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    Ex-Arsenal star, 47, targets Blackburn job with talks set to take place within days

    LUIS BOA MORTE would be interested in the vacant Blackburn job.Championship outfit Rovers are looking for a new boss after John Eustace jumped ship for relegation-threatened Derby last week.Luis Boa Morte is keen on the Blackburn jobCredit: GettyGeorge Boateng is also in the runningCredit: GettySunSport understands former Arsenal, Southampton, Fulham and West Ham midfielder Boa Morte, 47, is set to hold talks with Ewood Park chiefs  in the coming days.Boa Morte has been in charge of the Guinea-Bissau national team since March, following a three-year stint as Marco Silva’s No 2 at Fulham.But the ex-Portugal international would be swayed by the Rovers gig.Former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng, 49, is also in the running.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe has only one other managerial job – Kelantan in Malaysia – but has held various coaching roles across English football.Boateng previously coached in the Blackburn youth setup, taking charge of their under-13s in 2018.He left Coventry City last year after the arrival of Frank Lampard to the Sky Blues after spells coaching the Ghana national team and Villa.Blackburn currently sit fifth in the Championship and are hopeful of a play-off place.Most read in ChampionshipBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSThey beat Plymouth 2-0 on Saturday with David Lowe, 59, in interim charge.Former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil is the current bookies favourite to get the job.Where are they now: The unusual careers of former footballers More

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    Sir Matt Busby’s medal to be put up for sale – but Man Utd fans will not want to buy it

    A MEDAL won by Sir Matt Busby in his playing career is going up for sale.The family of the legendary Manchester United boss are selling off his Manchester FA Senior Cup winner’s medal from the 1928-29 season – which he won while playing for CITY.Sir Matt Busby is regarded by many to be Manchester United’s greatest-ever managerCredit: PAHe’s been immortalised outside Old TraffordCredit: TIMES NEWSPAPERS LTDA medal from his playing days for Manchester City is up for saleCredit: PAThe nine-carat gold medal – which is engraved “Manchester City F.C, Winners, M. Busby.” – is estimated to fetch between £8,000-12,000.His private collection of football match programmes between the 1950s-80s will also go under the hammer in live online bidding at Surrey-based Ewbank’s on February 26.Busby joined City as a teenager and stayed there for eight years before moving to Liverpool in 1936.The Scotsman, who died aged 84 in 1994, won the league championship five times for United and lifted the European Cup in 1968 – ten years after he survived the Munich air crash.READ MORE ON MAN UTDHe is considered by many to be the club’s most important manager along with fellow great Sir Alex Ferguson.Fergie surpassed the late Sir Matt as United’s longest-serving manager in 2010.He said of his fellow Scot: “It has been frozen into the memory bank. Man Utd ratings v SpursMANCHESTER UNITED slipped to a 12th defeat in the Premier League with Rasmus Hojlund coming under fire again.Here’s how SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rated the Manchester United players against an underachieving Spurs side – who are now three places above them in 12th – in North London.Andre Onana – 3United can’t do anything with him between the sticks. Can’t be trusted to collect anything.His opposite number Vicario showed him a thing or two after returning for the first time since Spurs thrashed Man City in November.At fault for the first goal when he palmed out a relatively weak bouncing shot into Maddison’s path in the 13th minute.Noussair Mazraoui – 5An OK performance. Clever link-up play with Zirkzee but couldn’t get hold of Spence down the left-hand side.Pulled out an excellent cross for the Dutchman’s headed chance late-on.Matthijs de Ligt – 6His clearance stopped an obvious 2-0 before the half-an-hour mark.Harry Maguire – 5A mixed bag. Long ball over the top for Hojlund’s chance in opening 10 minutes and went on a few attacking runs himself in the first half.Did well to stop Dejan Kulusevski from having a go at the edge of the box. But bizarrely stopped in his tracks when a cross came flying into Son later on.Diogo Dalot – 6A difficult afternoon for the Portugal international as Son and Djed Spence left him for dead a few times.Hesitated when asked to shoot from five yards to make it 1-0 but helped Onana out with some clearances too.Patrick Dorgu – 4A Prem debut to forget. He was almost invisible from the left-hand side. And lacked quality when asked to get involved more in the second half.Was stupidly caught offside with Bruno Fernandes offloading a stunning cross pitch pass and booked late-on.Casemiro – 5Looked every bit a player that hasn’t played Premier League football for two months. Unsurprisingly booked for a late one on Son.Bizarrely dropped to the turf asking for a free-kick when nobody touched him. Was forced to play 89 minutes with eight teenagers on the bench. A difficult afternoon, indeed.Bruno Fernandes – 5Interceptions and breaking up play is not a part of the captain’s game. An uncharacteristically poor cross left United open on the counter.Did get back to stop Son from having a shot at Onana on the hour mark and started ticking in attack in the final 20 minutes.Alejandro Garnacho – 4Looked shaky and cut a frustrated figure after blazing over an absolute SITTER from 10 yards to level the scores.A bit of a shocker and looked a completely different player to the one who got United into the fifth-round of the FA Cup last week.Woke up a bit in the second half as Vicario kept him at bay with several superb stops. But the 20-year-old is clearly better off the bench.Joshua Zirkzee – 6The best of a desperately poor front three. There’s a street player in there and he’s great with his touches at times.But curled wide from 23 yards, stuck a header wide in the 70th minute and kicked an air shot in the final five minutes.Rasmus Hojlund – 3Is Hojlund the worst No 9 in United’s recent history?The young Dane, who was unlucky to have a chance saved by Vicario, was second best in every loose ball and kept losing possession.He was even caught offside after a pass from an Onana goal-kick in the first half – how often do you see that happen?”I think of Sir Matt Busby as being here forever. He started at the end of the war and went right through to winning the European Cup in 1968. Most read in Sport”The timespan [of his reign] seems to be much longer than mine. Academy Man Utd star Dan Gore talks about his admiration for Luke Shaw “Of course, there are emotional issues. He had to rebuild the team after Munich. There was so much emotion. I did not have that. “That is the reason he seemed to have been here forever.”He added: “The most important piece of advice he gave me was not to read the press.”It was great advice and I have not read it since. The issue of ex-players at the club was something I have been addressing for quite a long time. “I wanted to keep all our great players around the club in some capacity. I had Sir Bobby Charlton on the board and Sir Matt was here as well. “People like that are able to understand the dimensions of Manchester United. “That is necessary to understand the role of manager. It was very helpful to me.”Manchester United will be back in action on Saturday, travelling to Goodison Park to take on Everton. More

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    Bayern Munich 1 Celtic 1 (3-2 on Agg): Late heartache as Davies sucker punch sees Hoops crash OUT despite Kuhn Leveller

    THEY were dared to dream.Challenged to leave nothing out there to try and make the impossible possible.Nicolas Kuhn levels the tieAlphonso Davies of Bayern Munich celebrates his winnerCredit: GettyBrendan Rodgers’ Celtic did that and more in the Allianz Arena last night – but were still left devastated.Nicolas Kuhn scored against his old club Bayern to make their fans belief.But cruelly in the final, dying seconds of four minutes of stoppage time Alphonso Davies booked the Bundesliga giants’ place in the last 16.Rodgers’ side were moments away from taking this tie into extra-time after producing a performance no-one saw coming.It just wasn’t meant to be with gut-wrenching agony coming with virtually the last kick of the ball.But the Scottish Premiership champions did themselves and the country proud.It’s incredible to think Celtic had FOUR huge chances to score inside the first 20 minutes.Real, proper opportunities to take the lead and really stun their opposition.They set traps for Bayern.And the German, Bundesliga giants walked right into them.Awkward moment Martin O’Neill calls out Brendan Rodgers over 2019 Celtic exit to Leicester Callum McGregor just needed to show a little bit more composure when he burst through on goal instead of going for power and missing the target.Kuhn just needed to get a little bit more on his shot which was cleared off the line by defender Raphaël Guerreiro.Daizen Maeda just needed to take a step forward when Arne Engels flashed as low ball across goal and he would have had a tap in.Just seconds later he just needed to take a little bit off his attempted chip over Manuel Neuer.Down on the touchline Rodgers held his head in his hands at each passed up chance, fearing they’d live to regret them.What the moments did, though, was convince Celtic’s players they could cause Bayern problems.It wasn’t backs to the wall either.It wasn’t a Scottish team defending for its life.Celtic were outstanding in the first-half.The odds were always stacked against Rodgers’ side even before a ball was kicked.Bayern hadn’t lost at home in UEFA’s flagship competition for four long years.While Celtic came here knowing they had never won on German soil. Alphonso Davies celebrates his winnerCredit: AFPEver.Rodgers talked the talk in the build-up – insisting anything was possible – but it was a huge ask for his players to go out and walk the walk. Bayern had the added incentive of this season’s final being here in their awesome Allianz Arena on May 31.The last time that happened, in 2012, they were left devastated to lose to Chelsea in a penalty shootout.The German giants have lifted the trophy twice in the years since. But the prospect of going all the way this time was there for them.Ending that dream felt insurmountable for Celtic.There wouldn’t have been many of their supporters who were genuinely confident of seeing history being created.Rodgers and his team have given them some special European memories this season with big wins over the likes of Slovan Bratislava, RB Leipzig and Young Boys, along with draws against Atalanta, Dinamo Zagreb and Club Brugge.Sure, the defeats to Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa were humbling.But overall Rogers can point to genuine progress at this elite level. And this performance typified that like nothing else.Bayern would have been worried at the break, no doubt about it.Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers stands dejected after the Allianz Arena clashCredit: PAThey had moments of their own in front of Kasper Schmeichel’s goal with Harry Kane closest to scoring with a shot from outside the box which rattled the crossbar.Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise were always a threat.But the way Celtic defended, the way they got back into their shape when they lost possession, was sensational.Seeing Kane fail to appear for the second half was a boost for Celtic.Kompany clearly wasn’t kidding when he rated the England striker as an injury doubt, even though he started.Because other than the shot off the woodwork he did next to nothing.Bayern could have gone ahead right at the start of the second half but Schmeichel denied Leon Goretzka with a good block.But Celtic’s composure remained.After an hour Rodgers changed it with Jota taken off after running out of energy. Adam Idah went opt and was pushed through the middle with Maeda moved onto the left.And in 63 minutes they attacked on the break to take the lead.Defender Dayot Upamecano didn’t cover himself in glory with his attempted challenge on Kuhn after brilliant play from Maeda.But what a finish from the winger.Celtic’s Arne Engels stands dejected after the UEFA Champions League matchCredit: PAAfter powering his way into the box, he steadied himself and slammed his shot low and hard past Neuer.The away fans high up in the stands went wild as they started to dream big.Bayern were stunned.This wasn’t in the script with Celts more than worth their lead on the night.They still had it all to do, though, with Kompany’s side going all out to get the next goal and book their place in the next round.Schemeichel made saves with his team-mates in front him throwing themselves in front of shots to protect their lead.They were literally seconds away from taking the tie to extra time after four minutes of stoppage time.But agonisingly, it wasn’t means to be.In their very last attack of the night, a cross into the box saw Schmeichel save a point blank header.But the ball broke between Davies and Carter-Vickers with it finding the net.The final whistle was blown and it was over.Bayern Munich XI: Neuer, Stanisic, Upamecano, Kim, Guerreiro, Kimmich, Goretzka, Olise, Musiala, Gnabry, Kane. Subs: Urbig, Sane, Coman, Dier, Palhinha, Davies, Ito, Boey, Vidovic, Müller, Laimer, Pavlovic.Celtic X: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Schlupp, McGregor, Engels, Hatate, Kühn, Maeda, Jota. Subs: Sinisalo, Bain, Scales, Taylor, Idah, Yang, McCowan, Nawrocki, Kenny, Murray, Ralston, Bonnar.Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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    Lewis Hamilton arrives in style on red carpet at glamorous F1 02 car launch as he prepares for new season with Ferrari

    LEWIS HAMILTON hit the red carpet in style at Formula One’s 75th anniversary event.All ten teams and 20 drivers descended on London’s O2 Arena tonight for a glamorous ceremony.Lewis Hamilton looked dapper alongside Charles Leclerc and Frederic VasseurCredit: GettyHamilton wore a red tie in a nod to his new team FerrariCredit: AFPThe Ferrari team arrived in a luxury Ferrari PurosangueCredit: GettyDespite leaving Mercedes, Hamilton was all smiles with Toto Wolff and George RussellCredit: GettyRed Bull chief Christian Horner and wife Geri Halliwell were dressed to impressCredit: AFPPresenter Naomi Schiff looked glamorous in a dressCredit: ReutersHamilton, who has signed a £100million two-year deal with Ferrari, arrived in stunning fashion.The seven-time world champion, new team-mate Charles Leclerc and principal Frederic Vasseur pulled up to the red carpet in a Ferrari Purosangue car worth around £313,000.Hamilton was dressed to impress, wearing a stylish black coat, a red tie in a nod to his new team and cool sunglasses.Despite switching Mercedes for Ferrari, Hamilton was seen having a friendly conversation with Toto Wolff and George Russell.READ MORE IN F1The new Mercedes line-up featuring Russell, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and reserve driver Valteri Bottas posed together.Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso all arrived in supercars and looked dapper in suits.Away from the drivers, Red Bull chief Christian Horner and Spice Girl wife Geri Halliwell also caught the eye.Motorsport presenter Naomi Schiff stunned in a low-cut dress.Most read in SportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSSchiff posed with singer Sam RyderCredit: GettyThe Ramsay family were also at the 02 ArenaCredit: GettyThe event was hosted by comic Jack WhitehallCredit: APHorner and his Spice Girl wife were seen alongside Whitehall on the red carpetCredit: GettyMax Verstappen arrived with new team-mate Liam LawsonCredit: GettyFormer drivers Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell were having a great nightCredit: EPAOther celebs like Gordon Ramsay, his wife Tara and daughter Holly, reality star Maura Higgins, rapper Giggs, singer Sam Ryder and Olympian Dina Asher-Smith were all in attendance.The F1 75 event saw all teams unveil their liveries ahead of the 2025 season that begins with the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.The event was hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall and there were performances from Take That, Kane Brown, MGK and Brian Tyler.Maura Higgins wore a bold outfit at the eventCredit: RexLando Norris pulled up in an eye-catching McLarenCredit: GettyFernando Alonso is set for another season with Aston MartinCredit: AFPSprinter Dina Asher-Smith stunned in a colourful dressCredit: GettyGiggs looked stylish in a luxury suitCredit: AFPTeam Haas of Esteban Ocon, Ayao Komatsu and Oliver Bearman attended in a Rolls-RoyceCredit: Getty More

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    Bayern Munich 1 Celtic 1 (3-2 on agg): Scots dumped OUT of Champions League after heartbreaking goal in dying seconds

    HARRY KANE’S Champions League dream is alive and kicking – just – as Bayern Munich scraped past brave Celtic.Alphonso Davies bundled home from a yard out at the death to keep their hopes of lifting the famous trophy for a seventh time in their own city intact.Celtic suffered heartbreak at the death to be knocked out of the Champions LeagueCredit: GettyAlphonso Davies scored a last second equaliser to win the game on aggregateCredit: ReutersBrendan Rodgers’ side were on the brink of forcing extra time in BavariaCredit: RexHarry Kane’s dream of European glory lives onCredit: RexHowever, it was heartbreak for Brendan Rodgers and his side after they missed a host of glorious chances.England’s top goalscorer barely had a touch before he was taken off at the break amid fears the facial injury that kept him out of training on Monday had flared up again.He still managed to hit the woodwork – but he and his team-mates were the fortunate ones not to be trailing at the break as they were almost caught cold.Celtic made a flying start in trying to secure a first knockout tie in this competition for 36 years and should have been at least two up inside the opening 20 minutes.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLCaptain Callum McGregor sliced over after being sent clean through early on.The Bhoys carved the hosts wide open again when Jota flew past Josip Stanisic and pulled it from the left to the unmarked Nicolas Kuhn.The ex-Bayern ace met it left footed at the far post and beat Manuel Neuer, but Raphael Guerreiro was able to clear on the line.Vincent Kompany’s side were struggling and alarm bells started to ring as Celtic came close once more.Most read in FootballKasper Schmeichel had a superb gameNicolas Kuhn gave Celtic the lead and looked to start a miracle in MunichCredit: RexKuhn capitalised on a Kim Min-jae mistakeCredit: PACASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThis time Kuhn flashed a ball along the front of goal but team-mate Daizen Maeda was just unable to reach.Bayern looked completely rattled, but once more the visitors failed to take advantage when Maeda shot wide with a first-time effort to leave Brendan Rodgers tearing his hair out.Rod Stewart steals show as he does duet with Carragher and dances at Celtic v Bayern Kane, chasing his 30th goal of the season, almost punished Celtic as he forced his ex-Leicester City team-mate Kasper Schmeichel into action.Bayern were now starting to get a grip of the game with Joshua Kimmich shooting wide from 20 yards.And Kane, who only had ten touches during the opening period, almost broke the deadlock with the last kick of the half as he rattled the crossbar from 12 yards.That would be the hotshot’s final act as he was replaced by Kingsley Coman.Schmeichel produced a vital save to deny Leon Goretzka after the restart and it proved to be crucial as Celtic soon stunned the Allianz Arena.Maeda’s through-ball should have been bread and butter for Kim Min-jae, but his poor defending was pounced on by Kuhn as the winger coolly drilled a low shot past Neuer.Celtic were level on aggregate but they missed another huge opportunity to lead the tie for the first time when Japanese ace Maeda’s diving header was straight at the keeper.Goretzka and Leroy Sane were both off target as Bayern desperately tried to fight back.READ MORE SUN STORIESSchmeichel then produced an acrobatic flying save to push away Kimmich’s long-ranger.Though there was a cruel twist in the fourth minute of added time when Schmeichel brilliantly saved from Goretzka’s header, Canadian Davies reacted quickest to smash home and win 3-2 on aggregate.Davies bundled home the winner in the final secondsCredit: ReutersBayern celebrate their goal wildlyCredit: Getty More

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    Birmingham star Jay Stansfield stretchered off in worrying scenes during Bradford clash

    BIRMINGHAM’S Jay Stansfield was carried off on a stretcher in worrying scenes against Bradford.The 27,066 crowd chanted the £10million striker’s name in support as he left the field during Brum’s dramatic 2-1 EFL Trophy semi-final win.Jay Stansfield was taken off during the second halfCredit: RexThe frontman was in obvious pain after being groundedCredit: PAStansfield went down under a challenge from Romoney CrichlowCredit: PAThe former England U-21 ace immediately called for helpCredit: REXTom Brady’s Birmingham will now face Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham or Peterborough at Wembley – but there was concern over Stansfield.The ex-Fulham starlet, 22, appeared to land awkwardly on his foot and needed several minutes of treatment before being lifted away.Stansfield had gone down under a challenge from Bantams defender Romoney Crichlow at St Andrew’s.He looked in severe pain as he grimaced and stayed on the floor.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIt was soon obvious he could not continue, with players from both sides anxious over his condition.Alfie May came off the bench on the hour-mark to replace him.It was Stansfield who had fired the League One leaders in front brilliantly in first-half stoppage time.And it was a major talking point among fans when he went over in the box soon after the break, with no foul being awarded. Most read in FootballBobby Pointon promptly levelled at the other end for League Two promotion hunters Bradford.Lyndon Dykes headed Birmingham’s clincher late on – before 13 MINUTES of time added on, mainly for Stansfield’s injury.And many fans initially focused more on the condition of the former England Under-21 star rather than the achievement of reaching a final. More

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    Lucky mum finds Man Utd ace’s lost dogs and gets tour of club’s training ground in return

    A MUM got a tour of Manchester United’s training ground for finding Alejandro Garnacho’s dogs.United supporter Leah Smith, 26, and her children also got matchday tickets from the grateful Argentina international.Manchester United supporter Leah Smith, 26, and her children got a training ground tour and matchday tickets from grateful Argentina international Alejandro GarnachoMan United ace Garnacho is now happily reunited with his two dogsGarnacho’s two dogsCredit: Instagram @garnacho7Leah was driving with daughter Eliza, ten, when she saw two mutts on the loose near the star’s mansion.She managed to get them in her car and recognised them from pics the winger posted on social media.Leah then drove to United’s Carrington training ground where they let her and her daughter inside to watch the first team going through their paces.An assistant told them the dogs were indeed Freko and Burrows, who live with the star, his partner Eva and their one-year-old son Enzo in Bowdon, Gtr Manchester. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSLeah told The Sun: “Once they confirmed the dogs belonged to Garna, they politely asked if I could take them back to his home, which I did. His partner, Eva, was waiting and was very grateful.”The following day the couple phoned Leah to thank her — and gave her tickets in the players’ family area at Old Trafford for their Premier League game against Southampton.Leah, Eliza and her brother Jenson, seven, saw Prem strugglers United win 3-1 on January 16. Leah said: “My children will never forget this day. Thank you Garna & Eva.” Most read in FootballLeah, who lives five minutes from Garnacho’s home, has since bumped into the footy ace while he was walking his dogs.Fans praised Garnacho, 20, for his generous response but one joked: “Nobody should be made to sit and watch a United game.”’That is so disrespectful’ says fans as Alejandro Garnacho snaps back in altercation with Man Utd fanGarnacho joined United’s academy in 2020 from Spanish club Atletico Madrid and made his first-team debut in 2022.Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More

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    Cristiano Ronaldo’s private jet grounded at Manchester airport after crack is discovered in window

    CRISTIANO RONALDO’s multi-million-pound private jet is stranded at Manchester Airport after the discovery of a technical issue.The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s £61million Bombardier Global Express 6500 jet touched down in Manchester on Friday and sent footie fans into a frenzy.Cristino Ronaldo’s private jet was spotted at Manchester Aiport last weekCredit: X@MANAIRPORTThe jet won’t be leaving the airport anytime soon as it’s awaiting repairsCredit: EAMONN AND JAMES CLARKEEngineers spotted a cracked window on the £61million jet and are awaiting a replacement partCredit: EAMONN AND JAMES CLARKEThe reason for its arrival in Manchester is currently unknown and still being debated by footie fans.But the luxury aircraft won’t be going anywhere anytime soon as it was spotted with a crack in one of its windows.Engineers discovered the matte black jet, which has an image of Ronaldo’s siu celebration on it and his CR7 logo, had the issue while giving it a once over.It won’t be permitted to leave the airport until the crack has been repaired.READ MORE ON RONALDOIt’s understood engineers are currently waiting for the replacement part to be shipped.The stunning airliner was spotted next to the aircraft Manchester City took to Madrid for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 qualifier against Real Madrid on Wednesday.Ronaldo, 40, reportedly splashed the cash on his luxury airliner last year.It’s not known if Ronaldo was on board the plane when it arrived in Manchester, where he spent several trophy-laden years across two stints with Manchester United.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSInside Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible lifeAS arguably the greatest player of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo lives a life befitting such a superstar.He was in action for Al-Nassr the evening before in their 3-2 win over Al-Alhi.Ronaldo first joined United in 2003, staying until 2009 when he made a blockbuster switch to Real Madrid.Cristiano Ronaldo wins Best Middle East Player 2024 gong at Globe Soccer AwardsHe made an emotional return to Old Trafford for a short stint between 2021 and 2022, which ended after his explosive interview with Sun columnist Piers Morgan.The footie icon and his Al-Nassr team-mates will return to the pitch on Friday, welcoming Al-Ettifaq to the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium. More