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      in Soccer

      Top 25 Barcelona youth players from famed La Masia academy, including Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas and Mauro Icardi

      by

      IN 1979, Barcelona decided they wanted a steady stream of homegrown talents to one day blossom in their first team.
      They launched their now famed La Masia (Catalan for ‘The Farmhouse’), a state-of-the-art academy designed to train youngsters the Barça way, and has since produced a slew of top-class footballers.

      Lionel Messi (in the mask), Cesc Fabregas (back row, second right) and Gerard Pique (back row, third left) are Barcelona youth productsCredit: PA:Press Association

      They were schooled at Barcelona’s famous La Masia AcademyCredit: Simon Jones – The Sun

      Many have gone on to become legends at the club, while others have slipped away and grown at pastures new.
      Here are their best 25 best academy trainees.
      25. ALEX GRIMALDO
      The Spanish left-back is one of the most sought-after defenders in world football at the moment.
      Currently starring at Benfica, he has been linked with a move to Tottenham.

      Barcelona let him go for £1.5million in 2015, without playing a game in the first team.
      Originally, he was plucked from Valence in 2008 – spending four years with the Catalans until he was sold.

      Alex Grimaldo has made his name at BenficaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      24. DANI OLMO
      Olmo is the most recent promising youngster that left Spain for a new challenge.
      The Spanish 21-year-old midfielder, who moved in January 2020 to Bundesliga club RB Leipzig, arrived at La Masia aged just nine.

      But in a surprising move, Olmo decided to leave Barça when he turned 16 and signed for Dinamo Zagreb.
      Barcelona were rumoured to be looking at bringing him back to Catalonia before he moved to Germany.
      He has since moved to RB Leipzig and is a regular in the Spain squad.

      Dani Olmo gambled with his career leaving Barcelona aged 16 for Dinamo ZagrebCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      23. NAYIM
      Arsenal fans won’t want to be reminded of Nayim’s most famous moment in his career.
      But before he was lobbing David Seaman from the halfway line, he was a young hopeful at La Masia.
      He joined Barcelona aged 12 – leaving his hometown Cueta.
      But his chances were limited in a team that was managed by Terry Venables.
      He later joined the former Three Lions boss at Spurs.

      Former La Masia product Nayim scored the winner the Cup Winners’ Cup final against ArsenalCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      22. LUIS GARCIA
      The former Liverpool midfielder had two spells with Barcelona.
      First as a 12-year-old youth player, where he starred in their reserve team.
      But having failed to break into the first team, he was sold to Atletico Madrid in 2002.
      However, after impressing with Atletico, Barcelona exercised a clause in Garcia’s contract to buy him back a season later.
      Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez moved for the playmaker in 2004 – having had him at Tenerife on loan in 2000-01.

      Luis Garcia had two spells at Barcelona but never made the gradeCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      21. ANDRE ONANA
      Another surprise, in-demand Ajax keeper Andre Onana had a spell at Barcelona from 2010-15.
      He joined the club after starting out at the Samuel Eto’o Academy, but failed to make the grade there.
      Five years ago he signed for the Dutch giants, and has since become their No1.

      In-demand Andre Onana had five years at La Masia before moving to AjaxCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      20. ALBERT FERRER
      It was right-back Ferrer’s dream to play for Barcelona – having grown up in the city.
      And he appeared in 221 La Liga games during nine seasons with his boyhood club, after he was signed as a 13-year-old.
      In 1998 he moved to Premier League with Chelsea in a £2.2m deal, where he retired aged 33.

      Albert Ferrer was a local lad who got to represent his boyhood clubCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      19. PEPE REINA
      The son of former Barcelona goalkeeper Miguel Reina, Pepe was always destined to follow in his father’s footsteps.
      He joined La Masia in 1995, and from 1999 he was playing for their reserve side in the third tier of the Spanish football pyramid.
      Reina was never more than an understudy at the Camp Nou, and was told he could leave in 2002.

      Pepe Reina was surplus to requirements to Barcelona in 2002 after being an understudy for yearsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      18. GUILLERMO AMOR
      Benidorm-born Amor became one of Barcelona’s most important players under Cruyff in the 1990s.
      He joined La Masia in 1980 – winning five league titles and a European Cup.
      With Barcelona in his blood, it is unsurprising he is now responsible for the club’s youth system.

      Former youth product Amor now manages Barcelona’s youth set-upCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      17. HECTOR BELLERIN
      The Arsenal full-back might speak like a cockney, but he’s Barcelona through and through.
      Bellerin was also eight when he joined the club – but after eight years at La Masia he moved to the Gunners.
      Now vice-captain of the Premier League giants, Bellerin has been linked with a move back to Spain.
      Could he follow in the footsteps of Cesc Fabregas before him and return to the club where it all began?

      Hector Bellerin left Barcelona for Arsenal and has played against his old side several timesCredit: PA:Press Association
      16. SERGI
      The marauding Spanish left-back joined Barcelona in 1988, and went on to become a club legend – appearing 382 times and winning three league titles.
      He was handed his Barça debut by Cruyff in a heated Champions League match away at Galatasaray
      From then on, he became a mainstay before he was sold to Atletico Madrid. He hadn’t lost that nastiness that made him a tricky player to play against either – earning 33 yellow cards in his three seasons there.

      Sergi won three La Liga titles after coming through La MasiaCredit: Icon Sport – Getty
      15. THIAGO MOTTA
      Barcelona never really saw the best of Motta.
      Like Pedro, he was signed late – aged 17 from local side Clube Atlético Juventus – and was assigned to the B side.
      He made his debut in 2001, but his time at Barcelona was robbed from him by a serious knee injury.
      Eventually, he found himself at Inter Milan, where Jose Mourinho got the best out of him – winning the Champions League in 2010.

      Thiago Motta never fulfilled his potential at BarçaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      14. IVAN DE LA PENA
      The hype around De La Pena, nicknamed “Little Buddha”, was immense when he was a teen.
      The child prodigy joined La Masia in 1991 from Racing Santander and initially looked to have a big future at the club.
      But fallouts with Cruyff and Van Gaal, who were frustrated with his work-rate, saw his progress curtailed and he had more success with city rivals Espanyol.

      De La Pena had fallouts with Johan Cruyff and Louis Van GaalCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      13. ADAMA TRAORE
      Last season, Wolves winger Traore has finally shown the potential Barcelona youth managers believed he had.
      He joined the Spanish champions aged just eight, making his debut aged 17, but failed to break into the first team under managers Gerard Martino and Luis Enrique.
      The speedy winger then moved to England, and had an ill-fated spell at Aston Villa before rediscovering his potential at Middlesbrough.

      Adama Traore moved to England to get first team footballCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      12. MIKEL ARTETA
      The Arsenal manager is best known for his time in the Premier League playing for both the Gunners and Everton.
      But before he made it in England, Arteta dreamt of becoming pro in San Sebastian playing football on the beaches with childhood friend Xabi Alonso.
      He joined Barcelona aged 15, but struggled to break into the first team – joining PSG on loan before starring at Glasgow Rangers and returning to play for Real Sociedad with Alonso.

      Mikel Arteta struggled to break into the Barcelona first team
      11. VICTOR VALDES
      Valdes is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the club’s history – having played 535 games and winning 21 major titles, including La Liga six times and three Champions League’s.
      But it looked like his time at the club had come to an end in 1995 when his family moved to Tenerife.
      However, Barça re-signed him and quickly progressed through the youth teams – making his debut aged 20.

      Victor Valdes left La Masia academy only to return three years laterCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      10. PEDRO
      The ex-Chelsea winger was a late-comer when it came to joining La Masia.
      Pedro arrived from Canary Islands team CD San Isidro aged 17 in 2004.
      But soon, he became a key member of the first team once he was promoted by Pep Guardiola.
      In the 2018-19 season Pedro became the first player to score in six different club competitions during a single season and in the same year.

      Pedro was a late-comer to La Masia, joining aged 17Credit: PA:Empics Sport
      9. MAURO ICARDI
      Argentina striker Icardi had a spell at La Masia from 2008-11, after rejecting overtures from Real Madrid, Arsenal and Liverpool.
      But the goal poacher failed to show his class in Spain and was shipped out on loan to Sampdoria in 2011, which became a permanent move six months later for just £400,000.
      He has since become one of the most sought-after strikers in European football, boasting a remarkable goalscoring record.
      Icardi always stood by his decision to leave Barça, because it ultimately benefitted his career.

      Super poacher Mauro Icardi failed to impress at La MasiaCredit: FC Barcelona
      8. GERARD PIQUE
      Another one that got away, but returned to become a hero.
      Pique played in the same youth teams as Messi and Fabregas from 1997, although he was deployed as a defensive midfielder in his early years.
      Manchester United snapped him up in 2004 on a pro-contract, without having to pay a fee.
      In 2008, he returned to Catalonia for a fee of £5million and has gone on to play 531 times for the club, as well as bag a celebrity wife in Shakira.

      Pique returned to Barcelona after a spell at Man Utd and bagged a celebrity missus in ShakiraCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      7. SERGIO BUSQUETS
      One-club man Busquets has become one of the greatest defensive midfielders of his generation.
      At youth level though he bounced around a few teams playing for the likes of Badia, Barbera Andalucia, Lleida, and Jàbac Terrassa, before settling at Barcelona in 2005,
      Guardiola promoted Busquets to his first team in 2008, but it’s his former international manager Vincente Del Bosque who provided this accurate quote about his abilities.
      He said: “If you watch the whole game, you won’t see Busquets – but watch Busquets, and you will see the whole game.”

      Sergio Busquets has established himself as the best defensive midfielder of his generationCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      6. CESC FABREGAS
      Fabregas trained at La Masia for six years before making the bold move to Arsenal in 2003, believing his chances would be limited at the Nou Camp.
      With the Gunners he soon established himself into one of the Europe’s most promising players – replacing Patrick Vieira in the heart of their midfield, before eventually being named captain.
      In 2011 he returned to Barcelona for £35m, and in three seasons played 96 times for them before moving to Chelsea for £30m in 2014.
      Cesc won the World Cup and the Euros twice, and has been capped 110 times by Spain.

      Fabregas returned to Barcelona after making his name at ArsenalCredit: Action Images – Reuters

      5. PEP GUARDIOLA
      Johan Cruyff called him one of the best midfielders of his generation, and it’s hard to argue with that seeing he was a major influence in playing style of the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas.
      Guardiola joined La Masia at 13, and within six years the deep-lying playmaker made his debut against Cadiz.
      In 1998 Louis van Gaal made him captain, but in 2001 he left for Serie A side Brescia after years of injury problems with a troublesome calf.

      Pep Guardiola became Barcelona captain after making it through their youth ranksCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      4. CARLES PUYOL
      Arguably the most un-Barcelona-like player.
      But Puyol became a cult hero as an inspirational captain with his uncompromising style of defending.
      He joined La Masia in 1995, playing as a defensive midfielder before converting to full-back and then centre-half.
      But Puyol almost left the club three years later when Barça accepted an offer from Malaga after deeming him surplus to requirements.
      However, seeing Xavi getting a chance in the first team encouraged Puyol to stay, and the rest is history.

      Puyol became a cult figure at Barcelona but nearly left the clubCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      3. ANDRES INIESTA
      Plucked from Albacete at the age of 12, Iniesta never looked back.
      He steadily climbed up the youth ranks, making his debut aged 18 in 2002.
      Iniesta would go on to become the most decorated Spanish footballer in history – winning 35 trophies, including nine LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues.
      Famously, he helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup – scoring the winner against Holland.

      Iniesta joined La Masia as a 12-year-oldCredit: Rex Features
      2. XAVI
      The greatest playmaker of his generation, and the embodiment of their tiki-taka passing style, Xavi joined La Masia at 10.
      At that age though it wasn’t Michael Laudrup he idolised, but in fact British-based stars like John Barnes, Paul Gascoigne, and Matt Le Tissier.
      “I’ve been lucky enough to be brought up on the Barcelona ethos,” he once revealed.
      “Which has taught me the value of being part of a team. ‘Today for you, tomorrow for me.’ Those qualities are essential for life in general.”

      Xavi idolised Paul Gascoigne, Matt Le Tissier and John Barnes growing upCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      1. LIONEL MESSI
      Without doubt the best youngster to come from Barcelona’s youth set-up, and the best to ever play for the club.
      Messi joined the LaLiga giants in 2001 from Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, who he had trained with since the age of six.
      Realising they had such a prodigious talent on their hands, Barcelona agreed to pay for his treatment after he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency.
      However, this season might be his last – with Manchester City desperate to bring Messi to the Premier League.

      Messi graduated from La Masia to become Barcelona’s greatest ever playerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      ‘Lionel Messi can leave Barcelona for free at the end of the season’ says ESPN’s Sid Lowe More

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      in Soccer

      Wayne Rooney’s amazing property portfolio includes £20m ‘Morrisons’ mansion to secret luxury Barbados pad

      by

      THEY might be worth an estimated £115million, but Wayne and Coleen Rooney’s new Cheshire mansion has been mocked for “looking like a Morrisons”.
      However, the six-bedroom palatial home – costing £20m – isn’t the only property in the couple’s lavish portfolio, which also includes pads in Florida and the Caribbean.

      The Rooneys’ new Cheshire home has been mocked for “looking like a Morrisons”Credit: The Mega Agency

      Wayne and Coleen have splashed out £20 million on their latest residenceCredit: Instagram

      Footie legend Wayne grew up in a council house in Liverpool – but has shown off his real estate skills with his sprawling Barbados villa, which he rents out for £25,000 a week.
      He also snapped up a £320,000 waterfront apartment in the Sunshine State in 2007 – and even splashed out £450,000 on a detached home in Liverpool for his parents to live in.
      Today, he and Coleen, both 34, have properties across the globe.
      Below, SunSport looks at the couple’s impressive property portfolio…

      Secret £5m Barbados pad
      The Rooneys’ housing portfolio stretches to overseas – where they rent out a spectacular Barbados villa for more than £25,000 a week in the high season.
      The five-bedroom property boasts an infinity pool, a media room and a shared golf course.
      Inside, the walls feature pictures of Hollywood icons Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe.

      The Rooneys own this spectacular villa in Barbados, which they rent out to wealthy guests

      The magnificent residence boasts an infinity pool, a media room and a shared golf courseCredit: Splash News

      It cost the couple a cool £5 million – but is rented out for as much as £25,000 a week
      The paradise pad sits on the island’s exclusive Jasmine Ridge estate, with celebrity neighbours including Ant and Dec and Roo’s old Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand.

      Boxer Joe Calzaghe, and motorcycle racer Carl Fogarty are also said to own homes there.
      Over the years, the swish Bajan resort has become so popular with Manchester’s rich and famous that its residents have dubbed it the Northern Quarter.
      The Rooneys bought the villa for £5million in 2010, but put it on the rental market as a holiday home four years ago, the Manchester Evening News reported.

      The mansion has some famous neighbours – including Ant and Dec and Rio Ferdinand

      Its outdoor dining area is perfect for entertaining family and friends
      United fans who want to live like Wayne himself will need to cough up around £10,000 to stay at the Royal Westmoreland pad during low season.
      And those staying at high season will have to fork out up to £25,410 a week.
      Based on the Rooneys renting out the property from 2015, they could have netted more than £2m from wealthy guests by now – an amount likely to soar this summer.
      It won’t be long until they’ve reached the price they paid for it nearly a decade ago.

      The villa is a far cry from Rooney’s childhood home, picturedCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      £300k Florida apartment
      Not all of Wayne and Coleen’s purchases have seemingly done as well as their Barbados one.
      In 2007, the couple splashed out around £320,000 on a luxurious waterfront apartment at Harbor Pointe in Port Charlotte, Florida – but property prices later collapsed.
      They bought the pad via Your Place Abroad – whose former clients also include footie star Michael Owen and former cricketer Andrew Flintoff, the Daily Mail reported.

      Wayne and Coleen bought a Florida apartment for £320,000 12 years agoCredit: Zillow
      The firm has since gone into liquidation.
      Public records list Rooney as being the owner of a three-bedroom condo in the riverside resort, which has a balcony and more than 1,750 sq ft of living space.
      It also boasts a master suite with a study and an “oversized walk-in closet”, with a fitness centre and in-ground heated pool available in the resort’s grounds.
      It is thought the “spacious” condo is currently being rented out.

      This swimming pool is believed to be shared among residents at the apartment complexCredit: Zillow

      This image appears on an online rental listing for an apartment in Rooney’s nameCredit: Zillow
      In the years after the Rooneys snapped up their apartment, property prices in the area collapsed, with some homes dropping in price by more than £150,000.
      Waynesor Castle
      The Rooneys lived happily in a £6m home in Prestbury, Cheshire, for more than a decade before they were the victims of an attempted burglary.
      A former serviceman tried to break in while Wayne played in a testimonial match in August 2016,  leaving a worried Coleen fearing for her kids’ safety.
      Dubbed “Waynesor Castle” among other nicknames, the Rooneys’ home reportedly featured six en-suite bedrooms, a cinema, a Jacuzzi and a swimming pool.

      The Rooneys’ Prestbury home, which they lived in for more than a decadeCredit: Cavendish
      There have also been rumours of under-lawn heating and a hairdressing salon.
      Wayne and Coleen, are reported to be selling their former home following their move to the States, but it’s unclear whether they have yet done so.
      “Beautiful” Maryland home
      Last year, the Rooneys were rumoured to be set to move into a stunning £12m Washington DC mansion, after Wayne joined DC United.
      The property, in Wesley Heights, boasted a wine cellar, a home gym, an outdoor swimming pool, a recreation room and even a massive cinema screen.
      But it has since been reported that the family have opted to live in Maryland instead. They are thought to be living around a 50-minute drive from the US capital.

      The Rooneys were rumoured to be moving into this DC mansion – but apparently chose Maryland insteadCredit: Fortitude Press

      The mansion in Wesley Heights boasted this home gymCredit: Fortitude Press
      One source close to Coleen told SunSport in January: “They live in Maryland, which is really quiet, so if they do go out it’s bowling or cinema with the kids.”
      They added: “They have a massive house and it’s beautiful.”
      Once Wayne retires, the family are expected to settle in their sprawling new UK mansion…
      New £20m Cheshire mansion
      Features: Man-made fishing lakes, an orangery and a football pitch
      The Rooneys’ new pad sits on a 40-acre plot in Cheshire.
      Crews are still working on the £20m property, which will include a number of buildings, stables, two man-made fishing lakes and an orangery.
      But we reported how the luxurious new home has been compared to a Morrisons supermarket and even a Travelodge because of its exterior.

      The impressive new pad, featuring two man-made fishing lakes and an orangery, is nearing completionCredit: The Mega Agency

      Social media users have compared the Rooneys’ new property to a supermarket

      They have likened the home to this Morrisons store in SunderlandCredit: Wikipedia
      One person wrote online: “Looks like my local Morrisons supermarket. £20million for that?”
      Another said: “Surely that is a new Tesco build…?’  while a third quipped: “More of a Morrisons I’d say”.
      The mansion will also boast a TV room, snooker room, bar, wine store, cinema, gym and swimming pool, as well as an underground tunnel to a six-car garage.
      And there will even be separate lifts – one for the family, the other for visitors.

      What the sprawling site looked like last year, as work beganCredit: Flynet Pictures
      It is thought that former England striker Wayne has also requested a panic bunker in the home over fears his family will be hit by another attempted burglary.
      The property is thought to be nearing completion.

      A mansion for Wayne’s parents.. and one for Coleen
      As well as his own properties, Wayne bought his parents, Wayne Snr and Jeanette Rooney, a £450,000 detached home in West Derby, which reportedly has three reception rooms.
      Two years ago, reports claimed he’d also bought his wife a £5m villa in Portugal.
      And with a net worth of more than £100m (Coleen is worth an estimated £13m), it’s likely Wayne’s portfolio of luxury properties will only continue to expand.

      Wayne Rooney admits he wants to be Manchester United manager one day More

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      in Boxing

      Mike Tyson’s three wives include one he caught having sex with Brad Pitt, one who is a doctor and ex-con Kiki

      by

      BOXING legend Mike Tyson is the most settled he’s ever been.
      And that could be because of the influence of his new wife, Lakiha Spicer.

      Mike Tyson has married three different women in his lifetimeCredit: New York Daily News – Getty

      Tyson’s first wife Robin Givens had a dalliance with Brad Pitt while they were still togetherCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Or it’s possible that the 54-year-old’s admitted cannabis indulgence has mellowed him out.
      But over the years his tumultuous lifestyle hasn’t lent well to being a married man.
      Before he walked down the aisle with Lakiha, better known as ‘Kiki’, he was wed twice.
      First, to American model Robin Givens in 1988, who he caught in bed with Hollywood A-lister Brad Pitt.

      Then, to doctor Monica Turner for six years.
      ROBIN GIVENS, 1988-89
      The most explosive love affair Mike had came at the height of his fame.
      They married 11 months after their first date, on which they were reportedly joined by her mother and publicist.
      “My social skills consisted of putting a guy in a coma,” he wrote in his memoir, ‘Undisputed Truth’.

      “So maybe Robin was just what the doctor ordered.”
      According to Tyson, they had a hastily arranged wedding when Givens announced she was pregnant.

      Givens allegedly brought her mum along to her first date with TysonCredit: AP:Associated Press

      The pair walked down the aisle just 11 months after meetingCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Tyson revealed that Givens told him she was pregnant before later revealing she had a miscarriageCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      In a TV interview Givens called Tyson intimidating and said she was scared of himCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Givens was caught in bed with Brad Pitt while she was still seeing TysonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Pitt pleaded with Tyson not to hit him and made a quick exitCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      He had already given Givens and her mum £3million to buy a New Jersey estate, as well as put £6.5million in another account for her and her mum.
      But shortly after money was exchanged, Robin told Mike she had had a miscarriage.
      The pair later appeared in cringe-worthy interview with US journalist Barbara Walters, where Givens called Tyson “intimidating” and said her and her mother were frightened of his temper.
      Givens filed for divorce soon after the interview, but they continued to see each other.
      At that point, Givens began dating Brad Pitt – and Tyson walked in on the pair having sex.
      “Dude, don’t strike me,” Pitt said as he was faced with the fierce heavyweight, “don’t strike me.”
      “You had to see the look on his face,” Tyson wrote in his book.
      “He looked like he was ready to receive his last rites. He also looked stoned out of his gourd.”
      MONICA TURNER, 1997-2003
      You could’ve forgiven Tyson for swearing off marriage after his experience with Givens.

      Monica Turner became wife No2 in 1997Credit: EPA

      Paediatrician Turner met Tyson at a party thrown by Eddie Murphy, who starred opposite wife No1 Robin GivensCredit: Rex Features

      Tyson and Turner set up home in Maryland and hoped for the quiet lifeCredit: Reuters

      Tyson and Turner’s marriage lasted four years and she divorced him on terms of adulteryCredit: Reuters
      But in 1997 he said ‘I do’ to Turner in a quiet Muslim ceremony, seven years after they first met.
      Their paths first crossed in 1990 at a party thrown by comedian Eddie Murphy.
      The pair stayed in touch, even when Tyson was convicted of raping 18-year-old beauty pageant contestant Desiree Washington and sent to an Indiana jail for three years.
      Every two weeks Turner visited Tyson in prison as their romance blossomed.
      When he was released they set up home in Maryland, where they had hoped to live the quiet life.
      But their romance wasn’t to last – with Turner filing for divorce and claiming adultery four years later.
      They have two children together – Rayna and Amir.
      LAKIHA SPICER, 2009-PRESENT
      Kiki, 43, first met Tyson aged 18, when they were introduced by promoter Don King after one of his bouts.
      However, it wasn’t until the early noughties that they began dating, and they married in 2009 – two weeks after the death of Tyson’s daughter, Exodus.

      Lakiha Spicer first met Tyson when she was just 18 in the early noughtiesCredit: Rex Features

      Lakiha is better known by the nickname KikiCredit: 2018 Jean Catuffe

      Kiki helped Tyson devise his one-man show on BroadwayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Most recently, Kiki helped develop Mike’s one-man show ‘The Undisputed Truth’ on Broadway.
      But, despite the longevity of their marriage, it’s been fraught with difficulties and suggestions of infidelity.
      Tyson said back in January that he had only been faithful to Spicer for the last two years of their marriage in an interview on rapper T.I.’s ExpediTIously podcast.
      Kiki has also had her problems with the law.
      In 2008, she was sentenced to six months in federal jail for defrauding £60,000 from a company owned by her father.
      She claimed she taught maths courses in the Sister Clara Muhammad School, however she allegedly used the school to launder money.

      Tyson married Kiki in 2009Credit: Getty Images

      In 2008 Kiki was sentenced to six months in federal jail for money launderingCredit: Getty Images

      Kiki was carrying Tyson’s baby when she was sentencedCredit: Getty Images

      Tyson credits Kiki with helping him overcome drug addictionCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Kiki did time while carrying Tyson’s baby, and when she came out she found her husband hopelessly addicted to drugs.
      With her help, Tyson managed to beat his addiction.
      “I’m very happy me and my wife got together, because I don’t know how I would have survived out there”, he told US magazine People. More

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      in Soccer

      Dortmund sensation Youssoufa Moukoko, 16, makes Bundesliga debut vs Hertha to become youngest German footballer ever

      by

      YOUSSOUFA MOUKOKO made his long-awaited debut for Borussia Dortmund – smashing a Bundesliga record.
      The outrageously talented striker came off the bench to replace Erling Haaland in the 85th minute against Hertha Berlin – with the eyes of the footballing world upon him.

      Youssoufa Moukoko makes his long-awaited debut for Borussia Dortmund replacing Erling HaalandCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Moukoko has become the youngest ever German pro footballerCredit: AP:Associated Press

      With his brief cameo, the German wonderkid became the youngest ever German pro footballer – having only turned 16 on November 20.
      His debut in the 5-2 win comes after the Bundesliga changed age eligibility rules to allow players younger than the cut off point of 16 and a half to play.
      And there’s every chance he could break another record, after he was included in Dortmund’s Champions League squad back in October.
      The German side face Club Brugge on Tuesday, and if he appears he will become the Champions League’s youngest ever player.

      Moukoko’s appearance tonight was widely expected, and he’s been tipped for the top since he was 12.
      RULE BREAKER
      Unbelievably, Moukoko is so good the Bundesliga changed their age eligibility rules in order to let him play.
      Previously, players have not been allowed to play in Germany’s top-flight until they are 16-and-a-half.
      But such have been the waves caused by Moukoko’s rapid rise, that this has now been lowered to just 16.

      Furthermore, in anticipation of his German debut the live-wire forward was training with Lucien Favre’s first team.
      The original Dortmund record was set by Nuri Sahin back in 2005, when he made his debut at 16 years, 11 months and one day – before going on to play for Real Madrid and Liverpool.

      Striker Moukoko has scored goals for fun at youth levelCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Moukoko averaged a goal or an assist every 40 minutes during the 2019-20 seasonCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Last year, Moukoko signed a 10-year boot deal with Nike worth around £9mCredit: Nike
      The German teen, who signed a boot deal with Nike for 10-years worth a reported £9million in 2019, has left observers flabbergasted by his incredible ability at such a young age.
      But his progress is nothing new.
      GOALS, GOALS, GOALS
      At the age of just 12, pre-teen Moukoko was playing for Dortmund’s under-17s and Germany’s under-16s.
      He scored an astonishing 90 goals in 56 games at under-17 level, before bagging 34 in 20 this season for the under-19s – despite having started the season as a 14-year-old.
      Champions League-winning club legend and youth boss Lars Ricken spoke to German newspaper Bild about Moukoko’s rapid rise.
      “He’s scored a lot of goals, is very inquisitive, hungry for success, hardworking and always comes with a smile that distinguishes him,” he said.
      “That’s what we look at. The tools are there.”

      The Bundesliga lowered the legal age for debutants because of Moukoko’s abilityCredit: Getty – Contributor

      First team striker Erling Haaland welcomes Moukoko to trainingCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      HOW OLD IS HE?
      But such success has been quickly met with doubts about his age, even from inside his own club.
      Dortmund’s Under-23s manager Timo Preus said: “With Youssoufa, I can imagine that his age has only been guessed.
      “Maybe in reality he is one or two years older. But certainly he is not 17. For him that is very difficult.
      “There is nothing to blame him for, the boy is not cheating or anything.”
      However, Moukoko’s dad Joseph has been forced to insist his son is the age he claims he is – even if he refuses to get caught up in the tidal wave of excitement surrounding the lad.

      Moukoko jostles for the ball with Dortmund’s Jadon SanchoCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Questions have been asked of Moukoko’s ageCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Moukoko Sr said: “His age is right.
      “Immediately after he was was born I registered him at the German consulate in Yaounde. We have a German birth certificate.
      “For me he is not a wonderkid. I was even better as a kid.”
      CONVEYOR BELT OF TALENT
      Dortmund have a rich heritage in bleeding first class youngsters from their youth set-up to the first team.
      Impressive Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old under Thomas Tuchel in 2016.
      And more recently, Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho and Gio Reyna have made fans sit up and take notice of their ability.

      Moukoko is the next big thing in Germany and has the world at his feetCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      14-year-old BVB wonder kid Youssoufa Moukoko’s two goals from Wednesday’s U17 victory…followed by a famous celebration ⭐️💎 pic.twitter.com/2ag5LHCTFa
      — Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) June 7, 2019

      The German giants also spent around £30million on Birmingham City starlet Jude Bellingham, who himself only turned 17 back in June.
      Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said of Moukoko last November: “He’s an outstanding talent and we want him to learn how to train and play with adults.”
      Now he has, the future looks exciting for Dortmund fans.

      Perry Groves says ‘hats off’ to Jude Bellingham after 17-year-old seals £23m move to Borussia Dortmund from Birmingham City More

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      in Soccer

      Dortmund wonderkid Moukoko set for Bundesliga debut, has a 10-year boot deal with Nike worth £9m, and is a goal-machine

      by

      WHERE were you when Youssoufa Moukoko made his debut for Borussia Dortmund?
      That could be the question on every football fans’ lips, if this outrageously talented striker appears for the Bundesliga giants this weekend at Hertha Berlin.

      Dortmund star Youssoufa Moukoko has turned 16 and could appear for the Bundesliga giants against Hertha Berlin this weekendCredit: Getty – Contributor

      The German wonderkid is now of age to play first team football, after the Bundesliga changed age eligibility rules.
      And there’s every chance he will be included in the first team squad, having already been in Dortmund’s Champions League squad back in October.
      If he does appear, he will be the youngest ever person to play a professional match in Germany.
      Then, if he faces Club Brugge three days later, he will become the Champions League’s youngest ever player.

      RULE BREAKER
      Unbelievably, Moukoko is so good the Bundesliga have changed their age eligibility rules in order to let him play.
      Previously, players have not been allowed to play in Germany’s top-flight until they are 16-and-a-half.
      But such have been the waves caused by Moukoko’s rapid rise, that this has now been lowered to just 16, which he turns on November 20.
      Furthermore, in anticipation of his German debut the live-wire forward has been training with Lucien Favre’s first team.

      The current Dortmund record was set by Nuri Sahin back in 2005, when he made his debut at 16 years, 11 months and one day – before going on to play for Real Madrid and Liverpool.

      Striker Moukoko has scored goals for fun at youth levelCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Moukoko averaged a goal or an assist every 40 minutes during the 2019-20 seasonCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Last year, Moukoko signed a 10-year boot deal with Nike worth around £9mCredit: Nike
      The German teen, who signed a boot deal with Nike for 10-years worth a reported £9million in 2019, has left observers flabbergasted by his incredible ability at such a young age.
      But his progress is nothing new.
      GOALS, GOALS, GOALS
      At the age of just 12, pre-teen Moukoko was playing for Dortmund’s under-17s and Germany’s under-16s.
      He scored an astonishing 90 goals in 56 games at under-17 level, before bagging 34 in 20 this season for the under-19s – despite having started the season as a 14-year-old.
      And after the Bundesliga’s new ruling, dubbed the “Moukoko rule”, he could make his first-team bow in the winter – and become Dortmund’s youngster-ever player.
      Champions League-winning club legend and youth boss Lars Ricken spoke to German newspaper Bild about Moukoko’s rapid rise.
      “He’s scored a lot of goals, is very inquisitive, hungry for success, hardworking and always comes with a smile that distinguishes him,” he said.
      “That’s what we look at. The tools are there.”

      The Bundesliga lowered the legal age for debutants because of Moukoko’s abilityCredit: Getty – Contributor

      First team striker Erling Haaland welcomes Moukoko to trainingCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      HOW OLD IS HE?
      But such success has been quickly met with doubts about his age, even from inside his own club.
      Dortmund’s Under-23s manager Timo Preus said: “With Youssoufa, I can imagine that his age has only been guessed.
      “Maybe in reality he is one or two years older. But certainly he is not 17. For him that is very difficult.
      “There is nothing to blame him for, the boy is not cheating or anything.”
      However, Moukoko’s dad Joseph has been forced to insist his son is the age he claims he is – even if he refuses to get caught up in the tidal wave of excitement surrounding the lad.

      Moukoko jostles for the ball with Dortmund’s Jadon SanchoCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Questions have been asked of Moukoko’s ageCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Moukoko Sr said: “His age is right.
      “Immediately after he was was born I registered him at the German consulate in Yaounde. We have a German birth certificate.
      “For me he is not a wonderkid. I was even better as a kid.”
      CONVEYOR BELT OF TALENT
      Dortmund have a rich heritage in bleeding first class youngsters from their youth set-up to the first team.
      Impressive Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old under Thomas Tuchel in 2016.
      And more recently, Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho and Gio Reyna have made fans sit up and take notice of their ability.

      Moukoko is the next big thing in Germany and has the world at his feetCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      14-year-old BVB wonder kid Youssoufa Moukoko’s two goals from Wednesday’s U17 victory…followed by a famous celebration ⭐️💎 pic.twitter.com/2ag5LHCTFa
      — Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) June 7, 2019

      The German giants also spent around £30million on Birmingham City starlet Jude Bellingham, who himself only turned 17 back in June.
      Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said of Moukoko last November: “He’s an outstanding talent and we want him to learn how to train and play with adults.”
      And thanks to the “Moukoko rule”, this November it appears that Zorc can get his wish.

      Perry Groves says ‘hats off’ to Jude Bellingham after 17-year-old seals £23m move to Borussia Dortmund from Birmingham City More

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      in Soccer

      Jack Charlton’s widow refuses to blame football for his dementia diagnosis amid heading ban

      by

      ENGLAND’s victory in the 1966 World Cup is a moment so ingrained in the nation’s consciousness that it seems destined never to be forgotten.
      But for many of the heroes of that glorious day at Wembley Stadium it has now faded into a hazy mist, hard to recollect.

      Jack Charlton, pictured in 1970, died aged 85 earlier this yearCredit: Rex Features

      The towering defender was famous for his ability in the airCredit: Rex Features

      He was one of many players to be diagnosed with dementia, although his wife Pat believes the beautiful game isn’t to blame

      Nearly half of manager Sir Alf Ramsey’s illustrious 11 have succumbed to dementia, with Sir Bobby Charlton the latest to be diagnosed.
      This has reignited the long-running debate within the game about the link between heading the ball and brain disease, with England World Cup hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst calling for a ban on children using their heads to strike a football.
      He has even offered to donate his own brain for dementia research after a year that has been “unbelievably brutal” for his 1966 team-mates.
      In the last 12 months 78-year-old Geoff has not only seen Sir Bobby diagnosed with dementia but also the deaths of team-mates Nobby Stiles and Bobby’s brother Jack, who both had the disease.

      The cruel reality of what this meant for the men involved is revealed in an intimate new documentary about Jack, who died in July.
      When he was recently shown his gold World Cup winner’s medal from 1966, he showed only ­surprise, saying: “Good grief, it’s me.”
      Towering defender Jack, 6ft 1½in, was famous for his ability in the air, often scoring goals with his head. But his family refuse to blame the beautiful game for his demise.
      His widow Pat says: “It’s like ­boxers getting hit in the head, nobody can actually prove it.

      “He’s enjoyed his football, would you take that away from him? I don’t think so.”
      BAD MEMORY
      In the film, Finding Jack Charlton, the star’s son John predicted it would not be the dementia which killed the England legend — and he was right. It was cancer which ended Jack’s life at the age of 85.
      The family were keen to show that while brain disease had diminished the once gregarious man, he was still living an active life to the end.

      Sir Geoff Hurst has called for a ban on children using their heads to strike a footballCredit: Getty

      Nearly half of the World Cup winning squad have succumbed to dementia

      Nobby Stiles (right), who also had the disease, died aged 78 in OctoberCredit: PA:Empics Sport

      Sir Bobby Charlton is the latest in the team to be diagnosedCredit: PA:Press Association
      In the documentary he is seen meeting fans at an event for his ­fishing charity, having fun with his grandchildren and going for a drink.
      The film, which will be released on DVD and streaming sites on ­Monday, was made by ITV football reporter Gabriel Clarke, who spent several days with Jack at his home on the outskirts of Newcastle in the year prior to his death.
      During that time medical experts recommended using music and archive footage as “trigger points” to help Jack to remember the past.
      If someone said the name Geoff Hurst he would go blank, but if he saw a picture of Sir Geoff he would recall his team-mate.

      He enjoyed his football, would you take that away from him? I don’t think so.
      Pat Charlton

      Pat did not tell Jack, her husband of six decades, that he had the ­condition because she didn’t want him to worry about it getting worse.
      She says: “I just wanted him to think he had a bad memory.”
      Gabriel believes brain damage may have been worse in the past, as the balls were heavier and players often played on, despite being concussed.
      And he tells The Sun: “My personal feeling is that there has to be more research, because five of the ten ­outfield players of the ’66 team have or had dementia.”
      As well as the Charlton brothers, holding midfielder Stiles, goal-scoring hero Martin Peters and left-back Ray Wilson also suffered from the disease.
      Yet in the population at large, only one in 14 people aged over 65 develops the condition.
      The other tragedy that Gabriel’s film highlights is the fall-out between the Charlton brothers.

      The link between heading a ball and brain disease is explored in new documentary Finding Jack Charlton

      Pat reveals she didn’t tell Jack that he had the ­condition because she didn’t want him to worry

      The pair had been married for six decadesCredit: PA:Press Association
      They might have been on the same side at Wembley against West Germany, but off the field the sibling rivalry was toxic.
      Jack admitted to resenting looking after his little brother, who was two years younger than him.
      And in one old interview Bobby told how his fiery sibling had punched him hard for questioning his decision-making.
      DIVIDED BROTHERS
      Bobby, 83, recalled: “I said, ‘You were stupid, giving that goal away’, and he punched me in the mouth straight off the couch.”
      The shy, softly spoken Bobby could not have been more different from the charismatic Jack, whose bellowing voice rang out along the corridors.
      In one interview Jack said of his brother: “I could have done more things without him than I could have done with him. I liked the sea, the countryside. Bobby didn’t.”
      Publicly those differences were glossed over. Jack chose Bobby as his best man at his wedding and presented him with the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sports Personality Of The Year ­ceremony in 2008.
      But in recent years the brothers stopped meeting altogether.

      I just wanted him to think he had a bad memory.
      Pat Charlton

      Jack’s son John reveals: “I haven’t seen uncle Bobby for a long, long time. It’s a shame.”
      Gabriel, 56, had asked if Bobby would be in the film but was told he couldn’t, due to his dementia.
      The documentary focuses on the brothers’ post-player managerial careers, in which Jack proved ­superior to Bobby, whose time as a soccer boss was over in three years.

      The documentary also looks at Jack’s relationship with brother BobbyCredit: Getty

      In recent years the brothers, pictured with Nobby Stiles, stopped meeting altogetherCredit: Getty

      While Jack was charismatic and loud, Bobby was softly spokenCredit: Getty
      Jack’s coaching prowess took him to Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle United and finally the Republic of Ireland.
      While some pundits initially ­questioned the decision to put an Englishman in charge of the Irish national team in 1986, they soon changed their minds when he started winning games.
      Not only did Big Jack take the Republic to their first European Championship and two World Cup finals, his side also beat England 1-0 at Euro ’88.
      He was venerated in Ireland, becoming only the eighth person to be awarded honorary citizenship.
      Previously unseen footage shows Jack singing Irish songs, meeting the Pope at Italia ’90 and visiting Northern Ireland to try to smooth relations during the Troubles.
      These memories, though on film, are lost to him.
      While Jack looked through letters from Irish fans in the film, Pat said: “They think a lot of you in Ireland, don’t they?” and he replied: “I’ve no idea.”
      MISCHIEVOUS TWINKLE
      The first signs of dementia stretched back to the World Cup in the United States in 1994.
      Jack struggled to remember some of the players’ names and went for a brain scan, although the disease was not detected at that time.
      After Jack resigned as Ireland manager in 1996, when his side failed to qualify for the Euros, he suffered more health problems.
      In 2009 he fell during a holiday in Spain and three years later had a hip replacement following a collapse at home.
      The documentary shows him struggling to walk ­during a day out with the Jack Charlton Disabled Anglers Association in the summer of 2019.
      Despite being unsteady on his feet, he says in a jolly voice: “I’m falling down.”

      Players’ risk rates soar

      By Dr Willie Stewart

      By Dr WILLIE STEWART
      WE have shown that professional footballers are at high risk of death from neurodegenerative diseases – a five times higher rate with Alzheimer’s, four times higher with motor neurone ­disease and double with Parkinson’s.
      Other research we have conducted on the brains of former footballers with dementia often reveals a pathology that we recognise from boxers, rugby players and American Footballers whose only common denominator is exposure to brain injury and brain impacts.
       Dr Stewart, of Glasgow University, is a researcher into the dementia/football link.

      The film comes after a new study in the journal Science And ­Medicine In Football revealed heading a football just 20 times could affect the brain’s working memory by as much as 20 per cent.
      As for Jack, dementia did not rob him of that mischievous twinkle that fans came to love. It is just that as he said: “I could not remember a lot of the memories.”
      But now those moments will be stored forever on film.
      Finding Jack Charlton is available on DVD and download from November 23.

      Finding Jack Charlton is available from November 23Credit: Getty

      Trailer for Finding Jack Charlton
      GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk More

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      in Soccer

      Weirdest transfers in football history, from Bendtner signing for Juventus to Tevez and Mascherano joining West Ham

      by

      NEVER underestimate the power football has to surprise.
      Over the years, SunSport has seen it’s fair share of weird transfers. Players swapping their glamour days for a runout at Barnet, for example.

      Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano shocked the world when they signed for West Ham in 2006Credit: PA:Press Association

      And then there are some who the so-called big clubs take a punt on – swooping on an unsuspecting ‘smaller club’ to make an odd signing.
      In the wake of Barnsley being linked with an audacious move for Mario Balotelli, here’s some of the weirdest transfers we’ve ever come across.
      NICKLAS BENDTNER
      On the final day of the transfer window in August 2012, Juventus were short of a centre forward.
      But even Arsenal fans, who had grown tired of Nicklas Bendtner’s off-the-field antics, were shocked the Italian giants went for their Danish striker.

      Especially since the previous season he had failed to pull up any trees at Sunderland.
      That didn’t deter Juve who gambled on the forward, but injury problems restricted him to just 11 appearances – and he failed to score.
      Unsurprisingly, the Serie A side didn’t take up an option of buying him permanently.

      Arsenal fans were left stunned when Serie A giants Juventus took troubled striker Nicklas Bendtner off their handsCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Bendtner failed to score in 11 games for the club and a permanent move was quashedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      BOJAN KRCIC
      The former Barcelona man was the epitome of the question; can he do it on a rainy Tuesday night at Stoke?

      The simple answer was no, despite Bojan had the benefit of playing for the home side too.
      Mark Hughes concluded the surprise deal for the man labelled the next Messi in 2014 for just £1.8million.
      “Anyone who knows European football will be aware of him as a player and the fact that he sees his future at Stoke City is really exciting,” Hughes beamed at the time.
      16 goals in 85 games later he was flogged to MLS side Montreal Impact in 2019.

      Bojan Krcic swapped Barcelona for StokeCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      TEVEZ AND MASCHERANO
      Probably one of the most audacious double-signings in Premier League history.
      No wonder then West Ham boss Alan Pardew had a smile like a Cheshire cat at their unveiling back in 2006.
      The Argentinian duo were plucked from Corinthians, and only stayed with the Hammers for a season with Tevez joining Manchester United and Mascherano signing for Liverpool.
      Tevez would write his name in the history books by scoring a goal that secured the club’s Premier League safety.
      Later, Pardew revealed he had only asked his chief executive to buy James Milner and then his Christmas came early.

      Carlos Tevez helped save West Ham from relegationCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      LUTHER BLISSETT
      Cruelly called Luther ‘Miss it’ by away fans, Blissett is a Watford legend and their all-time top goalscorer.
      After winning the First Division Golden Boot in 1983, AC Milan paid £1million to bring him to Italy.
      But Blissett struggled to settle in Italy, scoring just five times in 30 appearances in the club.
      His dietary requirements were also unfulfilled.
      “No matter how much money you have here, you can’t seem to get Rice Krispies,” he said.

      AC Milan gambled on Watford legend Luther Blissett, who failed to settle in ItalyCredit: AP:Associated Press
      EDGAR DAVIDS
      One of the finest midfielders of his generation, it was a shock to see Edgar Davids end up at Barnet.
      After all, this was a former Dutch international who had won the Champions League with Ajax, and played for AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan and Barcelona in a star-studded career.
      Still, in 2012 – still living in North London after a spell at Spurs and then Crystal Palace – he became player manager of League Two Barnet.
      However, he struggled to keep his discipline on the pitch – getting sent off three times in his first eight games of the 2013-14 season and picking up a booking in every one of those matches.
      His bizarre managerial career took a new turn when he decided to wear the No1 jersey normally worn by goalkeepers, insisting he was setting a trend for midfielders to don that number. He resigned in 2014.

      After starring at Ajax, Juventus, AC Milan and Tottenham, Edgar Davids opted to end his career at League Two BarnetCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      FERNANDO HIERRO, YOURI DJORKAEF AND JAY JAY OKOCHA
      There was no doubt Sam Allardyce had big plans for Bolton Wanderers.
      Although they were in their twilight years, between 2002-2004 Real Madrid legend Fernando Hierro, France World Cup winner Youri Djorkaef and the remarkably gifted Jay-Jay Okocha all played for the club at the same time.
      Okocha joined from PSG on a free transfer, and soon became a fans’ favourite.
      Djorkaeff scored an impressive 21 goals from 87 games from midfield, initially snubbing interest from Manchester United and Liverpool for three years with the Trotters.
      While Hierro finished his career playing for Wanderers aged 37.

      Youri Djorkaef and Jay-Jay Okocha were part of a dream team of foreign signings at BoltonCredit: Reuters

      Real Madrid legend Fernardo Hierro enjoyed his final year as a pro with the TrottersCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      ROBERTO MANCINI
      Mancini enjoyed a stellar career at Sampdoria, where he helped the club win Serie A, four Coppa Italia titles, as well the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
      Three years followed at Lazio, but no one could’ve envisaged what was going to happen next.

      Mancini joined Peter Taylor’s Leicester City on loan – making his debut against Arsenal in 2001 at the grand old age of 36.
      However, he failed to complete 90 minutes in his only five games for the club.
      His contract was torn up in February, when Mancini decided he wanted to manage Fiorentina.

      Roberto Mancini joined Leicester City at 36 from Lazio, but failed to reach previous heightsCredit: PA:Press Association More

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      in Boxing

      Inside Canelo Alvarez’s humble gym in Guadalajara where he learned to box like his six brothers, close to childhood home

      by

      ON A RUNDOWN street in Guadalajara, Mexico, is a tiny gym that has become the stuff of legend in the world of boxing.
      Five world champions have trained at the Julian Magdaleno Gym, including Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, the Mexican megastar who is rated by many the best fighter on the planet.

      A young fighter trains under a photo of Saul Alvarez and his framed gloves at the gym in Guadalajara, MexicoCredit: Stephen Woodman

      Saul ‘Canelo’ Alavarez’s brother Rigoberto remembers teaching his younger sibling to box inside this gym in GuadalajaraCredit: Stephen Woodman

      Inside, a couple of teenagers are dancing in front of a Canelo mural, punching furiously at the duck tape-covered heavy bags.
      At the back of the gym is a creaky boxing ring.
      Two sparring partners exchange blows under the framed shorts of local legends, including the purple pair Canelo wore as he battered brave British contender Mathew Hatton for the light-middleweight title in 2011.
      Beneath the shorts is a sign with the gym’s motto, “The worst that can happen is you stop caring if you lose.”

      Canelo, 30, is already a world away from this gym. He is the biggest draw in boxing.
      With his clean-cut looks and good manners, Canelo fits the bill as boxing’s poster boy.
      He recently has confirmed his next fight will be against Brit Callum Smith on December 19.
      The Mexican superstar will return to the ring as a free agent having terminated his contract with DAZN and Golden Boy Promotions.

      He was 11 years old and a kid of that age shouldn’t be able to punch like that. ‘God this is a great gift you’ve given us,’ I remember saying.
      Rigoberto Alvarez

      But behind the squeaky-clean image is a very different story.
      From punch-ups, legal problems and even a brother accused of murder, the red-haired fighter is no stranger to scandal.
      Canelo’s rags-to-riches story — and the controversy that is part of it — is well-known in Mexico.

      Rows of boxing gloves and head protectors in the gym where Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez turned his anger into boxing talentCredit: Stephen Woodman

      Five world champions have trained at the Julian Magdaleno Gym, including Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez

      Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s childhood home where he lived with his six brothersCredit: Stephen Woodman

      The boxing ring at the Julian Magdaleno Gym in Guadalajara is surrounded by framed shorts from Canelo’s title fightsCredit: Stephen Woodman

      The small house in Juanacatlan on the outskirts of Guadalajara where Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez grew upCredit: Stephen Woodman
      The youngest of seven brothers who all fought as professional boxers, Alvarez is nicknamed Canelo (cinnamon) because of his red hair.
      As a youngster, the Mexican brawler learned to fight off teasing classmates.
      “He was always bullied for being red-haired,” Canelo’s brother Gonzalo told SunSport.
      “He used to lose control and get into fights.”
      As a child Canelo worked with his family selling ice lollies in the tiny town of Juanacatlan, western Mexico.

      Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has trained hard to become one of the biggest stars of world boxingCredit: Splash News

      The humble area of Juanacatlan where Canelo grew up with this six brothersCredit: Stephen Woodman

      Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez poses with his six supercars to show how far he has come from his humble rootsCredit: Instagram @canelo
      “It was a tough upbringing. We were always working,” said Gonzalo. “He didn’t enjoy secondary school. He preferred fighting.”
      Rigoberto, the eldest Alvarez brother, who also became world champion, gave Canelo his first pair of boxing gloves.
      “I helped him and another kid, who was a bit bigger, put the gloves on. In that moment, I had no idea what I was about to see,” Rigoberto said.
      “He was 11 years old and a kid of that age shouldn’t be able to punch like that.
      ” ‘God this is a great gift you’ve given us,’ I remember saying.”

      It was not long before Canelo was ready to train at the Magdaleno, where he sparred with world champions.
      Because of its reputation, business is still booming at the ramshackle gym, with 70 students stopping in daily.

      For the town he should be a hero and a source of pride. But sometimes instead of support you, people want to knock you down. There’s a lot of jealousy.
      Gonzalo Alvarez

      “Saul motivates us, we can all learn from him,” said trainer Jose Barrera.
      “Lots of troubled children take up boxing and become much more disciplined… I had my vices too. I used to drink and take cocaine until I started coming here.”
      Alvarez turned professional when he was only 15, because he ran out of suitable amateur opponents.
      A year later, he had a daughter, which added more pressure to succeed.

      Canelo Alvarez beat Amir Khan in a WBC middleweight title fight in Las Vegas lin 2016Credit: Getty Images

      ‘I’m tired but not defeated’… Graffiti near the gym where Saul Alvarez learned to boxCredit: Stephen Woodman

      Canelo Alvarez punches Liam Smith during the eight round of the WBO Junior Middleweight title fight in Arlington, Texas in 2016Credit: AP:Associated Press

      Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s only defeat was to Floyd Mayweather in September 2013 in Las VegasCredit: Getty Images
      His brutal style meant he was soon knocking out opponents much older than himself.
      Canelo’s popularity soared in 2013, when he paid a visit to support hurricane victims on Mexico’s southern coast.
      The boxing star spent the day talking to locals and stacking up sandbags.
      But Gonzalo admits Canelo is not popular with everyone, including with some people in his hometown.
      “For the town he should be a hero and a source of pride,” he said.
      “But sometimes instead of support you, people want to knock you down. There’s a lot of jealousy.”
      Canelo has also faced legal problems of his own.

      Canelo Alvarez’s stunning girlfriend reveals on TV he is on bonk ban ahead of Gennady Golovkin fight

      Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez jabs at Erislandy Lara in a bout in Las Vegas in 2014Credit: Getty Images

      Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez raises the Mexican flag and his belt after beating Liam SmithCredit: Reuters
      Former bantamweight world champion Ulises ‘Archie’ Solis accused the bigger boxer of assaulting him and breaking his jaw in 2011.
      Solis was out of the ring for more than a year, and a lengthy legal battle led to an out-of-court settlement.
      As a result of the agreement, Solis cannot talk about the incident.
      He said Canelo as a boxer was “a strong guy, with a lot of potential.”
      Canelo has fully delivered on that potential, and his record currently stands at 53 wins, and one defeat, from his 56 fights.
      A long way from the young tearaway learning his trade in a humble gym in Guadalajara.

      Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez uses an ice bath to help him recover from a training session

      Canelo poses with his £250,000 Mercedes G-Class jeep, one of his fleet of cars More