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    Jack Grealish signs ‘British record contract’ as he agrees long-term boot deal in major brand change

    JACK GREALISH has signed a reportedly British record contract with Puma.The brand will take over from Nike as the Man City star’s boot sponsor, as he revealed on Instagram.
    Jack Grealish has signed a sponsorship deal with PumaCredit: Puma
    It is believed to be a record for a British playerCredit: Puma
    He was previously signed with NikeCredit: Puma
    Grealish had worn Nike boots for his entire career but now he joins the likes of Neymar and Antoine Greizmann as part of Puma’s roster.
    The Telegraph have reported that the deal could see Grealish get a “blockbuster record-breaking boot deal for a British player”.
    This could see him earn more than the deals that Harry Kane and Gareth Bale had.
    Grealish is already an ambassador of brands such as Gucci, Bose headphones and Airwayz.
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    On the new deal, the 27-year-old said: “For me Puma felt like a perfect fit.
    “They have an amazing history in football and have worked with some of the world’s greatest players.
    “I am delighted to join the family and to be a Puma 2 Future athlete.
    “I am at home on the pitch and want to express myself, which is something I like about the brand, they do things differently and have a great outlook on football.
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    “Puma are more than just a sports brand, they play a huge role in culture.
    “My focus is always football, but I love fashion and style, so there are many exciting projects we plan to work on together on the pitch and beyond it.”
    Puma director Johan Adamsson added: “Jack Grealish is one of the most exciting players in Europe, with his outstanding technical skills and his quick feet he can be the difference between winning and losing.
    “He turns heads on and off the pitch with his quick feet and personal style which makes him an outstanding new addition to the Puma family.
    “We want Jack to be one of the leading faces of the brand in football and culture.
    “Jack’s position opens the opportunities to work across many of our fashion forward initiatives and work together with him on his many personal causes.” More

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    Anthony Joshua will end up with more trainers than Nike at this rate and should heed some wise advice before Franklin

    ANTHONY JOSHUA, at his training camp deep in the heart of Texas, should think long and hard about the boxing adage: “Fighters make trainers — trainers don’t make fighters.”Joshua sacked Robert McCracken — the man who took him from the amateurs and turned him into a world heavyweight champion — after he lost his WBA, IBF and WBO titles to Oleksandr Usyk at Spurs’ stadium two years ago.
    Anthony Joshua is set to fight Jermaine FranklinCredit: Alamy
    Derrick James is Joshua’s new trainerCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    He replaced him with Robert Garcia — but he didn’t last long. He was shown the door when AJ failed to regain his belts in the return in Jeddah seven months ago.
    As AJ sets out on the road to redemption, there will be another stranger in his corner when he makes his comeback against Jermaine Franklin at the 02 Arena on April 1.
    After much searching, AJ has settled on the highly- respected Dallas-based American Derrick James, to resurrect his shattered career following his second defeat against Usyk which led to his shocking post-fight meltdown in the ring.
    The way Joshua’s going he’s likely to end up with more trainers than Nike.
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    Franklin, 29, who has been with his trainer Jesse Addison for 17 years, made a valid point when he said: “This is the third trainer Joshua has had in his last three fights. At what point do you start blaming yourself and not the trainer.”
    Heavyweight stars like Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield and Frank Bruno didn’t discard their trainers as soon as they lost.
    Having a competent trainer who can be trusted implicitly inside and outside the ropes is vitally important to a fighter — it instils confidence and eases tension.
    I was lucky enough to spend hours in gyms studying the all-time great coaches.
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    Angelo Dundee, Manny Steward, Lou Duva, George Benton and the incomparable Eddie Futch, who trained no less than five world heavyweight champions, are some of them.
    All emphasised understanding a fighter’s psychology was as vital as working out strategy.
    But the daddy of them all was Ray Arcel who trained 20 world champions including Roberto Duran, Barney Ross and Ezzard Charles — he was the sage people like Futch went to for advice.
    The time I spent with Ray in Montreal before the first Duran-Sugar Ray Leonard fight more than 40 years ago I regarded as priceless.
    Arcel has been dead nearly 30 years but his philosophy lives on.
    He said: “The secret of being a trainer is to know and understand the individual that you are working with.
    “Know when to say something — know when to be quiet. The story of boxing is the story of the trainer because the trainer is the boss — the trainer is the pillar of hope for every fighter.
    “But when you are in that ring by yourself, you’ve got to know what you are doing and what you are facing.”
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    Every British fan will hope Joshua and James hit it off in the short time they have been together and they can forge a partnership that leads AJ to further glory.
    Joshua should take note of Arcel’s most telling remark: “Boxing is brain over brawn. I don’t care how much ability you’ve got as a fighter — if you can’t think you are just another bum in the park.” More

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    Mason Greenwood dropped as Nike athlete after hinting at sponsorship renewal

    MASON Greenwood has been dropped by sponsor Nike despite no longer facing charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control.A spokesperson for the global sports brand simply told The Sun Online: “Mason Greenwood is no longer a Nike athlete”.
    Mason Greenwood has been dropped by NikeCredit: Reuters
    A spokesperson for the brand said: ‘Mason Greenwood is no longer a Nike athlete’Credit: AFP
    The Manchester United striker was officially dropped by the brand when he was first charged, but Nike’s latest statement appears to confirm his deal will not be renewed.
    It comes amid speculation over Greenwood’s future with the brand after he made a telling change to his Instagram profile.
    The Premier League ace added both his club and Nike back into the bio on his personal page.
    This prompted questions over whether his sponsorship had been resumed.
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    However, hopes of a renewed deal seem to have been dashed, given Nike’s definitive statement.
    The 21-year-old faced charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control until they were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service earlier this month.
    The case against him collapsed after a number of “key witnesses withdrew” and “new material” came to light.
    Greenwood has not returned to training at Old Trafford and remains suspended by his club, on £100,000 per week pay, pending an internal investigation.
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    However, a source told The Sun Online that his teammates don’t necessarily want him back.
    They said: “The players are open to him returning to the team but the scrutiny could be massively distracting.
    “The dressing room is the happiest it has been for ages and no one wants to rock the boat.”

    Meanwhile, sources close to Greenwood revealed he may make a radical move to restart his career if he’s given the boot by United.
    He will also continue to be excluded from the FIFA 23 video games, despite no longer facing charges.
    For his part, the striker broke his silence on the charges in a statement on February 2nd.
    He said: “I am relieved that this matter is now over and I would like to thank my family, loved ones and friends for their support.
    “There will be no further comment at this time.”
    Greenwood faced charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control until they were dropped earlier this monthCredit: PA
    He remains suspended by his club, pending an internal investigationCredit: AFP More

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    Vinicius Jr stages anti-Nike protest with dramatic kit change as Cristiano Ronaldo issue repeats itself

    VINICIUS JR let his boots do the talking as he ramped up his protests against Nike.The Real Madrid superstar revived memories of tricky moments for Cristiano Ronaldo’s Nike deal – by CHANGING footwear against Valencia.
    Vinicius Junior played in no-logo boots during the goalless first of a 2-0 victory for Real Madrid over ValenciaCredit: Getty
    The Brazilian winger then put on Nike-sponsored footwear as he hit the stylish second goal in Real’s comfortable LaLiga winCredit: Getty
    The Brazil winger played a goalless first half in blacked-out boots.
    Then he dazzled in a white pair emblazoned with his sponsors as he netted a classy clincher in a 2-0 LaLiga win.
    The 22-year-old is battling to end a ten-year arrangement with Nike.
    But there’s no clause allowing for the deal to end early, leaving the player and the brand at loggerheads.
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    So his actions on Thursday appear to be a radical step-up in his fight with the American sportswear giant.
    Real legend Ronaldo, now with Al-Nassr, is Nike’s most famous name.
    But the company courted controversy by cropping out an adidas logo and replacing it with a Nike Swoosh in an ad featuring Ronaldo as a boy.
    And the former Manchester United frontman, 37, also defended son Cristiano Jr against trolls criticising the lad for wearing both Nike and adidas in the same picture.
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    Vinicius Jr has likewise long been associated with Nike, initially when a Flamengo whizkid in 2013.
    But at least his two-pair protest coincided with Real sparking into life.
    Marco Asensio arrowed a glorious top-corner opener and soon after that Vinicius outpaced a defender to slot a clinical second goal.
    Victory leaves Carlo Ancelotti’s men five points behind Barcelona and six above third-placed Real Sociedad. More

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    ‘This season just gets worse’ – Chelsea’s 2023-24 third kit ‘leaked’ but angry fans slam Nike for ‘not trying’

    CHELSEA’S third kit for next season has been ‘leaked’ online.But Blues fans are not happy with the design, with one exclaiming: “This season just gets worse!”
    Chelsea’s third kit for next season has been leaked onlineCredit: FOOTYHEADINES.COM
    The pale-green jersey has received a lukewarm reception from fansCredit: FOOTYHEADINES.COM
    Chelsea are struggling to impress under Graham Potter following Todd Boehly’s takeover last year.
    The Londoners have won just one of their last seven league matches and currently sit tenth in the table.
    Hope is not yet lost for the Blues, who are ready to embark on another mega-money splurge in the transfer market.
    But there should be little faith put into their latest kit design for the 2023/24 campaign.
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    Footy Headlines claim to have leaked Chelsea’s third jersey for next season, revealing a pale-green top with little else in the way of uniqueness.
    Indeed, it looks almost the same as Chelsea’s current third kit, which is beige and has made just one appearance in the 4-1 defeat at Brighton.
    A teaser of the top in November received a lukewarm reaction from fans.
    And a full look at the shirt has not gone down well with the Stamford Bridge faithful, who reckon the design sums up Chelsea’s shoddy season.
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    The leaked kit looks remarkably similar to the current third kit, which is beigeCredit: Getty
    One said: “This season just gets worse and worse.”
    Another declared: “The performance on the pitch wasn’t bad enough so they decided to complement it with some a** third kit? Very nice.”
    One moaned: “Why the hell is Nike still our kit sponsor man ffs I can’t with these kits.”
    Another joked: “Bad things happen to good people.”
    One noted: “Nike just stopped trying with Chelsea.”
    Another added: “It’s literally this season’s third kit but with a different colour. I’ve had enough with Nike.” More

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    France risk embarrassment after Nike website puts ‘3-star kit’ on sale BEFORE Argentina World Cup final

    KIT manufacturer Nike may have jinxed France’s chances against Argentina.That’s by putting a “three-star” kit on sale BEFORE Sunday’s World Cup final.
    Nike put a ‘three-star’ France kit up for sale BEFORE Sunday’s World Cup finalCredit: Nike
    France have only won two World Cups but hope to make it three against ArgentinaCredit: Getty
    And France now risk embarrassment should they fail to defend their trophy against Lionel Messi.
    Didier Deschamps’ men are looking to become the first side to win two successive World Cups since Brazil in 1962.
    France’s victory in Russia over four years ago was their second triumph in the competition, having broken their duck on home soil in 1998.
    But kit sponsors Nike appear confident that Kylian Mbappe and Co are on course for a third triumph.
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    That’s because they released a new commemorative France shirt on their website, with the description reading: “FFF (French Football Federation) three stars 2022/23 stadium residence.”
    The hilarious blunder suggests that France have already beaten Argentina, despite the sides not meeting until tomorrow.
    Interestingly, the shirt shown as the product only revealed two stars above the French crest.
    And Nike swiftly took down the “three-star” description after it was spotted by eagle-eyed fans.
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    The blunder could now backfire badly for France, with Argentina’s passionate players sure to be fired up by it.
    There’s already not much to choose between the two sides, with Messi and Mbappe rated as two of the world’s top footballers.
    And like France, Argentina are also looking for their third World Cup win, having triumphed in 1978 and 1986.
    Some French fans believe the final is now already decided in Argentina’s favour due to Nike’s error.
    One said: “It’s bad luck to the bottom. For sure we will lose this final.”
    Another declared: “It will bring bad luck. Already I don’t see them winning.”
    One noted: “They will manage to jinx us.”
    Another added: “They don’t learn the lesson, huh…” More

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    Watch Cristiano Ronaldo star alongside Brazil legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho in Nike’s incredible World Cup 2022 advert

    NIKE have launched their World Cup 2022 advert starring some of football’s biggest names both past and present. In keeping with many of Nike’s previous football advertisements, they recruited a star-studded lineup to help build hype for football’s biggest competition.
    Footballers past and present were brought together in Nike’s new World Cup advertCredit: Nike
    Kylian Mbappe got to show off some acting skills ahead of QatarCredit: Nike
    Ronaldinho had this hilarious reaction upon seeing MbappeCredit: Nike
    Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed a prominent role in the ad tooCredit: Nike
    Brazil legend Ronaldo poked fun at his own iconic haircutCredit: Nike
    Put loosely, the plot of the advert, which runs for well over four minutes, revolves around a debate between scientists on who is a better player between Ronaldinho and Kylian Mbappe.
    They then activate a time machine to bring together players from the past and present to face off with one another.
    Chaos then descends as more and more players are brought into the “Footballverse”, giving Nike its own unique take on the multi-verse genre that has become popular in cinema in recent years.
    Among the big names involved are legends of the past such as Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Edgar Davids.
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    But it’s far from undersaturated with modern names too.
    Cristiano Ronaldo – who has been making all the headlines this week – lines up alongside the likes of Mbappe, Virgil van Dijk and Kevin de Bruyne.
    Phil Foden even gets a hilarious cameo roughly halfway through the video. There are big names from Women’s football too, including Leah Williamson, Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd and Sam Kerr.
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    Nike even blends fictional characters with their real-life pros, with the short-but-sweet cameo of Gouenji Shuuya from Japanese animation series INAZUMA ELEVEN.
    The advert ends by teasing football’s next generation, with Cristiano Ronaldo Jr and Shane Kluivert both making appearances throughout the video.
    It’s a Nike advert that’s likely to go down among their very best alongside classics such as “Winner Stays On”, “The Last Game” and “The Cage”.
    The “Footballverse” saw multiple editions of the same legend in some casesCredit: Nike
    Phil Foden enjoyed a hilarious cameo tooCredit: Nike
    Nike brought back icons such as Edgar DavidsCredit: Nike
    USWNT star Alex Morgan was among those representing the Women’s gameCredit: Nike
    A wall was formed as Ronaldinho lined up to take a free kickCredit: Nike
    Nike even threw some Japanese animation into the mixCredit: Nike
    It was a real surprise for them to add in INAZUMA ELEVEN’s Gouenji ShuuyaCredit: Nike More

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    Can you recognise these iconic World Cup kits? Take our footie brain-teaser quiz to see how many you know

    WITH the World Cup just around the corner, can you identify these classic international football shirts which have stood the test of time?Take our brain teaser quiz to see if you can recognise your favourite kits from around the world, featuring the likes of Brazil, Germany and England who are all taking part in this year’s tournament.
    England’s World Cup winning strip in 1966 was voted the side’s greatest of all timeCredit: Popperfoto – Getty
    Argentina’s 1986 World Cup strip, as worn by Diego Maradona, has been voted the greatest international football shirt by 2,000 footie fansCredit: Getty
    It comes as research of 2,000 football fans revealed the greatest international football shirt of all time as Argentina’s 1986 World Cup blue and white striped home jersey worn by Diego Maradona during the infamous ‘hand of God’ tournament.
    England’s World Cup winning Umbro 1966 red strip came second, followed by the 1970 Brazil home top made by Athleta International and notably worn by Pelé when leading his country to victory.
    Belgium’s Adidas home shirt from 1984 and England’s once maligned Admiral home jersey from 1982 are fondly remembered too.
    A spokesman for CopyBet, which commissioned the research and developed the quiz, said: “Football fans remember kits with great sentiment and affection, and we wanted to celebrate that ahead of the World Cup by uncovering the best international kits of all time.
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    “Despite a difficult relationship between England fans and the victorious 1986 Argentina team, the legendary performances of Diego Maradona mean this particular kit is still held in the highest regard as an icon of the game, as is England’s 1966 away shirt which saw them clinch the trophy all those years ago.
    “These shirts carry so much history and what a way to reflect their linage ahead of the next tournament which is just around the corner.”
    England’s blue third strip from 1990 produced by Umbro and Cameroon’s Puma sleeveless strip from 2002 – which was eventually banned by FIFA – also proved popular.
    Other noteworthy tops include Nigeria’s 2018 Nike home shirt – much sought after its release, Wales’ retro-inspired 2006 Kappa red top, and Jamaica’s 2021 Umbro away shirt.
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    While the Argentina 1986 shirt was selected as the single greatest in international history, research found Brazil has the most iconic kits throughout the years, followed by England and Argentina.
    And Cameroon and Colombia also tend to ‘get it right’ when it comes to their football attire.
    The study also identified what makes a strip ‘iconic’ – with colour combinations (18 per cent), historical significance (16 per cent), and keeping with tradition (16 per cent) the top considerations.
    TOP 10 GREATEST INTERNATIONAL SHIRTS OF ALL TIME
    1.            Argentina, home, 1986, Le Coq Sportif
    2.            England, away, 1966, Umbro
    3.            Brazil, home, 1970, Athleta International
    4.            Belgium, home, 1984, Adidas
    5.            England, home, 1982, Admiral
    6.            England, home, 1990, Umbro
    7.            England, third, 1990, Umbro
    8.            Wales, home, 2006, Kappa
    9.            Nigeria, home, 2018, Nike
    10.          Cameroon, home, 2002, Puma

    Four in 10 adults polled consider replica tops to be fashion items – with 1990s shirts deemed the most stylish, followed by those released in the 1980s.
    Despite this, 48 per cent of footy fans believe current shirts are as good now as ever before – suggesting tops from the 2020s might be coveted in the future.
    TOP 5 COUNTRIES WITH THE MOST ICONIC FOOTBALL SHIRT
    1.            Brazil
    2.            England
    3.            Argentina
    4.            Cameroon
    5.            Columbia

    More than a third (35 per cent) who own a World Cup shirt from the past said they’d like to own even more – with 43 per cent having a specific top they’re especially keen to get their hands on.
    And they’re so set on owning such a strip they’d be willing to spend an average of £140 on it – with 10 per cent content to spend £400 or more, illustrating the demand for vintage shirts from down the years as a fashion item.
    But whether fans of the two home nations taking part in this year’s World Cup – Wales and England – will want to spend this much on their side’s latest efforts remains to be seen.
    TOP 10 GREATEST ENGLAND SHIRTS OF ALL TIME
    1.            England, away, 1966
    2.            England, away, 1990-92
    3.            England, home, 2022
    4.            England, away, 2020-22
    5.            England, away, 2022
    6.            England, away, 2007-09
    7.            England, home, 1980-83
    8.            England, third, 1990-92
    9.            England, away, 1995-97
    10.          England, home, 1997-99

    On a scale of one to 10 – with 10 being great – the Nike 2022 England home shirt scored an average of 5.91, while the Adidas Wales strip scored 6.03 among those polled.
    And with 48 per cent of the opinion the shirt a team wears can impact performances on the pitch – for better or worse – both Wales and England might have a fairly mediocre tournament in-store.
    Carried out through OnePoll, the study revealed of the 36 per cent of non-England fans who intend on buying a replica shirt for this year, 21 per cent are looking to buying a replica of Brazil kit, while 18 per cent are considering a USA and Germany top respectively.
    Fans of the Three Lions also voted on their favourite ever England top with the 1966 World Cup red strip securing first place ahead of the Italia 1990 away kit.
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    A spokesperson for CopyBet, added: “Football shirts have become an important part of the sport, especially when it comes to the World Cup.
    “With an increase to 48 countries in the 2026 World Cup, there will be even more shirts to enjoy, with this survey highlighting the fun and excitement fans get from owning and wearing the best international shirts on offer.”
    Fans voted Brazil has having the most iconic stripCredit: Rex More