: Refer to Caption
3. Kaka, £9m
The Brazilian great may be retired, but if he’s looking to put his feet up at his luxury pad in Madrid then he may have a fight on his hands.
Kaka bought this gem, which is situated near Ronaldo’s in the city’s exclusive La Finca area, for £6.4m.
Since moving to the MLS, Kaka has rented the house out to Gareth Bale for a cool £16k a month and it’s unlikely that the Welshman will hand the keys back willingly.
The brainchild of leading designer Joaquin Torres, this 16,000 square foot home is built on two-storeys.
It also has a private indoor pool and a gym. Should Bale return to Spain after his loan move to Spurs, at least he goes back to a home he loves.
Real Madrid team-mate Sergio Ramos is a neighbour. Even their boss Zinedine Zidane lives nearby.
Kaka bought this beauty before heading to the MLSCredit: Instagram
Kaka won the Ballon d’Or in 2007 – the last person other than Ronaldo or Messi to take home the awardCredit: Reuters
Gareth Bale currently rents this Madrid home off KakaCredit: Getty – Contributor
2. Wayne Rooney, £20m
Worth around £20million, Rooney’s home has been nicknamed the Morrisons mansion, because it’s so big it looks like a superstore.
The stately Cheshire pile boasts a garage with his collection of cars, a cinema, swimming pool, and even two man-made fishing lakes.
Most recently, the Derby County boss laid down a full-size artificial pitch in his back garden – complete with a seating area.
It was former horse riding arena, but Rooney didn’t need that.
Instead, he built a brand new pitch with its own dugouts and changing rooms.
Planners at East Cheshire Council ruled Rooney’s revised plans “onside”after there were no objections from neighbours.
It also has huge indoor swimming pool surrounded by a glass pavilion, a hot tub, plunge pool, steam room and “his” or “hers” changing rooms.
Wayne Rooney built his Cheshire home from scratchCredit: PA:Press Association
Wayne Rooney’s huge football pitch has been builtCredit: Google
The Rooneys’ new Cheshire home has been mocked for “looking like a Morrisons”Credit: The Mega Agency
1. David Beckham, £39.5m
Reportedly worth £339m, Becks can have any home he wants.
So, it’s no surprise that the former Man United star tops our list with his stunning London abode.
Bought for an incredible £31.5m in 2013, they added £8m worth of refurbishment on to the property value over the next 3 years.
It has eight bedrooms, two dressing rooms, a catwalk style runway fit for any fashionista, a playroom, gym, spa and a salon-style room.
Neighbours include Robbie Williams, Simon Cowell and Elton John, so he’s in good company.
David Beckham spent an extra £8m renovating his £31.5m homeCredit: Rex Features
David Beckham tops the property list for footballersCredit: Getty – Contributor More

WHEN it comes to being box office nobody beats Jose Mourinho.The Special One was the star of the show on Amazon’s All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur series released last year.
Jose Mourinho’s new boss at Roma is Hollywood billionaire Dan FriedkinCredit: Getty
𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 🤝The club are delighted to announce an agreement has been reached with Jose Mourinho for him to become our new head coach ahead of the 2021-22 season.#ASRoma pic.twitter.com/f5YGGIVFJp— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) May 4, 2021

With his movie star looks, the 58-year-old wouldn’t look out of place in a Hollywood blockbuster.
And if he wants to try his luck in the movies, luckily his new boss is a film-maker.
Mourinho will take charge of Serie A’s fallen giants Roma next season, after getting sacked by Spurs.
He will answer to the Italian club’s owner Dan Friedkin – a film director and producer, owner of a distribution company, as well as several other businesses that have earned him a £3billion fortune.
And what has he spent some of that wealth on… a massive collection of vintage warplanes.
WHEN IN ROME
Back in August, Friedkin, 55, agreed to buy the faltering team – who haven’t won a league title since 2001 – off a fellow American.
James Pallotta had failed to deliver the good times he promised, and was tempted into a sale.
The deal was made for around £512million, and Friedkin described how it felt to finalise all the paperwork.
“It was a wonderful, humbling moment, and we were delighted to join the AS Roma family,” he told the official Roma website.
Back in August, Friedkin paid around £512m for RomaCredit: AP
Dan Friedkin runs Roma with vice-president son RyanCredit: Rex
“It was also a moment of great seriousness, as we have a tremendous responsibility; a moment that we couldn’t linger on, as there is so much work to do.”
The first serious decision Friedkin has had to make is relieving current boss Paulo Fonseca from his duties, following an alarming slump in form that saw Roma fall from third in February to seventh and battling Sassuolo for a Europa League spot.
HE’S HOLLYWOOD
Friedkin, who is also CEO of Gulf States Toyota Distributors, doesn’t just do deals with the major stars of the football world, he’s also ensconced in the movie business.
His first foray into the world of entertainment came in 2014, when he co-founded production house Imperative Entertainment in Santa Monica, California.
Their critically-acclaimed 2017 film The Square won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Ridley Scott thriller All the Money in the World and Clint Eastwood’s The Mule soon followed.
In 2017, he set-up 30WEST – a financing company which gained a majority ownership in NEON, a theatrical marketing and distribution company, in 2018.
Friedkin seen with Ridley Scott on the set of All the Money in the World in 2017Credit: Mega
Friedkin distributed Oscar-winning South Korean movie ParasiteCredit: Getty
Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio are currently working with Friedkin on Killers of the Flower MoonCredit: Getty – Contributor
A year later, they distributed the Academy Award-winning South Korean film Parasite.
Currently, Friedkin is working with legendary movie director Martin Scorsese on Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
FILM IS HIS PASSION
As well as financing and producing, Friedkin has stepped behind the lens himself.
In 2019, he directed war epic The Last Vermeer starring Aussie actor Guy Pearce.
He was steered into the role by Ridley Scott, who thought he would be able to capture the drama needed to tell the story.
It was pal Ridley Scott who convinced Friedkin to direct a movieCredit: Rex
Friedkin directed Phantom Thread actress Vicky Krieps in The Last VermeerCredit: Getty
The film follows an artist suspected of selling a valuable painting to the Nazis and is a true story.
His debut was generally met with good reviews – and has a 6.7 out of 10 rating on IMDB.com.
PLANES, NOT TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES
Aside from film, Friedkin is obsessed with aviation.
Incredibly, his hangars play host to over 40 aircraft of all types, including the North American F-86 Saber fighter jet and four Supermarine Spitfires produced on British shores in the 1930s.
He’s also one of 10 civilian Heritage Flight pilots qualified to fly in formation with US Air Force single‐ship demonstration teams.
Friedkin regularly participates in air shows throughout North America and Europe, flying right wing for the Horsemen Flight Team, the world’s only P‐51 formation aerobatic team.
WHICH LEAD TO THIS…
In 2017, Friedkin was able to combine his love of film and aviation by flying a WWII-era Spitfire in Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winner Dunkirk.
His big moment came in the crucial final beach scene, in which Tom Hardy’s plane runs out of fuel and attempts one final circle to attack a German plane.
Over the years Friedkin has amassed hangars full of vintage warplanesCredit: Getty
Friedkin, himself, is a skilled pilot and is one of only 10 pilots qualified to fly in formation with US Air Force single‐ship demonstration teamsCredit: Getty
In the Oscar-winning Christopher Nolan movie Dunkirk, Friedkin was Tom Hardy’s stunt double – flying a SpitfireCredit: Alamy

A year later, Friedkin performed a stunt in a Gulfstream for US TV series Lethal Weapon.
If Jose needs reminding who’s ‘Hollywood’ now, he should look no further than his new boss.
And for his sake, he better get off to a flying start.
Jose Mourinho named Roma manager on three-year contract More

THE life of an A-list footballer is one that’s filled with luxury.The likes of David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have earned fortunes from the game – splashing the cash on some stunning homes.
David Beckham has a plush pad with wife Victoria Beckham in central LondonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But which footballer has the most expensive house and how much is it worth?
Join SunSport for the definitive countdown as we give you the most expensive footballers’ homes.
7. John Terry, £5m
In 2014, JT  sold his pad in Surrey to Omani royals for an incredible £16m – making a tidy £10million profit.
But what John bought next was equally as impressive, and literally next door to where he previously resided.
He splashed £4.35m on Colin Montgomerie’s former home after initially renting it.
The property has seven bedrooms, six bathrooms, four receptions rooms and a two-bedroom staff annex.
He has since added an astro-turf pitch, which has boosted the property’s value to £5million.
All in all, JT boasts a property empire worth around £47million – with his latest venture in knocking down Tandem House in the area and turning it into two homes.
John Terry sold his previous home for £16mCredit: Reuters
JT’s new pad, with his former mansion with red brick walls on the right of it in this picture
6. Nicky Butt, £5.5m
The former Manchester United star is quids in with the sale of this property.
Butt did live in a stunning luxury pad complete with an indoor swimming pool and a cinema room in an exclusive area of Greater Manchester.
However, he just recently sold the six bedroom house for a whopping £5.5million.

And the buyer is in for a treat with a luxury pad complete with an indoor swimming pool and a cinema room.

Nicky Butt has sold his £5.5m mansion after two years on he market

The home boasts an amazing cinema room
The swimming pool completes the luxurious picture
5. Lionel Messi, £6m
Boasting sea views and being in a no-fly zone, Messi’s abode – valued at £5.5milion – in Barcelona offers a tranquil experience.
Located in the exclusive suburb of Castelldefels, it’s the perfect spot for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner to reside.
Just 12 miles away from the Camp Nou, Messi’s home has a small football pitch, a swimming pool, an indoor gym and a playground for his three children.

Close friend Luiz Suarez used to live nearby while Philippe Coutinho still does, should a team debriefing be needed.

The Messis live in a stunning mansion in the exclusive suburb of CastelldefelsCredit: Instagram @antoroccuzzo88

The home boasts a stunning and spacious loungeCredit: Instagram @antoroccuzzo88

Messi has a room dedicated to a collection of shirts in his home

Messi often plays football in his garden with his Dogue de Bordeaux called HulkCredit: Instagram @leomessi
4. Cristiano Ronaldo, £8m
In 2018, Ronaldo moved to Juventus.
And he needed a house that was fit for the new king of Turin.

His current digs feature two adjoining villas found on a private road guarded by security, which leads to an entrance gate.

The villas themselves have separate entrances, and are surrounded by lush gardens and vegetation.

Ronaldo is believed to have fallen in love with the home because of its similarities with his Madrid property.

There’s a state-of-the-art gym that he and former shop assistant Georgina love to use together. And there’s also a swimming pool, which Ronaldo cools down in by doing a few laps following a strenuous session lifting weights.

The property is so high up, ‘it’s as if Turin were at the feet of CR7, a tribute of the city to the long-awaited and newly-arrived champion,’ La Gazzetta dello Sport reported at the time of purchase.

Ronaldo’s home in Turin features two adjoining villasCredit: Instagram

Ronaldo relaxes on one of the many terracesCredit: AFP or licensors

The property boasts amazing views of the city of TurinCredit: Instagram

Ronaldo has found a place to sunbathe in his current Italian homeCredit: Instagram / @cristiano

The property boasts plenty of space for the whole Ronaldo familyCredit: Instagram

Ronaldo relaxes in one of the many lounge areas of the homeCredit: Refer to Caption
3. Kaka, £9m
The Brazilian great may be retired, but if he’s looking to put his feet up at his luxury pad in Madrid then he may have a fight on his hands.
Kaka bought this gem, which is situated near Ronaldo’s in the city’s exclusive La Finca area, for £6.4m.
Since moving to the MLS, Kaka has rented the house out to Gareth Bale for a cool £16k a month and it’s unlikely that the Welshman will hand the keys back willingly.
The brainchild of leading designer Joaquin Torres, this 16,000 square foot home is built on two-storeys.
It also has a private indoor pool and a gym. Should Bale return to Spain after his loan move to Spurs, at least he goes back to a home he loves.
Real Madrid team-mate Sergio Ramos is a neighbour. Even their boss Zinedine Zidane lives nearby.
Kaka bought this beauty before heading to the MLSCredit: Instagram
Kaka won the Ballon d’Or in 2007 – the last person other than Ronaldo or Messi to take home the awardCredit: Reuters
Gareth Bale currently rents this Madrid home off KakaCredit: Getty – Contributor
2. Wayne Rooney, £20m
Worth around £20million, Rooney’s home has been nicknamed the Morrisons mansion, because it’s so big it looks like a superstore.
The stately Cheshire pile boasts a garage with his collection of cars, a cinema, swimming pool, and even two man-made fishing lakes.
Most recently, the Derby County boss laid down a full-size artificial pitch in his back garden – complete with a seating area.
It was former horse riding arena, but Rooney didn’t need that.
Instead, he built a brand new pitch with its own dugouts and changing rooms.
Planners at East Cheshire Council ruled Rooney’s revised plans “onside”after there were no objections from neighbours.
It also has huge indoor swimming pool surrounded by a glass pavilion, a hot tub, plunge pool, steam room and “his” or “hers” changing rooms.
Wayne Rooney built his Cheshire home from scratchCredit: PA:Press Association
Wayne Rooney’s huge football pitch has been builtCredit: Google
The Rooneys’ new Cheshire home has been mocked for “looking like a Morrisons”Credit: The Mega Agency
1. David Beckham, £39.5m
Reportedly worth £339m, Becks can have any home he wants.
So, it’s no surprise that the former Man United star tops our list with his stunning London abode.
Bought for an incredible £31.5m in 2013, they added £8m worth of refurbishment on to the property value over the next 3 years.
It has eight bedrooms, two dressing rooms, a catwalk style runway fit for any fashionista, a playroom, gym, spa and a salon-style room.
Neighbours include Robbie Williams, Simon Cowell and Elton John, so he’s in good company.
David Beckham spent an extra £8m renovating his £31.5m homeCredit: Rex Features
David Beckham tops the property list for footballersCredit: Getty – Contributor More