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      I wasted my Arsenal career partying and not trying in training – Arsene Wenger put me back in my place

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      AN ARSENAL flop admitted he looks back at his failed spell with the Gunners with “a lot of regrets” as he never fulfilled his potential.The North Londoners ruled the Premier League in the early 2000s along with then bitter rivals Manchester United.Arsenal flop Francis Jeffers has ‘a lot of regrets’ from his time at HighburyCredit: Getty Images – GettyJeffers went out partying and didn’t work hard enough during Arsenal trainingCredit: AP:Associated PressThat was when legendary manager Arsene Wenger decided to bring one of the Prem’s most exciting strikers over to Highbury in 2001.That was none other than Francis Jeffers, who shone bright with his beloved Everton the previous four years, a period that saw him register a total of 18 goals and one assist in 55 appearances.However, Jeffers never lived up to his star billing as he only managed eight goals and three assists in 39 appearances during his three-year stint with Arsenal, who loaned him back to the Toffees in 2003.The former striker conceded that he didn’t work hard enough in training and would instead go out partying.Read More on ArsenalThe ex-England international downed tools as he thought he wouldn’t play anyway, with the likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Sylvain Wiltord and Nwankwo Kanu ahead of him in the pecking order.That is why Wenger gave him a “fair crack of the whip”, which he insists was very well-deserved as it put him back in his place.Nevertheless, the ex-Charlton ace is adamant he didn’t “throw it all away” as he realised a lot of dreams throughout his career.Jeffers told The Independent back in 2014: “I was out partying, living life, tossing it off in training because I always thought I wouldn’t play Saturday anyway. Most read in Football”Now, I look back with a lot of regrets. That is where I should have been putting it in more. Wenger gave me a fair crack of the whip. “I haven’t got a bad word to say about him. He tells you how it is, one of the only managers I played for who did.I slide tackled Arsene Wenger and Thierry Henry on my Arsenal trial – I couldn’t believe manager’s reaction“He said there were things going on in my head that shouldn’t have been and that it was an important time in my career. I am not saying I threw it all away, because I had a decent career.“I fulfilled a lot of ambitions but I always say it, I know how much ability I had. “I’m not soft. I know how good a player I was. One England cap wasn’t enough.” More

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      My dossier of evidence shows Kyle Walker will NEVER escape desperate Lauryn Goodman – her restaurant ambush proves it

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      IT IS a question most, if not all, who have followed this unsavoury saga have repeatedly asked (whilst scrolling through the latest plot twist): When will this end?For over a year now, football’s love cheat extraordinaire Kyle Walker has been unable to escape a scandal of his own making – and God knows he’s tried.Kyle has only ever done one sit-down interview about the scandal: a full mea-culpa with The Sun’s Paul Sims when the scandal erupted in January last yearCredit: BackGridCountless newspaper interviews with Lauryn Goodman followed the bombshell news in 2020 that she was expecting a ‘miracle’ baby with KyleKyle’s wife Annie Kilner has been made countless offers for an interview, but each one has been turned downCredit: GettyA BBC podcast and a football academy for under-privileged kids in his home city followed in a bid to soften his much-maligned public image, but to no avail.He even moved to Italy to join AC Milan on loan until the end of the season in the hope of fleeing the feeding frenzy.But if he thought he could start afresh abroad, his ex-mistress Lauryn Goodman, who he secretly fathered two children with, has news for him.Last week, in a set of carefully choreographed pictures she beamed in front of a removal van and revealed she too was moving to Italy in order to be closer to him.Ironic then, that the first person to pose the question ‘when will this end?’, was Lauryn herself.Man City star Kyle Walker confesses to betraying ‘soulmate & best friend’ Annie Kilner in astonishingly honest interviewAnd yet, if you dig deep enough, you’ll find a paper trail of evidence that suggests she is deliberately willing the saga to carry on.Countless newspaper interviews followed the bombshell news in 2020 that she was expecting a “miracle” baby with Kyle, 34.Even more followed after she detonated his marriage to wife Annie Kilner in December 2023 by revealing he had secretly fathered a second child with her.For the record, Annie has done none (offers have been made, but each one turned down).And Kyle has only ever done one sit-down: a full mea-culpa with me when the scandal erupted in January last year.In her latest interview, published this month, Lauryn invited OK! Magazine into the lavish £2.4million four-bedroom home Kyle bought for her and the kids in East Sussex.Glossy pictures across multiple pages accompanied an interview in which she revealed her plans to move.She teased: “For the last year I wished to have the option to move abroad because, with all of the drama, I’d like a life reset – but I’m not sure how that looks for us at the minute or what that entails.”She had previously contemplated a move to Dubai amid fevered speculation that Kyle was sizing up a move to the Saudi pro league.Last week, in a set of carefully choreographed pictures, Lauryn beamed in front of a removal van and revealed she too was moving to ItalyCredit: BackGridKyle moved to Italy to join AC Milan on loan until the end of the season in the hope of fleeing the feeding frenzyCredit: GettyIn October 2024, Annie filed for divorce from KyleCredit: SplashBut she was adamant – remember, this was only days ago – when she insisted: “It makes no difference to me where Kyle is, he could be on Mars right now for all I care.”And yet, here she is packing up and preparing to move to Italy to be on his very doorstep.There was no furniture on the lorry, no plants, kids toys – just boxes. And in a complete departure from anyone who has ever moved house, Lauryn was positively beaming from ear to ear.Surely, this wasn’t a stunt to obtain media coverage, a constructed plot twist to secure column inches?This, the same woman who insisted in yet another interview in February last year: “I need this to end.”One has to wonder why on earth she would subject herself – and their children – to the ongoing agony and heartache she has long since documented in the column inches of this and other newspapers.In her OK! interview Lauryn, 34, says: “I’ve been through hell and back fighting for my children and then absolutely being crucified for it in the process.Kyle Walker’s ex Lauryn Goodman in bid to QUIT UK with their kids – and makes plea to Man City star for help”There were days where I would just cry my eyes out. I’d think, can I continue with this?”I have to, for my children, because I’m the only one that they can depend on. But how strong does one person have to be?”Her big move to Italy is supposedly scheduled to take place this week – as Kyle settles in with his new teammates in the iconic San Siro stadium.But this is not the first time she has prepared to follow the England full-back.In May 2021, she wanted to move 245 miles from her home in Brighton to the upmarket Cheshire village – and footballers enclave – of Alderley Edge.EXPLOSIVE MOVEShe viewed an £895,000 five bedroom property on a plush new development – just five miles from Kyle and Annie’s home.At the time, a source said: “As if things weren’t difficult already, this is going to take it to another level completely.”The explosive move never materialised after Kyle increased her housing budget from £1.85million to £2.4million in a bid to placate her to maintain her distance.There were repeated hints on social media too of the paternity of her second child to Kyle, a baby girl born in the Summer of 2023.It fed feverish speculation online and drove the number of followers to her Instagram account.In response to claims she had given birth to a baby with “another footballer” she replied: “Just to clarify I have not had a baby with ‘another footballer’ as per news articles.”I know there is speculation around little one’s father and like I’ve stated publicly when the time is right.”Followers were quick to question if she had stressed it wasn’t ‘another’ footballer because Kyle was, in fact, the father of both children.Lauryn dragged Kyle to family court but a judge sensationally ruled against most of her cash pleasCredit: PAIn his withering judgement – published last July – Judge Edward Hess was scathing of her behaviourCredit: SplashThe social media influencer shares two children with the footballer after a flingCredit: social.saviour/InstagramAnd on her Instagram bio she wrote: “Mummy to @kairowalker & KW”. Posts with a “countdown” to a new post followed.In his withering judgement – published last July – Judge Edward Hess was scathing of her behaviour.She laid a trail of breadcrumbs and had “not just cooperated with, but actively instigated” the feeding frenzy, he concluded.He added: “Throughout 2023, he (Kyle) sought to keep secret the fact that he was Kinara’s father.”It is clear from the evidence that he was understandably embarrassed about this fact and anxious about how his wife would react when she found out.”In his attempts to persuade the mother to go along with the retention of secrecy, the father gave way to many of the financial demands of the mother which he might otherwise have resisted.Timeline of Kyle Walker & Annie Kilner’s relationshipEarly years – Kyle and Annie first meet in Sheffield when she was 15 and he was 17Euro 2016 – Walker caught messaging Playboy model Carla HoweApril 2019 – Annie dumps Kyle after his alleged romps with reality TV star Laura BrownApril 2020 – Kyle allegedly hosts sex party with two escorts during covid-19 lockdownFebruary 2020 – Lauryn Goodman gives birth to Kairo, her son with WalkerNovember 2021 – Walker and Kilner marry in secretMarch 2023 – Lauryn announces her second pregnancySpring 2023 – Kyle allegedly flashes and kisses another woman in a Vodka Revolution bar in CheshireAugust 2023 – Lauryn gives birth to a daughterJanuary 2024 – Annie announces split from Kyle after two years of marriage. It emerges Kyle is the dad of Lauryn’s second child. Kyle begs for forgiveness in exclusive Sun interview. Lauryn brands him a ‘pathological narcissist’October 2024 – Annie files for divorceJanuary 2025 – Kyle moves to Italy alone, with Annie refusing to join him. “The evidence before me has amply demonstrated that the mother was able to leverage these substantial increases by hinting that she would go public on the paternity issue.”She also threatened that if she did not get what she wanted she would select a home a stone’s throw away from his in Cheshire…an idea which she knew horrified the father.”If the father thought that these rather generous house budget increases would keep his paternity a secret, he was to be disappointed.”The mother plainly had no intention of keeping the matter secret.”I won’t be scapegoated or bullied and made to feel like a villain.Lauryn GoodmanBut there was more.In the Summer last year, as Kyle and his England teammates plotted a course to the final of the Euros, Lauryn travelled to Germany with son Kairo to watch him “in real life”.But she didn’t go to Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank stadium alone – she was naturally accompanied by a journalist and photographer.In an exclusive interview, featuring a blow-by-blow account of their trip, Lauryn said: “We are not here to please other people. It’s about Kairo and what is best for him and what is going to make him happy.”I won’t be scapegoated or bullied and made to feel like a villain. My children are my number one priority and they always will be.”Luckily I’m a strong woman and mother for them.”Lauryn even befriended Kyle’s neighbour in Cheshire – urging her to spy on him over the garden fence.Jasmine David said Lauryn became so obsessed it ‘was like being in Fatal Attraction’, the 1987 love rat revenge movieCredit: ZenpixThe couple have always put on a united front for the sake of the kidsCredit: InstagramJasmine David, 51, found herself caught in the middle of their bitter feud after befriending the Instagram influencer online.She was already at loggerheads with the England and Manchester City ace, 34, over a boundary dispute and took pity on Lauryn.In one text message Lauryn suggested Jasmine spy on Kyle and Annie – writing: “Needed to record that she was done. FML. Need all that on record. So BADLY.”Jasmine replied: “You can’t record somebody without their permission is (sic) illegal xx.”Lauryn wrote back: “Not to sell that you donut. You can have your phone recording in your garden.”Lauryn was madly in love with Kyle – that much was abundantly clear. I suspect he told her things she wanted to hear.In another message she speculates over the birthday plans for Kyle’s wife, model Annie Kilner.She refers to Instagram posts from Annie’s sister, Sian, who was booked in for a spray tan in Sheffield ahead of the celebrations.Lauryn texts: “Soooo I think they’re going out at the weekend. But probably not in Cheshire and I reckon he’ll join her, don’t you?”SPY CLAIMSIn fact, Annie partied at an Italian restaurant in Alderley Edge to celebrate her 30th.She posted pictures of her and Kyle – alongside the caption: “Wasn’t so bad turning 30 after all.”A day later, Lauryn posted a photograph of her in the same restaurant.Jasmine recalls growing increasingly uneasy as Lauryn obsessed over the Three Lions defender.She likened it to the 1987 thriller “Fatal Attraction”, starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close.She said: “Lauryn was madly in love with Kyle – that much was abundantly clear. I suspect he told her things she wanted to hear.”And she naturally wanted the relationship to develop further and wouldn’t let go when he chose Annie.”It spiralled into an unhealthy obsession.”I was Kyle’s neighbour and have been for years, but the truth is she knew more about what he was up to than I did.”I urged her to move on and live a happy life and to focus on her two beautiful children.”But she got caught up in it all and it got wildly out of hand.”Lauryn previously contemplated a move to Dubai amid fevered speculation that Kyle was sizing up a move to the Saudi pro leagueCredit: PAAnnie missed Kyle’s Serie A debut in the Milan derby, with the pair said to be barely speakingCredit: GettyDespite her many interviews, Lauryn had uncharacteristically appealed through her lawyers for Judge Hess to keep his financial remedies judgement private.It was perhaps understandable, given the likely contents.And so, in his final few paragraphs, Judge Hess lifted the car bonnet to reveal the inner workings of this particular scandal.He wrote: “It would be a nonsense, opening the court to ridicule, to try to redact or anonymise this judgment to prevent identification of the parties.”A perusal of the many hundreds of newspaper articles published about these matters clearly illustrates that the mother has not just cooperated with, but actively instigated, press coverage.”It sits ill for a person to come to court arguing for privacy for her children when, just a very short while earlier, she took a payment from the press to visit the European football championship with her son dressed in an England football shirt with the name ‘Daddy’ on the back.”If the children suffer any harm from the publicity of these matters, it has already happened, and it will largely be the result of the mother’s own decisions and actions.”And so, as Lauryn embarks on yet another chapter in this oh-so-long saga, the question still remains: When will this end? More

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      Inside Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr’s amazing lifestyle, from £10m mansion where Beckhams lived to trainer addiction

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      VINICIUS JR is one of the world’s highest earning players.The Real Madrid superstar, 24, brings home a whopping salary of around £350,000-per-week at the Santiago Bernabeu.Vinicius Jr is one of the world’s highest paid footballersVinicius Jr shows off his amazing £165k BMWMaria Julia Mazalli is the reported girlfriend of the Real Madrid widemanThat affords the Brazilian winger an incredible lifestyle in Spain’s capital.Over the years, he’s driven a fleet of Audis, although now he’s settled with a £165,000 BMW.While he reportedly lives in a £10million mansion bought in 2018 in an affluent area of Madrid.SunSport looks at how Vinicius Jr spends his well-earned cash…Read football newsA Prince’s lifeVinicius Jr officially signed for Real Madrid in 2017 for a reported fee of around £40m.But he couldn’t join the club until a year later when he turned 18.As soon as he arrived, he splashed the cash on a stunning home in La Moraleja.It has been described as the Spanish version of Greenwich, Connecticut and where the uber rich live.Most read in FootballDavid Beckham, Karim Benzema, Ronaldo, and Gonzalo Higuain are just some of the former Los Blancos stars who have made La Moraleja home.Vinicius Jr wins Fifa The Best award after Ballon d’Or controversy while Man Utd ace Garnacho also bags top prizeThere are several pristine golf courses, as well as private schools.The property, itself, is only 15 minutes away from Real Madrid’s training ground and 30 minutes from the club’s stadium.The mansion boasts six bedrooms and six bathrooms, as well as several large living rooms.There is a state-of-the-art gym, which features a wall of the greatest athletes, including Kobe Bryant and Pele.Vinicius Jr also has a cinema room, steam room and sauna in his home.While outside there’s a private pool, tennis court, and astro turf football pitch.Vinicius Jr lives in the exclusive La Moraleja neighbourhoodAccording to reports, Vinicius Jr’s property is worth £10mBrazilian Vinicius Jr’s gym has artwork of sports’ biggest starsVinicius Jr lounges on the steps of his beautiful Madrid homeCar collectionVinicius Jr’s car collection has been linked to who Real Madrid are sponsored by.For years, he stuck with the club’s Audi policy – rotating a series of their cars.He began with an Audi A7 – that starts at £55,000.Next, he went with a spacious Q8 SUV that can rise up to £105,000.His final car from Audi was their Q7, which is available from about £70,000.All of those choices are fairly modest for a man who has a net worth already of around £21m.Back in September, Real Madrid inked a deal with BMW to be their latest car sponsor.That helped Vinicius Jr bag an amazing motor.He got his hands on a BMW i7 M70 xDrive, the fastest electrical model the German brand offers, which can cost around £165,000.Thanks to a deal with Audi, Vinicius Jr drove this A7Vinicius Jr also had a plush Q8 worth as much as £105kTrainier collectionAccording to Marca, Vinicius Jr has an addiction to buying trainers.His go-to are Nike Air Jordans, which he often shows off on social media.When asked why he has over 120 pairs, he revealed he loves them and couldn’t afford them as a kid.He headed to sneaker mecca Flight Club in Los Angeles to film a segment for Complex with Joe La Puma.On there, he revealed his love for Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1s – with some rare pieces online fetching as much as £12,000 online.His trainer collection is kept in a special closet in his home.Vinicius Jr shows off his epic trainer collection at his homeNike trainers are Vinicius Jr’s favouriteREAD MORE SPORT FEATURESSharing his wealthVinicius Jr’s romance with stunning model and influencer Maria Julia Mazalli was made public in 2019.Before then, the lightning quick wideman denied their romance.Brazilian newspaper Lance broke the story that Vini and Maria were in a relationship.It was all after fans speculated something between the two when they noticed selfies shared on their social media.The selfies were taken in the same bathroom in Madrid, which fans were quick to notice and from there the secret was out.They never shared how they met or whether they knew each other before they started dating.Maria didn’t gain fame from dating Vinicius Jr though.She already had many people following her on Instagram through her influencer posts and her appearance on the Brazilian reality TV show De Férias com o Ex.Contestants are chosen to go on vacation in a tropical paradise, however, it soon turns into hell as their ex-lovers start showing up.As for influencer content, Maria creates posts about fashion and travelling.She is very body-positive and embraces her curves in what she shares online.READ MORE SUN STORIESMaria promotes a healthy lifestyle which involves eating good food and working out.She loves travelling and can occasionally be seen supporting her boyfriend in the stands when he’s playing for Real Madrid or representing Brazil.Brazil beauty Maria Julia Mazalli is Vinicius Jr’s reported girlfriendGorgeous Maria shows off her epic bikini bodyMaria is a reality tv star and social media influencer More

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      How it all unravelled for ‘new Pele’ Robinho – from joining wrong Manchester club to languishing in Brazil jail

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      ROBINHO was hailed from an early age as the new Pele – even by the man himself.But instead of becoming another Brazilian football legend, Robinho is now one of the game’s most notorious criminals.Robinho once had the world at his feet – now he languishes in a Brazilian jail cellCredit: EPARobinho was once dubbed ‘the new Pele’ but saw his career implodeCredit: AlamyThe Brazilian former player is now in the ‘prison of the famous’Robinho, left, with Ronaldinho after winning the 2005 Confederations Cup in GermanyCredit: GettyAt the age of 12, he joined Pele’s old club Santos. At 24, he became the most expensive player in English football history when he joined Manchester City for £32.5million as the marquee signing of their new Abu Dhabi owners.But at 41, he is serving a nine-year sentence for gang rape.An Italian court heard in 2017 how Robinho and five friends attacked a woman in a Milan nightclub in 2013.After years of legal arguments, he finally entered Dr Jose Augusto Cesar Salgado P2 prison in Tremembe, Sao Paulo state, in March 2024.In the institution nicknamed ‘the prison of the famous’, the winner of league titles in five different countries has high-profile murderers for company.And within football, he is the ultimate pariah, even in Brazil.When Santos tried to bring him back for a fourth spell in 2020, there was public outcry and a major sponsor cut ties with the club.Inside Robinho’s jailDISGRACED footballer Robinho swapped his luxury seafront home for a hellish overcrowded prison housing murderers and follow rapists.The Brazilian, who has an estimated £60million net worth, now spends his days in a tiny 8m squared cell, which he shares with another inmate. Some cells sleep up to six prisoners.His new neighbours include a man who killed his own daughter, a man serving 98 years for kidnapping and murdering a 15-year-old girl and a doctor who abused 39 sedated patients.Robinho’s cell is said to have only one single bed, a small sink and a toilet built into the floor.A small barred up window provides just a glimpse of the outside world.All 430 inmates are forced to wear matching outfits of a white T-shirt and khaki pants.The former Real Madrid star is given four meals each day – the first being at 6am and the last at 5.30pm.He will be expected to work during his time behind bars.Prisoners make items such as school desks and chairs, or even toilet disinfectant tablets – something the P2 jail is known for.Inmates can also take acting lessons and participate in workshops on reading, literacy, and origami.While Robinho’s fellow prisoners gifted him some football boots to play during recreation times.Santos and Robinho cancelled the five-month deal and a career that had promised so much ended in infamy.Pele, who later died in 2022, did not offer his thoughts on this occasion.Court finds Ex-Man City star Robinho ‘brutally humiliated gang rape victim’But he had plenty to say about the young Robinho.When Pele saw Robinho at 15, three years after the young man had joined his former club, the legendary No10 said the winger reminded him of himself.Similar glory soon followed, as Robinho helped Santos win the Brazilian championship in 2002 and 2004.A horrible consequence of his growing celebrity was the kidnap of his mother Marina de Silva Souza in November 2004. She was returned unharmed after six weeks in captivity following the payment of a ransom.And her son regained enough form to seal a move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2005.He went with the blessing of Pele, who said: “He is already the best player in Brazil and he has all the qualities needed to be one of the best in the world.”Robinho, like the rest of the Galacticos, did not quite hit the heights that ambitious president Florentino Perez had hoped.Yet over his three seasons, which brought two LaLiga crowns, he was the third highest scorer behind Raul and Ruud van Nistelrooy.But he was unhappy with his treatment by the Bernabeu bosses, who stopped him going to the Olympics and openly courted Cristiano Ronaldo.Robinho wanted out. But he did not end up where he thought he would.Robinho wanted Chelsea and is claimed to have believed he was joining Manchester United when he ended up at CityCredit: GettyHis transfer to Manchester City on deadline day in September 2008, hours after Sheikh Mansour completed his takeover, was not only one of the most expensive deal involving a British club – it also remains one of the most bizarre.Chelsea and their CEO Peter Kenyon were convinced they would reunite Robinho with former Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, their new manager.So convinced that the Blues’ website started offering fans the chance to pre-order shirts with his name on.Instead, Robinho found himself being unveiled at the Etihad – much to his own confusion, it seemed.Robinho said: “On the last day, Chelsea made a great proposal and I accepted.”Decapitated inmates & jailhouse warlords – inside Brazil’s hellish prisons where ex-Man City star Robinho faces 9 yearsA reporter replied: “You mean Manchester, right?”. “Yeah, Manchester, sorry!” answered Robinho.He also responded to criticism of the move by Pele, who said the player had been badly advised.Robinho said: “I accept Pele’s criticism as he is the king of football, but if he had been me, he would have done the same.“Real did not want to retain me. They even used me as a potential exchange to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. But as that negotiation fell through, they wanted to retain me then.”One story – or urban myth – says that Robinho thought he was signing for Manchester United.That has never been proved, but the-then City boss Mark Hughes helped fuel the rumours when interviewed years later about the deal.Timeline of Robinho’s rape caseThe rape case involving Brazilian footballer Robinho spans several years. Here’s a brief timeline:January 22, 2013: Robinho was one of a group of six men convicted of sexually assaulting an Albanian woman in a club during his stint for AC Milan.2014: Brazilian media reported on the allegations against Robinho, but no formal charges were filed at that time.2017: Robinho was found guilty of sexual assault by an Italian court and sentenced to nine years in prison. However, he denied the charges and appealed the verdict.2020: After the appeal process, Robinho’s sentence was upheld by the Italian court. But due to the statute of limitations in Italy, he was not extradited to serve his sentence.2022: Robinho’s prison sentence is ratified.March 2023: Robinho surrendered his passport to authoritiesNovember 2023: Italian prosecutors said they felt Robinho should serve his time in Brazil.March 20, 2024: Brazil’s Superior Court formed a simple majority and voted for Robinho to serve the sentence in his home country.Hughes said: “It was a crazy day, there were bids going out for Lionel Messi and all sorts! “We finally managed to get Robinho over the line which was a hell of a statement, and the rest is history. “There’s probably a grain of truth in the rumour that Robinho thought he was actually signing for Manchester United. “He certainly didn’t recognise me when he turned up, he was probably expecting to see Sir Alex Ferguson at the airport! “He was probably a bit disappointed to say the least.”Robinho’s recollectionRobinho later recalled: “My first goal was to go to Chelsea as it was the only club to have made a formal offer. “But Real did not like Chelsea shirts with my name on being sold before sorting out the negotiations.“Also, they did not reach the value Real demanded so then Manchester City came in at the last minute to sign me.”Whatever the truth, Robinho started his City career well, scoring a fine free kick on his debut against, of all teams, Chelsea.But a 3-1 defeat by the Premier League’s original moneybags club underlined how far City had to go.And Robinho would not be there to see the glory years as he and fellow Brazilian signings Jo and Elano failed to impress.Mark Bowen, Hughes’ assistant, reflected: “What we found was, for all his talent, Robinho – and maybe Elano at the time, and Jo – yes they were sticking together but they weren’t putting the shift in. “When the going got tough in certain games, you could almost see Robinho thinking “What am I doing here? I’ve come from Real Madrid’.”That could cause problems, sometimes on the training ground and matchdays in the dressing rooms. “They wanted to see that commitment of putting the effort in.”Inside Robinho’s cell in the notorious prisonRobinho started his promising career at Brazilian giants SantosCredit: AFPRobinho returned to Santos in 2010, 2014 and 2020 – with the latter causing uproarCredit: Getty Images – GettyRobinho returned to Santos on loan in early 2010 and helped them win another Brazilian title.But he was unable to secure a permanent deal to go home and was instead sold to AC Milan for £15m.With 14 goals in his first season, Robinho was a key figure in Milan’s Scudetto triumph and he scored 11 more as they finished runners-up the following year.Injuries took their toll, however, and in 2013, the year of the rape, he almost returned to Santos twice before agreeing a new San Siro deal on a lower salary.More injury problems hindered Robinho again and in the summer of 2014 he made his second return to Santos.That reunion lasted just a year, only for another to appear, as the winger joined the talent exodus to the mega-rich Chinese Super League to play under Scolari at Guangzhou Evergrande.Robinho scored three times in 10 league games in 2015 as he claimed a title in a fourth different country.Then it was back to Brazil again, this time with Atletico Mineiro. In the second of his two seasons there, he received a one-off recall to the Brazil squad.He made his 100th and final appearance for his country in January 2017 in a friendly against Colombia.Brazil picked a group of entirely home-based players for the match that was staged to raise money for Chapecoense, the Brazilian club that had lost 19 players when their plane crashed on the way to the Copa Sudamericana final in Colombia.Robinho is still married to his childhood sweetheart Vivian GuglielmettiCredit: ReutersThe allegations against Robinho are said to have broken VivianCredit: ReutersRobinho admitted cheating on his wife but denied rape at his trialCredit: Instagram / @robinhoRobinho was still only 33 and seemed to gain a new lease of life when he moved to Turkey.After a promising season and a half at Sivasspor, he joined newly-rich Istanbul Basaksehir and helped give them bragging rights over their three big city rivals as they lifted their first Turkish title in 2019-20.But Robinho could not enjoy that fifth league crown of his career for long.Santos announced his latest return on October 10, 2020. But the backlash was swift.Brazilian media published transcripts of voice and other messages that formed part of the 2017 trial in Milan at which Robinho was found guilty of raping the woman.In one message, Robinho said: “I’m laughing because I couldn’t care less, the woman was completely drunk, she has no idea what happened.”Inside Robinho’s family lifeIN 2009, Robinho married Vivian Guglielminetti. The couple have two sons, Robson Jr, 17, and Gianluca, 14, and a daughter Giulia, 9.Robinho and Vivian’s love story began when they were teenagers.The childhood sweethearts had been together 12 years prior to tying the knot in July 2009 at the Casa Grande hotel in Guaruja, Brazil.At the time Robinho was already playing for City and was still the Premier-League’s highest paid player, earning £165k-a-week.Vivian initially postponed their wedding when Robinho was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a nightclub in Leeds earlier that year.The wedding was rescheduled after the case was dropped and Robinho and Vivian have remained together since – despite Robinho’s current convictions.But the allegations broke Vivian, who told police she stood there like a “stupid woman who doesn’t know anything”.Son Robson Jr is following in his father’s footballing footsteps, having signed a professional deal with Santos.He’s regarded as one of the gems of their youth academy and already has a release clause of over £40m, with European sides likely to come calling.In another chat Robinho insisted he did not have sex with the victim.His friend replied: “I saw you when you put your penis inside her mouth.”Robinho’s response was: “That doesn’t mean having sex.”Orthopride, a leading dental health firm in Brazil, cancelled its shirt sponsorship in protest at Robinho returning to Santos.Chief operating officer Richard Adam said: “We have enormous respect for Santos’ history. But at this point, we have decided to terminate the sponsorship contract.“Our audience is mostly female and, out of respect for the women who buy our products, we had to make that decision.“We want to make it clear that we were not previously informed about the signing of Robinho, we were taken by surprise by the news over the weekend.”Robinho and Santos finally read the room and cancelled the contract, leaving him to concentrate on his defence.The player always protested his innocence and claimed his sexual contact with the woman in 2013 was consensual.Brazilian jails are overloaded with dozens of convicts in a single cell in some placesRobinho was transferred to Penitentiary 2 of Tremembe, in Sao Paulo, where he will serve his nine-year sentenceCredit: Laurene Santos/TV VanguardaBut later in 2020, the Milan Court of Appeals upheld Robinho’s conviction and sentence, finding that he had “belittled” and “brutally humiliated” the victim and misled investigators with a false account of what happened.In January 2022, Italy’s Supreme Court of Cessation also confirmed the original trial’s findings and a month later an international arrest warrant was issued for Robinho.Brazil does not extradite its citizens to overseas jurisdictions and refused to hand over Robinho and his friend Ricardo Falco, who had also been found guilty of the rape.But in 2023, Italy asked Brazil to make them serve their sentences in Brazil under a law that had been introduced in 2017.On March 20, 2024, the Brazilian authorities agreed to impose the nine-year sentence on Robinho. Two days later, he was arrested and jailed – justice was finally served, 11 years after the crime.Robinho is now a different kind of celebrity.Some reports credit him with helping to set up a controlled version of Tinder that allowed inmates in his jail to make contact with those in a nearby women’s prison. It is a distasteful and disturbing idea.Among Robinho’s fellow inmates are notorious murderers, including Lindemberg Alves, a man who kidnapped and shot dead 15-year-old former girlfriend Eloa Cristina Pimentel in 2008.Despite that appalling crime, Alves was among the prisoners let out for 11 days over Christmas 2024, according to local reports.But Robinho spent the festive season behind bars.Cells at the Dr Jose Augusto Cesar Salgado P2 prison are between eight metres and 12 metres squared. Up to six men cram into each one.Robinho was once spoken of in the same breath as Pele. After one of football’s most shocking falls from grace, he is now forced to share the air with fellow criminals. More

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      ‘I can’t match that’ – Mike Tyson doesn’t hesitate when asked who was most powerful puncher in boxing

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      MIKE TYSON is regarded by many to be one of the most ferocious punchers of all time.But the boxing legend humbly admits he’s NOT the hardest hitter to have graced the heavyweight division.Mike Tyson is viewed by many to be the hardest puncher in boxing historyCredit: GETTYIron Mike knocked out all but two of his opponents on his way to winning the WBC strap in 1986Credit: GETTYBut the boxing legend insists he’s not the hardest puncher the sport has ever seenCredit: AFPIron Mike knocked out all but two of his 28 opponents during his incredible run to the WBC heavyweight title in 1986, which he won at the tender age of 20.The power he displayed in his destructive highlight reel gave his diehard fans hope he could knock out Jake Paul in his ring return last November.Tyson has long taken great pride in his crushing body of work but is adamant the power he showcased paled in comparison to one of his predecessors.When asked to name the hardest-hitting heavyweight ever, he told Fight Camp: “[It’s George Foreman].READ MORE ON MIKE TYSON”I can’t match somebody’s power who’s that big and that much man.”Only thing that allowed me to be exciting was that I did it faster than the other guys.”Foreman stopped all but one of his 38 opponents on his way to winning the unified heavyweight titles against Joe Frazier in 1973.The Olympic gold medallist was renowned for decimating his opponents with ferocious hooks, particularly to the body, after putting them on the back foot.Most read in BoxingJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSMike Tyson believes George Foreman is the heaviest hitter in boxing historyCredit: GETTYFormer heavyweight champ Foreman packed a nasty wallopCredit: GETTYThat strategy, however, failed him in October 1974 when fought Muhammad Ali in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’, which he lost via an eighth-round TKO.Like Foreman, power came naturally to Tyson – who still, to this day, is the youngest heavyweight champion in history.’I’m kind of depressed a little’ – Boxing legend Mike Tyson’s alarming confession one month on from Jack Paul fightBut the 58-year-old insists: “Nothing about me was natural.”Only my desire to win was natural, I had a great teacher.”Only you can do that. You’re born with it but somebody has to elicit that.”Tyson suffered a unanimous decision defeat in his controversial crossover clash with Paul last November.He refused to rule out the prospect of lacing up his gloves again but was quickly OVERRULED by his wife, Lakiha. More

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      Sky Sports presenter leaving after 43 years on TV as he gives ‘final goodbye’ in emotional statement

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      LEGENDARY Sky Sports presenter Nick Powell is rolling credits on a glittering 43-year broadcasting career.Powell, 65, spent 29 years with Sky and will be retiring later this week on his 66th birthday.Sky Sports presenter Nick Powell is retiring after a glittering 43-year broadcasting careerPowell puts his mic down after 29 years with SkyCredit: GettyThe popular broadcaster has covered some of the greatest sporting events, such as England’s Ashes triumph in 2005, London 2012 and Andy Murray’s Wimbledon win in 2013.The journalist issued a long farewell message on Sky Sports’ website where he also looked back at unforgettable interviews with the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Muhammad Ali and Princess Anne.Powell wrote: “And there you have my job in a nutshell: holiday irrelevant; knowledge, authority and quick reactions essential.”I have built all that up over 43 years of live broadcasting, good and bad.Read More on Sport”The good – being there for England men’s first Ashes win in 20 years at The Oval in 2005, Super Saturday at the 2012 London Olympics and Andy Murray’s 2013 Wimbledon triumph.”The bad – the Bradford fire, the Hillsborough disaster and the premature loss of sportspeople like Gary Speed.”And the surreal – interviewing Archbishop Desmond Tutu and covering a Bruce Springsteen concert on the same afternoon for Yorkshire Television, or explaining The Hundred to viewers of Sky Germany. In German.”Powell looks back at his career very fondly without regretting even the hardest times that saw him working under difficult circumstances.Most read in FootballBut there were also some very pleasant experiences along the way, such as when he covered Liverpool’s first ever Premier League triumph in 2020.Powell wrote: “And now it’s a final goodbye.Premier League giants give update on £300m, 60,000-plus-capacity stadium expansion with area turned into building site”Favourite moment? So many, but as a born and bred Liverpool fan, it’s hard to beat being on air for their first league title in 30 years.”As it turned out, between the final whistle going on Manchester City’s defeat at Chelsea, which meant Liverpool could not be caught, and the start of a special programme fronted by David Jones to mark Liverpool’s triumph, I had precisely 12 seconds.”But that’s live television for you.” More

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      It’s not right, fair or proper that only two non-league clubs win promotion to EFL – hypocritical rules must change

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      WHAT have Oldham, Southend, Scunthorpe and Macclesfield got in common?All four clubs were relegated to the National League in a complete mess after years of financial mismanagement in the EFL.Wrexham are chasing Championship promotionCredit: RexIn fact, Macclesfield went bust and had to reform at the bottom of the non-league pyramid.Now — what have Luton, Wrexham, Stockport and Bromley got in common?All four sides were promoted from the National League in excellent financial health and are proving to be model clubs.Luton climbed all the way to the Premier League.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBromley are enjoying their first-ever season in the EFL, while the Dragons and County are even challenging for promotion to the Championship.All 72 clubs in the National League and National South and North last week supported the launch of the 3UP campaign, which is calling for three promotion and relegation places between League Two and the fifth tier.And I agree with them. It’s not right, fair or proper that there are currently only two up and two down between these divisions.The 72 EFL clubs are due to discuss these proposals in more detail this month. There will clearly be a number of matters to consider.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSOne of the red lines would be for the National League to adopt its Profit and Sustainability Rules — or something close to it.Fifth-tier clubs are not subject to the same financial scrutiny.EFL star, 24, ‘REFUSES to show up for game’ over transfer speculation weeks after shocking Premier League sideThere have often been examples of them spending more on wages and players than many League One teams, never mind League Two.EFL chair Rick Parry beats the drum for the importance for the League to look down as well as up. They are seeking fairer financial redistribution of funds filtering down from the Premier League — something I also support.The government is set to appoint a football regulator, but its remit does not include issues such as promotion and relegation.The National League is not like the old days of the Vauxhall Conference, when almost every team was semi-pro. All but two of its 24 clubs are full-time.And even one of its part-time teams, Tamworth, held Premier League giants Tottenham to a 0-0 draw after 90 minutes of their recent FA Cup third-round tie before succumbing in extra-time.We’ve seen National League North club Kidderminster almost knock West Ham out of the FA Cup — and last season National League South side Maidstone reached the last 16 after toppling Ipswich at Portman Road.This illustrates the depth of quality in the fifth and sixth tiers.These clubs are not Sunday morning beer-bellied hoofers.They have the same ambitions and aspirations as Championship teams currently trying to get promoted to the Premier League.’IT’S UNFAIR’It is hypocritical on one hand to allow three to go up to the top flight from the second tier, while not allowing the same for teams in the National League.Can you imagine the stink in the EFL if there was only one automatic promotion spot up for grabs between the Championship and the Prem — with the second one decided by the play-offs?The National League decide their second promotion spot with a six-club play-off format.In this system, teams finishing second and third play the winners of games between fourth v seventh and fifth v sixth before progressing to the final. This is done to give more of the clubs hope they can achieve promotion to the EFL.And then you have the bizarre situation where there are four promotion and relegation places between Leagues One and Two.It’s unfair for League Two clubs to enjoy that sort of privilege, while National League teams are only allowed half the amount of spots.For any changes to happen, it will need to carry a majority vote across all 72 EFL clubs — and even then there has to be a majority of Championship teams endorsing.The EFL have previously warmed to the idea of changing the number of promotion and relegation spots but are waiting for the regulator to be appointed — and for a fair deal struck with the Premier League.READ MORE SUN STORIESMy concern is it could take three or four years before any of that is sorted. In that time, the dreams and aspirations of National League clubs and the towns and cities they represent are being held back.The EFL should get on the front foot on this issue — regardless of progress with the Premier League and regulator — and be a champion of fairness for all teams that make our national game so great.What is the 3UP campaign? By Martin LiptonAll 72 clubs in the National League have signed a letter to EFL chiefs asking them to back a vote of member clubs over changing to a three-up, three-down system between League Two and the fifth tier.National League clubs argue that the current system, where only one club gets automatic promotion to the EFL with a second place available through the play-offs, is inconsistent with the rest of the pyramid.And at a meeting last week which formally endorsed the “3UP” campaign, clubs in the National League’s three divisions unanimously backed the move.EFL bosses have previously spoken positively about the idea but a switch would need the formal backing of the clubs – with those in League Two likely to need more convincing.National League chairman Jack Pearce suggested the likely arrival of the Government’s new Independent Football Regulator this summer meant that the EFL had to respond. More

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      Former Chelsea star and Match of the Day pundit returning to UK after quitting football to become PREACHER in Canada

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      FORMER Chelsea star Gavin Peacock is returning to the UK after leaving to become a PREACHER in Canada. Peacock spent three years at Chelsea after signing in 1993 from Newcastle.Gavin Peacock is returning to the UK after leaving to become a preacher in CanadaCredit: Phil Shephard-Lewis – The TimesHe also played for Bournemouth and QPR before his move to Stamford Bridge and later Charlton after leaving the Blues. He retired in 2001 and later moved into punditry with the BBC, working on Match of the Day and Football Focus. It was after Euro 2008 – where he worked as a pundit – that Peacock moved to Canada to become a preacher.But according to The Express, the ex-forward is plotting a return home to spend a year as pastor at Bethersden Baptist Church in Kent.READ MORE IN football Peacock has been a Christian since his teens and has taken part in a number of ventures to discuss links between religion and football.Explaining his decision to move to Canada, he said: “[The TV work] was all going very well. “So when I gave everything up, it did surprise a number of people. It’s been the hardest few years of my life – but coming away from the UK has given me some anonymity. “Here in Canada, they consider me a preacher, not a footballer or pundit.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS “In 2006, my wife got an illness and was in hospital for a couple of weeks.”That recalibrated my thinking and I thought about going into church leadership, and eventually gave up my media career. “Being a pastor really is calling to me. I’ve played at Wembley in an FA Cup final but feel a stronger sense of responsibility when I’m giving a service to 30 people.”Peacock spent three years with ChelseaCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdPeacock, middle, also worked as a commentatorCredit: Getty More