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      Man Utd go for blue suits for FA Cup final clash vs City.. just weeks after Fergie’s stinging criticism of white outfits

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      MANCHESTER UNITED showed off their swanky blue suits ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup Final.United take on rivals Manchester City at Wembley and are determined to deny them the chance of emulating their historic Treble triumph from 1999.
      Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho posed with the club’s new threads
      Casemiro posed in Manchester United’s new suit by Paul Smith
      Aaron Wan-Bissaka and his Manchester United team-mates will don the suits at the FA Cup Final
      But no matter what happens on the pitch, the Red Devils will certainly be arriving to the capital in style.
      Erik ten Hag’s men posed for photos in their smart new Paul Smith-designed outfits.

      Casemiro, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Alejandro Garnacho were pictured in their new threads.
      This comes after legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s couldn’t resist a dig at Liverpool’s iconic white suits in a recent rugby pep talk.
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      The Reds’ ‘Spice Boys’, including the likes of Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler and Jamie Redknapp, infamously wore the all-white Armani outfits for the 1996 Cup Final, which they 1-0 thanks to Eric Cantona’s winner.
      And Fergie showed he is in no mood to let fans forget that fashion faux pas any time soon as he spoke to Sale Sharks before their Premiership rugby final with Saracens.
      Ferguson said: “You don’t want to lose on Saturday and I wish you all the best.
      “The thing is, I’m telling you, don’t wear a white suit for Christ’s sake!”
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      But it seems like Ferguson is satisfied with United’s suits ahead of the important final.
      After all, Paul Smith has been kitting out the Red Devils’ stars since 2008 when Fergie was still in charge.
      Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson slammed Liverpool’s white suits from 1996Credit: PA
      Liverpool lost to Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in the 1996 FA Cup FinalCredit: Getty More

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      Zinchenko visits school devastated by Russian attacks as Arsenal star signs up to captain team in Ukraine charity game

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      OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO visited a school devastated by Russian attacks in Ukraine.Arsenal star Zinchenko, 26, and former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko, 46, are ambassadors for United24.
      Oleksandr Zinchenko and Andriy Shevchenko have visited Mykhailo-Kotsyubinsky Lyceum in Chernihiv OblastCredit: Instagram @u24.gov.ua
      They also saw Ukraine’s president Volodymyr ZelenskyyCredit: Instagram @u24.gov.ua
      The duo visited a school that has been devastated by Russian attacksCredit: Instagram @u24.gov.ua
      Around 100 people have been hiding in the shelter inside the lyceum.Credit: Instagram @u24.gov.ua
      That is the initiative set up by heroic president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to receive charitable donations to support Ukraine, who are fighting to defend their territory against the illegal Russian invasion.
      Zinchenko and Shevchenko – who coached the Ukrainian national team between 2016-2021 – travelled to the Mykhailo-Kotsyubinsky Lyceum in Chernihiv Oblast, northern Ukraine.
      The village was under occupation for 33 days from February 27 last year, with around 100 people hiding in the shelter inside the secondary school.
      A third of them were children, with the youngest only two months old.
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      On March 4, Russian missiles fired on the school, killing a worker on the first floor and destroying 90 per cent of the roof as well as the classrooms for physics, computer science and chemistry.
      Funds will be raised to rebuild the school from the Game4Ukraine charity match.
      It will be held at Shevchenko’s old stomping ground, Stamford Bridge, on August 5.
      Zinchenko and Shevchenko will captain each side, Team Yellow and Team Blue, the two colours of the Ukrainian flag, and tickets are on sale now.
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      Zinchenko enjoyed a strong first season at Arsenal as he cemented himself among the club’s most important players.
      However, he suffered disappointment at the end of the season as the Gunners’ saw their title challenge fade away after a run of poor results allowed Manchester City to overtake them.
      He was heartbroken by the scenes from his homeland after Russia invaded back in February 2022.
      And he was anxious over the well-being of his family – with his granddad and aunt refusing to join the thousands fleeing the country.
      Zinchenko was desperate to go and help his people – but was convinced by family and friends to stay in the North West and carry on playing for former side City.
      In the meantime, he has done his bit to keep his country’s sad plight in the public eye. More

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      Michail Antonio says West Ham team-mate ‘is not a fighter’ as striker reveals why £35m transfer flop will NEVER fit in

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      MICHAIL ANTONIO reckons he knows why team-mate Gianluca Scamacca has flopped since his £35million West Ham transfer.Scamacca, 24, joined the Hammers last summer in a high-profile move from Serie A side Sassuolo.
      Gianluca Scamacca has struggled to hit his best form in his first season at West HamCredit: Alamy
      Team-mate Michail Antonio has claimed that the Italian is ‘not a fighter’Credit: PA
      Life at the London stadium started well for the striker as he netted regularly in the Europa Conference League but struggled for consistency in the Premier League.
      His season was cut short with a knee injury which has sidelined him since April.
      Scamacca netted five times in the early rounds of the Hammers’ European campaign.
      But he scored just three domestic goals as David Moyes’ side flopped into a shock relegation battle.
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      And West Ham stalwart Antonio claims the Italian striker is “not a fighter” and will always struggle under combative boss Moyes.
      He said on the Filfthy Fellas YouTube Channel: “He is actually quality, he is a quality player.
      “The problem is, he can not play the way the manager wants to play.
      “He needs a different type of manager who will let him play with players to come off him and stuff like that.
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      ‘You see that, the ball comes to him, and it sticks.
      “But with David Moyes, you have to feed off scraps, be a fighter… and he’s not that.”
      One of the reasons behind Scamacca’s arrival at the club was Moyes’ ambition to turn the Hammers into a more possession-dominant side.
      But struggles in the league and other players not adapting to the club saw the plan go out the window.
      Scamacca has now been linked with an exit from West Ham, with a move back to his native Italy the most likely destination for him this summer.
      Inter Milan has been touted as a potential destination for the Italian international as they eye him as a replacement for the ageing Edin Dzeko. More

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      I was youngest ever Premier League owner – I got £10,000 out in pound coins to pay an FA fine then they suspended it

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      SIMON JORDAN was once the youngest-ever owner of a Premier League club.But that didn’t stop him from attempting to pay a mammoth £10,000 FA fine with a WHEELBARROW of one-pound coins.
      Simon Jordan admits trying to pay a £10,000 FA fine with a wheelbarrow of one-pound coinsCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPER LTD
      Jordan was once the youngest owner of a Premier League after leading Crystal PalaceCredit: PA:Press Association
      Jordan, 55, is currently one of the leading voices on talkSPORT radio.
      Earlier in his career, he took charge of Crystal Palace despite only being 32 years old at the time.
      It made him the youngest-ever owner and chairman of a Premier League club.
      And Jordan recounted the moment he was handed a hefty fine by FA chiefs during his time at the Eagles’ helm.
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      He was slapped with a £10k punishment in 2005 over comments made in a newspaper.
      Jordan’s penalty was eventually suspended by the FA.
      And he admits being left disappointed as he’d already scraped the £10k together with a wheelbarrow full of one-pound coins.
      Jordan told talkSPORT: “When the FA fined me £10,000, I promised to deliver it in a wheelbarrow of pound coins.
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      “They then suspended the penalty, so I had this £10,000 in pound coins and didn’t know what to do with it, so years later [I finally got to do it].”
      Jordan’s admission came as he paid a £1,000 wager to pundit pal Jim White in 20p coins.
      That’s after initially attempting to hand over the dosh in pennies.
      Handing a huge sack to White, Jordan said: “The moment has come Jimbo. 
      “You said the man doesn’t pay his bets, here’s your £1000 for your lucky bet, here it is, the lowest common denominator I could get, it’s all yours, spend it in slot machines.
      “They’re not pound coins but I tried to get pennies, the bank manager said ‘I can’t get you 100,000 pennies, it’s 20ps Jimbo.
      “50 kilos that was. I gave my driver a day off then I suddenly realised how am I going to get this in, I’ve been lugging it in on a trolley. Jim will probably count it and say ‘there’s 999,980p, what have you done with the other 20?’”
      White explained to listeners: “So I had a bet with Simon that Newcastle would finish top six and it was a £1000 charity bet. 
      “I’ve been on at him to bring it in, and he’s brought it in 20 pences, I do not believe it.
      “We’ll get in touch with Newcastle and get their advice on which charity we give the money to.”
      Read More on The Sun
      Jordan then refused to take the sack back, adding: “No mate it’s yours, I’ve paid my bet, it’s nothing to do with me anymore, get some exercise. Enjoy.
      “I phoned my bank and said I want 1ps, they said ‘can’t get you 1ps, what about 20ps’ I said ‘how much is that going to weigh?’ and they said 46 kilos.” More

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      Chelsea could have half the team of the tournament at U20 World Cup in welcome relief to Todd Boehly and Poch

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      NEW Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino will be delighted with six of the club’s talented teenagers currently starring at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.The Blues appear to have hit the jackpot with all four of their overseas youngsters while two more homegrown prospects have been key for England’s Young Lions.
      Chelsea ace Harvey Vale has stood out at the Under-20 World Cup for EnglandCredit: Getty
      Cesare Casadei joined Chelsea last summer and is standing out for ItalyCredit: Getty
      Many of Chelsea’s domestic and European rivals have been amazed by the success rate of their global youth recruitment drive – with the club on course to provide HALF of the team of the tournament.
      Here, SunSport assesses the performances of the Stamford Bridge hopefuls so far.
      Andrey Santos (Brazil) 8/10
      The box-to-box midfielder has been excellent in all three of his starts without quite putting up the astonishing numbers he did when finishing as the joint-top scorer in South America’s qualifying tournament.
      His range and ability to solve problems shone through in the decisive Group D game against Nigeria when he made two key passes.
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      Prior to that, he was a whisker away from scoring and assisting further goals in Brazil’s 6-0 mauling of the Dominican Republic.
      Despite being taken off midway through the second half of that contest, the former Vasco da Gama starlet has covered almost 32km across the group stage — the most of any Brazil player.
      Gabriel Slonina (USA) 10/10
      The former Chicago Fire No1 has been the outstanding goalkeeper in the tournament with four clean sheets from four starts for the USA.
      And its not as if Slonina, who cost Chelsea an initial £8.1million fee that could rise even higher if performance-based add-ons are achieved, has had a quiet time of it behind a rock-solid defence.
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      He made a spectacular double save following a corner to prevent Fiji taking the lead in the States’ second group game and reprised his heroics with another key diving stop in the early moments of Tuesday’s 4-0 last-16 win over New Zealand when the game was in the balance.
      Having already starred on his full international debut earlier this year, Slonina looks so comfortable and assured at this level that it almost seems unfair on the strikers he has been facing in Argentina, although greater tests are to come.
      Cesare Casadei (Italy) 9/10
      Lured from Lombardy to London in August 2022 for a fee worth around £13m, Casadei hit the headlines with a stellar performance against his future Blues team-mate Santos in Italy’s opening game.
      The 20-year-old midfielder matched his brace against Brazil with a double against the Dominican Republic to send Italy through to the last-16 where they face England.
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      Chelsea will have Brazil starlet Andrey Santos at their disposal next seasonCredit: AFP
      Kendry Paez is seen as a promising talent at ChelseaCredit: AP
      He has been revelling in a hybrid role of both a midfielder and a winger that demands a lot of energy, but allows him to make devastating late runs into the box to support the forwards.
      Casadei has consequently covered an incredible 35.6km and made 190 sprints  — more than any other Azzurri player.
      Kendry Paez (Ecuador) 8/10
      The Blues sealed a £17m deal for the 16-year-old just before the tournament and nothing he has done so far has made anyone think he will not be worth that outlay.
      Paez became the youngest player to score at an Under-20 World Cup last week when he burst through a gap in the Fiji defence and finished off at the near post with his less-favoured right foot.
      He had almost done it in the previous game against Slovakia, but saw a snap shot strike the crossbar, having earlier laid on Ecuador’s winner with a sublime first-time cushioned pass.
      Paez exudes natural ability in the way that he can beat an opponent from a standing start and every pass he made against the Slovaks reached its target with unerring accuracy.
      He always shows for the ball, coming from the right-hand side to intelligently link play through the middle, but opponents will surely begin to double up on him to restrict his impact.
      Chelsea goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina has impressed between the sticks for USACredit: Getty
      Bashir Humphreys has been standing out for England at the World CupCredit: Getty
      Harvey Vale (England) 8/10
      The former Chelsea academy star captained England to wins over Tunisia and Uruguay before the Young Lions got the point they needed against Iraq to ensure they won their group.
      The source of so much of England’s attacking threat with his crosses into the box, Vale has produced an average of ten per game in Argentina.
      The former Hull City loanee whipped in a superb centre for Tottenham’s Dane Scarlett to head home the winner against Tunisia and he also put a gilt-edged chance on a plate for Liam Delap against Iraq in a game where he was denied a brilliant solo goal by a good save.
      Bashir Humphreys (England) 7/10
      The former Blues youth team skipper has been an asset to coach Ian Foster in both attack and defence with his bullet header getting England off to a flying start in the crunch clash with Uruguay.
      Read More on The Sun
      The 20-year-old gained experience in Germany’s second tier with Paderborn last season, but is probably the furthest away of the six from a senior breakthrough as he is some distance behind first-team left-backs Ben Chilwell and Lewis Hall.
      Humphreys rarely dives in, but was caught out slightly in the move for Uruguay’s equaliser last week. More

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      Man City ‘open talks to sign Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic’ as Mauricio Pochettino’s transfer clear-out continues

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      MANCHESTER CITY have reportedly opened talks with Chelsea over a deal for Mateo Kovacic.The Croatian midfielder is out of contract in 2024.
      Man City have opened talks with Chelsea for Mateo KovacicCredit: Reuters
      And Fabrizio Romano claims Pep Guardiola is keen on adding him to his stable of champions.
      City have already held positive transfer talks with Kovacic’s representatives over the past few days.
      Chelsea are open to selling the 29-year-old playmaker after he entered the final year of his Stamford Bridge deal.
      And “concrete talks” have now begun between the two Premier League rivals over a summer switch.
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      Kovacic has been with the Blues since 2018 after an initial loan from Real Madrid.
      He has six goals in 221 games, helping his side to Champions League and Europa League glory.
      But it appears new boss Mauricio Pochettino does not have room for the experienced ace in his future plans.
      The Argentine tactician has already shown the door to loanees Joao Felix and Denis Zakaria.
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      Ruben Loftus-Cheek is now on the verge of joining AC Milan.
      And Christian Pulisic could also be on his way to Italy with Juventus.
      Meanwhile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks set to be released from his contract.
      Callum Hudson-Odoi is also attracting Premier League interest.
      And Cesar Azpilicueta may have played his last game for Chelsea after an emotional display in the final day draw against Newcastle.
      Todd Boehly is determined to cash in where possible after a £600million transfer splurge – with more reinforcements on the way.
      Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah and Hakim Ziyech are also likely to leave.
      And there are strong doubts over the futures of contract rebels Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante.
      Marc Cucurella, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga also face uncertain futures.
      And it’s still not known whether Romelu Lukaku, Ian Maatsen and Levi Colwill will be involved once their loan spells away end.
      As for incomings, Poch is hoping to add Sporting Lisbon anchorman Manuel Ugarte to his midfield.
      Read More on The Sun
      He also wants a new goalkeeper, with Inter Milan’s Andre Onana and Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez eyed.
      And with RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku already on his way with Lyon’s Malo Gusto, a new centre-forward will also be targeted. More

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      Former Champions League winner allegedly held up at gunpoint by man, 25, demanding top flight contract

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      A FORMER Champions League winner was allegedly held up at gunpoint by a man demanding a top-flight contract.Ex-Holland midfielder Mark van Bommel was attacked back in October.
      Mark van Bommel was held at gunpoint by a man demanding a top flight contractCredit: AFP
      The Royal Antwerp manager was approached in a car park, with Van Bommel “fearing for his life” as a result of the attack.
      However, it was not his car or expensive watch that the attacker wanted – instead it was a job as a pro footballer.
      The Belgian Public Prosecutor’s Office have alleged that Jamaleh Haban M. was aiming to extort himself a contract with the Belgian club.
      Haban, who claims to be 17 despite prosecutors finding him to be 25, had placed an Apple AirTag Tracker on Van Bommel’s Porsche Panamera.
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      The AirTag then allowed him to locate the Dutchman outside his apartment complex, where he blinded him with a torch before threatening him with a firearm.
      Van Bommel, who won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2006, was able to escape by quickly reversing before fleeing the scene.
      Investigations into Haban’s phone have revealed an audio message that he planned to play to Van Bommel, which mentioned a contract with Antwerp.
      De Telegraaf report that the message read: “Listen Mark, your family’s life depends on this, let me become a professional player.
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      Mark van Bommel won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2006Credit: AP:Associated Press
      “Don’t go to the police, we will kill you and your family. We know where you live.”
      Van Bommel, who was shaken by the attack, is seeking £4,300 in damages.
      A verdict in the case will be reached on June 13.
      His lawyer told Het Nieuwsblad: “We cannot laugh about that. The impact of these facts cannot be underestimated.
      “My client is used to some things, but not this. He no longer dares to sleep at home and lives in a hotel.” More

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      Jack Harrison set for immediate return to Premier League as top-flight rivals line up transfer for Leeds star

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      LEEDS winger Jack Harrison looks set for an immediate return to the Premier League despite his team’s relegation on Sunday.Leeds’ Championship status was confirmed as they slumped to an insipid 4-1 loss to Tottenham, with Harry Kane opening the scoring after just 90 seconds.
      Jack Harrison celebrates a goal against Nottingham Forest.Credit: Reuters
      Harrison was one of the few bright sparks for Leeds during a dismal campaign, managing six goals and ten assists in 40 appearances for the strugglers this season.
      And TalkSPORT report that Harrison’s consistency alongside a relegation clause in his contract has put Premier League clubs on alert for a cut-price deal.
      It is believed West Ham and Aston Villa are both lining up offers for the left winger.
      Harrison had an unusual route to the Premier League, having left Manchester United’s academy to take up a scholarship playing college football in the US.
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      He eventually transferred to Manchester City affiliate club New York City after being allocated as the #1 pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.
      His performances for New York caught the eye of City and he signed for the Manchester club in 2018 – although he never made an appearance for Pep Guardiola’s side.
      Leeds’ Marcelo Bielsa brought Harrison to Elland Road on loan in 2018 with the side then in the Championship.
      He was a key player for Bielsa as the Argentine guided the Whites first to promotion and then an impressive first season in the Premier League.
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      But it’s been a torrid time for Leeds fans since sacking Bielsa in February 2022 with the side only winning ten times in the league since the charismatic manager departed the club.
      Harrison isn’t the only talented winger linked with a move away from the club, with Manchester City and Arsenal rumoured to be interested in Italian international Wilfried Gnonto. More