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      Former Brighton Premier League wonderkid Aaron Connolly bravely reveals all about alcohol addiction and treatment

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      EX-PREMIER LEAGUE wonderkid Aaron Connolly has bravely revealed his alcohol addiction fight.The Irish international forward, 24, completed a free transfer to Championship promotion chasers Sunderland last month as he looks to resurrect his career.Sunderland’s new signing Aaron Connolly has bravely revealed all about his alcohol addictionCredit: AlamyConnolly famously burst on the scene in the top-flight aged 19 at Brighton with a brace against Tottenham.He left the Amex – following disappointing loan spells at Luton, Middlesbrough and Italian side Venezia – four years later having featured more on the gossip pages than sport ones.Connolly did score eight times for Hull City last term but that was not enough to stop him from getting released.Now he has decided to tell his story to coincide with World Mental Health Day on Sunderland’s website.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLConnolly had left home for the South Coast aged 16 but he says everything changed after that day against Spurs.He said: “I remember it – 5th of October, 2019, it was a 12.30 kick-off. I’m never going to forget that day. It was one of the best days of my life, but also one of the worst because the following five years was from that.“I just stopped working, stopped doing the things I should have kept doing. I started to believe the hype, and I just didn’t turn into a good person after that. I was tough to be around.“I didn’t know how to deal with it, if I’m being honest. My parents tried, but they weren’t living with me. I was living with my ex-girlfriend at the time, and it’s hard because I didn’t ever feel like I had that authoritative figure to keep me grounded.Most read in ChampionshipIf you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.“My parents did try, but I just let myself believe everything people were saying online and it just took over. I always say to my parents, I started to live the life of a footballer without the football side of it.“That was the hardest thing to admit at the time, that I wasn’t doing all the things that had got me to the position where I could go and get my house and treat my family, and do all that sort of stuff.Brits are more likely to open up at the pub or on a walk than on the phone or over text, study finds“It hurts to look back and speak about it because I know if I had done everything right, maybe I would still be in the Premier League. Maybe I wouldn’t, but at least I’d know I’d given it all I could to try to stay at that level.”Connolly explained how both his on and off-field life began to spiral as alcohol became a bigger and bigger problem.He said: “It was obvious I had a problem with alcohol for a good few years.“I had my parents, who never drank before and were always telling me when I was younger to stay away from alcohol. That was always their thing because of addiction to alcohol in my family.“I didn’t listen, clearly. It got me into a lot of trouble and a lot of problems, and it just became something that I relied on.”It felt like my buzz used to come from football, and winning games and scoring goals, and it got to a point where the buzz was more from drinking alcohol than going out on a football pitch.“I used to look forward to the games finishing so I could have time to go and have a drink and socialise.”I say socialise, but it was just an excuse to go and get drunk, to go straight to alcohol, and that was where I got my buzz from, whereas before, it was always the buzz of football and being around an environment like I am now.”For three or four years, that just wasn’t there.”The star burst on the scene with two goals against Tottenham in 2019Credit: ReutersConnolly managed to rediscover some form at Hull despite his “life being a mess” but he finally realised he needed to take drastic action after he was released in June by the Tigers.He explained: “I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t live the way I was living. It was killing people round me, to be honest. My family, my friends. Mainly, it was killing me, really.“I had one of my best seasons last year at Hull, but off the pitch, my life was a mess. The manager at Hull, to be fair, always looked after me, and always tried to help.”But it just got to a point where, it wasn’t like life wasn’t worth living, it wasn’t a big dramatic thing, but it was just that my life was so unmanageable and I couldn’t control what I could do and couldn’t control my alcohol.“It just got to a point where I had to make a decision where I needed to go to a treatment clinic, and I spent a month there in the summer.”I just said to my agent, ‘I don’t want you to contact any clubs. I’m not doing this for football, I’m doing this so I can get my life back, and if stuff in football comes with that, then that’s a bonus’.“It wasn’t even the football that was taking the biggest battering in the end, it was my life, my relationships, my friends. Everything was just failing and falling apart.”When your parents are calling you and you’re not answering calls because you know you’re breaking their hearts, it’s time to realise that you’ve got a problem.”Now after sealing himself an opportunity at Sunderland, Connolly wants to tell his story in the hope that it might help at least one other person struggling.He added: “It’s an addiction, and the toughest thing I ever had to do was go in there. The PFA helped me pay for my treatment, and I know some people might not be able to afford it, but it’s important to know it’s not just park bench, vodka bottle. Anybody can get affected by it.READ MORE SUN STORIES“There’s no price tag or no amount of money in the world that can cure it. It’s a disease, an illness. But going to the clinic was the best and worst month of my life.“I just hope this might help people. I had everything every young boy would dream, but I couldn’t get hold of my addiction without that help.”The Irish ace was released by Hull City in the summer and decided to check into rehabCredit: PA More

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      Love rat Kyle Walker’s wife Annie Kilner fires first warning shot of divorce after secretly meeting with lawyers

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      LOVE rat England ace Kyle Walker’s wife has fired the first warning shot of a divorce.Annie Kilner secretly met with lawyers to discuss legal proceedings to end the troubled marriage.Kyle Walker’s wife Annie Kilner has fired the first warning shot of a divorceCredit: XposureThe love rat’s wife has secretly met with lawyers to discuss legal proceedingsCredit: Refer to CaptionThe England ace fathered a second child with former mistress Lauryn Goodman, seen above with his sonCredit: SplashThe model, 31, who was not at Wembley last night as Walker started on the bench for England against Greece, vowed to see it through. She wants half of his £27million fortune.Friends said the Manchester City captain, 34, had spent weeks trying to persuade her not to end their marriage.Sources said no final decision had yet been taken but discussions about divorce are “actively” taking place.One said: “Annie is prepared to go through with it.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“She isn’t messing about and has spoken to lawyers about what the future looks like.“Divorce has been an ever-present threat all year but things are starting to come to a head.“She doesn’t have to go through with it, of course, but it’s always there as an option.”Annie was left reeling after the defender was exposed for fathering a second child with former mistress Lauryn Goodman.Most read in FootballThe couple, who have four children, separated at Christmas after influencer Lauryn revealed the truth in a text message — and they have been battling to save their relationship since.Kyle and Annie met in Sheffield as teenagers and married in 2021 — despite repeated sex scandals after his £50million move to City from Spurs in 2017.Kyle Walker’s furious wife Annie ‘will only give their troubled marriage another go if he pays her HALF his fortune’Lauryn, 34, said the multi-millionaire footballer, 33, told First, Ex on the Beach TV reality star Laura Brown said she and Kyle repeatedly romped in his Bentley. Annie kicked him out of their Cheshire home but they got back together.She gave him the boot again when he revealed Lauryn was having his baby son.He moved into a flat nearby — and was caught breaching lockdown rules in an orgy with two hookers.However, the couple got back together again and Kyle proposed. But less than a year after they wed, he cheated with Lauryn again and she got pregnant a second timeDivorce has been an ever-present threat all year but things are starting to come to a headA sourceAnnie, who was heavily pregnant at the time with her and Kyle’s fourth child, announced their latest split after finding out.She has demanded half his fortune as part of a “financial divorce” to secure her and the kids’ future. A spokeswoman for Kyle and Annie declined to comment.Friends said Walker spent weeks trying to persuade her not to end their troubled marriageCredit: Rex More

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      New dad Jack Grealish reveals why he would never ask Bukayo Saka to babysit and which England pal he’ll go to for tips

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      JACK GREALISH has revealed which England team-mates he would and would NOT ask to babysit for him.The Manchester City and England star and long-term partner Sasha Attwood had a daughter at the end of last month.Jack Grealish has revealed who he would NOT want to babysit from the England squadCredit: Instagram @sasha__rebeccaGrealish and Sasha Attwood welcomed baby girl Mila last monthCredit: Instagram @jackgrealishBut the Man City star would not want Bukayo Saka to babysit for himCredit: AFPHe named Harry Kane as his first choice for babysitterCredit: PAThe couple welcomed a baby girl named Mila on September 27, hours before Grealish lined up to play for City against Newcastle.It follows his Three Lions comeback under interim manager Lee Carsley after missing out on the Euro 2024 squad.And speaking to BBC 5 Live Sport ahead of clashes against Greece and Finland, the 29-year-old has now revealed which England team-mates he would be happy to let babysit his kid.On the best, he said: “Harry Kane I think. It’s quite a young team so I wouldn’t put it on any of the young lads and you know Harry, he’s so reliable.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”One of the oldest lads, so yeah I’d go Harry.”He was then asked about club-mate Phil Foden, who himself has three children.Grealish added: “Well yeah, you could say Phil actually. He’s got a fair few hasn’t he?”[But] Yeah, I’m going to go Harry Kane.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe former Aston Villa star was then quizzed on who he reckons the worst babysitter would be.He said: “The worst… I’m going to go [Bukayo] Saka. Yeah I’m going to go Bukayo. Grealish has baby”I just reckon he would be sloppy, you know, falling asleep and that.”Grealish was also asked who he would go to for parenting advice.On that topic, he replied: “I’d go with [Jordan] Pickford. [I’m] Quite close with him.”He then added: “You know what actually, I could go with Dec [Declan Rice] as well. “Maybe Dec or Jordan. Yeah, one of them two.”The penultimate question saw him asked who he reckons would be the “fun dad” out of the squad. He said: “Can you go yourself or… Yeah go on I’ll put myself down for that one.”The final question got him to name the “strict dad” of the group.He replied: “I reckon someone like Marc Guehi. Just quite firm, you know, serious. Uncle Marc.”At the age of just 24 years old many of his peers at international level have given the Crystal Palace defender the nickname “Uncle Marc”.READ MORE SUN STORIESJude Bellingham and Ezri Konsa first revealed the nickname back in July, while Kyle Walker also mentioned the name when speaking to John Stones about who could be a good future manager.Grealish scored his third England goal last month against the Republic of Ireland and has earned 38 caps so far.Grealish named Declan Rice as someone he would go to for parenting adviceCredit: GettyGrealish also named Marc Guehi as the ‘strict dad’ of the groupCredit: ReutersInside Sasha Attwood and Jack Grealish’s relationshipSasha Attwood and Jack Grealish have become parents for the first time, but their relationship started well over a decade ago…The pair met as teens in Solihull, West Midlands at secondary school, with Sasha previously saying they have been together since she was 15. Jack was already on his way to becoming a professional footballer when he met Sasha.Despite the long-term nature of their relationship, she remained on the sidelines when his career took off.However, intense interest in Jack’s private life came to a head in 2021 when England reached the final of Euro 2020, delayed a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Because of their romance, Sasha was cruelly targeted by trolls on TikTok and Instagram, receiving 200 death threats a day from “young girls”. The pair were spotted on holiday together following the tournament and slowly began showing more of their relationship on social media when the vile trolling died down. In 2022, they celebrated their 10-year anniversary and purchased a seven-bed mansion set in 24 acres worth £5.6 million.They moved in to the home in late 2023, but Sasha and members of Jack’s family were subject to a terrifying robbery while cheering on the Manchester City star during a televised match just after Christmas. Their latest milestone is Sasha’s pregnancy, which they announced on social media on July 7, and the birth of daughter Mila Rose on September 27. More

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      Emotional Chris Eubank Jr opens up on becoming father overnight after brother’s death and how he won’t copy his star dad

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      CHRIS EUBANK Jr wants to hit the boxing jackpot to give his nephew the life he deserves.In July 2021, Raheem was only a month old when his dad Sebastian  — the younger brother of Chris Jr — died of a heart attack in Dubai, aged 29.Chris Eubank Jr is dedicating the rest of his boxing career to help provide for his late brother Sebastian’s son RaheemCredit: X/ ChrisEubankJrChris Eubank Senior tragically lost his son Sebastian in 2021Credit: GettyKamil Szeremeta will take on Eubank Jr in Riyadh this SaturdayCredit: RexIt meant uncle Chris became a dad overnight and three years on Raheem, who has just started school, is now chasing him around the practice ring ahead of his middleweight clash with Poland’s Kamil Szeremeta in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.At 35, Eubank Jr looks  unlikely to follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming a world champion — with a scrap against nemesis Conor Benn likely to follow.But he explained that the total devastation that struck his family  left him with a new drive in the shape of a nephew he now treats like his own son.He said: “I remember going to my brother’s grave for the first time and that’s where I first met Raheem and I held him in front of the grave and it calmed me down.READ MORE TOP STORIES“His energy and him being very quiet while on my chest gave me peace.“I felt then that everything would be OK.“I felt that we might have a second chance here.“I love that little boy. I use Raheem as a tool to strengthen my will and my soul and my spirit.Most read in BoxingChris Eubank Jr’s younger brother Sebastian was also a boxerCredit: X/ ChrisEubankJrVegasLand welcome bonus100 spins + up to £200 bonus18+; new depositing players only. Welcome package split over 3 deposits:Min. 1st deposit £10. min. 2nd and 3rd deposit £20.35x wagering requirement applies to match up bonus and spins. Spins credited in specific games. Spins expire after 24 hours. Terms and Conditions Apply.SIGN UP“Raheem is going to live a long and fulfilled life and I only have a few years of boxing left.“So I need to do everything I can over the next three or four years to make sure he has the best life he can possibly have growing up.”Chris Eubank Jr shows his boxing skills in brutal punch bag workout Eubank Jr has arrived in the Saudi capital for his middleweight boutCredit: GettyThe death of Sebastian understandably took a terrible toll on his father, Chris Eubank Sr.The  theatrical but granite-hard two-weight world champion was suddenly weak and vulnerable and preyed upon — saying things that caused a rift with his eldest son.The flare-up was exacerbated by Eubank Sr’s disgust at his son stripping  down to 157lb to face Benn, who failed a drugs test before their October 2022 grudge bout was called off.Sadly, especially for little Raheem, who is now three, the gladiatorial gene pool is not fully reunited yet.Dubai-based Eubank Jr said: “We should be able to help Raheem without boxing involved.“But  there is still a wedge between us. Until the day I retire, I don’t ever see that wedge not being there.“It should not be that way but he is set in his ways and he can’t seem to separate the boxing business from being a dad.“I don’t need Chris Eubank Sr the boxer, businessman, coach, mentor, advisor.“He is in a better place now. He was dealing with some demons — and he still is.“But he has got over and through a lot of things and he is in a much healthier state of mind, thank God.Eubank Junior says Chris Eubank Senior believes tears, punishment and discipline are important if you want to ‘flourish’ in sportCredit: Alamy“I am very happy about that. I speak to him whenever I can, I keep up to date with how everything is going. I am hearing good things now, when a year or two ago I was not.“I am very grateful that we have managed to get through that part of our lives.”Eubank Jr makes his heart-breaking overnight transformation from super-cool uncle to doting dad sound like a doddle. But it means he is now in a rush to give Raheem the little sibling he himself adored in Sebastian.And then he has to wrestle with the idea of both of his boys following down the brutally hard path that his dad, brother, cousins and uncles have all walked.He explained: “Once I was put in this position for Raheem,  people saw a different side to me, a softer side.“Spending time with Raheem makes me think more about having my own son, giving him a brother and raising them together.“His dad was my brother and we grew up together and I want to give Raheem that.“My new role means I have to teach Raheem — I cannot be Mr Nice Guy all the time.“He has got to learn that certain things are not good or OK. In a sports setting, tough love and strict rules breed success.My old man would say…‘What are you doing? Get back in the f*****g ring and work and learn and take your licks like a man’.Chris Eubank Junior“Nine times out of ten, if you don’t have the tears, punishment and discipline, then a kid is  not going to flourish in sport, especially boxing.“My old man would watch me get hurt, he would watch me get beaten up and tell me, ‘Get back in the ring’.“There were no hugs, there was no, ‘How are you son, are you feeling OK?’“He would say, ‘What are you doing? Get back in the f*****g ring and work and learn and take your licks like a man’.“That would break a lot of people, let alone kids, but it pushed me.“Not everybody has it but you need it to survive in combat.“I have a very soft spot for Raheem because of our situation, so I don’t think I would want to go through it with him.READ MORE SUN STORIES“Would I love to see him  pursue a boxing career? No, I don’t think I would love it.“I know his mother will not want him to do it — but his father did it, I do it and our father did it, so he has the genes, he’s part of our gene pool.”Conor Benn could come next for Eubank Jr if he wins this weekendCredit: AP More

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      Caroline Dubois yet to watch brother Daniel’s fight with Anthony Joshua after opening up on family fallout

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      CAROLINE DUBOIS still has not watched brother Daniel’s stunning win against Anthony Joshua in full – amid a family fallout. Unbeaten Caroline moved out of her family home following a rift with dad and former mentor Dave – also known as Stan. Daniel Dubois with his sister Caroline Dubois in 2019Credit: GettyThe pair used to train and live togetherCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdBut there has since been a family falloutCredit: nstagram @carolinedubois1And the lightweight prospect is so focussed on her own career that she did not even tune in to brother Daniel’s world title fight with AJ. She told Seconds Out: “I didn’t watch it but I saw the end, the stoppage and the knockdowns. “And from what I heard and what everybody’s saying, as you said “resounding” – it was a beatdown from the first to the, fifth? Fifth round.” Caroline is one of Stan’s 11 children, with her young brothers Prince, 20 and Soloman, 12, also amateur boxers. READ MORE IN BOXINGAnd she was once part of a tight-knit family under the guidance of her imposing father. But a row forced the family apart, with Caroline moving out of the family home and remaning trained by coach Shane McGuigan. Meanwhile, big brother Daniel parted ways to join Don Charles, who McGuigan recommended as a new cornerman to dad Stan. But such was the nature of the bitter falling out, Caroline has also lost touch with Daniel, who is coming off the biggest win of his career. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSShe said: “I don’t speak to him anymore.” Caroline believes moving out of the family home for independence is what caused friction with her father. Anthony Joshua warned not to repeat tactic that ‘didn’t do s*** for him’ as he’s told to rematch Dubois straight awayShe opened up: “My dad’s got 11 kids in total, with my mum he’s got seven, and I’m the middle child. “One thing you know about the middle child is that sometimes they get overlooked and they don’t get that attention and they have to fight for it.”My dad was only paying attention to the boxers and to the boys. He didn’t really focus about the girls, by his own admission, he didn’t pay attention to my sisters.”And so I guess as a young kid, you see that and you think, ‘Okay, what can I do?’ And I said, ‘I want to box.'”I pestered him, I pestered him and he saw, ‘She truly has got a fire in her that’s different from her brothers. My dad put Daniel in boxing, but with me, I asked for it.”I guess what it was is he just wanted me to stay a certain way. But I was nine years old and I’m growing.”I went to school, my brothers didn’t go to school. I was on the GB team, I went to the Olympics because I was a good amateur.”I used to travel a lot. You know, I went to Buenos Aires, Argentina, I went to Bulgaria, Serbia.I don’t speak to him anymore. Caroline Dubois on brother Daniel “I travelled everywhere and I think that helped open up my mind, helped change me, change my perspective.”I saw how other people treated their children and my mind opened up. I saw what was acceptable and what I wanted to accept. My boundaries got bigger.”And I remember coming to a conclusion for myself, ‘Who am I boxing for?’ “When I suffered my first amateur defeat of all time, I went 60 fights, never lost a fight, I lost for the first time and it was the most heartbreaking moment.”I remember crying for days. I wasn’t experienced and I wasn’t getting the support. One thing that my dad was honest about is that he stopped supporting me when I was 16 years old.”With boxing, he just stopped looking after me and supporting me and stopped pushing me because he didn’t like the way that I was changing.”As he says, I was becoming more independent and I wanted more for myself. And I just was like, what am I doing this for? It was like a penny drop moment.’I’m leaving home, I’m moving out'”I was like, ‘I’m doing it for myself, I’m doing this shit for myself.’ I’m not dying, making weight, sweating out, not eating for days, and as a woman I lose my period. “I’m not doing this for some other guy who couldn’t care less. I’m doing it for myself, I’m doing it for my future.”I took that decision. And it started to get very toxic and very bad in the household. He kept saying, ‘Why can’t you be more like Daniel? You need to be like him.'”I can’t be like him and I wouldn’t want to be like him. And that’s not disrespect, but we’re different people. It was a decision that I had to make, I spoke to my brothers and sisters about it.”I was like, ‘Okay, I’m leaving home, I’m moving out. And they were like, ‘Okay, I want to come with you.'”My younger brother and sister, they both moved out with me. So we left home and that’s what happened.”My dad’s now saying that I saw the change in her. He says, he never liked female boxing. That’s absolute BS. And I just wanted to call that out.”READ MORE SUN STORIESCaroline, 23, is 10-0 in her career with the WBC interim title to her name. Daniel, 27, meanwhile defended his IBF belt against Joshua, 34, with the pair now in talks for a rematch. Caroline is the interim WBC championCredit: Instagram / wbcboxingDaniel Dubois knocked out Anthony Joshua at WembleyCredit: Reuters More

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      Arsenal star Mikel Merino is lover of notorious bull run with La Liga cult hero dad and pro-basketball star mum

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      THE SPANISH city of Pamplona is famous for its Running of the Bulls festival.Every summer, daredevil locals volunteer to lead the bulls – often 10 or more – down narrow streets at high speed in an event that attracts hundreds of tourists from around the world.Mikel Merino is in contention to make his Premier League debut with ArsenalCredit: GettyArsenal ace Merino is a fan of the notorious Pamplona bull runCredit: AFPMerino is the son of Osasuna legend Miguel Angel Merino and basketball hero MaiteA regular face in the crowds is Arsenal’s Mikel Merino, 28 – a local Pamplona lad from the province of Navarre and an admirer of the power and unpredictability on show.There was a time during his upbringing at the famed Osasuna academy where Merino was viewed in a similar light: a midfield talent with an impressive physique – now standing at 6 foot 2 inches – but one who lacked control.Former Osasuna coach Jose Manuel Mateo told SunSport: “There was a period in which he was physically a very powerful player but was still not developed enough to move his body.“It was a bit difficult for him. He was very strong, really advanced for his age, something special that was above the others, but missing something muscularly.Read More on Arsenal“But by the end of his time with us, he was technically and physically a complete player. People could see he would reach the top immediately.“A great left foot, he had potential aerially, covered a lot of the pitch, stepped into both attacking and defensive areas with great ease and a lot of potential to score goals.”Merino arrived at the Osasuna academy at the age of 16 in the summer of 2012, already a minor celebrity thanks to his father Angel Miguel – a club legend of nearly 200 appearances turned youth coach.His towering stature for one so young however came from his mother Maite – a professional basketball player in her prime – while his brothers were also ready-born athletes.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSOsasuna’s most successful products include ex-Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta and former Gunners full-back Nacho Monreal, yet would often have their great youth talents snatched by neighbouring rivals Athletic Bilbao, such as Javi Martinez – a nine-time Bundesliga champion and two-time Champions League winner with Bayern Munich.But there was never a chance of Merino deserting, such was his love for family-club Osasuna, a decision that turned out to be pivotal in the long run.Emotional reason for Spain hero Mikel Merino’s celebration revealed as incredible footage from 33 years ago is unearthed In a tumultuous 2014/15 campaign that saw Osasuna narrowly avoid relegation from the Spanish second tier, Mateo was made interim coach in February 2015 and immediately promoted an 18-year-old Merino to the first team.Mateo explained: “What Osasuna gives young players is a charm, with demanding conditions that give them the necessary attributes to succeed.“The fact that players from here go on to play at big clubs, you can see they have been motivated by being in the lower leagues, showing their potential.“[Merino] Is proud to have become the type of player he is with us. It was special to see him arrive in the first team, like when you go to the salt and see the players from the quarry.“His debut came about in a very compromised situation, and from there he rose. It was an indisputable pillar of his famous rise to where we see him now.“To be thrown in and to do what he did, there was no doubt that he was no longer just a footballer, but one who was going to end up where he is now at Arsenal.”Becoming an ‘influential player’Merino played a starring role the following season, driving Osasuna to La Liga promotion via the play-offs with four goals in 34 league appearances.Mateo added: “Ever since, in every club he has been at, he has been an influential player.”From the outside, this perhaps did not look to be the case during underwhelming spells with Borussia Dortmund in 2016/17 and Newcastle in 2017/18.But Merino soon found a home at Real Sociedad before being highlighted by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta this summer as a vital cog in the club’s Premier League title charge.No doubt Spaniard Arteta was impressed enough by compatriot Merino’s influence on Spain’s Euros triumph in July – including a quarter-final extra-time headed winner to knock out Germany – to bring him to the Emirates for £32million.Merino is in contention to make his Prem debut on Saturday against Southampton after finally making his first appearance in the mid-week Champions League 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain following a freak shoulder injury in his first training session back in August.But there are those at Osasuna who are already counting down the days until Merino ends his career back in Pamplona in a fairy tale return.READ MORE SUN STORIESMateo said: “Having had a father who has been a player and then to see the son, for those of us who are ‘Osasunistas’ it fills us with pride. That root continues to be maintained.“When a player touches the roof of football, at world or European level, to have them return would bring that pride back. It would be beautiful.” More

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      I’m mum of an Arsenal star – I have a side hustle to help parents of Premier League footballers

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      MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY is making his mark after breaking into the Arsenal first team.But while the 18-year-old midfielder is helping Mikel Arteta in his quest for Premier League and Champions League glory, his mum is helping other parents get to grips with their children making it as professional footballers.Myles Lewis-Skelly’s mum has her own podcastCredit: Instagram @myleslewisskellyShe discusses what life is like as the parent of a footballerCredit: Instagram @no1fan.clubMarcia is a qualified Fifa agent after taking the examLewis-Skelly’s mum Marcia – who went viral with her reaction to her son’s European debut – launched her own podcast to give tips, advice and share her experiences of being a football parent. The Behind The Boots pod has also featured Alex Iwobi’s father Chuka and Georgia Stanway’s mother Joanne as guests.Arsenal academy boss and World Cup winner Per Mertesacker has also been on, too. The Gunners rising star told the club website: “My mum does a podcast to help parents in the industry who don’t have as much support from other clubs, just to help them through the journey.READ MORE ON ARSENAL”We’re the players but our parents have a big role to play as well.”They’re ultimately our number one fans so if they get help on their journey then they can support each other as well.”As well as the podcast, Marcia runs the No1 Fan Club.The online platform includes various resources, a community chat network, workshops and even a book club – all tailored towards providing wisdom, education and support for parents.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSMarcia’s background is in investment banking where she led a technology training department.However, as her son rose through the ranks at Hale End, the attention of agents led to her wanting to find out more about the world of professional football.Watch Thierry Henry awkwardly admit ‘I saw Bukayo Saka at the Arsenal academy and didn’t think he’d be that good’So much so that she studied a master’s degree in football business and even took Fifa’s football agent exam, now representing her child. Speaking to The Athletic, Marcia said: “Football is a business. And, like any business, you have to understand it to be successful. “If we don’t understand it, we’re going to make the wrong decisions. We are expected to stay in our lane and let everyone else manage the limited flow of information for us.”At various points, I felt unprepared to make decisions that could impact Myles’ future.”There was no trusted advice, no network to consult, and no family connections in the football industry.“I wanted to understand the landscape of football.“There are plenty of great agents, but his dad and I needed more time to build those relationships — and to properly understand what agents do. It’s such a big decision that we wanted that extra time.“I took my exam, not really as a driver to represent Myles, but to gain that knowledge for us.”On the No1 Fan Club, she added: “There are over 3.5million kids playing organised football every week, and many of them want to be professional footballers.”We can give those parents and guardians a glimpse of the academy journey if they take it, and provide them with a range of insights from experts in areas such as getting scouted, nutrition, growth injuries, sleep, the impact of digital devices on performance, the overall wellbeing of our children — and ourselves! It’s a holistic approach.”READ MORE SUN STORIESAs for Lewis-Skelly, he made his first-team debut away at Manchester City last month – a year on from signing his first professional contract at the Emirates. Incredibly, though, the teenager was booked BEFORE taking to the field for Arsenal for the first time. Lewis-Skelly came on against Manchester City for his Arsenal debutCredit: GettyThe youngster came through the Gunners academyCredit: AlamyMarcia was at the Emirates when her son played in the Champions League for the first timeCredit: X/ footballontnt More