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      in Soccer

      Neymar may never win Ballon D’Or but Brazil have dazzling young talents in Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Lucas Paqueta

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      NEYMAR is the only Brazilian name on the list of candidates to win this year’s Ballon D’Or.But it would be an error to read too much into that statement.
      Neymar may never win the Ballon d’Or in his lifetimeCredit: Getty
      Firstly, because the whole award thing attracts more interest than it is truly worth.
      The quest to win the player of the year prize has almost certainly been an unnecessary burden that Neymar has had to carry.
      He was born into the era when it seemed like a Brazilian birthright – Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka all have a statue on their mantelpiece. 
      But, as Lionel Messi has always understood, these prizes are secondary, an acknowledgement of work well  in a collective context. 
      In a team sport as fluid as football, it would be unwise to give too much importance to individual gongs.
      Secondly because the absence of Neymar’s Paris Saint Germain team-mate Marquinhos is hard to explain. Is there a better centre back around? 
      Perhaps Marquinhos suffers from being so good in his own low profile way that his qualities are not shouting loudly.
      And maybe it is a waste for such a class defender to be playing for PSG.
      And thirdly because Neymar is not going to be on his own for long.
      The evidence of the last few days highlights that there is a new Brazilian generation ready to climb the heights.
      Eyebrows were raised a few years back when Real Madrid paid big money for Vinicius Junior, who at the time had not even made his professional debut for Brazilian club Flamengo.
      What seemed like a rash gamble has turned into a good piece of business. The pace of Vinicius terrifies defenders. If his finishing could still do with some improvement, that is hardly a surprise.
      The marriage of precision with pace will never be an easy one, and Vinicius moves so quickly that it can be hard to keep his head still when he closes in on goal.
      But he is getting better – which is a worrying thought for full backs everywhere.
      Vinicius Jr was a thorn in Barcelona’s side in el classicoCredit: Getty
      Vinicius was in full flight for Real Madrid as they won Sunday’s super-classico, while, in a very different way, his compatriot Rodrygo was another headache for the Barcelona defence.
      Without the bursting athleticism of Vinicius, Rodrygo is sleek, classy, clever, and increasingly willing to put in a full shift.
      He is a dazzling talent, and it will be fascinating to see how he develops.
      Brazil had a quick look at Rodrygo a couple of years back, but he has not been called into the national squad of late. Left footed winger Antony has been named in the squad, and did well off the bench in this month’s FIFA dates.
      Ajax is proving a good destination for a player who had a tendency to be infuriatingly individualistic, and he was on the scoresheet in Sunday’s win over PSV Eindhoven.
      Lucas Paqueta, meanwhile, did not score for Lyon at the weekend – he was on target in the Champions League in midweek – but is enjoying a fine year.
      Milan, his first European destination, was a predictable challenge.
      The tall left footed attacking midfielder is versatile and classy, but has had a lot of maturing to do.
      He has had to cut down on attacks of adolescent petulance – he turned up late for the game in midweek and was punished by spending the first half on the bench.
      But he is undoubtedly blossoming. Indeed, his understanding with Neymar is one of the triumphs of the Brazil side.
      Another triumph is the rarity with which they are conceding goals. It is hard to score against Brazil.
      A large part of that has to do with Marquinhos and the collection of fine keepers that Brazil have available.
      Lucas Paqueta at Lyon has shown his qualityCredit: EPA

      But some credit is also due to Eder Militao, who is pushing Thiago Silva very hard for a place in the starting line up.
      The Real Madrid centre back has wonderful recovery speed, and shut out Barcelona until stoppage time, when Sergio Aguero grabbed a consolation goal.
      Now that Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane have moved on, Militao is getting solid game time and proving himself worthy of it.
      This is good news for Real Madrid, and good news for Brazil.
      Defence goes a long way to winning titles, and if Brazil can end a 20 year wait and land the Qatar World Cup, then the chances of a Brazilian receiving the Ballon D’Or are undoubtedly improved.
      Huge mob of furious Barcelona fans surround Ronald Koeman’s car outside Nou Camp after El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid More

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      in Soccer

      Cesc Fabregas’ stunning Wag Daniella Semaan is 12-years older, a mum of five and has been called Queen of the Wags

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      SHE is the gorgeous Lebanese-born mother of five who is married to ex-Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas.Daniella Semaan is one hell of Wag, turning heads wherever she goes with her sultry looks and enviable figure.
      Stunning Daniella Semaan turns heads wherever she goesCredit: Instagram @daniellasemaan
      Age is nothing but a number for Daniella Semaan and Cesc FabregasCredit: Instagram @daniellasemaan
      The glamorous Wag was dating the Chelsea star for seven years before he popped the question back in 2017.
      But Daniella also has a feisty side that would appeal to any red-blooded male. So, what is it that charmed the Blues star?
      She’s 12-years Cesc’s senior…
      EITHER Cesc is a big fan of Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate or he has a penchant for the older lady.
      Beautiful Daniella is 46-years-old, but she certainly doesn’t look it at all with a body to die for.
      It’s easy to see how Cesc, 34, fell for her charms and she’s definitely a sophisticated gal, who likes to be wined and dined.
      And if you’re into star signs, she was born on June 4 which makes her a Gemini.
      Geminis are famed for being talkative, passionate, witty and independent, so Cesc certainly has his hands full.
      Daniella Semaan loves the luxurious things in lifeCredit: Instagram @daniellasemaan
      Daniella Semaan is one of the most fashionable Wags aroundCredit: Instagram @daniellasemaan
      A mother-of-five…
      DANIELLA and Cesc began their love affair in 2011 and since then they’ve had three children.
      First to come along was their daughter Lea.
      They added Capri to their brood in 2015, and Daniella gave birth to their third kid, Leonardo back in 2017.
      Daniella also has two children from a previous relationship with ex-husband Elie Taktouk, called Maria and Joseph.
      Cesc Fabregas and Daniella Semaan have had 3 kids togetherCredit: Instagram @daniellasemaan
      Controversially met…
      DANIELLA and Cesc first set eyes on each other in Japanese restaurant Nozomi in London’s super-wealthy Knightsbridge area.
      She revealed how she approached his table to ask for an autograph for her football-mad son, Joseph. The pair soon swapped numbers.
      However, according to reports and who you believe, Barcelona’s wags have a different story to tell.
      Cesc Fabregas and Daniella Semaan met in a fancy Knightsbridge restaurantCredit: GC Images – Getty
      Daniella Semaan has a body to die forCredit: Fame Flynet
      They said that Daniella hip-swayed towards Cesc’s table with a hand-written note with her number on it, left the piece of paper on his table and sashayed away.
      But, according to her millionaire London-based businessman ex-husband Taktouk, she was still married at the time.
      Taktouk also alleged that he and Daniella were trying for a baby.
      It was alleged that Cesc Fabregas and Daniella Semaan had an affairCredit: Splash News

      There was a legal battle…
      IT ALL got a bit messy for Daniella, Cesc and her ex-husband.
      Taktouk suggested Cesc and Daniella had an affair in a court battle over the proceeds of their 13-year marriage.
      He also said Daniella lied to a judge by claiming Cesc didn’t fund her extravagant lifestyle.
      Things got messy for Daniella Semaan and Cesc Fabregas in a legal divorce battleCredit: Reuters
      Cesc Fabregas and Daniella Semaan show their love for one another at the Nou CampCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Taktouk wanted a reversal on an order that said he must sell the home they shared.
      He was left further furious when he listed the home and a bid of £5.4m was made on the property by a company belonging to Cesc, which he rejected.
      Cesc and Daniella won their legal battle in the end, the Belgravia flat was sold and she was awarded £1.4 million.
      Ex-husband Elie Taktouk was forced to sell the pair’s Belgravia flat after acrimonious court case
      Cesc Fabregas and Daniella Semaan are one of football’s most glamorous couplesCredit: Instagram @daniellasemaan
      Don’t mess with her…
      SUPERMODEL, and former squeeze of Leo DiCaprio, Bar Refaeli felt Daniella’s wrath back in 2012.
      The Israeli stunner was hanging around Barcelona’s star players, attending the Nou Camp regularly and tweeting about it.
      Bar even posed with players including Fabregas, Pique, Messi and Xavi in snaps she shared online.
      Barcelona’s famed Wags were in uproar, but only Daniella spoke out to save the day.
      She tweeted: “Some models obsession about certain player is becoming ridiculous… some respects please !”
      And Daniella had the support of then Barca midfielder Thiago’s girlfriend Julia Vigas, who shared Daniella’s tweet.
      Now, if that isn’t girl power we don’t know what is.
      Daniella Semaan stood up for wag Antonella Roccuzzo against Bar RefaeliCredit: Instagram @daniellasemaan
      Daniella Semaan shows off her enviable figure in a stunning bikiniCredit: Instagram @daniellasemaan

      Queen of the Wags…

      WELL, we’re calling her that because she’s certainly use to life’s luxuries.
      Back in Barcelona, when she first began dating Cesc, Daniella was often seen zooming around the most prestigious streets of the city in his Ferrari.
      She was a well-known shopper and all the designer stores in the Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona’s answer to Bond Street, knew her.
      Her particular favourite shop was Chopard, where she would often buy expensive jewellery.
      Daniella Semaan knows how to live like a WagCredit: Instagram @cescf4bregas
      Lady in red… Daniella Semaan is fiery and feistyCredit: Dan Kennedy – The Sun
      However, it wasn’t all plain-sailing with the wags… just ask Andres Iniesta’s missus, Anna Ortiz.
      At their 2012 wedding, Daniella turned heads in a cleavage-revealing purple silk dress that was slashed to the hip.
      There were whispers that she had tried to steal the limelight from the bride, but it all blew over quickly.
      Daniella Semaan and Cesc Fabregas got engaged after 7 years togetherCredit: Reuters
      And finally…
      DANIELLA isn’t popular online. In fact, she was once a target for a hate campaign in her native Lebanon.
      In a spiteful war she’s had on Twitter with someone calling themselves Doctor Lebanon, she’s been labelled a “gold-digger” as well as a “soulless cougar” in several nasty attacks.
      Daniella Semaan is a hate-figure for cyber trolls in LebanonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Daniella Semaan landed the man of her dreams in Cesc FabregasCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The cyber troll appears to have intimate knowledge of Daniella, having grown up near her in the small village of Miziara.
      Whoever Doctor Lebanon is, it takes a brave mortal to take on this tough chick.
      And they’d certainly have Fabregas to answer to too.
      Cesc Fabregas claims only two players were on his level at end of Arsenal career and reveals he cried after losses More

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      in Soccer

      Man Utd star Harry Maguire could have been an accountant but has still made a fortune with his ‘massive head’

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      Manchester United captain cost an astronomical figure.But, the mind-boggling figures should be no problem for Harry Maguire who could’ve traded a football career for being an accountant, according to his former teacher.
      Maguire became the most expensive defender in the world after signing for United in 2019Credit: Getty – Contributor
      But Maguire, nicknamed slab-head, could have been an accountant, his former teacher revealedCredit: PA:Press Association
      The burly 6ft 4in defender was a revelation at Leicester City and one of the first names on the team sheet for England, but when he was a kid he was a numbers whizz.
      So good in fact that Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer splashed out £85million to bring him to Old Trafford.
      Maguire, 28, attended St Mary’s Catholic High School in Chesterfield, where he excelled with his studies.
      “He was a remarkable pupil who always came in and worked very hard,” Sue Cain, deputy headteacher at the school told the Derbyshire Times.
      “He was never in any trouble and he had such a good attitude. He did everything you asked him to do and he never questioned why. He was a popular lad.”
      The brainy centre half ended up scoring high grades in his exams, including in maths which is where Cain believed he had a future.
      “He got A* and A grades in his GCSEs,” she revealed.
      “I think he would have gone on to study business or maths and probably have been an accountant.”
      In the end, the Sheffield-born star chose football, even though he showed promise at cross-country running, rugby and table tennis as a pupil.

      A keen runner as a kid, Harry Maguire, left, shone at school sports dayCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
      Maguire, second row first from the right, was a brain box at schoolCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
      His former PE teacher, Martin McKee said he was destined to become a footballer.
      “He could really dominate a game from central midfield,” he divulged.
      “He had an aura about him. He could dribble around everyone if he wanted to.”
      FAMILY AFFAIR
      Level-headed Maguire might’ve left the school 10 years ago, but he’s still very much part of their fabric.
      He returns regularly, giving talks to the boys about his experiences and presented his former teachers with a signed shirt.
      It’s the same school his brother Laurence, who plays for Chesterfield, attended. Their sister, Daisy, 19, was also taught at St Mary’s.
      Football in the Maguire clan is a family trait. Another brother Joe, 27, was last seen playing for non league side Buxton FC.
      But it’s Harry who’s earning all the plaudits now and he’s had to work hard to get where he is today.
      As a youngster he looked up to the likes of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, knowing that he had to work hard on his distribution to be taken seriously in the modern game.
      On his last trip to the school, Maguire presented a signed shirt to former PE teacher, Martin McKee and Deputy Headteacher, Sue CainCredit: Glenn Ashley Photography
      As a teenager, Maguire starred for boyhood club Sheffield UnitedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      At The Blades, Maguire won their Player of the Season award three years in a rowCredit: PA:Press Association
      HE ACHIEVED HIS DREAM
      He fulfilled a childhood dream by playing for Sheffield United, where he came through their youth system.
      In his first full season, he helped the Blades into the playoffs as they attempted to gain promotion from League One.
      A heartbreaking penalty shootout loss in the final to Huddersfield Town in 2012 dampened his spirits slightly.
      However, Maguire’s contribution was well-received, and he was named both their Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year during a remarkable nine month spell.
      Sporty Maguire launches a shot put during sports practiceCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
      Maguire’s presented with a house awardCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
      Soon, Maguire was playing in the Premier League with Hull CityCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Maguire scored his first Premier League goal against MiddlesbroughCredit: Reuters
      For the next two years, he was crowned Player of the Year as his star continued to grow.
      PREMIER LEAGUE REGULAR
      In 2014, Steve Bruce, a commanding centre half in his day, decided to splash £2.5m on the promising talent.
      That’s where Maguire continued a trend of rising to a tougher challenge.
      In 2016, he made his Premier League debut with Hull City – becoming a regular when Marco Silva took charge.
      Harry Maguire become an England hero at the World CupCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Fearless defender Maguire helped England reach the semi-finals of the 2018 World CupCredit: Getty – Contributor
      It was a tumultuous season for The Tigers, who in the end were relegated, but for Maguire, personally, it was another landmark.
      Showing his leadership qualities, he captained the East Yorkshire side to victory against Middlesbrough in April 2017 in a 4-2 win.
      He also scored his first Premier League goal – a bullet header – that’s become something of a trademark.
      In 2017, Leicester City secured Maguire’s services for £17m, which had some experts in the game questioning his transfer fee.
      But Maguire instantly became a hero on the pitch with the Foxes. His heart and desire earning him the Players’ Player of the Season, as well as Fans’ Player of the Year in his first season.
      Goals from headers have become Maguire’s trademarkCredit: Reuters
      Leicester City paid £17m for Maguire’s services in 2017Credit: Reuters
      A fearless competitor, Maguire’s a hard grafter on the training pitchCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Maguire modelled his distribution on the likes of John Terry and Rio FerdinandCredit: Getty – Contributor
      His commitment to the cause – Maguire played every minute of the 2017-18 campaign – was adored by his supporters.
      HE’S NOT VERY SHOWBIZ
      Off the pitch, Maguire lives his personal life privately.
      He does have a glamorous Wag in tow, the beautiful Fern Hawkins – a physiotherapy graduate – who rose to fame after she was seen cheering him on in Russia from the stands.
      The pair regularly pose for loved-up selfies on social media, but Maguire is normally one to shun the limelight and glitzy life.
      In 2019, they became parents for the first time – and Maguire shared a snap of his daughter Lillie Saint on Instagram.
      A year later they added Piper Rose to their family.
      Fern Hawkins is Harry Maguire’s stunning girlfriendCredit: Instagram
      Every inch a Wag, Hawkins shares snaps of her glamorous life on social mediaCredit: Instagram
      Hawkins rose to fame cheering on Maguire from the stands at World Cup 2018Credit: Getty – Contributor
      Despite sharing some snaps on social media, Maguire does like to keep his private life personal
      Maguire got engaged to Hawkins in 2018Credit: Instagram @_fernhawkins
      In 2019 Maguire shared an image of his daughter on social mediaCredit: Instagram @_fernhawkins

      But don’t be fooled into thinking he’s all showbiz now. After all, we’re talking about a man who once reported for England duty with two carrier bags full of his stuff that trended on Twitter. That picture got him a rollicking from his mum.
      “I’ve seen the picture on Twitter with the bags. It was just full of boots and shin pads and dirty stuff which I’ll give the kit man,” he said at the time.

      “I’ll try and get some better luggage in future. My mum mentioned it. She sent me a text later on saying ‘what’s with the bags?’”
      Should he move to Old Trafford, he can certainly ask Paul Pogba for some luggage advice.
      However, it’s hard to imagine modest ‘slab-head’ being affected by a big-money transfer to start splashing the cash on designer luggage.
      Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer comments on defence void without Maguire as Lindelof and Bailly try to fill void More

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      in Soccer

      Meet Amanda Staveley, Newcastle takeover leader and former model who rejected Prince Andrew’s marriage proposal

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      AMANDA STAVELEY has led the Saudi Arabia-backed consortium trying to take over Newcastle United since 2017.Finally, the mega-connected businesswoman has been successful – with the £300m Toon takeover now completed.
      Businesswoman and former model Amanda Staveley led the Saudi-based takeover of NewcastleCredit: Camera Press
      Staveley met Prince Andrew in 2001 and they dated for two yearsCredit: Rex Features
      Staveley, herself, and her PCP Capital Partners firm are set to take a 10 per cent stake in the club as part of the deal, and she will take her seat on the board.
      But behind-the-scenes, the Yorkshire-born financier, 48, is battling a crippling brain disease that can lead to dementia.
      She was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease in 2013, for which there is no cure.
      And before she made her foray into the football world, Amanda was courted by ‘Randy Andy’ Prince Andrew.
      However, two years later the former blonde model, who stands 6ft tall in heels, turned down his hand in marriage because she didn’t want to become a Royal.
      THE MEETING PLACE
      In 2000, Staveley launched Q.ton – a health club, gym, restaurant and conference centre in the Cambridge Science Park for £10million.
      A year later, Andrew, then a UK trade ambassador, went to the science park with King Abdullah of Jordan, one of its many investors, and met Staveley for the first time.
      Immediately besotted by her beauty and intelligence, Andrew took her number and they began dating.
      The relationship was beneficial for both parties – Amanda was introduced to Andrew’s contacts book, while he reportedly enjoyed inaugurating her into his inner circle.
      According to reports, she called him “Babe”, while he sent her racy jokes in text messages and emails.
      Andrew soon became entranced by Staveley reportedly sending her racy text messagesCredit: Camera Press
      Andrew loved introducing Staveley to his high-society friendsCredit: Rex Features
      Andrew was so entranced by his new love, Staveley was invited to Buckingham Palace and Sandringham, while she also helped decorate his home in Windsor Great Park.
      The Queen and Prince Philip were believed to be delighted for Andrew, and gave Staveley their seal of approval.
      However, he couldn’t get her down the aisle. In 2003, she politely declined his marriage proposal.
      “Andrew’s a lovely man and I still care for him a great deal,” she told the Daily Mail.
      “But if I’d married him, my independence would have disappeared.”
      HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE
      In 2013, Amanda was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease – a degenerative disorder that affects people later in life.
      When the cruel illness takes effect, sufferers’ brain functions begin to slowly decline and mood swings, memory loss, as well as involuntary body movements are just some of the symptoms she could face.
      She was told by doctors that the disease is dormant, but could be triggered through stress and pressure at work.
      Amanda discovered she had inherited the Huntington’s gene from her mum Lyne – a former champion show-jumper – when she was tested before starting her own family at 37.
      In 2011, Staveley married Iranian businessman Mehrdad GhodoussiCredit: Robert Shack Photography
      Staveley suffers from Huntington’s diseaseCredit: Rex Features
      She credits husband Ghodoussi for being patient with herCredit: Avalon.red. All rights reserved.
      “The stress brings on the onset of the disease, and the disease is fatal,” she revealed to the Mail on Sunday.
      And she is the first to admit it has made her difficult for her husband, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, who she married in 2011.
      “I have the most incredibly patient and loving husband. I didn’t want to get married when I found out about the disease – but he said he didn’t care, and that we would find the best medical care available.”
      Although, rather strangely, Huntington’s made Amanda better with numbers when she was a City dealmaker with Barclays bank.

      “It’s actually very useful because I’ve never needed a calculator,” she said.
      “The Barclays guys were always shocked that I could do complicated financial models in my head. I thought I was just good with numbers – it turns out I was sick.”OVERCOMING ADVERSITIES
      Before she could count the likes of Simon Cowell and Sir Philip Green as mates, and was whisked around in a chauffeur-driven £250,000 Rolls Royce Phantom, Staveley had to overcome adversity as a teenager.
      Incredibly, she was accepted at Cambridge University aged just 16 – after completing her A-Levels in one year.
      But Amanda had to drop out after suffering a number of setbacks.
      Staveley has accrued a wealth of £120m and can count on mates including Sir Philip Green and Simon CowellCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Aged 16 Staveley was accepted to Cambridge UniversityCredit: Rex Features
      Her dad Robert Staveley, a north Yorkshire landowner who founded the Lightwater Valley theme park, suffered a heart attack.
      And her mum’s Huntington’s illness reared its ugly head, and she had her own personal issues to deal with too.
      “When I got to university my dad had a heart attack, my mum was very ill with Huntington’s, and I also had an eating disorder,” she said.
      “I was educated at a girls private school – Queen Margaret’s in York – and I found being educated with men at university very tough. I had a psychologist, I was sectioned, my weight dropped and I didn’t know how to cope.”
      MAKING CONTACTS
      At the age of 23, Staveley managed to convince a bank to lend her £180,000 to set up her own restaurant.
      Stocks was launched in the village of Bottisham, Cambridgeshire, where Amanda took on the role of chef and waitress – often working till 4am to make sure she was prepped for the next day.
      But, despite her long hours, it didn’t deter her from studying for her City exams with ambitions to become a financial adviser, as well as fulfilling modelling duties for extra cash.
      With its proximity to the Newmarket Racecourse, Stocks became a haunt for the flat-racing fraternity.
      Members of the Dubai-ruling family, the Maktoums, who own the Godolphin Stables, were regulars.
      Arab princes and dotcom tycoons from ‘Silicon Fen’ – a nickname given to a region of Cambridgeshire which is home to a cluster of high-tech businesses, were also customers.
      Staveley’s first business venture was Stocks restaurantCredit: 2008 AFP
      Over the years Staveley built up an enviable contacts bookCredit: PA:Press Association

      And with such high-prestige clientele, Staveley was well-placed to pick up an enviable contacts book when she finished her studies.
      Since her Stocks days, she has amassed a personal fortune worth around £120million, has a home in Dubai and a luxury apartment on Park Lane.
      Soon, she may just add a Quayside penthouse overlooking the Tyne to her property portfolio.
      Newcastle United Supporters Trust welcome proposed Saudi takeover More

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      in Motorsport

      The glamorous wives and girlfriends of F1’s biggest stars, from a Spice Girl to Italian model and jewellery designer

      by

      F1 is one of the most glamorous sports in the world.Not only does it attract the lavish sponsors and wealthiest people, it’s also a magnet for stunning women.
      F1 star Max Verstappen with glam girlfriend Kelly PiquetCredit: Instagram @kellypiquet
      From the drivers all the way up to the team principals, men in motorsport are cheered on by beauty.
      Here’s SunSport’s guide to the most amazing Wags in F1, from pop stars to models and even an adventurer.
      GERI HORNER
      The wife of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, Geri is much more famous than her husband.
      She rose to prominence as one of the Spice Girls in the 1990s, selling over 100 million records worldwide.
      ‘Ginger Spice’, now 49, is happier at home with her husband and their family – baking treats in the kitchen.
      However, she has been seen on the circuit supporting her man.
      Geri was famous in the 90s as Ginger Spice in the Spice GirlsCredit: Getty
      Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is married to GeriCredit: Getty
      SARA PAGLIAROLI
      Gorgeous Sara, 26, is the girlfriend of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.
      The pair began dating earlier this year, and she has become a permanent fixture by his side at the Grand Prix.
      The Italian is a model, and regularly shares shoots on social media to her 160,000 plus followers.
      She also launched her own jewellery line during the coronavirus pandemic called Blue Lemon Jewels.
      Sara Pagliaroli is an Italian model and social influencerCredit: Instagram @sarapagliaroli
      Pagliaroli began dating Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll this yearCredit: Getty
      CAMILA KENDRA
      Back in August, Kendra, 27, was linked to Lewis Hamilton.
      The Dominican Republic-born model posted a selfie in his property in Colorado and was wearing his shirt.
      Her rep denied they were dating one another, and so far it’s all gone hush hush.
      Camila Kendra is the Dominican Republic model linked with Lewis HamiltonCredit: Instagram
      Camila, 27, posted a snap in which she wore his shirtCredit: Instagram
      ELENA BERRI
      Hot on the heels of Kendra is the very beautiful Elena.
      A self-admitted fitness addict, crypto currency expert and fashion lover, she shares her glam life to 60,000 followers on Instagram.
      23-year-old Berri’s boyfriend is Frenchman Esteban Ocon of Alpine.
      They began dating in 2018.
      Elena Berri is a crypto currency expert and fashion loverCredit: Instagram @elenaberri_
      Berri dates Frenchman Esteban Ocon of AlpineCredit: Getty
      LINDA MORSELLI
      Brunette Morselli, 32, was one of 30 finalists for Miss Italia in 2006.
      From there, she began a TV career in her homeland and embarked on a romance with motorcycle legend Valentino Rossi, which thrusted her into the limelight.
      Since 2016, Linda has been two-time F1 champ Fernando Alonso’s girlfriend.
      She loves skydiving and calls herself an adventure traveler.
      Former Miss Italia finalist Linda Morselli calls herself an adventure travellerCredit: Instagram @lalindaa
      Morselli is the girlfriend of Spanish star Fernando AlonsoCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      KATERINA BEREZHNA
      Ukrainian beauty Berezhna is dating French driver Pierre Gasly, after his split with Caterina Masetti Zannini earlier this year.
      The 22-year-old calls Madrid and Marbella her home and has her own jewellery line, Imerelli Jewelry.
      However, she keeps her romance with Gasly on the down-low, rarely sharing any snaps together.
      Beautiful Katerina is a jewellery designerCredit: Instagram@katerinaberezhna
      Pierre Gasly and Katerina in a rare picture togetherCredit: Instagram@katerinaberezhna
      HANNA PRATER
      Sebastian Vettel met German beauty Hanna in school and have been together ever since.
      They live in a medieval-style farmhouse in Switzerland and have two daughters together, Emily and Matilda.
      She is a former industrial design student who doesn’t seek the limelight like other F1 Wags.
      Hanna Prater and Sebastian Vettel met in schoolCredit: AFP – Getty
      MINTTU RAIKKONEN
      Minttu has been married to Kimi Raikkonen since 2016.
      A former air-hostess, she is now a personal trainer and fitness model.
      The pair met through mutual friends and, according to reports, sparks instantly flew.
      Minttu Raikkonen is a former flight attendantCredit: Instagram
      Kimi Raikkonen and Minttu have been married since 2016Credit: Getty – Contributor
      TIFFANY CROMWELL
      Since 2020, cyclist Cromwell, 33, has seeing Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas.
      She competed in Tokyo 2020, her first Olympics for the Australia road cycling team.
      Although she was highest place finisher for her country, she finished well outside the medal positions in 26th.
      Tiffany Cromwell is a professional road cyclistCredit: Getty
      Since 2020, Cromwell has dated Valtteri BotasCredit: Getty
      CARMEN MONTERO MUNDT
      Montero Mundt is originally from London, and is the partner of Brit George Russell.
      The pair were seen in St Barts together kissing on a sunlounger and frolicking in the sea.
      She graduated from the University of Westminster with a Bachelor’s degree in business management and finance.
      George Russell and Carmen Montero Mundt look glam at the No Time To Die premiereCredit: Getty
      Montero Mundt often joins Russell on the circuitCredit: Rex
      KELLY PIQUET
      F1 championship challenger Max Verstappen has Brazilian model Kelly Piquet, 32, in his corner.
      She used to date Russian racing driver Daniil Kvyat, and they had a child together in 2019.
      But after they split, Piquet began dating the Dutch Red Bull driver in 2020.
      She is the daughter of Nelson Piquet, a three-time F1 world champion.
      Kelly Piquet is the daughter of three-time F1 champ Nelson PiquetCredit: Instagram @kellypiquet
      Max Verstappen and piquet have been dating since last yearCredit: Instagram @kellypiquet

      CHARLOTTE SINE
      Architecture students don’t get any more glam than Charlotte, 22, who is based in Monaco.
      She is the girlfriend of Charles Leclerc, who finished in a respectable fourth place at the Turkish Grand Prix.
      They met in Monaco when they were teenagers, with her parents living next door to Charles’ mum.
      In recent years, Charlotte has also launched her own shoe line.
      Charlotte Sine, 22, is originally from MonacoCredit: Instagram @charlottesiine
      Sine dates fellow Monaco resident Charles LeclercCredit: AFP
      Racing legend Lewis Hamilton shows off his LA house More

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      in Soccer

      Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s teachers at Orchards Academy knew he was destined for the top

      by

      RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK is realising his potential in the heart of the Chelsea midfield.The Blues star, 25, excelled against Brentford as the Champions League holders held on for three points, and has become one of the first names on Thomas Tuchel’s teamsheet.
      Ruben Loftus-Cheek attended Orchards Academy in Kent from 2007
      His form wouldn’t have gone unnoticed at Orchards Academy in Swanley, Kent, where Loftus-Cheek went to school from the ages of 11-16.
      SunSport dropped into the mixed secondary institution, approximately 15 miles southeast from Central London to find out more on the national team’s new hero.
      Humble, focused and determined, we learned he was always destined to become a footballer, according to his former tutors who have watched his steady-rise from Chelsea youth player to first team starter and England international.

      As a pupil at Orchards Academy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek excelled at number of sports
      A natural-born athlete, Loftus-Cheek could’ve gone into a number of sports professionally, including tennis, Head of PE Stuart Nicholson revealed.
      Nicholson, 45, taught his young protege for six years, helping him grow as a man and as a sportsman on the field.
      Loftus-Cheek was already on Chelsea’s books by then, but that didn’t stunt his determination in conquering all at sports day in 2009.
      Nicholson told SunSport: “As a young man, he was impressive. But on the football pitch, he was incredible.
      At sports day, Ruben Loftus-Cheek was form captain and was victorious
      “Ruben was a wonderful footballer from the first time I saw him, he had natural ability.
      “First time I met him, he was already associated with Chelsea, who I believe he joined when he was eight or nine.
      “He played for a local team in Swanley and was scouted very early and everyone could see in those days he had exceptional talent from day one.
      “He played a few times, but he didn’t play every game. Most of the time he was training with Chelsea.
      Orchards Academy’s Head of PE Stuart Nicholson taught Ruben Loftus-CheekCredit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun
      “But when he did play, he played with a very successful team. In that year group, he played with a good standard of boys.
      “Many of those went on to play semi-professional and at a good standard locally.
      “But they weren’t just good at football. They were all-rounders, good at cricket and cross-country.

      “Ruben, himself, was very good at table-tennis, long-distance running and tennis.
      “I think he had the potential to go into any sporting area he chose, but I think football was the one for him.
      Stuart Nicholson revealed Ruben Loftus-Cheek was an all-round sportsmanCredit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun
      “He was so dedicated, you could see that from 12-years-old, to be the best he could be.
      “Ruben was the form captain and his form group, unsurprisingly, won at sports day.
      “He received the trophy because he was the captain.
      “It wouldn’t have been just him, his classmates participated too, but he was certainly the top man in terms of the athletics events he was in.”
      When Loftus-Cheek did turn out for his school team, he was literally head-and-shoulders above the rest. He didn’t quite fit his now 6’3″frame, but he wasn’t far off.
      Nicholson recalled one performance that had a teacher from a rival school purring about his pupils’ skills.
      “We played a school from Bromley away in the Kent Cup and I remember Ruben really stood out.
      “It was an early round and his performance was incredible. He was playing this team almost entirely on his own.
      Ruben Loftus-Cheek recently visited Orchards Academy to greet staff and their pupils
      “The opposition’s PE teacher came up to me and asked me questions about who this boy was that he’d just seen because he was incredible.
      “I don’t think he gave away a pass once in that game, and we were playing a school that was bigger and had a better football reputation.
      “The opposing teacher couldn’t quite believe what he had witnessed.
      “He played central midfield for us back then.
      “He was always very athletic and extremely fit. At times he’d play passes that people didn’t even see.
      Orchards Academy is in Swanley, KentCredit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun
      “He was a level beyond everyone else on the pitch. He’d see things on the pitch that other people, including myself, couldn’t see.
      “But after a few seconds of the ball going into that area, you would realise. He was four, five, six steps ahead of everyone.”
      In 2010, Loftus-Cheek was selected for the England under-15s team – a dream for any football-obsessed teenager.
      However, when Nicholson pulled the aspiring footballer out of the classroom to share the good news, Loftus-Cheek was remarkably calm when told of his achievement.
      The school football pitch which Ruben Loftus-Cheek showed off his skillsCredit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun
      It was almost like he had expected it to happen.
      “On one occasion, when he was selected by the England under-15s team, I got notification via an email from the English Schools’ Football Association,” Nicholson explained.
      “I was ecstatic for him, so I went to see Ruben in class, got him out of the lesson to tell him the incredible news.
      “I shook his hand and said congratulations. He was quite nonchalant, he accepted it, but seemed to know it was going to happen.
      PE teachers (from left-to-right) Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Nicholson, Miss Haworth and Mr. Halsey are all delighted by Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s progressCredit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun
      “He always knew he had a chance of making it professionally, I’m sure of that.”
      Nicholson praised Loftus-Cheek for setting an example for students at Orchards Academy who fantasise about becoming a Premier League star.
      He also confessed it’s inspiring for all the teachers too.
      “It gives everybody a lift in the school.
      Ruben Loftus-Cheek likes to return to Orchards Academy for sports day to hand out trophies
      “Everyone is always talking about his achievements.
      “And that’s not only the pupils, the staff get a lift too. It shows the students what they can achieve.
      “I know he was exceptionally gifted, but fundamentally he’s just a normal young man who has worked hard and has gone to the top.”
      Now that Loftus-Cheek has made it, you could be forgiven for thinking becoming a professional and earning a vast salary would’ve meant he lost touch with his roots.
      Happy to stay in contact with teachers at the Orchards Academy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek signs autographs for the pupils
      But that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, he regularly visits the school, often to attend his favourite event – sports day – to hand out medals to the kids.
      “Ruben comes back for things like sports day to give out trophies,” Nicholson revealed.
      “He stays in contact with the school, knows the developments we’re going through and is always interested in what’s going on.
      “The pupils went on a school trip to Barcelona and he asked how that was and how well the football teams are doing.
      Boys at Orchards Academy couldn’t believe their luck when Ruben Loftus-Cheek dropped into their schoolCredit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun
      “He also joked about wishing he got the chance to go to Barcelona during his time here.
      “Our Year 10 won the local cup and he came in to present them with their trophies too.
      “Then, he spent half an hour taking pictures with the guys and signing autographs.
      “In the afternoon, he hung out with the teachers and after school he played football with the boys in the playground.
      Ruben Loftus-Cheek worked his way into the England squad after impressing Gareth Southgate in friendly matchesCredit: Reuters
      “The boys really loved it because they got to play with an England and Premier League footballer.
      “It was a special moment for them they’re never likely to forget.”
      Construction teacher Paul Gregory, a devout Chelsea fan, also spoke of his delight in seeing a former pupil come of age.
      The 54-year-old echoed Nicholson’s feelings that Orchards Academy couldn’t have a better member of their alumni than Loftus-Cheek.
      Construction teacher Paul Gregory called Ruben Loftus-Cheek an outstanding pupilCredit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun
      “He was an outstanding pupil,” Gregory said.
      “What I liked about him was he was always immaculately dressed, always cared about how he looked and his appearance.
      “He was really helpful with other students, as well as being a really nice kid.
      “I taught woodwork to his really close friends more than him, but they’d all turn up together to class and he was a genuine lad.
      “And being a Chelsea fan, I always used to talk to him about the academy there to see how he was getting on.
      As a Chelsea fan, Paul Gregory had reason to cheer on Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s rapid riseCredit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun
      “He is a fantastic role model for these kids, and the fact he came back and spent hours with the kids, signed every single autograph speaks volumes for him.
      “My son comes to the school and he had a kickabout with him in the playground.
      “And the kids here need that sort of role model, especially in this school, because we are in an unprivileged area.
      “They need that someone to focus on, someone that will help them aspire to be something.”
      Ruben Loftus-Cheek is the perfect role model for kids at Orchards Academy, Paul Gregory revealedCredit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun
      Gregory, who used to coach the school football team, respects the amount of hard work Loftus-Cheek put in to get where he is today.
      He was particularly pleased when he saw his former pupil find the net in a FA Cup against Scunthorpe back in 2016.
      “When he scored his first goal for Chelsea, my wife and my son were all watching the game on the TV.
      “We all cheered, we knew him and it was a great feeling to see someone achieve something like that from such a small school.
      When he made his debut against Germany, Ruben Loftus-Cheek gave Ilkay Gundogan the run aroundCredit: Getty – Contributor
      “I know how much effort he put in, I live locally and would see him running around town or kicking a ball around.
      “He’s a great example of getting through to the kids that if you try hard enough, you can get there. That’s exactly what Ruben did.”
      PE teachers Molly Haworth, 28, and Connor Halsey, 27, hope that Loftus-Cheek’s success rubs off on their current students.
      They were also wowed by his down-to-earth attitude.
      Molly Haworth and Connor Halsey hope Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s success rubs off on their studentsCredit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun
      “He came in to the school recently and all the kids got an instant buzz from him being there,” Molly revealed.
      “He didn’t know then he was going to the World Cup in 2018, but we were sure he was going to get picked.
      “He seemed quite laid-back about it all, but I think deep-down he was a bit nervous about it.
      “When he was walking around the school, he was very cool and chilled out. He spoke a lot about Chelsea and Crystal Palace and enjoying his football.
      Ruben Loftus-Cheek excelled on loan at Crystal Palace from 2017-18Credit: Reuters
      “He grew up round the corner, so he’s just like one of these kids.
      “Their aspirations were encouraged because he was just one of them once upon a time.”
      Connor continued: “He’s very humble.

      “He’s very relaxed, very down-to-earth. It was like we weren’t even sitting in a room with a Premier League footballer when he was with us in the staff room.
      “The kids obviously knew about Ruben coming to Orchards Academy because he comes back regularly for sports day.
      Despite reaching the lofty heights, Ruben Loftus-Cheek has remained humble and down-to-earthCredit: Reuters
      “But you can see the boys who knew who Ruben was were really spurred on by meeting him and what he had to say.
      “Hopefully, they can achieve what he did with that same drive and determination in the future.”
      Before we head out the school gates, our heads dizzier than parents of a star pupil getting glowing references at a parents’ evening, we’re grabbed by Catherine Yelding.
      Catherine Yelding revealed he was a favourite among the girls at Orchards Academy, but he focused on his footballCredit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun
      “I knew Ruben all the way from first year to 16-years-old,” the 54-year-old, who works in student support told us,
      “He was always a really lovely boy, quiet, academic and just really well behaved. He wasn’t a show-off and had a cool, calm, collected personality.
      “I think the girls liked him, but he just had his mind on his career and getting his course work done. He was always very focused.”
      Thomas Tuchel says that Romelu Lukaku is injured and won’t be available for the next few weeks More

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      in Soccer

      Seven craziest moments in Wanda and Mauro Icardi’s romance, from sex 12 times a day to an alleged cheating scandal

      by

      ONE of football’s most glam and controversial couples could be no more.On Sunday evening, stunning Argentine beauty Wanda Nara, 34, took to social media to post a cryptic message, ‘Another family that you have ruined for a s***.’
      Wanda Icardi has reportedly split from husband Mauro IcardiCredit: Instagram / @wanda_icardi
      The Icardis romance reportedly hit the skids after claims the PSG striker cheated on the Argentinian beautyCredit: Instagram / @mauroicardi
      She then unfollowed husband and PSG striker Mauro Icardi on Instagram and reportedly left their home in Paris with her five children and went to Milan.
      The pair’s fiery relationship has been perfect tabloid fodder around the world.
      From the way their romance began with alleged team-mate infidelity to boasts about wild sex 12-times a day and the current cheating scandal, it’s been a rollercoaster of a love affair.
      SunSport takes a look at Wanda and Mauro’s seven craziest moments together.
      A BUMPY START
      Before Mauro, Wanda was married to former Sampdoria and Argentina international Maxi Lopez.
      Icardi arrived at Sampdoria in 2011, where he was warmly welcomed by his fellow countryman and his wife.
      They enjoyed family holidays together and struck up a firm friendship, although by 2013 Lopez and Wanda’s marriage hit the rocks.
      Soon after, Icardi and Wanda were an item, with rumours alleging that they were having an affair behind Lopez’s back.
      But Mauro denied the accusation. “I was a friend of the couple, an acquaintance, and it was all very normal,” he said.
      Maxi Lopez, centre, used to be pals with Icardi and he and Wanda welcomed him on their breaks togetherCredit: Twitter
      Wanda has always denied accusations of infidelityCredit: Instagram / @wanda_icardi
      “After that, Wanda split up and we kept in contact, and it just happened.”
      Wanda seemingly backed up his claim.
      “After the divorce, I had gone back to live in Argentina and already had the kids registered for the new school year,” she said.
      “I had to come back to Milan to finalise some paperwork and he offered to lend me his car, leaving me the keys to his house, too.
      “He asked if I wanted to have dinner with him, but the fridge was empty. I knocked up some pasta and the rest just happened spontaneously.”
      THE WANDA DERBY
      Ahead of the 2013-14 season, Icardi was sold to Serie A rivals Inter Milan.
      It is not known if that deal happened because of friction between Lopez and Icardi, but it can’t have helped.
      Before the campaign came to an end, the soap opera that was their personal lives was played out on the pitch.
      Sampdoria took on Inter, with the Italian media humorously calling the game the ‘Wanda derby’.
      Maxi Lopez snubs Icardi’s handshake in the ‘Wanda derby’Credit: Getty
      Wanda was the object of desire for both Icardi and LopezCredit: Instagram / @wanda_icardi
      As the teams took to the pitch, the players exchanged pleasantries. All except Lopez and Icardi, with the former snubbing his former pal’s handshake.
      This would happen again two years later, when Lopez refused to shake Icardi’s hand in a match against Torino.
      SHOTGUN WEDDING
      Wanda began divorce proceedings in December 2013, when reports suggested it was because of Icardi.
      Just five months later, Icardi and Nara walked down the aisle in Buenos Aires in an intimate ceremony.
      Only 12 guests were invited, astonishingly none of those were his team-mates.
      Eight months later, they welcomed their first child together, Francesca – adding to their brood.
      For Mauro had already ‘adopted’ her children, Valentino, Constantino, and Benedicto from her previous marriage to Lopez as his own.
      Icardi and Nara on their wedding day – just five months after she began divorce proceedings from LopezCredit: Instagram / @mauroicardi
      Eight months after their wedding, Wanda and Mauro welcomed daughter Francesca into the worldCredit: Instagram / @mauroicardi
      A TATTOOED DECLARATION
      A new storyline in the episode of the drama of the Lopez/Icardi/Nara love triangle unravelled after their special day.
      And it happened, in unlikely fashion, with some ink.
      Icardi decided to get a tattoo that was bound to wind Lopez up with the names of his former team-mates three children on his arm.
      A message underneath it says, ‘I love these three little angels’.
      Lopez was already irked that Icardi was posting photos of his children on social media without his consent.
      “I can understand that, being a public figure, he publishes photos. But I’m not comfortable with my kids being in those photos,” Lopez told Sky Sports.
      Icardi wears the names of his children in ink on his torsoCredit: Instagram / @mauroicardi
      PSG forward Icardi also caused controversy when he got Lopez’s children’s names tattooed on his armCredit: Instagram / @mauroicardi
      ‘BEST IN BED’
      After complaining that she was sexually starved by Lopez during their marriage, Wanda has been very open about her love life with Icardi.
      She boasted about her prowess between the bed sheets earlier this year with a Valentine’s Day message about how she likes to look after her man.
      She wrote: “Saint Valentine is….cooking for your love every day, waiting for him with the best steak sandwich prepared by me at 3am after a match…or simply going down to the kitchen in the early hours and preparing the best sandwiches in the world with chicken and avocado…making your favourite deserts in the afternoon…and being the best in bed.”
      Former Italy centre Daniele Adani also dished the dirt on a rumour he heard that Icardi and Nara have sex up to 12-times-a-day on Christian Vieri’s Twitch channel.
      While, when she was bashed by trolls online she said she performs oral sex on Icardi every night.
      Wanda has boasted about being the best in bed and says she knows how to look after her manCredit: Instagram / @wanda_icardi
      When trolls online bashed her, Wanda revealed she gives Icardi oral sex every nightCredit: Instagram / @wanda_icardi
      CHEATING SCANDAL
      However, over the weekend Wanda and Mauro’s partnership seemed to have imploded.
      The buxom blonde launched an angry rant on Twitter bearing the message, ”Another family that you have ruined for a s***.’
      She then unfollowed Icardi on Twitter, before admitting she had split from him to a friend over a cheating storm.
      Wanda’s “I’ve separated” message went viral after it was shared by Argentine showbiz journalist Ker Weinstein, who is said to be “close” to her.
      Ker published the note which was reportedly sent to her privately by Paris-based Wanda and wrote alongside it: “‘Bomb’. Mauro and Wanda separated. A real shame. I hope they patch things up. There’s a woman who’s the third party in discordance. I’m in shock.”
      Wanda also appeared to confirm she blames actress Maria Eugenia Suarez for trying to snatch Icardi from her, with the two allegedly texting one another.
      Suarez has been widely identified as the “third party in discordance” in Argentine media, however the model herself denies the claims, saying: “I have no idea where all this came from. Whoever it may be. I don’t even know them. I myself have just separated.”
      On Monday, Wanda shared a snap of her hand without her wedding ring on, captioning the photo: “Good day. I prefer my hand without a ring on it.”
      Nara flew to Milan on a private jet with her five children, after reportedly leaving the family home in Paris.
      Wanda posted ‘another family you have ruined for a s***’ in an apparent attack on husband Icardi
      The next day, Wanda showed off her hand minus her wedding ringCredit: Instagram @wanda_icardi
      Model Maria Eugenia Suarez has been suggested as the ‘third party’ that Icardi was texting – however she denies this
      TWIST IN THE TALE
      Seemingly, Icardi did not give up on Nara.
      On Monday, he shared a photo of the two together wishing her ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ on his Instagram.
      He also shared another snap of the pair cuddled on a couch together, prompting the belief that they may have reunited.
      However, he was notably absent from training with PSG – perhaps using the day to win her love back.
      Latest reports suggest that Wanda has flown back to Paris for showdown talks with her beau. However, Argentine press say that she plans to travel to Argentina to put space between her and her husband.
      The French club later confirmed that the forward skipped Monday’s session for ‘family reasons’.
      Manager Mauricio Pochettino did reveal that he would be in consideration for their important Champions League tie against RB Leipzig.

      “Due to personal problems, Mauro hasn’t been able to train today, but is in tomorrow’s squad,” he said.
      “Tonight we will analyse the situation and see if he can be with the group.”
      Whether he’s welcomed back to his family group, though, is still up for debate.
      Mauro Icardi’s wife Wanda Nara leaves little to imagination in busty one-piece… but swimming teacher doesn’t show up More

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      in Soccer

      Seven loveable Steve Bruce moments from tame Man Utd house party and writing murder mystery novels to driving a tractor

      by

      NEWCASTLE fans finally got their wish with Steve Bruce given the boot.His sacking comes after a dismal run of results, and more significantly, an ambitious Saudi takeover that is planning to completely overhaul the club.
      Steve Bruce was sacked by Newcastle after a run of dismal resultsCredit: Getty
      The ex Man Utd captain has always been a loveable figure in the gameCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The fans will be delighted after voicing their unhappiness in the stands at St James’ Park for the past year.
      But, whatever they say about the ex-Man Utd star, you can’t help but love some of the things he’s done, even if you don’t agree with some of his decisions in running the football club.
      From hosting the worst house party EVER to writing Agatha Christie style mystery novels revolving around the beautiful game, here’s seven reasons why he’s loveable.
      RUBBISH PARTY
      In 1993, Manchester United ended a 26-year run without a title by lifting the Premier League without playing a game.
      Once Oldham beat title rivals Aston Villa, Bruce rallied the troops round his for a tame house party.
      Their Wags were there, as was Eric Cantona and Mark Hughes – sporting a backwards baseball cap.
      The beer was flowing too, but they weren’t at a super club like many footballers would be today.
      Most of them were parked in Bruce’s living room or kitchen. Astonishingly, someone decided to film it all on a camcorder.
      Steve Bruce threw a rubbish house party after United’s title win in 1993
      [embedded content]
      MOVE OVER AGATHA CHRISTIE
      Between 1999-2000, Bruce fancied himself as a writer – penning three books, Striker! Sweeper! and Defender!
      The novels, which Bruce himself called “a laughing stock”, are semi-autobiographical – the lead character is called Steve Barnes.
      And the plots and the literature itself are laughable too.
      However, somehow they’ve become cult classics that have fetched up to £200 on eBay and Amazon, if you can find the rarities that is.
      In the late 90s Bruce fancied himself as a novelistCredit: Newsteam
      Bruce wrote a trilogy of books, including Sweeper!Credit: Paragon Press
      DRIVING A TRACTOR
      During lockdown some of us learned new skills.
      Steve Bruce was not immune to developing himself further either. He relocated to a home in Cheshire, where he busied himself with a bit of farming.
      He brilliantly told the Daily Star: “I have been busy on the tractor turning the land over.
      “And I’ll be busy over the next few weeks, doing the house up as well.
      “I’d far rather be at the Newcastle training ground with my staff and the players.
      “But this gives me the opportunity to do something completely different.”
      When lockdown halted football, Bruce took to farmingCredit: Reuters
      SOCIAL MEDIA
      It’s fair to say Bruce isn’t a fan of social media.
      What with the constant abuse he received online from Magpies fans during his tenure, he can be forgiven.
      But, it did help him find his lost dog, as he revealed once in a press conference.
      “I was talking with my son about abuse a referee was getting and he said ‘Dad, it’s nothing compared to what you get.’ I looked and was like ‘wow’, Bruce said.
      “But on the flip side social media got me my dog back after it ran away from a Firework display.”
      Bruce revealed he isn’t a fan of social media, although it helped him get his lost dog backCredit: Social Media – Refer to Source
      NOISY CHAIR SITTER
      In fairness we all do it, so we’re not bashing Bruce.
      And, if anything, it makes him completely relatable.
      But, like your uncle might, every time he sits or gets up from a chair for a press conference, he’s certainly noisy with it.
      The effort of getting up is sometimes too much for Bruce, who lets out an “ohoo” whenever he does. Just watch the video.

      QUICKER THAN SAINT-MAXIMIN
      If FIFA 22 would have you believe, Steve Bruce is grease lightning.
      A clip from the popular video game showing Newcastle winning a penalty shootout and the coach running onto the pitch went viral last month.
      Hilariously, the pixel version of Bruce outsprints ALL his subs as he legs it from his technical area to celebrate with his players on the pitch.
      One fan tweeted: “I knew FIFA pace was a lie when Steve Bruce outpaced the whole Newcastle team.”
      Video game Bruce is much faster than the real thing

      NEARLY BECAME A PLUMBER
      Bruce played for Newcastle schoolboys, but was rejected by the club when he turned 16.
      There were also snubs from Sunderland, Bolton Wanderers, Sheffield Wednesday and Southport, who all deemed him too small to play centre back.
      Thinking his football dream might be over, he signed on to be a trainee plumber at Swan Hunter shipyard.
      As fate would have it, a week before he was due to start, Gillingham have him a call and offered him an apprenticeship. The rest is history.
      Before Steve Bruce made it as a footballer, he almost became a plumberCredit: Alan Cozzi
      Sun’s North East Correspondent Oscar Paul on next Toon moves after Steve Bruce sacking More