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      in Soccer

      Former Spurs star Stephane Dalmat ‘quit match 40 minutes early to get out of stadium and beat traffic’

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      EX-TOTTENHAM ace Bobby Zamora revealed how his old team-mate Stephane Dalmat quit DURING a game so he could catch a flight back to France. Dalmat, now 44, spent the 2003/04 campaign on loan at Spurs from Inter Milan, making 22 appearances.
      Dalmat’s talent was undeniable but his attitude was questionableCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing – The Sun Glasgow
      The midfielder scored three times during his spell in North London but it appears he was best remembered for his moment of madness during a league clash.
      Zamora told Jimmy Bullard’s Off the Hook podcast: “We played a game at Spurs. In the first five minutes of the second half he just walked off the pitch.
      “The ball wasn’t out of play or anything and he just starts walking off the pitch. I think I was on the bench and I thought he has pulled his hamstring or something.
      “He walks down the tunnel. Doesn’t say anything to anybody. We played the game and then came in and he had shot.
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      “So we are like ‘Where is he, where is he? I don’t know. Not sure’. He was supposed to come in for the warm down – but he doesn’t come in for two days.
      “I find out in the end that he has got a plane to catch and he can’t get to the airport after the game because of the traffic and all that so he has gone off the pitch, walked down the tunnel ‘off I go I’m going to get my plane’.
      “He went back to home to France. He was just one of those players that just didn’t care.”
      Dalmat also played for Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille but Zamora adds how he was one of the most talented players he had played with.
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      He added: “He was an absolute player. He was strong, quick, powerful, you could not get the ball off him. 
      “He had that sort of French arrogance.
      “He played for some mad big clubs but just nobody could manage him. He was just an absolute loon.”
      The Spurs team at the time was managed by David Pleat who took over mid-season after Glenn Hoddle was fired from the job.
      Other players in the team’s squad at the time were Jermain Defoe, Jamie Redknapp, Robbie Keane, Darren Anderton and captain Ledley King.
      The revelation about Dalmat’s antics came after fellow footballer Jamie O’Hara, revealed the Frenchman slapped him across the face in the changing room following a dispute during a reserve team game for the North London club in the same season.
      Speaking on TalkSport radio, O’Hara said: “Dalmat had come down to the reserves and I think he had got the hump because obviously he has been told he has got to play with the reserves.
      “I was a young kid wanting to impress. We played and he was just strolling about, you know he didn’t want to be there.
      “He was the typical first-team player coming down playing reserves, didn’t want to know and I think I give it to him at half-time.
      “I think I said ‘Listen mate if you don’t want to be here just don’t be here, just go, get on your bike.
      “And he got up and walked across the room and I’m thinking he’s going to be like ‘yeah, yeah, I know you are right’.
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      “But he just slapped me in the face. Just a slap not a punch. It was a slap and I just took it like that. I was in shock more than anything.
      “Obviously I got up and thought I would have a ruck with him but everyone jumped in, you know that one where you are going ‘let me at him, let me at him’. I could not believe it, just a slap in the face.”
      Stephane Dalmat spent just a season on loan with TottenhamCredit: PA:Press Association
      Bobby Zamora revealed how Dalmat was a huge talent at SpursCredit: PA:Press Association More

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      in Soccer

      Liverpool vs Real Madrid Wags, from models to a Little Mix singer, as the European giants meet in the Champions League

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      THEY don’t call it the beautiful game for nothing.Excitement is at fever pitch ahead of tonight’s Champions League last-16 clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
      Excitement is at fever pitch ahead as Liverpool take on Real Madrid in the Champions LeagueCredit: AFP
      And these stunning Wags will be cheering on their other halves when The Reds take on Los Blancos in the first leg of their last-16 clash.
      As the saying goes, behind every man is a great woman, so we kick off the interest early with the lowdown on some of the players’ wives and girlfriends who provide them with much-needed support at home.
      From a doctor and architect to a world-famous singer and a reality TV star, this lot are in a league of their own . . .
      Mishel Gerzig – goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois
      Mishel Gerzig and Thibaut Courtois were first spotted together in 2020
      IT’S not hard to see why Israeli model Mishel, 25, caught the eye of the Belgian goalie, 30, who slid into her DMs on Instagram.
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      The pair were first spotted together in Ibiza after Belgium were knocked out of Euro 2020.
      This summer the happy couple got engaged, as Courtois dropped to one knee to ask for his beloved’s hand in marriage.
      Jordan Ozuna – striker Karim Benzema
      Karim Benzema’s Wag Jordan Ozuna used to be a waitress at Hooters
      Model Jordan used to work as a Hooters waitress in Las Vegas but is now signed to several US-based modelling agencies.
      The stunning 32-year-old has used her enviable figure to help promote State Management, Caroline Gleason Management, Tricia Brink Management, and The Salt Agency.
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      She joined Benzema at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, where he was crowned the world’s best player.
      Sandra Garal – forward Marco Asensio
      Sandra Garal met Marco Asensio while working as a nightclub waitress
      SANDRA met Marco, 27, while working as a waitress in a nightclub in 2019.
      The Spanish couple managed to keep their relationship a secret for months.
      The 26-year-old, who studied architecture in Madrid, now models and has over 340,000 Instagram followers.
      Maria Julia Mazalli – forward Vinicius Junior
      Maria Julia Mazalli started dating Vinicius Junior in 2019
      AN eagle-eyed fan revealed the 22-year-old winger was dating Maria in 2019 after they each posted selfies in the same bathroom.
      The 27-year-old influencer found fame on Brazilian reality show, Holiday With The Ex in 2017.
      Natalia Becker – goalkeeper Alisson Becker
      Natalia Becker met Alisson Becker in their native Brazil in 2012
      BRAINY Natalia, 31, met Alisson, 30, in their native Brazil in 2012 while she was studying to become a doctor.
      They married in 2015 and moved to Liverpool three years later.
      They have three kids – Helena, five, Matteo, two, and Rafael, one.
      Larissa Pereira – striker Roberto Firmino
      Larissa Pereira and Roberto Firmino were married in 2017
      THE model married Roberto, 31, in their home country of Brazil in 2017 after three years together.
      As well as being a mum to their three daughters, the 30-year-old is an entrepreneur, having founded fashion brand BeValen Store.
      Rike Nooitgedagt – defender Virgil van Dijk
      Rike Nooitgedagt and Virgil van Dijk were childhood sweethearts and wed in 2017
      FIERCELY private Rike, 31, gave up her job as a fashion sales manager to support the 31-year-old Dutch ace when he signed to Celtic in 2013.
      The childhood sweethearts wed in 2017 and have kids Nila and Jadi.
      Rute Cardoso – forward Diogo Jota
      Rute Cardoso and Diogo Jota are childhood sweetheartsCredit: rutecfcardoso14/Instagram
      CHILDHOOD sweethearts Rute, and Diogo, both 26, met at school in their native Portugal.
      Rute seems to have settled well into life in the UK and even admitted to being a fan of Peaky Blinders.
      The couple have a one-year-old son called Dinis.
      Perrie Edwards – midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
      Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Perrie Edwards have become one of the hottest showbiz couples
      THE Little Mix star and Alex, both 29, have become one of the hottest showbiz couples since they started dating in 2016.
      They welcomed son, Axel, in 2021, and Perrie looked incredible on the girl band’s recent Confetti Tour.
      Saffie Khan – midfielder Curtis Jones
      Saffie Khan and Curtis Jones went Instagram official in 2021
      THE couple went Instagram official in 2021, but it is believed they have been dating since 2019.
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      Saffie is signed to M Models Management and lives with Curtis, 22.
      The 20-year-old often shares snaps of her lavish holidays with her 40K followers. More

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      in Boxing

      Eddie Hearn called Jake Paul ‘average’ while rating YouTuber as a boxer – but insisted it was a ‘compliment’

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      PROMOTER Eddie Hearn gave a brutally honest assessment of the boxing skills of YouTube star Jake Paul.Hearn labelled Paul’s ability as “average” during a Q&A – but insisted he was complimenting him.
      Jake Paul (left) and Eddie Hearn (right) during a Q&A sessionCredit: Getty
      The pair sat down for an interview with sports streaming service DAZN last spring ahead of the the Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano fight and it descended into chaos as Paul took offence to Hearn’s jab.
      Hearn started the interview by saying: “He fought AnEsonGib who was terrible on the night and Jake looked pretty average cause Gib was terrible as well.”
      Paul hit back and said his ability could not be properly judged due to the fight lasting such a short amount of time after his first-round TKO win.
      Hearn responded: “That’s true, that’s true. I don’t know where you might go.
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      “I just give you where I think you’re at which I’m entitled to, which is average.”
      He then added: “Average is very complimentary.”
      Hearn has previously said he believes Paul will never win a world title in boxing.
      Paul’s YouTube channel has 20.3 million subscribers and he took up boxing in 2018.
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      His first fight was on the undercard of the KSI vs Logan Paul bout, which attracted over 2.25 million live views.
      This fight was a white-collar match but a fifth-round TKO gave Paul the green light to go pro.
      The man nicknamed The Problem Child has won all six of his pro fights and he faces bitter rival Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. More

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      in Soccer

      Joey Barton offered to settle score with ‘s***bag’ Dabo in charity fight & revealed all about Man City training fight

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      JOEY BARTON gave an insight into his infamous training ground fight with Ousmane Dabo at Manchester City – and offered the Frenchman a shot at revenge in a charity match.Retired midfielder Barton, 40, got a six-match ban by the FA in 2008 for assaulting his team-mate in 2007.
      Joey Barton cheekily offered to fight rival Ousmane Dabo in a charity matchCredit: Rex Features
      Dabo went to the press with the injuries he sustained in a 2007 training ground clash with his ex-Man City team-mate BartonCredit: Ray Bradbury
      Barton and Dabo in action together for Manchester CityCredit: Getty
      He was also given a four-month suspended sentence after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm after Dabo was left with cuts and bruises as well as a detached retina.
      Barton, who has served time in prison and also landed himself in hot water for stubbing a cigar out in a youth team player’s eye, is now boss at League One Bristol Rovers.
      In a candid discussion on Robbie Fowler’s podcast he said he knocked out the ex-Lazio midfielder in self-defence – a claim denied by Dabo – he even said he would be open to settling the score once-and-for-all.
      Barton said: “Dabo slapped me at the training ground so he got put a kip.
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      “That was his own fault and if I see him any time and he wants to – you see all these Jake Pauls and that on Youtube – if Ousmane wants to give me a shout and he wants to do it for charity and get his own back…
      “At the end of the day, where I’m from, if someone open palms or slaps you or comes towards you to hit you, you don’t stand around.”
      He added: “If he wants round two we’ll sort it out here, we’re all men.
      “He tried to throw the first punch, came unstuck, and he didn’t because he’s a s***bag and went to the papers.”
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      Dabo, 46, who won three caps for France, shared an image of his injured face with The Sun after the clash.
      He said: “I looked at myself in the mirror with my face all swollen up and I looked like the Elephant Man.
      “I just pushed him away and turned my back to walk off. That’s when he hit me. I really don’t remember exactly what happened.” More

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      in Soccer

      Zlatan Ibrahimovic chooses Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo and names Brazil legend Ronaldo as GOAT

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      ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC reckons Lionel Messi is a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo.The debate over who’s the best out of the pair has raged on for years – with Ibrahimovic now weighing in.
      Zlatan Ibrahimovic reckons Lionel Messi is better than Cristiano Ronaldo but neither is the GOATCredit: EPA
      The Swede admitted it was difficult to choose between Cristiano and the ArgentineCredit: MatchDay Images Limited
      But the 41-year-old thinks Messi’s natural magic separates the twoCredit: Getty
      However, in Ibrahimovic’s eyes neither star can compete with the world’s best RonaldoCredit: AFP
      It was a tough choice for him to make but after witnessing Messi’s magic first-hand when they played together at Barcelona in the 2009-10 season, Ibrahimovic believes the Argentine edges Cristiano.
      The AC Milan veteran, who recently joined the duo in the elite 300 goal club across Europe, suggested that while Messi’s ability is natural, Cristiano’s has been built over time.
      The 41-year-old told Corriere dello Sport, reported by AS: “The two are very strong. It would be a difficult choice.
      “If I have to tell you I choose Messi because I’ve played with him, I’ve seen him up close and I know that everything he does is for nature, he’s not built. It’s all movement, all-natural.”
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      The Swede’s logic was previously echoed by five stars who played with both Messi and Cristiano, with six undecided and one picking the Manchester United attacker.
      Football’s elite also reckon Messi is currently better than Cristiano as they handed the Paris Saint-Germain star his seventh Ballon d’Or trophy last year, while his Portuguese rival languished in sixth.
      However, in Ibrahomivic’s eyes, neither of them are the best to ever grace the football pitch.
      That mantle belongs to Ronaldo Nazario whose playing style Ibrahimovic tried to emulate growing up – but wasn’t fast enough.
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      Even football icon Diego Maradona wasn’t as good as the Brazilian, Ibrahimovic claims, as he didn’t get to witness the Argentine’s greatness.
      He added: “For me, Ronaldo is the ‘Phenomenon’. More than Maradona? I have not lived Maradona. Perhaps for other generations it is the strongest of all.
      “But I did see Ronaldo in life and as a child I imitated him. I tried and but I didn’t make it, I wasn’t as fast as him.” More

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      in Soccer

      Five amazing transfers Newcastle boss Eddie Howe unearthed, including £800k Aaron Ramsdale signing

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      NEWCASTLE manager Eddie Howe has a knack for finding talent that others fail to unearth.The ex-Bournemouth boss is likely to be handed a transfer war chest by the Magpies’ Saudi owners in the coming years.
      Eddie Howe has proved himself as a shrewd operator in the transfer marketCredit: Reuters
      But club officials have warned they won’t be opening their cheque books for the sake of it.
      If that is the case, the good news for Toon fans is that Howe has a proven track record of locating hidden gems.
      Here SunSport runs the rule over five unsung heroes who were brought through the ranks by the Newcastle tactician.
      AARON RAMSDALE – £800K
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      Aaron Ramsdale has been performing heroics between the sticks for Arsenal since his £30million move to the Emirates in 2021.
      He produced what was hailed as one of the best saves of all time in the Gunners’ 2-0 victory over Leicester last season.
      But the stopper cost Howe less than £1m when he brought him to the Vitality Stadium in 2017.
      Three years later he was sold back to boyhood club Sheffield United before Arsenal came knocking.
      Aaron Ramsdale has cemented his place as Arsenal’s first-choice keeperCredit: Getty
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      CALLUM WILSON – £3M
      Howe linked up with former Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson when he arrived at St James’ Park.
      The 30-year-old bagged 67 goals in 187 appearances for the Cherries between 2014 and 2020.
      He cost just £3m when he moved to the south coast from League One side Coventry.
      But by 2020 his stock had risen so high it cost Newcastle £20m to take him up north.
      Callum Wilson moved to Newcastle from Bournemouth in 2020Credit: Getty
      RYAN FRASER – £400K
      Ryan Fraser is another ex-Cherry man now plying his trade with the Magpies.
      The Scotland international cost Bournemouth just £400k when they signed him from Aberdeen back in 2013.
      The skilful winger was once linked with the likes of Arsenal but his form declined in the 2019-20 season as he was distracted by speculation.
      Now armed with a five-year contract at St James’ Park, the 28-year-old has been given the opportunity to rekindle his working relationship with Howe.
      Ryan Fraser joined Callum Wilson at the MagpiesCredit: Reuters
      JOSH KING – FREE
      Josh King is another who owes his top-flight opportunities to Howe.
      The Norway-born forward joined Bournemouth on a free from Blackburn Rovers back in May 2015.
      He went on to score an impressive 53 goals for the club before heading to Everton on the last day of the 2021 January transfer window.
      Another move followed in July when he joined newly-promoted Watford – again for a free transfer – before he signed for Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
      Watford’s Josh King tussles with Arsenal defender Ben WhiteCredit: Reuters
      DAVID BROOKS – £11.5M
      Wales international David Brooks was tipped for big things before illness temporarily cut short his playing days.
      The Wales international cost Bournemouth around £11m when they bought him from Sheffield United in 2018.
      The 25-year-old was nominated for the PFA young player of the year award back in 2019.
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      A cancer diagnosis in October 2021 forced the midfielder to step back from football and begin treatment for the disease.
      But he returned to training in 2022 after winning his battle with cancer and is now keen to resume his playing career in the Premier League with Bournemouth.
      Brooks battled cancer to return to football in 2022Credit: Reuters More

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      in Soccer

      Amazing body transformation of Sergio Ramos, from slim teen to ripped machine over sensational 20-year career

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      SERGIO RAMOS didn’t enjoy the best of luck with injuries during his first season at Paris Saint-Germain.But the Spaniard, 36, has enjoyed a better run this term, following a stunning trophy-laden 16-year career at Real Madrid.
      Sergio Ramos showed off his new shredded physique during the 2020 lockdown
      Sergio Ramos has packed on the pounds – in muscle – since this photoshoot, then aged 18
      Ramos got himself into ridiculous shape after working tirelessly during lockdown
      Ramos managed just 13 matches in all competitions for PSG in 2021-22 after a string of injuries. This season, he’s already played 20.
      And like old team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, you can’t fault his commitment to keeping fit.
      In 2020, during the height of the Covid pandemic and initial lockdown, Ramos shared a picture of himself looking absolutely shredded.
      Hiking up his sorts – again like old pal Ronny – Ramos showed off his chiselled abs, bulging biceps, toned quads… and glorious beard.

      But that took a lot of work, with the 180-cap Spain legend not always the ripped Adonis he is today.
      After all, he looks completely unrecognisable from his naked photoshoot aged 18…
      And Ramos claimed his time away from the pitch during lockdown helped him get into tip-top shape.
      In April 2020 – then at Real Madrid – Ramos said: “I think I’m in better shape than before the quarantine.
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      “We gave so much importance to this situation that after losing our training routine in Valdebebas and also the games, we focused so much on our diet, our rest and obviously the individual work.
      “I’m in better condition now than I usually am during the middle of the season.
      “Then you are playing once every three days and you don’t have time to work, you only rest.
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      “I’m stronger.
      “We knew that this was going to be long but now we see the end of the tunnel and are relaxing a bit so that we don’t come back with too much muscle.”

      Sergio Ramos looks almost unrecognisable from his early days More

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      in Soccer

      Man Utd legend Roy Keane was John Obi Mikel’s bodyguard when midfielder first went for trials at the Red Devils aged 15

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      JOHN OBI MIKEL has previously revealed that hard nut Roy Keane was his own personal bodyguard when he was just a schoolboy.The Nigerian midfielder, 35, was involved in one of the biggest transfer tussles in football history when he sensationally rejected Manchester United for Premier League rivals Chelsea.
      John Obi Mikel revealed all about his month-long trial at Manchester United as a schoolboyCredit: PA:Press Association
      Roy Keane was Jon Obi Mikel’s bodyguard when he was just 15Credit: Getty – Contributor
      Sir Alex Ferguson invited a young Mikel to train with the first-teamCredit: PA:Press Association
      But when Sir Alex Ferguson invited Mikel to train at United after impressing for his country at the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in 2003, the youngster was thrown in the deep end with the first-team.
      During the month long-trail Mikel recalled the time no-nonsense Keane took him under his wing.
      Speaking exclusively to SunSport, he said: “I trained with the first team. Roy Keane was my bodyguard.
      “Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt always tried to kick me but couldn’t when Roy was there because he’d have killed them.
      “Sir Alex called me Obi Wan (after the Star Wars character).
      “He called me into his office one day and said: ‘Obi Wan, do you know what Keane, Scholes and all the senior players have told me? They said you have to sign that boy’.
      “I couldn’t believe it. Here was I, a schoolkid from Africa, training with some of the best in the world.”
      United thought they had signed the next sensation when Mikel put pen to paper at a hastily-arranged press conference in 2005 and was photographed in a United shirt.
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      But following a series of secret meetings with Jose Mourinho and Roman Abramovich, Mikel eventually decided to join Chelsea… leaving Fergie furious.
      Chelsea ended paying Manchester United £12million in compensation over the move.
      But it proved the correct one as Mikel became one of the club’s most decorated players, winning the Champions League and Europa League, two Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups in his 11 years there.
      Mikel left Stamford Bridge in 2017 and headed to China with Tianjin Jinmen Tiger before a return to England for a six-month spell at Middlesbrough in January 2019.
      He then joined Turkish side Trabzonspor for a season but came back to the Championship 12 months later to join Stoke City.
      In July 2021 he then moved to Kuwait FC but his contract was terminated after just four months – leading to the star officially announcing his retirement from playing at the age of 35 in September 2022.
      John Obi Mikel was a wanted man after impressing at the Under-17 World Cup for NigeriaCredit: AP:Associated Press
      John Obi Mikel now plays his football at Tianjin TEDA after leaving ChelseaCredit: Rex Features More