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    Chelsea fought off competition from Brentford for Charlton talent Mason Burstow, who has been likened to Jermain Defoe

    ON transfer deadline day, Chelsea managed to squeeze in a deal for EFL’s hottest talent, Mason Burstow.The Charlton rookie, 18, has had a meteoric rise after coming through the youth ranks at non-league Welling United and Maidstone United.
    Wonderkid Mason Burstow is one of the EFL’s hottest talentsCredit: Rex
    Burstow signed for Chelsea on transfer deadline day
    He joined the Addicks in 2000, and sensationally introduced himself by scoring for the club with his FIRST TOUCH in professional football in a Papa Johns Trophy clash against Crawley.
    Since then, he has continued to provide a threat in attack – finding the net six times in his first 16 games for the South London side.
    It’s that kind of form that encouraged Chelsea to pounce on the youngster – paying around £2million to secure his services, beating Premier League rivals Brentford to the punch, before loaning him back to the League One team.
    They’ve had their eye on him
    Burstow was spotted early doors by Chelsea’s scouts when he played for Maidstone at 16.
    After starring in a game, ironically against Charlton, he was invited to Cobham to train.
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    Although they passed on the opportunity to sign him, Burstow stayed on the club’s radar.
    In 2020, the Plumstead-born poacher joined local club Charlton on a two-year scholarship deal.
    He would soon get Charlton development lead coach Anthony Hayes purring about his ability.
    Ambitious and full of potential
    Back in December, Hayes spoke of Burstow’s ambition and his game.
    “He’s someone who we consider a high-potential player,” Hayes told the South London Press.
    “I wouldn’t want to put any pressure on him because I know he sets his own targets.
    “I know there is a lot of goal-setting in terms of creating and scoring goals, as well as making first-team appearances.
    “What I do think he is, is a centre-forward who can do everything. He can run away from the ball and he can drop in and link play.”
    While, News Shopper journalist Henry Tomlinson compared Burstow to ex-West Ham and Tottenham hotshot Jermain Defoe.
    “He’s got that rare talent of just wanting to prove himself, he doesn’t stop running, he doesn’t have a chip on his shoulder, he’s just wanting to do the best he can each time he goes out,” Tomlinson told the Chelsea Chronicle.
    Teenager Burstow flies through the air to head home against HartlepoolCredit: PA
    Burstow leaps for joy at The ValleyCredit: PA
    “I’ve seen him live a couple of times now and he sort of reminds me a little bit of a young Defoe.
    “His movement between the lines, he’s got a bit of that poacher finishing ability and he’s got a bit more height. His goal against Fleetwood was with his head.
    “So, maybe, he could have potential more skill set or be a bit more rounded than Defoe was, which would be a fantastic career if he was able to emulate Defoe because obviously, he’s one of the best Premier League goal scorers of all time.”
    Goals galore
    Like Defoe, Burstow has the same ruthlessness in front of goal which is translated well to the Charlton first team.
    Since ex-manager Nigel Adkins handed him his debut back in August – in the 6-1 demolition of Crawley – Mason is yet to look back.
    Back in November, he found the net in the FA Cup in a 4-0 win over Havant & Waterlooville.
    Last month, he scored a consolation in a 2-1 defeat to Crewe Alexandra in the league followed.
    Then he followed that up with a strike in a 2-0 win against Fleetwood.
    Burstow has been in and amongst the goals at CharltonCredit: Rex
    Chelsea is Burstow’s next stop in his quest for success
    Sensibly, Chelsea have decided to let Burstow play out the remainder of this season with the Addicks as he continues his development.
    Then comes the hard work where he will transition into Neil Bath’s Blues academy.
    You wouldn’t put it past Burstow, the eager overachiever, to flourish there too. More

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    Man Utd wonderkid Alejandro Garnacho was ‘jewel’ of Atletico’s academy, and is obsessed by Cristiano Ronaldo

    MANCHESTER UNITED wonderkid Alejandro Garnacho announced himself to fans with a wonder strike in the FA Youth Cup.The rapid left winger, 17, ran from his own half down the left flank to score against Everton with an astonishing solo goal that draws memories of Gareth Bale shaming Barcelona’s defence with his speed.
    Manchester United ace Alejandro Garnacho cuts a dashing figure and is excelling in the club’s academCredit: Instagram / @garnacho7

    The fleet-footed forward was the third La Liga starlet join the club in 2020 from LaLiga, after the arrivals of Marc Jurado from Barcelona and Alvaro Fernandez from Real Madrid.
    Garnacho was called the ‘jewel’ of Atletico’s academy, and is working hard to emulate his hero at Old Trafford.
    He is obsessed by Cristiano Ronaldo, and even wore the same shirt number – No7 as his idol, although he’s had to accept No11 with the Red Devils.
    Still, that didn’t stop him celebrating that goal against Everton with CR7’s famous ‘SIUUU!’ roar.
    STIFF COMPETITION
    The Red Devils were said to have fought off Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund to secure Garnacho’s signature.
    Described as a ‘goalscoring machine’, the Madrid-born teenager was highly rated by Atletico, who were devastated he left.
    He joined the club in 2015, impressing all with his killer instinct in front of goal.
    In 2016, whilst playing for Atletico’s Infantil B, he was Spain’s top scorer – destroying opposition defences with his natural knack for finding the back of the net.
    Garnacho, who had been with Atletico since 2015, was said to be the ‘jewel’ of the club’s academyCredit: La Liga promises
    Talented Garnacho is said to be a goalscoring machineCredit: La Liga promises
    Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund were also reportedly interested in GarnachoCredit: Instagram / @garnacho7
    QUICK AND NIMBLE
    Blessed with a flawless technique, Garnacho boasts attributes including close ball control that make it difficult for defenders to rob the ball off him.
    In the penalty area he’s intuitive and clinical, preferring to shift the ball onto his right foot before calmly slotting the ball home.
    A real predator in front of goal, Garnacho is also adept at finding space in the penalty box, and is an instinctive poacher.
    Moving to Old Trafford was said to be an easy decision for him, because it has allowed him to follow in the footsteps of his Portuguese hero.
    READY FOR STARDOM
    From a young age Garnacho’s potential has seen him primed for the top.
    At 15, he already found himself enjoying run-outs for Atletico’s U19 team.
    Garnacho wants to emulate his idol Cristiano RonaldoCredit: La Liga promises
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    This campaign he has thrived with United’s academy, playing for both the U18 and U23 sides.
    In all competitions, Garnacho has managed seven goal in 21 matches – as well as four assists.
    And with pace like that, you can certainly see him getting many more in the future. More

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    How Man Utd star Cristiano Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez went from £250-a-week shop girl to Insta & Netflix star

    SHE’S one of the most famous Wags on the planet – but Cristiano Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez hasn’t always lived a life of riches and luxury. The 28-year-old Spanish model lived in a cramped, shared house and worked as a £250-a-week shop girl before a chance encounter with football legend Ronaldo transformed her life.
    Georgina has gone from a £250-a-week shop girl to one of the world’s most famous WagsCredit: Instagram
    A chance encounter with football legend Ronaldo transformed Georgina’s lifeCredit: Instagram
    Now she is enjoying life on our shores, and on the big screen wit her hit Netflix documentary, after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner agreed to rejoin Manchester United in a blockbuster move.
    In a candid interview with ITV in 2019, Ronaldo, now 37, described finding “true love” with Georgina after the pair met for the first time at a Gucci store, where she was a sales assistant.
    The Juventus star told Piers Morgan: “She helped me so much. Of course, I’m in love with her.”
    Ronaldo, thought to be worth around £300million, added that it would be his mum Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro’s dream to see him and Georgina walk down the aisle.
    “We’ll be [married] one day, for sure,” he said.
    “It’s my mum’s dream as well. So, one day. Why not? It’s great. She’s my friend. We have conversations. I open the heart for her and she opens the heart for me.”
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    Ronaldo becomes emotional during his candid interview with Piers Morgan
    He described Georgina as his “true love”Credit: Refer to Caption
    The footballer also says he’ll marry Georgina one day ‘for sure’Credit: The Mega Agency
    Luxury holidays with four kids
    Georgina now raises Ronaldo’s four children –  their three-year-old daughter Alana Martina, surrogate twins Eva and Mateo, four, and 11-year-old Cristiano Jr – in Turin, Italy.
    And soon there will be two more after the couple announced they are expecting twins in April.
    She lives a life most of us can only dream of – holidaying in Ibiza and Iceland, wearing head-to-foot Chanel and Gucci, and enjoying her boyfriend’s mega yacht and fleet of luxury cars.
    She has also stood by Ronaldo after he was accused of raping a model in a Las Vegas hotel room – claims he has emphatically denied and which he will not face any criminal charges over.
    But while Georgina could soon become Mrs Ronaldo, the Wag’s life used to be very different…
    Georgina kisses Ronaldo after a Real Madrid victory – but her life used to be very differentCredit: Getty – Contributor

    Grafting for goals
    The beauty hails from a very humble background, growing up in the tiny village of Jaca, northern Spain, with her Argentine former footballer father, Jorge, and Spanish mother, Ana.
    As a child, she longed to be a ballet dancer. But because her parents couldn’t afford to send her to dance school, Georgina set her sights on a career in fashion retail instead.
    It was clear from a young age that she was ambitious and like Ronaldo – who grew up in a tin-roofed house in Madeira – she did everything in her power to chase her dreams.
    Georgina grew up in a tiny village, Jaca, in the Spanish mountainsCredit: Alamy
    She was desperate to get out of her small town and achieve her dreamsCredit: Instagram
    Living in a cramped house share
    As soon as she was old enough, Georgina moved to Huesca, a small town an hour away, where she got her first job as a waitress.
    However, she soon got bored of the town, and became fed up of living in a tiny home with several other young people.
    Tired of her impoverished lifestyle,  Georgina moved again – this time three hours away to the seaside town of San Sebastian, where she got a job in mid-range shop, Massimo Dutti.
    But despite earning more money, the draw of living the high life saw her make her next big move.
    “I wanted to work in luxury and I understood that for that I had to speak English,” Georgina told XLSemanal. 

    Georgina poses for a typical tourist snap near the London EyeCredit: Instagram
    Nanny in Bristol
    In 2012, aged just 17, Georgina flew to England and got a job as an au pair for a family in Bristol.
    Here, she focused on learning English, earning around £9.50 an hour.
    Once her language skills were up to scratch, she headed back to Spain to pursue her dreams of working in high-end retail in Madrid.
    Georgina lived in Bristol but visited Bath in her free timeCredit: Instagram
    “Love at first sight”
    Georgina finally got her dream job as a saleswoman at Gucci in 2016 – and it was while she was working here that she caught former Real Madrid star Ronaldo’s eye.
    Days later, the pair met again at another brand’s event, where they were able to “talk in a relaxed atmosphere”, outside of a work environment.
    “It was love at first sight for both,” Georgina previously told the Sun on Sunday.
    Georgina finally got her dream job in a designer store in Madrid in 2016Credit: Instagram
    It was “love at first sight” for the coupleCredit: AFP or licensors
    Hounded by fans
    The couple kept their relationship under wraps for the first few months, but once people found out they were dating, football fans started turning up at Georgina’s shop.
    Bosses feared the fans, who were trying to take pictures, would put off their rich clientele, and Georgina was dismissed from her dream job in December 2016 after just eight months.
    Ronaldo’s contacts got her another job in Prada in El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, where she earned about £1,000 a month plus commission.

    But once again, her relationship cost her a job. Customers kept coming into the shop in the hope of spotting Ronaldo – and begged Georgina for selfies.
    It wasn’t long before management and Georgina mutually agreed it was best if she left and stopped working for good.
    Speaking about her experience, she told Spanish outlet, XLSemanal: “I was hiding, but fans were looking for me at the store. They used to call up and ask about me, pretending to be clients.
    “There were always photographers waiting for me. The director told me to go down to the basement because he did not want to see me in the store. I started to be very uncomfortable and then I left.”
    Georgina’s high-profile relationship has cost her a number of jobsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    Proud parents
    In November 2017, Georgina gave birth to their first daughter, Alana Martina – and revealed that the football star had spoiled her rotten.
    She told Hola!: “When we got home from hospital, he’d organised a surprise dinner, with all our nearest and dearest. I felt like the luckiest woman in the world.”
    Little Alana Martina joined Ronaldo’s adorable clan – with twins Eva and Mateo having been previously carried by a surrogate mother and Cristiano Jn being born to a mystery mother. 
    Today, Georgina is raising all the youngsters.
    Georgina gave birth to her and Ronaldo’s first daughter, Alana Martina, in 2017Credit: Social Media – Refer to Source
    Ronaldo posted this photo on Instagram, featuring Georgina and his four kidsCredit: Refer to Caption
    “I have always been mature and for me to have four children is not a burden,” she said.
    “I wear it very well and, in fact, I no longer imagine my life without my children. It has definitely brought us closer. We’re happier together than ever. The children are our joy.”
    Ronaldo has famously talked about wanting seven children.
    However, Georgina has different ideas. When previously asked where she saw herself in 10 years, she said: “I do not see myself with more children.”
    The couple are pictured with two of the childrenCredit: Instagram
    Georgina has given up her career to look after the kidsCredit: Instagram
    Georgina loves raising her family
    From selling Gucci to wearing it
    While Georgina used to sell designer clothes to the rich and famous, she’s now wearing them herself – from £1,400 Balmain jackets and £5,000 Chanel handbags to a priceless vintage fur coat.
    They were living in a gated mansion in Turin – similar to the £5 million mansion she and Ronaldo used to share in Madrid (but a far cry from the flat she once lived in with pals).
    Now, they will mostly likely be house-hunting in Cheshire’s Golden Triangle for an abode fit for a king and queen.
    Of course, Georgina is used to travelling in style too – jetting off in an £18 million private plane, sailing on a luxury yacht and driving sports cars like Ronaldo’s flashy Bugatti Veyron.
    Since she began dating Ronaldo, Georgina has become a star in her own right, gracing the cover of various fashion magazinez while amassing 27 million Instagram followers.
    Georgina is often pictured wearing the most expensive designer clothesCredit: Rex Features

    Credit: Refer to Caption

    The Ronaldo clan enjoy their luxury £5.5m Azimut Grande yacht bought in 2020
    A lavish wedding
    If Ronaldo does fulfil his dream to wed Georgina “one day”, it will likely be a very grand affair.
    Wedding expert and founder of Wedding Ideas Magazine Rachel Southwood told Sun Online: “She’ll probably wear a fit and flare dress that hugs her curves and kicks out at the bottom.
    “It will be slinky and sexy but demure all at the same time – probably in lace, but possibly with some extra bling.
    Georgina loves designer clothingCredit: Rex Features
    “I think she will wear a long lace, scallop-edged veil. Something by a designer like Riki Dalal although I suspect it will be completely bespoke, from the head designer at one of the design houses she has worked with.
    “Their wedding will be lavish and include a church service and a huge feast. It will be family-focused with a few big names thrown in for good measure.”
    Rodriguez sparked engagement rumours last year when she showed off a huge ring in an Instagram post.
    They have so far remain tight-lipped over plans but are expected to tie the knot in the near future.
    Georgina Rodriguez showed off a huge ring on her finger during a holidayCredit: Instagram
    Running Ronaldo’s empire
    But Georgina is very keen not to be perceived as a typical WAG.
    She has previously said she has no interest in just shopping and spending Ronaldo’s money – in fact she might take a more active role in managing his vast fortune.
    Georgina and Ronaldo now have four children between them
    Georgina sparked engagement rumours when she was seen sporting a new ring during the 2018 World CupCredit: Getty – Contributor
    While most women spend their pregnancies decorating the nursery, Georgina spent hers studying financial accounting at the Centre for Financial Studies in Madrid.
    Her course, which started in October 2017 and finished the following March, cost her £780 and saw her attend three-hour long classes twice a week.
    According to El Mundo, it included modules on tax matters, legal obligations and wealth management.
    “I loved earning money for myself and I never let myself be helped when someone offered to lend me a hand,” Georgina previously said.
    “I am realistic and if I see that I can buy something not too expensive I do. If I can’t wear a Chanel, I buy a Zara. Why brag about something that does not belong to you?”
    Ronaldo and his family were living in Turin, northern Italy before returning to Manchester United
    Tens of millions in a divorce
    When Georgina and Ronaldo eventually tie the knot, it’s unlikely the model will ever have to return to her shop girl job – even if they divorce.
    Experts say all her financial worries would be taken care of in a pre-nup.
    Head of Family Law in leading Manchester firm, JMW, Elspeth Kinder told Sun Online: “A prenup would make sure it provides fairly for Georgina’s needs and that of their child in the event of a divorce. It would be tens of millions – but it won’t be a half share of everything he’s got- that’s the point of the pre-nup.
    “The Spanish jurisdiction in divorce is very different to here and tends to be less favourable to somebody like Georgina who comes to a marriage with less money than the other.”
    Yet there’s no sign of trouble on the horizon for Ronaldo and Georgina.
    “Being the partner of someone so famous is not easy but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Georgina said. “What I feel for him is stronger than anything, any kind of pressure.”
    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More

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    Inside ex-Man Utd star Odion Ighalo’s £1m orphanage in Nigeria that looks after kids from humble backgrounds

    Odion Ighalo was just 17 years old when he left Nigeria, but he never forgot his roots.The former Man Utd star, who faces off against Chelsea in the Club World Cup for Saudi club Al Hilal, used his earnings from the game to fund an orphanage in his home town.
    Ex-Man Utd striker Odion Ighalo opened an orphanage in Nigeria
    In December 2017, the Ighalo Orphanage Home was opened in Ijegun, a humble suburb in northern Lagos.
    Super Eagles star Ighalo grew up 50km up the road in Agejunle.
    “Life was tough growing up in Ajegunle and I vowed that if I eventually had a breakthrough, I’ll give back to the society that made me,” the 32-year-old said on the Foundation’s website.
    “Life’s challenges were hard enough even with both parents at my side.
    The Ighalo Orphanage Home is in Lagos where the striker grew up
    Ighalo knows the challenge for youngsters growing up in Nigeria
    Ighalo’s orphanage looks after children up to the age of 18
    The logo of the orphanage depicts Ighalo celebrating a goal
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    “It goes without saying that orphans have it even worse and it gladdens my heart that life has offered me this rare privilege to be guiding light in their life.”
    Ighalo reportedly spent 500 million Nigerian naira – around £1m – to build the home.
    It houses between 30 to 40 children and has separate apartments for boys and girls.
    They take babies and pledge to look after them until they reach 18, teaching academic studies and sports.
    Igahlo never forgot his roots despite playing in countries as far as ChinaCredit: Instagram @ighalojude
    Ighalo spent three years playing at Vicarage Road for WatfordCredit: PA:Empics Sport
    Ighalo was joined at the opening by former Nigeria internationals Peter Rufai, Samson Siasia, Austin Eguavoen and ex-Super Falcons keeper Ann Chiejine.
    Spotted on the outside of the orange walls is the orphanage’s logo.
    It depicts Ighalo sliding on his knees and raising his arms to the sky as he celebrates a goal, with the inscription ‘God is able’.
    “I dream of affecting lives and this is one step in the right direction,” he said.
    Ighalo represented Nigeria at the World Cup in Russia in 2018Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    “I hope lives will be positively changes, the aims and goals of the orphanage fully met and the children who are the leaders of tomorrow preserved.”
    Before opening the orphanage, Ighalo found other ways to help.
    The devout Christian would send a chunk of his wages back to Nigeria in order to help children, schools and widows living below the poverty line.
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    In 2015, he told the Daily Mirror: “My family are No1. Every month I send money back home to them, but I also send donations to the less privileged because I come from poverty.
    “I send money to kids, to schools, and I’m taking care of around 45 widows, women who have no husbands, and I’m trying to start a charity organisation to give something back.
    “I know what it’s like to have nothing.” More

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    Inside Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke’s luxury £20m Malibu beach home that was set to be Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed’s pad

    WITH a net worth of around £8.2billion, Stan Kroenke is literally laughing all the way to the bank.The Arsenal and Los Angeles Rams owner collects properties like he’s playing a game of Monopoly, once splashing £500million on a ranch in Texas that’s so big it could fit New York and Los Angeles inside it.
    Inside Stan Kroenke’s beachside Malibu homeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Kroenke paid around £8million for the property in 1998Credit: Getty Images – Getty
    Arsenal and Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke is said to have a £8.2bn fortuneCredit: Reuters
    ‘Silent Stan’ also owns properties in Colorado and Montana, as well as an £11m penthouse inside the five-star Montage hotel in Beverly Hills.
    But his most high-profile purchase came in 1998, when the 74-year-old splashed around £8m on this incredible home in Malibu.
    The beach side property was originally owned by Dodi Fayed, and was set to be home for the movie producer and Princess Diana before their tragic deaths in a car accident.
    WHAT £20M GETS YOU
    Found on the Pacific Coast Highway, the property sits above the beautiful Paradise Cove.
    While the vast five-acre piece of land it sits on stretches from the road all the way through to the sand and sea.
    The home, also previously owned by Julie Andrews, includes a contemporary mansion, as well as a Mediterranean-style residence which acts as a guest home.
    The main house features five bedrooms, six bathrooms, has a stunning swimming pool and boasts a tennis court.
    There are three reception rooms, while the kitchen opens into a pool deck, and the living room has a limestone fireplace and pine beams.
    An incredible glass domed dining room with views on all sides can also be found on the ground floor.
    The property boasts this stunning master bedroomCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    A spiral staircase leads to the first floor and master bedroomCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    There are three reception roomsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    The stunning swimming pool looks inviting for a dipCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    The dining room is dome shaped with windows surrounding itCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    The main property boasts six bathroomsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Another reception room features beamed ceilingsCredit: Online USA
    The kitchen offers plenty of space for a budding chefCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Luscious gardens surround the five-acre lotCredit: Online USA
    Upstairs, the master bedroom suite has a beamed ceiling, its own sitting room, two bathrooms, and there’s plenty of closet space.
    High-profile neighbours include Friends actress Courteney Cox, U2 guitarist The Edge, former supermodel Cindy Crawford and pop star Lady Gaga.FIT FOR A PRINCESS
    Before Kroenke bought the compound, Princess Diana had her heart set on living there.
    Dodi, the son of the former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, bought the home for around £7m – just months before he and Lady Di were tragically killed in Paris.
    And Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell revealed that it was set to be the pair’s secluded pad.
    Dodi Fayed and Princess Diana planned on making it their home before their tragic deathCredit: Reuters
    A year after Dodi and Princess Diana died Kroenke bought the propertyCredit: Arsenal FC – Getty
    Kroenke’s Malibu beach pad is now worth around £20mCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Neighbours include Lady Gaga and Cindy CrawfordCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    @font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:500;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-stretch:semi-condensed;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:normal;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:condensed;font-display:swap;}.css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-zkaekv{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-zkaekv::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -1px);}.css-zkaekv::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}latest football features.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
    “A lovely house … saw all the plans for it. It was going to be in Malibu,” he told ABC News in an interview in 2007.
    “We sat on the floor, spread out all the maps and the layout of the house.
    “She said, ‘This is our new life, just won’t it be great, think of the lifestyle the boys — nobody’s judgemental here in America, you don’t have the class system, you don’t have the establishment.”‘ More

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    Footballers who were ball boys, from Man City star Phil Foden to Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi

    EVERY kid dreams of watching a game close to the action and being just yards away from their heroes.So these lads must’ve been delighted to have been ball boys for their local clubs and witnessed the pro’s skills in close quarters.

    But, going one better is actually being the star on the pitch – which these former ball boys achieved.
    Here are the ball boys who became footballers.
    PHIL FODEN
    As Stevan Jovetic celebrates scoring for Manchester City against Swansea, a boy in the background looks on.
    And it’s fair to say he hasn’t changed one bit!
    It is, of course, Phil Foden – who shared the image on social media next to a photo of him scoring against Liverpool.
    He captioned the snap: “How it started… how it’s going.”
    Phil Foden is instantly recognisable as a ball boy from 2014Credit: AFP – Getty
    CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI
    Every now and again a ball boy becomes a star of the show.
    And that’s exactly what happened to a 13-year-old Callum Hudson-Odoi when Samuel Eto’o scored the third goal of his hat-trick against Manchester United in 2014.
    The Cameroon star celebrated his strike with a smiling Hudson-Odoi as they held each other’s hands.
    A 14-year-old Callum Hudson-Odoi is overjoyed by Samuel Eto’o scoringCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    WESLEY SNEIJDER
    The mercurial Dutch playmaker joined Ajax as a youth in 1991 – four years before they won the Champions League.
    It was a team that boasted the best players of their generation, including the likes of Clarence Seedorf, Marc Overmars, Edgar Davids and Patrick Kluivert.
    The old head keeping the youngsters on the right path was the experienced Frank Rijkaard, who Sneijder grabbed a snap with when he was on ball boy duty.
    Frank Rijkaard obliges Wesley Sneijder with a photo ahead of an Ajax game
    CARLOS TEVEZ
    Tevez is instantly recognisable as a young lad in this brilliant photo with Boca Junior legends Juan Roman Riquelme.
    He came through the ranks of the Argentinian club before making his debut aged just 16.
    Carlos would return to La Bombonera in his elderly years and become a cult hero, just like Riquelme and the club’s greatest icon Diego Maradona.
    A young Tevez poses with Juan Roman Riquleme before ball boy duty at Boca
    BERNARDO SILVA
    Before he became a Manchester City star, Portuguese international Bernardo Silva had Benfica in his blood.
    He was a graduate from their famed academy, where the likes of Ederson and Renato Sanches played at around the same time.
    And before that, in 2008, he was reportedly a ball boy in a Europa League tie against Napoli.
    Bernardo Silva had Benfica in his blood and was reportedly a ball boy for a 2008 Europa League tie against Napoli
    DONNY VAN DE BEEK
    At Ajax, being a ball boy is all part of the graduation progress and designed to teach you responsibilty.
    You also get to meet your heroes, as a keen Donny van de Beek was happy to share on social media in this throwback snap.
    And Luiz Suarez was happy to oblige for the quick photo with the aspiring youngster.
    At Ajax being a ball boy is part of your graduation from the youth team, as Donny van de Beek discovered
    MATTHIJS DE LIGT
    Like van de Beek, de Ligt rose through the ranks at Ajax to become a superstar at Juventus.
    And he also got his obligatory snap with Luis Suarez before a game for the Dutch giants.
    The pair could even face off against each other in this season’s Champions League.
    Matthijs de Ligt poses with Luis Suarez before an Ajax game
    BRAHIM DIAZ
    The Real Madrid forward was a ball boy at Malaga in 2012, where he can be seen in the background watching Santi Cazorla and Isco celebrating a goal.
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    Fast forward seven years, he joins Real Madrid, and then teams up with the man he saw shining on the Costa del Sol.
    Diaz even provided the Spanish international with an assist for a goal against Huesca, prompting Isco to share the below image to his followers with the caption: “You make me old”.
    For the record, there’s only seven years between them.
    A young Brahim Diaz looks on as Isco and Santi Cazorla celebrate a Malaga goal in 2012Credit: AFP – Getty

    Callum Hudson-Odoi calls for ‘massive change in football’ as Chelsea winger talks racism with Paul Canoville More

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    Chelsea legend John Terry’s boasts whopping £47m property empire, including £16m house with £150k astro turf golf course

    HE’S estimated to be worth £38million, so it’s no surprise footie ace John Terry and his family are accustomed to living in one of Surrey’s most sought-after areas.And the former England and Chelsea defender obviously has time on his hands since retiring from his £170,000-a-week playing career in 2018, turning his hand to coaching and property development.
    John Terry, pictured with wife Toni, has invested vast amounts of time and money on his property portfolio and has made millions
    John Terry previously owned both the red-brick mansion (top right) and white nine-bed property (bottom right) and now wants to tear down the third property (bottom left) and build two new propertiesCredit: INS News
    The real estate tycoon has already made almost £20m in property deals, and was granted planning permission to bulldoze one of his mansions and replace it with two new luxury abodes – a move that could make him another £20m.
    Here, Sun Online looks at Terry’s booming property portfolio…
    Latest £20m venture
    Features: A bar, games room, private gym
    Estimated profit: £20m
    Terry has been a fan of the Surrey area of Oxshott – a ten-minute drive from Chelsea’s Cobham training ground – for more than a decade.
    He bought Tandem House, his third property in the area for £4.5m and won planning permission to demolish it.
    John Terry is set to build two new mega mansions
    The Chelsea legend is set to knock down a £4.5m mansion to build two new ones
    The 41-year-old star plans to build two luxury houses in its place – one six-bed, and one four-bed.
    Both properties will include a kitchen diner, family room, drawing room, bar and games room.
    The larger property will also boast a pool and gym.
    £6.5m former family home
    Features: Gym, Astro turf putting green, cinema room
    Profit: £2.8m
    John Terry’s former family home went back on the market for £5.5mCredit: Rightmove
    Terry and wife Toni’s former six-bed family home in Oxshott went back on the market for £5.5m, however he was forced to slash the price because of coronavirus.
    Dad-of-two Terry reportedly bought the property for £2.2m in 2003 and sold it for £5m in 2013.
    Keen golfer Terry installed a small Astro turf putting green in the one acre of sprawling gardens.
    An indoor swimming pool is just one of the many features the Surrey home boastsCredit: Rightmove
    The stunning former home of John Terry went back on the marketCredit: Rightmove
    Situated on a private road on the prestigious Crown Estate, the home boasts one of Surrey’s most exclusive addresses.
    The property was renovated by interior designer Louise Bradley, and has four huge bedrooms in the main house, with two additional rooms and a shower in the guest wing above the triple garage.
    £16m super-mansion sold to the Sultan of Oman
    Features: Fishing lake, swimming pool and sauna
    Profit: £10m
    John Terry had planned to move into this nine-bed property, but then received an offer he couldn’t refuseCredit: INS News
    Clearly a fan of the location, Terry bought his second mansion a stone’s throw from his former home for £1.8m in 2007, and spent £4m renovating the nine-bed property.
    The white house dwarfed Terry’s neighbouring pile, and when building work began in 2011, it was believed to involve putting in a 33 x 40ft indoor pool, a steam room, sauna and a fishing lake.
    The house was perfect for the footballer as it was only visible to the public from the air and boasted a separate wing for staff, and a visitor annexe in the opposite building.
    He had planned to move his family into the property but when the Sultan of Oman made him “an offer he couldn’t refuse” in 2014, he sold it.
    According to reports, Terry made at least £10m profit on the £16m sale.Colin Montgomerie’s £5m mansion
    Features: half-acre of land, seven beds and staff accommodation 
    Worth: £5m
    John Terry and wife Toni have made some very clever property moves
    In 2014 Terry bought the £4.35m former mansion owned by golfer Colin Montgomerie, downsizing from his ‘dream home’.
    It was here that in 2017 the star was left shaken after robbers broke into the home, stealing £4m of loot. 
    The property is just down the road from Terry’s previous two properties and boasts a two-bed staff annex.
    While smaller than his last place, the seven-bed property is still situated on a half-acre of land, and features six bathrooms and four reception rooms.
    He reportedly spent £150k replacing the lawn with Astro turf, and the property’s value is thought to have risen to £5m.
    Based on his track record of snapping up houses in the area, Terry’s neighbours will be keeping a very beady eye on his next move – waiting for the bulldozers to move in. More

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    Inside Mike Tyson’s incredible 52-room mansion, sold to 50 Cent for £3.3million, that has two pools and a nightclub

    WHEN Mike Tyson was declared bankrupt in 2003, he was forced to sell up.With reported debts of £17million, his prized home in Connecticut was one of his first possessions to be sacrificed.
    Mike Tyson’s former home in ConnecticutCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    In 2003, Tyson was forced to sell the property for £3.3m after declaring bankruptcyCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    And it would’ve been a bitter pill for the 55-year-old to swallow, looking at this mega mansion.
    Boasting 52 rooms, including 21 bedrooms, as well as its own nightclub the property is as lavish as Tyson has ever owned.
    But it was needs must for the heavyweight boxing legend and in came rapper 50 Cent who bought it from him for £3.3m the same year it was revealed he blew his fortune.
    PROPERTY DEETS
    When the In Da Club singer bought the house from Tyson, it set a record for the most expensive home ever sold in the area of Farmington – and it’s easy to see why.
    Along with those 21 bedrooms we mentioned earlier, the 50,000-square-foot abode has a 25 bathrooms, an indoor pool and hot tub, an indoor court, multiple game rooms, a green-screen room, and a recording studio.
    And the opulence doesn’t end there.
    Entering the property through a stately front gate, you’re greeted by a lion statue.
    Walking into the home on the marble floor, a duelling wood-panelled staircase leads you to another level of the property.
    As can be seen, the decor is as lavish as it gets throughout the property.
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    At the entrance of the property you’re faced with opulent gates and a statue of a lionCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    Two staircases lead you to the first floorCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    The ground floor features marble floorsCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    The master bedroom offers incredible views of the gardensCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    A steel staircase in the master bedroom leads to another floorCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    The walk-in closets are glass frontedCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    Astonishingly, there are 25 bathroomsCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    This bathroom features a huge bathtub overlooking the gardensCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    The bathroom has a glass showerCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    The reception room features a Weber grand pianoCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    The property also boasts its own nightclubCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    The master bedroom has a scenic view of the garden landscape.
    From there, you have your own steel staircase that leads to another floor that features a massive walk-in closet with glass doors, so you can see your designer wardrobe.
    One of the many en-suites has a huge bathtub that overlooks the gardens, and it also features a glass door shower.
    THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
    The home is fit for someone who loves having friends round.
    There are outdoor and indoor basketball courts that complete the recreational feel to the property.
    There’s a room with pool tables, and another games room with poker and roulette tables – meaning you’ll never have to go to Las Vegas again.
    Next to the outdoor basketball court is a pond that has an elaborate water feature spouting out and a guesthouse.
    However, this property does have a chequered history in sales.
    50 Cent had the outdoor basketball court personalised with his group’s name onCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    A second basketball court can be found indoorsCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    The indoor swimming pool is one of two at the homeCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    The outdoor pool features its own grottoCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    It’s the perfect spot to top up your tanCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    The kitchen has enough space for the most avid chefCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    One games room features pool tablesCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    Another games room has poker and roulette tablesCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    TOO EXPENSIVE
    Over the years, the property has dropped in value rapidly – mostly because of its running costs that 50 Cent complained cost him around £50,000 per month.
    In fact, it was on the market for 12 years – starting at £14m before it was finally sold in 2019 for just £2.3m – an 84 per cent price drop.
    “It’s just oversized for the market,” estate agent Jonathan Miller told Realtor.com.
    “When you have a property that is well outside the norm, it takes a lot longer to sell.”
    In the end, it was reportedly snapped up by US businessman Casey Askar, who owns several fast-food businesses.
    Another of Mike Tyson’s amazing homes, complete with cages for his tigers, was left abandoned before it was converted into a church.
    A cinema room adds to the lavish offerings this property hasCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    The property also has a pond next to the basketball courtCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    There’s a guest house overlooking the pondCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    A water feature spouts into the pondCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    Over the years the property has struggled to sell and was on the market for 12 yearsCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
    Eventually it sold in 2019 for just £2.3m – decreasing 84 per cent in valueCredit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate More