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    Man Utd and Chelsea transfer target Frenkie de Jong is named after Brit pop group and loves his gran’s meatballs

    DUTCH superstar Frenkie de Jong might have dreamed of playing for Barcelona, but it was a band from Merseyside that influenced his mum’s mind when she named him.Marjon Schuchhard gave birth to the midfielder, 25, enduring a 33-hour long labour, on May 12, 1997.
    Frenkie de Jong with mum Marjon Schuchhard, left, and brother Youri, centre
    Barcelona star de Jong is a target for Premier League giants Man Utd and Chelsea
    The healthcare worker was a fan of the band Frankie Goes to Hollywood – famous for 1980s belter ‘Relax’ – and named her first-born after them.
    Subtly, she replaced the ‘a’ for an ‘e’ as she knew no-one by that name.
    But it’s not the bright lights of Los Angeles for de Jong.
    Instead, Frenkie could be headed to England – with Man Utd and Chelsea declaring their interest in the 44-cap Holland international.
    Reports have suggested Barcelona are willing to sell de Jong, however he is reluctant to leave the Camp Nou because the club owe him wages of around £17million.
    A move to Stamford Bridge, though, could tempt him as de Jong craves Champions League football, despite the offer of a reunion with old Ajax boss Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
    Barcelona move
    It was back in 2019, the Catalan club forked out £65million for de Jong, who comes from the small village of Arkel in South Holland.
    He followed in the footsteps of Dutch icons Johan Cruyff, Ronald Koeman, Patrick Kluivert and Marc Overmars in playing for both Ajax and Barca.
    So crucial was his decision to move to the LaLiga giants he spoke to both Koeman and Overmars before making the decision.
    “I asked [Marc] about Barcelona and he said, ‘It’s amazing, I went there for four years. It was amazing – the players and the people in the city, just to live there. If you get the chance, you have to take it’,” De Jong recalled.
    And he did, signing a five-year deal with the Spanish giants.
    The expectation around him was so great that many compared the youngster to Holland’s most outstanding export, Cruyff.
    “I feel honoured but I don’t think you can compare the two of us,” De Jong told The Guardian.
    De Jong began playing aged four after his grandfather took him to the local club’s open dayCredit: Soccrates Images
    Midfielder de Jong was picked up by Willem II at the age of sevenCredit: Soccrates Images
    De Jong shot to fame at Dutch giants Ajax before embarking on a Barcelona adventureCredit: Getty – Contributor
    De Jong chose Barcelona and signed a £65m move in 2019Credit: EPA
    “He is so much better than me. He had so much quality. I will never reach that level.”
    De Jong’s career began at the age of four when his father, a traffic warden, took him to an open day at their local club.
    “Frenkie outplayed all the eight- and nine-year old boys,” his grandfather Jan de Bruijn told Dutch newspaper NRC.
    Willem II, renowned for developing the likes of Virgil van Dijk, picked up De Jong at the age of seven.
    His grandfather would do the one-hour drive to Tilburg for training while his parents worked.
    Boy to man
    It was there at Willem II that de Jong met his girlfriend, Mikky Kiemeney, a former hockey player who debuted for HC Den Bosch’s women’s team in 2015, aged 17. They became engaged this summer.
    Kiemeney posted a photo of the childhood sweethearts on Instagram in September 2015 when De Jong signed for Ajax.
    Despite the move, De Jong would make the hour-long journey from the Dutch capital to his hometown to visit his mother.
    On the way, he would always stop in at his grandparents for his favourite meatballs.
    De Jong was part of the Ajax side that appeared in the Champions League semi-finals in 2019Credit: Getty – Contributor
    De Jong’s girlfriend is former hockey player Mikky KiemeneyCredit: Instagram
    Kiemeney and de Jong finally got engaged this summer
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Drogba growing up and was plucked from Spurs
    Those trips may not be as frequent today with Barcelona 1,000-miles away.
    And his love for the club might have somewhat waned, following the latest pay row. De Jong agreed to a pay cut during the pandemic, and is still owed £17million in back pay.
    He didn’t get to play with idol Lionel Messi either, who left for PSG last summer. But it’s still the club of his dreams.
    Childhood friend Sander Dekkers told NRC: “Joining the Messi club is very special to him.
    “But it is not enough. Frenkie wants to be the best midfielder in the world, yes, perhaps the best football player in the world.”
    Chelsea? Manchester? Hollywood? Wherever, Frenkie is going places.
    De Jong starred in Willem II’s academy where Virgil van Dijk was developedCredit: Soccrates Images
    The Dutch midfielder stayed until the age of 17 when he left for AjaxCredit: Soccrates Images
    De Jong had a slight frame during his days at Willem II before growing out and shooting up More

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    England’s U17 World Cup winners from 2017 and where they are now, from non-league to Man Utd and Champions League heroes

    THEY were the Young Lions ready to break through as the next Golden Generation.Back on 28 October 2017, Steve Cooper led England’s youngsters to Fifa Under-17 World Cup glory.
    What has happened to the English young guns that conquered the world in 2017?Credit: Getty – Contributor
    England were crowned U17 World Cup winners in October 2017Credit: Getty
    It is now five years since the talented teens achieved the incredible milestone – with several going on to bigger and better things.
    The victory led to head coach Cooper moving into club management with Swansea – where he TWICE suffered Championship play-off agony.
    He is now in charge of Nottingham Forest, leading a stunning transformation in form with the Tricky Trees and earning promotion to the Premier League via the play offs.
    But for all the successes of Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho, not every member of his victorious team have taken the next step.
    While some struggle for first-team football, others have fallen out of the Football League all together.
    We run through which players have made their mark on the senior game and which are yet to hit the big time after their historic win.
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#dcdddd;background-color:#ffffff;}.css-14dqn90{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(4px/2);margin-right:calc(4px/2);}.css-12an5ma{font-family:The Sun;font-size:20px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;padding:1px 0px;}.css-12an5ma::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.261875em + -1px);}.css-12an5ma::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:calc(-0.25em + -1.3px);}.css-1tob514{color:rgba(32,134,98,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;margin-right:4px;}.css-1tob514:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}GUNNERS LATEST .css-1efa55o{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1efa55o:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Tielemans prefers Gunners move to United, Lucas Paqueta battle
    Curtis Anderson, 21
    Anderson was No1 in India and played a crucial role in guiding the Young Lions to victory with his penalty shoot-out heroics against Japan in the last-16.
    He left Manchester City’s academy in 2019 to join American second tier outfit Charlotte Independence and played ten league matches for them.
    The stopper returned to these shores with Wycombe Wanderers but is yet to play in the league for them and was even sent out on loan to non-league Walton Casuals.
    Last term, he went on loan with National League South outfit Eastbourne Borough, before signing for Lancaster City for this upcoming season.
    Curtis Anderson was No1 for the Young Lions in IndiaCredit: AP:Associated Press
    Josef Bursik, 21
    Long considered as a potential long-term successor to Jack Butland at Stoke, the teenager was loaned out to gain first-team experience after the triumph with England.
    Bursik had spells in non-league with Hednesford Town and AFC Telford United before stints in the Football League with Accrington Stanley, Doncaster Rovers, Peterborough and Lincoln City.
    He became Stoke’s No1 last season before losing his place in January and eventually joining Posh on an emergency loan.
    Josef Bursik has made the breakthrough in goal for Stoke CityCredit: Phil Greig 2020
    Billy Crellin, 22
    Ex-Fleetwood boss Joey Barton ended Crellin’s loan move to FC United of Manchester early after the National League North side won just one of 10 games with the then-teenager in 2018.
    Barton recalled the ace, who made just one appearance for England in India, when he was just 19 and gave him a first-team start in the EFL Trophy.
    He went back out on loan to non-league Chorley before spending 2020-21 at Bolton in League Two and played 11 times.
    Back in January, Crellin signed for Everton for an undisclosed fee.
    Timothy Eyoma, 22
    The versatile defender, known as TJ, caught the attention of Mauricio Pochettino, who gave him a first-team debut in Spurs’ 7-0 FA Cup third-round win over Tranmere in 2019.
    Eyoma was a regular for Tottenham’s Premier League 2 side but was also named as a substitute for an FA Cup win against West Ham, having been on the first-team’s pre-season tour.
    But he went on loan to Lincoln City last season in League One and impressed that much that they bought him permanently from Spurs last summer.
    Timothy Eyoma was signed by Lincoln City last summerCredit: Rex
    Lewis Gibson is highly-rated at Everton and is currently loaned to Sheffield WednesdayCredit: Rex
    Lewis Gibson, 21
    Three months before winning the World Cup, Newcastle academy product Gibson moved to Everton from St James’ Park for £6million.
    Despite not making a first-team appearance, U23s boss David Unsworth has heaped praise on the teen who can play left-back or central defence.
    The now England U20 international has gained further experience at Fleetwood and Reading and enjoyed a loan at League One Sheffield Wednesday.
    Marc Guehi, 21
    Captained England at the European Championships before scoring in the World Cup final, and then starred in Jody Morris’ Chelsea youth team that won five trophies in a year.
    But the central defender, who was born in the Ivory Coast, is one of many that struggled to make a mark on the Blues first-team despite impressing for the U19s.
    And after shining on loan under Cooper at Swansea in the Championship last season, he is now a regular in the Premier League at Crystal Palace after they signed him last summer and has earned three full caps for his country now.
    Marc Guehi captained England to World Cup glory and is now starring at Crystal PalaceCredit: AP:Associated Press
    Jonathan Panzo is now plying his trade for Nottingham ForestCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
    Jonathan Panzo, 21
    After nine years in Chelsea’s academy, the central defender signed a five-year deal with Ligue 1’s Monaco in 2018 search of first-team opportunities.
    Panzo made the first-team after impressing former boss Thierry Henry who handed him a full debut in that December’s League Cup quarter-final win over Lorient.
    However, he struggled and was shipped out to Cercle Brugge in Belgian before he transferred to French second tier side Dijon.
    Now Panzo find himself with Nottingham Forest, where he will get a crack at making it in the Prem.
    Joel Latibeaudiere, 22
    The World Cup winner was involved in a contract stand-off with Manchester City after failing to make a single senior appearance.
    The concerns over a lack of first-team games led to Latibeaudiere leaving in 2020 for Swansea after a spell on loan in Holland at Twente.
    Latibeaudiere has 20 appearances to his name in a little over a year.
    Joel Latibeaudiere is now playing for Championship side Swansea CityCredit: PA:Press Association
    Steven Sessegnon has so far failed to make a major breakthrough at FulhamCredit: Alamy Live News
    Steven Sessegnon, 22
    Twin of Tottenham star Ryan Sessegnon, versatile defender Steven broke into the Fulham first-team in 2018-19 with 14 Championship appearances.
    But after he was axed – failing to play in the horror 2019-20 Premier League campaign – he was sent away for a loan spell at Bristol City, then went to Plymouth Argyle.
    Sessegnon hasn’t played for the West London outfit since 2020, and will spend next season on loan at Charlton.
    George McEachran, 21
    Younger brother of former Blue Josh McEachran, George has managed to impress at Chelsea in the youth ranks.
    The central midfielder has still not managed to progress into the star-studded first team squad.
    But he has gained experience with loan stints at Dutch clubs Cambuur and MVV although he is back at Stamford Bridge now.
    George McEachran is not getting regular action at Chelsea this termCredit: Getty
    Phil Foden is blossoming into one of the greatest talents of his generationCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Phil Foden, 22
    The Golden Ball winner at the 2017 U17 World Cup, Foden – who scored twice in the final – is a favourite of Pep Guardiola’s and is also a regular in the England side under Gareth Southgate.
    The star is one of the biggest success stories from the tournament and already has four Premier League titles, an FA Cup and four Carabao Cup medals in his trophy cabinet.
    He also helped guide the Three Lions to the Euro 2020 showpiece and is well on course to becoming one of the finest talents of his generation.
    Tashan Oakley-Boothe, 22
    Was given a first-team debut by Pochettino at Tottenham with a substitute appearance in the EFL Cup win over Barnsley – replacing Dele Alli – but Oakley-Boothe never went on to make a regular breakthrough.
    He struggled with injury problems, which limited his involvement, before leaving Spurs in 2020 without having played a Premier League game for them.
    But he has made 23 appearances for Stoke in the Championship since his departure.
    This season, he will take his talents to Lincoln City.
    Tashan Oakley-Boothe never got a chance at Tottenham before his departure to Stoke in 2020Credit: PA:Empics Sport
    England U21 star Angel Gomes left Man Utd for LilleCredit: Getty
    Angel Gomes, 21
    Made his first-team debut before the 2017 World Cup and became the youngest ever Premier League player at 16 years and 263 days old.
    Gomes made several appearances after that but it was still not enough to keep him at Old Trafford.
    Despite United’s best efforts, the now U21 international quit the Red Devils to join French side Lille in 2020.
    Most recently, he spent last term on loan at Portuguese outfit Boavista.
    Jadon Sancho, 22
    Another successful product of the squad, Sancho replaced Christian Pulisic in the Dortmund first-team, was named Bundesliga Player of the Month soon after and quickly earned an England call-up after the World Cup success.
    He continued to flourish with the Bundesliga side having bravely quit Manchester City to conquer Europe in 2017.
    Sancho missed the U17 World Cup final after leaving the tournament midway through to return to Dortmund duty.
    Now back in Manchester after United ended their long-pursuit to sign him last summer for £73m, Sancho began to find his form in the tail-end of last season.
    Manchester United forked out £73m for Jadon Sancho last summerCredit: EPA
    Nya Kirby continues to be unable to make a breakthrough at Crystal PalaceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Nya Kirby, 22
    Tottenham academy product Kirby left Crystal Palace in January 2019 in search of first-team opportunities after 18 months without a game.
    The midfielder, now 22, moved to then-League One side Blackpool and went on to spend time at Tranmere Rovers.
    He was released by the Eagles at the end of the 2021-22 season.
    Callum Hudson-Odoi, 21
    A key figure in the U17 World Cup final, Hudson-Odoi excelled at Stamford Bridge and broke into the Blues first team.
    Bayern Munich were soon chasing his services after he broke into the senior England set-up.
    But the winger eventually penned a new big-money deal at Chelsea which coincided with his form dropping.
    Tasted Champions League success with the club but is now struggling to get regular minutes under Thomas Tuchel.
    Callum Hudson-Odoi is having a tough time of it currently at ChelseaCredit: Rex
    Emile Smith Rowe is excelling for both Arsenal and England U21sCredit: Alamy
    Emile Smith Rowe, 21
    Another huge success story from the World Cup-winning squad.
    After loan stints in Germany at RB Leipzig and with Huddersfield Town, the attacker is now a fully-fledged member of both Arsenal’s first-team and the England U21 squad.
    So strong is his current form, Gareth Southgate recently admitted the ace is on the verge of a senior international call-up.
    Morgan Gibbs-White, 22
    Became an instrumental figure in the Wolves team under Nuno Espirito Santo and is another one of the most successful products of the U17s squad.
    The midfielder, who scored against Spain in the final, was a regular in the first-team squad but has headed out on loan this term after his game-time was reduced.
    Gibbs-White, who had a spell on loan at Swansea, had a brilliant spell last season in the Championship with Sheffield United.
    Morgan Gibbs-White headed out from Wolves to Sheffield United on loan last summerCredit: Getty
    Conor Gallagher earned rave reviews on loan at Crystal PalaceCredit: Reuters
    Conor Gallagher, 22
    The midfielder fulfilled his potential in the Premier League after joining Crystal Palace on loan last season.
    The Chelsea youngster grabbed the headlines with each passing week under Patrick Vieira, helping the club reach the FA Cup semi final.
    Stints at Charlton and Swansea gave Gallagher his first taste of senior football after the World Cup success and that was followed by a spell at West Brom last term.
    Big things are expected of the England Under-21 international.
    Rhian Brewster, 22
    Golden Boot winner at the U17 World Cup and one of the stars of the tournament, Brewster signed a five-year deal at Liverpool and was tipped to break into the first-team, with Jurgen Klopp a fan of the young striker.
    But the high hopes around the club never materialised.
    Following an injury, he went on loan to Championship side Swansea in January 2020  and scored ten goals in 20 appearances.
    After missing a penalty in the Community Shield following his Liverpool return, Sheffield United forked out a whopping £23.5m – but it has turned into a nightmare move.
    The striker suffered relegation with the Blades in his first season and scored just four times last time out.
    Rhian Brewster was Golden Boot winner at the World Cup but his move to Sheffield United has turned into a nightmareCredit: Reuters
    Striker Danny Loader left Reading for Porto last yearCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Danny Loader, 21
    Berkshire-born Loader only scored once in 28 games for Reading after his World Cup success.
    But the striker, who was back-up to Brewster in India and managed two goals in two games, caught the eye of Portuguese giants Porto and moved there in 2020.
    He bagged nine times for their B side last season but the England U20 international still has not played for the first-team in the league. More

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    Inside Mauro Icardi’s £700k car collection including Lamborghini Huracan and Bentley Bentayga gift for Wag Wanda 

    PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN man Mauro knows how to put the car in Icardi.The Argentine striker’s stunning car collection through the years includes the thrill of a Lamborginhi, the regal class of a Rolls-Royce and the swagger of a Hummer.
    Mauro Icardi and wife Wanda have a car collection worth £700k
    Icardi’s garage consists of a group of motors that value at around £700k.
    Yet not all the shiny wheels are driven by the 29-year-old product of the Barcelona academy.
    His wife – and agent – Wanda Nara has her name all over some of the flash motors parked up at their Italian home near Lake Como.
    Back in 2019, Icardi surprised Wanda with her very own brand-new matte black Bentley Bentayga, worth £136,000, with her name as the number plate.
    Icardi bought wife and agent Wanda a Bentley Bentayga for Christmas
    Wanda has posed on their Rolls-Royce Ghost worth north of £250k
    The couple have a car collection worth around £700k
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from Paris, Kim and Irina to meeting Georgina
    Wanda posed next to the motor for an Instagram snap and wrote: “Even if you always search to surpass, you are and you always will be my best gift @mauroicardi.. But I do not want to stop thanking you for this surprise.”
    The personalised number plate is also on the couple’s Range Rover Sport, a must-have in the football world.
    Retailing at around £60,000, the Range Rover is the cheapest motor in the collection.
    And the most expensive, you ask?
    That would be their delightfully stylish white Rolls-Royce Ghost with a black bonnet, which can be bought for a cool £250,000.
    Icardi’s stunning Lamborghini is a Huracan SpyderCredit: Instagram / @mauroicardi
    Icardi chose the Lambo for it’s colours – blue and black like old club InterCredit: Instagram / @mauroicardi
    Icardi posts images of his Lamborghini to his 7.8million Instagram followersCredit: Instagram / @mauroicardi
    Icardi’s Rolls-Royce Ghost parked up in MilanCredit: Instagram / @mauroicardi
    Icardi has posted images of the beautiful Roller to his Instagram and it’s appeared on Wanda’s, too, with the model posing on the bonnet.
    It’s a recurring theme with the couple grinning next to their luxury cars.
    That was the case with their gold Hummer H2 which has doors that open upwards, as well as the most thrilling car in their garage.
    Icardi’s sleek Lamborghini Huracan Spyder would set him back at least £200,000 and can reach a top speed of up to 202mph.
    The couple also own a gold Hummer H2Credit: Instagram / @mauroicardi
    Icardi owned a white Lamborghini beforeCredit: Instagram / @mauroicardi
    The couple pose by the sleek motor
    Like most footballers, Icardi and Wanda own a Ranger Rover as wellCredit: Instagram / @mauroicardi
    So what attracted the former Inter Milan striker to the motor? “It was black and blue,” he said.
    Four wheels isn’t the only way Icardi and Wanda like to travel.
    They regularly post photos to their combined nine million followers of the couple preparing to jump on board their private jet or bobbing along on a yacht.
    Whether land or sea, it’s a Wandaful life.
    Icardi and Wanda regularly travel by private jet as wellCredit: Instagram / @mauroicardi
    Icardi posts images of himself before boarding a plane in MilanCredit: Instagram / @mauroicardi
    Icardi settles into the private jet alongside his poochCredit: Instagram / @mauroicardi
    Icardi shows his followers the private yacht he and Wanda hiredCredit: Instagram / @mauroicardi More

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    Man Utd’s new manager Erik ten Hag lives above supermarket, studies Guardiola’s teams and loves Van Gaal and Cruyff

    ERIK TEN HAG famously previously lived above a supermarket in Amsterdam, but the only shelf he stacked was his club’s trophy cabinet.The ex-Ajax boss, 52, has now officially started work as Manchester United’s manager – signing a three-year deal with the club.
    Erik ten Hag is Man Utd’s new managerCredit: PA:Empics Sport
    The Dutch tactician is now in the Old Trafford hot-seat and is expected to be handed a £200million war chest to improve the fortunes of the Red Devils – although he is still waiting for his first signing.
    The quiet thinker had a 13-year playing career in Holland, before he revived the glory days at Ajax with a vibrant young team.
    In 2019, with a side that featured homegrown talents like Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Donny van de Beek and Hakim Ziyech, he reached a Champions League semi-final.
    Ten Hag, a keen golfer with a high-pitched voice, worked wonders given Ajax had not even competed in the knockout stages since 2005-06.
    Having already surpassed par, Ten Hag is becoming a Master. That’s why he was United’s hierarchy’s first choice.
    AJAX ICONS
    On the wall of his modest office at the club’s De Toekomst training ground hang photos of Johan Cruyff, Rinus Michels and Louis van Gaal.
    In an era when Ajax are surrounded by financially beefed up opponents, he has ensured the club have stayed competitive. This season, they were narrowly beaten by Benfica over two legs to exit the Champions League in the Round of 16 stage.
    So how has the former centre-back from a rural town in Twente transformed their fortunes?
    Ten Hag’s education in coaching goes some way to explain.
    In 2013, having spent his entire career in Holland, he moved abroad to work with the master of management.
    At Bayern Munich, Ten Hag cut his coaching teeth with the reserves while watching closely as Pep Guardiola revolutionised the German giants’ style.
    “Every day I get to work with him, I look forward to it. He inspires me,” he gushed.
    Ten Hag worked closely with Pep Guardiola for two years as Bayern Munich II’s managerCredit: Getty – Contributor
    Ten Hag is a disciple of Guardiola with his focus on attacking and attractive footballCredit: AFP or licensors
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    And his approach to training shows Ten Hag is a disciple of Guardiola, such is the obsession with detail.
    He has a particular focus on the character of a player.
    Ten Hag will note down how each individual responds to minor errors, losing the ball or committing a foul, and works out the mentality of his team to suit their opponent.
    Before being appointed at Ajax in 2017, these skills helped him guide Utrecht into the Europa League.
    DEVELOPING YOUTH
    Ten Hag suited Ajax due to his ability to nurture young talent into stars.
    Frenkie de Jong joined Barcelona in a deal worth £65million in 2019. Matthijs de Ligt joined Juventus for the same fee – boosting the club’s coffers.
    Ten Hag played a key role in the development of players like Memphis Depay, at PSV, and Marko Arnautovic, at FC Twente.
    He transformed Depay from a central midfielder to a wide position, with the coach’s focus constantly on attacking and attractive football.
    Yet, Ten Hag is also able to identify what his team needs.
    Among his youthful stars, are seasoned veterans including former Manchester United man Daley Blind and ex-Southampton midfielder Dusan Tadic.
    Both were brought in 2018 by Ten Hag to redress the team’s inexperience.
    The Dutchman has spoken of his lofty ambitions to manage a bigger club.
    And with Ajax now firmly established back as one of Europe’s big guns under Ten Hag, felt his work at the club was done.
    Now, the challenge of the Premier League awaits. Can he succeed where other Dutch coaches have failed? Time will tell.
    Ten Hag’s first managerial job was with Dutch side Go Ahead EaglesCredit: Getty – Contributor
    Ten Hag rose to prominence in Holland by taking Utrecht to the Europa LeagueCredit: Rex Features
    Former defender Ten Hag focuses on developing youth by gaining their trustCredit: Getty – Contributor More

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    Cristiano Ronaldo’s amazing fleet of cars worth £17m, including £8.5m Bugatti and new £200,000 Aston Martin

    CRISTIANO RONALDO certainly knows how to treat himself.The Manchester United star added a £200,000 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera to his staggering car collection after his hat-trick heroics against Spurs in March.
    Ronaldo drove his Aston Martin into Carrington after his brilliant Spurs hat-trickCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
    The Portuguese star rewarded himself after his match-winning effortsCredit: Zenpix
    Cristiano Ronaldo drives his Bentley Flying Spur to training with Manchester United
    Ronaldo is also believed to be one of 10 people lucky enough to buy the incredible Bugatti Centodieci, which costs £8.5m
    The amazing Bugatti is truly a one of a kind motorCredit: Bugatti

    Ronaldo has reportedly spent £1.4m on an amazing Ferrari MonzaCredit: Alamy
    It joins a limited edition £8.5million Bugatti Centodieci – of which only ten have been made, he added to his incredible fleet last year.
    Ronaldo, 37, took his new motor for a spin as he arrived to training at United’s The AON Carrington Training Complex.
    While in 2020, he was spotted taking a tour of Ferrari’s Maranello company, where he posed for a picture with a F1 car and ordered himself a Ferrari Monza worth £1.4million.
    That puts his car collection now at around roughly £17million – with Bugattis being his favourite.
    Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo has a Bugatti Chiron and a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse as part of his huge hoard.
    He has ‘CR7’ embroidered on the headrests of his other two Bugattis, but his latest model he bought is believed to be a tribute to the legendary Bugatti EB110 – Centodieci is Italian for 110.
    The Centodieci boasts an 8 litre W16 engine, with special models having 1600hp – some 100hp more than the Chiron and, overall, three times the price of that model.
    It can do 0-62mph in just 2.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 236mph.
    The Portuguese superstar has supercars likes Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Rolls Royces, admitting to Piers Morgan in an interview he likes to have two of everything.
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reject Martinez bid, Gabriel Jesus update
    Join SunSport in revelling in just some of Ronaldo’s collection that his fortune can afford.ASTON MARTIN DBS SUPERLEGGER, £200,000
    The Manchester United ace turned heads at Carrington as he rocked up to the gates in an amazing Aston Martin DBS Superleggera convertible.
    The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera boasts a 5.2 litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine, providing a mind-boggling 715 hp.
    It has a top speed of 211mph, and can also go from 0-60mph in just 3.4 seconds.
    The car is certainly a worthy addition to Ronaldo’s stunning motor collection.
    Credit: Eamonn and James Clarke
    MERCEDES G-WAGON BRABUS, £600,000
    What do you buy your boyfriend if he has everything?
    Well if you’re Georgina Rodriguez you get a massive, gift-wrapped Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
    The gorgeous former shop assistant made sure CR7’s had the best 35th birthday ever – gifting him a stunning Mercedes G Wagon Brabus that can cost as much £600,000.
    And the brilliant SUV can reach top speeds of 137mph.
    Cristiano Ronaldo was the lucky recipient of a Mercedes G Wagon Brabus for his 35th birthdayCredit: Instagram @georginagio
    BUGATTI CHIRON, £2.15MILLION
    In 2017, Ronaldo’s need for speed saw the mercurial forward splash the cash on a stunning silver Bugatti Chiron.
    Incredibly, it can reach speeds of 260 mph, and does 0-60 in just under 2.5 seconds, not that Turin will allow him the opportunity to drive it that fast with the city’s busy traffic.
    As we said, he likes two of everything – and this was the second Bugatti he bought, although he has denied buying a third  – the Bugatti La Voiture Noire – which was reckoned to be the most expensive car in the world EVER at £9.49million, and was snapped up by a mystery buyer last year.
    The 37-year-old loves posting images of his cars to social media, including the Bugatti ChironCredit: Instagram @cristiano
    BUGATTI VEYRON, £1.7M
    Only 450 Veyron 16.4 Grand Sports were built, so of course Ronaldo wanted a slice of that rarity pie.
    It cost him £1.7m, and the Portuguese legend bought the car as a treat after winning Euro 2016 with his country.
    Though the car was involved in a crash in June 2022 in Majorca. The driver, who was reportedly not Ronaldo, lost control and the car skidded into a wall.
    The front of the Bugatti was believed to have been wrecked with investigators revealed no other vehicle was involved.
    The driver of the car did not suffer any injuries and signed an accident report.
    Cristiano Ronaldo poses outside his former Madrid home on his £1.7m Bugatti VeyronCredit: Instagram @cristiano
    LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR, £260,040
    Simply because a Bugatti Veyron won’t fulfil Ronaldo’s love of fast cars, in the same year he bought that motor he splashed on a Lamborghini Aventador.
    Made in 2011, it’s the most celebrated model by the Italian car designer – and owned by footballers all over the world, not scared of the outlandish price.
    Ronaldo celebrated his purchase on Instagram in 2016, with a picture with the caption: “Bom dia (good morning)”.
    Ronaldo has a matte-black Lamborghini Aventador worth over £200kCredit: Instagram @cristiano
    Ronaldo loves having two of every brand and has a separate LamborghiniCredit: Instagram @cristiano
    ROLLS ROYCE CULLINAN, FROM £330,000
    In 2020, Ronaldo added a Cullinan to his collection, having previously owned a Rolls Royce Phantom worth around £363,000.
    Showing his loyalty to his new employers, CR7 even personalised the interior with black and white leather.
    Standing at five metres long, the Cullinan boasts a V12 engine and a horse power of 571.
    It is the only SUV Rolls Royce have ever produced.
    Ronaldo arrives anywhere in style with his Rolls Royce among the collectionCredit: Instagram @cristiano
    CHEVROLET CAMARO, £35,000
    Maybe he learned something from Sir Alex Ferguson about American cars, after all the former Manchester United boss drove a Chevrolet to training when he was Red Devils manager.
    A more economic motor than others in his garage, the Camaro has a 6.2-litre V8 engine that delivers 453 horsepower.
    It’s cheaper than anything else he owns, and was bought in 2016 as a family car.
    Ronaldo arrives at his old Madrid home in his white Mustang convertibleCredit: Instagram @cristiano
    FERRARI F12 TDF, £350,000
    In 2017, Ronaldo bought an F12 TDF – another collector’s item with only 799 made in the world.
    It is certainly one of the favourites he owns, and is zippy with a top speed of 211 mph, and capable of doing 0-62 in 2.9 seconds.
    Needless to say, pet-friendly Ronaldo won’t let his pooches in though.
    The Portuguese superstar’s red Ferrari may not be the most appropriate car for his dogsCredit: Instagram @cristiano
    The Ferrari F12 is one of Ronaldo’s favouritesCredit: Instagram @cristiano
    Ronaldo poses on the boot of one of his white FerrarisCredit: Instagram @cristiano
    RANGE ROVER SPORT, £100,000
    A staple for every footballers’ garage, the Range Rover Sport is the ultimate SUV for the rich and famous.
    The model that Ronaldo drives is, of course, is the special edition, SVR.
    It’s Ronaldo’s go-to motor when he drove to the Continassa training ground in Turin.
    Ronaldo’s garage has also includes a giant Range RoverCredit: Instagram @cristiano
    MERCEDES AMG GLE 63, £127,000
    In 2016 Ronaldo filled his garage with supercar after supercar.
    His AMG GLE 63 was a gift to himself for Christmas, and some present it is.
    The SUV has a 612 horse power engine, and it can reach a top speed of 155 mph.

    Ronaldo has one of the most impressive car collections in footballCredit: Instagram @cristiano
    MCLAREN SENNA, £1MILLION
    A car made as a dedication to the legendary Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna, it would’ve set Ronaldo back around £1million – with only 500 models ever made.
    So enamoured by its performance on Top Gear, former presenter Jeremy Clarkson said of the McLaren Senna it has ‘rewritten the supercar rule book’.
    Powered by a twin-turbo charged V8 engine that produces 800 horse power, it can hit 0-62 mph in just 2.8 seconds.
    Mika Hakkinen is another sports star who owns one of these beauties.
    Ronaldo’s six years in Manchester saw him take a liking to McLarensCredit: Instagram @cristiano
    BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT, FROM £151,000
    Ronaldo is believed to have started collecting cars from around 2009, when he was a Manchester United star.
    He had a penchant for Bentley Continental GTs in those early days, and collected several during his time at Old Trafford.
    Ronaldo’s was the GT Speed model, which was naturally the most expensive version ever.
    The interior was lush, filled with magnolia leather.
    And because it was a convertible, Ronaldo was often spied with the roof down – even in rainy Manchester.
    Ronaldo began to have a collection of supercars during his time at United, including this Bentley convertibleCredit: Cavendish
    Ronaldo’s car collection is worth around £17mCredit: Instagram @cristiano
    Cristiano Ronaldo ‘splashes out £8.5million on limited edition Bugatti Centodieci’ – with just ten models ever created More

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    Bizarre contract demands of footballers, from no space travel to weight clauses and free moves for Catalan independence

    PLAYERS are valuable commodities.So when they thrash out contracts with the world’s biggest clubs, it’s important to get everything right and nothing’s left to chance.
    Footballers like Lionel Messi reportedly have bizarre clauses written into their contractsCredit: Getty
    But there are times when stipulations are put in place by player and club to protect their interests, to let them fulfil their hobbies, or managers just don’t trust them.
    SunSport looks back at the wackiest clauses added by players and clubs.Messi business
    Back in 2020, with Lionel Messi’s future STILL up in the air before his free transfer move to Paris Saint-Germain, talk of what he would look for in his new contract away from Barcelona began to surface.
    Some of the clauses in his current deal were leaked by El Mundo.
    They included an agreement to learn how to speak Catalan, he must ‘adopt an adequate personal conduct and pace of life’ and not engage in doping, and if Catalonia became its own country he could leave on a free transfer.
    .css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1x7hydu{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}LATEST FOOTBALL NEWS.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
    Lew the outdoor adventurer
    When Robert Lewandowski was running down his contract at Borussia Dortmund both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were jostling for his signature.
    And in leaked documents, Real Madrid’s offer seemed far more lucrative.
    Alongside a £166,000-per-week deal and a £10m signing-on fee were several requests they didn’t want daredevil Lewandowski to do while he was their property.
    Skiing, paragliding, climbing, going on a motorboat and even riding a motorbike were big ‘no-nos’ for Madrid’s hierarchy… so that’s why signed for Bayern instead.
    Should he move again this summer, which he is hankering for, expect more bizarre transfer clauses there.
    Robert Lewandowski is still able to continue his outdoor adventures at Bayern MunichCredit: Getty
    Reina toyed with
    When negotiating a contract, it’s important to be 100 per cent clear about what is being stipulated.
    When German forward Giuseppe Reina moved to Arminia Bielefeld in 1996, he demanded the club build him a house for every year of his contract.
    The club accepted.
    However, Reina didn’t specify what size he required.
    And Arminia provided him with a house made of Lego for the next three years.
    Giuseppe Reina in action for Arminia Bielefeld, who only joined under strict circumstances
    Redondo locked out
    Former Real Madrid and AC Milan midfielder Fernando Redondo was excluded from Argentina’s 1998 World Cup squad for a bizarre reason.
    Manager Daniel Passarella had refused to pick homosexuals or players with earrings and long hair.
    Redondo was ‘guilty’ of the latter.
    He said: “I was in great form. But Passarella had particular ideas about discipline and wanted me to have my hair cut.
    “I didn’t see what that had to do with playing football so I said no.”
    Fernando Redondo’s long hair cost him his international career
    Cooking up a treat
    Congolese midfielder Rolf-Christel Guie-Mien moved from Karlsruher to Eintracht Frankfurt in 1999.
    However, he had one simple request: that his new club pay for his wife to have cooking lessons.
    We’re not sure Mrs Guie-Mien took too kindly to this demand.
    She was not available for comment at the time.
    Rolf-Christel Guie-Mien made it very clear to his wife he kitchen skills needed improvement
    Brought down to Earth
    Swede Stefan Schwarz moved to Sunderland in 1999 — but the Wearsiders had one stipulation the former Arsenal man had to adhere to.
    Schwarz was told that any potential flights into space would not be tolerated.
    The Black Cats chief exec John Flicking said at the time: “One of Schwarz’s advisers has, indeed, got one of the places on the commercial flights [into space, due to take place in 2002].
    “And we were worried that he may wish to take Stefan along with him. So we thought we’d better get things tied up now rather than at the time of the flight.”
    In fact, rather than managing to go up, his career ended when Sunderland went down in 2003.
    Stefan Schwarz is presented as a Sunderland player, alongside Peter Reid in 1999
    Razor weighed down
    Former Premier League and England defender Neil Ruddock once admitted to eating 212 steak and kidney pies every year.
    And Crystal Palace were advised Razor did come with some extra baggage when they signed him on a free in 2000.
    Ex-Eagles chairman Simon Jordan wrote in his autobiography: “On approaching West Ham I discovered he was a free transfer, although he did have a weighty salary — which was not the only weighty thing about him.
    “Harry Redknapp, the West Ham manager at the time, told me to put in a weight clause.
    “So I decided to put a 10 per cent penalty on the contract we were proposing to offer him if he was over the recommended weight of 99.8kg, which by the way was still frigging huge.”
    Ruddock’s Palace debut was allegedly delayed because the club couldn’t find a pair of shorts big enough for him.
    Neil Ruddock has never been one of the slimmest footballers
    Driving a Honda
    Japanese legend Keisuke Honda joined Botafogo in January 2020.
    But moving to Brazil’s crime-ridden city of Rio de Janeiro had the midfielder fearing for his safety.
    So he stipulated he would need an ARMOURED VEHICLE as part of the deal.
    More incredibly, Botafogo agreed.
    But his stay in South America did not last long and the 35-year-old is now at Suduva in Lithuania.
    Keisuke Honda signed for Brazilian side Botafogo – but only after an unusual request was grantedCredit: AFP or licensors More

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    How Man Utd star Cristiano Ronaldo’s girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez went from £250-a-week shop girl to Netflix superstar

    SHE’S one of the most famous Wags on the planet – but Cristiano Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez hasn’t always lived a life of riches and luxury. The 28-year-old Spanish model lived in a cramped, shared house and worked as a £250-a-week shop girl before a chance encounter with football legend Ronaldo transformed her life.
    Georgina has gone from a £250-a-week shop girl to one of the world’s most famous WagsCredit: Instagram
    A chance encounter with football legend Ronaldo transformed Georgina’s lifeCredit: Instagram
    Now she is enjoying life on our shores, and on the big screen with her hit Netflix documentary, after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner agreed to rejoin Manchester United in a blockbuster move.
    In a candid interview with ITV in 2019, Ronaldo, now 37, described finding “true love” with Georgina after the pair met for the first time at a Gucci store, where she was a sales assistant.
    The Juventus star told Piers Morgan: “She helped me so much. Of course, I’m in love with her.”
    Ronaldo, thought to be worth around £300million, added that it would be his mum Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro’s dream to see him and Georgina walk down the aisle.
    “We’ll be [married] one day, for sure,” he said.
    “It’s my mum’s dream as well. So, one day. Why not? It’s great. She’s my friend. We have conversations. I open the heart for her and she opens the heart for me.”
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    Ronaldo becomes emotional during his candid interview with Piers Morgan
    He described Georgina as his “true love”Credit: Refer to Caption
    The footballer also says he’ll marry Georgina one day ‘for sure’Credit: The Mega Agency
    Georgina lives a life most of us can only dream of – holidaying in Ibiza and Iceland, wearing head-to-foot Chanel and Gucci, and enjoying her boyfriend’s mega yacht and fleet of luxury cars.
    She also stood by Ronaldo after he was accused of raping a model in a Las Vegas hotel room – claims he has emphatically denied and which he will not face any criminal charges over.
    But while Georgina could soon become Mrs Ronaldo, the Wag’s life used to be very different…
    Georgina kisses Ronaldo after a Real Madrid victory – but her life used to be very differentCredit: Getty – Contributor

    Grafting for goals
    The beauty hails from a very humble background, growing up in the tiny village of Jaca, northern Spain, with her Argentine former footballer father, Jorge, and Spanish mother, Ana.
    As a child, she longed to be a ballet dancer. But because her parents couldn’t afford to send her to dance school, Georgina set her sights on a career in fashion retail instead.
    It was clear from a young age that she was ambitious and like Ronaldo – who grew up in a tin-roofed house in Madeira – she did everything in her power to chase her dreams.
    Georgina grew up in a tiny village, Jaca, in the Spanish mountainsCredit: Alamy
    She was desperate to get out of her small town and achieve her dreamsCredit: Instagram
    Living in a cramped house share
    As soon as she was old enough, Georgina moved to Huesca, a small town an hour away, where she got her first job as a waitress.
    However, she soon got bored of the town, and became fed up of living in a tiny home with several other young people.
    Tired of her impoverished lifestyle,  Georgina moved again – this time three hours away to the seaside town of San Sebastian, where she got a job in mid-range shop, Massimo Dutti.
    But despite earning more money, the draw of living the high life saw her make her next big move.
    “I wanted to work in luxury and I understood that for that I had to speak English,” Georgina told XLSemanal. 

    Georgina poses for a typical tourist snap near the London EyeCredit: Instagram
    Nanny in Bristol
    In 2012, aged just 17, Georgina flew to England and got a job as an au pair for a family in Bristol.
    Here, she focused on learning English, earning around £9.50 an hour.
    Once her language skills were up to scratch, she headed back to Spain to pursue her dreams of working in high-end retail in Madrid.
    Georgina lived in Bristol but visited Bath in her free timeCredit: Instagram
    “Love at first sight”
    Georgina finally got her dream job as a saleswoman at Gucci in 2016 – and it was while she was working here that she caught former Real Madrid star Ronaldo’s eye.
    Days later, the pair met again at another brand’s event, where they were able to “talk in a relaxed atmosphere”, outside of a work environment.
    “It was love at first sight for both,” Georgina previously told the Sun on Sunday.
    Georgina finally got her dream job in a designer store in Madrid in 2016Credit: Instagram
    It was “love at first sight” for the coupleCredit: AFP or licensors
    Hounded by fans
    The couple kept their relationship under wraps for the first few months, but once people found out they were dating, football fans started turning up at Georgina’s shop.
    Bosses feared the fans, who were trying to take pictures, would put off their rich clientele, and Georgina was dismissed from her dream job in December 2016 after just eight months.
    Ronaldo’s contacts got her another job in Prada in El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, where she earned about £1,000 a month plus commission.

    But once again, her relationship cost her a job. Customers kept coming into the shop in the hope of spotting Ronaldo – and begged Georgina for selfies.
    It wasn’t long before management and Georgina mutually agreed it was best if she left and stopped working for good.
    Speaking about her experience, she told Spanish outlet, XLSemanal: “I was hiding, but fans were looking for me at the store. They used to call up and ask about me, pretending to be clients.
    “There were always photographers waiting for me. The director told me to go down to the basement because he did not want to see me in the store. I started to be very uncomfortable and then I left.”
    Georgina’s high-profile relationship has cost her a number of jobsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    From selling Gucci to wearing it
    While Georgina used to sell designer clothes to the rich and famous, she’s now wearing them herself – from £1,400 Balmain jackets and £5,000 Chanel handbags to a priceless vintage fur coat.
    They were living in a gated mansion in Turin – similar to the £5 million mansion she and Ronaldo used to share in Madrid (but a far cry from the flat she once lived in with pals).
    Now, they will mostly likely be house-hunting in Cheshire’s Golden Triangle for an abode fit for a king and queen.
    Of course, Georgina is used to travelling in style too – jetting off in an £18 million private plane, sailing on a luxury yacht and driving sports cars like Ronaldo’s flashy Bugatti Veyron.
    Since she began dating Ronaldo, Georgina has become a star in her own right, gracing the cover of various fashion magazines while amassing 27 million Instagram followers.
    Georgina is often pictured wearing the most expensive designer clothesCredit: Rex Features
    Credit: Refer to Caption

    The Ronaldo clan enjoy their luxury £5.5m Azimut Grande yacht bought in 2020
    A lavish wedding
    If Ronaldo does fulfil his dream to wed Georgina “one day”, it will likely be a very grand affair.
    Wedding expert and founder of Wedding Ideas Magazine Rachel Southwood told Sun Online: “She’ll probably wear a fit and flare dress that hugs her curves and kicks out at the bottom.
    “It will be slinky and sexy but demure all at the same time – probably in lace, but possibly with some extra bling.
    Georgina loves designer clothingCredit: Rex Features
    “I think she will wear a long lace, scallop-edged veil. Something by a designer like Riki Dalal although I suspect it will be completely bespoke, from the head designer at one of the design houses she has worked with.
    “Their wedding will be lavish and include a church service and a huge feast. It will be family-focused with a few big names thrown in for good measure.”
    Rodriguez sparked engagement rumours last year when she showed off a huge ring in an Instagram post.
    They have so far remain tight-lipped over plans but are expected to tie the knot in the near future.
    Georgina Rodriguez showed off a huge ring on her finger during a holidayCredit: Instagram
    Running Ronaldo’s empire
    But Georgina is very keen not to be perceived as a typical WAG.
    She has previously said she has no interest in just shopping and spending Ronaldo’s money – in fact she might take a more active role in managing his vast fortune.
    Georgina and Ronaldo now have four children between them
    Georgina sparked engagement rumours when she was seen sporting a new ring during the 2018 World CupCredit: Getty – Contributor
    While most women spend their pregnancies decorating the nursery, Georgina spent hers studying financial accounting at the Centre for Financial Studies in Madrid.
    Her course, which started in October 2017 and finished the following March, cost her £780 and saw her attend three-hour long classes twice a week.
    According to El Mundo, it included modules on tax matters, legal obligations and wealth management.
    “I loved earning money for myself and I never let myself be helped when someone offered to lend me a hand,” Georgina previously said.
    “I am realistic and if I see that I can buy something not too expensive I do. If I can’t wear a Chanel, I buy a Zara. Why brag about something that does not belong to you?”
    Ronaldo and his family were living in Turin, northern Italy before returning to Manchester United
    Tens of millions in a divorce
    When Georgina and Ronaldo eventually tie the knot, it’s unlikely the model will ever have to return to her shop girl job – even if they divorce.
    Experts say all her financial worries would be taken care of in a pre-nup.
    Head of Family Law in leading Manchester firm, JMW, Elspeth Kinder told Sun Online: “A prenup would make sure it provides fairly for Georgina’s needs and that of their child in the event of a divorce. It would be tens of millions – but it won’t be a half share of everything he’s got- that’s the point of the pre-nup.
    “The Spanish jurisdiction in divorce is very different to here and tends to be less favourable to somebody like Georgina who comes to a marriage with less money than the other.”
    Yet there’s no sign of trouble on the horizon for Ronaldo and Georgina.
    “Being the partner of someone so famous is not easy but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Georgina said. “What I feel for him is stronger than anything, any kind of pressure.” More