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      Coaches in tears, staff stacked & millions down drain…inside local hero Jim Ratcliffe’s ‘terrible’ first year at Man Utd

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      JULY is usually an exciting time at Manchester United’s famous academy.Hundreds of kids as young as seven return to the club’s Carrington training ground as they dream of following in the footsteps of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo by becoming the next protege to grace Old Trafford.Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s brutal cuts at Man United have earned him the nickname ‘The Jim Reaper’Credit: PAManchester United academy has also been hit as the billionaire axed coachesCredit: GettyThe club confirmed this week up to 200 people will lose their jobsCredit: GettyBut this season it was different. Instead of coaches greeting the potential future stars with fist-bumps and hi-fives, some of them were in tears.The reason? New minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos minions had set their cost-saving sights on the academy.So as kids and parents buzzed around downstairs, respected coaches were being told they were at risk of redundancy upstairs.Shock filled the building as confused children saw coaches they loved walking down the stairs with tears in their eyes.Some children also broke down, while others tried to comfort their coaches as bewildered parents looked on. A dad who witnessed the scenes told The Sun: “How the club acted was outrageous. “It was like waiting all summer and then sacking all the teachers on the first day of term — in front of the kids.“Some of the coaches were crying, some of the kids were then crying — and parents were wondering, ‘What on earth is going on?’”Academy Director Nick Cox later emailed parents to explain the job cuts were part of a club-wide review aimed at saving cash and becoming a “more lean and agile organisation”.Ruben Amorim blames results on the pitch for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s brutal Man Utd cuts That mantra has been a familiar message from United officials as billionaire Sir Jim slashes his way through every department of the football club, earning him the nickname “The Jim Reaper”.’He’s had a terrible year’Just this week, the club confirmed up to 200 more people will lose their jobs — on top of 250 loyal staff made redundant last year.Even United legend and ex-manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s £2million ambassador role was cut.He argues club staff become too comfortable while leaders have become too sentimental — leading to a decade of poor performance.The problem for Sir Jim — who is worth an estimated £23billion — is that on the pitch results have been disastrous.After spending £14million dispensing of manager Erik ten Hag and football director Dan Ashworth, he spent millions more installing Ruben Amorim in the Old Trafford dugout.The 72-year-old can regularly be seen gritting his teeth along with the rest of United fans as his team flounder on the pitch, winning just five of 16 Premier League games.Sir Jim has applied a similar approach to United as he has with his petrochemicals empire — where predictable costs and cost savings have reaped huge success.But so far in the football world, he has failed to discover the right formula for the sweet science of footie.And the man once billed as the saviour of the club from the hated Glazer family, who have loaded £1billion of debt and interest payments on the club following their 2005 takeover, is now regarded by some fans as just another businessman desecrating the club and all it stands for.On the pitch results have been disastrous this yearCredit: AlamySir Jim reacts during United’s clash with LiverpoolCredit: GettyRatcliffe spent millions installing Ruben Amorim in the Old Trafford dugoutCredit: GettyIn Failsworth, the working-class district eight miles from Old Trafford where Ratcliffe started life, he was previously hailed as a local hero thanks to his business acumen.But after sacking hundreds of United staff, putting up some match tickets to £66 a game, cancelling the Christmas party, and ending free lunches for training ground staff in favour of soup and free fruit, he has lost some of his sheen.The Sun this week visited Dunkerley Avenue, where Ratcliffe lived until he was ten, and were offered views Roy Keane would be proud of about the Ineos boss’s stewardship of the club.Lifelong Man United fan John Fearnley said: “I can’t understand why he is doing this.“He knows what it is like to come from a working-class family but now that is exactly the people who he is targeting. “He’s already put match ticket prices up and no doubt season ticket prices will follow next season.“I think he would have put them up mid-season if he could have. Cutting hundreds of jobs is a mistake and will hurt those affected a lot.”The 70-year-old retired contracts manager added: “My Man City mates are having a right laugh about United getting rid of the canteen and handing out free fruit.“They keep sending me Marcus Rashford memes about how we need him back now the free meals have been stopped.”Sue and John Fearnley are not impressed with Ratcliffe’s approachCredit: Matthew PoverDunkerley Avenue in Failsworth, Manchester, where Ratcliffe lived until he was tenCredit: Matthew PoverRatcliffe’s childhood homeCredit: Matthew PoverHis wife Sue, 69, added: “I am United through and through but what he is doing is wrong.“It’s crazy that he is making all these people redundant. “They will be the lower-paid staff and money will already be tight. “I thought things would improve when he bought into the club. “It’s the players’ wages that need cutting. “They should rip the existing contracts up and if the team does well, give them bonuses.”Mike Robinson, 56, said: “What he is doing is a disgrace. “He is destroying the fabric of the club by sacking the very people who are the club.“When he became the richest man in the UK and you’d tell people where you were from, some would say, ‘That’s where Jim Ratcliffe is from!’.”“It was nice to have someone from Failsworth do so well for himself.“But not now he is sacking ordinary working-class people.”Rob Inkerman, 35, said: “He’s a local lad, a United fan and a billionaire. “I thought he would have known what the club stood for and how it is the ordinary people who make the club what it is.“But instead of improving the club, he’s making it worse. He’s had a terrible year. “When he arrived, I think a lot of people saw him as a hero, someone who could save the club. But not any more. “His reputation with the fans has gone and how must the staff be feeling?“But is sacking staff and stopping the freebies really going to make much difference? “I bet it would make more of a difference to those who used to receive the free lunches.“He’s worth a fortune and should be spending it on the club he supports.”‘Bespectacled bores’And while Ratcliffe remains steadfast in his belief his hardline approach will lead United back to the top of world football, others who have always been suspicious of his reasons for buying into the club remain unconvinced.John-Paul O’Neill, author of Red Rebels: The Glazers And The FC Revolution, said: “After all the hype and hope of Ineos’s takeover of Manchester United’s football operations, the club’s current travails can’t really come as that much of a surprise as little about Jim Ratcliffe’s buy-in makes any sense, least of all financially.“Unlike the Glazers, the most common refrain from United fans who’ve pinned their hopes on the Oldham oligarch is ‘at least Ratcliffe’s put some money into the club’. “But they seem to be confusing the cost of doing the deal — injecting cash that keeps the Glazers afloat — with being some sort of willing benefactor.“Everything Ratcliffe has done at Old Trafford smacks of a two-bob operator.12 months of turmoilDecember 2023: Club confirm Ratcliffe’s takeover vowing to invest £245million.January 2024: Ratcliffe and right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford meet manager Erik ten Hag on a tour of training ground. Omar Berrada poached from Man City as new CEO.February 2024: Ratcliffe’s £1billion, 27.7 per cent takeover completed.March 2024: Ratcliffe bans words “awesome” and “lukewarm cappuccino”. Announces plans for “Wembley of the North” to replace Old Trafford. Man Utd NYSE share price drops to $13.73 – down from $20.52 after takeover.April 2024: Senior staff club credit cards and private cars cancelled.May 2024: Ratcliffe emails employees slamming “disgraceful” lack of cleanliness of facilities. Work finally starts on leaking Old Trafford roof. United finish eighth in Premier League ­­– their lowest ever. Ratcliffe gives employees a week to decide if they want redundancy. Staff forced to pay for own transport to FA Cup final and given only one ticket each. Pre-final party and hotel for senior staff axed.June 2024: United announce £50million upgrade to Carrington. Ratcliffe introduces strict policy forcing staff to come into office.July 2024: United agree deal to bring in Dan Ashworth as sporting director after four months of gardening leave at Newcastle. Erik ten Hag signs shock new contract until 2026. Staff on US pre-season tour cut to 125. Ratcliffe makes 250 redundancies including kitman Alex Wylie.August 2024: United splash £199million on players in summer transfer window. Matchday staff lunchboxes scrapped.October 2024: Sir Alex Ferguson’s £2million-a-year ambassador salary is axed. Staff Christmas party cancelled. “Back to work” policy costs a fortune, converting hospitality suites into offices. Erik ten Hag sacked with club 14th in Premier League table, costing £15million.November 2024: Ruben Amorim appointed manager after the club stumps up £10million to trigger his release clause. Coach Ruud van Nistelrooy axed by Amorim. Ratcliffe reportedly set to halve £40,000 budget paid to Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association.December 2024: Ratcliffe admits “mediocre” United “still in last century”. Fans protest after OAP and children concessions tickets ditched and minimum home ticket cost up to £66. Ashworth sacked as sporting director at a cost of £4.1million. Staff Christmas bonus of £100 ditched for £40 M&S voucher. Ceiling starts leaking during Amorim’s press conference after 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth. With reports of a mice infestation at Old Trafford, droppings are found in food kiosks and suites as food hygiene rating drops to two stars. SunSport reveals Ratcliffe cut £40,000 donation to Association of Former Manchester United Players charity.February 2025: Up to 200 more redundancies.“The farce of the millions wasted on Erik ten Hag and Dan Ashworth is well reported, but who authorised £200million to be spent on transfers last summer, under a manager who was a dead man walking and didn’t even make it to November, let alone Christmas?“Journalists were being briefed by United officials this month that the latest round of redundancies is necessary to prevent the club going bust.“If anyone is to actually believe this, just over a year after Ineos’s army of highly paid lawyers and accountants conducted due diligence on United’s accounts, it begs the question as to why Ratcliffe would have committed nearly £1.5billion to buying a quarter of it, rather than wait until the position became clear and the price crashed?“Why would any serious business operator pay such a fortune to become a minority shareholder in a failing business saddled with a billion pounds of debt? “It almost seems as if Ratcliffe has been brought in to be the Glazers’ lightning rod — a patsy to deflect attention — as he fronts all the decisions they wouldn’t, or couldn’t get away with making.“Ratcliffe can sack all the staff he wants, but the fact remains that in 2025 the biggest non-football-related drain resources remains the cost of the Glazers’ 2005 takeover — and those payments could double when the loans come up for refinancing in 2027.“Strangely, that’s one marginal gain Ineos’s bespectacled bores don’t seem willing to address.“But when their own ‘expertise’ has already seen around £230million spent since May on ‘improvements’ that have taken United to 14th place in the Premier League, it’s no wonder Ratcliffe and his gang are seeking out scapegoats anywhere else they can find them to save those precious pennies.”Former Manchester United’s manager Erik ten HagCredit: AFP More

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      I experienced the poshest, most exclusive stand in Premier League and it was like no other – just ignore the football

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      IT’S the poshest, most exclusive and expensive stand in the Premier League.Bring your Speedos for a half-time dip in an open-air swimming pool, indulge your taste buds with a spot of lobster in a high-class restaurant, enjoy a drink on a roof-top bar overlooking the Thames.Dave Kidd visited Fulham’s new exclusive standThe Sun’s Chief Sports Writer paid £105 for his ticket with his son’s priced at £85 More

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      in Boxing

      Shock pics show Tyson Fury’s Cheshire mansion left to rot with crumbling roof & overgrown lawns as £2.5m refurb blocked

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      OVERRUN with weeds and left to rot, new pictures show the shocking state of Tyson Fury’s once grand eight-bed Cheshire mansion after he was banned from knocking it down. The Sun’s exclusive photos and video reveal the dilapidated state of the uninhabitable property in the area’s exclusive “Golden Triangle”, with its entrance overgrown, the tiled roof in disrepair and whole rooms stripped bare with crumbling brickwork.Tyson Fury’s home in Cheshire’s ‘Golden Triangle’ has been left to rotCredit: suppliedWhole rooms including the attic space have been left to go to wrack and ruinCredit: suppliedThe grounds are also in a perilous stateCredit: suppliedTyson, 36, who lives with wife Paris and their seven kids in a swish £1.7m mansion in Morecambe, just over an hour’s drive away, wanted to tear his Cheshire pad down and replace it with a six-bed luxury home built from scratch.His £2.5million Grand Designs-inspired dream renovation included plans for a swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi and a cinema, but he was forced to withdraw the application last August.Instead, the boxer was “only” given approval to extensively renovate the current home, including allowances for three extensions, a basement with a games room and a music room.But new pictures and video show the pad has been left in a perilous state, with the roof caved in and badly in need of a major overhaul.Tyson’s dad John lives next door and photos reveal the land is covered in cars, caravans and motorhomes.The former world champ has previously had run-ins with Cheshire East Council when trying to knock down the mansion.The property backs onto Manchester Airport and is close to his brother Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague’s £3.5million home. His plans for the renovation came unstuck after bats were found nesting in the loft.This meant Tyson was already having to apply for a special licence from Natural England as a protected species had been detected around the home. He was then told birds flocking to his pond or fruit trees may be a hazard to nearby jets. Inside Tyson and Paris Fury’s luxurious lifestyleHe also needed to submit a biodiversity strategy which “should include proposals for the provision of features for nesting birds including house sparrow”.And he was told he needed “gaps in garden fences to facilitate the movement of hedgehogs, native species planting”.Another council department also wanted him to move his proposed extravagant pad – for the sake of an oak tree. Rotting woodwork is visible from the roadCredit: thisischriswhite.comTyson was stopped from tearing down the homeCredit: thisischriswhite.comIt appears the roof of the once-lavish property also requires workCredit: thisischriswhite.comThe exterior has fallen into a state of disrepairCredit: suppliedThe land is occupied by cars, caravans and motorhomesCredit: suppliedIn the end, Tyson was forced to ditch plans to demolish the original building and stick to extending the existing one.To top it off, the former world champ and his two brothers, John Jnr and Shane, had been renting out a car park on their land, which landed them in hot water with the courts in December 2023.Dad John appeared at Chester Magistrates Court to defend his sons, saying he had signed the lease agreement with a valet company and they had done nothing wrong by failing to cough up £82,166.85 to Cheshire East Council for the car park, which adjoins his house. But the district judge ordered the brothers to pay the business rates bill, plus court costs of £17,206 – totalling nearly £100,000.Cheshire’s Golden TriangleBy Ryan MerrifieldCheshire’s Golden Triangle refers to a super affluent area in the North West of England, covering small towns like Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, and Prestbury.It’s known for its expensive houses and popularity among wealthy Premier League footballers, often called the “Footballer Belt” due to the high concentration of professional athletes that live there.But furious locals say mega mansions RUIN the area.The average price of a property on one coveted road in Wilmslow is £4million and estate agents describe it as one of the town’s “most sought-after” and “desirable” streets.The gated mansions offer peace and privacy, and current residents include Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and his teammate Alexis Mac Allister, who recently bought a home.Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson once lived there as well as ex-United keeper Sergio Romero.And Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is also thought to own a property on the road.Set in glorious countryside, the area, according to one estate agent, “is a delightful blend of sophistication and rural tranquillity” and boasts high-end shops and upmarket bars and restaurants.Visitors to Wilmslow might spot Marcus Rashford jewellery shopping, his Manchester United teammate Bruno Fernandes leaving a tanning salon or Manchester City star Kyle Walker’s wife Annie Kilner hitting the gym.The dilapidated pad is a far cry from the Fury family’s main property – a lavish £1.7million mansion in nearby Morecambe, where they moved in 2020 after upgrading from a modest £550,000 home.The plush pile has gold curtains and radiators throughout, perhaps giving an indication of how they envisioned doing up the interior of their currently-stalled Cheshire property.There are huge chandeliers dangling from the ceilings, the kitchen is decked out in red marble, and wife Paris previously revealed her favourite part of their home – her walk-in wardrobe. Fury bought the property in December 2020, and is mortgage-free, according to land registry records.Tyson Fury, pictured in Saudi Arabia last year, had grand plans for his Cheshire mansion but has had multiple setbacksCredit: GettyIt’s a far cry from the family’s £1.7m pad in Morecambe where he and Paris currently reside with their childrenCredit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvin MediaParis and Tyson with their kids on a family holiday in 2023Credit: parisfury1/instagram More

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      in Boxing

      I watched Gerald McClellan fight for his life after horror KO – 30 years on it still makes me feel sick to my stomach

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      IT IS 30 years ago to the day that Nigel Benn, with an almost medieval ferocity, battered American Gerald McClellan to retain his WBC world super-middleweight title.Normally after such a blood-chilling, super-human display of guts and raw courage – when Benn had tigerishly fought back after twice being on the brink of defeat – there would have been an outpouring of elation.Nigel Benn’s brutal win over Gerald McClellan is 30 years old.. but still makes Colin Hart feel sickCredit: GettyBenn’s flurry of punches left McClellan counted out in the tenth roundCredit: PABut let me make it perfectly clear: the tragic events following the Dark Destroyer’s infamous 10-round KO victory – and there are still repercussions to this day – ensured there was certainly no cause for celebration.A 12,000 sell-out London Arena and a further 13million viewers tuning-in live on ITV watched horrified as McClellan was transformed from a superbly fit athlete to a shell of a man lying unconscious on the canvas as three doctors and an anaesthetist fought desperately to save his life.Recalling those scenes from three decades ago leaves me with the same sick feeling in the pit of my stomach as it did then.In my SunSport fight report, I said there had never been a more brutal battle in Britain – and thankfully there has never been another like it since.We watched, hearts in our mouths, as the medics spent 15 minutes going about their work.McClellan was given an injection to relax him, put in a head-brace and had a oxygen mask strapped to his face. He was stretchered out of the ring and rushed to the nearby Royal London Hospital.There, waiting to operate, was neurosurgeon John Sutcliffe, who removed a blood clot from his brain.After surgery, McClellan lay in a coma for two weeks before being flown back to his home in Freeport, Illinois, where he has been cared for by his sister Lisa ever since.His devastating brain injuries have left him blind, almost completely deaf and confined to a wheelchair.Ironically, Benn was taken to the same hospital and placed in the same ward as McClellan suffering from extreme exhaustion, a fractured nose, fractured jaw and passing blood in his urine due to kidney damage.McClellan took too much of a battering and failed to get off his knees in the tenth roundCredit: GettyMcClellan was taken out of the arena on a stretcher after suffering life-changing injuriesCredit: PAMcLellan was left in a coma and blind, while also mostly deaf, following the fightColin Hart’s fight report from the dramatic fightCredit: The SunWe were told that Nigel went over to his comatose opponent kissed him on the cheek and said “sorry”.In hindsight the omens weren’t good for this meeting between – pound-for-pound – two of the most devastating punchers of their era.They just didn’t like each other.If ever there was an Ugly American it was McClellan who arrived on these shores with a reputation for being as mean and nasty outside the ring as he was inside.The great Manny Steward, who trained dozens of world champions including Tommy ‘Hit Man’ Hearns and Lennox Lewis made no bones about it when he said: “Out of all the fighters I have trained, Gerald probably had the biggest mean streak of them all.”McClellan, having won all but two of his 31 fights by KO, prophetically said two months before he met Benn: “You have to go to war. You have to be prepared to die. That’s what boxing is.”And his cornerman, Stan Johnson, put in his two pennyworth by declaring: “Gerald didn’t want to win the fight. He actually wanted to kill Nigel Benn.”McClellan had to be respected as a formidable world-class fighting machine, but for me he was an extremely flawed human being.His hobby was breeding fighting pit bulls. How can anyone possibly warm to anyone who admits to tying up the muzzle of a Labrador and throwing it into the jaws of his prize pit bull and watch it being torn to pieces?Because of his violent reputation, McClellan was a 1-3 favourite going into the fight that was choc-full of drama and controversy from the the start.Just 35 seconds after the opening bell, McClellan trapped Benn against the ropes and – with both fists crashing against his skull – forced him out of the ring onto the apron.Recalling the moment, Nigel said “I didn’t know a man could hit that hard.”Nigel Benn was sent flying out of the ring in the first round, such was McClellan’s powerCredit: GettyThe pair fought until the tenth round in a savage war of attritionCredit: Allsport – GettyBenn managed to scramble back with the count on nine, but it seemed impossible for him to survive.Yet he tore into McClellan with both hands and it was obvious we were about to witness a sensational non-stop battle of attrition.From then on, the action ebbed and flowed with a violence that was frightening in its intensity.In the eighth, a desperately-tired Benn was floored by a tremendous McClellan right.Nigel got up to take the mandatory eight count and, as he stood in a neutral corner swaying like a sapling in the wind, his face grotesquely swollen, he looked more like the Dark Destroyed than Dark Destroyer.He seemed to have little chance of pulling through.Yet somehow, from somewhere, he managed to dredge up a few more ounces of strength and willpower and once again launched himself at his tormentor.He shook McClellan with a right to the chin and that was the moment the American looked fearful and started to crumble – perhaps realising he was faced with an unstoppable, unrelenting force.Two rounds later, another Benn onslaught sent McClellan to his knees. Managing to haul himself upright he was met by a short right uppercut.This time – fully conscious – he stayed down on one knee as French referee Alfred Azaro, counted him out.McClellan eventually sank to his knees and failed to get back up after Benn’s barrageCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdThe pair have since been reunited after McClellan’s life-altering injuriesCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdBenn also ended up in hospital but avoided any serious, long-term injuriesCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdI’m ashamed to say I was guilty of thinking McClellan had committed boxing’s cardinal sin and had decided he’d taken enough punishment and quit.At that moment – before the stark reality set in – the crowd had worked themselves into a frenzy of excitement at having seen Benn’s unbelievable courage prevail against the odds.There have been many theories that McClellan – who showed signs of distress after being accidentally head-butted in the ninth – could have finished beaten but unscathed if the rookie referee, in charge of only his second world title fight, or Johnson had read the signs correctly and pulled him out.We will never know.There’s no doubt that Benn, 61 – four years older than McClellan and now living in Sydney – was so traumatised it changed his life completely and led him to become a born-again Christian and preacher.Several years later, Nigel said: “Sure I wanted to win – but not at that price. On that night my heart went out of boxing. “Let me tell you something – inflicting that kind of damage does something to you.”Benn was back at the London Arena five months later, knocking out Italian Vincenzo Nardiello – but he was never the same fighter again and he retired after losing what would be his final three fights.For a time there was bad blood between Benn and the McClellan family – Lisa felt Nigel hadn’t shown enough remorse or compassion for her brother.But, in 2007, the rift was healed when Benn helped organise a star-studded charity evening at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, that raised £200,000 for McClellan.That money has helped to make Gerald’s life as comfortable as it can possibly be.However, I suggest no amount of cash is any sort of consolation for a young man in his prime having his future shattered in under half an hour.Benn showed off a cut cheek as he suffered a fractured nose, fractured jaw and kidney damageCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdMcClellan was in clear distress as Benn unleashed a flurry of blowsCredit: PA More

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      All this week’s transfer exclusives from SunSport’s man in the know with England pair set to switch Premier League clubs

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      ALAN NIXON is Sunsport’s Boss of Goss. Check out this week’s red-hot transfer whispers from our man in the know…Taylor Harwood-Bellis looks set to move on from Southampton in the summerCredit: AlamySAINT EASY SOUTHAMPTON pair Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Aaron Ramsdale are in line for Premier League rescue moves.England cap Harwood-Bellis is fancied by West Ham and could escape from the drop at the end of this season as Saints head back to the Championship.The centre-half, 23, has just changed agent and will be up for a move after signing from Manchester City last year.Classy Harwood-Bellis would cost about £15million and the Hammers are in the market for new faces at the back. Three Lions keeper Ramsdale, 26,  is another who should beat Saints’  slide into the second tier – with his former club Bournemouth on alert.Rambo impressed at Cherries and Sheffield United before his surprise move to Arsenal in 2021.He jumped at a switch to Saints to play but will not fancy the Championship.Bournemouth have goalkeeper Kepa, 30, on loan from Chelsea but should be in the market for a new No 1 and Ramsdale still has fans within the club.ANFIELD ROADLewis Koumas is being eyed by Crystal Palace for a summer swoopCredit: AlamyLIVERPOOL babe Lewis Koumas has joined fellow Red Ben Doak on  Crystal Palace’s wanted list.The Eagles are looking at a handful of new faces in a busy summer and Welsh international Koumas, 19, is on their radar.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSKoumas, currently impressing on loan at Stoke, could be ready for the step up to the Premier League next season.Palace are already jostling with Bournemouth for Scottish winger Doak, also 19, and considering a big offer for him.But Koumas could also be brought in after catching the eye in the second tier. Aaron Ramsdale COMPLETES £25m Southampton transfer as England goalkeeper’s Arsenal career comes to an endNEY BOTHERWATFORD head the race to sign young Colombian strike sensation Neyser Villarreal.The Hornets hope to agree a £5million deal with the 19-year-old’s club Millionarios.Villarreal shone for his country in the recent Under- 20 championship in South America, scoring a hat-trick against Paraguay.Watford want to move quickly as Palmeiras are also tracking him.MARC’D MANMarcus Edwards is a summer target for Sunderland – if they reach the PremCredit: ReutersSUNDERLAND are watching how Marcus Edwards does at Burnley – in case they have a second stab at signing him.The winger, 26, joined the Clarets on loan from Sporting Lisbon in the January window but they only just beat the Black Cats to his signature.But if Sunderland make the Premier League and Burnley fail, they will be back in again.WHICH Championship manager is fuming with his director of football after hearing he had been bidding for players the boss knew nothing about?The experienced coach was stunned to discover some of the targets the club had in the last window.Most were ones he had never been consulted on and fortunately did not sign — but the damage is done between the manager and transfer guru.IN DEMANDInigo Perez is being eyed by Premier League clubsCredit: GettyINIGO PEREZ, the talk of Spain, is ready to come to England at the second attempt.The Rayo Vallecano coach, 37, has been superb this season — and Prem clubs are watching.Perez missed out on a move to Bournemouth because of post-Brexit rules which stopped him from joining boss Andoni Iraola.Now he is a coach in his own right and would qualify.HARD PRESTTHE FA will face a chunky bill for fitting new VAR cameras at Preston’s fifth-round tie against Burnley on Saturday.North End – bossed by Paul Heckingbottom – have never used the system so the FA must find a way of installing all of the tech needed.ROVERS RETURNBLACKBURN are after a new gaffer  — but their pay deal is putting many off.Rovers are offering about £600,000-per-year plus bonuses but it is not attracting targets like Steve Cooper and Gary O’Neil.There is a potential promotion jackpot too but the deal is not attractive to some, even if they are out of work.Meanwhile, Blackburn technical director Adam Owen, 44,  has been taking a bigger part in team affairs behind the scenes.Owen will work closely with the next coach and that boosts interim David Lowe’s chances of staying in charge. More

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      in Soccer

      ‘He felt a lack of trust’ – Inside Anthony Martial’s amazing revival after Ronaldo’s Man Utd return broke his confidence

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      IT was back in 2015 when Manchester United thought they had found the “next Thierry Henry”, a player who could follow in the footsteps of legends like Eric Cantona, Wayne Rooney and George Best.United broke the bank to sign the then 19-year-old Anthony Martial from Monaco in a £36million deal, which included an extra £21.6m in add on clauses.Anthony Martial is experiencing a career revival after leaving Manchester UnitedCredit: GettyMartial left Man Utd in June as a free agent following nine turbulent yearsCredit: EPAMartial enjoyed a stunning Man Utd debut against Liverpool in 2015Credit: PA:Press AssociationThat one of those included an extra payment should he win the Ballon d’Or showed their optimism – it also made him the world’s most expensive teenager at that time.A memorable debut followed that September as Martial led Man Utd to a 3-1 victory over bitter rivals Liverpool in front of the Old Trafford faithful. He scored an absolute stunner that was eerily similar to the kind of strikes scored by the Arsenal legend he was compared to.But that bright start was not a sign of things to follow.During nine years with the Red Devils Martial amassed a disappointing 90 goals and 46 assists in 317 appearances, with only an FA Cup, EFL Cup and Europa League medal to show for it.The man many thought was destined to be a Man United legend ended up leaving as a free agent under a cloud last June.Many expected that, at the age of 29, he’d seek one last big paycheck in Saudi Arabia but the Frenchman shocked the world when he opted for Greece and AEK Athens, who handed him a three-year contract worth a club record €10m (£8.3m).It’s true that Martial gave up elite football for a Greek club that couldn’t even make it past the Conference League qualifiers. But in its place he found something he often lacked at Old Trafford: Absolute trust.An AEK club source told SunSport: “He felt trust from the beginning, he received a place in the starting line-up early. He’s been supported by the manager and the club. He received patience. We believe the main reason (for his revival) is that he received time on the pitch, match rhythm and momentum. This is still a developing project.”Martial arrived as a teenager from MonacoCredit: AP:Associated PressMartial’s confidence was broken after the arrival of other forwards, like Cristiano RonaldoCredit: ReutersFollowing his own big-money arrival at Manchester United, the club went on to splash the cash on other forwards like Rasmus Hojlund (£72m), Jadon Sancho (£73m), Romelu Lukaku (£75m) and Antony (£85.5m).The return of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021 condemned him to the bottom of the pecking order behind the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood.Forgotten ex-Man Utd star Anthony Martial finally makes debut for new club 10 months after last playing competitive match The return of CR7 left his confidence shattered just a year after his best ever season in which he scored 23 goals and 10 assists in 48 appearances.The AEK source continued: “This guy came, that guy was signed [and] Ronaldo returned during Martial’s sporadic opportunities. During his limited opportunities [Martial] was facing immense pressure to prove himself and that led to injury problems.”Martial’s time with United was marred by injury as he suffered a raft of knee, hamstring, muscle, Achilles, hip and groin problems. But his new club feel that issue was down to his lack of minutes and momentum that led to a shortness of match fitness and increased pressure to deliver.AEK took the gamble of signing Martial after speaking to several of the forward’s former United team-mates who always knew his true value. They insisted that he would deliver in Greece if he just had the manager’s confidence and played on a regular basis – something he struggled with at Old Trafford.The source explained: “Based on our research and talks with other Man Utd players, his basic problem is that he felt a lack of trust. His confidence was damaged once he realised he would struggle to find regular minutes. “One of them told us, ‘Don’t worry at all, once he plays and finds regular minutes he will immediately deliver. He’s a fantastic guy and works very hard in training’.”In the club’s opinion, his injuries occurred because his last few appearances were very sporadic. And that affected him, it made him more prone to knocks during the small amount of time he was given. It was basically down to his limited match rhythm.”We haven’t noticed anything of concern. There’s no concern regarding his training and there is nothing he needs to avoid during training. He trains properly and follows the programme just like everyone else.”His metrics were perfectly fine, as was his medical. And he became match fit very quickly. He trains normally despite the demanding programme and game style. He has no issue so far.”Martial has been enjoying a career revival at AEKCredit: GettyMartial’s AEK debut during a 1-1 home draw against rivals PAOK in October was a lot less eventful than the one he had nine years previously.But the ex-France international has gone from strength to strength since with a total of nine goals and two assists in 19 appearances across all competitions so far – and no injuries to report.AEK manager Matias Almeyda is so confident of his ability that the general consensus is that he has yet to reach his full potential.The source added: “The fact he gets regular minutes plays a major role, and I believe there was a mentality issue. Injuries can be associated with a player’s frame of mind. It’s tough for a player to manage the very little amount of time they get on the pitch.”He basically realised the new environment was good. He felt well mentally, he adjusted quickly and that generally benefited him. He was certainly careful at the start on the pitch, he understood he had to manage himself.”His development is ongoing, he has yet to reach his full potential. But he is drastically improving, he runs faster, his pressing increases.”Martial has two children from previous relationshipsCredit: Instagram @martial_9Martial celebrated his birthday in DecemberCredit: Instagram @martial_9He shared a picture on his special day with a woman who is understood to be his current girlfriendCredit: Instagram @martial_9Love of the fansMartial’s immediate contribution has won over AEK’s demanding fanbase and went viral in a video that showed him joining a group of diehards, who greeted the team upon their return from Crete after he scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over OFI, and sang along with them.The ex-Monaco star quickly found a new home in Greece, so much so that he spends most of his free time at his swanky house despite all the temptations that come with the Greek sun, nightlife and cuisine which have seduced many football stars throughout the years.Martial, who split from wife Melanie Da Cruz in 2022, is understood to be in a new relationship.He has two children.The source concluded: “He’s very happy, he has a very quiet lifestyle. He prefers to spend most of his down time at home. We never heard about seeing Martial here or there…”He’s very excited every time he interacts with the fans. There’s a notable moment when we returned from Crete after a match with OFI. All those who knew him claimed that was a very new experience for him.” More

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      People think Jake Paul’s a trash-talking troll who is ruining boxing – but I’ve seen the REAL man when cameras are off

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      HE is the self-proclaimed Problem Child and bad boy of boxing – but away from the cameras Jake Paul is a TOTALLY different man.The YouTuber-turned-prizefighter might ruffle feathers with his outspoken persona but I’ve had a behind-the-scenes insight into the man.Jake Paul is the self-proclaimed Problem Child and bad boy of boxingCredit: GettySunSport’s Jack Figg has seen the real Jake – the humble man behind the bravadoJake is perceived as a trash-talking troll, flaunting his enormous wealthHe has made £80m from boxing alone, on top of his YouTube earningsIt’s given me a first-hand view of the REAL Jake – the secret side he’s kept hidden as he embarks on his trash-talking boxing career.Before earning £80MILLION from just 12 fights, Jake shot to fame as a controversial social media influencer and the internet’s favourite enemy.But that is not the man I’ve got to know.Admittedly, in our first interview – in May 2021 – he told me he was on track to become a BILLIONAIRE through boxing.And he had no problem bragging about being an evil troll behind his iPhone – rage-baiting fans into buying his pay-per-view fights.Jake has never been far away from controversy.He once drew widespread criticism for publicly calling Conor McGregor’s partner, Dee Devlin, a “four out of ten” in one sexist rant. But he later told us that was out of immaturity and wanting to make a name for himself.And he also announced the birth of Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague’s baby before the Love Island couple even had the chance to.But, actually being around Jake in the lead up to his bouts – from America to Saudi Arabia – has allowed me to see a wildly contrasting character to that of the online villain.Jake Paul renovates boxing gym in Puerto Rico for charityOne that he probably doesn’t want the public to see, as it would ruin the bad-guy persona he’s spent years honing and made millions from.Jake knows how to control his public image, angering fans enough to pay a hefty PPV fee – in the hope he’ll be on the wrong end of a vicious knockout.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBut it’s how the 28-year-old acts off-camera which stood out most.Before his February 2023 fight with Fury in Saudi, I was invited to Jake’s hotel suite at the Four Seasons for an exclusive one-on-one interview.He came in with his entourage of friends, family and team members, greeting everyone with fist bumps.I was taken aback at how calm Jake seemed – reclining comfortably on the sofa just days before his biggest and toughest fight to date.He is known for his controversial remarks and traded insults with Tommy Fury before punchesCredit: AFPThings threatened to boil over before their grudge matchCredit: ReutersTommy won the fight on points – Jake’s only professional lossCredit: GettyTruthfully, I expected to have to tip-toe through an interview with a prima donna.But he put me at ease instantly.He remembered my name, asked how I was doing, made small talk with everyone in the room – he was just a normal guy.Then, the second the cameras started rolling and the dictaphone turned on, the OTHER Jake arrived.The former TV actor jumped up, straightened his back and worked his magic.He vowed to prove his critics wrong and knock the professional boxer out.He fired a brutal dig at Tommy over his claims he’d retire if he lost.And he warned Molly-Mae to stay at home – as “nobody wants to see her cry”.Jake made controversial comments about Fury’s partner Molly-Mae Hague before the boutSunSport spoke to Jake in an exclusive sit down before his 2023 fight with Fury – and our reporter was shocked by his real-life personaAs soon as the interview stopped, so did Jake’s arrogance and bullish demeanour, as if he could stop the act at the drop of a hat.He even thanked me for MY time.Like many boxers and celebrities, you always see Jake surrounded by a large crew in public.But far from being full of security or hangers-on, Jake’s is made up of life-long friends who keep him grounded as he jets across the world.He remembered my name, asked how I was doing, made small talk with everyone in the room – he was just a normal guy. Then, the second the cameras started rolling and the dictaphone turned on, the OTHER Jake arrived.One new face in the entourage is glamorous Dutch speedskater Jutta Leerdam, who Jake has been dating since April 2023.After a few failed celeb romances – including a fake marriage to Tana Mongeau in 2017 – Jake seems totally loved-up, regularly seen cheering her on in the stands at ice rinks around the world.He is a doting uncle after brother Logan and model fiancee Nina Agdal welcomed his niece Esme into the world in September.And the former Disney star – who once only cared about fame and money – is now talking about having kids of his own.Jake is in a relationship with glamorous Dutch speedskater Jutta LeerdamCredit: InstagramThe couple are loved-up with Jake regularly supporting her in events across the worldCredit: Instagram / @juttaleerdamJake is now a doting uncle – and wants a family of his ownBrother Logan welcomed baby daughter Esme into the worldThe last time I spoke to Jake was in August of last year alongside members of the MMA media – who he is less familiar with.I watched as Jake gave more reserved answers until it got to myself and another journalist who he recognised.And then BAM.Gone were the soft-spoken replies and on the front-foot he went – insulting the likes of KSI and Fury, who had just publicly split up with Molly-Mae.He seemed far more comfortable mocking his rivals than he did talking about his charitable side – which the media by then had cottoned on to.Jake launched Boxing Bullies in 2021, a foundation encouraging kids to take up the sport.As part of that, he bought and renovated gyms in Puerto Rico – where he now lives – and once even donated his entire fight purse to charity.In January 2020, the night Jake made his pro debut, Puerto Rican women’s boxing legend Amanda Serrano was fighting on the undercard for under £5,000.Jake launched his Boxing Bullies charity in 2021Credit: Boxing BulliesThe charity aims to gets kids into boxingCredit: Boxing BulliesJake has donated millions to charity – a side of him not known to the general publicCredit: Boxing BulliesJake addresses youngsters in the gymCredit: Boxing BulliesWhen Jake caught wind of how disgracefully little the seven-division great was being paid, he signed her to his Most Valuable Promotions banner.Jake told us in 2022: “That’s why I was so baffled when I first met her about how much money she was making.“And how she was being mistreated and how she didn’t have that much of a big following online.“It didn’t make sense to me, I was like, ‘You’re one of the greatest fighters of all time, you should be getting paid millions of dollars’.”Jake is still known to splash the cash, never shy to show off his collection of Ferraris, private jet or expensive watches to his millions of followers. But he also likes to share his wealth, treating his team and even OPPONENTSSerrano is now a multi-millionaire having fought on some of boxing’s biggest cards – including a thrilling rematch against Katie Taylor as the co-main event for Jake’s infamous Netflix clash with heavyweight legend Mike Tyson.Gyms in Puerto Rico are now full of young women, inspired by Serrano’s story.Humble Jake – who is advocating for equal pay in boxing – insists that while he gave her a platform, the success is all down to Serrano.He’s on record saying: “All I did was shine a spotlight. And pretty much, Amanda Serrano did the rest.”This is a gym Jake renovated in Carolina, Puerto Rico, for champion women’s boxer Amanda SerranoCredit: Boxing BulliesHe fixed it up, adding a mural of Serrano in the gymCredit: Boxing BulliesIt was a surprise for the seven-weight world championCredit: Boxing BulliesJake was stunned at how little Serrano was earning per fight and has made it his goal to get equal pay in boxingCredit: Boxing BulliesJake is still known to splash the cash, never shy to show off his collection of Ferraris, private jet or expensive watches to his millions of followers.But he also likes to share his wealth, treating his team and even OPPONENTS.Four years ago, he beat ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley and was due to face Love Islander Fury – brother to the legendary Tyson – in his next bout.But when Fury pulled out with a rib injury, Woodley filled in on short notice just before Christmas that year.In the festive spirit, Jake had already gifted his entire team Rolex watches worth £9,000 each – and shocked Woodley by saving one for him.But his villainous reputation preceded him to the point that Woodley took the timepiece to a jeweller to check if it was fake and if it had a TRACKER in it.Woodley revealed the watch was real and did not have a device to monitor his every move.Fury would again pull out of fighting Jake for a second time in August 2022 amid a US visa problem – and the whole event got cancelled.Jake gifted Tyron Woodley a Rolex before their December 2021 rematchA stunned Woodley had to take the watch to a jeweller to confirm it was realBut Jake paid the entire undercard half of their promised purses out of his own pocket to ensure that they were not left empty-handed.His generosity is a far-cry from the foul-mouthed punk celebrity who shot to fame on six-second social media app Vine and later YouTube.Misdemeanours and wild parties all helped Jake get sacked from his role on Disney Channel show Bizaardvark in 2017 after just two series.And the out-of-control youngster admitted to spinning down a spiral of drink and drugs while living the high life in Los Angeles.And, despite the threat of a boring cliché, Jake insists boxing really did save him from a life of degeneracy.He sold his £5m LA mansion and instead moved to Puerto Rico to focus on boxing and escape dangerous distractions.Jake bought a stunning eight-bedroom pad for £13m on the Caribbean island as well as building his own £3m two-storey gym with brother Logan.Even Jake’s biggest detractors can’t take away the commitment he has shown for boxing – spending a fortune on his training camps.Paul bought a £13m mansion in Puerto RicoCredit: Instagram @jakapaulThe vast plot contains eight bedroomsCredit: Youtube – Jake PaulJake built his own £3m gym in Puerto RicoCredit: YouTubeHe’s even got himself a private jetHe pays top-quality sparring partners so well that one told me he even bought a house with the money he made from Jake’s camp.Jake now has 11 wins and one loss on his record – with his first and so far only defeat coming against Fury.He is poised to announce his next fight and will do so after regaining his position as boxing’s most hated man.Jake had all generations of fans up in arms having brought 58-year-old great Tyson out of retirement in November.He took home £30million for 16 minutes of work and had over 100 MILLION people tuning in to watch on Netflix.But not even letting the beloved heavyweight legend see the final bell was enough to stop fans from praying for Jake’s downfall.What fans might not know is Jake invited a seven-year old cancer patient – Owen Obey – to watch the fight from ringside.Owen tragically passed the month after, but he did so after getting to watch his two heroes up close – and Jake made it happen.And while it’s clear his loyal crowd of critics won’t be going away any time soon – Jake will happily welcome them along for the ride.But he’ll do so laughing all the way to the bank – as he always does.Jake invited cancer patient Owen Obey to his fight against Mike Tyson More

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      Fury quitting could KO Anthony Joshua’s career too – so what’s next for the man who made heavyweight boxing great again?

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA’S hard-earned bon voyage to boxing being snatched away by Tyson Fury’s latest retirement feels like the most unsatisfying ending to a glorious sporting story.Just days after the 35-year-old Watford legend vowed to hunt the Gypsy King down at the January 11 Ring Magazine awards, the Morecambe giant announced he was hanging up his gloves… again.Joshua’s emergence and domination helped make heavyweight boxing great againBut Fury’s decision to quit may have robbed AJ of his dream curtain call – and denied fans the chance to see the biggest fight in British historyCredit: PAIs it time for AJ to hang up his gloves too and enjoy a well-earned retirement?Credit: Instagram / @anthonyjoshuaJust as AJ cheerleader-in-chief Eddie Hearn announced he had reserved Wembley for the biggest fight in British boxing history, Fury pulled the plug.The decision won’t do Fury’s resume any harm. He got to Wladimir Klitschko 18 months before Joshua and he got to Deontay Wilder on three brilliant occasions, compared to AJ’s zero. And he held his own in a couple of Oleksandr Usyk defeats, making a close contest of the first, whereas AJ was dominated over both of his clashes with the Ukrainian master.After 15 years of heavyweight magnificence, it seems criminal that Joshua fans must now settle for a slugfest with Wilder diehards over who was the third best big man of their era.Especially when it seemed set in stone that Joshua and Fury would finally meet, over two stupendously-rich fights in Riyadh and London, and leave nobody in any doubt who the best Brit giant is since Lennox Lewis.Both men need redemption, both giants want to be big again after little Usyk belittled their size and abilities with four masterful performances and zero trash talk.If Fury has – and we are not buying it – walked away from the sport, and the £500million two-fight deal, then it leaves Our AJ with a problem.Joshua missed the Wilder boat and he was sunk by Usyk’s genius. Fury was his chance to get up back to the surface for air and potentially sail off into the sunset.He once told us that – in the middle of his bad boy days when he was saved from a serious stretch inside – he chose to treat his boxing career like a prison sentence.Amir Khan echos the nation in plead to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua… and he speaks from experienceHe was going to eat, sleep, train and fight when and where he was told to.He was going to lose, sacrifice and yearn for the things that normal people take for granted.So that when he finished his time, he could become a free man and reap the rewards of his gruelling solitude at the deep end of the hardest sport.After a couple of failed appearances at the parole board, a possible legacy-defining win over Fury looked like his last real crack at a decent farewell strategy. But if Fury has beaten him to the exit and vanished with an earlier and more respected Klitschko win – plus the three sensational Wilder bouts – then he can lay claim to being the finest British heavyweight of his era, the UK’s greatest since Lewis.And what of second-placed Joshua? Does he plod on with high-risk-low-reward opponents who will target his frail confidence and chin like Daniel Dubois did with such devastating success?Or does he hang his gloves up too and go out on the back of a savage knockout that might itself end up cruelly defining a life and career worthy of so much more respect?We shall wait and see.Joshua, seen celebrating with his 2012 gold medal, has done his country proudCredit: PAHe became heavyweight champ in 2016 when he beat Charles MartinCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdHis clash with Klitschko in 2017 was named Fight of the Year and saw AJ add to his collection of world title beltsCredit: GettyJoshua has paid his dues and served his time to King and country. He deserves to walk out on his terms, to a roaring crowd that appreciates him and his underdog achievements.But while it has been an honour to cover his many high and lows in the ring, the finest story Fleet Street has on Anthony Joshua is one we can never write.It’s not a scandal or a cover-up or wrapped up in a non-disclosure agreement.It’s an act of utterly selfless kindness that he only agreed to do if we didn’t use it to flog a few more papers.With his exploits with the gloves on – his 2011 World Championships silver in Baku, London 2012 gold and two title reigns – he has got us jobs, earned us pay rises, helped us get mortgages and raise our children.But the handful of hacks who traipse around the country – and in and out of Saudi – won’t print the moment away from the ropes that endeared him to us forever.Because he asked us to.Robbing AJ of that final fight will be a stroke of evil genius from the mind-games masterIn a sport utterly built on hype and blags and bulls**t, he swore to secrecy the very people who could best celebrate his kindest deed.It’s what has always made it hard to report on his failings in the ring – but also why we will never let anyone question the integrity of the man away from it.It’s why most of us, like his legions of fans around the world, will feel gutted if the overdue Fury fight – after years of Gypsy-King torment and the savage September Dubois knockout – doesn’t materialise. For Team Fury, robbing AJ of that one huge final fight – one that made him break with protocol and admit publicly how much he needs it – will be a stroke of evil genius from the mind-games master.But it will leave Joshua trapped between a rock and a hard punch, having to choose between  a couple of underwhelming opponents he would be expected to beat, like Joe Joyce or Lawrence Okolie.Or fed to younger, hungrier, fresher predators like Fabio Wardley and Moses Itauma.The shock loss to Dubois has left AJ at an unexpected crossroadsCredit: GettyFellow Brit Moses Itauma is tearing through the heavyweight division and could be a possible opponent for AJCredit: GettyFabio Wardley, left, might also relish a chance to test himself against AJ if he sticks aroundCredit: GettyWith a personal fortune the Sunday Times Rich List rates at a very modest £200million, mega-money sponsorship deals with Hugo boss, Lucozade, UnderArmour and Range Rover, and a property portfolio that boasts flagship buildings in Mayfair and Bond Street, AJ has it all sewn up.Every major British broadcaster would bend over backwards to make him their star sports pundit or presenter and Sylvester Stallone would be wise to offer him a Rocky or Expendables script.But it seems much more likely that Joshua would prefer to vanish from the spotlight, help run the brilliant Finchley ABC gym with his mentor Sean Murphy and continue trying to discreetly support the amateur code of the sport that turned his life around.He may enjoy more of his Dubai holidays that he has enjoyed post-fight and offer him the sort of privacy he cannot get anywhere else.The most nourishing break we have seen him appear to take has been the most recent one to Nigeria where he mixed with locals, met presidents, trained kids, and reconnected with the home his parents left for the UK, and an unscheduled retirement may allow him to spend more time there.But whether this boxing crossroads leads him to hang up his gloves and become the first black James Bond who rules Hollywood – or he slips out of the spotlight and reinvests his fortune and experience and knowledge into grassroots boxing – bowing out flat on his face after a brutal loss to Dubois will feel like the cruellest end to a career that changed the nation.Not catching Wilder at his peak looks like a catastrophic clangerAnd fans will be left wondering how – after the London 2012 legend successfully rebuilt after heartbreaking defeats to Andy Ruiz Jr and Usyk – the golden-brick road led to a such a dramatic drop-off.That’s not to say everything AJ has touched up to this point has turned to gold.But whatever setbacks he has faced, he’s always seemed to find a way back.After success-after-masterstoke-after-windfall, Team Joshua made their first big mistake when they failed to make the undisputed Deontay Wilder fight over an 18-month period.AJ had wiped out Charles Martin for the IBF crown in 2016, became a sensation and added the WBA strap with the 2017 Wladimir Klitschko Wembley win and sealed the crucial third WBO belt with a cautious points win over Joseph Parker in 2018.All the while, Tyson Fury had been floored by a doping charge and a breakdown.And over in America and on a much smaller scale, Deontay Wilder was obliterating far lesser opponents.But when crunch time came, and hung around, Team Joshua infuriatingly failed to do a deal with the Bronze Bomber.And by December 2018 a resurgent Fury slipped in to face the Alabama slammer and reestablished himself as a major player with the iconic 12th round performance and thoroughly decent way he accepted a harsh draw.It looked like a poor AJBoxing decision then.And – following the two pastings Fury dished out to the American KO king to complete the trilogy and his dismal showings against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang – not catching Wilder at his ‘peak’ now looks more like a catastrophic clanger.More was to follow too.The decision to draft in Andy Ruiz Jr at late notice for AJ’s Madison Square Garden debut in 2019 went disastrously wrongCredit: Getty Images – GettyFury got the better of Wilder in one of boxing’s all-time great trilogies – while AJ never tied down a deal to fight the Bronze BomberCredit: APFury also got to Klitschko before AJ which could be used in the battle for bragging rightsCredit: Getty – ContributorSix months after Fury’s freakish courage and confidence against Wilder made him a household hero again, the business brains behind AJ’s own bravery and skill blew his career horrifically off course.After months of training to rematch 6ft 4in Dillian Whyte in April, then 6ft 6in MMA trash talker Jarrell Miller at the start of June, the shameless American drug cheat was caught waddling round with Chernobyl levels of toxicity coursing through his clogged arteries.Desperate to keep their star attraction’s US debut on, AJ’s promoter Hearn and new broadcasters DAZN spent a week looking for a replacement and finally settled on a total outlier and underdog in Ruiz Jr.The unknown chubster’s only selling point was that he was Mexican and that would help the upstart streaming app – that had just handed AJ a £100million deal – navigate a perfect way into the lucrative South American and US markets.It didn’t matter that it was deemed a mismatch of Adonis vs a donut, it didn’t matter that Ruiz was only 5ft 11in, it didn’t matter that he had boxed six weeks earlier.Thankfully Ruiz’s appetite for fast food outweighed his desire to cling on to the WBA, IBF and WBO crownsIt mattered that the suits behind AJ had found a lamb for their cash cow to supposedly slaughter.AJ’s modest Birmingham coach Rob McCracken loathes interviews and wouldn’t let SunSport anywhere near him at the time.Thankfully the brilliant boxing writer Ron Lewis – a much-missed class act McCracken trusted – was there and paved the way for a chat.McCracken confirmed our fears that such a drastic change of opponent – at such late notice – was seriously dangerous. He knew that Ruiz Jr was a live dog in the fight and had been very unlucky not to beat Parker in his New Zealand backyard in 2016.He also knew AJ had been struggling with a medical problem that – to his and his team’s eternal credit – has remained top-secret to this day.We spotted, on his Monday arrival, a stye infection around his eye that hints at a struggling immune system.And on his walk to the ring he was chewing nervously before getting a relaxing massage in his corner – moments before the bell – when he needed the total opposite in red-hot stimulation.In the aftermath these alarm bells rang loud and clear but McCracken’s and our concerns would have been cooled by the first two Madison Square Garden rounds and the textbook knockdown his star student landed early in the third.But moments later, after curvy Ruiz Jr had bounced back up and clipped AJ around the temple, his perfect world started to unravel.Thankfully for Joshua’s rebuild and rematch, Ruiz Jr’s appetite for fast food and long parties outweighed his desire to cling on to the WBA, IBF and WBO crowns.And when he rolled into the desert re-run at 20st months later, Joshua jabbed and jigged back to prominence.AJ has built up a huge property portfolio, including this £20m site in London’s New Bond StreetCredit: Paul EdwardsAJ also bought the HQ of oil giant BP for £30mJoshua has landed some huge sponsorship deals, including with Hugo BossCredit: AlamyJoshua, seen here with Jamie Oliver, is also signed up to Land RoverCredit: GettyThe former champ’s commercial partners include Lucozade and Under ArmourCredit: PASadly the damage to the McCracken relationship was done and their classy decade-long partnership unraveled.The same man he revered and hailed as ‘The General’ and his very own Sir Alex Ferguson was marginalized and finally ousted.Fury’s lost years were between 2015 and 2018 when he failed a drugs test for nandrolone, went into the magnificent Klitschko win knowing his career was in freefall and then battled drink, drug, obesity and mental health problems. But Joshua wasted prime years of his career – between 2019 and 2022 – searching for improvement in all the wrong places, without a reliable boxing man in his corner to be the rudder for the ship.It’s massively commendable that he has promoted childhood friends to positions of power within his organisation and technical team.But when he chose an unproven trainer to help transform him from a 18st knockout artist to a stick-and-move stylist, somebody truly close to him should have spoken up.If Erling Haaland decided he was going to headhunt a pub-league coach to turn him into a left back, we reckon Pep Guardiola or dad Alf-Inge would step in and stop the disaster.The Dubois build-up was a horrific logistical failure by a team who had one jobInstead Team Joshua stocked up on sunglasses and cigars and enjoyed the private jets as Angel Fernandez, Joby Clayton, Robert Garcia and Derrick James came in and went out.In that time Usyk had snatched away all his belts over two fights and lowkey comeback wins over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius had drawn low attendances and ungrateful boos from Wembley arena.It felt hard to criticise.Fighters are the bravest people in sport and, in almost every interview, we try to dig into their past and their darkness, while Premier League footballers get softballs about their transfer plans, boots deals or secret mistresses.So after that second loss in Saudi, when he broke down in tears and said he felt guilty for letting us – the United Kingdom – down, it was painful.But he has proven time and again he will only stop on his terms, and to see him happy  under trainer Ben Davison and knocking people like Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou out with throwback performances has been great.And although his media commitments are rare and rushed and shorter with every fight, he is yet to give us the sort of cold and empty interviews we usually expect.Joshua will recount to us his bricklaying days, the charge for cannabis possession, the brief time on remand at Reading prison, we even get the odd mention of son JJ who prefers scrambler motorbikes to boxing.AJ gave us gold before the Daniel Dubois fight about a recent row down a Watford pub where a young lad disrespected him and – rather than slip out the backdoor to avoid confrontation – he fronted up to the yob who understandably lost his bottle.Things seemed to be going so well – right up until that Dubois bout.But unlike the Ruiz stunner, the warning signs, like the fighter, arrived way too late.Unforgivably, AJ turned up for his IBF world title shot at a packed out Wembley stadium at about the same time chief support Liam Gallagher did, about an hour before the first bell.It was a horrific logistical failure for a team that had one job.And when Dubois almost decapitated him in the very opening round, those traffic excuses were not going to be enough to absolve the team of blame, as another rebuild ensued.Then, once Fury failed in his second attempt to beat Usyk, it seemed AJ had the ideal shot at redemption and revenge on a plate, against the perfect dance partner.Filterless Fury – whether due to his Traveller showmanship, bi-polar disorder or attention-begging dad – has always shown a desire to be loved and a willingness to share.Barring a couple of unscheduled and unscripted moments, AJ has remained uber-private and ice cool.Joshua funds and supports the Clean Herts Programme to help struggling kids around his home but his team politely rejects media approaches to cover events.Perhaps AJ is paying the price for being too planned and polished.In lockdown he came into the Sun office and worked on a campaign highlighting the magnificent work our NHS was doing.Fury opened his Instagram and home up to us and did a daily workout with the nation.Occasionally a child would run in causing beautiful chaos or Fury and childhood sweetheart Paris would embrace.It endeared the Fury family to the country, at a time of national crisis, and probably paved the way for the ITV docs, best selling books and Netflix series that followed.A PR executive ensconced in elite sport and showbiz once pestered me for the name of Fury’s big-money social media svengali.Like most of his contemporaries, was he paying a fortune to Freuds or Saatchi & Saatchi?The truth is he wasn’t giving a penny to Pinky & Perky.Fury and his band of brothers, friends, coaches and training partners do their shtick on a whim. But neither Fury or AJ needed a marketing campaign planned in a Soho vegan pet shop to sell their fight.It was box-office gold and we were champing at the bit to pack Wembley out and watch the desert version on Sky, DAZN and TNT at any price they wanted to set.We want to see AJ go out at the top, on the crest of a wave, not on his shield.Fury’s decision to quit has denied us fans the exit we wanted, and more importantly for AJ, the Hollywood farewell he deserves.AJ’s shrewd business brain has helped him amass a fortune of around £200mCredit: GQ / Matthew BrookeAJ and Eddie Hearn have some big decisions to makeCredit: GettyNo one could begrudge the former heavyweight king if he decided to sail off into the sunsetCredit: @anthonyjoshuaOr perhaps he will go back to where it all began, at Finchley ABC gymCredit: Mark Robinson More