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      in Soccer

      Meet Thiago Silva’s wife Belle who’s gone to war with Pochettino and has history of controversial posts about Chelsea

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      FORGET the hairdryer treatment, Thiago Silva’s wife’s barbed digs are just as vicious.Isabelle Silva isn’t afraid to speak her mind about Chelsea’s blues, just ask Mauricio Pocettino.
      Isabelle Silva is the fiery wife of Chelsea player Thiago SilvaCredit: Instagram @bellesilva
      Brazilian Wag Isabelle is not afraid to speak her mindCredit: Instagram / @bellesilva
      Recently, Isabelle hinted it was time for Chelsea to sack Mauricio Pochettino
      Shortly after the Premier League giants were humbled on their own patch by Wolves 4-2, the Brazilian Wag took to X to write a cryptic post.
      “It’s time for change. If you wait any longer it will be too late,” she posted with clarity.
      She didn’t mention Pochettino, but timing is everything with her statement and it seems the Argie tactician is the latest to feel her wrath.
      No one at Stamford Bridge has felt safe since Silva arrived on our shores from PSG in 2020.
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      While she’s even dissed an opposition’s star player too. Isabelle is the Premier League’s most opinionated and outspoken Wag, as these examples testify.
      Timo Werner
      The German forward has always had his critics.
      For all the effort and work rate he puts in, Werner gets in the right positions but fails to take his chances.
      But, Isabelle wasn’t going to show him any mercy following a Champions League semi-final clash against Real Madrid.
      Most read in Football
      She slammed the ex-Chelsea star’s poor finishing on social media.
      Thiago Silva’s fuming wife slams commentator for slamming Chelsea defender in defeat to Brentford
      On a video on Instagram she Belle said: “This is karma, guys. Every team I go to there is a striker who keeps missing goals… this Werner, what is his name?”
      In another video she added: “We need a goal, we need to win this match but my attackers don’t want to score, I don’t know why they don’t score.”
      His stay at Chelsea lasted just two seasons, and Werner returned to Germany with his tail between his legs.
      Graham Potter
      The ex-Brighton boss was another who was bombed out of Chelsea, after Isabelle delivered her verdict.
      Their 2022-2023 campaign was one to forget, and Thiago Silva found himself left out the team in a 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Man City.
      “I just think that going back or looking for solutions when you take a hasty and totally wrong attitude is not wrong #goblues,” she penned.
      Amusingly, Stamford Bridge’s decor team was also attacked by the fiery South American beauty, when she noticed there weren’t any photos of her husband on designs around the stadium.
      Isabelle is a regular at Stamford BridgeCredit: instagram @bellesilva
      She uses social media regularly to vent her thoughts and frustrationCredit: Instagram @bellesilva
      She quizzed: “Today I went to Stamford Bridge, and I noticed that the photos changed around the stadium. But I don’t see a photo of @tsilva3 anywhere. Why @ChelseaFC?”
      Then, it was commentators who caught her ire after a 4-1 thrashing at home to Brentford.
      “I’m here in my box at Stamford Bridge,” she began. “I just listened right now to the commentator, who said that Thiago Silva is not attacking enough.
      “Respect Thiago Silva because Thiago Silva arrived yesterday, Thiago Silva played for Brazil, Thiago Silva is very tired, Thiago Silva is 37 years old, he plays like he is 20 years old.
      “So respect him, he’s not a machine. He needs to relax, alright?”
      Like any passionate fan, it hurts when your team isn’t do well.
      At the end of last season, she shared: “Very difficult to see what I see on TV. At home the situation worsens because I don’t know how to help, what to say. Very sad @tsilva3 you aren’t alone.”
      Unai Emery
      When Silva played in France for PSG, he was coached by Unai Emery – recognised as a top manager.
      His work at Aston Villa is second to none, and the blame for his failure at Arsenal shouldn’t be put on him entirely.
      Isabelle stuns in a bikini on holidayCredit: INSTAGRAM/BELLE SILVA
      Former PSG coach Unai Emery’s tactics were questioned by IsabelleCredit: EPA
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      That said, she didn’t agree with man being dropped by the Spanish tactician for a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League.
      She questioned: “Tactics, tactics, tactics?”
      Rule here is don’t drop Silva, perhaps.
      Andy Robertson
      If it’s not her own team she is dissing, it’s the opposition.
      Liverpool defender Andy Robertson might be robust in the tackle, but we’re not sure how he handled Isabelle’s attack.
      The Scotland left-back shared a video on his social media of a clip leaving Jorginho for dead in a Reds win over Chelsea.
      Belle wasn’t having any of it and took to TikTok to have the final word.
      “Chilwell is better than u dude you even lost to Southampton,” she said.
      Her comment, rather brilliantly, drew over 500,000 likes.
      Andy Robertson of Liverpool and Timo Werner of Chelsea both felt Isabelle’s wrathCredit: Getty
      A vicious comment about Andy Robertson from Isabelle drew over 500,000 likesCredit: Instagram @bellesilva
      She nearly dumped Silva too
      If Isabelle had carried out this threat sooner in their romance, Thiago. might have saved himself a lot of bother during his career.
      When he was playing in Russia between 2005-2006 as a youngster, she travelled to Moscow to dump him.
      However, he became seriously ill with tuberculosis and she joined him for support to help nurse him back to help over several months.
      He told SportBuzz: “She went there [to Russia], she left everything in Brazil to go.”
      “A curious fact that few people know is that she had gone there to end our relationship and things ended up changing.
      “Of course, at that moment, I didn’t know what was going to happen, I found out years later, but I was happy to see her there at that very difficult time in my life. That moment there strengthened us as a couple.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Thiago and Isabelle Silva nearly split when he played in RussiaCredit: Instagram / @bellesilva
      Isabelle Silva is very protective when it comes to her husbandCredit: Instagram @bellesilva
      They married at the end of that year, before going to have two children together, Isago and Iago.
      Word to wise, do not cross Isabelle Silva though. More

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      in Soccer

      Sacking Pochettino for Mourinho would be utterly ridiculous, but Chelsea might just be crazy enough to do it

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      TODD BOEHLY would be a fool to sack Mauricio Pochettino before this month’s Carabao Cup Final.But then all common sense went out of the window along with the personal effects of three other managers since the American chairman took over Chelsea less than two years ago.
      Chelsea shouldn’t bring Jose Mourinho back to replace Mauricio PochettinoCredit: Rex
      Chelsea manager Pochettino has come under fire amid a turbulent campaignCredit: Getty
      Anyway, who would be daft enough to bin their boss in the run up to a Wembley final?
      Tottenham did it to Jose Mourinho in 2021 and it proved a disaster. Chelsea’s specialist subject at the moment.
      Mourinho is now out of work once more and already making sure his mug is getting pictured at football grounds around Europe.
      Take a straw poll of Chelsea fans today and bet the majority would take back the man who won them three Premier League titles and wave goodbye to Pochettino.
      Read More on Chelsea
      It would be utterly ridiculous for him to come back for a third time but if there is one man mad enough and one club crazy enough to go for it, it is The Special One and Chelsea.
      But even he might baulk at the challenge of trying to turn this club around.
      Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Frank Lampard all tried and failed to get a tune out of the most expensive squad in football history.
      A £1 billion orchestra hitting duff notes whoever is leading them. Makes you wonder whether it’s the players, the conductor or the people who own the concert hall who are to blame.
      Most read in Football
      German Tommy Tuchel lasted exactly 100 days before getting Das Boot. Potter survived seven months and Lampard’s 11 games as caretaker boss are best consigned to memory.
      Chelsea’s greatest ever goalscorer and serial-winner left scratching his head at the way his club’s once-formidable character had been deconstructed in the space of 12 months.
      Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino APOLOGISES to fuming fans after watching his side thumped by Wolves
      Boehly and his pal Behdad Eghbali bought Chelsea for £2.5bn in May 2022 and promised to invest a further £1.75bn in revolutionising the entire squad.
      They have certainly done that. Pochettino is famed for his ability to develop young players but is getting nowhere fast with the costly collection of individuals dumped on him by Chelsea’s transfer department.
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      Mourinho enjoyed immense success as Chelsea manager
      Getting them to the Carabao Cup final on February 25 is a miracle. That they look destined to get ripped apart by Liverpool at Wembley is another matter.
      Pochettino admits his job is not safe. But one thing is for sure, he will not quit. As much as some of those Chelsea fans calling for his head in Sunday’s humiliating 4-2 home defeat by Wolves would like.
      They were also singing for former owner Roman Abramovich – so Boehly is not safe either. 
      The deposed Russian, now in exile, is always the person of first resort that a bunch of supporters used to winning big things every year reach for when times are tough.
      Pochettino has struggled during his debut campaign as Chelsea boss
      It won’t happen so the fans need to get used to that idea. 
      The Return (again) Of The Special One equally has the ring of a bad movie about it. Think Fast And The Furious XII or wherever we are at now.
      But when it comes to plugging dud films, that’s already right up Boehly’s street.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Reviews of recently released Boehly-backed Argylle – a cheesy spy thriller that has been universally panned – point to that.
      Incidentally, Argylle is meant to be part of a trilogy, if it makes it past the first episode. Jose III sounds equally doomed to fail but at least it would be entertaining.
      A bid for Mourinho by Chelsea owner Todd Boehly can’t be ruled outCredit: Rex More

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      in Motorsport

      Fleeced by a gigolo, F1 factory romps, secret love children & a cocaine sting… scandalous secrets of supercar dynasties

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      MOST of us can only dream of being part of a supercar dynasty like Lamborghini or Ferrari.But life inside these ultra-rich families is far from simple – as they are haunted by hidden pasts and sordid scandals.
      Flavia Borzone claims to be the lovechild of Tonino Lamborghini – the son of the luxury car firm’s founderCredit: instagram/@flavia_borzone
      A DNA sample was secretly taken from Tonino’s daughter, Elettra Lamborghini
      Just this week, Flavia Borzone, 35, was in court over her claim to be the secret lovechild of Tonino Lamborghini – the son of the luxury car firm’s founder.
      Tonino is suing Flavia after she publicly alleged he had an affair with her mother in the late 1980s.
      In the latest twist to the scandal, it has emerged that Flavia hired private detectives to collect a DNA sample from Tonino’s daughter, Elettra Lamborghini.
      The private detectives snatched a straw, dubbed ‘the straw of a thousand secrets’, that was used by Elettra to drink a coffee.
      Read More on Supercars
      Experts at the University of Ferrara tested the sample and found a DNA match between Elettra – who appeared in the reality show Geordie Shore – and Flavia.
      It is just the latest in a long line of scandals that have rocked the supercar dynasties.
      Bugatti founder’s double tragedy
      Bugatti founder Ettore Bugatti suffered a brutal double tragedy in his life.
      His brother Rembrandt, a talented sculptor, took his own life in 1916 after the outbreak of war stopped him from selling his work, which now sells for millions.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Ettore Bugatti’s life was torn apart by the deaths of his son and brotherCredit: Getty
      Ettore’s brother Rembrandt took his own life during WW1Credit: Getty
      Ettore’s son Jean Bugatti died in a crash testing one of his carsCredit: Getty
      The artist was heartbroken when many of the animals he used to base his sculptures on were slaughtered after Germany besieged Antwerp.
      Bugatti suffered another ordeal when his eldest son, Jean, died testing one of his cars. The 30-year-old lost his life when he swerved to avoid a cyclist and crashed.
      BMW heiress fleeced by gigalo
      A gigalo fleeced BMW heiress Susanne Klatten out of £5.9million after meeting her in an Austrian spa.
      He went on to attempt to blackmail Ms Klatten, threatening to release naked photographs of them together if she did not give him more cash.
      Swiss gigalo Helg Sgarbi was jailed for six years in 2009 for his cruel crimes against Ms Klatten and other women.
      Ms Klatten initially handed Sgarbi £5.9million after he told her the Mafia was out for him. But he then took the scam a step further.
      BMW heiress Susanne Klatten was fleeced out of £5.9million by a gigaloCredit: AFP
      Helg Sgarbi was jailed for six years in 2009 for his wicked crimes against Ms Klatten and other womenCredit: Reuters
      Sgarbi threatened to release naked pictures of Ms Klatten which were taken in this Holiday InnCredit: Reuters
      She said: “He asked me to meet him at the Holiday Inn in Munich. When I went there he showed me two photographs, in one of them I was naked and so was he.
      “I could tell they were from a video and I was scared. There was a letter which said he would tell all to the press and my family. He wanted money and I had already given him seven million Euro.
      “He just wanted more money and at that point I decided to go to the police because I realised I was being blackmailed.”
      Ms Klatten’s father, Herbert Quandt, was also engulfed in scandal over his ties to the Nazi party.
      Quandt’s BMW collaborated with the Nazis and employed around 50,000 forced labourers in its arms factories.
      Roughly 80 slave labourers died per month at the plants – and many were executed.
      One of the slave labourers, Takis Mylopoulos, said: “We were treated very badly, we were whipped and had to drink water out of the lavatories.”
      Porsche boss pals with Hitler
      Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of the luxury car firm, showing Adolf Hitler his Volkswagen Beetle designCredit: Hulton Archive – Getty
      Porsche was arrested for war crimes as an SS officerCredit: Getty – Contributor
      The man who created Porsche was a devoted Nazi and pal of Adolf Hitler.
      Ferdinand Porsche developed the V-1 flying bomb – which was nicknamed the doodlebug by Brits during the Blitz – and Nazi tanks.
      He also worked closely with Hitler, receiving a contract from the dictator to create a ‘Volkswagen’, meaning a car for the masses.
      The result of this alliance was the Volkswagen Beetle.
      Shamefully, prisoners of were were used as slave labour at the Volkswagen car plant in Wolfsburg, Germany, while Porsche was general manager.
      By 1945, Porsche had been arrested for war crimes as an SS officer and was languishing in a French prison of war camp.
      Porsche was released from custody in 1947 after his family posted bail of one million French francs.
      In 2022, the Austrian city of Linz announced that it planned to rename ‘Porscheweg’ street, which honoured the carmaker.
      A report commissioned by the city senate said: “Porsche played a central role in the NS [National Socialism] war economy and actively promoted the forced labour of prisoners of war and concentration camp inmates.”
      Ferrari lovechild
      Ferrari founder Enzo had a secret lovechild, Piero, with his mistress
      Enzo’s wife refused to let Piero (pictured) use his father’s surname while she was alive
      Enzo Ferrari, who started the supercar company, was known for his wild love life.
      The playboy, who was played by Adam Driver in a biopic last year, bedded factory workers and had a secret lovechild with his mistress Lina Lardi.
      Enzo’s wife Laura was so furious about the affair that she refused to let the lovechild, Peiro, have her husband’s surname while she was alive.
      Enzo continued to visit his widow’s grave every morning after she died in 1978.
      And Piero Ferrari, who is now the vice-chairman of the family firm, was by his father’s bedside when he died.
      Lotus founder’s missing millions
      Lotus boss Colin Chapman was embroiled in scandal over missing taxpayer cash
      A judge said Chapman would have been jailed for at least 10 years had he been in the dockCredit: Getty
      Lotus founder Colin Chapman died before he could be charged over a case that cost the taxpayer millions.
      The British Government invested more than £50million in a scheme to build a sports car in Belfast.
      However, £10million of the cash was not spent on the project, which was the brainchild of Chapman and an American car tycoon called John DeLorean.
      The DeLorean Motor Company filed for bankruptcy in October 1982 – just a few days before DeLorean was arrested in a cocaine trafficking case. Undercover federal agents had filmed him agreeing to bankroll a cocaine smuggling operation.
      He was later acquitted over the cocaine case as he argued police had entrapped him.
      However, the mystery over the missing taxpayer cash sparked an investigation which led to the imprisonment of Lotus Group accountant Fred Bushell.
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      It emerged that Bushell had siphoned off £5million for himself.
      Chapman died aged 54 from a heart attack in 1982 but the judge in Bushell’s case said that if he had been in the dock he would have been jailed for at least 10 years. More

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      in Soccer

      Split from sweetheart and losing love for the game… Marcus Rashford was a football superstar – so what happened?

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      MARCUS RASHFORD grew up watching his single mum Melanie work three jobs to support him, his brothers and sisters.Sometimes she would skip meals to ensure they had enough to eat, and the family needed free school dinners to make sure Marcus and his four siblings had at least one plate of hot food a day.
      Marcus Rashford has been beset by personal troubles on and off the pitch leading to him being axed last weekendCredit: Getty
      Rashford split from long-term lover Lucia Loi and fears women he meets are simply after his moneyCredit: Getty
      Rashford was awarded a MBE for his work campaigning for free school meals for childrenCredit: Rex
      Fast forward 20 years and, now earning £325,000 a week at Manchester United, he could be forgiven for thinking money would solve all the family’s problems.
      But instead the 26-year-old England striker has hit rock bottom.
      Earlier this week, Rashford faced a £650,000 club fine after finishing a 12-hour tequila-fuelled bender at 3am, despite being due in training just a few hours later.
      He rang in sick, claiming to be ill, which the club took at face value until social media footage showed he had been in a Belfast nightclub till the early hours.
      READ MORE MARCUS RASHFORD
      At a meeting with manager Erik ten Hag and United director of football John Murtough on Monday, Rashford is understood to have admitted to having lost some of his love for the game.
      In his personal life it seems he’s also struggling, and those problems are transferring onto the pitch.
      ‘Family rifts’
      A source told The Sun: “Marcus has always had a close inner circle.
      “His brothers are his agents and his advisers, but the truth is that there are cracks starting to appear.
      Most read in Football
      “He has massive sponsorship deals and a buy-to-let empire of houses, plus his earnings on the pitch, and that means he’s an extremely wealthy young man.
      “He’s in a unique position to make himself and his family financially secure for generations, but that’s not what’s happening.
      “There have been arguments and tensions over money in his camp for months, and it’s not getting any better.
      “Marcus is in the middle of it all feeling lost.
      “He doesn’t know who to trust and his confidence on and off the pitch has taken a dive.
      “His life’s become a mess and he’s at a loss as to how to make it better.”
      Rashford’s older brothers, Dwaine and Dane, act as his agents, business advisers and gatekeepers.
      They all live in the same leafy street in Wilmslow, Cheshire, along with mum Melanie.
      The opulent lifestyle is a far cry from the modest terraced home in Withington, Manchester, where Marcus spent his early childhood years.
      Marcus has been close to brothers Dwaine Maynard (left) Dane Rashford (right), but relations have strained recentlyCredit: Instagram
      The footie idol’s family relationships have been strained since Dane, 31, was arrested for domestic battery in Miami in October.
      Charges were dropped but the incident has left a lasting impact.
      Dwaine has put his house up for sale, believing his security was compromised after Dane’s address was published online by police in Miami as part of the charge, and Dane has been increasingly sidelined.
      Several sources have told The Sun that Dwaine, 40, and Marcus are barely on speaking terms, despite the siblings attending showdown talks with ten Hag together on Monday.
      Rashford still socialises with childhood friends, and once said of his inner circle: “It has always been small and always will be, because I feel like I work best in that environment. I trust them.”
      But some pals have abused that trust, with one using Marcus’ bank card to buy expensive items without his permission.
      Others have let him down simply by failing to question his decisions to go out partying, drinking and gambling.
      Another of Rashford’s anchors was school sweetheart Lucia Loi, who he split with last summer.
      Their on-off relationship is believed to be over for good after Rashford was snapped walking into a Miami hotel with a leggy model at 5am.
      Rashford was seen walking into a hotel last year in Miami with a model – signalling the end of his relationshipCredit: SPLASH NEWS AND PICTURES
      And last September, he pranged his £700,000 Rolls-Royce outside United’s Carrington training ground.
      It came after his school meals campaign to help feed Britain’s poorest kids during the holidays earned him an MBE.
      A source said of private turmoil: “Marcus has wardrobes full of designer clothes, watches and jewellery, but he met Lucia when he had nothing.
      “He knew she loved him for him, not his money.
      “Now he feels girls he meets are just interested in his bank balance.
      “He’s been earning a lot of money for a good few years now, but only really started flaunting it in recent times.
      “Part of that was because of his involvement in the free school meals campaign.
      “He was conscious people would criticise him for campaigning one day and being seen at the wheel of a Lamborghini the next.
      “But his campaign was never about Marcus using his money to end child food poverty. That’s impossible.
      “As he’s grown up, he has been encouraged by some advisers to enjoy his wealth, because he has worked hard for it.”
      Trying to provide for his extended family has also caused rifts.
      Rashford has a property empire encompassing at least a dozen homes he rents out, controlled by Melanie.
      Our source said: “Some of them are regular houses with regular tenants, but other, larger properties in the posh Cheshire suburbs have been designated for family.
      “Many of his family members grew up in modest homes in working class areas of Manchester, without much money.
      “Even if Marcus lets them live rent-free, they still don’t have the means to pay heating and electricity in a huge mansion.
      “Some kids in the extended Rashford family are still on free school meals, so it’s a massively complicated situation.
      “Marcus is doing his best to help people.”
      It is understood matters came to a head when Rashford did not attend the recent funeral of a relative, fearing that his presence would be too awkward as he would be approached and asked for money.
      Recognising the need for expert help, Rashford and his team have approached numerous PR agencies and financial advisers, but have yet to find the right match.
      These difficulties in his personal life have led to a crisis of confidence on the pitch.
      Rashford was spotted at a nightclub in Belfast last week, hours before he was due in trainingCredit:
      Earlier this season he was involved in a car crash close to United’s training groundCredit:
      Just six months ago — after bagging an incredible 30 goals in one season — United fought off interest from Paris Saint Germain to persuade Rashford to sign a five-year contract worth £84.5million.
      The Premier League star proudly said: “I joined Manchester United as a seven-year-old boy with a dream.
      “That same passion, pride, and determination to succeed still drives me every time I have the honour of wearing the shirt.”
      On his “relentless” determination to win more trophies, he added: “As a United fan all my life, I know the responsibility that comes with representing this badge.
      “I will give everything to help the team.”
      ‘Not pulling his weight’
      But a series of disinterested displays, netting just four goals this season, have seen the Old Trafford crowd start to get on his back for the first time since he burst onto the scene aged 18, scoring two goals in his February 2016 debut.
      A multi-million pound boot deal with Nike had to be delayed due to his poor form and his brother’s arrest, and Rashford has also seen a string of pals — Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Brandon Williams and Anthony Elanga — leave the club.
      He now finds himself regarded as a senior leader in the dressing room, but some reckon he is not pulling his weight and relationships with teammates are strained.
      A source said: “Marcus doesn’t seem happy in training or in games.
      “The team has been struggling and needs everyone pulling together.
      “Some of the players are frustrated because they know just how talented Marcus is.
      “They know they need him if they are going to win things.
      “And some feel like he doesn’t care as much anymore.”
      Can Rashford turn it around?
      Yes, believes one source.
      “Marcus is a really good guy.
      “He’s actually quite shy, not the outgoing extrovert that people believe from all the designer clothes and Rolls-Royces.
      “He’s achieved so much in his career so far and he’s only 26.
      “But he’s the kind of person who has to hit rock bottom before he can start to climb back up.
      “Like many players, he craves routine, people he can trust around him, stability and a cause he can support that connects him back to his roots.
      “He had all that once, and now it’s a case of building it back up.
      “He knows he needs to make changes in his life, but it’s up to him to do that.”
      Insiders last night revealed Marcus had been more focused in training this week and seemed intent on answering his critics on the pitch.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      On Thursday, four days after being dropped, it took him less than five minutes to score United’s opening goal against Wolves, helping his side to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory.
      Hopefully, for Rashford, the comeback starts here.
      Manchester United hope Rashford will rediscover his love for the game More

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      in Motorsport

      What happened to Ferrari’s 11 British F1 drivers including last winner 60 YEARS AGO as Lewis Hamilton joins elite club

      by

      LEWIS HAMILTON’S stunning transfer to Ferrari has shocked the world of Formula One.Motorsport fans around the globe will remember February 1 as the date Hamilton officially cut ties with Mercedes following a 26-year association.
      Lewis Hamilton has sealed a shock move to FerrariCredit: PA
      He joins the likes of Nigel Mansell on a prestigious list of British Ferrari F1 driversCredit: Rex Features
      Hamilton’s career with Mercedes
      Seven world drivers titles, 103 race wins, 104 podiums and a legion of other records to boot. To say his career backed by Mercedes power has been a success would be an understatement.
      Having signed a £100million contract with Mercedes in summer 2023, Hamilton then used a break clause in his deal to seal his switch to Ferrari.
      Hamilton will drive for the Scuderia from 2025 after signing a “multi-year contract” worth £100m.
      His goal with the Italian constructor will no doubt be to win a historic eighth title if he cannot manage it in his final season with the Silver Arrows.
      READ MORE IN F1
      However, Hamilton is not the only Brit to have driven in the scarlet red of the Prancing Horse.
      That being said, if he is to win Ferrari’s first driver title since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 he will be fighting against history stretching back 60 YEARS.
      But who are Hamilton’s predecessors?
      Below we take a look at the 11 previous drivers to have got behind the wheel at Ferrari.
      Most read in Motorsport
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      Peter Whitehead
      Peter Whitehead pictured drinking a beer in a FerrariCredit: 2015 Getty Images
      Peter Whitehead raced for Ferrari at the birth of F1 in 1950.
      An amateur pre-war racer and RAF pilot, Whitehead raced in 12 F1 races, achieving one podium before he left the sport in 1954.
      Following the second world war Whitehead returned to racing and worked his way to purchasing a Ferrari 125 from Enzo Ferrari, contesting nine Grand Prix with it.
      Whitehead’s most noteworthy exploits came in outside of F1 however, winning the 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours race. He was killed in 1958 while competing in the Tour de France.
      Mike Hawthorn
      Mike Hawthorn was the first Briton to win the F1 world championshipCredit: SSPL/Manchester Daily Express
      “Farnham Flyer” Mike Hawthorn joined Ferrari in 1953 and raced with them until 1958 and became famed for wearing a bow tie during races.
      Battling with the likes of F1 legend Juan Manuel Fangio, Hawthorn came close to title success in 1954 as he won three podiums and won in Spain.
      However, he would not land a title until 1958, becoming the first Brit to win an F1 title in the Ferrari 246 in a title battle with Sir Stirling Moss.
      Hawthorn would retire from racing in 1958 but would tragically die in a car accident on the A3 Guildford Bypass on January 22 1959.
      Peter Collins
      Peter Collins won three races in F1Credit: 2009 Getty Images
      Peter Collins raced his first season with Ferrari in 1956.
      He earned Enzo Ferrari’s respect that season when he gave up his own world title ambitions by handing his car over to Fangio at Monza.
      Collins was active in F1 for six years, with his final win in F1 coming at Silverstone in 1958.
      He died while racing around the Nurburgring just three weeks later.
      Tony Brooks
      Tony Brooks won two races with Ferrari during his F1 careerCredit: Getty
      Tony Brooks joined Ferrari in 1959 following the deaths of Hawthorn and Collins.
      He won two races in Reims and Germany to hand him a shot at the title.
      But the title dream would fall short after an ultimately needless pit-stop at Sebring, USA, following a collision with Wolfgang von Trips.
      Unlike many unfortunate racers in the era, Brooks retired from motorsport and lived a long life, only passing away in 2022 aged 90.
      Cliff Allison
      Injuries thwarted Cliff Allison’s promising careerCredit: Getty
      Cliff Allison joined Ferrari as part of its stable of drivers for the 1959-1960 F1 season.
      However, after just six races he saw his career cut short. Following a second place finish in Argentina, a crash at the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix saw Allison hurled from his cockpit and was sidelined for a year.
      Allison woke up in a hospital speaking French despite never learning the language.
      He returned to F1 in 1961 with Lotus but suffered a double leg break at the Belgium Grand Prix, ending a promising career. Allison died in 2005 aged 73.
      John Surtees
      John Surtees won world championships in F1 and on motorcyclesCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      The last man to win the F1 title at Ferrari, John Surtees was proficient in both F1 and motorcycle racing and is famed as a world champion on four and two wheels.
      He was active for 12 years in F1, winning six races including two in 1964 on route to a championship.
      Things eventually turned sour between driver and team however, leaving Ferrari in a rage in 1966.
      Surtees died of respiratory failure in 2017 at the age of 83.
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      Mike Parkes
      Mike Parkes raced six races in FerrariCredit: Getty
      Mike Parkes raced for Ferrari in the 1966 and 1967 F1 seasons following a seven-year break from the sport he had made his debut in in 1959.
      Podiums in the French and Italian Grand Prix in 1966 showed off his promise before he suffered a leg-break in Belgium ended his career prematurely.
      Parkes was also a racer in sports cars, winning the British Saloon Car Championship in 1961.
      He died in 1977 aged 45.
      Jonathan Williams
      Jonathan Williams made just one F1 start in his careerCredit: Getty
      Jonathan Williams made just one F1 start in his racing career, but making it for Ferrari means he makes this list.
      Williams one F1 race in Mexico saw him finish 8th.
      He retired in 1972 and became a pilot, before switching to be a writer and photographer.
      Williams died on in 2014 aged 71.
      Derek Bell
      Derek Bell is the most successful Brit in Le Mans historyCredit: Getty
      Derek Bell is best known for his career in sportscars.
      But the two F1 starts he made for Ferrari put him on this list even though he did not do great in the seat.
      A lack of opportunities prompted him to move on from the team in 1969, before he would go on to win Le Mans five times to make him the most successful Brit to race in it to date.
      Born in 1941, Bell has also won the Daytona 24 three times and the World Sportscar Championship twice.
      Nigel Mansell
      Nigel Mansell was the last driver confirmed by Enzo Ferrari before he diedCredit: 2019 Getty Images
      Nigel Mansell became the first driver to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari for more than 20 years when he joined the Prancing Horses in 1989.
      Things started off well with a win at the Brazilian Grand Prix, but that would prove to be a false-dawn amid reliability issues.
      Mansell would eventually leave the team at the end of 1990 to rejoin Williams, where “Mansellmania” was born as he won a championship in 1992.
      “‘Il Leone” as he was known to the Tifosi, was the last driver confirmed by Enzo Ferrari before his death. These days Mansell is enjoying retirement with a number of successful business enterprises.
      Eddie Irvine
      Eddie Irvine came within touching distance of a title at FerrariCredit: Bongarts
      Eddie Irvine came within touching distance of an F1 title in 1999, winning four races.
      However, he was unable to match Michael Schumacher in his prime and promptly left at the end of the season before retiring from F1 in 2002.
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      Irvine has since gone on to become a successful businessman which has earned him an incredible net worth.
      He is the last Brit to race for Ferrari, and 20 years on Hamilton will follow in Irvine’s footsteps aiming for an eighth title to eclipse none-other than Schumacher.

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      Inside Lewis Hamilton’s £13m collection of supercars including super rare Ferrari and £1.6m ride made entirely for him

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      F1 legend Lewis Hamilton boasts a stunning car collection befitting of the racing driver legend he is.Since his 2007 debut, the seven-time world champion has earned a staggering fortune from motorsport.
      Lewis Hamilton owns a £2m McLaren that he still drives around Monaco inCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton, who has a deal with Mercedes, looks set to leave their F1 team
      Lewis Hamilton boasts a car collection worth a staggering £13mCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      F1 legend Hamilton shows off his Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe worth around £177k
      He has been paid an astonishing £350million by Mercedes, who he signed for in 2013.
      But, it could be the end of an era. The 39-year-old is reportedly poised to complete a sensational switch to Ferrari and team up with Charles Leclerc ahead of the 2025 season.
      Hamilton’s epic wealth has allowed to enjoy a lifestyle to envy.
      And cars are most certainly his passion – with a garage of supercars worth around £13MILLION.
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      Hamilton is a self-confessed car fanatic, who collects everything from the latest supercars to vintage classics and even electric vehicles.
      He said previously: “I don’t know anything about wine. I don’t know a huge amount about art.
      “But what I do know is cars, and I’m very particular about them.”
      Here we take a look at just some of his extravagant collection:
      Most read in Motorsport
      PAGANI ZONDA 760 LH
      The rarest motor in Hamilton owned was his £1.6m Pagani Zonda that was made entirely for him.
      The exterior and interiors are purple, and at the request of the sports star he opted for a manual gearbox instead of the usual sequential one.
      His reasons? Because he hated getting behind the wheel of it initially.
      He once said: “The Zonda is terrible to drive!
      “It’s the best-sounding car I own, but handling-wise it’s the worst.”
      That could be why in 2015 Hamilton got in an accident that caused some significant damage to the cherished motor.
      Hamilton reportedly sold the motor in 2022.
      Hamilton’s Pagani Zonda cost him £1.6m but he hated driving itCredit: Rex FeaturesCheck out these amazing collections

      1966 SHELBY 427 COBRA
      The highest valued car in Hamilton’s collection is this stunning classic.
      Believed to be worth around £4m, it’s a rare sight – unless you’ve seen the racer cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway in LA.
      Hamilton was often spied taking his ex-missus Nicole Scherzinger for a spin in this beauty, which had him standing out from the crowd.
      A 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra is Hamilton’s most expensive car worth £4mCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      LAFERRARI
      Every car aficionado worth their weight in salt owns this £2m Ferrari – another collector’s item that rises in value as the years go by.
      Capable of reaching a top speed of 217 mph, the LaFerrari can hit 0-62 mph in just 2.4 seconds, meaning it’s the fastest car Hamilton owns.
      Footballers including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Son Heung-min also drive this frighteningly fast motor that must feel like handling a racing car.
      A £1m Ferrari La Ferrari is a must for any car collection, including HamiltonCredit: Xposure
      MERCEDES-AMG PROJECT ONE
      Lewis got his hands on a Project One in 2021, even though it wasn’t released until 2022.
      He was heavily involved in the production of the plug-in hybrid sports car that’s capable of hitting a top speed of 217 mph.
      Only 275 were made, and they cost around £2m.
      Getting his hands on one was one of the many perks of his deal with Mercedes.
      Hamilton managed to get his hands on a £2m Mercedes-AMG Project One ahead of its 2021 release
      Hamilton was heavily involved in the production of the Project OneCredit: AFP or licensors
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      MERCEDES-AMG SLS BLACK
      He already owned a SL Black Series, so why not add the SLS, right?
      Hamilton, who clearly has a need for speed, added this supercar to his garage probably because it’s the fastest Mercedes in production.
      Powered by a 6.2-litre V8 engine that produces 622bhp – the SLS can reach a top speed of 196 mph.
      It also hits 0-60 in just 3 seconds – making it the ideal car for Hamilton to get his thrills off the track with. For a price tag of £230k, it’s just what you’d expect really.
      Driving for Mercedes has its perks for HamiltonCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton regularly shares images on social media alongside Mercedes motorsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      MCLAREN P1
      Despite splitting with McLaren’s racing team, Hamilton can’t have felt too aggrieved with his former employers. In 2015, he added a £2m P1 to his extensive list of rides.
      The P1 has a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, which is twinned with an electric motor that means the supercar has a total power and torque output of 903 bhp and 980 Nm of torque.
      In real talk that means it’s fast and powerful, can hit a top speed of 217 mph and hits 0-60 mph in just under 2.7 seconds.
      In 2015 Hamilton added a £2M McLaren P1 to his list of ridesCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      The McLaren P1 is capable of hitting 0-62 mph in just 2.7 secondsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      1967 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500
      The second classic car that’s part of his fleet, fans of the Hollywood movie Gone In 60 Seconds might recognise this motor as looking to similar to one of the Eleanor models from the film.
      Hamilton had his customised by Oklahoma-based car shoop Classic Recreations for additional cost.
      At auctions, they can fetch up to £750k, and you can bet Hamilton’s is in tip-top condition. That said, we doubt he’ll ever sell it.
      BEST OF THE REST
      When the Mercedes-Maybach 6 came out in 2016, Hamilton made sure he got his hands on the concept car.
      The 2×2 coupe is completely electric, and can run up to 200 miles before it’ll need recharging.
      Hamilton also has another Mercedes – the Maybach S600, which is a luxurious chauffeur’s car with a partition separating the front seats from the back.
      Both those motors have a combined worth of around £800k.
      And Hamilton doesn’t mind swapping four wheels for two – sometimes taking his £6,500 Honda CRF450RX Motocross Bike around the dirt tracks of California.
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      Then there’s also his Maverick X3 dune buggy that would’ve set him back around £20k, that’s also electric in theme with his eco-warrior status.
      However, with a switch to Ferrari imminent – imagine the company cars he’s got lined up?
      Hamilton is a fan of the Maverick x3 dune buggy worth £20kCredit: 2017. All rights reserved.
      Nicole Scherzinger used to ride with Hamilton on his buggyCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton also has a penchant for motorbikesCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Wayne and Coleen Rooney set for fly-on-the-wall series covering highs & lows of Wagatha trial & Birmingham City sacking

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      WAYNE and Coleen Rooney are set to make a fly-on-the-wall documentary featuring the couple’s domestic lives with their four sons.It comes after the success of Tyson Fury’s Netlfix series, which followed the life of the champion boxer and his family.
      Wayne and Coleen Rooney are set to make a fly-on-the-wall documentary covering their lives with their four sonsCredit: Instagram
      The show on Wayne, 38, and Coleen, 37, could spark a bidding war among streaming giantsCredit: Reuters
      Coleen’s Disney+ documentary on the Wagatha trial was a hitCredit: Disney+
      The show on former Manchester United and England legend Wayne, 38, and Coleen, 37, could spark a bidding war among streaming giants.
      A TV insider said: “The couple have starred in documentaries for different streamers and the feedback from viewers was that they’re most intrigued by what life is like behind the doors of Chez Rooney.
      “Wayne and Coleen live in a sprawling £20million mansion in leafy Cheshire with six bedrooms, a wine cellar and accommodation on their 40-acre estate for 14 horses.
      “Then there’s the fact they’ll soon be navigating the minefield of having four lads aged five to 13 growing up with famous parents and the luxuries that come with that.”
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      The source added Fury had shown “a sports star’s domestic life can be just as intriguing as a rock star or style icon”.
      Hit Disney+ documentary Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story gave her side of the High Court libel clash with Rebekah Vardy.
      Amazon Prime Video’s Rooney, looking at his life and career, came out in 2022.
      Both were made by Lorton Productions, who recently said they were launching the third TV project with the couple.
      Most read in Football
      It was originally believed to focus on Wayne’s coaching career, but that seems less likely after Birmingham City fired him last month.
      Instead it could now follow eldest son Kai, 14, who is in Man United’s youth academy, and brothers Klay, ten, Kit, eight, and five-year-old Cass.
      A spokesman for the Rooneys declined to comment.
      Wayne enjoyed a glittering career as a player becoming Man Utd’s all-time top scorerCredit: Getty
      Tyson Fury’s Netlfix series following his life and his family has been a huge successCredit: Courtesy of Netflix More

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      in Soccer

      World’s highest stadium among ‘the most feared on the planet’ is so far up it’s too dangerous for international matches

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      THE highest football stadium in the world is one of the scariest away days any club will face on the planet.Peru’s Daniel Alcides Carrion Stadium is even too dangerous for most international games to be played there because of the ridiculously high altitude.
      The world’s highest football stadium is Peru’s Daniel Alcides Carrión Stadium as it sits at 4,378m above sea levelCredit: Facebook
      The ground is seen as one of the most feared away days on the planet because of the high altitude
      This ground is located in the Peruvian city of Cerro del Pasco and stands at an almost unimaginable 4,378m above sea level – making it the stadium with the highest altitude on Earth.
      At this jaw-dropping height, the players face an almighty uphill task as the oxygen around them begins to suddenly drop and sits lower than many of them would’ve ever faced before.
      As with almost all team sports, but especially the hugely competitive world of football, a player requires a lot of oxygen to be taken in after 90minutes of constant hard running and extreme sprints.
      This horror mix results in fatigue settling in before half time has even crossed a player’s mind.
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      For context, the mammoth Mount Everest is 8,848 metres above sea level at its peak but Britain’s tallest mountain Ben Nevis is just 1,345m making the football ground substantially higher.
      An even more staggering fact is that the stadium sits so high up that it would take over 14 Shard’s stacked on top of each other to be at the same height from sea level.
      For this reason it is only used to host Peru Cup matches on an international level on just a handful of occasions per year.
      It is done during cup games as it gives the opposition players a chance to acclimatise to the altitude before kick off.
      Most read in Football
      However, the ground does belong to a team in the third division of the Peruvian league called Union Minas.
      Formally playing in the countries top league not so long ago, Union Minas have got a reputation as having one of world’s most feared away days.
      Despite the clear challenges for players, the stadium is set behind a beautiful sight of the Andean mountains in Cerro de Pasco and can hold 8,000 fans at matches.
      The pitch uses an artificial turf which makes it stand out even more from the typical football heritage many fans in Britain and Europe might expect.
      Ban from football
      Back in 2007, the footballing world was gripped by a controversial ban for stadiums that sat anywhere higher than 2,500m above sea level – including the Daniel Alcides Carrion Stadium.
      FIFA made the ruling after saying home teams had an “unfair advantage” and said they were fearing for player safety after several complaints.
      Several players were even see using bottled oxygen as a means of surviving through games because it was getting so tough for them.
      The decision left a handful of countries national teams in disbelief as Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia were all prevented from hosting World Cup qualifiers in their own capital cities.
      When Argentinian icon Diego Maradona heard about the ban he and a team of former Argentina players went to play a football match at the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz.
      The reason for this was because that ground sat 3,600m above sea level and showed that if Maradona, a then a 47-year-old, could play for over an hour at that altitude then so could fit, young professionals.
      Despite this Lionel Messi once spoke about the challenges of playing at the La Paz ground saying: “You can’t play a lot within what height allows you.
      “It’s terrible to play here. It’s hard. When you make an effort or run a bit, it is difficult to recover.”
      And just last September, Argentina’s World Cup winning stars needed to use oxygen tubes to deal with the high altitude ahead of their clash with Bolivia.
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      Brazilian footballers were also pictured using huge tanks to simply get through some international matches in South America.
      The ban on high altitude grounds was later revoked in May 2008, and FIFA has since allowed teams to return to their preferred playing ground.
      The ground is used by Peru third division side Union Minas and can hold 8,000 fans
      The Brazil national team were seen using oxygen tanks during a match against Bolivia because of the high altitude
      Argentina and Liverpool footballer Alexis Macallister using an oxygen tank before an away day to Bolivia’s national stadium More