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      I’m a Man Utd fan refusing to cut my hair until they win five games… I never expected it to last this long

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      THE wacky world of the internet has seen an explosion of fan channels giving their view on the state of their respective teams.But it has also given rise to some bizarre challenges, dares and bets, though one Manchester United fan may have gotten himself into more than he bargained for.Frank Ilett runs The United Strand fan channelCredit: INSTAGRAM @theunitedstrandFrank is refusing to cut his hair again until Man Utd win five games in a rowCredit: INSTAGRAM @theunitedstrandBut after starting on October 5, Frank is now five months into his challengeCredit: INSTAGRAM @theunitedstrandAnd Man Utd are struggling to win back to back games, let alone five in a rowCredit: GettyFrank Ilett, 28, runs the social media channel The United Strand.The page started up back on October 5 when Frank decided to commit to a challenge that would see him not cut his hair again until Man Utd won five games in a row.Frank believed this run would only last a few months at most considering the last time Man Utd had won five in a row was in January to February 2024.However, 149 days later it does not even appear to be remotely close to being finished after a dreadful run of form under Ruben Amorim.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd Frank has admitted he might have overestimated his chances.Speaking exclusively to SunSport about what inspired the challenge, Frank said: “Well, it was just for a bit of fun, really, to be honest. It was literally just I don’t really know why, I just went for it.”I saw this guy doing it with, I think, an NFL team or something like that. And he was doing three matches in a row.”But I remember thinking, oh, that’s quite a funny thing and thinking, oh, yeah, you know, obviously I’m a Man Utd fan. Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS”I think maybe there might be some interest there because it’s, you know, it’s Man Utd they’re obviously a massive club and worldwide kind of club as well, not just one only Americans care about.”So, yeah, I so I thought I saw that. And then I thought about it for a little while. And then I just suddenly was like, I’m just going to do it.’That’s why I’m the manager’ – Ruben Amorim hits back at Wayne Rooney as Man Utd boss aims to win Premier League”I just think it’s fun. I think that, you know, it’s a painful time to be a Man Utd fan at the moment and just wanted to spread some humour, really…”Did I imagine it would go on for this long? No, no, no.”So I thought I thought it would go on for a few months. When I first started it, I don’t know why, but I just went for it and I didn’t really give much thought to it at all, really.”And then it was only once it kind of started to get into it. I started to kind of go, OK, how long is this really going to go on for?”I started in October and I checked. I was like, hang on a minute, when did Man Utd last do this? So I checked and it was January – February 2024, so not that long ago.”Now it’s a year ago, but at the time in October I was thinking, you know it’s not a crazy thing that hasn’t happened in a few years or something. That gave me a bit of hope.”I looked at the kind of fixtures coming up and stuff and there were some fixtures in January which looked very winnable and I was thinking that’s when it’s going to end.”And, you know, and then there was a cup game that was added into that as well which kind of made it easier. And we lost the game, which meant February games were kind of easy. “Now we’ve gone past that point and now I’m just hoping for the best and seeing what happens. I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes until next season now.”Frank, who has lived in Spain with his girlfriend for the past year, admits he flirted with the idea of doing a three-game streak instead of five, but thought it would be “too easy”.He said: “Well, that was the thing. I thought about doing three and then I, stupidly, thought to myself, ‘Oh that seems a bit too easy’. Frank admits he thought the challenge would be over by early 2025Credit: INSTAGRAM @theunitedstrandBut he now expects the challenge to last into next seasonCredit: INSTAGRAM @theunitedstrand”So I thought I’ll go for five, you know to make it a bit more of a challenge. But little did I know how challenging that was going to be.”Frank told us he used to have long hair in his early 20s so it was not a totally alien feeling to him, but admits it is a “lot more effort” to maintain it now.He added: “You can see my hair like it goes out, not down. So yeah, it’s hard to kind of maintain a little bit, but, you know, just part of it, part of the challenge, I suppose.”Man Utd are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table and are looking increasingly unlikely to play any part in European competitions next season.With their penalty shootout defeat to Fulham in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday, the Red Devils only realistic hope of playing in Europe next season will be them winning the Europa League.However, Frank is refusing to place the blame on Amorim, instead believing it is the club’s owners, including minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers, who are mostly to blame for the mess the club finds itself in.Frank said: “I think I speak for a lot of Man Utd fans where, [it feels like] it’s basically the same as the Glazers in charge, which I think a lot of people expected as well, to be honest.”I don’t think anyone really expected that much because, yeah, it just hasn’t gone well. All of the decisions are just ridiculous. “I mean, you know, like the thing recently about closing the canteen and to save a million pounds a year when there’s people that make that in a month at the club that don’t even play that often.”Like, was it £55-65million they paid for Mason Mount? I mean, I can’t even remember when he last played. And I can’t remember when he played consecutive games. That’s for sure as well.Man Utd ratings vs FulhamMANCHESTER UNITED crashed out the FA Cup on penalties against Fulham.Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee had poor spot-kicks saved as the Red Devils slipped to their sixth home defeat under Ruben Amorim.Fulham broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a well-worked corner.Antonee Robinson darted to the near post and flicked it onto Calvin Bassey who directed his header into the bottom corner brilliantly.Just as United’s frustrations were brewing, Bruno Fernandes was the saviour yet again.He picked up Diogo Dalot’s perfect cut back and fired it beyond the stretch of Bernd Leno.United had chances towards the end of the second-half, with subs Alejandro Garnacho and Chido Obi unable to finish.There was nothing to separate the sides in extra-time and penalties were needed.Despite well-taken kicks from Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Casemiro, Lindelof and Zirkzee woefully fired directly at Fulham hero Leno.But which Man Utd players could hold their heads up and which flopped?Here, SunSport’s Ken Lawrence reveals his player ratings.”And yes, so when you, you know, there’s I know that to be fair, that wasn’t Ineos but it’s a similar thing where you need to kind of get rid of players like that and get in kind of fresh faces, fresh legs. “Instead of, you know, worrying about a million pounds that it costs to feed all the staff and keep everyone happy at the club.”Frank says his main goal of the challenge is to bring some joy to a painful situation.The United Strand channel – a nod to popular fan channel The United Stand, which Frank says he has watched for a few years – has exploded in popularity to now have more than 60,000 followers on Instagram.Originally Frank was aiming to reach 10,000 followers by the end of 2025, but saw that goal achieved by last December, while hitting 20,000 by the middle of January.The number of viewers, both United and rival fans, has seen the challenge viewed more than 35million times over the last 90 days alone.Frank is even aware of some United stars past and present being aware of his hairy situation, including Denis Irwin, academy star Ethan Wheatley, British boxer Frazer Clarke and tennis star Jamie Murray.He said: “Every time I get any followers I’m still surprised by it. I can’t believe there are so many people interested. “I was looking at my analytics the other day and I’ve had 35million views in the last 90 days, and when I think that many people have actually seen my face it does feel a bit weird.”But I’m happy people have kind of connected with it in a positive way, like everyone seems to just be having a laugh with it with me. It’s nice to bring some joy to people.”READ MORE SUN STORIESIn terms of future plans, Frank says he would love to arrange some fan meet-ups in the future.Meanwhile, he has also admitted he would be open to doing a similar challenge, possibly with hair and beard, while he also wants to grow his YouTube channel and visit every LaLiga stadium.Frank told SunSport his channel had reached more than 35 million views in the last 90 daysCredit: INSTAGRAM @theunitedstrandFrank says his main goal is to spread some joy during a painful moment for Man Utd fansCredit: INSTAGRAM @theunitedstrandHe says he has been told club legends like Denis Irwin know about the challengeCredit: AlamyOther major sports stars like boxer Frazer Clarke are also keeping an eye on the challengeCredit: Getty More

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      Doomed Southampton already planning to AXE manager Ivan Juric and have chosen ideal replacement

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      SOUTHAMPTON are planning to axe Ivan Juric at the end of the season and have identified Danny Rohl as their top target.The Saints are on course for one of the worst seasons in Premier League history and have won just one game since Juric replaced Russell Martin in December.Ivan Juric faces the axe as Southampton battle to avoid a Prem lowCredit: RexThe Saints fancy Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl as their next bossCredit: RexJuric was appointed on an 18-month deal at the end of last year but is not expected to be in charge come the start of next season in the Championship.The south coast side sit on nine points and need two more from their last 11 games to match Derby’s all-time low tally of 11.Sheffield Wednesday boss Rohl, who worked at St. Mary’s alongside ex-boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, was a target after Martin was sacked.However, talks stalled over compensation demands while there is a fractious relationship between the two clubs.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWhile Rohl’s compensation could reach up to £4million for a Premier League club, Southampton would not have to pay quite as much as a Championship side.Rohl also worked with Southampton’s new technical director, Johannes Spors, when the pair were at German club RB Leipzig.Juric was never expected to keep Saints in the Premier League when he arrived with the club already nine points from safety.But neither players nor fans have bought into the former Roma manager’s approach and Southampton have suffered a number of galling defeats during his tenure.Most read in FootballSurely only pride is at stake for the Saints as they sit 13 points off safetyBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSThese include a 5-0 loss to Brentford and consecutive 4-0 defeats to Brighton and Chelsea in their last two outings.The Saints are eight points adrift of Leicester and Ipswich, having conceded 65 goals in their 27 Prem games.And they are a massive 13 points adrift of fourth-bottom Wolves.Meanwhile, Aston Villa are being linked with a summer approach for one of Southampton’s rare shining lights.Midfielder Tyler Dibling, 19, had already been linked with a string of major clubs in January.Tottenham, Newcastle, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig were all said to be keen on the England Under-21 star. More

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      ‘No place in our sport’ – San Diego announcer threatens to SUSPEND historic MLS game over disgusting homophobic chants

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      SAN DIEGO’s first ever MLS match almost ended in disgrace as the announcer threatened to SUSPEND the game over homophobic chantsThe California-based side took on St. Louis City FC in its inaugural league match on Saturday.Homophobic chants were heard from the San Diego FC fans against St. Louis FCCredit: GettyThe chants were made whenever Roman Burki took a goal kickCredit: GettyThe word ‘puto’ could be heard whenever a goal kick would happenCredit: GettyA message was displayed to fans in the Snapdragon StadiumCredit: X @SanDiego_FutbolThe clash ended in a goalless draw as the drama occurred off the pitch.Chants of “puto” could be heard coming from the home support when other Roman Burki, 34, took a goalkick.The word is a slur for male prostitute and in Mexican Spanish translates to “f*****”.It is often used in a way to criticise a person’s masculinity. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe Times of San Diego claimed that the announcer at the Snapdragon Stadium addressed fans over the PA system.They warned that the match would be suspended if the homophobic chants continued.The club also displayed a message on the big screen in the stadium, requesting fans to stop.It read: “Discrimination has no place in our sport and in our stadiums and will not be tolerated.Most read in Football”The fan chant that was just used is offensive and we ask that fans do not continue to use this chant. Thank you.”The usage of the slur has occurred during Mexico international fixtures.Lionel Messi finally puts ‘cold Tuesday night in Stoke’ theory to bed by running the show in -17 degrees temperatures San Diego FC head coach Mikey Varas slammed the chants post-matchCredit: AlamyIt was San Diego’s first ever match in the MLSCredit: ReutersThe game ended in a 0-0 drawCredit: GettyThe match against Brazil in June 2024 was halted in the 59th minute as a severe warning was displayed to the crowd.Speaking after the match, San Diego FC coach Mikey Varas hit out at the chants and labelled them as “unacceptable”.He said: “The chant that was heard tonight is unacceptable”It’s outside of our value system. “It doesn’t represent the players, myself or the club, and it certainly doesn’t represent San Diego or Baja California.”It’s not a reflection of who we are.”We’re a community full of love, of support, and we believe in the power of diversity.”Veras did insist that the chant did not come from the club’s main supporter group, La Frontera.He added: “This came from more the general population in the seats, and it wasn’t everybody.”I understand that, but it was enough people, and I just want to make very clear that it has no place here.”If they’re going to continue to come to the game and make that chant, it’s better that they don’t come here.”Sporting director Tyler Heaps also hit out at the usage of the slur and promised that it would not continue.He said: “It’s totally against our values as a club, but also who we are as people,’ Heaps said about the chants at San Diego FC’s first ever MLS home game. “One of our core values is to be a good person, and I think that´s what we’ll continue to stand behind.”It´s totally unacceptable, and obviously us as a club, we’ll make sure it does not continue into the future.”The one-word slur is usually made when a goalkeeper is taking a goalkick.Burki joined St. Louis City back in 2022 after a seven-year spell at Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.During his time in Germany he won the DFL-Pokal twice and the DFL-Supercup.Since moving to the USA, he won the Western Conference regular season in 2023.San Diego has added some familiar names to the squad ahead of its entrance to the MLS.READ MORE SUN STORIESThis includes former Napoli star Hirving Lozano, Manchester United prospect Paddy McNair and Nottingham Forest winger Alex Mighten. Back in September 2024, McNair insisted his move to the States was not for a holiday as hopes for a “good experience”.Mexican attacker Hirving Lozano is one of the stars of San Diego FCCredit: APFormer Manchester United youngster Paddy McNair is also at the clubCredit: Getty More

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      Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘considers terminating lease on Man Utd’s plush Kensington offices’ in latest cost-cutting plan

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      SIR JIM RATCLIFFE is reportedly considering the possibility of terminating the 10-year lease agreement of Manchester United’s London offices in Kensington.The United co-owner has introduced a series of cost-cutting measures since taking the helm last February.Sir Jim Ratcliffe is considering another cost-cutting method for Man UtdCredit: PAMan Utd could decide to terminate the rental contract on their London officesAround 250 employees have already been made redundant, with hundreds more to follow in the coming weeks.Ratcliffe is also set to scrap free lunches for staff members at Old Trafford and reduce food options for those at Carrington to just soup and sandwiches.Amid the seemingly never-ending chaos at United – on and off the pitch – the British billionaire is already plotting his next money-saving method.The Guardian has reported that Ratcliffe and Co are exploring an early termination from a 10-year lease agreement at their London offices.READ MORE ON MAN UTDMan Utd’s London base is located in Kensington, less than two miles from Kensington Palace.The Red Devils moved into the space less than two years ago following the expiry of their 10-year rental agreement on a separate building in Mayfair.However, Ratcliffe believes that the vast majority of club staff should be based in Manchester and has therefore deemed the 23,000-square-foot space too large and expensive.In the “transformation plan” unveiled last week, Man Utd committed to maintaining a presence in London.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHowever, that will entail looking for a new base.Downsizing at their current premises is also an option, although it is not preferred.Andy Goldstein insists Sir Jim Ratcliffe has got everything wrong at Man Utd after drastic cuts Man Utd’s current office building in Kensington is located less than a mile from the Ineos headquarters in Knightsbridge.However, that convenience is unlikely to influence Ratcliffe’s thinking.The Red Devils currently sit 14th in the Premier League table with 33 points from 27 games. More

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      Glamour model, 72, reveals truth behind rumours Brazil idol Ronaldinho filmed nude video of her in the shower

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      A 72-YEAR-OLD glamour model has revealed the truth behind rumours that football legend Ronaldinho filmed a nude video of her in the shower.Graciela Alfano is a model and actress who hails from Argentina and became a national sex symbol in the late 1970s.72-year-old model Gracia Alfano uploaded a steamy nude video onlineCredit: INSTAGRAM @iconoalfanoShe has responded to claims that it was Ronaldinho who took the piece of footageCredit: INSTAGRAM @iconoalfanoShe boasts over 1 million followers on Instagram.And she regularly delights them with a collection of outrageous photos.But one recent upload left fans absolutely stunned.Alfano posted a video to Instagram showing herself naked in the shower.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIt left almost nothing to the imagination.And fans immediately leaped to conclusions that Brazil icon Ronaldinho, 44, was the person behind the camera.Earlier that same day, Alfano uploaded a photo posing with Ronaldinho in a hotel lobby.The pair put on a friendly pose for the cameras.Most read in FootballAnd it led to some speculating that Ronaldinho had then taken the video of Alfano in the shower.However, she has now come clean about who was behind the lens.Ronaldinho to become grandfather aged just 45 as Barcelona and Brazil legend’s son, 19, to have first childAnd according to Alfano, Ronaldinho had nothing to do with the cheeky clip.In a TV interview on Sunday, she said: “I love it, I feel very good about my body. (Who took it?) That’s the question!“They (my fans) asked me because I had just met Ronaldinho. You see, people make things up.“I took a photo with Ronaldinho in an elevator and everyone thought he had taken the photo of me.“Actually, it was one of the girls at the hotel where I was.“I told her, ‘You have to stay still here. You can’t move because my arm is covering exactly what it should cover. Don’t move’.“She got a great shot. It went viral and, well, I loved it.” More

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      Conor Bradley set for 650 PER CENT pay rise as Liverpool offer five-year contract with Trent Alexander-Arnold to quit

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      LIVERPOOL have opened talks with Conor Bradley over a new five-year contract.Arne Slot has earmarked the Northern Irish defender as the most likely long-term replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is expected to leave for Real Madrid at the end of the season.Conor Bradley is in talks to sign a new deal on MerseysideCredit: AlamyThe 21-year-old has impressed since breaking into the first XI last seasonCredit: RexBradley only signed his previous contract 15 months ago, but the club are keen to tie him down long-term given the uncertainty of Alexander-Arnold’s future.The 21-year-old’s current contract expires in 2027 and he is understood to be eager to sign an extended deal until 2030.It’s reported Bradley earns £10,000 per week on his current deal.Liverpool’s new offer is understood to be worth around £75,000-a-week.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThat would put Bradley on a par with more experienced first-team players in Slot’s squad.With both parties aligned in principle, an agreement could be reached before the end of the season.Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk could leave Anfield on free transfers at the end of the season, which would be a huge blow for the club.Alexander-Arnold is expected to leave for Madrid, who had a £20million bid for him rejected by Liverpool in January.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBut the Reds are hopeful that Salah and Van Dijk can be persuaded to stay.Bradley’s emergence as an alternative at right-back could soften the blow of Alexander-Arnold’s anticipated departure.How Man United destroyed Trent in spectacular Liverpool draw amid £100m Real Madrid transfer talksFollowing an impressive season on loan at League One Bolton during the 2022/23 campaign, he established himself as an important squad player under Jurgen Klopp last year.Bradley made 23 appearances and started Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea.Slot has continued to back Bradley this season, giving him 22 games already.The Dutch manager has been rewarded with a series of impressive performances, including a mature marking job on Kylian Mbappe in Liverpool’s 2-0 Champions League win over Real Madrid in November.Liverpool declined to comment. More

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      Josh Kroenke jets in for Mikel Arteta talks as Arsenal manager looks to salvage season after Premier League title slip

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      JOSH KROENKE has jetted in for talks with Mikel Arteta as the Arsenal boss looks to salvage his season.The Gunners are out of both the Carabao and FA Cups.Josh Kroenke has jetted in for talks with Arsenal boss Mikel ArtetaCredit: GettyThe Spaniard and his players are facing a crunch period of the seasonCredit: GettyWhile their title dream has taken another dent after falling 13 points behind league leaders Liverpool.It means that Arsenal realistically just have the Champions League to play for.But they must first get past Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven in a tricky test.Arteta’s squad has also been decimated by injuries this term.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe likes of Bukayo Saka, Ben White and Martin Odegaard have all spent lengthy periods on the sidelines.And Kroenke, 44, has now arrived in the UK to give Arsenal a pep talk ahead of a tough run of games.The son of owner Stan Kroenke, 77, is co-chairman of the Gunners.He has played a major role in helping Arsenal push their way back up the table after years in the wilderness.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSBut after the Londoners suffered a 1-0 home defeat to West Ham last month, Kroenke is keen to ensure heads do not drop.Arsenal are heading into a crunch phase of the season and will be eager to get back to winning ways.Striker who Arsenal sold for just £4m last summer bags THIRD hat-trick in seven games while Gunners struggle for goalsThey first travel to third-place Nottingham Forest before taking on PSV in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.Arsenal then have a third successive away game at Manchester United, who are out to prove a point under Ruben Amorim.Things don’t get any easier when the Gunners then face PSV in the return leg of their European battle.And the final game of March sees Arsenal take on Chelsea before the international break begins. More

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      From tough childhood to sick racist abuse, how Jean-Philippe Mateta’s injury is latest hurdle for Crystal Palace star

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      A TOUGH childhood, attacks by racist rival fans, goal droughts – Jean-Philippe Mateta has overcome them all on the way to becoming the king of Crystal Palace.So his current battle to return to fitness after being on the receiving end of a horrific head injury is just another hurdle he must conquer on the road to success.French striker Mateta was struck by Liam Roberts’ boot in an awful tackleCredit: GettyJean-Philippe Mateta lays stricken on the floor following a horror injuryCredit: GettyJean-Philippe Mateta has established himself as one of Crystal Palace’s star playersCredit: GettyMateta is currently recovering from the injury suffered against Millwall in the FA Cup.He was on the receiving end of a wild head-high tackle from Liam Roberts in the first half of the tasty fifth-round tie.Mateta stayed down for several minutes as he was treated by the medics on the Selhurst Park pitch while distressed team-mates watched on.After nearly ten minutes on the ground, he was carried off on a stretcher and received oxygen as he was taken away.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe was later discharged from hospital after receiving 25 stitches to his ear.Mateta is recovering at home, and will hopefully be soon back playing for Palace. His career is a story of overcoming adversity driven, in part, by the example of his dad Philippe, whose own career was cut cruelly short.Mateta – grew up in Sevran, a district of “the 93” – the area in the north-east suburbs of Paris that is among the poorest parts of France and notorious for crime.Most read in FootballBut from the start the young man saw football as his way out and was determined not to go down the wrong path.Mateta said: “Lots of young people smoke weed, some end up in miserable situations, some even die.“But for you as a resident, that’s everyday life, you don’t see it as particularly threatening.The striker has scored 15 goals in 33 appearances this seasonCredit: AFPMateta forced a move from Chateauroux to Lyon in 2016Credit: Getty“I always knew in my head that I would be a professional footballer one day. And that that would be my ticket out.”Mateta dedicated himself to achieving his dream, even if it meant foregoing the usual excitement of teenage life.He said: “I skipped a lot of parties. Once there was even one right next to me in the high-rise, and I didn’t even go to that one.“My apartment was on the 15th floor, the party on the 11th. All my friends were there, I heard the noise.“I only had to walk a few flights of stairs and I would have been there.“But there was a game the next day, so I stayed home.’Endangered his life’ – Crystal Palace owner gives Mateta injury update live on BBC and slams ‘reckless’ Millwall star“I didn’t have a plan B. Not even close. In my head it was like this: either I become a professional – or I’ll fail.“In my area, a lot of people are looking for quick money, which is why they sell drugs or commit burglaries.“But I felt, deep down, that football would be my path.”Little did Mateta know, however, that his Congo-born dad did not want him to follow in his footsteps.Mateta explained: “ At first, my mother only told me later, he was completely against it. He didn’t want me to go through anything like him.“He played in Congo and then in Liega, But when he was 24, he seriously injured his leg.“Medicine wasn’t that advanced back then, and several operations went wrong. After that, he had to end his career.“He didn’t want me to go through anything like him. The injury, the end of his career, all of that mentally destroyed him.“He wanted to spare me that.”Mateta started training with and playing for Drancy, a club outside Sevran, when he was 14, and then joined Chateauroux’s youth set-up after bigger clubs passed on the chance to sign him.Mateta’s 13 goals in 26 third-tier games for the first team attracted the attention of Lyon and he boycotted training to force a move to the Ligue 1 giants early in the 2016/17, while other clubs, including Tottenham, hesitated.But after limited opportunities in the Lyon first team, Mateta went on loan to Ligue 2 Le Havre, where his goals fired the team to the play-offs to get into Ligue 1.But the semi final against Ajaccio in Corsica was postponed by a day after fans attacked the Le Havre team bus and hurled abuse.Mateta recalled: “They called me a dirty black, they insulted my family.“After the attack on the bus, we remained calm. Since they had broken the air conditioning, we had to open the doors, and the police hadn’t arrived yet.“So if they had wanted to attack us, they could have done so. But they didn’t.“It was just intimidation, but personally, it didn’t scare me at all.”When the game took place a day late, tempers flared on the pitch and Mateta’s provocative celebration when he made it 2-1 in extra time led to a melee.He and three other players were sent off before Ajaccio equalised and then won a penalty shootout.But Mateta’s 20 goals in 38 games earned him his own move to the top flight, with German side Mainz beating Newcastle and others to the punch.In Germany, too, he had to confront racism, as the club’s squad, which featured a number of players with African ancestry, was the target of snide comments and outright abuse.Mainz’s club record signing, at a fee of £6.5m, had an impressive first season, scoring 14 times in the Bundesliga.But Mateta found the net only 10 times across the next two campaigns.So there were reservations when he arrived at Selhurst Park in 2020, initially on an 18-month loan.The striker moved to Mainz in 2018Credit: GettyHe spent a season on loan at Crystal Palace before completing a permanent move in 2022Credit: GettyMateta joined permanently for £8m in January 2022 but still struggled to hold down a starting place.He ended a run of 28 Premier League appearances without a goal when he scored the winner in the game against Leicester in April 2023, which marked Roy Hodgson’s return as boss.But it was only when Oliver Glasner replaced Hodgson in February last year that Mateta’s Premier League career really took off.Mateta scored 13 goals in 13 games – having managed just 11 in his first 80 PL appearances – as Palace achieved their joint highest finish (10th) and points total (49) of the Premier League era.Glasner’s high-pressing tactics brought more turnovers and the frontman in his 3-4-2-1 formation capitalised.During that amazing run, Mateta became only the second French player to score in seven straight home game in the PL.The other one was Thierry Henry, who promptly picked the Palace star as an over-age player for the Olympic tournament in Paris.Mateta scored the only goal of the quarter final against Argentina, netted twice in the 3-1 semi-final win over Egypt and grabbed a 93rd-minute equaliser to send the final against Spain to extra time.The Spaniards won on penalties so Mateta and his team-mates had to settle for silver medals.But the 27-year-old has taken his golden touch in front of goal into the current season.Mateta’s two goals in the 2-0 win at Manchester United last month took his Premier League tally to 10 for the season.Glasner said: “It is amazing when you have a number nine who scores goals — that is what everyone expects from a striker.“He has the confidence and the feeling at the moment. Both goals were one-touch finishes.“For the set play, he was there; he had the feeling and the confidence to be in the right areas.“The second goal looked easy in the end because it was a one-touch finish, but it was his 20th run in behind.READ MORE SUN STORIES“He runs and runs, and many times, he does not get the ball, but in the end, he gets the rewards.”Which pretty much sums up the life and career of Mateta.Mateta scored twice for Palace against Man Utd last monthCredit: GettyThe Frenchman suffered a serious head injury against Millwall in the FA Cup at the weekendCredit: Getty More