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    Man Utd wonderkid JJ Gabriel at centre of two-way battle for his signature… and it isn’t for a transfer

    MANCHESTER UNITED kid JJ Gabriel is at the centre of a double battle for his signature.The whizkid attacker, 14, is being tipped to be United’s YOUNGEST-EVER player.Joseph Junior Andreou Gabriel is on course to become Manchester United’s youngest-ever first-team playerCredit: jjnr10Gabriel is held in incredibly high regard at the clubCredit: MuTVAnd boot company Adidas are desperate to offer him his next lucrative deal ahead of rivals Nike, who have had him signed up for three years already.A host of agents are also circling the teen sensation, who is highly regarded by club staff.An industry insider told SunSport: “The boy could make six figures from both the boot deal and the agents’ interest.“It’s mega money but he is something special.”READ MORE FOOTBALLUnited are set to have a slew of outgoings this summer to finance Ruben Amorim’s planned overhaul of the squad.Several big names will be up for sale, including Alejandro Garnacho and skipper Bruno Fernandes.Amorim’s plans, however, could go up in smoke following United’s Europa League final defeat to Tottenham on Wednesday.Sir Jim Ratcliffe could wield the axe on the Portuguese gaffer, who has overseen one of the club’s WORST-EVER season.Most read in SportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSBut the former Sporting Lisbon boss is willing to walk away from the club for FREE if the United brass don’t believe he’s the right man for the job.He said: “In this moment, I am not going to be here defending myself. It’s not my style, I cannot do it. It is really hard for me. “So I have nothing to show to the fans and say, ‘I’m going to improve because of this, I have these problems…’ I will not do nothing. “In this moment, it is a little bit of faith. Let’s see. “I’m always open, if the board and the fans feel that I am not the right guy, I will go the next day without any conversation about compensation. “But I will not quit. I am really confident in my job. As you can see, I will not change nothing in how I do things.” More

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    Trent Alexander-Arnold hits back at Liverpool boo boys with emotional social media post as he prepares for final game

    LIVERPOOL star Trent Alexander-Arnold has issued a parting message to fans ahead of his final match with the club.Alexander-Arnold, 26, is set to roll credits on his glittering 20-year spell with the Reds, which started at the tender age of seven, and is expected to join Real Madrid.Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has issued a parting message to fansThat led to some fans turning on the local hero as he was booed when he was subbed on against Arsenal two weeks ago despite his incredible contribution these last nine years.Nevertheless, the full-back is gearing up for today’s final Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace at Anfield, which will see his team lifting the trophy in front of fans for the first time in 35 years.The England international took to Twitter and posted a picture of a special pair of football boots in what seemed like a response to the jeers he’s received at the Kop.One has 2005 labelled on the tongue – the year he joined the club’s academy – while the other states 2025 – the date of his imminent departure.Read More on FootballAlexander-Arnold added the following caption: “20 years. Gave it everything.”A number of Liverpool icons were left baffled with the treatment TAA received from a section of the fans during the 2-2 draw with runners-up Arsenal.Former manager Jurgen Klopp was so “disappointed” he revealed he turned the TV off.Premier League leading goalscorer Mohamed Salah and star team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai also disapproved. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAlexander-Arnold was an unused substitute during Monday’s 3-2 loss at Brighton.And manager Arne Slot has reportedly yet to make a decision over whether to give the defender one last hurrah at the Kop.Trent Alexander-Arnold BOOED by Liverpool fans after boyhood fan confirmed he’s leaving in weeksTrent helped Liverpool win two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup and the 2019 Champions League. More

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    Man City and Nottingham Forest could be set for stunning player transfer swap as Pep Guardiola begins to re-shape squad

    MATHEUS NUNES could be off to Nottingham Forest — sparking an all-change summer at the Etihad.And that could grease the wheels for Manchester City’s hopes of moving Morgan Gibbs-White, 25,  in the opposite direction.Matheus Nunes has been primarily used at full-back this seasonCredit: GettyMorgan Gibbs-White has impressed for Nottingham ForestCredit: AlamyNunes, 26, is on the wish list for Forest chief Nuno Espirito Santo, who is a big fan of the £53million Portuguese midfielder.City sources claim they would be prepared to cut their losses and let Nunes go for around £35m.A deal for England midfielder Gibbs-White would cost almost double that and Nunes could prove a useful bargaining chip.Nunes has played 25 times in the Premier League this season, including 18 starts.READ MORE FOOTBALLMany of his appearances have come as a full-back, rather than in midfield.Last month, Pep Guardiola raised eyebrows by claiming that Nunes was not “clever enough” to play in the middle of the park.The 54-year-old said of Nunes after his side’s 0-0 bore draw with Manchester United: “He can become a good right-back for his physicality.”I think he’s not a player to play in midfield because he’s not clever enough, in the composure, but he has incredible skills and he’s learning a lot.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”The big mistake of full-backs is when you have the cross to the far post where you are, they are always sleeping.”But he defended really well two or three crosses, like when Bruno [Fernandes] put it to the far post for [Patrick] Dorgu.Watch Ashley Cole’s inspirational speech as presents England new boys Gomes and Gibbs-White with legacy caps”He has the attention and the physicality to do it, so he can play in that position and help us a lot.”Gibbs-White, meanwhile, has excelled at Forest this season.The 25-year-old has scored seven goals and laid on 10 assists in 33 Prem outings.His performances have earned him a place in Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad. More

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    I left Ronaldinho in my wake by using his own stepover against him, now I’m playing in the League Two play-off final

    ALBERT ADOMAH once performed an audacious stepover that left Ronaldinho in his wake.So it is safe to say the Walsall winger will not be intimidated by facing AFC Wimbledon in Monday’s League Two play-off final.Albert Adomah went up against Ronaldinho in 2011Credit: PROVIDED BY JUSTIN ALLENAdomah, 37, is still going strong with WalsallCredit: Shutterstock EditorialThe former Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough ace used to love imitating tricks and skills from the Brazilian megastar in street kickabouts.Then incredibly he went on to play against him on his debut for Ghana in 2011 and had the pure cheek to glide past him with a trick out of the great man’s repertoire.Adomah told SunSport: “I was playing for Bristol City at the time in the Championship and got picked by Ghana to play Brazil at Craven Cottage in 2011.“I was up against Ronaldinho, a young Neymar, Alexandre Pato, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Fernandinho, Lucas … it was like a star-studded who’s who of football.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“Before I became a professional footballer I used to do Ronaldinho skills in street and cage football. I tried to imitate his skills so to be on the same pitch as such an iconic figure was a wow moment of my career.“And during the game I did his trademark stepover. I’ve got a picture of me going past him. I thought, ‘I’ve just skipped past the most skillful player ever.’“But I got brought crashing back down to earth as the Liverpool player Lucas, a typical holding midfielder, came steaming in with a sliding tackle.”Brazil won the game 1-0 thanks to a strike from Leandro Damiao and after the game Adomah managed to snag shirts from Neymar and Pato.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBut, almost as incredible as his audacious stepover, Adomah gave Neymar’s shirt AWAY!He said: “At that time everyone thought it was a done deal he was signing for Chelsea and my brother is a Blues fan so I decided to give it to him.Ex-Chelsea star Sam Hutchinson reveals he had HEART ATTACK in game he scored winner that sent Wimbledto playoffs“But Neymar ended up going to Barcelona instead … and ironically a few years later Pato joined Chelsea on loan. I should try to get it back.“However, the picture of me going past Ronaldinho is a great memento and memory I’ll never forget.”Adomah went on to play at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.But fast forward to 2025 and he has had a remarkable season for a 37-year-old… having played in FIFTY-THREE games for Walsall.Although 34 of them have been off the bench, he has been a crucial impact player for Mat Sadler’s men since deciding to drop down to the fourth tier after leaving Championship side QPR last summer.’I’M ONE OF THE FITTEST PLAYERS AT THE CLUB’He said: “It’s about keeping fit. Last season I only played 18 games for QPR. You get to a certain point  in your career where the manager decides whether he wants to select you or go for a younger player.“I still believe I can play and since day one here the manager has seen I’m one of the fittest players at the club.“I’m not as sharp as I was before but can still manoeuvre myself around with the ball. My attributes are still there and I’ve played in more than 50 games. It doesn’t matter whether you’re starting or coming on a sub, everyone is part of what we’re trying to achieve.“It’s up to how the manager wants to utilise his squad and being able to come on fresh and give the team extra energy to get up the pitch has worked well.”This will be Adomah’s fourth play-off final. He lost with Middlesbrough to Norwich under the arch in 2015 and again with Aston Villa against Fulham in 2018.But it was third time lucky when he went up with Villa the following year after they saw off Frank Lampard’s Derby.It ended three seasons outside the top flight for Villa and Adomah is proud he helped get the club back on the up.’THE WORST FEELING IN FOOTBALL’He said: “Losing a play-off final is the worst feeling in football. You just want to get out of the stadium straight away. Yet when you win you want to stay there until the next day and celebrate.“Promotion with Villa was a huge relief for everyone at the club because we’d failed the previous two seasons.“There was a lot of frustration and anxiety among the fanbase. I remember a CABBAGE got thrown at our manager Steve Bruce at Villa Park just before he left the club.“But Dean Smith came in and as a Villa fan was the perfect person to take the club back up.“And it fills me with pride that we helped get them where they belong and now look at where they are six years later, competing in the Champions League and at the top end of the Premier League.”Adomah has had a great career – from his Isthmian League days with Harrow Borough, League Two with Barnet, the Championship with a number of clubs and the Premier League at Middlesbrough.Read More on The SunHe said: “The only division I’ve not played in yet is League One so it would be great to tick that off. I have no plans to retire yet. I’ve done my UEFA B coaching badges and am currently doing my A but I still have a couple of years left in me.“It’s been an enjoyable career… from park football to the World Cup. I can have no complaints.”Adomah helped Aston Villa earn promotion back to the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty – ContributorThe winger headed to Walsall after leaving QPRCredit: Rex More

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    Ian Wright delivers brutal dig to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side for another second place finish in Premier League

    ARSENAL legend Ian Wright aimed a brutal dig at Mikel Arteta’s side, who are set for yet another second-place finish for the third year in a row.The Gunners are currently a staggering 12 points behind Premier League champions Liverpool in the table following a fifth consecutive trophyless campaign.Arsenal legend Ian Wright aimed a brutal dig at Mikel Arteta’s sideArteta saw his Arsenal team finish second for the third year in a row amid a fifth consecutive trophyless campaignBut Wright had immense praise for Arsenal’s women who ‘saved the club from embarrassment’The North Londoners also experienced a heartbreaking Champions League semi-final elimination to Paris Saint-Germain, with Arteta, 43, insisting his team was better despite losing both legs.Rivals Tottenham rubbed some added salt to their London foes’ wounds by winning the Europa League and ending 17 years of hurt since the last time they won a trophy.But Arsenal Women brought a massive smile to the club following an epic Champions League triumph over Barcelona.Renee Slegers’ side picked up a heroic 1-0 victory over Barca thanks to Stina Blackstenius’ winner on Saturday at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.Read More on ArsenalAnd Wright sang the women’s team’s praises by insisting they “saved the club from embarrassment”.The pundit insists the team deserves massive respect as no one believed they could pull it off against Barcelona, who had won the Champions League three times in the last four years.The former striker is adamant the ladies deserve a parade, just like the men would get if they had won a trophy this season.Wright told TNT Sports: “Saved the club from the embarrassment of getting nothing this season when we played so well in the season with the men.Most read in Football“The ladies have saved the club, we have got something to celebrate. Of course they need a parade, they have beaten Barcelona in the Champions League [final], no one gave them a chance. “Even I was saying it was going to be tough because they [Barcelona] average four goals a game!Mikel Arteta gives passionate speech to fans in Emirates after win over Newcastle“So we needed to score goals to make sure that we beat them, in the end it was only one but everybody wrote them off. “They deserve everything they are getting, all the accolades because this is a magnificent achievement. “Look how far it’s come, I remember the Champions League being at Boreham Wood, look where we are and Arsenal winning it, it’s amazing!” More

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    Jack Grealish ‘dropped from Manchester City squad for final game of season’ as £100m man edges closer to transfer exit

    JACK GREALISH has been dropped from Manchester City’s squad to face Fulham this afternoon.Pep Guardiola’s side need a point to guarantee Champions League qualification for next season.Jakc Grealish has largely been stuck on the bench with City this termCredit: GettyGrealish, 29, has fallen out of favour this term, starting just one Prem match in 2025.According to the Telegraph, the former Aston Villa star will not feature at all at Craven Cottage.SunSport revealed yesterday that Grealish believes he may have to leave City in order to force his way back into the England set-up.The attacker was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest squad announced on Friday.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLGrealish is set to for summer talks with City chiefs in order to determine his future.The 39-cap star has two years remaining on his contract at the Etihad.Guardiola opted to leave the former £100million man on the bench even as his side chased an equaliser in last week’s FA Cup final.The City boss instead turned to 19-year-old Claudio Echeverri, despite the Argentine having been yet to play since his February arrival.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSGuardiola recently pleaded for City chiefs to trim his squad ahead of next season.The 54-year-old admitted: “I said to the club I don’t want that [a bigger squad].’I will quit’ – Pep Guardiola gives Man City ultimatum over squad issue that is ‘impossible for my soul'”I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer. I don’t want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay.”It’s impossible for my soul to [tell] my players in the tribune [stands] that they cannot play.”Grealish’s availability is set to spark transfer interest this summer.But his £300,000 a week wages may provide a hefty stumbling block.The England hopeful could even go out on loan in a bid for first team football. More

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    Gary Neville being banned by Nottingham Forest ‘triggered widespread alarm’ as Premier League and Sky hold urgent talks

    THE Premier League and Sky Sports have engaged in high-level talks following Nottingham Forest’s controversial decision to ban Gary Neville.Sky had initially planned for Neville to be at the City Ground for this afternoon’s crucial clash between Forest and Chelsea.Gary Neville will not feature on this afternoon’s coverageCredit: GettyEvangelos Marinakis spoke to Nuno Espirito Santo on the pitch after the recent draw with LeicesterCredit: AFPThey were later informed by Forest that Neville, 50, would be denied accreditation for the match.According to the Mail, the decision has prompted “alarm” among broadcasters and the Premier League.The latest domestic TV deal saw Sky land four of five packages as they and TNT Sports combined for a four-year, £6.7billion contract.Further talks have reportedly been set, with the Premier League, Sky Sports and TNT Sports all concerned over the precedent set by Forest’s decision.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLNeville recently criticised Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, calling the Greek’s on-pitch row with boss Nuno Espirito Santo “scandalous”.Marinakis claimed to have been seething following the 2-2 draw with already-relegated rivals Leicester due to the decision to initially allow Taiwo Awoniyi to keep playing following a worrying collision with the post.Awoniyi was later placed in an induced coma after requiring surgery on a ruptured intestine.Neville posted at the time: “What the Forest owner has just done on the pitch over at the City Ground is absolutely scandalous.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”If I was Nuno, I’d be going and having a very strong word with him, because that is an absolute scandal.”He’s just qualified them for a European competition, and from where that club’s been, and to be remonstrated with on that pitch in front of the club’s fans is an absolute joke.”Jamie Carragher in huge row with Gary Neville over Arsenal title prediction and striker claimNeville later responded to Forest’s decision on social media.The former Manchester United star wrote: “I was contacted by Sky Sports earlier on in the week and told that I would be commentating at the City Ground on Sunday for the Nottingham Forest v Chelsea match.”I was informed yesterday by Sky Sports that Nottingham Forest would not give me an accreditation or access to the stadium as a co-commentator. I’ve had no choice but to withdraw from the coverage.”I’ve dished out my fair share of criticism and praise in the last 14 years of doing this job and have never come close to this unprecedented action.”‘IT’S DISAPPOINTING’He continued: “Personally, I think it’s disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision.”Whilst they have every right to choose who they let into their own stadium, it’s symptomatic of things that have happened over the last 12 months with the club.”I wish the coaching staff, players and fans of the club all the best in their quest to achieve Champions League football.”Neville’s post received several laughing emojis from Jamie Carragher.While his pal David Beckham cheekily added: “Must of (sic) been something to do with that 7-1 game back in the day,” followed by a laughing emoji.A Sky Sports spokesperson went on to reveal to SunSport that they had been forced into ripping up their coverage plans for the match.They said: “Sky Sports was subsequently informed by Nottingham Forest that Gary Neville would be denied accreditation to the match.Read More on The Sun“This was an unprecedented and unwelcome step.”As a result, Sky Sports has decided to revise its production plans and has taken the decision to present the game from Sky Studios in west London.” More

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    Reason Gary Lineker does not plan to do much TV after leaving MOTD revealed

    GARY LINEKER does not plan to do much telly work after leaving the BBC and will instead concentrate on his popular podcasts.After 26 years as Match Of The Day host, he will present his final highlights show tonight covering the last day of the Premier League season.Gary Lineker does not plan to do much telly work after leaving the BBC and will instead concentrate on his popular podcastsCredit: GettyLineker was due to cover next year’s FA Cup and World Cup but bowed out early, sparking a battle for his signature between rival broadcasters.But the ex-England captain suggested he wants to step away from traditional television when asked in an interview about his post-MOTD schedule.Just days before announcing his exit from the BBC on Monday, Lineker told the Beyond The Title podcast: “Professionally, I’ve got a big podcast company and I think it takes up quite a bit of my time and it will probably take up a bit more now.“It’s really exciting and it’s a lot of fun. We’re doing really well. I don’t think I’ll do much television.Read More on Sport‘Really proud’“Hopefully I’ll be in a position where I can just pick and choose things I quite fancy doing. So the podcast world really I think.”Lineker also insisted his broadcasting career has made him prouder than his on-pitch heroics for teams such as Leicester, Everton, Spurs and Barcelona.He added: “I’m actually probably a bit more proud of what I’ve done in broadcasting than possibly football because I always said I was born to be in the box, not on the box.“I had to work really hard at television.Most read in Football“ I had to work hard at football but it came naturally, whereas television didn’t come naturally.“It took a lot of hard work and effort and determination and studying and stuff of other people and how they do it.How Gary Lineker’s BBC exit will spark intense rivalry between new Match of the Day hosts to lead BBC’s World Cup coverage“Eventually I got there. Probably I’m proudest of the fact I made it to the top in broadcasting.”Leicester fan Lineker runs production company Goalhanger Podcasts which is behind hit series The Rest Is Football with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.How Gary Lineker became the BBC’s highest paid starGary Lineker has hosted Match Of The Day for more than 25 years but will leave the role earlier than expected following a row over his use of social media.The Leicester-born star, who moved seamlessly from footballer to one of the most famous and highly-paid presenters at the corporation, began his career at Leicester City, the club he had supported since childhood, in 1978.The 64-year-old striker scored 103 goals for the Foxes in all competitions before signing with Everton for £800,000 in 1985.He scored 40 goals in 57 games for the Toffees in his only season with the Liverpool-based side, before his six goals for England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico won him the competition’s golden boot award and attracted the attention of Spanish football giants Barcelona.Moving to the Catalan side in 1986, Lineker went on to become the highest scoring British player in La Liga, Spain’s highest football division, under English manager Terry Venables. His record 42 goals was only beaten by Welsh winger Gareth Bale in 2016.Lineker spent three years in Spain before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in July 1989 for £1.1 million.He played a part in England’s run to the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, which resulted in a defeat on penalties against West Germany.After the match, Lineker, who captained the Lions from 1990 to 1992, coined the phrase: “Football is a simple game: 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win.”He won the 1991 FA Cup final with Spurs, beating Nottingham Forest 2-1 despite having a goal controversially disallowed for offside and Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley saving a penalty.In 1992, Lineker became the first English footballer to play in Japan’s highest division, the J League, when he joined Nagoya Grampus Eight for £2 million.He retired after an injury-hit two-year spell at the club which saw him play just 23 times.Throughout his career Lineker was renowned for never receiving a yellow or red card booking from the referee.Following his retirement, Lineker joined BBC Radio 5 Live as a football pundit before becoming a team captain on the sports game show They Think It’s All Over from 1995 to 2003.In 1997 he took over as host of Grandstand when then-presenter Desmond Lynam was at Aintree for the Grand National which was abandoned due to a bomb alert.He replaced Lynam as presenter of the BBC’s flagship football highlights programme Match Of The Day in 1999, when Lynam defected to rival ITV.Lineker would later become the corporation’s highest-paid presenter, with the BBC’s annual report for 2023/24 showing his salary to be to around £1.35 million a year.He was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the then-government’s new asylum policy.In November 2024 he announced he would be stepping down from presenting Match Of The Day at the end of the season, but would still host World Cup and FA Cup coverage.He exited the broadcaster early, however, after apologising for sharing and then deleting a post on his Instagram account from the group Palestine Lobby, illustrated with a picture of a rat, which prompted calls for him to be sacked from the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA).After this the BBC said Lineker would leave his presenting role following the conclusion of Match Of The Day for the 2024/25 season and added that he would not present its coverage of the 2026 World Cup or next season’s FA Cup.Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman will share the presenting role on the football show from the next Premier League season.The former England striker is also the co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, makers of the popular The Rest Is History series and its spin-offs about politics, football, entertainment and money. 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