Premier League

FORMER Premier League midfielder Steve Sidwell has admitted that he once rejected a move to Stoke because someone broke into his car.The ex-Arsenal and Chelsea star spent two years with the Potters after joining from Fulham in 2014.
Sidwell has recalled the time he first spoke to Pulis about signing for StokeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The ex-midfielder claimed that Pulis called him fatCredit: PA
But he could have joined the club a lot sooner had he not experienced a stroke of bad luck.
When discussing his first meeting with then-manager Tony Pulis on an episode of That Peter Crouch Podcast, Sidwell said: “I nearly signed for him, years and years ago.
“We were across the table [from one another] and he lent over and went, ‘we need to get rid of some of this puppy fat, son’.
“I was like, ‘wow’, and I’m like trim as well, I’m thinking, ‘Jeez, pre-season’s going to be brutal’.
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“What happened as well, when I got back to my car, I parked at the stadium at Stoke, someone broke into my car. The back window was all smashed in.
“[Stoke staff] were all apologetic, they came out and said, ‘I’m so sorry, hopefully this doesn’t affect whether you’re going to sign for us’, and I’m like, ‘no of course not’ – [I then] jumped in the car [thinking] there’s no f***ing way I’m signing for them!”
Sidwell joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of nine and spent six years in North London before joining Reading in 2003.
He then went on to sign for boyhood club Chelsea in 2007, where he played under the management of Jose Mourinho.
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During his appearance on the podcast, the 40-year-old recalled the moment he met the then-Blues boss for the first time.
Sidwell revealed that Mourinho had invited him to his house, but they had an awkward exchange before talking about Chelsea. More

DUNCAN FERGUSON once waited topless in the tunnel for Jimmy Bullard after he cheekily offered to fight him. The former Everton hardman was sent off against Wigan when he hit Paul Scharner in 2006.
Jimmy Bullard regretted his cheeky comment to Duncan FergusonCredit: YouTube/SKYSPORTSRETRO
Ferguson developed a reputation as someone not to mess withCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Bullard got involved in the incident and clearly angered the Scottish striker even more.
The Soccer AM host told talkSPORT: “David Moyes sent Ferguson on with ten minutes to go. It’s a corner, it gets cleared out and all I hear is our centre-half on the deck.
“Duncan Ferguson’s running out smiling and growling and I’m like, he’s given him a clump obviously.
“So I’m looking around and I see Lee McCullough is a Scottish boy in our team and James McFadden is a Scottish boy in their team and I’m going ‘is he alright?’
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“Is Dunc alright because his eyes are gone, he’s ready for a tear up?
“I’m grabbing him and I’ve got to be a bit careful.
“Remember he’s been on the pitch five or ten minutes – straight red [card].
“As he walks off, I just get in my head, ‘see you in the tunnel there Dunc, I’ll see you in the tunnel’.
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“As I said it, Lee McCullough went ‘I wouldn’t have done that’.
“[Ferguson] goes ‘No problem wee man.’ So he’s waiting in the tunnel with his shirt off.
“I’ve got ten minutes to play and I’m looking over and McCullough’s gone ‘look at the tunnel’.
“I’m looking over and going ‘oh no’.
“The final whistle went, I’m still giving a standing ovation, all that’s left [in the stadium] is a pigeon and a crisp packet. I’m like, I don’t want to walk in.
“He grabs me round the neck, picks me up and gives it to me proper and all the boys have run in and left me.
“But what people don’t know about that story is two weeks after, I went to Goodwood races, big Dunc’s there.
“The only person I didn’t want to see. My heart went through my throat. Then all the boys grabbed me, put me in front of him.
“He went ‘ah don’t worry about it’ with a big cigar in his gob and a bottle of champagne. He was pukka.” More

HARRY MAGUIRE will either lift the FA Cup trophy along with Bruno Fernandes today or walk down the Wembley steps with his runners-up medal.Either way, these are likely to be Maguire’s final actions in a United shirt.
Harry Maguire played the last six weeks of the season with broken ribsCredit: Reuters
Even just a few weeks ago, the England defender had a fierce determination to get through this rough spell at Old Trafford and remain as club captain into next season.
And we can also reveal that Maguire has been playing with BROKEN RIBS after suffering the injury away to Sevilla in the Europa League six weeks ago.
But now, Maguire’s four-year spell at United is coming to an end. Ahead of the final game of the season, any last chance Maguire had of turning around his United nightmare now looks to have gone up in smoke.
The club captain, an 88th minute substitute against Newcastle, jointly lifted the Carabao Cup with stand-in skipper Fernandes and the same is planned this afternoon even if Maguire does not feature against Manchester City.
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But it is now obvious that if Maguire is to become a big part for England’s bid for glory at Euro2024 in Germany next summer, he must leave for another club.
When naming his squad for the forthcoming Euro qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, England boss Gareth Southgate, asked about Maguire’s lack of action, said: “Inevitably, it’s not a situation that can continue forever.”
And earlier this week, United boss Erik ten Hag admitted Maguire “has a decision to make” over his future. This effectively meant he is free to leave.
Even though he has featured 31 times for United this season, Maguire started only eight Premier League games.
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Maguire enjoyed a good World Cup with England but either side of that, it has been the most difficult season of the defender’s career.
He was not helped by being hit by a virus after returning from Qatar. And away to Sevilla, he broke his ribs but played on and also made himself available for the next few games..
Maguire has two years left on his £10million-a-year contract. United also have an option for a third year which, clearly, they will not be exercising.
He signed for United from Leicester for £85million in 2019 despite Pep Guardiola’s efforts to take him to Manchester City but to the Spaniard’s frustrations, his club could not come up with the money.
For United, they got their man at the second attempt as Jose Mourinho failed in a £40m bid when he was in charge in Manchester.
If Mourinho moves to PSG, potentially, he could make another attempt, particularly as the French giants made a loan offer in January.
Also, both Inter Milan and AC Milan tried to sign Maguire on loan in January and this summer, they are both in the market for a centre-half.
West Ham also failed in a loan bid in January while other admirers of Maguire include Marco Silva at Fulham.
Aston Villa are likely to strengthen and manager Unai Emery, when he was at Arsenal, made an approach to Maguire when he was at Leicester.
Other options could be Newcastle, who need to build their squad further and clearly, Eddie Howe believes in having a core group of English players.
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Spurs, also, could be a potential move which would interest Maguire, providing Harry Kane was still at the club.
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As Sunsport revealed yesterday, Maguire could also be offered to Chelsea as part of getting Mason Mount to United. Pochettino has always been a fan of Maguire and tried to sign him when he was at Hull. But because Daniel Levy’s offer was not good enough, the centre-back joined Leicester instead.
Right now, Maguire is in limbo although the only certainty is that this will be the last time he walks out of the Wembley tunnel wearing a United shirt. More

ERLING HAALAND has sensationally been BLOCKED from trademarking his own name. The Manchester City star has helped fire the club to within touching distance of a historic Treble with 52 goals in 51 games.
Erling Haaland has successfully trademarked his celebrationCredit: Getty
But was unable to secure rights to his nameCredit: Alamy
And such is the frequency of his celebration and name he has tried to trademark them.
As reported by Norwegian outlet VG, Haaland submitted three applications to the Norwegian Industrial Property Office through law firm Schjødt.
The first was a trademark on his signature. The second to trademark his lotus celebration. And the third to trademark “Erling Haaland”.
The first two of these applications were successful and approved without issue according to Knut Andreas Bostad, the Head of Section in the Design and Trademark Department in the NIPO.
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Consequently, the 22-year-old now has exclusive rights to them in Norway and can now apply for an international trademark.
However, the use of his name was rejected due to a previous application submitted last year, owned by a 29-year-old man from Oslo.
Bostad told VG: “We have a Haaland application that came in to us on September 8, 2022.
“They have applied to be able to use it on clothing, selling footwear and a number of other things, as part of the things Erling Haaland has subsequently applied for.
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“It is therefore a discouragement for us. Because we already have a registration inside.”
The former Borussia Dortmund ace now has a three-month deadline to appeal the decision.
If he still wishes to trademark his name going forward, he has three options.
Firstly, he can use the name without permission and take legal action against the current owner.
Secondly, he can pay for consent to use the name.
His final option would be to buy the name from the original owner.
Asked whether celebs trademarking their name was a common occurrence, Bostad said: “It happens especially for celebrities who show up, then some people think, ‘Wow, I’m going to record this here’.”
Due to a Norwegian “duty” law on trademarks, if it is not used (create products etc) within five years then the owner loses the rights.
Haaland will likely be in action in the first-ever FA Cup final Manchester derby later today.

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