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      I was a football icon and even won polo trophy but I was in so much pain after retiring I asked docs to amputate my legs

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      GABRIEL BATISTUTA was widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of his generation.The Fiorentina legend made a name for himself with his powerful shots in the days when Italian football ruled Europe.
      Gabriel Batistuta is a footballing iconCredit: Reuters
      The Argentine striker is a hero at Fiorentina and in ArgentinaCredit: Getty
      He has begun playing poloCredit: Alamy
      He once finished third in Fifa’s World Player of the Year competition in 1999.
      But since hanging up his boots the 54-year-old has had unusual experience with both pain and the sport of polo.

      Batistuta began his career in his homeland, playing for prestigious trio Newell’s Old Boys, River Plate and Boca Juniors.
      He moved to Europe in 1990 and scored 203 goals in 331 games for Fiorentina while also enjoying spells at Roma and Inter Milan.
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      The man nicknamed Batigol and El Angel Gabriel won the 2001 Serie A and eventually ended his career in Qatar with Al-Arabi just three years after lifting the league.
      Batistuta has now left behind his life as a footballing icon after having a unique relationship with the beautiful game.
      He once admitted to never truly loving the sport, saying: “I don’t like football, it’s only my job.
      “When I was playing I never enjoyed it that much, I was never happy. If I scored two goals, I wanted a third, I always wanted more.
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      “Now it’s all over I can look back with satisfaction, but I never felt that way when I was playing.”
      Since retiring, Batigol has suffered with terrible pain due to an injury that led to him once begging doctors to amputate his legs.
      The two-time Copa America winner’s goalscoring took a toll on his body and he underwent surgery a year after finishing his career.
      He endured daily agony and insist it’s more common than many are aware of.
      CRYING WITH ANGER
      In an interview with Corriere della Sera in 2014, Batistuta lifted the lid on the problems he suffered with his ankles.
      He said: “I felt pain, pain and more pain. The operation was a solution I’d been chasing for at least six to seven years.
      “In 40 days, once I remove the brace, we’ll know if the pain has disappeared and I can finally walk like a normal person again.
      “As soon as I stopped playing, I found my ankles to be in pieces.
      “Bone against bone, supporting a weight of 86-87 kilograms. The slightest movement became agony.
      “I had the same problem as [Marco] Van Basten, who said enough was enough at 28 years of age.
      “I couldn’t get out of bed on some days. Overnight I couldn’t walk. I wet the bed even though the bathroom was only three metres away.
      “It was 4am and I knew if I stood my ankle would kill me. I’d be crying with anger and I said to myself: ‘It can’t go on like this.’
      “I felt sick, so sick that I went to a doctor friend of mine and asked him to amputate my legs.
      “I prayed to him, I insisted. I told him that this was no longer life.”
      The doctor turned down his request to cut off his limbs and instead performed surgery to relieve the pressure on his cartilage and tendons by putting screws in his ankles.
      His condition did improve as it prevented the bones from hitting each other when he walks.
      But Batistuta’s mobility is still a battle and he sometimes has difficulties on bad days.
      POLO PLAYER
      With 55 international goals, only Lionel Messi has found the back of the net more for Argentina than him.
      And to satisfy his competitive side, Batigol took up new sports in his days of pain.
      The legend remembered by his distinctive look of long hair in the La Viola shirt is now an avid golfer and even plays polo.
      Batistuta got so good on the back of a horse that his team won the prestigious Stella Artois Cup.
      He began riding as a child but didn’t take up the sport until he was invited to join in by a friend after his days at Fiorentina.
      Batigol opened up about his venture into polo, insisting he is still a novice: “It’s a hobby, but I always try to improve my standard, because the better I play, the more fun I have.
      “Playing polo gets my adrenaline going.
      “It is a very tactical sport and I’m devoting time to getting better. I’m having fun, but my character demands that I do things well, so I’m making and effort to learn and practice.
      “I feel some pressure when I play polo because people ask for goals, reflecting my football career.
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      “I met Adolfo Cambiaso, the world’s best polo player, and he invited me to play a match with his team.
      “We entered the Stella Artois Cup and we won it, which was fantastic although it doesn’t stand comparison with playing football for Argentina at El Monumental in Buenos Aires.”
      Gabriel Batistuta attends the Argentina Polo Tour and played in the Loro Piana TeamCredit: Alamy
      He suffered with severe pain after hanging up his bootsCredit: AFP – Getty
      Gabriel Batistuta was granted with the freedom of FlorenceCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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      Chelsea wonderkid Kendry Paez broke an international record set by Pele, is likened to Messi and is starring for Ecuador

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      CHELSEA’s transfer policy over the past few windows may have been ridiculed, but in Kendry Paez they have seemingly unearthed a gem.The Ecuador wonderkid, just 16, was signed from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle for £17million back in June.
      Ecuador’s teen sensation Kendry Paez is making wavesCredit: AP
      Uruguay hardman Manuel Ugarte fails to nudge Paez off the ball during their World Cup qualifierCredit: EPA
      Seen as one for the future, he won’t appear for the Blues until 2025, when he turns 18.
      But, if you ask Uruguay’s seasoned pros Federico Valverde and PSG hatchet man Manuel Ugarte, they will argue he’s ready for the big time.
      The teenage prodigy, who has been likened to Lionel Messi, put on a wondrous display in midfield as Ecuador defeated Marcelo Bielsa’s side in a World Cup qualifier 2-1.
      The icing on a cake was setting up Felix Torres to score the winner, which put Paez in the history books.
      He is now the youngest assist maker in South American football – beating a long-standing record set by the late great Pele.
      But his journey to being the next big thing has had its sacrifices.
      Early years
      Paez’s budding career began in Ecuador’s second city, Guayaquil.
      He played for three teams growing up, including Barcelona Sporting Club in his homeland.
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      However, he would have to travel 160 miles away from his family to follow his dreams for his big break.
      He joined Independiente del Valle’s academy in Sangolqui, found on the outskirts of Quito, when he was just 11.
      It showed fearlessness, a hunger and ambition to succeed, and an unbridled determination to reach the top.
      This starlet was on his way.
      Europe, take note
      It was in 2022 when Europe’s top clubs became aware of Paez’s emerging talent.
      With Independiente’s U18s, he won the prestigious Copa Milo – with scouts from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund present.
      Aged just 15, Paez broke into the Independiente sideCredit: Getty
      Paez is seen as the jewel of South American footballCredit: Getty
      He was the star of the show, scoring twice in the final against Colombia’s Atletico Nacional.
      A month later, he was named the outstanding player at the Next Generation Trophy in Salzburg for their U15 side.
      Independiente defeated youth teams from Inter Milan and RB Leipzig, as they reached the final.
      The goal of the tournament also belonged to Paez. An audacious lob from inside the centre circle against the Germans.
      Dream debut
      Last season, Paez made his long-anticipated debut for Independiente against Mushuc Runa aged just 15.
      He became the youngest player to appear in Ecuador’s top flight, before shattering another record.
      When Anthony Landázuri cut the ball back to Paez on the right-hand side of the penalty area, he instinctively floated the ball over the goalkeeper, Jorge Pinos, on the volley into the corner of the goal.
      That strike made him the youngest goalscorer in the LigaPro.
      His performances last season earned him plaudits from boss Martin Anselmi.
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      Blessed with quick feet, Paez has been likened to Lionel MessiCredit: Getty
      Paez is highly thought of in his homelandCredit: Getty
      “It is not normal for a 15-year-old boy in the first division to have earned the respect of the soccer world in such a short time,” he said.
      “He runs, recovers, interprets the game, he is very intelligent to play. When we ask him to get into a certain position to generate an advantage, he does it.
      “All his movements are trained, he carries them out perfectly, understands the game very well and is a guy who is very down to earth in all those ways.”
      International stardom
      This week, Paez showed he was the real deal on his international debut for his country.
      He was thrown into the cauldron against Uruguay in a crunch World Cup qualifier.
      He wasn’t fazed, though.
      His appearance at 16 was just shy of the age Diego Maradona first appeared for Argentina, which is a South American record.
      But, he played like a man in the face of tackles flying in from Real Madrid stopper Valverde and hardman Ugarte.
      In one instance, the latter blatantly tried to shove him off the pitch as he chased a loose ball bouncing down the touchline.
      Paez was star of the show as Ecuador beat Uruguay in a World Cup qualifierCredit: Getty

      Paez not only beat his opponent to the ball, he shrugged off the cynical move to stay on his feet and set up another attack.
      The attacking midfielder would also make more history in that game.
      With the game level at 1-1, he received the ball on the left wing, quickly whipping in a low cross for Felix Torres to slide home a winner.
      The crowd went ballistic, as his team-mates congratulated Paez for his assist.
      Better still, that assist beat a long-standing record held by Brazil legend Pele as the youngest to do so in the South American game.
      Caicedo rates him
      Joining Chelsea means he will get the opportunity to link up with fellow countryman, Moises Caicedo.
      The former Brighton midfielder has already raved about Paez’s talents.
      Back in June, he told La Cancha Con Majo: “He’s a crack!
      “The truth is there are times where I watch Independiente games. It’s good to see those talents in Ecuador because we know we have very good youth.
      Paez celebrates after assisting Felix Torres for the winner against UruguayCredit: AFP
      Moises Caicedo has raved about Paez’s abilityCredit: AFP
      “I’m very happy for him, for everything that he’s doing.
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      “All I can tell him is keep on the right track, doing things really well, and he’s going to go really far because the talent he has is incredible.”
      Blues fans should get very excited indeed. More

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      Jadon Sancho enjoyed spectacular rise until child prodigy’s £73m dream transfer went sour in nightmare spell at Man Utd

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      WHEN Jadon Sancho signed for Man Utd in 2021, he appeared to be the final piece in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s jigsaw for a Premier League title bid.A wonderkid, if ever there was one, he starred for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and became one of the most feared wingers on the planet.
      Jadon Sancho finds himself at a career crossroads at Old TraffordCredit: Getty
      A fallout with manager Erik ten Haag has marred his Man Utd careerCredit: Getty
      It was that form that convinced the Red Devils to part with £73million for the coveted youngster.
      But now, Sancho finds himself at a career crossroads with his career stalling.
      A fallout with boss Erik ten Hag saw him release a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, claiming he has been made a “scapegoat” for United’s failings.
      The Dutch tactician banished Sancho to a “personal training programme” away from the first team until the “squad discipline issue” was resolved.
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      The landscape for Sancho is not as clear as it was, when he was a promising talent growing up in South London.
      Growing up in Kennington
      Camberwell-born Sancho was raised on the Guinness Trust Buildings Estate in Kennington by Trinidadian parents.
      It was at a nearby park he would hone his skills and meet Arsenal star Reiss Nelson, who became a childhood friend.
      Jadon told Sky Sports: “I was on an estate.
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      “There’s a park behind that we called Blue Park, and we used to just go there and for two hours just play mini games, everyone used to get so into it.
      “I used to have all the tricks, nutmeg people, and I was doing it like the older boys.
      “They played properly so they didn’t want to hurt us younger boys. But they thought I was ready to play with them.
      “I’d call myself a street footballer, that’s where I learned my tricks.”
      Finding a mentor
      Sancho’s early journey was steered by Sayce Holmes-Lewis, a former community coach for Southwark Council who worked with a talented pool of young footballers in the area.
      Holmes-Lewis recalled how the then 12-year-old prodigy would show him up with his fancy footwork.
      Sancho grew up on the Guinness Trust Buildings estate in South London
      Reiss Nelson (second from the right) was pals with Sancho growing up
      He told SunSport: “Jadon had this little afro, was always smiling. There was always banter between me and him.
      “I’d say, ‘I bet you can’t do this skill’. I’d show him and by the end of the session he’d got it.
      “It was embarrassing for me because I was almost 30 at the time, had worked on these skills all summer and it took him an hour to master!
      “Jadon was always trying to prove how good he was but in a humble way.”
      Academy talent
      Sancho’s academy years saw him enjoy spells with Watford and Manchester City.
      Alongside a standout ability, his ambition to reach the top stood out even then.
      Louis Lancaster, who coached Sancho in Watford’s academy, said: “There’s a great phrase in football that goes, ‘Prepare the player for the pathway’ because it doesn’t change.
      “Jadon scrapped that rule. For him, it was preparing the pathway for the player.
      “He’s moved from South to North with one of the world’s greatest managers and players and he’s got a choice either stay in the Man City Under-23s and not develop or go to another country.
      At Watford, Sancho showed he had bags of ability
      Sancho continued his youth development at Man City before leaving in 2017Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      “How many players would have the courage to do that?”
      Pioneer
      Desperate to play, and realising his pathway to first team football was blocked, Sancho moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2017 from Man City for a £8million fee.
      It was a pioneering and brave move for the teenager to make, and one that has been followed by many English footballers since.
      And, it was the making of him. Sancho would go on to terrorise opposition defences, scoring 50 goals in 137 games.
      A testament to his talents was his placing in the 2019 Golden Boy nominees.
      Sancho was runner-up to Joao Felix, and placed above Kai Havertz, Erling Haaland and Matthijs de Ligt in the yearly poll held by Italian publication Tuttosport.
      The highlight of his time in Westfalenstadion came in his final season at the club – winning the DFB-Pokal cup.
      At Borussia Dortmund Sancho became one of the world’s most feared wingersCredit: AFP
      In his final season in Germany, Sancho won the DFB-Pokal cupCredit: Getty
      England
      It was Sancho’s form in the Bundesliga that saw the wideman capped by Gareth Southgate – making his debut in a 2018 Uefa Nations League fixture against Croatia.
      His first competitive start in 2019 saw him put on a star display against Czech Republic in a 5-0 win in a Euro 2020 qualifier.
      A brace in the 5-3 win over Kosovo appeared to cement his place in the first team line-up.
      He was brought on in the Euro 2020 final against Italy in the 120th minute of extra-time to take a penalty.
      Unfortunately, he missed his spot-kick along with Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford as the Three Lions missed out on the trophy in the cruelest of fashions.
      Amazingly, he hasn’t added to his 23 England caps since 2021.
      Sancho suffered penalty heartbreak in the Euro 2020 finalCredit: Getty
      Incredibly, Sancho has not added to his 23 England caps since 2021Credit: Reuters
      Dream move
      That same month, Sancho’s club career appeared to take off – with a huge move to Man Utd sealed.
      In-different form in his first season saw him score just five times in 38 games.
      The following season, seven in 41 was nowhere near the prowess in front of goal he showed at Dortmund, where he managed double-figures in three of his four seasons.
      A series of manager chances from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to Ralf Rangnick to Erik ten Hag has certainly not helped his chances.
      The latter bringing in his former Ajax star Antony for £85million, a like-for-like player to Sancho, has hindered his progress.
      While the emergence of Alejandro Garnacho shows the competition for places is high on the flanks at Old Trafford.
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      A disagreement with ten Hag over his attitude in training saw him dropped from the club’s squad with Arsenal.
      It was a statement Sancho rejected in a social media blast.
      He wrote: “Please don’t believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue.
      “I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into.
      “I have been a scapegoat for a long time which isn’t fair! All I want to do is play football with a smile on my face and contribute to my team.
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      Sancho’s Man Utd career has failed to hit the heights expectedCredit: Getty
      A feud with Erik ten Hag saw Sancho banished to training aloneCredit: Getty
      “I respect all decisions that are made by the coaching staff, I play with fantastic players… I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!”
      That courage he showed in his youth days is needed if he is going to get his career back on track. More

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      I’m known as the David Beckham of Asia but I quit football to make rice wine… now I’m worth £28million

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      WHEN thinking of glam footballers like David Beckham, many fans may think about the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo or Antoine Griezmann.However, Hidetoshi Nakata is perhaps more comparable to Beckham than any other footballer.
      Hidetoshi Nakata quit football to pursue a career in Japanese rice wine makingCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Nakata has been dubbed the David Beckham of AsiaCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Nataka retired at Bolton weeks after the 2006 World CupCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      On the football pitch, Nakata made a name for himself in the Serie A with an eight-year spell in Italy yielding a league title and Italian Cup.
      The Japanese attacking midfielder also holds the record for most goals by an Asian player in Serie A history.
      But it is his work away from the pitch which truly distinguishes him, although it was far from a straightforward journey.
      Nakata retired from the beautiful game when at Bolton under Sam Allardyce aged just 29, after admitting his passion for the sport had evaporated.
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      His decision rocked Japanese football, coming just weeks after the nation’s exit from the Brazil World Cup in 2006.
      However, the former Japan footballer of the year and three-time Ballon d’Or nominee realised after hanging up his boots that he had an alarming lack of knowledge about his home country.
      Nakata had left Japan aged 21 to pursue his career in Europe, and insisted he needed to educate himself to “become a better Japanese person.”
      He told CNN in 2018: “I played because I loved [it], but I was losing a bit of passion for football.
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      “My people came to stop me but I said: ‘Please cut my contract. I don’t need any money anymore, just let me leave.’
      “All my life I just played football, basically. Every country I went, people asked me about Japan but I didn’t know anything about it.
      “That’s a part of my life, so I need to become a better Japanese person.”
      During his deep dive into Japan’s culture, which took over seven years to complete, Nakata visited all 47 of Japan’s prefectures – equivalent to an English county.
      His mission yielded the desired results, with Nakata finding a particular interest in sake, otherwise known as Japanese rice wine, and turning it into a business with his own label “N”.
      Fashion guru Nakata is a regular at Louis Vuitton showsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Nakata strikes various sponsorships to promote the Japanese sake industryCredit: AFP – Getty
      “There are most amazing crafts and agricultural products all over Japan, but I was especially fascinated by the uniqueness of sake,” he explained to Forbes.
      “It is distinctively Japanese, made with the Japanese national mould koji for the last 2000 years. I thought sake deserved much more global attention.”
      Nakata visited over 400 sake producers, around 40 per cent of the total operating breweries at the time, before launching his brand at the Takagi Shuzo brewery in 2013 in the Yamagata prefecture.
      At launch a single bottle of sake cost between £1,570 and £2,350 a bottle from his brewery.
      As it turned out, he would be entering the industry shortly before an international demand boom, with Japanese sake recording the highest number of exports by both value and quantity in 2021.
      Indeed, between 2009 and 2021, Japanese sake saw a 590 per cent increase in value and a 269 per cent jump in quantity.
      Nakata was named by Pele’s list of the top 100 footballersCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Nakata has rubbed shoulders with legends such as RonaldinhoCredit: Getty – Contributor
      However, the industry is not without its troubles, with figures from the Japanese government showing at least 70 per cent of the nation’s breweries to be operating at a loss or small profit annually.
      Nakata says his brewery is one such business in the red, but insists his love for the industry is all the motivation he needs.
      He said: “I have devoted my last ten years to find ways to support the sake industry. And I have not made any money.
      “I am doing this because I love doing it. It just does not feel right to do something simply for making money or for reputation.”
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      It is Nakata’s love for sake that seems to be the driving force behind his motivations, striking a number of partnerships with global brands to promote the industry.
      One such sponsorship came with Kit-Kat, as they created a sake-flavoured Kit-Kat chocolate bar.
      Fashion is also high on his list, with Nakata being pictured at a Louis Vuitton Cruise show in early 2023, managing to stand out even among the plethora of Hollywood A-listers at the event.
      His appearance even had GQ salivating, describing Nakata as “low-key the best-dressed footballer on the planet”.
      ‘Low-key the best-dressed footballer on the planet’
      Nakata, who was named by late Brazil legend Pele as one of the best 100 footballers in the world, has not stopped with his sake passion project or fashion outings either.
      He has taken an interest to Japan’s tea industry – which is in a similar state to sake – and also enrolled as a faculty member at Rikkyo University.
      In 2020, Nakata taught marketing in traditional craft industries for a semester.
      On the move, he added: “I provided a space for the next generation to explore what they could do to support traditional Japanese culture.
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      “I learned from their fresh perspectives too.”
      And all of this has helped him cultivate a £28million fortune.
      One of Nakata’s sake sponsorships saw him create a sake-flavoured Kik-KatCredit: Getty – Contributor More

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      Man Utd legend wrote three murder mysteries that have become cult classics, but he says they’re a ‘laughing stock’

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      STEVE BRUCE was known as a dominating defender during his playing days. Having won three Premier League titles at Manchester United, Bruce made a name for himself as the Red Devils’ hard-nosed but brilliant captain.
      Steve Bruce wrote three murder mystery booksCredit: Rex
      Bruce won three Premier League titles at Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
      A trait which carried over into his managerial career.
      However, underneath his outer shell, there was a surprising twist to the tale.
      That is thanks to the former Newcastle and Aston Villa manager dabbling in the art of literacy with an epic trio of crime novels.
      Bruce published three little-read football crime books suitably named: Striker!, Sweeper! and Defender!
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      Originally published between 1999 and 2000, the books have become increasingly sought-after over the years after they re-emerged thanks to the work of Northern Irish writer Seamas O’Reilly.
      A self-professed expert on Bruce’s career, O’Reilly was inspired to find the books thanks to his interest in “really terrible books”, as quoted by the BBC.
      Not that Bruce is particularly proud of his work on the novels, with the man himself labelling them “a laughing stock”.
      Bruce said: “It was a long time ago, and I’m not sure I want to be reminded of how bad they were.
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      “Just because I got a GCSE in English, I thought I was going to be the next Dick Francis. It didn’t make any contribution at all to anyone’s income.
      “It became a laughing stock, to be honest. I think they’re probably still on the shelves somewhere, and I bet you could probably pick one up for 99p.”
      Indeed, when asked why he hasn’t written any more books in a 2019 interview with Sky Sports, Bruce replied: “Have you read them? Go and read them and you’ll understand why.”
      Regardless, they have grown into cult classics, with a used paperback copy of his first book Striker! fetching as much as £249 on Amazon.
      And that is some increase from the £12 the book was originally sold for.
      The books themselves are written in the first person from the point of view of protagonist Steve Barnes.
      O’Reilly loved his dive into the 127-page story told in Striker!, detailing the “mad stuff” that goes on.
      Bruce’s first book Striker! was published in 1999Credit: Paragon Press Publishing
      Striker! opens with Pat Duffy, the young Irish striker of Leddersford Town FC – a small but historic club aiming for promotion to the top flight – having been found stabbed to death in the dressing room.
      Barnes, who is the manager of Town, is naturally among the suspects and launches his own investigation to get to the bottom of the mystery, all the while juggling his management of the team.
      “The book is filled with kidnappings, betrayal and suspense,” O’Reilly explains.
      The front cover of the book depicts the aftermath of the crime, with a player in a blue and white striped shirt lying on the floor next to the murder weapon.
      Although Duffy does appear to be a giant based on his blown-up proportions while lying on a football pitch.
      Barnes faces off with Irish mobsters and even finds himself in the sights of a sniper during a match.
      ‘Kidnappings, betrayal and suspense’
      In the final four pages, Barnes has a ball shot from underneath his foot while standing in the technical area in a top-of-the-table clash with Fulham.
      There is also a running gag throughout the book where Bruce writes in detail about the car Barnes is driving, even in the middle of an espionage mission.
      At one point he writes: “I drive a Jaguar XJ8, 3.2, the sports version. It’s a very nice motor; 3.2 litre AJ-V8 all alloy engine.
      “Classic colour interior theme, fluted leather seats, contrast colour keyed facia, figured walnut veneer. As good a motor as you can hope to drive.
      “But not a car you’d choose when trying to follow a Ford saloon in a discreet manner…my registration, license and all other statutory details are fully up to date.”
      The second book, Sweeper!, does not tone down on the drama levels either, with the plot centring around the kidnapping of the club’s janitor.
      Sweeper! was described as the ‘magnum opus’ of Bruce’s novel collectionCredit: Paragon Press Publishing
      O’Reilly goes so far as to declare Sweeper! the “magnum opus” of Bruce’s written work in the so-called “Bruniverse”.
      The plot of Sweeper! sees Barnes take on Yugoslavian warlords, lesbian prostitutes, Nazi-hunting spies and more.
      A particular highlight of O’Reilly’s is when Bruce makes a reference to his lack of international recognition – having never received an England cap – in one of the four kidnappings throughout the series.
      After Barnes is kidnapped by British Secret Service agents, who then ask him to go undercover, O’Reilly explains that Barnes refuses to help, saying: “He tells them, ‘My country never wanted me’.”
      “His reasoning for not helping counter-terrorism is not that he lacks training or expertise or that he’s a middle-aged football manager, it’s that he never got an international cap.”
      One book in the series even sees Barnes take out a bad guy with a slide tackle.
      ‘Magnum opus of the Bruniverse’
      But that isn’t to say the books don’t have criticism from the Derry-born Bruce superfan.
      He explained: “There are so many strange decisions made in the writing of these books, such as the way the world is constructed.
      “So, for instance, there’s fake names that stand in for real places, like Leddersford for Huddersfield and Mulcaster for Manchester.
      “But, he also talks about Manchester United and mentions Alex Ferguson. It’s like reading a Batman comic where he takes a train from Gotham to New York.”
      The third book is described as “incident-free” and “disappointing” by O’Reilly.
      And one brutal comment on the Amazon review section for the book seems to agree, saying: “Does for the English language what the Luftwaffe did to Coventry.”
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      Amazon reviews for the earlier books are far more positive.
      One user commented on Striker!: “Ahead of its time, ahead of anyone’s time. So bad it’s great.”
      A second remarked: “There is something about this book that makes it absolutely brilliant… even though it’s, err, awful!
      “Hours that I will never have again, but I’m glad that I spent them reading this.”
      One, perhaps tongue-in-cheek, review of Sweeper! says: “One cannot do justice to how effective and gripping Bruce’s writing style is. He is truly a modern-day Arthur Conan Doyle.”
      While it seems likely that Bruce will not be adding to his library with any new works, O’Reilly believes he has read through the reviews.
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      He added: “I do certainly like to think Steve Bruce has read the reviews.
      “There’s just this image in my head of Bruce at home, rushing in from training, tapping away incessantly on his Remington in an oak-panelled study.”
      Defender! rounded out the series when published in 2000Credit: Paragon Press Publishing More

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      Inside David De Gea’s incredible car collection including £160k British classic and a luxury people carrier

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      DAVID DE GEA may be a goalkeeper renowned for being stuck between the sticks, but away from the pitch he can go anyway he likes in style.This is thanks to his fleet of stunning motors.
      David de Gea was with Man Utd for 12 yearsCredit: Getty
      He amassed a stunning car collection during his time at the clubCredit: Getty
      The Spaniard left Manchester United behind after appearing in 545 games.
      During this time he won eight trophies with the Red Devils.

      From a stunning British classic to a striking red sports car, De Gea boasts an impressive collection.
      SunSport has taken a look at the various set of wheels the Spaniard owns.
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      BRITISH CLASSIC
      David de Gea can get anywhere he wants in styleCredit: Zenpix
      His Aston Martin Vantage is a British classicCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      After spending 12 years in England with Man Utd, it would make sense for De Gea to buy into some of Britain’s culture.
      And that is exactly what petrol head De Gea did.
      He took up the cream of the crop by getting himself an Aston Martin Vantage.
      Back in 2019, De Gea brought himself the two-door sports car and was spotted in town with it alongside partner Edurne Gacria Almagro.
      Most read in Football
      The sleek car can reach top speeds between 195mph to 200mph – not far off Aston Martin’s Formula One car.
      The motor will set you back a cool £125,000.
      Benz Your Ear
      De Gea was often seen with his £76,000 Mercedes GLE when at Man UtdCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      Standing at 6ft 4in, De Gea needs to ensure he has plenty of leg room in his cars.
      This means he often takes an SUV on his outings.
      His SUV of choice is the Mercedes GLE, which starts at around £76,000.
      De Gea was spotted giving a lift to Juan Mata when the pair played at the club.
      The Vito is able able to go from 0-60mph in just 6.6 seconds.
      So you would have good money on him getting wherever he wants to on time.
      American dream
      De Gea leapt at the chance to add a Chevrolet to his collectionCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      He later added a Chevrolet Camarao to his car garageCredit: Handout
      When Manchester United were sponsored by American car manufacturer Chevrolet, United reportedly told their players to drive cars made by them to keep their shirt sponsor happy.
      De Gea did not need a second invitation and jumped at the chance to add to his car collection.
      He was soon seen driving around in two Chevrolet cars.
      The first saw him add another SUV in the form of a Captiva, which can reach up to £24,000.
      However, De Gea was not done there, and soon added a second Chevrolet sponsored ride.
      The second time he opted for a Camaro, a two-door sports car which can fetch between £27,000 and £31,000 depending on whether it is a Coupe or Convertible variant.
      Although with United’s sponsorship with Chevrolet long gone, it is likely that De Gea no longer owns these cars.
      Red Devil
      A red Audi RS5 completes De Geas impressive car collectionCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      Throughout his Old Trafford career, De Gea was persistently linked with a transfer away from the club.
      However, one dodgy fax machine completely changed this trajectory.
      And his Real Madrid transfer links came with a spice of irony when he was seen leaving Hale village’s La Vina Spanish Restaurant with a Ausi RS5 in 2015.
      De Gea went for a bright red with the car to spruce up his options, matching the colours of Man Utd.
      The car can fetch a cool £73,000 on the market.
      But when the car – said to be a favourite of Real Madrid and Barcelona stars – is capable of reaching a top speed of 155.3mph, you would be expected to pay a pretty penny.
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      Man with a van
      De Gea’s missus Edurne Gacria Almagro was seen driving the goalkeeper around in a Mercedes Vito in 2018Credit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      De Gea did not round of his car collection with just one piece of Mercedes engineering prowess.
      Instead, the shot-stopper added a Mercedes-Benz Vito to his garage.
      In 2018 he was seen in the passenger seat of the SUV as missus Edurne drove around.
      The minivan has been owned by a number of footballers, including Raheem Sterling, Alvaro Morata and Jake Livermore.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Prices for the van start from a retail price of £36,000 and can climb all the way to £62,000 depending on the configuration of the vehicle.
      Some stars have even managed to pimp out their vans with game consoles and TVs in the back. More

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      Where every Golden Boy winner is now, including Mario Balotelli, Man Utd flop and ex-Swansea ace who passed to an advert

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      MANY of football’s Golden Boy winners have gone on to achieve great things.However, winning the gong provides no guarantee of having a stellar career.
      Erling Haaland won the award in 2020
      Football maverick Mario Balotelli is Italy’s one and only winnerCredit: AP:Associated Press
      From future Ballon d’Or and World Cup winners to bad-boys and stars whose careers were curtailed by injuries, the winners of the award represent both the good and bad side of professional football.
      England star Jude Bellingham is among the front-runners for the 2023 award.
      Despite sensational backing by Taylor Swift’s army of superfans, the award is no shoe-in for Real Madrid’s latest superstar.
      There will stiff competition from the likes of Jamal Musiala, Alejandro Balde and Gavi – who won the 2022 award.
      READ MORE IN SPORT
      But how have their predecessors got on after winning the award.
      SunSport has taken a look at each winner of the award since its inception in 2003.
      2003 – RAFAEL VAN DER VAART
      FORMER Tottenham ace Rafael van der Vaart won the first-ever Golden Boy award all the way back in 2003.
      The then 20-year-old had already established himself in Holland with Ajax, having already won the double with the club in 2002.
      Most read in Football
      Van der Vaart would go on to play for the likes of Real Madrid, Spurs and Real Betis, Midtjylland and Esbjerg throughout his career.
      Having won 109-caps for the Netherlands, since retiring in 2019 he has dabbled in pro darts and is a regular pundit on Dutch TV.
      2004 – WAYNE ROONEY
      WAYNE ROONEY exploded onto the footballing scene with a screamer against Arsenal and continued to haunt opposition defences for another decade.
      Rooney won the Golden Boy award in the same season as his transfer from Everton to Manchester United at the age of 20.
      With the Red Devils he became the face of English football, becoming United’s and England’s all-time leading goalscorer while completing a clean sweep of trophies before returning to the Toffees in 2017.
      After hanging up his boots Rooney went into management, taking over a cash-strapped Derby before joining D.C. United in Major League Soccer.
      2005 – LIONEL MESSI
      It is perhaps safe to say Lionel Messi more than lived up to his Golden Boy billingCredit: AFP
      AT just 18 years old it was clear to see Lionel Messi had something different to his peers. And he has gone to have a career like no other footballer.
      The Argentine carved his legacy into European football after 18 trophy-laden years with Barcelona, a time which saw score 672 goals and win 35 trophies.
      After leaving the Spanish giants Messi headed to Paris Saint-Germain where he continued to excel despite falling out with the club’s hierarchy, which eventually led to him joining MLS side Inter Miami.
      Messi also enjoyed spearheaded Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022. He already has a record seven Ballon d’Or’s to his name and could add to it when the 2023 ceremony rolls around.
      2006 – CESC FABREGAS
      ARSENAL star Cesc Fabregas had the world at his feet at the age of 19.
      The Spanish maestro already had a number of fans in Spain from his time in Barcelona’s Academy before he headed to London to join Arsenal.
      Fabregas went on to become the club’s captain before re-signing for Barcelona in 2011. But things did not go all according to plan, leading to him joining Chelsea where he finally got his hands on the Prem title.
      He later joined Monaco before hanging up his boots at Italian side Como, where he is an investor with fellow Gunners and Barca legend Thierry Henry.
      2007 – SERGIO AGUERO
      MANCHESTER CITY legend Sergio Aguero was terrorising defences in Argentina and Spain long before he was scoring the most dramatic goal in Premier League history to win City the title in 2012.
      In 2007 the Argentine ace won the Golden Boy award aged just 19 when he was at Atletico Madrid.
      Aguero joined Man City in 2011 and went on to become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, become England’s all-time leading scorer from overseas and claim the record for most Prem hat-tricks with 12.
      After 260 goals in a City shirt, he joined Barcelona in 2021. But just four games into his career at the Camp Nou he was forced to retire aged 33 due to a heart condition.
      2008 – ANDERSON
      Anderson was the first player to disappoint after winning the awardCredit: Getty
      THE ex-Man Utd midfielder is the first player who really failed to establish himself at the top of the game after winning the Golden Boy award in 2008.
      Having joined Man Utd in 2007, the exciting Brazilian was never able to truly make his mark.
      He eventually left Old Trafford permanently in 2015, heading home to play for Internacional and later Coritiba and Turkish side Adana Demirspor.
      Anderson retired in 2020 and now works as an assistant manager of Demirspor.
      2009 – ALEXANDRE PATO
      IF you asked a football fan what player had a “what if” career, a large number of them would point to Alexandre Pato.
      Pato, then at AC Milan, had the world on the edge of their seats when he won the Golden Boy award in 2009 aged just 20.
      However, injuries curtailed the Brazilian forward’s career, and he soon found himself back home after seeing his European fairytale collapse.
      He had a brief loan spell with Chelsea in 2016, but now plays for Sao Paulo following stints in China and the USA.
      2010 – MARIO BALOTELLI
      BAD-BOY Mario Balotelli never seemed to disappoint at the start of his career which had seen him obliterate opposition defences for Inter Milan and Man City.
      The Italian maverick won the Golden Boy award in 2010 and remains his nations one and only winner.
      However, his off-field antics and a lack of form on it saw his career nosedive.
      “Super Mario” now plays his football in Switzerland with Sion, but has had spells with seven clubs across in France, Italy and Turkey before landing at his current destination.
      2011 – MARIO GOTZE
      THE football gods seemed to be smiling on Mario Gotze throughout the early 2010s.
      Gotze was the shining bright of German football at Borussia Dortmund when he lifted the 2011 Golden Boy award aged 19.
      In 2014 Gotze netted the most important goal of his career as he scored the winner in the World Cup final.
      But a lack of fitness for one reason or another derailed his career, with Gotze now a reserve with Eintracht Frankfurt.
      2012 – ISCO
      Isco was Spain’s first winner since 2006Credit: AFP
      ISCO brought the Golden Boy winner back to Spain for the first time since 2006 when he lifted the award while turning out for Malaga aged 20.
      He went on to join Real Madrid in 2013, where he stayed for nine years.
      His spell there saw him become a key part of Zinedine Zidane’s unprecedented three-peat Champions League victors.
      However, he fell out of favour at the Bernabeu by 2022. He then joined Sevilla and now plays for Real Betis after a deal to join Union Berlin collapsed at the last minute.
      2013 – PAUL POGBA
      HAVING quit Man Utd for Juventus in 2012, Red Devils fans were kicking themselves when he won the Golden Boy award in 2013.
      But in 2016 he returned to Old Trafford for a then club-record £89million transfer.
      However, inconsistent form and the volatile state Man Utd have experienced since Alex Ferguson’s departure turned a dream return into nightmare fuel by the time he headed back to Juventus in 2022.
      Pogba has been beset by injuries since returning and is facing a four-year ban after being provisionally suspended for failing a drug test after allegedly testing positive for testosterone.
      2014 – RAHEEM STERLING
      RAHEEM STERLING became the first Englishman for over a decade to win the Golden Boy award in 2014.
      Sterling has terrified Premier League defences for over a decade at Liverpool, Man City and now Chelsea.
      He has also been a star on the International scene, being named England’s player of the tournament at Euro 2020.
      Once an exciting but raw talent, Sterling has now transformed to be the star to spearhead and guide Chelsea’s fledgling new attack brimming with young talent.
      2015 – ANTHONY MARTIAL
      Anthony Martial struggled to consolidate his bright career startCredit: Getty – Contributor
      FRENCHMAN Anthony Martial started his career brightly.
      His exploits at Monaco convinced Man Utd to splash a huge fee on him as he won the Golden Boy award in 2015.
      Martial instantly endeared himself at Old Trafford with a stunning debut goal against Liverpool.
      But injuries and poor form have long-since seen the novelty wear off, and he seems destined to leave United in the not-so distant future.
      2016 – RENATO SANCHES
      Renato Sanches with the Golden Boy award 2016Credit: instagram
      Sanches inexplicably passed to an advertising board during his Swansea loanCredit: YouTube/Sky Sports Retro
      RENATO SANCHES had world football stunned after delivering a brilliant performance in Portugal’s winning Euro 2016 run.
      But things soon turned sour after a move to Bayern Munich and a horror loan to Swansea, which saw him left red-faced after passing to an advertising board.
      He managed to revitalise his career at Lille before being poached by PSG.
      Sanches now finds himself on loan at Roma under Jose Mourinho.
      2017 – KYLIAN MBAPPE
      Kylian Mbappe has had a meteoric rise since winning the Golden Boy awardCredit: AP:Associated Press
      ARGUABLY the most exciting Golden Boy winner since Messi, Kylian Mbappe has forged a non-stop path to the top of world football.
      The Frenchman has already netted 248 club career goals and is spearheading a golden generation of French football talent.
      Having already won the World Cup in 2018, Mbappe then became the first player since Sir Geoff Hurst to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final in Qatar, but ultimately saw his nation beaten by Argentina.
      Mbappe has been at loggerheads with PSG’s hierarchy and appears destined to be a free agent next summer, with the likes of Real Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea all eyeing a mega-transfer for him.
      2018 – MATTHIJS DE LIGT
      ONE of the star’s of Erik ten Hag’s 2018/19 Ajax team, Matthijs de Ligt became the first defender ever to win the Golden Boy award in 2018.
      Before leaving Dutch football behind he was seemingly being headhunted by every top team in world football.
      He would eventually join Juventus, but things didn’t go according to plan and he was flogged to Bayern Munich after just three years.
      Following a promising start under Julian Nagelsmann, the arrival of Thomas Tuchel saw De Ligt dropped to the bench.
      READ MORE SPORT FEATURES
      2019 – JOAO FELIX
      ANOTHER star from Benfica, Joao Felix landed the gong in 2019.
      This helped to convince Atletico Madrid to splash a club-record fee of £108m on Joao Felix.
      However, a fallout with manager Diego Simeone saw Felix loaned to Chelsea in the second half of the 2022/23 season.
      He now turns out for Barcelona after sealing another loan transfer.
      2020 – ERLING HAALAND
      THE first Golden Boy winner to be born in the new millennium, Erling Haaland looks set to challenge Kylian Mbappe for the title of the best footballer of the 2020s.
      The Norwegian bagged the award while still with Borussia Dortmund after scoring 86 goals in 89 games.
      He then joined Man City and obliterated any notion of being flop by breaking the Premier League goalscoring record in his first season.
      He also helped City to win an English team’s first continental treble since Man Utd in 1999.
      2021 – PEDRI
      Pedri lifted the award in 2021Credit: Getty
      BARCELONA midfielder Pedri represents the future of the Spanish giants.
      After losing Messi thanks to their crippling financial woes, Pedri has stepped into the void under the wing of club legend Xavi.
      He has already appeared 111 times for Barca.
      Pedri is has also established himself as a regular in the Spanish national team set-up.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      2022 – GAVI
      THE latest winner of the award, Gavi has followed in Pedri footsteps in establishing himself both at Barcelona and with Spain.
      He signed a new contract in June 2023 with a stunning €1billion (£860m) release clause. More

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      Inside Harry Kane’s British car collection, from £212,000 Continental GT Supersports to £99,000 Land Rover

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      HARRY KANE left these shores last month to try to plunder some trophies in Germany.But the England captain remains as proud to be British as ever.
      Harry Kane poses with his Jaguar F-PaceCredit: The Sun
      The England captain treated himself to a Bentley Continental SupersportsCredit: James Lipman
      Kane also has the Range Rover seemingly obligatory for top Prem footballersCredit: Getty
      Kane, 30, left boyhood club Tottenham with one year remaining on his contract, feeling the need for a new challenge abroad.
      In his car collection, however, he’ll be bringing a bit of Blighty to Munich – even if he won’t be allowed to drive all of them to training.
      Bayern have had a lucrative sponsorship deal with German manufacturer Audi dating back to 2002.
      Players and staff even receive a plush Audi model of their choice upon joining.
      READ MORE IN SPORT
      Kane plumped for a practical £58k black Q8 e-tron upon joining from Spurs last month.
      He will be expected to drive it to training at Sabener Strasse and matches at Allianz Arena.
      Failure to do so could land him in hot water – just ask Kingsley Coman.
      The French winger got himself in trouble back in 2020 for driving his £174k McLaren into training – and wasn’t even allowed into the complex, instead having to park on the street.
      Most read in Football
      The former Tottenham star loves his £35k JagCredit: Instagram @HarryKane
      The Tottenham star has been getting used to driving around GermanyCredit: The Sun
      He was then reportedly slapped with a hefty £43,500 fine for his misstep.
      Other car brands within the Volkwagon group are deemed acceptable, however, so Kane would be okay in a Bentley, Bugatti or Porsche.
      On why he chose the e-tron, he explained: “I decided on a family car. Now that I have four children, I just need the space.”
      He quickly took one of his own motors out for a whirl after arriving in Germany, adding: “I’ve already tried, but of course not with the new car.”
      TREATING HIMSELF
      Kane does own a Bentley, which he will be allowed to whizz into training in, should he wish.
      He bought a Continental GT Supersports back in 2020, and was amazed to see that then-team-mate Dele Alli had just bought the same model.
      The striker said of the £212k motor at the time: “I’ve just bought a Bentley Supersports.
      “I thought I’d treat myself to a sports car. I was looking at most of them really, but because I play golf I wanted something with a bit of room, nothing too low, something a bit different.
      “They are only making 710 of them. I’ve gone for white with black wheels. It’s a beautiful, beautiful car. It’s my first real sports car.”
      He also admitted that if he’s feeling frivolous after a big triumph, he may even dabble with something even fancier in future.
      Kane added: “Down the line, maybe if I win a few trophies, I can treat myself to a Ferrari or a Lamborghini.”
      BEST OF BRITISH
      As Three Lions skipper, few things make Kane prouder than being British.
      And in the spirit of this, he owns a £99k Land Rover and £35k Jaguar F-Pace.
      He beamed: “Just to be associated with that British stamp is something that I’m proud of.”
      “I pretty much love that Jag. It’s not too big, not too small, it fits our little daughter and the dogs.
      “It’s a family car with a sporty edge. It’s not like you’re embarrassed to drive it as a dad. You’re happy to drive it. It looks nice and it’s not too expensive. It’s been great for me so far.”
      He went on to continue: “After a game or training, you just want to get in a nice car and chill.
      “I had a Range Rover Sport before that. Loved that. I just wanted the bigger version.”
      COMPANY CARS
      While Kane went for the comfort of the £58k Audi Q8 e-tron upon joining Bayern, many of his new team-mates opted for something more expensive.
      Twelve stars selected the £120k Audi RS e-tron GT, including the likes of Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane and Joshua Kimmich.
      Leon Goretzka also went for the £120k model, but opted for a silky purple rather than black.
      On getting the hang of driving in Germany, Kane joked: “‘I’ll slowly get used to the fact that the steering wheel is on the other side.
      “So far I haven’t had a crash, that’s a positive thing.”
      READ MORE SPORT FEATURES
      SON STILL SHINES
      Kane wasn’t the only Spurs player last season with a stunning car collection.
      His old pal and Ange Postecoglou’s new skipper Son Heung-min also has an enviable fleet.
      The South Korean superstar owns an ultra-rare Ferrari LaFerrari worth an eye-watering £1,150,000 – with only 499 of them having been made.
      While he also has an Audi R8 Coupe, Maserati Levante, Range Rover and Bentley Continental.
      Son, 31, drove an Audi R8 during his Bundesliga days – and would have looked right at home at Sabener Strasse doing so.
      While he was gifted Maserati’s first ever SUV, worth £60,000.
      Korea’s official Maserati importer wrote in a statement that their new car: “Might be the most matching vehicle to Son, who can play with delicacy and unstoppable power.”
      As has become customary for Prem footballers, Son also has a £31k Range Rover that he has been seen cruising into Spurs training in.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      And like his former striker partner and pal Kane, Son also has a £160k Bentley Continental GT in his collection.
      The duo may not be together at Spurs anymore, but they can still surely bond over their shared love of fast cars and people carriers.
      Kane poses with his new Audi club carCredit: Reuters
      Kane and Son Heung-min are no longer team-mates… but both have great car collectionsCredit: Getty More