Premier League

ERIC CANTONA has declared his aim to rock the world once again … by becoming a singer-songwriter.The Manchester United legend had to face the music during his playing career for Kung Fu-kicking an opposing fan and criticising France’s national coach.
Man Utd legend Eric Cantona is turning his hand to singing in a new career moveCredit: Getty
King Eric, 57, turned his hand to theatre, movies and painting after hanging up his boots in 1997.
He has now composed a number of songs, and plans to perform them on a tour – starting in Manchester in October.
The first two numbers are due to be released on June 2.
Cantona said: “I’ve always thought that singing in public is an intense experience, that can give you the sort of adrenalin you get from sport.
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“My offering won’t be perfect, but I love the sorts of accidents that give rise to great moments.
“I have written a very powerful new song to go with music composed by Gaetan Roussel. Expressing oneself through art has more impact.
“And even if what I do doesn’t make an impact, at least for me it will be a work of art.
“That will be better than thinking people see me as an idiot mouthing off in a bar.
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“When I began in football I played before 100 people, then 500, then 1,000 and so on.
“Now I feel more like I did when I started out in theatre, when I was thrown in the deep end straight away.
“It is excitement rather than fear. Stage fright paralyses you, but excitement galvanises you.”
Cantona revealed he has been writing music anonymously for the past decade.
He added: “I previously wrote all the lyrics for my wife Rachida Brakni’s album in 2012, and for the song ‘Le temps passe’ in 2017.
“I wrote them under a pseudonym, Auguste Raurich. It was a way to trick prejudiced people into taking the songs seriously.”
Cantona first made his name with Leeds before joining United for £1million in 1992.
He went on to win four Premier League titles and two FA Cups during his five turbulent years at Old Trafford.
Eric Cantona scoring against Man City in 1993Credit: PA More

FORMER England keeper David James has revealed he pours BOILING WATER on his CEREAL instead of milk.The ex-Liverpool and Manchester City keeper, 52, is known as something of a maverick – from smoking 20 cigarettes a day during his football career to becoming an avid artist.
David James’ breakfast choice has received quite the backlashCredit: Getty Images – Getty
James shared a picture of his cereal with hot water on Friday morningCredit: Twitter
But his latest unusual claim is one very few could get their heads around.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s “In My Opinion” segment, he said: “I don’t like milk… I put BOILING WATER on my cereal.”
He then took a picture of his cereal which had presumably been accompanied by boiling water.
And he added: “The perfect breakfast @bbc5live #nomilk 🤣.”
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Meanwhile, radio presenters Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards tried cereal with boiling water live on air and were not as disgusted as they had predicted.
When Burden and Edwards then revealed they eat Crunchy Nut “naked” [without anything else], James used it as a way of justifying his water-based approach.
He said: “You’ve just proved a point there. If you can eat it without milk, then there is no need for milk.”
But it’s safe to say there was something of a backlash to James’ meal preference.
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Reacting on social media, one person said: “My thoughts are that David James is clearly a dangerous deviant and should be locked up indefinitely for his own safety.
“Boiling water on cereal. He’ll be telling us he puts jam on bread next instead of butter.”
Another added: “That’s utter madness, milk on cereal, not water.”
A third replied: “Madness. Cold milk all the way. The colder the better.”
And a fourth responded: “Always milk on cereal.”
James racked up 53 appearances for his country between 1997 and 2010.
At club level, he claimed a League Cup with Liverpool and FA Cup with Portsmouth.
He retired in 2014 after a spell with Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters. More

ARSENAL hero Emmanuel Eboue has revealed the three words Arsene Wenger said to him when he first arrived at the club.The Ivorian signed in 2004 from Belgian side Beveren.
Emmanuel Eboue was welcomed to Arsenal with three wordsCredit: Getty
Eboue went on to play 214 times for the club, winning the League Cup twice and he was part of the squad that lost the Champions League final in 2006 to Barcelona.
He has now opened up on what it was like to move to North London and how Wenger welcomed him.
Eboue told Labrokes’ Fanzone: “When I think back to my first days at Arsenal, the first memory I have is of Highbury.
“When I grew up in my own country, I watched so many incredible players inside that stadium, on my TV, and I never imagined that I’d be one of them.
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“And then all of a sudden I was here, in London, heading from the airport to Highbury. I was so happy; it’s a moment I’ll never forget. 
“And then, once I’d finished my visit to the stadium, I met Arsene Wenger, who had the best three words for me. ‘Are you ready?’
“I said “ready for what?’
“‘Are you ready to play for Arsenal?’
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“Of course I was. I told him again and again that this was my dream, coming true.
“I was so happy to be there, to meet up with my team-mates and give everything for my fans. 
“Everywhere I go, every team I’ve played for, I felt the fans loved me.
“Emmanuel Eboue; they know he’s the joker, he’s the guy who brings happiness to the team.
“I was so close to the Arsenal supporters, always laughing with them, so my relationship with them is great.
“I was always happy to speak with supporters and take pictures… they’re an unbelievable group of people.”
Eboue left Arsenal after six-and-a-half seasons for a three year spell in Turkey with Galatasaray.
He was also on the books of Sunderland but was released after one month after being hit with a football ban for failing to pay an agent. More

A PREMIER League cult icon once turned down a move to Liverpool because he loved London shisha bars too much.The Reds were knocked back after attempting to sign mercurial midfielder Adel Taarabt during his time at Queens Park Rangers.
Adel Taarabt rejected a move to Liverpool because he loved London shisha bars too muchCredit: Getty
Taarabt became a Premier League cult hero during his time in EnglandCredit: Getty
Former Spurs hopeful Taarabt became a fan favourite during his time in England, with his flair and skill even endearing himself to rival supporters.
His ability to produce moments of magic saw the Moroccan hailed as a player the “streets will never forget”.
However, he once turned down the chance to join giants Liverpool due to his habit of visiting shisha bars, according to former team-mate Darren Bent.
Bent lifted the lid on the scuppered transfer by telling talkSPORT: “I know some players that I know really well, that were playing in London and had no interest whatsoever in leaving London.
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“I’ll give you the prime example. Adel Taarabt was on an absolute King’s ransom at Queen’s Park Rangers.
“He was on a bucket full of money and I think he was getting linked to a couple of clubs up north – bigger clubs as well.
“I think Liverpool were linked with him for a bit. I said to him, ‘What you thinking?’. He went, ‘I’m not leaving London, I don’t care how much!’.
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“I go, ‘Yeah but look at the size of the club!’. He goes, ‘Benty, everyday I train, I finish, King’s Road, shisha! I don’t want to leave London’.”
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After rejecting a move to Liverpool, Taarabt would go on to have a loan spell at Fulham following QPR’s relegation in 2013.
He would eventually leave London a year later, moving to Italy to join AC Milan. Now aged 34, Taarabt plays in the UAE for Al-Nasr. More

A FORMER Premier League favourite is looking “just as handsome as ever” as he posted a snap of himself enjoying a glass of wine.Footy fans have been fortunate enough to see some of the finest left wingers in the business in England’s top-flight over the past two decades.
This former Premier League winger is ‘looking just as handsome as ever’ at 48Credit: INSTAGRAM
The likes of Ryan Giggs and Robert Pires earned legendary status with their antics and wing wizardry.
However, not many possessed as much power in their left peg as this ex-Newcastle favourite.
One shot was measured at an extraordinary 75 mph – while even his own team-mates were forced to take cover after he inadvertently knocked out Olivier Bernard after blasting the ball at him while playing for the Magpies. 
This icon was born in France and made his breakthrough with Montpellier before Paris Saint-Germain snapped him up in 1999.
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But his displays meant it was not long before a big-money move to the Premier League arrived, and it was Sir Bobby Robson who snapped him up for £9.5 million two years later.
This star, who was also capped by Les Bleus nine times, spent five years on Tyneside and became a firm favourite with the Toon Army.
He hit 32 goals in 181 games for the club before, after a short loan spell at Portsmouth, he headed to Portugal to join Benfica in 2006.
However, the wonder goals were beginning to dry up and it was not long before he was off to Spain in Levante.
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In 2008 he was offered the opportunity to resurrect his career back in England with Derby County, but a disappointing spell followed that amounted to just four games.
A new adventure soon arrived for the flying Frenchman as he signed for MLS side Toronto FC.
He scored once in 17 appearances for the Canadian club but then headed back to Europe to finish his playing days with a brief spell at Greek minnows Larissa.
The man in question is none other than Laurent Robert – who still looks incredible now despite turning 48 on May 21.
And, although he now sports a salt and pepper beard, after he shared a recent snap of himself enjoying a glass of white by the pool, it was clear for all to see that the love was still there for him as supporters told him how he had aged like a fine wine.
Fans quickly jumped into the comments section of the post, with one insisting: “Still as handsome as ever !!!!”
Another wrote: “Looking good Mr Robert.”
A fellow follower commented: “Looking magnifique.”
While a fellow fan simply called him: “The king.”
Laurent Robert was a huge fan favourite at NewcastleCredit: PA:Press Association
The French winger, celebrating a goal against Man Utd in 2001, spent five years on TynesideCredit: PA:Press Association More

CHELSEA fans are convinced Frank Lampard is “killing his legacy” at the club after his latest brutal interview.The Blues’ caretaker manager gave an “open and honest” assessment of his players as he spoke following Thursday’s 4-1 loss to Manchester United.
Lampard returned to Stamford Bridge in April, replacing Graham Potter after he was sacked by Todd Boehly.
Chelsea were woeful again under Lampard as they were hammered 4-1 at Old Trafford
Chelsea fans are convinced Frank Lampard is “killing his legacy”Credit: Sky Sports
However, the Chelsea legend has endured a difficult time as temporary boss, losing eight of his ten matches in charge.
The defeat to United also leaves Chelsea at risk of finishing as low as 14th in the Premier League.
Lampard will depart the club following Sunday’s final match of the season at home to Newcastle United.
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Following the hammering to United, Lampard spoke to Sky Sports and claimed his side had been the better team in the first half.
The ex-England midfielder also discussed the standards at the club and in training but stopped short of naming names.
In an interview labelled “open and honest” by Sky Sports, he explained: “It is a sign of where we are at. You can go back to the start of the season.
“We don’t score goals enough. It’s clear, I get asked a lot why we play at back five at times. Some of the defending in the second half showed why we play a back five.
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“I am disappointed with that. You have to have pride and passion every time you play for this club.
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“There are certain technical details you have to work on daily, to do all those standard things. Standards isn’t a casual statement.”
Blues supporters have slammed Lampard’s comments, though, and claimed the club legend is tarnishing his legacy.
Lampard is Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer with 211 goals in 648 appearances.
He also won three league titles and the Champions League among 13 major trophies.
One fan responded to the interview by commenting: “Unless what he said was, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m in over my head and no one in the top flight should ever hire me to manage any team,’ then this was not an open and honest interview.”
Another added: “He isn’t a legend anymore.”
A third wrote: “Tired of hearing from this guy. Shouldn’t have come back. Affecting his legacy at this point. Terrible.”
One more fumed: “He should keep away from management before he tarnishes his legacy.” More

FORMER Liverpool youngster David Moli has become a world renowned artist since hanging up his boots aged 24.The 28-year-old lived with Raheem Sterling while the pair were working through the ranks at Anfield.
David Moli was forced to hang up his boots due to injuryCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
While Sterling has gone on to have an amazing football career, earning 82 England caps and winning multiple Prem titles, Moli has gone on to taste success in an entirely different field.
After leaving Liverpool in 2011, Moli joined Wolves’ academy before embarking on a career in the lower reaches of English and French football.
Following a career-ending injuries that caused him to hang up his boots aged just 24, Moli engaged his incredible artistic talent to launch a successful new venture.
Known professionally as “Boogie” – the former footballer prepared his debut exhibition at Manchester’s National Football Museum four years ago.
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He has since collaborated with the likes of The Couture Club, Puma and boohooMan – and has an upcoming exhibition scheduled at London’s Quantus Gallery.
Sterling, 28, is among Boogie’s biggest supporters, and is the proud owner of several of his pieces.
While Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw and Jesse Lingard have also bought artwork from Boogie.
Such has been Boogie’s remarkable success in the art world, that it has proven to be far more lucrative than his previous occupation.
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Boogie produced this stunning portrait of Pele
He revealed: “I’ve made more money in my first year as an artist than in my whole football career.”
On his priorities, he added: “I want to help and inspire others, and with art I get to do just that.”
Boogie’s work isn’t just football related; he has also produced portraits of stars such as Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe and Amy Winehouse.
He cites Warhol as one of his great influences, as well as Jean-Michel Basquiat, George Condo and Retna.
In an interview with The Times back in 2019, Boogie revealed that painting helped him overcome depression during his injury lay-offs.
He said: “I’ve always had an ability to put something creative on paper.
“When I was recovering from injury, it helped overcome depression. When you’re alone in your room, all you need is a canvas.”
His latest work will be displayed at the Quantus Gallery between June 8 and July 5.
Boogie’s latest work will be displayed at London’s Quantus Gallery this summerCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd More