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      Man Utd ‘targeting shock summer transfer for ex-Chelsea star just one year after he quit the Blues’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are targeting a move to bring Andreas Christensen back to the Premier League, according to reports.The defender only joined Barcelona last summer on a free transfer following his contract expiry from Chelsea.
      Man United are reportedly interested in Andreas ChristensenCredit: Alamy
      He has impressed for the LaLiga giants in his 27 appearances but could be sold to relieve some of the club’s financial issues.
      It would be a blow for Barcelona as he has formed a solid defensive relationship with Ronald Araújo.
      This has helped the club win the Spanish Super Cup and be on the verge of winning the LaLiga title with a historic defensive record.
      This form has led to United being willing to offer up to £61million for the defender, as reported by Fichajes.
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      This fee could tempt the Catalonian side to cash in on the former Chelsea star.
      Doing so could aid the club in their ambition to re-sign Lionel Messi.
      Christensen would be able to strengthen Erik ten Hag’s defensive options at Old Trafford.
      The report suggests that the Dutchman would be willing “to throw the house out the window” to sign him.
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      The Dutch manager is on the lookout for a new defender that can challenge Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez for a starting spot in the team.
      Other options Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, are believed to be up for sale to fund moves for incoming players. More

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      Where Jude Bellingham will sit in Real Madrid’s wage bill with star set for massive pay packet after transfer

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM could become one of Real Madrid’s highest earners if he moves to the Bernabeu. Reports yesterday strongly claimed that the English teenager will be heading to Spain from Borussia Dortmund this summer.
      The wheels are in motion for Bellingham to make his move to Real MadridCredit: Getty
      Karim Benzema is set to be one of a handful of players who will make more than 19-year-old BellinghamCredit: Rex
      He has been being chased by some of the world’s biggest clubs, including Manchester United and Manchester City.
      If he does make the switch to Madrid, Bellingham could be offered eye-watering wages that will leave him as the seventh-highest paid player at the club.
      Marca report that the star will pocket £12million-a-year if the move is completed.
      This means the 19-year-old will make £1m-a-month, and £250,000-a-week.
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      This marks a huge pay bump from the reported £1.1m-a-year he currently makes at Dortmund.
      It would also mean he would make more than first team stars like Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, according to wages reported by AS.
      Eden Hazard is incredibly Los Blancos’ highest earner on £400,000-a-week, despite the star struggling to make any impact in his four years at the club.
      Injuries and fitness issues has left the star limited to just five league appearances this season, and without a La Liga goal since the 2020-21 season.
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      Senior players David Alaba and Toni Kroos follow next on the highest wage list, while important stars like Luka Modric, Karim Benzema and Thibaut Courtois come next.
      Bellingham is set to be the best paid player after these six in a signal of how highly rated he is by the club.
      An “agreement in principle” is believed to be in place after Madrid spent a year planning the transfer.
      Bellingham could sign a contract until 2029, but Real Madrid and Dortmund have yet to strike a deal on a transfer fee.
      Jude Bellingham is set to enjoy a huge pay bounce if a rumoured move to Real Madrid goes through
      Real Madrid’s highest earner Eden Hazard has struggled since leaving Chelsea in 2019Credit: Getty More

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      Man Utd star Bruno Fernandes slammed for ‘going missing’ in tough games as stars arrive at airport for Brighton clash

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      GRAEME SOUNESS has slammed Bruno Fernandes for “going missing” in big games.It comes as the Manchester United team arrived at the airport for a private flight to Gatwick Airport ahead of their Premier League clash against Brighton tonight.
      Bruno Fernandes has been criticised by Graeme SounessCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      He and the rest of the Man United team are flying for their game against BrightonCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      Souness slammed Fernandes for ‘going missing’ in tough games
      The Red Devils will be hoping to pick up a win to put a seven-point gap between themselves and fifth-placed Liverpool.
      With few games remaining of the season, a win against the Seagulls would almost guarantee United a spot in the Champions League next season.
      However, if they lose, it could open the door for the Reds to try and catch up with them before the end of the campaign.
      And Brighton will be up for the match as they will be seeking revenge for their FA Cup semi-final defeat last month.
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      Ahead of the big game, pundit Souness ripped into United’s stand-in captain, Fernandes, for lacking leadership when things get tough.
      Speaking to William Hill’s Up Front with Simon Jordan, he said: “Bruno Fernandes is obviously not a leader, it’s as plain as the nose on the end of your face.
      “His attitude when they went 3-0 down at Liverpool was appalling.
      “You certainly would not want to be in the trenches with him.
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      “When you become a captain of a football team it’s about setting an example on the pitch and off it.
      “To have a successful football club, you need good senior players and professionals. I look at myself when I walked through the door in Liverpool, how I changed in the seven years I was there, and what I was like when I left.
      “I wasn’t the best player when I walked through the door, but I learned from some very serious football players, and seven years later when I become a senior, I like to think that I passed that information on. 
      “In the case of Bruno, you’ll see him be a star when you’re on top of the opposition and on the front foot, and he can be a real talent, but he showed a side to him that day at Anfield which was very unattractive.
      “Erik ten Hag has then chosen to overlook it because he knows going forward that Bruno will win him games and score goals.
      “But he’ll think, the next time he comes up against a really difficult situation, is he going to go missing? I think he already knows the answer to that.” More

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      Fans reckon Trent Alexander-Arnold is ‘Zinedine Zidane in disguise’ after Liverpool man’s ‘beautiful’ skill vs Fulham

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      FANS have compared Trent Alexander-Arnold to Zinedine Zidane after his “beautiful skill” against Fulham.The Liverpool star has looked back to his best since manager Jurgen Klopp changed his role in the team’s system.

      Trent Alexander-Arnold wowed fans with a skill move against FulhamCredit: Sky Sports
      He was able to spin away from Fulham star Joao PalhinhaCredit: Sky Sports
      Drawing comparisons to Zinedine ZidaneCredit: AFP
      As an inverted full-back, Alexander-Arnold has had more freedom going forward and less responsibility defending.
      And it appears as if the shackles have been taken off with his recent performances.
      He wowed fans again with a fantastic bit of skill during the 1-0 win over Fulham at Anfield last night.
      The defender pirouetted with the ball during the first half of the game and left Joao Palhinha chasing his shadow.
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      Supporters were impressed with the move as they compared him to the retired French star.
      One tweeted: “Trent, are you Zidane in disguise? That was beautiful.”
      A second wrote: “Trent pulling some Zidane pirouettes in midfield. What a player.”
      A third commented: “Zidane: ‘I used to skip school just to watch Trent Alexander-Arnold play football.'”
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      A fourth argued: “That 360 turn from Trent should be counted as his assist this game.”
      While a fifth said: “What a 360 turn from Trent despite him being marked. Goodness me that was absolutely beautiful oh my daaaaaaaaays!”
      Liverpool won the game thanks to a controversial Mohamed Salah penalty.
      The result puts them four points behind Champions League rivals Manchester United, although they have played two more games than the fourth-placed side. More

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      Three suggestions ahead of May’s Dream Team transfer refresh – finish the season on a high!

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      THE last batch of transfers for the 2022/23 season will be available to Dream Team managers from Friday morning.Please be aware this replenishment of five transfers will have to last you until June in the event of Manchester City and/or West Ham reaching the final of their respective European competitions.
      Every gaffer will want to finish the campaign on a high, especially those chasing mini-league glory, so in the spirit of generosity we’ve created three transfer suggestions for your perusal.
      As always, while it’s unlikely these recommendations will apply specifically to your team, you should be able to extract the logic and apply it to your strategic needs.
      OUT: Bukayo Saka (£5.4m), IN: Jack Grealish (£4.8m)
      The goal involvements are now flowing for Grealish in a City shirt
      This is nothing personal against Arsenal’s No7, who has been brilliant this season, it’s just business.
      Saka is the third-best midfielder overall with 184 points and his ownership of 42.4% makes him the second-most popular asset in his position.
      However, his impressive record doesn’t change the fact that the Gunners have just four fixtures remaining this season.
      Whereas treble-chasers Man City could be in action eight more times if they reach the Champions League final.
      Not only is Grealish is busier than his England team-mate, he’s in better form too.
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      The £100million man has banked 53 points since Game Week 27 compared to Saka’s tally of 12 in the same time frame.
      Arsenal’s homegrown hero has served his backers well this term but there’s no room for sentimentality when mini-leagues are on the line.
      OUT: Alisson (£3.9m), IN: Ederson (£4.9m)
      Winding down
      Much of what’s written above about Man City’s busy schedule above also applies here but this suggestion also highlights the fact that Liverpool are among the crop of teams with just four fixtures left to fulfil.
      This is notable because while Jurgen Klopp’s side have performed below expectations this season, several of their players remain the among the most popular in the game.
      The Reds’ Brazilian custodian has outperformed every goalkeeper bar Jason Steele (£2.7m) – who is a viable option while we’re on the subject – this Game Week but with so few point-scoring opportunities at his disposal this month it’s a good time to pivot to his fully-booked compatriot.
      At the time of writing, swapping Alisson for Ederson requires an additional £1million in budget but that gap should close when the latest price changes take effect as the latter registered minus one point in Game Week 32.
      Whether the fixture-first approach extends to the likes of Mohamed Salah (£8.5m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.4m) is another matter – the prolific Egyptian has amassed 72 points across the last eight Game Weeks while the English right-back has claimed 53 in the same period thanks to minutes in midfield.
      Decisions, decisions…
      OUT: Ollie Watkins (£6.4m), IN: Solly March (£4.7m)
      One of Dream Team’s surprise gems of 2022/23Credit: GETTY
      Man City are undoubtedly the best team to back as the season reaches its climax but that doesn’t mean there aren’t viable options elsewhere.
      Cup exploits and subsequent calendar reshuffles mean Brighton have seven Premier League fixtures still to play, although one those comes prior to May’s transfer refresh this evening against Manchester United.
      The Seagulls face some testing match-ups with Arsenal, Newcastle, Man City and Aston Villa to play before the season’s end (offset by favourable match-ups against Everton and Southampton) but they can give any team a game on their day, as proven several times over in recent months.
      Kaoru Mitoma (£4.6m) is the most-selected of Brighton’s midfielders but the Japanese dribbler has been overtaken by March having registered three blanks in a row.
      The 28-year-old Englishman has 147 points to Mitoma’s 142 with the pair seventh and eighth respectively in the midfield rankings.
      March’s tally of seven goals, nine assists and six Star Man awards is mightily impressive when you consider the fact he started the campaign at just £1m!
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      We’re proposing a swap for Watkins, which would obviously require a change in formation, because while the Villains’ top scorer has been superb generally since the World Cup, he’s cooled off with three consecutive blanks since his magnificent display against Newcastle three weeks back.
      And again, Villa are among the clubs with just four fixtures remaining so March is likely to have two additional games over Watkins in the coming weeks. More

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      Faiq Bolkiah is the richest footballer in world, whose uncle is Sultan of Brunei, and is heir to £13bn fortune

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      MEET the world’s richest footballer Faiq Bolkiah, the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei.Faiq Bolkiah now plays for Thai League 1 club Chonburi., following unsuccessful spells with Leicester City and Portuguese side Maritimo.
      Faiq Bolkiah is the richest young footballer in the world and was formerly of Leicester CityCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Faiq Bolkiah is the nephew of the Sultan of BruneiCredit: Instagram @fjbolkiah
      The dynamic winger, 24, is one of the heirs to Hassanal Bolkiah’s £13billion fortune.
      That dwarfs the worth of the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – making Bolkiah the wealthiest living footballer.
      His dad is Jefri Bolkiah, a brother of the oil tycoon, so that makes Faiq a member of their royal family.
      But that hasn’t stopped Faiq from shunning his family’s billions to pursue a career in football.
      Let SunSport introduce you to the man who really doesn’t need to work for a living.
      Competition was fierce for him in his youth days…
      After playing youth football for AFC Newbury, Faiq signed a one-year deal with Southampton’s famed youth academy in 2009.
      He didn’t quite turn enough heads to secure a full-time contract and went on trial at Arsenal in 2013, playing for the Gunners in the 2013 Lion City Cup.
      Faiq Bolkiah could have lived in a palace like the Sultan of BruneiCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Faiq Bolkiah was once on Chelsea’s booksCredit: Chelsea FC
      Faiq Bolkiah playing for Leicester City’s reservesCredit: Getty – Contributor
      A Rolls Royce like this could have been a chariot for Faiq BolkiahCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Faiq got himself on the scoresheet in that tournament against a Singapore youth selection.
      Alerted to his availability, Chelsea then swooped and offered him a two-year deal in 2014. But he left Stamford Bridge in December, 2015 to sign for Leicester in a three-year deal.
      He captains his international side…
      Despite not playing a professional game in England yet, Faiq has pulled on the international shirt of Brunei six times, finding the net once.
      Faiq Bolkiah has captain the Brunei international football teamCredit: Getty – Contributor
      He even captained the side in the 2017 Aceh World Solidarity Tsunami Cup.
      Incidentally, he was born in Los Angeles, so he could’ve represented the United States. But he was loyal to his family and stayed close to his roots.
      Faiq Bolkiah was loyal to his family and turned down a chance to play for the USCredit: AFP – Getty
      Faiq’s dad is quite the character…
      He may have an innocent demeanour, but his father Jefri Bolkiah was known as the playboy of the Brunei royal family.
      Jefri reportedly lived quite the life of excess, reportedly blowing around £10billion in 15-years as head of the Brunei Investment agency.
      At one point, he was said to be spending £35m a month on cars, watches, erotic white gold pens and up to a £1m a hit on karaoke parties with a swarm of beautiful women.
      Jefri Bolkiah celebrates his birthday with his sonCredit: Instagram @fjbolkiah
      Jefri Bolkiah was the playboy of the Brunei royal familyCredit: Rex Features
      Faiq Bolkiah might have had an easier life and lived like a prince if he wasn’t a footballerCredit: 1998 Julian Parker
      Faiq Bolkiah’s cousins enjoy a lavish lifestyle in their own countryCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Jefri was also believed to have owned 2,300 cars at the height of his wealth, including a fleet of Bentleys, Ferraris and Rolls-Royces.
      However, his pride and joy is a yacht inappropriately called ‘Tits’ which had tenders called ‘Nipple 1’ and ‘Nipple 2’.
      Faiq Bolkiah stands to inherit a boat called TitsCredit: Big Pictures
      The Tits has tenders called Nipple 1 and Nipple 2Credit: Big Pictures
      Jefri wasn’t afraid to embrace erotica either, once commissioning artist J. Seward Johnson to create a £500,000 sexually-explicit statue of himself and his ex-fiancee.
      Amusingly, he once splashed around £5million on a rug that was woven with gold thread and jewels.
      A £5m rug bought by Jefri BolkiahCredit: PA:Press Association
      A set of erotic pens in white gold owned by Jefri BolkiahCredit: PA:Press Association
      An erotic watch owned by Jefri Bolkiah made of white gold and platinumCredit: PA:Press Association
      Michael Jackson was on speed dial when he needed him…
      Being a rich kid has its perks, especially if you’re Faiq.
      When dad Jefri wanted to celebrate his milestone 50th birthday, he also wanted to impress his then 7-year-old son.
      Michael Jackson performed a private concert for Faiq BolkiahCredit: Getty – Contributor
      So what did he do? He only flew in the ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackson to perform a private concert for him and his family.
      Jefri paid Jacko around £12.5 million for the privilege, which was chump change for the Brunei royal family.
      The privilege of having Michael Jackson perform privately cost Jefri Bolkiah £12.5mCredit: Reuters
      Faiq Bolkiah has shunned a throne like the Sultan of Brunei for a rainy night in LeicesterCredit: AFP – Getty
      Making sure Michael was suitably catered for, Jefri also built an entire stadium for the occasion.But Faiq is determined to shun his riches to make it as a professional footballer…
      “I’ve played football since as early as I can remember and from a young age I’ve always enjoyed going out on the field and having the ball at my feet,” he once said in a rare interview.
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      Ex-Wolves boss Nuno Espirito was said to be interested in signing Faiq BolkiahCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “My parents have always been supportive in helping me to achieve my dreams of being a footballer.
      “They trained me hard both psychologically and physically through my childhood years, so I have to say they are my role models.”
      Faiq Bolkiah turned his back on a lavish lifestyle full of goldCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Sultan of Brunei has an estimated worth of £22bnCredit: Reuters
      Faiq Bolkiah insists his family have had a big influence on his careerCredit: AFP or licensors
      With determination like that, he might just succeed in the game.
      However, if it doesn’t work out for him, it’s not as if he’s got nothing to fall back on. More

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      Most costly Man Utd failures and what happened after their Old Trafford nightmares including Di Maria, Lukaku and Sancho

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are still the most-successful in the Premier League era – but they have made several expensive mistakes along the way.With 13 Prem titles in the bank, the Red Devils have had countless superstars pull on their famous jersey over recent years.
      Massimo Taibi was a complete disaster for Sir Alex FergusonCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      United have a history of making some incredible signings.
      Even as recently as last summer, they also have a knack for spending big on flops with £86million Antony still struggling to make an impact.
      From Alexis Sanchez and Angel Di Maria to Juan Sebastian Veron and Romelu Lukaku, check out our best XI of United mega-money failures.
      And we start in goal:
      GOALKEEPER – Massimo Taibi
      Cost: £4.5m from Venezia (1999)
      Sir Alex Ferguson was struggling to replace Peter Schmeichel and forked out £4.5m to Venezia for the Italian back in 1999.
      After flapping at a free-kick on his debut against Liverpool that allowed Sami Hyypia to score things failed to get better.
      In September he famously allowed a weak shot from Southampton’s Matthew Le Tissier slip through his legs and into the net, leading to him being dubbed ‘The Blind Venetian’ by a newspaper.
      Taibi only played once more for United, which was a crushing 5–0 defeat at Chelsea that October, before he headed back to his homeland.
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      Matteo Darmian cost United nearly £13m from TorinoCredit: AP:Associated Press
      DEFENDER – Matteo Darmian
      Cost: £12.9m from Torino (2015)
      Darmian has played 60 times in the Premier League in four years at United, but never made the right-back slot his own.
      Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s arrival saw his surplus to requirements, and he joined Parma on a four-year deal in 2019.
      Most recently, he became a Serie A winner with Inter Milan on loan.
      Daley Blind did not have much to smile about during his stint at UnitedCredit: Getty – Contributor
      DEFENDER – Daley Blind
      Cost: £14m from Ajax (2014)
      Always a tough one to judge, Blind both proved he was a good footballer and failed to shine while at Man Utd.
      After four years at the club, Blind opted to head back to Ajax where he has gone on to become a key player once more – and helped his side reach the Champions League semi-finals in 2019.
      Marcos Rojo was plagued by injuries while at Old TraffordCredit: Getty – Contributor
      DEFENDER – Marcos Rojo
      Cost: £16m from Sporting Lisbon (2014)
      Rojo was plagued by injuries and lack of form in his five years at the club.
      Back in February 2021, the Argentinian finally ended his Old Trafford nightmare by signing for Boca Juniors.
      Morgan Schneiderlin failed to hit the heights at Old TraffordCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      MIDFIELDER – Morgan Schneiderlin
      Cost: £24m from Southampton (2015)
      After seven years at Saints, Schneiderlin was supposed to be United’s midfield maestro for years to come.
      But after just two years, the France star was shipped off to Everton with 32 very underwhelming appearances under his belt.
      He’s now at Nice after his three-year stint on Merseyside.
      Sir Alex Ferguson splashed out £28m to sign Juan Sebastian VeronCredit: Getty
      MIDFIELDER – Juan Sebastian Veron
      Cost: £28m from Lazio (2001)
      Arguably one of the best midfielders of his generation, the only positive about Veron’s time at United was that at least it was better than his time at Chelsea.
      Both transfers frequently pop up in ‘worst Premier League transfers of all-time’ lists – and with good reason.
      The ex-Lazio man could have helped United be as unstoppable in Europe as they were domestically, but alas, it wasn’t to be.
      Antony has not lived up to the hype of an £86m signingCredit: Alamy
      WINGER – Antony
      Cost: £86m from Ajax (2022)
      Antony was signed with much fanfare by his former coach Erik ten Hag for a staggering £86m fee.
      And he got off to the best possible start by scoring on his debut against Arsenal at Old Trafford in a 3-1 win earlier in the campaign.
      However, since then he’s been labelled one dimensional.
      Eight goals in 39 games is a huge disappointment in his first campaign.
      Still time to turn it around, though.
      Angel Di Maria started well but soon dipped at the Red DevilsCredit: Getty
      WINGER – Angel Di Maria
      Cost: £59.7m from Real Madrid (2014)
      Superb at Real, brilliant at Paris Saint-German… bang average at United.
      Yes, we all remember his blistering first few weeks and that goal against Leicester, but what else did Di Maria do at Old Trafford? Very, very little.
      His single season at United, in which he and his family suffered a traumatic burglary while at their home, was worth nowhere near the £59.7m spent, before he went on to thrive in Ligue 1.
      Alexis Sanchez had an absolute stinker at UnitedCredit: Reuters
      FORWARD – Alexis Sanchez
      Cost: Free from Arsenal (2018)
      A free signing. What could possibly go wrong?
      Well, throwing £505,000-a-week down the drain and struggling to sell him due to his wages, that’s what.
      Former Barcelona and Arsenal star Sanchez scored three – just THREE – goals during his 18 months at Old Trafford… that’s roughly £40m in wages.
      After a loan spell, he left United for Inter Milan permanently in 2020.
      Romelu Lukaku failed to sparkle after his big move from EvertonCredit: Getty
      FORWARD – Romelu Lukaku
      Cost: £75m from Everton (2017)
      Both Chelsea and United were chasing Lukaku and Alvaro Morata in the summer of 2017.
      Maybe things would have been different for the two flop strikers had they switched destinations.
      But Lukaku – save for a few brief matches where he showed his unstoppable potential – was dreadful at United… at least, by the standard we now hold him to.
      Shipped off to Inter, Lukaku became one of Europe’s most-feared strikers thanks to his knack for scoring goals and that form secured him a £97.5m return to Chelsea.
      Although he has since struggled there and was loaned back to Inter.
      Henrikh Mkhitaryan only played 39 times for the Red Devils in the Premier LeagueCredit: PA:Press Association
      FORWARD – Henrikh Mkhitaryan
      Cost: £30m from Borussia Dortmund (2016)
      Sought-after by a host of Europe’s giants during his days in Ukraine and Germany, Man Utd won the race for Mkhitaryan’s signature.
      But after 39 disappointing Premier League appearances he was part of the ill-fated swap deal with Arsenal for Sanchez.
      He’s now performing admirably at Serie A side Roma. More

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      Where are Gareth Bale’s ex-Tottenham team-mates from 2007 debut against Man Utd, including Malbranque and Chimbonda?

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      GARETH BALE called time on his stellar career in 2022.The Welsh winger, still only 33, hung up his boots following a final swansong at the World Cup in Qatar.
      Where are Gareth Bale’s team-mates from his Spurs debut now?
      But it was at Spurs where he would make his name, before earning a blockbuster move to Real Madrid
      Bale starred at Southampton in the 2006-07 season before securing a move to North London the following summer.
      The golf-mad Welshman has gone from left-back, to left-midfield to world-class right-winger during his career.
      But it was his pacey, attacking displays at Spurs between 2007 and 2013 which caught the eye of Real Madrid.
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      In that run, Bale scored 55 times in 203 games after an appalling start to life at the club.
      The Wales winger was infamously considered to be Tottenham’s “jinx”, after failing to win in any of his first 25 games.
      Of course, things turned around quickly for Bale, who – by 2013 – was a bonafide world-beater.
      Bale became a bonafide Spurs legendCredit: PA
      Real Madrid paid a then-world-record £86million to bring Bale to the Bernabeu at the end of the 2012-13 season.
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      But six years earlier, Bale was still a relatively unknown making his debut for Tottenham in a 1-0 defeat against Manchester United in which Nani scored his first goal for the club.
      SunSport takes a look at Bale’s team-mates from that day and where they are now…
      GOALKEEPER – Paul Robinson
      Robinson started Bale’s debut in goal for SpursCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      AFTER six years at Leeds, Robinson enjoyed arguably his best years at Tottenham between 2004 and 2008.
      The 41-cap England star later enjoyed spells at Blackburn and Burnley before retiring in 2017.
      Robinson is now a football speaker for events.
      RIGHT-BACK – Pascal Chimbonda
      Pascal Chimbonda enjoyed arguably his best season for Spurs in 2007-08Credit: Reuters
      CHIMBONDA is the ultimate footballing journeyman – having already played for Le Havre, Bastia and Wigan before moving to Spurs in 2006.
      Since quitting North London in 2008, the six-cap Guadeloupe and one-cap France international has moved TEN times, including for a second stint at Tottenham in 2009.
      Most-recently, Chimbonda, now 43, has bounced around non-league clubs including Washington, Market Drayton and Ashton Town.
      He is now working towards becoming a coach after earning his UEFA A licence.
      CENTRE-BACK – Ricardo Rocha
      Rocha played just 14 times for Spurs in the Premier League, including Bale’s debutCredit: AP:Associated Press
      THE former centre-back played just 14 times in the league for Spurs following stints at Famalicao, Braga and Benfica.
      Rocha spent a season at Standard Liege before finishing his career with three seasons at Portsmouth.
      The six-cap Portugal ace left the club after attempting to take on a role of dual role of player AND director of football, which was shot down by Pompey chiefs.
      CENTRE-BACK – Anthony Gardner
      Gardner started Bale’s debut but left the club at the end of the seasonCredit: EPA
      THE one-cap England star spent nearly a decade at Spurs, racking up over 100 Premier League appearances after his 2000 move from Port Vale.
      Bale’s first season would turn out to be Gardner’s last as he joined Everton and Hull on loan later that season, before joining the Tigers permanently the following summer.
      Gardner went on to play for Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday before retiring in 2014.
      The former Spurs defender told Crystal Palace’s website he’s got into poker since hanging up his boots.
      LEFT-BACK – Lee Young-pyo
      Lee Young-pyo started just behind Bale on the left flank for the Welshman’s debutCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      THE former full-back played 127 times for South Korea in his superb career, including a spell at Tottenham following his move from PSV Eindhoven.
      After three years at White Hart Lane between 2005 and 2008, Lee played for Borussia Dortmund, Al-Hilal and Vancounver Whitecaps before calling it quits in 2013.
      Lee has since appeared to have quit football altogether.
      RIGHT-MID – Steed Malbranque
      Steed Malbranque started on the opposite flank to Bale against Man UtdCredit: AFP
      HAVING starred at Fulham for five years, Malbranque moved to Spurs in 2008, where he would spend just two seasons.
      The Belgium-born ex-France Under-21s star moved on to Sunderland, Saint-Etienne, Lyon – also his first pro club – Caen and French fourth-tier side MDA Chasselay, before seemingly disappearing from the scene.
      CENTRE-MID – Tom Huddlestone
      Huddlestone started in the heart of midfield for Bale’s debutCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      THE four-cap England star spent nearly a decade in the heart of Spurs midfield between 2005 and 2013.
      Huddlestone later joined Hull – where he would spend four years – before enjoying three seasons at first club Derby, before he was released last summer.
      In 2021, the defensive midfielder returned to Hull City, only to be released a season later.
      Astonishingly, he was signed by Manchester United last summer as a player-coach for their U21 team.
      CENTRE-MID – Jermaine Jenas
      Jenas joined Huddlestone in the middle of the park for Bale’s bowCredit: AFP
      JENAS spent exactly the same amount of time at Spurs as Huddlestone – enjoying eight years in the team between 2005 and 2013.
      The 21-cap Three Lions ace finished his career a year later following a sole season at QPR.
      Jenas has since covered football for ITV, BT Sport and BBC Sport, where he became Match of the Day’s youngest-ever pundit.
      He is also a presenter on The One Show.
      LEFT-MID – Gareth Bale
      Bale made his Spurs debut 14 years ago in the 1-0 loss to Man UtdCredit: PA:Press Association
      BALE’S retirement in 2022 came as no surprise – with the star frozen out by Real Madrid
      Newly promoted Wrexham and their owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney recently tried to get him to reconsider, although he didn’t take the bait.
      STRIKER – Dimitar Berbatov
      Berbatov started up front against Man Utd – whom he would later joinCredit: PA:Press Association
      AFTER kicking off his career at CSKA Sofia and Bayer Leverkusen, Berbatov enjoyed two years at Spurs.
      Often criticised for being “lazy” by armchair fans, the Bulgarian’s eye for goal, intelligence and outrageous first touch attracted the attention of Man Utd.
      Four years at Old Trafford were followed by stints at Fulham, Monaco, PAOK and Kerala Blasters.
      He now works as a football pundit and speaker.
      STRIKER – Robbie Keane
      Keane joined Berbatov up top for Bale’s debut defeat at Old TraffordCredit: PA:Press Association
      THE Ireland legend spent nine years at the club – with a forgettable season at Liverpool shoehorned in the middle – between 2002 and 2011.
      Keane scored 80 times in just under 200 Premier League games, before joining Celtic and Aston Villa on loan.

      The ex-Wolves ace spent five years at LA Galaxy before hanging up his boots after a season at ATK.
      Part-time Sky pundit Keane has recently served as assistant manager to both the Republic of Ireland and Middlesbrough teams and is set to join Leeds as an assistant to Sam Allardyce. More