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      in Boxing

      Mike Balogun is the former NFL star who knocked out the son of a heavyweight legend and now faces Brit star Moses Itauma

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      MIKE BALOGUN is the former NFL star-turned-heavyweight boxer daring to take out feared Brit Moses Itauma. Itauma is only 20 years old and 11 bouts into his professional career but has struck fear into the division with nine brutal knockouts. Mike Balogun is the former NFL star-turned-heavyweight boxerCredit: GettyTrey Lippe McKenzie, son of ex-champ Tommy, and BalogunCredit: GettyBalogun faces Moses ItaumaCredit: GettyHe has even been dubbed the next Mike Tyson – who became the youngest heavyweight champion of all time aged 20. Finding willing opponents to put their reputation on the line against the youngster from London has proved to be Itauma’s toughest fight so far. But stepping up this Saturday in Scotland on Josh Taylor’s undercard is southpaw Balogun. The 6ft 1in American first made his name in the NFL, playing for the likes of the San Francisco 49ers, the Buffalo Bills and the Dallas Cowboys.READ MORE IN BOXINGBut his career as a linebacker came to an end in 2012 – by that time he had already trained in boxing as part of his American football regime. It was only after being released by the Virginia Destroyers that Balogun decided to cross over to professional boxing. He made his debut in 2014 and his career transformation was underway. Balogun’s biggest win to date came in 2021 when he knocked out Trey Lippe Morrison – son of the late former world champion Tommy. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe 41-year-old suffered his first and only defeat in 2023 to Murat Gassiev – who lost his cruiserweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk five years earlier. Balogun will come to the UK with nothing to lose meanwhile Itauma is tipped for greatness. Moses Itauma, 20, lined up for sensational world title fight against Oleksandr Usyk this yearHis promoter Frank Warren has already warned not to rule out a world title fight in the future with Usyk, 38. Meanwhile Martin Bakole, 31, and Filip Hrgovic, 32, are two others on Itauma’s radar. Warren told BoxNation: “Billy Nelson (trainer of Bakole) sent me a text about him making the fight at the end of the year or next year.“Moses is not sitting around waiting for him, is he? He’s gonna get on with his business and who knows, I would expect by the end of this year for Moses to have at least another three fights. “I haven’t got to drum up Bakole in my job, I’m in the Moses Itauma business and that’s all I care about.  “I think that’s [Itauma and Hrgovic] also a good fight to make. I wouldn’t have a problem doing that sometime this year.”Itauma is tipped for greatness in the heavyweight divisionCredit: PA More

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      in Soccer

      ‘I will quit’ – Pep Guardiola gives Man City ultimatum over squad issue that is ‘impossible for my soul’

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      PEP GUARDIOLA has vowed to leave Manchester City if they do not trim their squad this summer.Going into next month’s revamped Club World Cup, City have endured their first trophyless season since 2016-17, Guardiola’s first at the Etihad.Pep Guardiola believes that his squad his too bloatedCredit: ReutersCity waved goodbye to Kevin De Bruyne last nightCredit: ReutersLast night the Etihad Stadium said a fond farewell to club legend Kevin De Bruyne as the Belgian played his last home game for City.Guardiola has admitted that he wants more exits to follow this summer as he prefers to work with a more streamlined squad.Following last night’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth, the 54-year-old admitted: “I said to the club I don’t want that [a bigger squad].”I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer. I don’t want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”It’s impossible for my soul to [tell] my players in the tribune [stands] that they cannot play.”Having all arrived at City in the last 12 months, Savinho, Abdukodir Khusanov, Claudio Echeverri and Vitor Reis all failed to make last night’s matchday squad.Highly thought of academy products Rico Lewis and James McAtee also missed out.Man City’s official website lists 28 first team players, in addition to Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, Joshua Wilson-Esbrand and Maximo Perrone out on loan.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBernardo Silva could be on the way out this summerCredit: GettyJack Grealish has endured a disappointing seasonCredit: GettyOn City’s bloated squad, Guardiola added: “Maybe [for] three, four months we couldn’t select 11 players, we didn’t have defenders, it was so difficult. After, people came back, but next season it cannot be like that.”As a manager I cannot train 24 players and every time I select I have to have four, five, six stay in Manchester at home because they cannot play. Kevin De Bruyne given emotional Etihad send off as Man City take huge leap towards return to Champions League”This is not going to happen. I said to the club, I don’t want that.”Guardiola signed a contract extension to 2027 last November.City have been boosted by recent returns for long-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb.By way of comparison, Manchester United’s squad also lists 28 players, Chelsea’s 31 and Liverpool’s just 24.Nine members of Guardiola’s first team squad are in their 30s; Ederson, Stefan Ortega, Scott Carson, Nathan Ake, John Stones, De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva.Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji, meanwhile, will turn 30 in the next few months.Read More on The SunCity have spent around £200million on transfers this season, and can be expected to splash out more this summer.Last year’s Prem champions have been linked with Lyon starlet Rayan Cherki, but have reportedly pulled out of the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.Kyle Walker was loaned out to AC Milan in JanuaryCredit: Getty More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, ‘discovers his biological age’ before claiming he’ll play for another TEN years

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO has discovered his “biological age” after undergoing specialist tests by a fitness tracking company.At the age of 40, many would think that Ronaldo would have one eye on retirement before the rigours of football catch up to him.Cristiano Ronaldo has declared he will play until he is 50Credit: GettyRonaldo was revealed to be 11 years younger than his real ageCredit: Instagram / @cristianoHowever, the Al-Nassr ace has discovered he is physiologically 11 years younger following tests done by “Whoop”.They are a technology company specialising in fitness trackers and health monitoring devices, for which Ronaldo is an ambassador.Tests done by the company include measuring physiological data such as heart rate and heart rate variability which are then used to give users information about their effort, recovery and sleep.Speaking on the Whoop podcast, the football icon revealed the results of tests he had done with them to discover his “biological age” compared to his real age.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd it revealed he was in fact 28.9 years old, making him 11 years younger than he really is.On his appearance he said: “I can’t believe it’s so good. 28.9.”Following the revelation, Ronaldo then declared: “This means I’ll play football for another ten years.”That declaration – with a career where he has already played more than 1,000 games in professional football, scoring 792 goals – means he would be playing until he is 50.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKHis illustrious career includes stints with boyhood club Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and current side Al-Nassr.And he has a stunning trophy cabinet to match featuring five Ballon d’Or, five Champions Leagues, seven league titles and four Club World Cup trophies.Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, 14, given dad’s number and copies iconic pose as he makes Portugal debut with grandma watchingInside Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible lifeAS arguably the greatest player of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo lives a life befitting such a superstar. More

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      in Boxing

      Josh Taylor open to exhibition with returning Manny Pacquiao, 46, having named his late DOG after boxing great

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      JOSH TAYLOR is open to sharing the ring with Manny Pacquiao – having named his late DOG after the boxing hero. The Filipino great is on the verge of announcing a shock comeback aged 46 to fight WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios. Josh Taylor with his his late dog MannyTaylor got his dog tattooed on him following Manny’s passingManny Pacquiao is back in training for a comebackPacquiao was once a dream bout for Taylor – who named his pet Staffordshire Bull Terrier after PacMan. Sadly, Taylor’s Staffie passed away in 2020 but he commemorated his beloved dog with a tattoo on his thigh. And he would also be ready to honour Pacquiao in the form of an exhibition bout. Taylor told The Herald: “Listen, I would absolutely give my left foot to share a ring with my hero. It would be absolutely amazing. READ MORE IN BOXING”But as a competitive fight, I don’t think I would want it. What’s in it really for me is a lose-lose. “If I go in there and I win, I’ve beaten up a 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao. Or if I go in there and I lose, I’ve lost to a 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao. “So, it’s a lose-lose situation. But in terms of just going in there and doing an exhibition, just sharing the same ring with my hero, would be absolutely fantastic.”Pacquiao retired in 2021 after defeat to Yordenis Ugas but following a failed presidential campaign in the Philippines he is returning to boxing. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAnd he was controversially slotted fifth in the WBC rankings – despite not winning a fight for six years. Taylor also now moves up to welterweight after dropping his 140lb WBO title to Teofimo Lopez in 2023 before losing his rematch to Jack Catterall last May. Josh Taylor reveals his toughest ever fight that left him peeing BLOOD for five days and unable to walkThe Scot faces former British champion Ekow Essuman, 36, up at 147lb on Saturday in Glasgow with the WBO European belt at stake. Taylor said: “It’s good because it gives me a title, which then gives me a ranking on the world scene. “But at this point in my career I’m just thinking one fight at a time. I made that mistake in the lead-up to the [first] Jack Catterall fight, looking at what was going to be after it. “And I almost paid the price for it. So I’m not making that mistake again. I know there won’t be a shortage of options moving up and moving forward at welterweight.“I’m only 34. I didn’t turn pro until I was 25, you know? So it’s not like I’ve been pro since I was 16 or 17 and been in loads and loads of wars. I’m still fresh.”Taylor steps up to welterweight to fight Ekow EssumanCredit: Queensberry Promotions More

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      Former Premier League club closing in on return to EFL despite finishing 23 POINTS behind play-off opponents

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      FORMER Premier League side Oldham Athletic are on the cusp of an EFL return after a thumping 3-0 victory at York City.They became the first team to have competed in the Prem, of which they were a founding club, to drop into non-league when their 115-year stay in the EFL ended in 2022.Oldham are nearing an EFL return after years in the wildernessCredit: Shutterstock EditorialThey thumped York City 3-0 to seal their spot at WembleyCredit: Shutterstock EditorialFans invaded the pitch as the goals flew inCredit: X/ DAZN_NationalLgThey also flooded the field after full-timeCredit: The SunNow Micky Mellon’s side are only one game away from League Two after booking their place at Wembley for the National League play-off final on June 1.Only 24 hours earlier York boss Adam Hinshelwood, whose team finished second on 96 points, a whopping 23 ahead of Oldham, was celebrating his son Jack scoring the winner for Brighton over Liverpool.But he was brought back down to earth with a bang as they suffered heartbreak on home turf.York gifted Mellon’s men the lead when goalie Harrison Male’s poor pass to Alex Hunt was pounced on by Joe Garner, and the veteran drilled home from outside the box. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLVimal Yoganathan left the hosts with a mountain to climb with a low strike shortly after half time.And moments later Oldham stuck another dagger through the heart of the Minstermen.Joe Pritchard made it three with a near-post header to spark a pitch invasion from the away end.It is now back to the drawing board for Hinshelwood and his shell-shocked squad.Most read in EFLBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSThough Mellon, chasing a sixth promotion as a manager, and Oldham can start planning for their crunch trip to the capital.They’ll face the winners of Wednesday’s showdown between Forest Green Rovers and Southend United.Burnley pitch invasion marred by unsavoury scenes as Sheffield United star Hamza Choudhury is held back by securityBoth their meetings this season ended 2-2.But something will finally have to give in their biggest game of the campaign so far. More

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      Man Utd v Spurs Europa League final is the worst but most intriguing showpiece match European football has ever known

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      YOU can label it with whichever mocking moniker you wish.Hell Clasico? The Donkey Derby? The clash of the Sh**e ’uns?Manchester United and Spurs have endured a miserable season – but find themselves in the Europa finalCredit: GettyRuben Amorim is expected to remain in post next season at Old TraffordCredit: AlamyBut Ange Postecoglou might not be so lucky, even if he ends Spurs’ trophy droughtCredit: GettyOr, as one genius headline writer on this newspaper put it, ‘Bilbao Bobbins’.But tonight will bring us a cup final like no other.The worst, the most illogical and yet the most intriguing, showpiece match European football has ever known.Even if Ange Postecoglou wins the Europa League, he is still set to be sacked. If Ruben Amorim loses, he will probably survive.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd yet when the ‘glory, glory’ boys of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur face off here in the Basque Country tonight, the stakes will be skyscraping.Champions League football for the winners, oblivion for the losers.Because, here are two of the five worst sides in the Premier League, two finalists who have FORTY-FOUR defeats between them in all competitions this season, vying for one of football’s great prizes.While the magic 40-point barrier used to be a guarantee of Premier League survival, either Spurs or United will secure a place in the European elite tonight without having even reached it.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKBut rather than try to belittle this match by claiming that the winners do not deserve Champions League qualification — as Arsene Wenger and plenty of others have done — we should be celebrating it.Unpredictability is what makes knockout football special. The best team in the land always wins the title. But underdogs can win cups.Man Utd & Spurs fans get Europa League final party started in Basque city Bilbao after mad dash on planes & 35hr ferriesAnd even though these are two filthy-rich ‘Big Six’ underdogs, they have been playing like lowdown mongrels all season long.United wouldn’t even have qualified for the Europa League had it not been for the toenail VAR offside call which denied Coventry City a ridiculous 4-3 comeback victory in last season’s FA Cup semi-final.But so what? Cup football can be gloriously silly. That’s kind of the point.It certainly hasn’t stopped tens of thousands of fans travelling on trains, in-direct planes, automobiles and ferries — invading Bilbao by air, land and sea to be at Estadio de San Mames tonight.The logistics make getting here seem like a mix between the BBC’s Race Across the World and Hanna-Barbera’s Wacky Races.But trophies make memories.Man Utd vs Spurs – Europa League final: Kick-off time, TV channel and live stream info for Bilbao clashNewcastle fans will remember this season for winning the  Carabao Cup for far longer than they will recall finishing third or fourth in the league.Supporters of United, and especially those of Spurs, would cherish this night if their team wins.You can make a strong case for either side to prevail. Spurs seem to have United’s number – winning all three of their previous meetings this season.And if you believe in omens, that this is a year for drought-busting — after Crystal Palace won their first-ever major silverware and Newcastle ended a 70-year wait — then why not a first trophy in 17 years for Spurs?Yet United, for all their Muppetry in the league, boast the recent trophy-winning experience.They lifted last season’s FA Cup, as well as the Carabao Cup the previous year, under former boss Erik ten Hag — a man whose stock seems to rise after every match Amorim takes charge of.Man Utd vs Spurs – Europa League final: Kick-off time, TV channel and live stream info for Bilbao clashIn Bruno Fernandes, United have the final’s best player, while Spurs’ chief creative influences – James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski – miss out through injury.And if we’re going with omens again, then Jose Mourinho won his first European trophy on this day, May 21, 2003, at the age of 40 years, three months and 24 days.His fellow Portuguese, Amorim, is just one day younger.But frankly, who knows, when the form book reads like this: United two points from their last eight Premier League games; Tottenham five points from their last 11.Tottenham have not even reached the magic 40-point barrier in the Premier LeagueCredit: GettyFor months now, both teams have been turning it on for Thursday nights and tossing it off on Sunday afternoons.United’s route to Bilbao has been tougher, their semi-final thrashing of the final’s hosts Athletic Club, was particularly impressive, while their quarter-final comeback victory over Lyon was surely the most astonishing game of football played this season.Tottenham’s defeat of 2022 champs Eintracht Frankfurt was their one genuinely remarkable scalp.It might be argued that this match is proof of the Premier League’s depth, when its 16th and 17th-placed clubs are contesting a European final.But there has been no English winner of the Europa League since Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea defeated Unai Emery’s Arsenal in 2019 — when two managers enduring brief reigns in London met in Azerbaijan for another final billed as a scrap between two average teams.Yet Chelsea and Arsenal finished third and fifth respectively that season.That final had nothing on this one.The Europa League has become more logical, more pure, this  season, now that clubs from the Champions League no longer parachute into its knockout phase.It has also become easier to win — under the old format, Manchester City, Juventus, Monaco and Sporting Lisbon would have plunged into this competition.But nobody will remember any of that in years to come.Man Utd vs Spurs – Europa League final: Kick-off time, TV channel and live stream info for Bilbao clashThis is win-or-bust, death-or-glory, with Champions League qualification swelling coffers and making either club an instantly more desirable summer destination for new players.Big Ange says he ‘always wins a trophy’ in his second season but, then again, none of his previous second seasons were at Spurs.Amorim says this could be ‘the worst United team in history’ and yet their Europa League run, like last season’s FA Cup progression, has conjured up some impossible victories, as if, no matter how bad they are, there is still a strange kind of magic deep within the club.Read More on The SunSo for what it’s worth, here’s a prediction of sorts: United to equalise in the final minute of extra-time through makeshift centre-forward Harry Maguire.And then the longest penalty shootout in the history of European football, in which at least 40 consecutive spot-kicks are missed… More

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      in Soccer

      Crystal Palace 4 Wolves 2: Eddie Nketiah steps up as Mateta’s understudy as Selhurst Park puts on FA Cup after-party

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      SELHURST PARK put on an almighty FA Cup after-party as Crystal Palace brushed aside Wolves and made more history.After winning the first trophy in the club’s history only 72 hours earlier, Oliver Glasner claimed another record by taking the Eagles past 50 points in the Premier League for the first time.Eddie Nketiah stepped up as Crystal Palace smashed Wolves 4-2Credit: ReutersThe Eagles got the FA Cup party going at Selhurst ParkCredit: GettyEddie Nketiah’s brace and Ben Chilwell’s first goal for the club, as well as another for Eberechi Eze, saw them past Wolves despite what must have been a few days of well-deserved celebrations.The result was another thing to celebrate, though this night had little to do with the actual football.Eagles fans had celebrated loud and proud under the Wembley arch, and now got to do it all over again.No one likes the fact that the Cup final was not the final game of the domestic season – but an evening like this is a persuasive argument for having it earlier.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLPalace will have a trophy parade in south London on Monday, but this was a proper party at their place.Fans arrived early – many still in a happy daze.They were streaming out of the club shop with their limited edition Cup winners shirts.Bumper match day programmes, with the FA Cup on the front and emotional words from Marc Guehi, Steve Parish and Glasner, were being snapped up alongside commemorative scarves.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSParish, the chairman, gushed: “Saturday felt like a coming of age, the day we announced ourselves as a ‘proper football club’.”He was flanked in the stands by Mark Bright and former boss Alan Pardew, all with beaming smiles still fixed in place.How Crystal Palace outsmarted Man City in FA Cup finalSelhurst Park has long been the most atmospheric stadium in the capital, but it has rarely been this colourful and united, all four sides bouncing to their new ditty of “12th again, who gives a f***? We’ve won the FA Cup!”The Holmesdale End ran through the chants for each and every one of their Cup heroes – with the rest of the stadium following their lead.Red and blue balloons, as well as a few blow-up FA Cups, were tossed around the stands – where almost every fan had come in their colours.Substitutes were given huge ovations on their way to the dugout before Palace were led out by Ward, carrying his five-day old daughter, ahead of his final home game for the club.  Emmanuel Agbadou gave Wolves the leadCredit: PANketiah equalised just moments laterCredit: Shutterstock EditorialGlasner had tried to give the players as long as possible to celebrate Saturday’s triumph – not getting them back to prepare for this until Monday afternoon.He made seven changes, Guehi and Adam Wharton missing out with concussion injuries from the weekend and a couple of others on the bench likely still nursing sore heads for different reasons.For the most part it was easy to forget there was a game being played out in front of everyone.Selhurst sang about Saturday, about Glasner and their upcoming European tour.Nketiah bagged his second to put Palace aheadCredit: ReutersBen Chilwell then netted for his loan sideCredit: GettyThere was some football to enjoy along with the celebrations, however.Wolves took the lead through Emmanuel Agbadou, heading in after Jorgen Strand Larsen had nodded a corner across goal.Nketiah tried to clear but could not stop the ball before it had crossed the line.The Eagles No9 more than made up for that a moment later. The Wolves goal had not stopped the Palace party – but Nketiah took it up a notch.Jorgen Strand Larsen pulled one back for WolvesCredit: ReutersEbere Eze put the game to bed with a goal late onCredit: PASigned from Arsenal last summer, the striker had just one Premier League goal all season before tonight, but suddenly grabbed two in just five minutes.Nketiah first dispatched Romain Esse’s cutback with a well taken first-time finish before meeting an Ismaila Sarr cross six yards out – which came after some typically restless work from Daniel Munoz.There were still more feel-good stories after the break.Chilwell, a January signing from Chelsea, scored his first in red and blue when his free-kick took a heavy deflection off Agbadou in the Wolves wall and found the bottom corner.The result saw Palace reach 50 points in the Premier League for the first timeCredit: PAThe fans were in party mode after Oliver Glasner led them to FA Cup victoryCredit: AlamyWolves grabbed another back, Strand Larsen nodding in unmarked from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s corner and Dean Henderson put on another display of the heroics which had denied Manchester City, saving from Goncalo Guedes.No one was concerned whether Wolves would get level or not, but Eze made sure with a superb goal from the bench.Ward, who had collected a farewell card from the referee for a trip on Matheus Cunha, provided the most emotional moment of the night.Substituted in the 70th minute, the Eagles legend fell to his knees in the centre circle and could not stop the tears and neither could Parish watching from the stands.Read More on The SunThe right-back is departing after 13 years and could never have imagined he would do so to the sound of chants about him lifting the Cup.This was a night of celebration and saying goodbye, but another which showed Palace are going places. 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      Pep Guardiola in tears as Man City say goodbye to Kevin De Bruyne with emotional tributes after big win over Bournemouth

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      KEVIN DE BRUYNE’S Etihad farewell ended with cheers, tears… and an eternal place in Manchester City history.Minutes after the end of KDB’s final home game, City revealed he will become the latest legend honoured with a statue at the stadium.Kevin De Bruyne waved goodbye to the Man City fans at Etihad StadiumCredit: PAFans honoured the Belgian with a huge bannerCredit: GettyPep Guardiola was in tears as De Bruyne said goodbye to the clubCredit: Sky SportsDe Bruyne was lifted into the air by his teammatesCredit: Shutterstock EditorialWife Michele Lacroix joined the Belgian on the fieldCredit: ReutersHe was embraced by Bernardo Silva at full-timeCredit: PADe Bruyne bid farewell with a lap of the EtihadCredit: PAHe was joined by his family and soaked up the applauseCredit: GettyDe Bruyne was given a guard of honour by his palsCredit: GettyCity unveiled a mosaic in his honourCredit: GettyIt was an emotional night for all involvedCredit: ReutersDe Bruyne leaves as one of City’s best-ever playersCredit: ReutersGuardiola shed tears as tributes were paid to De BruyneCredit: Sky SportsThe ace will now search for a new club as a free agentCredit: GettyHis legacy will never be forgotten by CityCredit: GettyAn emotional De Bruyne, 33, said: “It means I will always be here.”De Bruyne will become the seventh all-time great after Mike Summerbee, Francis Lee, Colin Bell, Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero and David Silva.Chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak also unveiled a giant mosaic of KDB before the game and revealed he will also have a street named after him which links the academy to the first-team centre.But the midfield magician could not mark his goodbye with a goal against Bournemouth — and missed a sitter that he admitted son Mason will never let him forget.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLDe Bruyne, also watched by wife Michele, youngest son Rome and daughter Suri, joked: “It was a terrible miss! There are no excuses. My son is going to be very hard on me.”City’s 3-1 win was incidental alongside De Bruyne’s send-off.His own personal post-match light show came after a guard of honour from the City team and was followed by video messages from former team-mates like Aguero, Kompany and one from his family that had even Pep Guardiola in tears.There were also gifts from the club presented by Dr John Bell, son of City superstar Colin, and his widow Marie.Most read in FootballDe Bruyne hit the crossbar inside the six-yard box to miss a golden opportunity for the perfect goodbyeCredit: GettyOmar Marmoush opened the scoring with a stunning long-range effortCredit: GettyCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSDe Bruyne, who has won 19 major honours, admitted: “I want to bring joy to people, play offensive football, be creative and have fun.“We had a lot of fun in these ten years and created something incredible to take this club better than where it was.How Crystal Palace outsmarted Man City in FA Cup final“It all feels a bit weird. It’s been an unbelievable ride, an absolute pleasure.“Who can have 50,00 people waiting to say goodbye? It’s indescribable and thank you very much.”Boss Guardiola added: “It’s a sad day, he will be missed.“A lovely day for him and delighted we achieved the victory which is of massive importance for the last step.“I’m pretty sure when Kevin arrived here he was not a Manchester City fan — but also now he will be for ever because of the connection between all the people and him.”But, while KDB fluffed his lines on his big night – but still ended up taking the plaudits.The Belgian maestro missed a first half sitter as he bowed out of his beloved Etihad by helping his team to one more vital win.It all feels a bit weird. It’s been an unbelievable ride, an absolute pleasure.Kevin de BruyneOmar Marmoush, Bernardo Silva and Nico Gonzalez got the goals which put City on the brink of a 15th straight season in the Champions League.But it was all about KDB on what was a night of red hair, red faces and two red cards.It was always going to be an emotional night as the City faithful said goodbye to one of their all-time favourites – yet amid it all there was an important game to win.Their dismal draw at Southampton 10 days ago left them needing four points from their last two matches to be sure of Champions League football next season.A home game with Bournemouth is normally a guaranteed win for Guardiola’s men – it was seven in a row against the Cherries before this.But these are not normal times for City as Saturday’s FA Cup final showed.So there was plenty riding on KDB’s 142nd and final home league appearance on what has become his playground over the last decade.Guardiola had said he hoped his players could use the emotion of the occasion to their advantage and in the early stages they did.Marmoush scored from distance to open the scoringCredit: APMateo Kovacic had already gone close when they took the lead in sensational fashion in the 14th minute.Omar Marmoush takes a pass from Gvardiol – advances from near his own half before unleashing a 30 yard stunner into the top corner.Kepa Arrizabalaga was on his line but had no chance as it kissed the top of the post on its way in.That was some way to make up the penalty miss at Wembley on Saturday – his eighth goal for the club was the best by some margin.Nobody can argue the Egyptian has perked up City since he arrived in January and his emergence will make the departure of KDB easier to swallow.De Bruyne almost provided one last assist for his old partner in crime Erling Haaland but for once the Norwegian could not apply the finishing touch.A lovely move down the left saw Marmoush slide the ball across goal but De Bruyne somehow failed to convert – hitting the bar from six yards out with the goal at his mercy.Guardiola had his head in his hands – so did De Bruyne’s family up in their box. Nobody could quite believe it.And for a while the party inside the stadium went a little flat – with the crowd stunned into silence.Bournemouth – who began the night still with an outside chance of claiming European football – almost took advantage.A cross from the left from Marcus Tavernier fell into the path of Evanilson but his shot beat his fellow Brazilian Ederson but thumped against the post.They got away with one and made the most of their reprieve.A cross from Mathens Nunes was only half cleared and Ilkay Gundogan turned the ball into the path of Bernardo Silva who turned in from close range.Bernardo Silva doubled City’s leadCredit: AFPIt was not dissimilar to his strike against Real Madrid here two years ago – and had City fans dreaming of more Champions League nights here.De Bruyne wasn’t involved but was probably the most relieved man in the stadium – as it felt like a proper send off again.The visitors had a lot to do in the second half if they were going to be party poopers but this City team give you chances.Antoine Semenyo weaved his way along the edge of the box before firing his shot narrowly over the bar.And their hopes of getting back into it were lifted when a terrible pass from Josko Gvardiol put Evanilson in on goal.Gvardiol’s fellow Croatian Kovacic pulled back the Brazilian and could have no complaints when Thomas Bramall pulled out the red card.It left Guardiola kicking his seat in the dug-out in frustration – and also ended KDB’s special night abruptly.He was replaced by defensive midfielder Nico as City had no option but to shore things up.The end had come a few minutes earlier than expected but needless to say he left the field to a huge – and richly deserved standing ovation.For years to come, he will be remembered as the club’s most successful player ever, having picked up 19 pieces of silverware in his glittering 10 year stay.The Cherries’ man advantage only lasted a couple of minutes as Lewis Cook jumped in wildly on the City sub near the half way line – and he followed Kovacic down the tunnel.De Bruyne’s send off was loud but the cheer which greeted the return of Rodri ran it close.The Ballon D’Or winner returned as a sub for Haaland with seven minutes to go – after eight months out with a cruciate ligament injury.They have missed him enormously while he has been rehabilitating – what a huge lift it will be to have him back.Read More on The SunYet it was one of the men bought to replace him – Nico – who capped things off, taking a pass from Nunes in his stride and curling home a beauty.A loose back pass from Nunes wrong-footed Ruben Dias and sub Daniel Jebbison’s effort just had enough on it to beat Ederson – but it was little more than a consolation.Mateo Kovacic was sent off for a pull-back on EvanilsonCredit: GettyLewis Cook saw red for a dangerous tackle on Nico GonzalezCredit: ReutersRodri made his return to action following his ACL injuryCredit: PANico Gonzalez scored Man City’s third goalCredit: GettyDaniel Jebbison bagged a consolation goal for BournemouthCredit: Getty More