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      I quit Real Madrid but found myself in Russia drinking vodka on the team bus… I want to forget those six months

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      ROYSTON DRENTHE recalls drinking vodka on the team bus while he was playing in Russia.The former Real Madrid star partied with the likes of Guti and Wesley Sneijder during his time in Spain, but rapidly saw his career spiral in the opposite direction to those greats.
      Royston Drenthe played with the likes of Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo at Real MadridCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Drenthe helped Los Blancos win the La Liga title in 2008, but after loan spells at Hercules and Everton found himself surplus to requirements.
      Following the expiry of his Madrid contract in 2012, the Dutchman signed for newly promoted Russian side Alania Vladikavkaz.
      While the move was a good one financially, Drenthe quickly grew disillusioned with life in Russia.
      Located near the Georgian border, Vladikavkaz lacked the kind of amenities that Drenthe was looking for.
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      In a 2020 interview with Dutch station RTV, he said: “Vladikavkaz was not the ideal place.
      “It is a totally destroyed city. You couldn’t do anything fun, despite having a lot of money.”
      He went on to say that he felt his six months there had “been to forget”.
      One thing he did recall doing was drinking vodka.
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      He explained: “The vodka…. We drank it very often, it was one of the mainstays.
      “In that perspective, it was not difficult to get used to. Also, we had vodka on the team bus. In Russia it is like that.”
      Drenthe’s former team-mate Cicinho revealed he drank ten beers a day at Real Madrid and even turned up to training drunk.
      Drenthe played just six games for Alania, scoring three goals, before moving back to England with Reading.
      The one-cap Dutch international, now of Racing Merida, has fond memories of nights out with his former Madrid pals.
      He said: “I have had so many beautiful nights with Guti.
      “We often hung out with Wesley Sneijder, Robinho and Gonzalo Higuain.
      “Wesley and I were flesh and blood and we could cross the red line from time to time. And there were times when Higuain signed up.”
      Drenthe was later declared bankrupt after losing his £3.2million fortune and was most recently a healthcare worker in the Netherlands.
      Drenthe went on to play for ReadingCredit: PA:Empics Sport More

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      Pundit Peter Crouch says his career ‘finished’ when Abbey Clancy was locked out of their house as he played Call of Duty

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      PETER CROUCH has revealed his career “finished” when he was too busy playing Call of Duty to realise his wife was locked out of the house. The ex-Tottenham and Liverpool striker, who is now a pundit for TNT Sports told the hilarious tale which ended with Abbey Clancy fuming as he gamed with 12-year-olds.
      Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy have been married since 2011
      Clancy was left infuriated by Crouch’s obsession with Call of Duty
      Crouch announced his retirement in 2019 at the age of 38 after a long and memorable career.
      He has since been enjoying gaming in his down time – along with plenty of other projects.
      The former England ace told of the moment he was left considering hanging up his boots after a session on the popular shooting game Call of Duty infuriated Abbey.
      He told Chris Moyles on Radio X: “My career finished when Abb was locked out the house and I was playing Call of Duty.
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      “I had the headphones on and the mic and she was locked out the house and I had no idea.
      “I was telling people to ‘get down! Frag out!’ And she’s been outside for ages banging on the door. She’s gone to the neighbours and they let them in.
      “And I’m still in there, dark room, full headphones on, telling 12-year-olds to get down and cover me.
      “The look she gave me was like ‘you loser!’ And that look was the moment I thought I better leave this.”
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      Crouch has had a productive time since retirement from football.
      Along with his work for TNT Sports, he fronts the regular popular podcast “That Peter Crouch Podcast”.
      He also became a judge on the ITV shows The Masked Dancer and The Masked Singer. More

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      Leyton’s abandoned stadium left to rot for a decade after bosses were jailed, and club entrance is now a curry house

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      LEYTON FOOTBALL CLUB STADIUM was once a historic venue.The 4,000-capacity ground played host to non-league side Leyton FC – an unrelated outfit to neighbours Leyton Orient.
      Leyton Football Club Stadium has been abandoned for 12 yearsCredit: mediadrumimages
      The roof has come down on one of the standsCredit: mediadrumimages
      It has clearly not been kept in a good wayCredit: mediadrumimages
      The nets have ripped apart but are still there to this dayCredit: mediadrumimages
      But in 2009, Leyton club chairman Costas Sophocleous and former director Philip Foster pled guilty to their involvement in a £16million VAT fraud.
      Sophocleous was handed an eight-year prison sentence, with Foster given five years.
      Leyton found new people to carry the club forward, but were forced to dissolve in 2011 due to debts that had been accumulated.
      As a result, Leyton Football Club Stadium has been abandoned for more than a decade.
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      The sponsors are still clearly displayed at the groundCredit: mediadrumimages
      The non-league club dissolved in 2011Credit: mediadrumimages
      There is an eerie feeling around the groundCredit: mediadrumimages
      At the time of its disillusion, Leyton FC was the second oldest club in London having been founded in 1868.
      And new images that have emerged of the old ground show just how desolate it has become in recent years.
      Plants growing through the seats, a collapsed roof and ripped goal nets are just some of the lacklustre sights seen inside.
      And urban explorer Orlando Britain, who took the photos, was damning in his assessment of the stadium’s energy – adding it is unnoticeable given an INDIAN RESTAURANT is located in front of it.
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      Fans have tried to resurrect Leyton FC but to no availCredit: mediadrumimages
      The stadium backs on to houses and a pubCredit: mediadrumimages
      The sad state of Leyton FC’s old goalsCredit: mediadrumimages
      He said: “The abandoned football ground is about a mile from my house but you would never know it was there as it is surrounded by residential housing and an Indian restaurant at the front.
      “It felt a little eerie and sad walking around looking at the dilapidated seats, supposedly the capacity here was 4,000.
      “I kept imagining all the games that would have been played here and the fans cheering on their team. Especially looking at the Home and Away stands.
      “It would be great if the stadium could be put to better use than a car park as it currently is, perhaps used for smaller clubs to play and train.”
      Two years ago, a campaign was launched by football fans in an attempt to bring games back to the stadium – and potentially even resurrect Leyton FC.
      The Hare and Hounds pub sits at the front of the stadiumCredit: mediadrumimages/google.com More

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      Kieran Trippier snubs Harry Kane and Antoine Griezmann, as he names his best-ever team-mate

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      KIERAN TRIPPIER has named the best team-mate he has ever played alongside… and it may surprise a few people.The full-back has linked up with a host of superstar talent during his career.
      Trippier has surprised some with his pick for best ever team-mateCredit: Getty
      At Tottenham, he featured alongside the likes of Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min.
      He then moved to Atletico Madrid and won the LaLiga title in a squad which included Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suarez and Joao Felix.
      And now he has returned to England with Newcastle where the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron are all featuring in the team.
      But Trippier does not consider any of those to be the best player he has played alongside.
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      Dembele is incredibly well-respected among those he played alongsideCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Instead, the England full-back has stated that former Belgian midfielder Mousa Dembele is at the top of that list.
      Speaking to fans on social media, he said: “The best player I’ve ever played with has got to be Mousa Dembele when I was at Tottenham.
      “The guy was an absolute magician with the ball. I haven’t seen anyone like him before, so I’ve got to say him.”
      Dembele spent seven years at Tottenham between 2012 and 2019.
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      Trippier then joined the club in 2015 and enjoyed three-and-a-half seasons alongside the ex-Fulham midfielder.
      And Trippier is not the first person to praise Dembele for being a world class talent.
      The Belgian, who retired from football last year, was once compared to Ronaldinho and Diego Maradona by former Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino.
      Speaking in 2017, Poch said: “He has started to work very hard, we are very happy with him.
      “I always say, ‘Mousa, when I write my book I will say you are one of the genius players I have been lucky to meet’.
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      “They are Maradona, Ronaldinho, Jay-Jay Okocha, Ivan de la Pena and Mousa Dembele.
      “We’ve always told him that if we had taken him at 18 or 19 years old, he would have become one of the best players in the world.” More

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      How Mo Salah became the world’s most feared forward by sticking to a strict diet and strenuous exercise plan

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      MOHAMED SALAH has become one of the most feared forwards on the planet.The Egypt hotshot, 31, has scored a staggering 187 goals for Liverpool in 307 games, and got off the ground this season by netting against Bournemouth last weekend.
      Liverpool star Mo Salah follows a strict diet
      Salah is seen as a key man in Jurgen Klopp’s machine, as they chase a Champions League spot.
      Which is why the Reds are refusing to entertain advances from Saudi Arabia, as Al-Ittihad prepare to make him the world’s highest paid player.
      The ex-Chelsea forward has achieved greatness thanks to a strict diet and rigorous exercise plan, including 3am workouts during Ramadan.
      It’s that sacrifice that has seen Salah emulate Cristiano Ronaldo as one of football’s most chiselled stars.
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      Here’s how he did it.
      What Salah puts in his body daily is crucial to his success, although he allows himself a cheat day with pizza every so often.
      Speaking about his diet, the Egyptian told CNN, “Nutrition is so important, it’s part of the game.
      “It has helped with my recovery, allowed me to sleep better and helped my body adapt quickly.
      “My nutritionist says that because I don’t have any fat on my body, I can eat what I want. I also don’t drink so it’s fine.”
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      And it’s fair to say, the devout Muslim is usually very careful with his food.
      For breakfast, he will eat parathas – a puffy flatbread – with a glass of milk.
      If he’s still hungry, he will then go for a bowl of fruit.
      When it comes to lunch, Salah tends to load up on more calories. He enjoys lentils, vegetables, bread, chicken, and will finish with a bowl of yogurt.
      His favourite dish is an Egyptian speciality called kushari, which is made from rice, macaroni and lentils and topped with spiced tomatoes, chickpeas and onions.
      He revealed: “When I go back to Egypt, I call my friend from the airport to buy kushari for us to eat in the car.
      “I pull my hoodie over my head, jump into the car and then I’m eating it straight away.”
      Dinner is usually a light affair – with soup, salad and vegetables preferred. He’ll wash that down with a glass of fresh fruit juice without sugar.
      Salah’s dedication to his craft is shown by his obsession with working out.
      If he’s not training with the Reds, he’s doing additional sessions of weight training, bodyweight work, plyometrics, yoga, swimming and stretching exercises.
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      Light meals and plenty of vegetables are key to Salah’s success
      Egyptian speciality kushari is one of Salah’s favourite meals
      Pizza is Salah’s guilty pleasure
      “Normally, I get up early to go for training which starts either in the morning or in the afternoon,” Salah told ON Ent.
      “Then I come for recovery for almost two hours. Therapy for any injuries or specific massage so you mitigate any suffering of your body.
      “After that, I go to the gym here at the club which is optional for players. After training, I do stretching and recovery again.
      “Finally, I go to the pool at the club or with Makka [his daughter] at home. I finish all these activities around 7 or 8pm.”
      During Ramadan, Salah made sure he didn’t miss a single minute to sculpt his abs.
      He was up at 3am after fasting during daylight hours to hit the weights in his home gym.
      When Salah was at Chelsea, he cut a skinny figure.
      Even when he found his form on loan at Fiorentina before securing a move to Roma, he was certainly less defined.
      However, thanks to following a diet plan and exercising religiously, he has seen a remarkable body transformation.
      Today’s Salah is bursting out of his Liverpool shirt with bulging biceps and shredded abs.
      Often, he’s not afraid to show off his torso on Instagram to his adoring fans.
      And even his team-mates can’t help but take pictures of his incredible physique.
      Scotland international Andy Robertson shared a snap of Salah topless in a swimming pool back in 2021.
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      Hilariously, he joked that his pal had a ‘bit of body fat to lose’ in the photo.
      If that’s the case, then SunSport better jump on an exercise bike lively.
      Home workouts are very important to Salah
      Strenuous weight training is key to building up Salah’s biceps
      Additionally, Salah likes to swim in his spare time
      At Chelsea, Salah cut a slight figure
      When on loan to Fiorentina in 2015 he was far from the perfect athleteCredit: Rex
      Today, Salah is more ripped than everCredit: Reuters More

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      Eden Hazard’s amazing car collection, as free agent rides Audis, an Aston Martin, Mercedes cars worth over £500k

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      HE’S just as sleek off the pitch as he is on it.Eden Hazard, 32, is now a free agent after having his Real Madrid contract torn up.
      Eden Hazard always hits top gear off the pitch with his £500k car collection despite his struggles on itCredit: Rex
      A true ‘Petrol Header’, Eden Hazard owns a couple of AudisCredit: Getty – Contributor
      The Belgian playmaker left Chelsea for the Bernabeu in 2019 to bank around £416,000-a-week with the Spanish giants.
      However, he failed to ignite LaLiga like he did with the Premier League, and has been tipped for a move to Saudi Arabia and the MLS.
      Last weekend, he was spotted watching his beloved Blues at Stamford Bridge, as they took on Liverpool. But there is no suggestion of a return.
      In the meantime, Hazard can enjoy his impressive car collection he’s amassed through the years.
      As you can imagine from one of the best players on the planet over the last decade, Hazard’s garage is full of incredible cars.
      He has been spotted in various rides over the years, including a Mercedes Benz AMG GTR, Audi R8 V10, BMW X6, Audi RS4 Avant, Range Rover, Aston Martin Vanquish and Mercedes C Class.
      But how much are they all worth?
      Join SunSport in totalling up the numbers, that’ll leave you green with envy:
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      The Audi R8 V10 that’s part of Hazard’s collection is worth £110kCredit: Handout
      Audi R8 V10
      Able to hit a top speed of 205mph, Hazard should never have been late to the Madrid training ground driving this car.
      Brazil star Neymar also owns an R8, so Hazard’s in good company.
      Price: Around £110k
      BMW X6
      A stylish and reliable SUV, the classic number ten often took his X6 for a spin on match day.
      As a family man, this roomy ‘Beamer’ is also perfect to drive around his missus, Natacha Van Honacker and their four kids for a day out.
      Price: From £60k
      The BMW X6 is the perfect family car for Hazard, a dad of fourCredit: Handout
      Audi RS4 Avant
      A regular standard among footballers, including Real Madrid and Barcelona’s elite – who have deals with the car giants – Hazard loves the Audi brand.
      Price: From £60,290
      Range Rover Sport
      A Range Rover… every footballer should own one and most of them do.
      Hazard’s preference is the sport model because it’s comfortable and the ideal ride for when he finishes training and can stretch his legs.
      Should be more than enough room for his 5’8″ frame.
      Price: From £60,760
      Hazard scored himself another Audi when he joined Real Madrid
      The Range Rover Sport is Hazard’s preference when leaving training
      The most expensive car in Hazard’s collection is the classy Aston Martin Vanquish worth £199,950Credit: Paul Tonge – The Sun
      Is classy Hazard pondering what motor to get next?Credit: Reuters
      Aston Martin Vanquish
      A classy gents’ car, the Vanquish is the most expensive motor in Hazard’s collection.
      James Bond star Daniel Craig once owned a limited edition version, which was sold at an auction for £344,000.
      Price: From £199,950
      Mercedes C-Class
      The luxury C-Class has been part of the German brand’s make-up since 1993.
      It was also one of the first cars Hazard rocked up in when he signed for Chelsea from Lille back in 2012. Needless to say, he’s moved on since.
      Price: From £32,260
      Cool Hazard is a motor car enthusiast
      The cheapest car in Hazard’s collection is a £32k C-ClassCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
      Hazard’s AMG GTR reaches a top speed of 197.6 mphCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Felipe Massa strikes a pose with car aficionado, Hazard
      And finally, Mercedes Benz AMG GTR
      Perhaps the best-looking in his collection, Hazard has a AMG GTR which has a horse power of 430 kW and top speed of 197.6 mph.
      Former Aston Villa and Man City ace Gareth Barry once had one once upon a time too.
      Price: From £99,245
      That gives us a grand total of £622,505 – over a half million pounds worth of cars! Now, that’s nothing to be sniffed at. More

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      Former Swansea star Michu is honoured Erling Haaland idolised him as a kid and reveals shirt swap

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      MICHU is “honoured” Erling Haaland idolised him as a kid.The former Swansea striker swapped shirts with the Manchester City hotshot in 2020 after learning he was the emerging 19-year-old star’s hero.
      Michu is ‘honoured’ that the 22-year-old superstar idolised him as a kidCredit: EPA
      The pair swapped shirts before the striker came to Manchester
      Teen superstar Haaland used to tag himself as Michu
      Haaland, now 22, scored a record staggering 38 league goals in his debut season in English football.
      And he’s already got this campaign off to a flyer – netting a double against Burnley in the season’s opener.
      He signed a five-year contract until 2027, after arriving for £51million in June, and City are already preparing an extension offer.
      The Norway striker has always idolised the once-capped Spaniard – he used to tag himself as Michu in some of his footy Instagram photos as a teenager.
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      And ex-Prem forward Michu told Cadena SER about meeting the young Haaland in Germany before his big move.
      Michu said: “I gave him a Burgos shirt and he gave me a Borussia [Dortmund] shirt.
      “I’m glad he’s having that impact in England, he’s going to be a star at European level with [Kylian] Mbappe. They’re going to reign like [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano [Ronaldo] did.
      “For me it is an honour that a footballer of this level had me as a reference when I was younger.
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      “If he doesn’t have any serious injuries, he could be playing 13 or 15 more seasons at the highest level.
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      “If all goes well, he will score more than 300 goals.”
      When asked if Haaland will play in Michu’s native Spain, the 37-year-old reckons he WILL end up in LaLiga.
      He added: “Surely he will end up playing sooner or later in our league.
      “Although with the conditions he has, it doesn’t matter where he plays, he will always score goals.”
      Haaland has previously been reported to possess a clause in his contract that will allow him to LEAVE Manchester City for Real Madrid.
      And Fernando Sanz, a former Real player and ex-president of LaLiga club Malaga, claims Los Blancos will have the upper hand in 2024.
      Michu starred for Swansea in the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      ‘Don’t call him that!’ – Lionel Messi told Argentina teammates to stop calling Alexis Mac Allister ‘ginger’

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      ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER has revealed Lionel Messi told their Argentina team-mates to stop poking fun at his red hair.The £55million Liverpool signing was referred to as ginger by his La Albiceleste team-mates following his call-up to the squad in the summer of 2019.
      Alexis Mac Allister made his Argentina debut in 2019
      And the Liverpool star’s international team-mates poked fun at his red hairCredit: AP
      But skipper Lionel Messi quickly put an end to thatCredit: AFP
      Mac Allister – the son of former Boca Juniors star Carlos – took exception to the nickname, so much so that Messi demanded the team stop using it.
      Last year, the ex-Brighton man told The Athletic: “I trained with him [Messi] when I was in the Argentinian squad twice, but I didn’t play with him.
      “It was fantastic, the same as in the matches he trains. It’s something you cannot believe.
      “I remember everyone called me ‘Colo’, which is ginger in Argentina.
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      “I don’t like it much and he told the team-mates that.
      “He said, ‘He doesn’t like to be called Colo, so don’t call him that!’”
      Mac Allister, 24, was called up to the Argentina squad in August 2019 and made his debut against Chile the following month.
      But he was more nervous about meeting seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi than debuting for his country.
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      He said of his first meeting with the Inter Miami ace: “I was red, completely red.
      “I didn’t want even to say hello. I was really nervous even to meet one of the best players in the world, but it was fantastic, of course.
      “It’s something I’m not going to forget. It was magic when my dad played with [Diego] Maradona and I could train with Lionel Messi. We are very proud of it.”
      Mac Allister played an integral role in helping Argentina lift the World Cup in Qatar.
      He was one of the key work engines that allowed Messi the freedom to win the tournament for the South Americans.
      Mac Allister also contributed one goal and one assist, most notably setting up Angel Di Maria for Argentina’s second goal in the final.
      Mac Allister was in awe of Messi when he first met himCredit: Reuters More