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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

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      Meet Dominik Szoboszlai’s model Wag Fanni Gecsek, a former tennis professional who has a business degree

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      HUNGARIAN playmaker Dominik Szoboszlai has made an impressive start to his Liverpool career.And the £60million midfielder, 22, has seemingly had the support of his stunning Wag, Fanni Gecsek.
      Meet stunning Wag Fanni Gecsek
      Fanni is a model and former tennis player
      Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai has dated the Hungarian beauty since 2020
      The blonde beauty, also 22, has been cheering him on, while completing her business degree and juggling modelling assignments.
      They reportedly met in 2020, when the talented star was playing for Red Bull Salzburg.
      But she could have been a sports star herself, excelling at tennis as a youngster.
      Budapest beauty
      Fanni was born in Budapest, and had designs of competing on the ATP Tour.
      Read more football news
      From 2017-2019, she starred in various ITF Tournaments and seemed destined for a life on the court.
      However, she has seemingly stepped away from that life and become an influencer.
      Along with model shoots, her social media pages show the glam life she leads.
      From posing with designer handbags to helping her beau celebrate winning a trophy, she makes sure to keep her 65,000 followers updated.
      Most read in Football
      Don’t be fooled into thinking Fanni is just a pretty face.
      Recently, she celebrated graduating from the International Business School in her homeland.
      She stayed behind to finish it, as Dominik began his new life at Anfield.
      However, that hasn’t made her less opinionated when it comes to the Reds.
      Talented Fanni played in ITF Tournaments from from 2017-2019
      Since quitting tennis, Fanni has become a social media influencer
      With her good looks, Fanni has taken on plenty of model assignments
      Smart Fanni recently graduated from the International Business School in Budapest
      Lavia diss
      Over the summer, Liverpool were locked in a battle to sign Belgium midfielder Romeo Lavia with Chelsea.
      In the end, he opted for a move to Stamford Bridge in a £58million deal.
      The snub was felt by Liverpool fans, and Fanni also couldn’t help putting a sly dig in.
      The 19-year-old has yet to feature for his new club, and one fan took to social media and posted a photo collage of Lavia sitting on the bench, alongside Szoboszlai celebrating for Liverpool.
      Underneath the picture of Lavia, a caption read: “Playing for money.”
      While underneath Szoboszlai’s photo, it read: “Playing for passion.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      While she finished her studies in Hungary, Szoboszlai settled in Liverpool
      Fanni has 65,000 followers on Instagram
      Fanni was not afraid to show her feelings towards Romeo Lavia’s Liverpool snub
      Amusingly, supporters noted that Fanni liked the photo revelling in Lavia’s misfortune and her man’s start in the Premier League.
      Shots fired, as they say, but as a former tennis player she should be used to that. More

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      I’m a former top footballer who was compared to George Best but I quit at 23 to become a Jehovah’s Witness

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      NOBODY expected Peter Knowles to actually go through with his decision to retire from football aged just 23 in 1969.His club Wolves, for whom he was something of a rising star, kept laying out his kit each day – ready for his return.
      Peter Knowles starred for Wolves in the 1960sCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Knowles gave up football to become a Jehovah’s WitnessCredit: Alamy
      But he never came back.
      Knowles had played four times for England’s Under-23s and had even drawn comparisons with Manchester United legend George Best.
      A trip to the United States to play games on loan at Kansas Spurs would change everything for Knowles, however, when two local Jehovah’s Witnesses knocked on his door.
      “At the time, I was an atheist. I didn’t believe in a God. I was happy to be a professional footballer, to play for Wolves,” Knowles said in 2018.

      “I am not bragging here. But I loved it and I was good at it. One day, two Jehovah’s Witnesses knocked on my door. I said to them: ‘Why did my dad and my two sisters, who’d done nowt wrong, die?’
      “They came in and answered that question. They answered another question and then another I had never got an answer to.
      “That’s how I became a Jehovah’s Witness. If I hadn’t met them I’d have carried on playing football.”
      Upon his return to the UK Knowles went back to Wolves, but his heart was no longer in the beautiful game.
      Most read in Football
      Knowles waves goodbye to the Molineux faithfulCredit: Alamy
      The forward had scored more than 60 goals for Wolves by the age of 23Credit: PA:Empics Sport
      He banged in three goals in his side’s opening four games of the 1969-70 season and even had a chance at making Sir Alf Ramsey’s Three Lions squad for the following summer’s World Cup.
      But he abruptly called it quits, giving up football for good.
      Everyone at Wolves thought he’d be back, and even kept contracts for him until he turned 36.
      His brother Cyril, then a star of Bill Nicholson’s Tottenham side, also felt it was only a matter of time – but Knowles held firm.
      NO GOING BACK
      When his former striker partners Derek Dougan and Frank Munro were suspended later that season, Knowles popped into Molineux to grab his old football boots as he prepared to coach local kids.
      Boss Bill McGarry made an impassioned plea for Knowles to return in his old team’s hour of need, and Wolves’ former star was tempted.
      But feeling that he wouldn’t be able to give it all up a second time, Knowles turned his old boss down.
      Rather than return to football, he performed a variety of odd jobs; a milkman, a window cleaner, a tile salesman, an M&S warehouseman.
      While it may seem an extreme career change for most, Knowles has no regrets.
      He continued: “Everybody – the manager, the players, my family, all the Wolves supporters – they all said, ‘He’ll be back in six months.’
      “My family couldn’t cope. My mum was upset, so angry. My brother Cyril (who played for Spurs) said: ‘Give him six months.’ They couldn’t cope.
      “Wolves put my strip out for about a year. Contracts were sent to me for ten years. They thought I’d sign it.
      “It’s the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. I’ve never regretted it. Not once.”
      Read More sport features
      ‘I’VE DONE ALL THAT’
      Knowles subsequently spent over 50 years preaching the word of God with wife Jean – and he has enjoyed every second.
      “When I was younger I used to do all that, the nightlife, the cars. Well, I’ve done all that,” he added.
      “Basically I work, preach, read the Bible and go to meetings – that’s my life. And I am dead chuffed with it.”
      NOT A LONE WOLF
      Knowles isn’t the only former Wolves player to give up football for the church.
      Striker Richard Leadbeater, who came through the Molineux side’s academy in the 1990s, retired at 26 to become a reverend after studying theology at the University of Brimingham.
      Asked about Knowles by Wolves Heroes, the 42-year-old said: “I think you can be a Christian footballer, just as you can be a Christian lawyer or a Christian professor. But it should change the way you think.
      “You see things through Christian lenses. To get to the top, you have to sacrifice a lot, make it the most important thing.
      “But being Christian is a case of putting others before self, doing things to the honour of Jesus and not yourself.
      I can understand how Peter Knowles feltRichard Leadbeater
      “The amount of time, dedication, energy and ambition to get to the top is very difficult for a serious Christian. You see life as about not being for your own pleasure but about proclaiming a different message.
      “It is possible – and needed – to be a Christian footballer. We need Christians in the football world. We need Christians everywhere. But I can understand how Peter Knowles felt.
      “I had a professional footballer friend in Scotland who stopped because when he played, he could not do it in a Godly way. Of course it may be possible for some.”
      ‘THEY IDOLISED ME’
      Juggling the adulation that came with fame with his faith was something that Knowles struggled to reconcile with.
      He said: “The Bible says ‘All men are created equal’.
      “But when I put a football shirt on, there was a difference. People began to worship me. They idolised me.
      “They treated me differently to an ordinary person. So, I thought: ‘What am I going to do?’
      “The biggest problem as well was becoming a Jehovah’s Witness.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “People would say: ‘Why don’t you mix the two?’ I said to them: ‘I can’t. I’ve got to give one up or the other.’ And I decided to give up football.”
      He scored 61 goals in 174 games in total for Wolves – before becoming one of English football’s great “What if?” stories.
      Knowles married wife Jean in 1967Credit: Rex Features More

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      Inside Miami-based investment firm 777 Partners, who are set to buy Everton and have invested in a Hollywood film studio

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      EVERTON are in the midst of a takeover.The fallen Premier League giant’s owners are reportedly ‘close’ to a deal with US investment firm, 777 Partners.
      Josh Wander is one of the co-founder’s of 777 PartnersCredit: AFP
      Entrepreneur Steven Pasko is Wander’s co-partner
      According to Bloomberg, Farhad Moshiri has been locked in talks with the Miami-based company who are desperate to add the prestigious English club to their business portfolio.
      777 Partners already boast several ties in football, including owning 70 per cent of CR Vasco da Gama, which was the biggest transaction in the history of the Brazilian game, as well as Genoa in Serie A.
      They have assets in aviation with low-budget airlines in Canada and Australia.
      But, more glamorously, their investment in Hollywood film studio STX Entertainment has seen them involved in the production of the Oscar-nominated The Irishman and the eagerly anticipated Ferrari biopic.
      Read more football news
      Formation
      777 Partners was formed in 2015 by business entrepreneurs Steven Pasko and Josh Wander.
      They focus their efforts on seven core industries: Insurance, Aviation, Sports, Media & Entertainment, Fintech, Litigation Finance, Private Credit, and Sustainability.
      To date, they have over 50 portfolio companies and operate in over 20 countries around the world.
      But it was sport where they realised they could capitalise financially.
      Most read in Football
      Sport
      Seeing an opportunity in LaLiga, they bought a minority stake at Spanish football club Sevilla in 2018.
      Two years later, they elevated their share to 7.5 per cent. That was just the beginning.
      In 2021, they bought 99.99 per cent of Italy’s oldest club, Genoa in an estimated deal worth around £130million.
      They followed that up with the purchase of a 70 per cent stake in Brazil’s Vasco da Gama.
      That R$700million (around £113million) deal was the biggest takeover in Brazilian football history.
      It valued the club at an astonishing £275million, although they are currently struggling in the Brazilian top flight.
      Belgium’s Standard Liege are 100 per cent owned by 777, while they have a majority ownership of German side Hertha Berlin and a minority stake in Melbourne Victory.
      They faced backlash when they bought France’s third tier side Red Star because of the club’s working-class and left-wing history, and concerns that the club would become a farm team for 777’s other assets.
      Former Genoa coach Alexander Blessin head coach jokes with Pasko and WanderCredit: Getty
      A deal for for Vasco da Gama was the biggest in Brazilian football history
      Elsewhere, their investment in basketball in the UK hasn’t gone unnoticed.
      They bought the London Lions, London’s sole men’s professional basketball team. They then invested £7million for 45 per cent of the British Basketball League.
      Aviation
      While Arsenal and Man City have significant investment from major airlines Emirates and Etihad respectively, 777 Partners have gone down the low-budget route with their investments.
      Their assets in aviation include Canadian company, Flair Airlines who operate with a fleet of Boeing 737’s.
      Australia’s Bonza is another backed by 777, another low-cost carrier who specialise in predominantly serving under-utilised domestic and regional routes within Australia.
      Expect to see one of those airlines pop up as a sponsor on a billboard at Goodison Park or on the famous blue shirt.
      Hollywood
      Last year, by far the most glam of their investments, 777 ploughed money into a Burbank, Hollywood film studio called STX Entertainment.
      STX scored a major worldwide distribution deal for the Oscar-nominated Martin Scorsese flick, The Irishman starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro,
      However, this year they could be set for bigger acclaim.
      Their latest film, the Ferrari biopic, has just earned a seven-minute-standing ovation from an audience at the Venice Film Festival.
      It is already generating plenty of Oscar buzz.
      Flair Airlines boast a fleet of Boeing 737’sCredit: Getty
      Martin Scorsese’s flick The Irishman was distributed internationally by STX Entertainment, backed by 777 PartnersCredit: Splash News
      Ferrari, starring Adam Driver, is already earning critical buzzCredit: Alamy
      Drugs bust
      However, it has not always been plain-sailing for one of the entrepreneurs who fronts the business.
      According to Brazilian outlet O Globo, co-founder Josh Wander was arrested for cocaine trafficking in 2003, when he was a student.
      Police allegedly caught him with 31 grams of the white powder, which he claimed was for him and a friend.
      He was sentenced in 2004 and was released on a long period of parole that ended in 2019, the report revealed.
      In another damning article from Josimar football, there were alarming allegations that 777-affiliated companies have been involved in activities such as kidnapping, predatory lending, and fraud.
      777 Partners have dismissed these claims as “inaccurate and defamatory.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      As one of the oldest clubs in the Premier League, Everton deserve a new ownership that will nurture them back to financial health and Premier League stability.
      The test of time will tell if 777 are the right group for the job.
      Josh Wander was arrested for cocaine trafficking in 2003Credit: Getty More

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      Meet England’s rugby Wags including daughter of MOTD pundit who will be cheering team on at the Rugby World Cup 2023

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      THE Rugby World Cup is upon us.England’s rugby team kick off their campaign against Argentina on September 9.
      Meet England rugby’s stunning WagsCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Beautiful Beth Dolling will be cheering on the RosesCredit: Instagram @bethdolling
      Beth is the partner of Marcus Smith
      The squad is currently in turmoil with captain Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola missing the start of the tournament after receiving bans.
      Add to that a dismal run of defeats to Ireland and Fiji that mean the Roses are low in confidence.
      But, there’s plenty of talent in the squad to cause a dent in France.
      Off the pitch, the Wags will be cheering their partners on. From a stunning model to a co-founder of an online community for mums, meet the Wags cheering on our boys…
      Read more England rugby news

      Beth Dolling
      Beautiful Beth, 23, is the girlfriend of Marcus Smith.
      She has appeared in campaigns for online fashion giants PrettyLittleThing.
      She’s also embracing a career as a singer and has an Instagram account dedicated to her music.
      The pair have been together for four years.
      Most read in Football
      Hollie Shearer
      Gorgeous Hollie, 28, is the daughter of England legend and Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer.
      Like Beth, she is a singer and songwriter – so surely a collaboration is on the cards.
      Hollie Shearer shows off her stunning bikini body to her 83,000 Instagram followers
      Hollie is the daughter of England legend Alan ShearerCredit: Instagram
      Joe Marchant and Hollie Shearer togetherCredit: https://www.instagram.com/hollieshearer/?hl=en
      She dates Joe Marchant, and they have been together for a year.
      Hollie’s Instagram has drawn 83,000 followers to her account, who are wowed by the incredible lifestyle she lives.
      Olivia Thomas
      Not much is known about very private Olivia Thomas, who is engaged to Harlequins hooker Jack Walker.
      The brunette beauty keeps her cards close to her chest by making her Instagram private.
      Brunette beauty Olivia keeps a private profileCredit: https://www.instagram.com/jwacker96/
      Jack Walker and Olivia recently got engagedCredit: https://www.instagram.com/jwacker96/
      However, she appears on Walker’s social media – often looking glam and fashionable.
      They share a dog they affectionately nickname ‘The Queen’, and revealed they are expecting a baby.
      Megan Ely
      Toulouse flanker Jack Willis is in a long term relationship with Meg, who lives in the South of France with her beau.
      They have a son together called Enzo, who was born in 2021.
      Meg Ely lives in the South of France, where her beau playsCredit: https://www.instagram.com/meganely_/?hl=en-gb
      Jack Willis and Meg are in a longterm relationshipCredit: https://www.instagram.com/meganely_/?hl=en-gb
      She is often seen at the Stadium de Toulouse – cheering on Willis and his team.
      No doubt she will be there supporting him in France.
      Annie Knowles
      Sadly, model Annie won’t at this year’s Rugby World Cup.
      The Wag of Sales Sharks star Ben Curry, he is a notable absentee after suffering a hamstring injury.
      Gorgeous Annie Knowles is a model with agencies in London and ManchesterCredit: https://www.instagram.com/anniekknowles/?hl=en-gb
      Ben Curry and Annie pose for a selfieCredit: https://www.instagram.com/anniekknowles/?hl=en-gb
      Annie is signed to J’adore Models in Manchester and BMA models in London.
      Her Instagram is full of glam images showcasing her beauty.
      Michelle Daly
      In 2021, Michelle and Elliot Daly said their ‘I do’s’ in a glitzy wedding ceremony.
      They posted a series of photos of their big day on Instagram, accompanied with the caption: “One month ago today I got to marry my soulmate. 10 years of knowing each other, four years engaged and now finally married.”
      Michelle Daly runs her own photography studio
      Michelle and Elliot Daly got married in 2021Credit: https://www.instagram.com/elliotdaly/?hl=en
      Michelle runs her own photography studio called Michelle Sylvia Photography.
      She is a graduate of the London School of Photography.
      Jessica Lawes
      Jessica is married to Northampton Saints star Courtney Lawes.
      They have four children together, and she is the co-founder of online community The Mum Club, which connects mums to various events close to them.
      Read More on The Sun
      She said on social media: “We honestly can’t believe the journey that The Mum Club has been on.
      “To think we started this driving across the country hosting brunches to 2.5 kids, and now we’ve six kids between the two of us, over 40 franchises, hosted over 500 plus events, a team of seven at HQ and now we’re entering international territory with a franchise opening in Dubai. Madness!”
      Jessica Lawes runs an online community for mums
      Jessica and Courtney Lawes have four children together More

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      Man City youth stars who starred after leaving the Etihad, from Kieran Trippier to Romeo Lavia, as Cole Palmer is sold

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      MAN CITY’s academy has produced plenty of talented players through the years.Stars like Phil Foden and Rico Lewis have managed to break into the first team and establish themselves under Pep Guardiola.
      Cole Palmer is the latest Man City youngster to leave for pastures new
      Palmer has signed for ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Kieran Trippier is now a bonafide Premier League star and England internationalCredit: Rex
      Trippier’s youth career began at CityCredit: Getty
      But some have found themselves on the fringes of the action, and have left the club.
      Cole Palmer is the latest youngster to leave the Etihad, after Chelsea pounced in a £45million deal.
      Palmer, 21, should be buoyed by these success stories who have made the move away from M11.
      Kieran Trippier
      Before he would become an England international and Newcastle star, Trippier spent his youth days at Man City.
      Read more football news
      He was there from the age of nine, appearing in a pre-season friendly in 2009 at the Camp Nou against Barcelona.
      However, after loans at Barnsley and Burnley, the right-back was deemed surplus to requirements .
      In 2012, the Clarets made 32-year-old Trippier’s move permanent for £400,000. Amazingly, City would earn a further £1.3million from a sell-on fee when Spurs signed him in 2015.
      Romeo Lavia
      It was only last summer that City sold the Belgium midfielder to Southampton for £18million.
      Most read in Football
      After joining as a 16-year-old from Anderlecht, he would appear just once – in a League Cup tie against Wycombe Wanderers.
      This summer, Chelsea paid a whopping £60million for him, with City reportedly earning 20 per cent in a sell on fee.
      Lavia, 19, is now an international and might have saved the club, who added Mateo Kovačić and Matheus Nunes to their midfield for this season, millions.
      Romeo Lavia starred for Man City’s youth side – winning the Premier League 2 trophyCredit: Getty
      Lavia signed for Chelsea in the summerCredit: Getty
      Michael Olise
      Blink and you might have missed it.
      Not many will know that the speedy Crystal Palace winger, 21, had a year at City’s academy from 2016-17, after failing at Arsenal and Chelsea.
      After he was released, he ended up joining Reading’s Academy scholarship program.
      Olise made his debut for The Royals in 2019, before Premier League Palace bought him for £9million.
      Michael Olise is now hot property at Crystal PalaceCredit: Getty
      Jadon Sancho
      While the jury is still out on his United career, it’s worth remembering that Sancho was one of the most feared wingers in European football at one point.
      He controversially left Man City in 2017 for a reported fee of £8million, and was a pioneer in young players in our country choosing ambition and seeking pastures new overseas for first team football.
      Various issues blighted his progress last season.
      However, in pre-season the 23-year-old’s looked sharp and you wouldn’t put it past him rediscovering his form this term.
      Jadon Sancho quit Man City for first team football overseasCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Sancho is now hopeful of rediscovering his old form at crosstown rivals Man UtdCredit: Getty
      Brahim Diaz
      Diaz’s CV – playing for European giants Real Madrid and AC Milan – is impressive.
      He began in Manchester, after joining the club from Malaga in 2015.
      The attacking midfielder, 24, would play 15 times for the club, before Los Blancos paid £24million for his services.
      After three years on loan with the Serie A giants, he’s back at Madrid and appears to be in manager Carlo Ancelotti’s plans.
      Brahim Diaz came through the ranks at Man CityCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Diaz has worked his way into Carlo Ancelotti’s plans at Real MadridCredit: Rex
      James Trafford
      It’s still early days in his career, but it might prove to be the making of the young goalkeeper.
      Trafford, 20, has already starred for England’s youth teams – saving a stoppage time penalty against Spain in the 2023 Euro U21 final to secure a 1-0 win.
      The 6ft6in shotstopper joined City aged just 12 ,but failed to make a first team appearance.
      A £19million summer move to Burnley has shown what he can do on the Premier League stage – already shining in his first two appearances for the Clarets.
      England U21 keeper James Trafford never got an opportunity at Man CityCredit: Rex
      Burnley have made Trafford their new No1 since signing him in the summerCredit: Getty
      Eric Garcia
      Snatched from Barcelona at 17, La Masia graduate Garcia seemed destined to be a Rolls-Royce in City’s backline.
      He appeared 35 times in all competitions for City from 2018-2021, before refusing to sign a contract extension and returning to the Catalans on a free transfer.
      Read More on The Sun
      Since then, he has been capped 19 times by Spain.
      Garcia, 22, is also a reportedly a target for Arsenal, with manager Mikel Arteta said to be a fan of the centre back.
      Eric Garcia left Man City on a free transfer after refusing a new deal
      Garcia now plays for Barcelona, although he has been linked with a move to ArsenalCredit: Rex More

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      How David Beckham turned Inter Miami into the must-see sports team in the States, with A-list pals flocking to see Messi

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      A TICKET to Inter Miami is the hottest in town.Forget the Dolphins, the Heat or the Marlins – it’s the MLS franchise that is bringing A-listers to their games.
      David Beckham has made Inter Miami the hottest ticket in the States – thanks to Lionel Messi
      Pitchside at the DRV PNK Stadium has become a celebrity affair
      And it’s all because of owner David Beckham, who has had a helping hand by recent recruit Lionel Messi, in bringing the stars through the gates at the DRV PNK Stadium.
      In fact, pitchside at the Fort Lauderdale arena has become the MLS equivalent of courtside at the Staples Center.
      That has made Inter Miami the must-see sports team in the States.
      Beforehand…
      The excitement around Beckham, 48, owning a sports team was enough to attract his celeb pals who offered their support.
      Read more Inter Miami news
      His product might have been lacking in pizzazz, with early recruits Gonzalo Higuain and Blaise Matuidi not exactly setting the world on fire.
      But, Becks’ is an extremely well-connected man.
      Curious as to see what all the fuss was about, the rich and famous took in an Inter Miami game.
      Perhaps, they were passing through Florida, or on holiday, but they can say they were there.
      Most read in Football
      This goes for Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith and Olympic legend Usain Bolt.
      Maybe the latter was seeking a contract.
      The fanfare was set.

      A star-studded debut
      While his lightning-delayed unveiling was a damp squib, Messi’s debut against Cruz Azul was the equivalent of an Oscars red carpet that ended with a dramatic Hollywood movie plot twist.
      The star attraction entered the fray in the second half, admittedly very short of match-fitness.
      That didn’t matter. Not for a man of Messi’s class who had to entertain his new fans, with some paying over £1,000 for a ticket.
      Inter Miami owners Jorge Mas, Jose Mas, and David Beckham pose alongside Lionel Messi at his unveilingCredit: Getty
      The Kardashians dropped in to offer the Beckhams their support,Credit: Instagram
      For Kim Kardashian and tennis legend Serena Williams, they had to be there to see Messi’s debut
      Sports pals LeBron James and David Beckham pose for a snap in Fort lauderdaleCredit: Instagram
      Deep into stoppage time, he stood over a free-kick some 30-yards from goal.
      A trademark free-kick followed, driving the fans into ecstasy, Messi’s team-mates wild and securing a win for his new club.
      Right before he made his appearance, Kim Kardashian, LeBron James, Serena Williams, DJ Khaled, Camila Cabello, Rick Ross, Derek Jeter, Diddy, Becky G, and Marc Anthony all watched in expectation of the spectacular.
      Even they were in awe of the Barcelona legend, with some of those whipping their camera phones out to film the moment.
      And it wasn’t a fad
      While his debut was something of make-believe, that enticed the A-listers furthermore.
      You could be fooled into thinking a match against Atlanta United isn’t exactly a glamour tie.
      Tell that to Diddy (again), DJ Khaled (again), Camila Cabello (again), and Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro.
      DJ Khaled and rapper Diddy were seen enjoying Messi’s second game
      DJ Khaled’s son Asahd was overcome with emotion stood next to Lionel Messi
      Camila Cabello snatches a chat with Lionel Messi
      Before the action kicked off, Messi led out his team alongside Khaled’s son, Asahd.
      It was an occasion that was even too much for the boy, who weeped tears of joy to be stood next to his hero.
      Still, those tears would have been wiped as Messi’s second coming inspired a 4-0 demolition of an MLS rival.
      Messi was the architect again, scoring twice inside the opening 22 minutes.
      And he seemingly appeared to be enjoying his new-found status, sharing a chat with singer Cabello during proceedings.
      In recent weeks, Becks’ close pal NFL legend, Tom Brady and producer/rapper Pharrell Williams have also shown their love for Inter Miami.
      Read More on The Sun
      Messi’s Inter Miami odyssey is currently being followed by an Apple TV+ crew, who are watching developments closely.
      Expect it to feature a star-studded line-up, along with the main attraction.
      NFL legend Tom Brady and Pharrell Williams are recent A-listers who have have joined the Inter Miami celebrity fan clubCredit: Getty
      Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami odyssey is being filmed by a Apple TV+ crewCredit: Getty More