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      Schalke’s Matthew Hoppe, 19, is first American to score Bundesliga hat-trick and was schooled at Barcelona’s US academy

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      THAT’S one way to announce yourself.
      On January 9, Matthew Hoppe did something no other American had done before him in the Bundesliga.

      Matthew Hoppe, 19, is the first American to score a hat-trick in the BundesligaCredit: Reuters

      Hoppe is congratulated by Arsenal loanee Sead Kolasinac in Schalke’s 4-0 win over Hoffenheim – their first win in nearly a YEARCredit: Reuters

      And that’s counting the likes of forwards Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Eric Wynalda, Landon Donovan and Clint Mathis, who all established themselves in German football.
      Hoppe, just 19, became the first player born in the USA to score a hat-trick in German’s top flight – netting three in Schalke’s 4-0 demolition of Hoffenheim.
      Incredibly, the 6ft 3in target man only made his senior debut a month prior to his record-breaking goalscoring exploits.
      But clearly Hoppe has a bright future ahead of him – one that could’ve been with Barcelona.

      UNIVERSITY? NO THANKS
      In 2019, Schalke gambled on the powerfully built forward by offering him a trial.
      At the time, he was training with Barcelona in Arizona – where the Catalans have a US academy that offers the same level of coaching as at La Masia.
      He had scored 29 goals in 23 games in 2018-19, and was accepted for a place at San Diego University.
      After impressing coaches, Hoppe was offered a youth contract and the youngster decided to turn his back on his education and moved to Germany.

      Schalke signed Hoppe in 2019Credit: Reuters

      USA teen Hoppe learned his skills at Barcelona’s US academy in Arizona

      DREAM START
      Hoppe could not have imagined he would’ve got a chance to shine so soon for Schalke.
      But with the club winless for almost a YEAR and rooted to the bottom of the Bundesliga, they really had no other option.
      They had also sacked Vedad Ibisevic in November, Goncalo Paciencia suffered a knee injury and Welsh youngster Rabbi Matondo, 20, failed to find his feet and was loaned to Stoke City.
      Hoppe was thrown in at the deep end – making his debut against Borussia Monchengladbach in a 4-1 defeat in November.
      Then, former Tottenham boss Christian Gross took over the reigns at Schalke (the club’s fourth coach this season) and pinned his faith in the promising talent.
      After three appearances from the bench, Hoppe started the next two under the Swiss manager.
      And he came alive in the second – netting three times in that Hoffenheim demolition, which ended an astonishing run of 30 games without a win.
      [embedded content]

      In only his second start Hoppe was in prolific form for Schalke netting three timesCredit: AFP

      Hoppe himself was left speechless by his own achievementCredit: Reuters

      At the full-time whistle, Hoppe was speechless in the post-match interview.
      “I have no words,” he exclaimed before drawing a huge gulp of breath and exhaling.
      It’s left Schalke fans full of Hoppe for the future.

      Jonjoe Kenny talks about his experiences at German club Schalke More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez’s £2.6m jewellery collection from £1.2m diamond watch to £615k engagement ring

      by

      WHEN Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez turn up to events, they know how to turn heads.
      Most recently, the pair were guests at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards in the Middle East, where they showed off their love of expensive jewellery.

      Cristiano Ronaldo loves accessorising with diamondsCredit: Reuters

      Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez also boasts an expensive jewellery collectionCredit: Georgina Rodriguez/instagram

      In fact Ronaldo, 35, had over £600,000 worth of ice all on one hand as he accepted the award for player of the century.
      While last September, stunning partner Georgina, 26, was given an incredible £615,000 engagement ring.
      We believe their jewellery collection is worth at least £2.6million. Here is what we’ve seen.
      THE £1.2M WATCH
      In 2018, ahead of his emotional return to Old Trafford with Juventus playing old club Manchester United in the Champions League, Ronaldo made quite the impression at a press conference.

      He was spotted wearing a diamond-encrusted Franck Muller timepiece worth an astonishing £1.2m.
      Ronaldo’s favourite accessory is finished with 424 glistening white diamonds.
      Previously, he had been seen wearing a £100,000 Jacob and Company limited edition H24 on his wrist, which had a total diamond weight of 15.25 carats.
      Ronaldo was made a brand ambassador for Jacob and Co back in 2013, when he played for Real Madrid.

      In 2018 Ronaldo showed off a diamond-encrusted Franck Muller timepiece

      The Franck Muller watch was reportedly worth £1.2million
      THE ENGAGEMENT RING
      Nothing says ‘I love you’ more than splashing out on priceless jewellery for the missus.
      And Ronaldo pulled out all the stops when he reportedly gifted Georgina an engagement ring worth £615,000.
      The ring is emblazoned with a large sapphire stone and encrusted with diamonds.
      GamblingDeals compiled a list of the most expensive engagement rings in football – and Ronaldo’s was top of the list.
      Georgina regularly shows off the sparkler on Instagram to her 23 million followers.

      Rodriguez shows off her £615,000 ring

      The engagement ring was said to be a present from RonaldoCredit: Instagram
      MOST EXPENSIVE ROLEX
      A classy timepiece makes the man.
      And Ronaldo loves a bling watch – spotted wearing a £380,000 Rolex GMT Master Ice at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards last month.
      The flashy watch is thought to be Rolex’s most expensive watch ever made.
      It is made in 18 carat white gold and encrusted with hundreds of 30 carat diamonds.

      Lately, Ronaldo has been seen wearing a Rolex GMT Master Ice worth £380,000

      The Rolex GMT Ice is the most expensive watch the brand sells and is encrusted with hundreds of 30 carat diamonds
      RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
      Not to be outdone by Georgina in the ring stakes, Ronaldo also has his own sparkler… actually he has two.
      Again in Dubai, Cristiano wore a women’s ring (believed to be worth £200,000) for the Globe Soccer Awards.
      It featured a huge yellow diamond encircled by a halo of white diamonds and set on a diamond encrusted band.
      Next to that, he wore a diamond band on his wedding finger that has an estimated value of £50,000.

      Ronaldo wore two rings at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards

      The rings are believed to be worth a total of £250,000
      £720,000 ON ONE HAND
      Last year, Georgina wowed her Instagram fans when she flashed her hand decorated in jewellery.
      Alongside her £615,000 engagement ring, she showed off a £33,000 Patek Philippe TWENTY 4 in 18 carat rose gold and featuring a diamond bezel and a brown sunburst dial.
      While draped along her wrist were three diamond bracelets valued at £25,000 each.
      A REAL STUD
      Ronaldo is one of a number of footballers who wear diamond studs.
      But the former Manchester United ace, of course, wanted something a little bit different to his contemporaries.

      Rodriguez wears a £33,000 Patek Philippe watch and three diamond bracelets estimated at £25,000 each

      In 2013, he opted for a very rare pair of earrings with black diamonds.
      And how much did he pay for them, you ask? A reported £10,000.
      We wonder if he shares them with Georgina?

      Cristiano Ronaldo reveals he finds it boring playing in empty stadiums and misses when fans boo him More

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      in Soccer

      Jose Mourinho’s best put downs, from calling Arsene Wenger a ‘voyeur’ to saying Lionel Messi has learned ‘play-acting’

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      WHEN it comes to put downs, there’s no one better at delivering them than Jose Mourinho.
      If the Special One’s feathers are ruffled, the Tottenham boss will let you know about it.

      Jose Mourinho is the master of the put downsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Through the years, Mourinho has been quick to shoot down his foes firing quick barbsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      Just ask Mesut Ozil, who was on the end of a quick comeback from his former boss at Real Madrid, after the German said he’d rather retire than play for Spurs in a fans’ Q&A session on Twitter.
      “Who told him Tottenham were interested in signing him?” Mourinho brutally countered in a press conference on Tuesday.
      While Scott Parker was also told to pipe down after complaining about lack of preparation time ahead of Wednesday’s game with Fulham.
      And that’s not the first time the two-time Champions League winner has attacked one of his foes.

      ARSENE WENGER
      It’s fair to say Jose and the ex-Arsenal boss rarely saw eye-to-eye during their time in London – once coming to blows at Stamford Bridge when Wenger shoved his nemesis in the technical area in 2014.
      That was their row, perhaps, coming to a head after the Frenchman endured some taunts from Mourinho.
      First, he was called a “voyeur” by Jose who claimed he was obsessed with his Chelsea team.
      He said: “I think he is one of these people who is a voyeur. He likes to watch other people.

      “There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to see what happens in other families. He speaks, speaks, speaks about Chelsea.”
      Then there was the famous specialist in failure comment sparked by Wenger’s belief that Chelsea and other Premier League rivals were playing down their title chances because they “fear to fail”.

      Arsene Wenger shoves Jose Mourinho in 2014Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Mourinho called Wenger a ‘voyeur’ and a ‘specialist in failure’Credit: AFP or licensors
      “If he is right and I am afraid of failure, it is because I didn’t fail many times,” Jose retorted.
      “Eight years without silverware, that’s failure. He’s a specialist in failure. If I do that in Chelsea, eight years, I leave and don’t come back.”
      LIONEL MESSI
      When Spanish left-back Asier Del Horno was harshly sent off for a challenge on Lionel Messi in a Champions League encounter during the 2005-06 season, Mourinho pointed the finger at the Barcelona legend.
      In fact, his jibe was definitely one for the thesps, which is where Jose felt Messi had learned a trick or two.
      “How do you say cheating in Catalan?” Mourinho began.
      “Can Messi be suspended for acting? Barcelona is a cultural city with many great theatres and this boy has learned very well. He’s learned play-acting.”
      In fairness to Messi, he saw the funny side. The forward later appeared on the front of a Spanish sports newspaper for the return match clutching a skull and pretending to utter the famous “to be or not to be” line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

      Lionel Messi was accused of ‘play-acting’ by MourinhoCredit: AFP
      FRANK LAMPARD
      Even if you played for Jose in a winning team, you’re not safe from one of his digs.
      During a heated Carabao Cup tie earlier this season, Mourinho and Lampard clashed.
      “F****** hell Frank, when you’re losing 3-0 you’re not standing up here,” Mourinho was heard shouting across his dugout – a clear reference to Chelsea’s previous game when they were trailing West Brom 3-0 at half-time.
      And after the final whistle, Mourinho explained his actions further.
      He revealed at the full-time: “The only thing I was telling him was an opinion, just an opinion from an old coach to a young talented coach which was when the players need us is when they are losing.
      “When they are winning we don’t need to be the protagonists of the touchline.
      “We need to be there when they are losing and the last match when they were losing 3-0 I felt sorry for him because he was really sad and quiet in his chair.”
      Mourinho added: “It is just an opinion. Stay on the touchline when your team is losing and stay calm when your team is winning.”

      Mourinho criticised Frank Lampard saying he’s only out of his seat when his team are winningCredit: Rex Features

      Lampard and Mourinho clashed in the Carabao CupCredit: Reuters
      RAFA BENITEZ
      After his infamous Sir Alex Ferguson ‘facts’ rant, Rafa took a break from our shores to manage Inter Milan.
      He had taken the reigns of the European Champions, with Mourinho leaving that post after a successful two years in Italy.
      Immediately, Rafa won the 2010 Club World Cup, but Mourinho was adamant the praise should be his for creating a winning team.
      “I thought he was going to thank me for the title I gave him. Ask all the Inter fans what they think of me and him,” he quipped.
      And when Benitez’s wife Montze said her husband’s managerial career involved “tidying up the messes” left by Mourinho, the Portuguese manager bit back.
      Mourinho said: “The lady is a bit confused, with all respect.

      Mourinho demanded a thank you from Rafa Benitez for his 2010 World Club Cup winCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      “I’m not laughing, because her husband went to Chelsea to replace Roberto Di Matteo and he went to Real Madrid and replaced Carlo Ancelotti.
      “The only club where her husband replaced me was at Inter Milan, where in six months he destroyed the best team in Europe at the time.
      “And for her also to think about me and to speak about me, I think she needs to occupy her time, and if she takes care of her husband’s diet she will have less time to speak about me.”
      PEP GUARDIOLA
      Mourinho appeared to get under Pep’s skin again this term over an injury to Raheem Sterling, with the Spaniard labelling his rival a ‘doctor’ for repeatedly claiming the England winger would play when he was reportedly a doubt. Incidentally, he did play as a second half sub.
      The pair have traded barbs many times through the years, including an infamous line in which Mourinho poked fun at Guardiola for being bald.
      “When you enjoy what you do, you don’t lose your hair, and Guardiola is bald. He doesn’t enjoy football,” he said.
      But the most bitter tensions got was when Pep’s Barcelona beat Jose’s Real Madrid 2-0 to reach a Champions League final.
      Mourinho felt they were helped by the match officials, claiming Guardiola’s previous Champions League win was also down to scandal.

      Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho have constantly bickered over timeCredit: Reuters

      Mourinho once poked fun at Guardiola for being bald

      Mourinho believes Guardiola won the Champions League unjustlyCredit: Phil Shephard-Lewis – The Sun

      “Josep Guardiola is a fantastic coach. But I have won two Champions Leagues and he has won [only] one Champions League – and that is one that would embarrass me,” Mourinho said.
      “I would be ashamed to have won it with the scandal of Stamford Bridge. If he wins it this year, it will be with the scandal of the Bernabeu. Deep down, if they are good people, it cannot taste right for them.
      “I hope one day Guardiola has the chance of winning a brilliant, clean championship with no scandal.” More

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      in Soccer

      Footballers’ sexiest sisters including Neymar’s sibling Rafaella and Theo Walcott’s bodybuilding relative Hollie

      by

      THESE ladies refuse to stay in the shadows of their famous siblings.
      They are the sisters of football’s leading men and are making their own way in the world.

      Gabrieli Emboaba is the stunning sister of ex-Chelsea star OscarCredit: Instagram

      Ex-Arsenal goalie David Ospina’s sister Daniele is a beauty Credit: Instagram

      From playing volleyball to fashion blogging, they’ve all chosen a different career path to their brothers.
      And they happily share their lifestyles on social media – gathering a multitude of followers fascinated by the lives they live.
      Here’s eight sisters doing it for themselves.
      RAFAELLA BECKRAN
      Brazilian beauty Rafaella, 24, is superstar Neymar’s younger sister.

      The pair are so close, the PSG ace has a tattoo of her face on his right arm that he showed off in 2015.
      And whenever Neymar has missed matches through injury and suspension, the timing has conveniently coincided with one of Rafaella’s birthdays.
      She has become an influencer, getting 5.5 million followers on Instagram and sharing sexy model snaps.

      Rafaella Beckran’s elder sibling is NeymarCredit: Instagram

      Beckran is a social media influencer with 5.5million followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram

      Neymar has her face tattooed on his arm
      MARTA ABRIL
      Marta is the beautiful 35-year-old sister of former Chelsea star Alvaro Morata.

      She is an Instagram model, as well as a yoga teacher – creating her own blog called Comoonity.
      Marta has almost 100,000 followers, who hang onto her health and fitness tips.

      Marta Abril is the older sister of Alvaro Morata

      Earth mother Marta is a yoga teacher and Instagram model
      DANIELA OSPINA
      With a brother like former Arsenal star David Ospina, Daniela Ospina is in safe hands.
      And Daniela, 28, is also good with her hands – she’s a professional volleyball player and most famously played for VP Madrid.
      She was married to Colombian star James Rodriguez, before they split in 2017.

      Daniela Ospina is a professional volleyball playerCredit: Instagram

      Ospina was married to Everton star James RodriguezCredit: Instagram
      HOLLIE WALCOTT-SMITH
      Just like her brother Theo Walcott, Hollie, 31, is a gym buff.
      But, instead of football, she competed in bodybuilding events – scoring high marks from judges for her enviable figure.
      The mother-of-two often shares tips on staying fit alongside Theo on social media.

      Hollie Walcott-Smith is the bodybuilder sister of Theo Walcott

      Mother-of-two Hollie sometimes shares fitness tips with Theo Walcott onlineCredit: Getty – Contributor
      GABRIELI EMBOABA
      Another stunning Brazilian, Gabrieli is the hot sister of ex-Chelsea playmaker Oscar.
      A fashion blogger and journalist, the blonde beauty has launched her own shop – the ByUs Store in her homeland.
      And of course, she’s the one modelling most of the wear. Totally understandable.

      Gabrieli Emboaba’s famous brother is ex-Chelsea midfielder OscarCredit: Instagram

      Emboaba is a fashion blogger and journalistCredit: Instagram

      Emboaba also has her own fashion store onlineCredit: Instagram
      ANA SILVIA
      Ana is the low-key sister of former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez.
      She prefers to stay out the limelight, occasionally appearing on her brother’s Instagram feed.
      The gorgeous brunette is an aspiring filmmaker.

      Ana Silvia is the beautiful sister of Javier HernandezCredit: Twitter

      Silvia is an aspiring filmmaker Credit: Twitter
      LIZ SOLARI
      Just like her brother – Argie ex-pro Santiago, who briefly managed Real Madrid, Liz has an eye for theatrics.
      She is a 37-year-old Argentine actress, who has appeared in a variety of TV and films in South America.
      However, she made front-page news after a tragic incident when her boyfriend, fellow actor Leonardo Verhagen, died in her arms after a night of wild sex in 2010.

      Liz Solari’s brother is ex-Real Madrid boss SantiagoCredit: Instagram

      In 2010 Solari’s ex-boyfriend died after a night of wild sex with the actressCredit: Instagram
      AMBER VIDAL
      The sister of Inter Milan star Arturo Vidal turns heads wherever she goes.

      The 30-year-old is also said to share a very close relationship with the Chilean midfielder.
      And she gained quite the cult following on Instagram, when she began posting saucy images online.
      But when she started receiving messages from strangers, Amber made her account private.

      Amber Vidal turns heads wherever she goesCredit: Instagram

      The sister of Arturo Vidal was bombarded by messages from strangers on Instagram when she posted saucy contentCredit: Instagram

      Neymar’s sister Rafaella Santos has great fun touring the Paris museums with her friends More

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      in Soccer

      Cristiano Ronaldo & Georgina Rodriguez’s £2.6m jewellery collection from a £1.2m diamond watch to £615k engagement ring

      by

      WHEN Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez turn up to events, they know how to turn heads.
      Most recently, the pair were guests at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards in the Middle East, where they showed off their love of expensive jewellery.

      Cristiano Ronaldo loves accessorising with diamondsCredit: Reuters

      Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez also boasts an expensive jewellery collectionCredit: Georgina Rodriguez/instagram

      In fact Ronaldo, 35, had over £600,000 worth of ice all on one hand as he accepted the award for player of the century.
      While last September, stunning partner Georgina, 26, was given an incredible £615,000 engagement ring.
      We believe their jewellery collection is worth at least £2.6million. Here is what we’ve seen.
      THE £1.2M WATCH
      In 2018, ahead of his emotional return to Old Trafford with Juventus playing old club Manchester United in the Champions League, Ronaldo made quite the impression at a press conference.

      He was spotted wearing a diamond-encrusted Franck Muller timepiece worth an astonishing £1.2m.
      Ronaldo’s favourite accessory is finished with 424 glistening white diamonds.
      Previously, he had been seen wearing a £100,000 Jacob and Company limited edition H24 on his wrist, which had a total diamond weight of 15.25 carats.
      Ronaldo was made a brand ambassador for Jacob and Co back in 2013, when he played for Real Madrid.

      In 2018 Ronaldo showed off a diamond-encrusted Franck Muller timepiece

      The Franck Muller watch was reportedly worth £1.2million
      THE ENGAGEMENT RING
      Nothing says ‘I love you’ more than splashing out on priceless jewellery for the missus.
      And Ronaldo pulled out all the stops when he reportedly gifted Georgina an engagement ring worth £615,000.
      The ring is emblazoned with a large sapphire stone and encrusted with diamonds.
      GamblingDeals compiled a list of the most expensive engagement rings in football – and Ronaldo’s was top of the list.
      Georgina regularly shows off the sparkler on Instagram to her 23 million followers.

      Rodriguez shows off her £615,000 ring

      The engagement ring was said to be a present from RonaldoCredit: Instagram
      MOST EXPENSIVE ROLEX
      A classy timepiece makes the man.
      And Ronaldo loves a bling watch – spotted wearing a £380,000 Rolex GMT Master Ice at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards last month.
      The flashy watch is thought to be Rolex’s most expensive watch ever made.
      It is made in 18 carat white gold and encrusted with hundreds of 30 carat diamonds.

      Lately, Ronaldo has been seen wearing a Rolex GMT Master Ice worth £380,000

      The Rolex GMT Ice is the most expensive watch the brand sells and is encrusted with hundreds of 30 carat diamonds
      RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
      Not to be outdone by Georgina in the ring stakes, Ronaldo also has his own sparkler… actually he has two.
      Again in Dubai, Cristiano wore a women’s ring (believed to be worth £200,000) for the Globe Soccer Awards.
      It featured a huge yellow diamond encircled by a halo of white diamonds and set on a diamond encrusted band.
      Next to that, he wore a diamond band on his wedding finger that has an estimated value of £50,000.

      Ronaldo wore two rings at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards

      The rings are believed to be worth a total of £250,000
      £720,000 ON ONE HAND
      Last year, Georgina wowed her Instagram fans when she flashed her hand decorated in jewellery.
      Alongside her £615,000 engagement ring, she showed off a £33,000 Patek Philippe TWENTY 4 in 18 carat rose gold and featuring a diamond bezel and a brown sunburst dial.
      While draped along her wrist were three diamond bracelets valued at £25,000 each.
      A REAL STUD
      Ronaldo is one of a number of footballers who wear diamond studs.
      But the former Manchester United ace, of course, wanted something a little bit different to his contemporaries.

      Rodriguez wears a £33,000 Patek Philippe watch and three diamond bracelets estimated at £25,000 each

      In 2013, he opted for a very rare pair of earrings with black diamonds.
      And how much did he pay for them, you ask? A reported £10,000.
      We wonder if he shares them with Georgina?

      Cristiano Ronaldo reveals he finds it boring playing in empty stadiums and misses when fans boo him More

    • 188 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Cristiano Ronaldo and Rodriguez’s £2.6m jewellery collection from £1.2m diamond-encrusted watch to £615k engagement ring

      by

      WHEN Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez turn up to events, they sure know how to turn heads.
      Most recently, the pair were guests at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards in the Middle East, where they showed off their love of expensive jewellery.

      Cristiano Ronaldo loves accessorising with diamondsCredit: Reuters

      Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez also boasts an expensive jewellery collectionCredit: Georgina Rodriguez/instagram

      In fact Ronaldo, 35, had over £600,000 worth of ice all on one hand as he accepted the award for player of the century.
      While last September, stunning partner Georgina, 26, was given an incredible £615,000 engagement ring.
      We believe their jewellery collection is worth at least £2.6million. Here’s what we’ve seen.
      THE £1.2M WATCH
      In 2018, ahead of his emotional return to Old Trafford with Juventus playing old club Manchester United in the Champions League, Ronaldo made quite the impression at a press conference.

      He was spotted wearing a diamond-encrusted Franck Muller timepiece worth an astonishing £1.2m.
      Ronaldo’s favourite accessory is finished with 424 glistening white diamonds.
      Previously, he had been seen wearing a £100,000 Jacob and Company limited edition H24 on his wrist, which had a total diamond weight of 15.25 carats.
      Ronaldo was made a brand ambassador for Jacob and Co back in 2013, when he played for Real Madrid.

      In 2018 Ronaldo showed off a diamond-encrusted Franck Muller timepiece

      The Franck Muller watch was reportedly worth £1.2million
      THE ENGAGEMENT RING
      Nothing says ‘I love you’ more than splashing out on priceless jewellery for the missus.
      And Ronaldo pulled out all the stops when he reportedly gifted Georgina an engagement ring worth £615,000.
      The ring is emblazoned with a large sapphire stone and encrusted with diamonds.
      GamblingDeals compiled a list of the most expensive engagement rings in football – and Ronaldo’s was top of the list.
      Georgina regularly shows off the sparkler on Instagram to her 23 million followers.

      Rodriguez shows off her £615,000 ring

      The engagement ring was said to be a present from RonaldoCredit: Instagram
      MOST EXPENSIVE ROLEX
      A classy timepiece makes the man.
      And Ronaldo loves a bling watch – spotted wearing a £380,000 Rolex GMT Master Ice at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards last month.
      The flashy watch is thought to be Rolex’s most expensive watch ever made.
      It is made in 18 carat white gold and encrusted with hundreds of 30 carat diamonds.

      Lately, Ronaldo has been seen wearing a Rolex GMT Master Ice worth £380,000

      The Rolex GMT Ice is the most expensive watch the brand sells and is encrusted with hundreds of 30 carat diamonds
      RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
      Not to be outdone by Georgina in the ring stakes, Ronaldo also has his own sparkler… actually he has two.
      Again in Dubai, Cristiano wore a women’s ring (believed to be worth £200,000) for the Globe Soccer Awards.
      It featured a huge yellow diamond encircled by a halo of white diamonds and set on a diamond encrusted band.
      Next to that, he wore a diamond band on his wedding finger that has an estimated value of £50,000.

      Ronaldo wore two rings at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards

      The rings are believed to be worth a total of £250,000
      £720,000 ON ONE HAND
      Last year, Georgina wowed her Instagram fans when she flashed her hand decorated in jewellery.
      Alongside her £615,000 engagement ring, she showed off a £33,000 Patek Philippe TWENTY 4 in 18 carat rose gold and featuring a diamond bezel and a brown sunburst dial.
      While draped along her wrist were three diamond bracelets valued at £25,000 each.
      A REAL STUD
      Ronaldo is one of a number of footballers who wear diamond studs.
      But the former Manchester United ace, of course, wanted something a little bit different to his contemporaries.

      Rodriguez wears a £33,000 Patek Philippe watch and three diamond bracelets estimated at £25,000 each

      In 2013, he opted for a very rare pair of earrings with black diamonds.
      And how much did he pay for them, you ask? A reported £10,000.
      We wonder if he shares them with Georgina?

      Cristiano Ronaldo reveals he finds it boring playing in empty stadiums and misses when fans boo him More

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Dario Sarmiento, 17, has been dubbed ‘mini Messi’ in Argentina and Man City want transfer deal completed when he is 18

      by

      ALEJANDRO ‘Alex’ Sabella was known in England for his spells with Sheffield United and Leeds.
      Back home in Argentina he had a special relationship with Estudiantes.

      Estudiantes talent Dario Sarmiento reportedly has an agreement with Man CityCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Argentina legend Alejandro Sabella told Sarmiento he had potential to be a big starCredit: AFP

      He played for the club in La Plata, an hour outside Buenos Aires, and he later coached them with great success, winning the South American title and coming close to beating Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in the final of the Club World Cup.
      After taking Argentina to the final of Brazil 2014, he kept a connection going with Estudiantes.
      And a few months before his recent untimely death, Sabella sought out a slightly built teenager who was making his first appearances in the Argentine league.
      Sabella got on his knees in front of Dario Sarmiento, and told him that he had the potential to be a big star.

      WANTED BY PEP
      Manchester City would seem to agree.
      They cannot take the player across the Atlantic just yet – Sarmiento does not turn 18 until March.
      But they have been tracking him for a while, and negotiating with Estudiantes since the middle of last year.
      The president of Estudiantes is former midfield star Juan Sebastian Veron.  In a recent chat with the local media, Veron was anxiously looking forward to counting the money.

      “The club will make sure of receiving a very important quantity,” he said, with his vice Martin Gorostegui adding that a general agreement has been reached with City.
      “There is a fixed sum,” he said – reported to be a little less than £10 million – “and other payments depending on a number of items.  If the deal goes through, that’s how it will be.”
      The sums involved are considerable for a player with a handful of first team appearances and no goals.

      A £10m fee has been suggested for 17-year-old SarmientoCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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      But, as Veron said, “what’s happening with Sarmiento is a bet on his future.” Judges such as Alejandro Sabella and Man City’s coaching staff seem convinced that it is a bet worth taking.
      LEFT-FOOTER LIKE MESSI
      The reason for the fuss is that they have seen something that – in terms of style and potential – cannot fail to bring comparisons with Lionel Messi. 
      Sarmiento is a little left footer, so fresh faced and youthful that he looks a little like the kid member of a boy band.
      The ball is tied to his left foot. But, like the teenage Messi, he is much more than a head down, world of his own dribbling specialist.
      He sees what is happening around him, and can look up and stretch the play with intelligent diagonal passes.
      To possess such a skill set at so young an age – to be able to make an impact in the Argentine first division while he was still 16 – these are signs of rare promise.
      But there is, of course, a long and winding road between promise and reality. Sarmiento’s path has already been interrupted by the pandemic.
      LONG ROAD AHEAD
      Football in Argentina shut down between mid March and the end of October.

      Sarmiento has been compared to Lionel MessiCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      With bags of potential, Sarmiento is expected to be the next big thing to come out of Argentina Credit: Icon Sport – Getty

      Lionel Messi moved to Barcelona’s La Mesia academy when he was 13
      When it was time to restart, Sarmiento seemed to have gained a few pounds. 
      Having time on his hands may have been difficult. Living up to stratospheric expectations will be harder still.
      Messi, of course, came to Barcelona at the age of 13.
      He went through his entire adolescence in the city, finding his identity as a player and as a person.

      Sarmiento looks set to make the move five years later, between adolescence and adulthood – at a much more delicate time.
      And rather than the stability of growing up in a single city, he will probably be loaned around to gain experience – or possibly to lose his way. 
      Or maybe, hopefully, to prove himself worthy of having Alejandro Sabella at his knees.

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