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      Daredevil Chisora keeps putting his life in danger.. a fight vs Anthony Joshua or Dubois must NEVER be allowed to happen

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      DEREK CHISORA thoroughly deserved his standing ovation after his outstanding victory over Otto Wallin in Manchester last Saturday.The thousands who packed the Co-op Arena were every bit as emotional as Del Boy after seeing him twice bludgeon the Swede to the canvas on his way to becoming the mandatory challenger for Daniel Dubois’ IBF world heavyweight title.Derek Chisora gave Otto Wallin a battering – but he should hang up his gloves nowCredit: ReutersThe 41-year-old has nothing left to prove after another warrior performanceCredit: GettyChisora soaked up the adulation as blood gushed from his badly cut eyes before his war wounds were eventually stitched.It was certainly an incredible performance for a man who has had a brutal 18-year, 49-fight career that has seen him win British, Commonwealth and European titles and twice fight for the world championship.But I’m afraid I can’t join in the general Chisora cheerleading party.There’s no getting away from the undeniable fact that after slugging it out over 12 rounds, at the final bell the battle-scarred Chisora looked every one of his 41 years.There’s no doubt Derek will be encouraged to take on Dubois or even Anthony Joshua as a 50th fight finale – either at a London stadium or in Riyadh.I will be accused of being a party-pooper, but that is a fight I would hate to happen.Two years ago, after Chisora took a terrible beating from Tyson Fury’s educated fists at Tottenham Hotspur’s ground, this column implored him to retire.I was in excellent company because so did his promoter Frank Warren.They may not be prepared to admit it publicly, but most boxing people – fighters, trainers and managers – know Chisora should have hung up his gloves a long time ago.But Chisora is a one-off law unto himself and he has no intention of taking advice from anyone – however good it is.There is no doubt he has become a cult figure with the fans – in fact his thousands of followers are boxing’s equivalent of cricket’s Barmy Army.Derek Chisora opens up on retirement and says people ‘don’t care’ about him in ‘scumbag’ sport of boxingDel Boy was left bloodied and bruised after his bout with WallinCredit: ReutersChisora asked fans if he should fight Daniel Dubois, Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk next – but the answer should be NONE of themCredit: GettyThey sing his name as soon as he climbs through the ropes and never stop.That’s because he gives them what they want to see – blood and guts. That’s all very well but it’s his blood and his guts he’s spilling – not theirs.I just wish I could understand Del Boy’s intransigent addiction to fame and pain.Chisora is a one-off law unto himself and he has no intention of taking advice from anyone – however good it isHe dotes on his two daughters and has given his family wealth and stability, having earned his fortune the hardest way possible.Yet this immensely brave and eccentric man continues to put his life in danger every time he goes to work when he has no need to.Maybe it takes a fellow fighter to fully understand Chisora’s mentality.A needless showdown against Anthony Joshua (left) or Daniel Dubois (right) could prove a step too farCredit: GettyJoe Calzaghe, one of Britain’s greatest world champions who retired with a perfect 46-0 record, perhaps has the answer.Calzaghe in a Foreword to Gareth A. Davies’ recently published and highly entertaining and informative book A Call of the Warrior, wrote: “Many people feel the call of the warrior.”And some of us find ourselves dedicating our lives to fighting in the ring. “It is a calling although we are not always able to fathom where it comes from.”But it’s there. To ignore the call of the warrior is to go against ourselves, to deny a deeply fundamental part of what makes us all human.”Whatever Chisora’s wishes, it must NEVER be allowed to happenSurely there can be no better way for Chisora to have taken his final bow than the adrenaline high and love he experienced as he walked back to his dressing room last weekend.The thought of him tangling with a young, fearsome punching tyro like Dubois – it has already been mentioned – sends shivers of fear up and down my spine. Whatever Chisora’s wishes, it must never be allowed to happen.Surely Del Boy wouldn’t risk going out being beaten up and counted out? But then, you can never legislate for Chisora. More

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      My dad survived Auschwitz by boxing and winning 76 forced fights to the death before pro career and Rocky Marciano bout

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      IN 1944, aged just 16, Harry Haft was forced into a concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.To survive the Holocaust, the teenager was told to, literally, fight for his life.Harry Haft was the Holocaust survivor who went on to box Rocky MarcianoInmates at concentration camps were forced into bare-knuckle fights to the deathCredit: AFPFor the ‘entertainment’ of German SS officers, emaciated Jewish inmates were put together in a ring for bare-knuckle boxing contests – fought to the death – in front of jeering troops.The winner would get an extra slop of food, to keep them fit for their next fight.The loser, should he survive, would be deemed unfit to work as a slave labourer and shot on the spot, or taken to a gas chamber or crematorium. Haft, who boasted a strong physical stature, was recruited by an SS overseer called Schneider who taught him how to be a boxer.He fought for his life in 76 bare-knuckle death matches at a camp in Jaworzno, which was situated at a coal mine north of Auschwitz, and miraculously won every single one.Haft’s escape from the Nazis near the end of the war was also remarkable. In 1945, his Jaworzno camp was dissolved as the Soviet Red Army marched into German held-territory.Thousands of inmates were transferred to other camps, which gave some the opportunity to flee. Haft was one of those fortunate enough to get away.On the run, he would encounter a bathing German soldier who he would kill before stealing his uniform and wearing it as a disguise.Once he found refuge in a Displaced Person’s Camp operated by the US Army in Munich, he had the opportunity to win an amateur championship organised by the US armed forces.That was the catalyst for Haft to launch a professional boxing career that culminated in a bout with future heavyweight world champion, Rocky Marciano in 1949.Haft, who died of cancer in 2007 aged 82, was the subject of Hollywood movie The Survivor – directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson.Trailer for The Survivor, the story of Harry Haft’s incredible fight to survive the Holocaust SunSport spoke with Harry’s son Alan, who revealed the horror effects of the trauma and PTSD his father suffered.”My father was a fairly violent person,” he told SunSport.”PTSD wasn’t diagnosed in that era, and what he went through led to struggles in later life with his mental health.”He had nightmares all the time, he flew into rages and broke every window in our family home.”I remember he once saw a swastika in a history book and went out to hide in the local park. We had to go out to search for him.”I’m a second generation Holocaust survivor and because of my father’s PTSD, my childhood was tough.”He sort of ruined every holiday, exploding into a rage, and I lost count of the number of suicide attempts he made.”After finding his way to the Displaced Persons Camp following the end of the war, Harry put his boxing skills to good use in 1947 to win the Amateur Jewish Heavyweight Championship in an event set up to entertain US troops in Munich.A year later, he emigrated to New Jersey, where he vowed to become a prize fighter.Alan recalled: “My father told his aunt and uncle he wanted to be a prize fighter, and she asked him, ‘Why would you want to be a boxer? Haven’t you undergone enough punishment?'”He replied, ‘After all I’ve been through, what harm can a man with boxing gloves on his hands do to me?'”When my father died I put that quote on his gravestone.”Haft’s fight record was 13 wins from 21 fights, which culminated in that 1949 bout with Rocky Marciano, who would go on to become one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.But Alan told how Harry was paid a visit by American mobsters who wanted to fix the fight.Harry Haft’s son Alan speaking to SunSport from his home in AmericaHaft’s headstone includes the words he said to his auntFrom 1948-1949 Haft fought 21 times and won 13 boutsHaft hoped fighting the legendary Rocky Marciano would help reunite him with his long lost loveCredit: Getty – Contributor”He said two gangsters came into his dressing room before the fight and told him, ‘You’re going down in the first’,” Alan revealed.”So my father said to them, ‘Well, I’ve never gone down in the first round for anybody. You don’t scare me. The Germans didn’t scare me’.”Haft would suffer a third round knockout, but there was a bigger plan in play.Underpinning Haft’s tale of survival was a story of love.He was separated from his childhood sweetheart, Leah Pablanski when the German army took their city Belchatow in 1944. By fighting Marciano, some five years later, harry hoped to get his name in the newspapers so that, if Leah was still alive, she would come and find him.The years passed by and Harry married, had children, and set up his own fruit and veg store in Brooklyn.In his later years, Harry Haft struggled with PTSD from his harrowing ordealHowever, as incredible as it seemed, Haft was destined to meet Leah one final time.In 1963, he received a call from the Belchatow survivors’ association saying his former girlfriend was living in Miami under the married surname Lieberman.Haft took his family to Florida, where he asked Alan to call every Lieberman in the phone book at their hotel.Alan, who was 14 at the time, remembered: “I finally spoke with a man who said, ‘That’s my wife’ over the phone.”My dad immediately interjected, ‘Tell her that Harry Haft from Belchatow wants to see her.'”The man was reluctant and said she wasn’t seeing anyone. “So I told him, ‘Okay, if she changes her mind we’re at the Marseille Hotel.'”About 10 minutes later the phone in the room rings and it’s the husband. He said: ‘She doesn’t want to see anybody, but you she wants to see.”The Survivor captured Haft’s heartbreaking reunion with LeahHarry and Alan drove to Coral Gables where they met Leah. But the Leah he met was different to the one he knew when they were teenagers.”She was dying of cervical cancer, she was so skinny, she looked like a Holocaust victim,” Alan said.”I watched them go out in the garden for a little while and exchange some final words together. “It was the only time I ever saw my father cry.”In 2006, Alan told his father’s story in a book called Harry Haft: Survivor of Auschwitz, Challenger of Rocky Marciano.He couldn’t find a publisher to touch it, because the material was so dark.Eventually, it was published by Syracuse University – but there was little academic value in the book, which sold just 4,000 copies.Son Alan Haft told his father’s incredible story in a book, and there has also been a graphic novelThe story became a Hollywood movie starring Ben Foster as HaftCredit: United King FilmsHowever, it gained a new lease of life in, of all places, Germany — where it was republished.Cartoonist Reinhard Kleist bought a copy and was inspired to create a graphic novel of Haft’s life story.It was called The Boxer and would go on to win countless awards. It was then published around the world, and thrust Haft’s story into the mainstream.This would encourage writer Justine Juel Gillmer to pen a script that would end up on the Black List, an annual survey of the most-liked motion picture screenplays not yet produced.There, it caught the attention of Barry Levinson, who won the Academy Award for Rain Main and was compelled to make the movie.Starring X-Men: The Last Stand actor Ben Foster in the lead role alongside Hollywood legend Danny DeVito, The Survivor was critically acclaimed.Harry Haft, left, with son Alan before his death in 2007Haft, left, winning the Amateur Jewish Heavyweight Championship in 1947Haft knocked down his opponent to win the fight and a boxing career beganThe film’s child actors Kingston Vernes, Zachary Golinger and Sophie Knapp join Alan, his brother Marty and sister Helen Haft for the film’s premiere In New YorkCredit: Getty More

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      Misfits Boxing’s Carla Jade reveals her hardest battle is outside the ring – and the thing that would hurt her most

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      INCREDIBLE CARLA Jade has managed to juggle a blooming boxing career and a successful ring girl business alongside being a busy mum of four.But the brunette beauty, 35, wouldn’t swap her hectic life for anything else.Brunette beauty Carla Jade is the mum-of-four who has taken Misfits Boxing by stormCredit: Instagram @carla_jjadeCarla is the current Misfits Boxing lightweight women’s championCredit: PA’Killa’ Carla Jade recently defended her belt against Melanie Shah at Misfits Boxing 20Credit: PAJade was recently in action against bare-knuckle boxer Melanie Shah at Misfits Boxing 20 at Co-op Live in Manchester, where she defended her lightweight belt.It’s been a remarkable journey for the champ who has wowed her four kids with her exploits in the ring, as well as the fact she gets to rub shoulders with YouTuber KSI.However, despite barbs aimed at her online by her rivals on social media, and punches thrown by juggernauts in the squared circle, being a mother serves up tougher challenges.”Everyone always talks about the boxing and everything like that – but for me, my hardest battle is always outside of the ring,” Carla told SunSport.”I am always juggling everything and making sure everything’s done. You know, I’ve got the kids, I’ve got a business, then I’ve got the boxing.”I say it’s hard, but I have four amazing kids. They’re so lovely, so helpful.”They’re my whole inspiration. So as much as it’s hard, you can’t be upset because you’re busy juggling your lottery win. It’s the best thing ever being a mum.”The kids are the only thing in the whole world that… you know, obviously I love boxing, I love my friends, I love my family, but if you took them away from me that would hurt.”From ring girl to boxing sensationCarla’s children, aged 19, 18, 15 and 10, saw their mum in the ring before she became a Misfits Boxing sensation.Meet Sydney Thomas, The Next Big Ring Girl StarShe has regularly shown off her stunning figure at PFL and Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship events.While the fierce fighter also runs a stable of promo models with her own agency, Finesse Ring Girls.Carla said: “It’s funny because they didn’t care so much when I was a ring girl.”I think the only time my son showed an interest was when he saw an ad for BKFC when he was playing his FIFA video game, and he was like ‘oh, is that the show you worth with?’ “When I first started boxing, it wasn’t much of a shock to my kids because they already know I’m not a very conventional person.”At first they weren’t majorly interested, but when I won the belt they thought it was the coolest thing in the whole world.”Also, they’re not YouTubey kids, but they were impressed I get to hangout with KSI and other influencers who are big in their world.”I think now they’re kind of in awe of me!”So far, Carla’s children have yet to watch mum live in action at one of her bruising or bloody bouts.”Yeah, they don’t come to the fights,” Carla explained.Alongside her boxing career, Carla Jade is a ring girl and runs her own businessCredit: https://www.instagram.com/carla_jjadeGlam Carla’s kids have watched their mum in action in the ringCredit: Instagram @carla_jjadeCarla revealed that her son had a watch party with his friends for one of her fightsCredit: Instagram @carla_jjade”I did ask them if they wanted to come to my last fight – but being in Manchester it was a bit far for them to travel.”They watch it on TV, though. My son, bless him, is so cute. He had a watch party with his friends when I fought Nikki Hru.”I have to remember that they’re watching, so I can’t get too carried away and say something I shouldn’t! “But my older children understand it. They understand it’s work, so when I got slapped by Melanie in the press conference they knew it wasn’t like getting slapped in the street by someone!”The parenting juggleCarla admitted the hardest thing she faces as a Misfits boxer is the time it takes away from her kids.”Time management is really tough,” she confessed.”I have never really had a 9-5 job, so doing the school run hasn’t been an issue.”I’ll drop them off at school, go to the gym, get all my training done, then I’m able to pick them up later.”Sometimes sparring sessions are in the evening, depending on what girls are available. Before I go back out, I’ll do the dinner for them.Carla has made sacrifices to conquer the Misfits Boxing worldCredit: https://www.instagram.com/carla_jjadeCarla revealed eight-week training camps can take her away from valuable time with her four childrenCredit: https://www.instagram.com/carla_jjadeDespite an often gruelling schedule, Carla is grateful to be a part of Misfits BoxingCredit: https://www.instagram.com/carla_jjade”My 19-year-old can cook, so she prepares her own meals or will help feed the others. She’s an angel.””It can be hard when it gets closer to the fights and we’ve got proper eight-week training camps.”But, I am very lucky because if you break it down, it’s eight weeks, one night, and it’s good money.”Of course I get tired, and driving back home after a sparring session late at night is tough.”I’d rather do that, though, because it means I can have little moments with my children – like take the dog for a walk or draw a picture with my youngest.”I can’t complain. It’s a small sacrifice to pay. I’m the champ. If it was an easy life, everyone would be doing it.”A dangerous gameCarla knows she puts herself at risk in the ring, which hits home being a parent. “It’s only recently I thought about the dangers,” she told us.”Coming into it, I knew I would have to go and spar and get punched in the head by other girls.”At times, the next day I have suffered with a bad headache. You’re wearing eight ounce gloves, no head guards, so it’s proper boxing when it’s fight night.”It’s a serious sport, so I just make sure I protect myself, look after my body. I take my weight cut seriously, and Misfits look after us as well.”They make sure everyone’ s on weight, we are tested by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency), so they’ve proven to be such a professional organisation.Mum Jade confessed she has thought about the dangers her boxing career could poseCredit: Instagram @carla_jjadeCarla poses with sparring partner Aria Wild following a session in the gymCarla is happy to fight in the ring to provide for her familyCredit: Instagram @carla_jjade”At the same time, I could go out and, heaven forbid, get hit by a bus tomorrow.”I want to live my life to the full, provide for my family, and I think I can do that safely in the boxing ring”It’s great to have a place I can show off my skills, personality, and get paid.” More

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      My dossier of evidence shows Kyle Walker will NEVER escape desperate Lauryn Goodman – her restaurant ambush proves it

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      IT IS a question most, if not all, who have followed this unsavoury saga have repeatedly asked (whilst scrolling through the latest plot twist): When will this end?For over a year now, football’s love cheat extraordinaire Kyle Walker has been unable to escape a scandal of his own making – and God knows he’s tried.Kyle has only ever done one sit-down interview about the scandal: a full mea-culpa with The Sun’s Paul Sims when the scandal erupted in January last yearCredit: BackGridCountless newspaper interviews with Lauryn Goodman followed the bombshell news in 2020 that she was expecting a ‘miracle’ baby with KyleKyle’s wife Annie Kilner has been made countless offers for an interview, but each one has been turned downCredit: GettyA BBC podcast and a football academy for under-privileged kids in his home city followed in a bid to soften his much-maligned public image, but to no avail.He even moved to Italy to join AC Milan on loan until the end of the season in the hope of fleeing the feeding frenzy.But if he thought he could start afresh abroad, his ex-mistress Lauryn Goodman, who he secretly fathered two children with, has news for him.Last week, in a set of carefully choreographed pictures she beamed in front of a removal van and revealed she too was moving to Italy in order to be closer to him.Ironic then, that the first person to pose the question ‘when will this end?’, was Lauryn herself.Man City star Kyle Walker confesses to betraying ‘soulmate & best friend’ Annie Kilner in astonishingly honest interviewAnd yet, if you dig deep enough, you’ll find a paper trail of evidence that suggests she is deliberately willing the saga to carry on.Countless newspaper interviews followed the bombshell news in 2020 that she was expecting a “miracle” baby with Kyle, 34.Even more followed after she detonated his marriage to wife Annie Kilner in December 2023 by revealing he had secretly fathered a second child with her.For the record, Annie has done none (offers have been made, but each one turned down).And Kyle has only ever done one sit-down: a full mea-culpa with me when the scandal erupted in January last year.In her latest interview, published this month, Lauryn invited OK! Magazine into the lavish £2.4million four-bedroom home Kyle bought for her and the kids in East Sussex.Glossy pictures across multiple pages accompanied an interview in which she revealed her plans to move.She teased: “For the last year I wished to have the option to move abroad because, with all of the drama, I’d like a life reset – but I’m not sure how that looks for us at the minute or what that entails.”She had previously contemplated a move to Dubai amid fevered speculation that Kyle was sizing up a move to the Saudi pro league.Last week, in a set of carefully choreographed pictures, Lauryn beamed in front of a removal van and revealed she too was moving to ItalyCredit: BackGridKyle moved to Italy to join AC Milan on loan until the end of the season in the hope of fleeing the feeding frenzyCredit: GettyIn October 2024, Annie filed for divorce from KyleCredit: SplashBut she was adamant – remember, this was only days ago – when she insisted: “It makes no difference to me where Kyle is, he could be on Mars right now for all I care.”And yet, here she is packing up and preparing to move to Italy to be on his very doorstep.There was no furniture on the lorry, no plants, kids toys – just boxes. And in a complete departure from anyone who has ever moved house, Lauryn was positively beaming from ear to ear.Surely, this wasn’t a stunt to obtain media coverage, a constructed plot twist to secure column inches?This, the same woman who insisted in yet another interview in February last year: “I need this to end.”One has to wonder why on earth she would subject herself – and their children – to the ongoing agony and heartache she has long since documented in the column inches of this and other newspapers.In her OK! interview Lauryn, 34, says: “I’ve been through hell and back fighting for my children and then absolutely being crucified for it in the process.Kyle Walker’s ex Lauryn Goodman in bid to QUIT UK with their kids – and makes plea to Man City star for help”There were days where I would just cry my eyes out. I’d think, can I continue with this?”I have to, for my children, because I’m the only one that they can depend on. But how strong does one person have to be?”Her big move to Italy is supposedly scheduled to take place this week – as Kyle settles in with his new teammates in the iconic San Siro stadium.But this is not the first time she has prepared to follow the England full-back.In May 2021, she wanted to move 245 miles from her home in Brighton to the upmarket Cheshire village – and footballers enclave – of Alderley Edge.EXPLOSIVE MOVEShe viewed an £895,000 five bedroom property on a plush new development – just five miles from Kyle and Annie’s home.At the time, a source said: “As if things weren’t difficult already, this is going to take it to another level completely.”The explosive move never materialised after Kyle increased her housing budget from £1.85million to £2.4million in a bid to placate her to maintain her distance.There were repeated hints on social media too of the paternity of her second child to Kyle, a baby girl born in the Summer of 2023.It fed feverish speculation online and drove the number of followers to her Instagram account.In response to claims she had given birth to a baby with “another footballer” she replied: “Just to clarify I have not had a baby with ‘another footballer’ as per news articles.”I know there is speculation around little one’s father and like I’ve stated publicly when the time is right.”Followers were quick to question if she had stressed it wasn’t ‘another’ footballer because Kyle was, in fact, the father of both children.Lauryn dragged Kyle to family court but a judge sensationally ruled against most of her cash pleasCredit: PAIn his withering judgement – published last July – Judge Edward Hess was scathing of her behaviourCredit: SplashThe social media influencer shares two children with the footballer after a flingCredit: social.saviour/InstagramAnd on her Instagram bio she wrote: “Mummy to @kairowalker & KW”. Posts with a “countdown” to a new post followed.In his withering judgement – published last July – Judge Edward Hess was scathing of her behaviour.She laid a trail of breadcrumbs and had “not just cooperated with, but actively instigated” the feeding frenzy, he concluded.He added: “Throughout 2023, he (Kyle) sought to keep secret the fact that he was Kinara’s father.”It is clear from the evidence that he was understandably embarrassed about this fact and anxious about how his wife would react when she found out.”In his attempts to persuade the mother to go along with the retention of secrecy, the father gave way to many of the financial demands of the mother which he might otherwise have resisted.Timeline of Kyle Walker & Annie Kilner’s relationshipEarly years – Kyle and Annie first meet in Sheffield when she was 15 and he was 17Euro 2016 – Walker caught messaging Playboy model Carla HoweApril 2019 – Annie dumps Kyle after his alleged romps with reality TV star Laura BrownApril 2020 – Kyle allegedly hosts sex party with two escorts during covid-19 lockdownFebruary 2020 – Lauryn Goodman gives birth to Kairo, her son with WalkerNovember 2021 – Walker and Kilner marry in secretMarch 2023 – Lauryn announces her second pregnancySpring 2023 – Kyle allegedly flashes and kisses another woman in a Vodka Revolution bar in CheshireAugust 2023 – Lauryn gives birth to a daughterJanuary 2024 – Annie announces split from Kyle after two years of marriage. It emerges Kyle is the dad of Lauryn’s second child. Kyle begs for forgiveness in exclusive Sun interview. Lauryn brands him a ‘pathological narcissist’October 2024 – Annie files for divorceJanuary 2025 – Kyle moves to Italy alone, with Annie refusing to join him. “The evidence before me has amply demonstrated that the mother was able to leverage these substantial increases by hinting that she would go public on the paternity issue.”She also threatened that if she did not get what she wanted she would select a home a stone’s throw away from his in Cheshire…an idea which she knew horrified the father.”If the father thought that these rather generous house budget increases would keep his paternity a secret, he was to be disappointed.”The mother plainly had no intention of keeping the matter secret.”I won’t be scapegoated or bullied and made to feel like a villain.Lauryn GoodmanBut there was more.In the Summer last year, as Kyle and his England teammates plotted a course to the final of the Euros, Lauryn travelled to Germany with son Kairo to watch him “in real life”.But she didn’t go to Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank stadium alone – she was naturally accompanied by a journalist and photographer.In an exclusive interview, featuring a blow-by-blow account of their trip, Lauryn said: “We are not here to please other people. It’s about Kairo and what is best for him and what is going to make him happy.”I won’t be scapegoated or bullied and made to feel like a villain. My children are my number one priority and they always will be.”Luckily I’m a strong woman and mother for them.”Lauryn even befriended Kyle’s neighbour in Cheshire – urging her to spy on him over the garden fence.Jasmine David said Lauryn became so obsessed it ‘was like being in Fatal Attraction’, the 1987 love rat revenge movieCredit: ZenpixThe couple have always put on a united front for the sake of the kidsCredit: InstagramJasmine David, 51, found herself caught in the middle of their bitter feud after befriending the Instagram influencer online.She was already at loggerheads with the England and Manchester City ace, 34, over a boundary dispute and took pity on Lauryn.In one text message Lauryn suggested Jasmine spy on Kyle and Annie – writing: “Needed to record that she was done. FML. Need all that on record. So BADLY.”Jasmine replied: “You can’t record somebody without their permission is (sic) illegal xx.”Lauryn wrote back: “Not to sell that you donut. You can have your phone recording in your garden.”Lauryn was madly in love with Kyle – that much was abundantly clear. I suspect he told her things she wanted to hear.In another message she speculates over the birthday plans for Kyle’s wife, model Annie Kilner.She refers to Instagram posts from Annie’s sister, Sian, who was booked in for a spray tan in Sheffield ahead of the celebrations.Lauryn texts: “Soooo I think they’re going out at the weekend. But probably not in Cheshire and I reckon he’ll join her, don’t you?”SPY CLAIMSIn fact, Annie partied at an Italian restaurant in Alderley Edge to celebrate her 30th.She posted pictures of her and Kyle – alongside the caption: “Wasn’t so bad turning 30 after all.”A day later, Lauryn posted a photograph of her in the same restaurant.Jasmine recalls growing increasingly uneasy as Lauryn obsessed over the Three Lions defender.She likened it to the 1987 thriller “Fatal Attraction”, starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close.She said: “Lauryn was madly in love with Kyle – that much was abundantly clear. I suspect he told her things she wanted to hear.”And she naturally wanted the relationship to develop further and wouldn’t let go when he chose Annie.”It spiralled into an unhealthy obsession.”I was Kyle’s neighbour and have been for years, but the truth is she knew more about what he was up to than I did.”I urged her to move on and live a happy life and to focus on her two beautiful children.”But she got caught up in it all and it got wildly out of hand.”Lauryn previously contemplated a move to Dubai amid fevered speculation that Kyle was sizing up a move to the Saudi pro leagueCredit: PAAnnie missed Kyle’s Serie A debut in the Milan derby, with the pair said to be barely speakingCredit: GettyDespite her many interviews, Lauryn had uncharacteristically appealed through her lawyers for Judge Hess to keep his financial remedies judgement private.It was perhaps understandable, given the likely contents.And so, in his final few paragraphs, Judge Hess lifted the car bonnet to reveal the inner workings of this particular scandal.He wrote: “It would be a nonsense, opening the court to ridicule, to try to redact or anonymise this judgment to prevent identification of the parties.”A perusal of the many hundreds of newspaper articles published about these matters clearly illustrates that the mother has not just cooperated with, but actively instigated, press coverage.”It sits ill for a person to come to court arguing for privacy for her children when, just a very short while earlier, she took a payment from the press to visit the European football championship with her son dressed in an England football shirt with the name ‘Daddy’ on the back.”If the children suffer any harm from the publicity of these matters, it has already happened, and it will largely be the result of the mother’s own decisions and actions.”And so, as Lauryn embarks on yet another chapter in this oh-so-long saga, the question still remains: When will this end? More

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      How it all unravelled for ‘new Pele’ Robinho – from joining wrong Manchester club to languishing in Brazil jail

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      ROBINHO was hailed from an early age as the new Pele – even by the man himself.But instead of becoming another Brazilian football legend, Robinho is now one of the game’s most notorious criminals.Robinho once had the world at his feet – now he languishes in a Brazilian jail cellCredit: EPARobinho was once dubbed ‘the new Pele’ but saw his career implodeCredit: AlamyThe Brazilian former player is now in the ‘prison of the famous’Robinho, left, with Ronaldinho after winning the 2005 Confederations Cup in GermanyCredit: GettyAt the age of 12, he joined Pele’s old club Santos. At 24, he became the most expensive player in English football history when he joined Manchester City for £32.5million as the marquee signing of their new Abu Dhabi owners.But at 41, he is serving a nine-year sentence for gang rape.An Italian court heard in 2017 how Robinho and five friends attacked a woman in a Milan nightclub in 2013.After years of legal arguments, he finally entered Dr Jose Augusto Cesar Salgado P2 prison in Tremembe, Sao Paulo state, in March 2024.In the institution nicknamed ‘the prison of the famous’, the winner of league titles in five different countries has high-profile murderers for company.And within football, he is the ultimate pariah, even in Brazil.When Santos tried to bring him back for a fourth spell in 2020, there was public outcry and a major sponsor cut ties with the club.Inside Robinho’s jailDISGRACED footballer Robinho swapped his luxury seafront home for a hellish overcrowded prison housing murderers and follow rapists.The Brazilian, who has an estimated £60million net worth, now spends his days in a tiny 8m squared cell, which he shares with another inmate. Some cells sleep up to six prisoners.His new neighbours include a man who killed his own daughter, a man serving 98 years for kidnapping and murdering a 15-year-old girl and a doctor who abused 39 sedated patients.Robinho’s cell is said to have only one single bed, a small sink and a toilet built into the floor.A small barred up window provides just a glimpse of the outside world.All 430 inmates are forced to wear matching outfits of a white T-shirt and khaki pants.The former Real Madrid star is given four meals each day – the first being at 6am and the last at 5.30pm.He will be expected to work during his time behind bars.Prisoners make items such as school desks and chairs, or even toilet disinfectant tablets – something the P2 jail is known for.Inmates can also take acting lessons and participate in workshops on reading, literacy, and origami.While Robinho’s fellow prisoners gifted him some football boots to play during recreation times.Santos and Robinho cancelled the five-month deal and a career that had promised so much ended in infamy.Pele, who later died in 2022, did not offer his thoughts on this occasion.Court finds Ex-Man City star Robinho ‘brutally humiliated gang rape victim’But he had plenty to say about the young Robinho.When Pele saw Robinho at 15, three years after the young man had joined his former club, the legendary No10 said the winger reminded him of himself.Similar glory soon followed, as Robinho helped Santos win the Brazilian championship in 2002 and 2004.A horrible consequence of his growing celebrity was the kidnap of his mother Marina de Silva Souza in November 2004. She was returned unharmed after six weeks in captivity following the payment of a ransom.And her son regained enough form to seal a move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2005.He went with the blessing of Pele, who said: “He is already the best player in Brazil and he has all the qualities needed to be one of the best in the world.”Robinho, like the rest of the Galacticos, did not quite hit the heights that ambitious president Florentino Perez had hoped.Yet over his three seasons, which brought two LaLiga crowns, he was the third highest scorer behind Raul and Ruud van Nistelrooy.But he was unhappy with his treatment by the Bernabeu bosses, who stopped him going to the Olympics and openly courted Cristiano Ronaldo.Robinho wanted out. But he did not end up where he thought he would.Robinho wanted Chelsea and is claimed to have believed he was joining Manchester United when he ended up at CityCredit: GettyHis transfer to Manchester City on deadline day in September 2008, hours after Sheikh Mansour completed his takeover, was not only one of the most expensive deal involving a British club – it also remains one of the most bizarre.Chelsea and their CEO Peter Kenyon were convinced they would reunite Robinho with former Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, their new manager.So convinced that the Blues’ website started offering fans the chance to pre-order shirts with his name on.Instead, Robinho found himself being unveiled at the Etihad – much to his own confusion, it seemed.Robinho said: “On the last day, Chelsea made a great proposal and I accepted.”Decapitated inmates & jailhouse warlords – inside Brazil’s hellish prisons where ex-Man City star Robinho faces 9 yearsA reporter replied: “You mean Manchester, right?”. “Yeah, Manchester, sorry!” answered Robinho.He also responded to criticism of the move by Pele, who said the player had been badly advised.Robinho said: “I accept Pele’s criticism as he is the king of football, but if he had been me, he would have done the same.“Real did not want to retain me. They even used me as a potential exchange to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. But as that negotiation fell through, they wanted to retain me then.”One story – or urban myth – says that Robinho thought he was signing for Manchester United.That has never been proved, but the-then City boss Mark Hughes helped fuel the rumours when interviewed years later about the deal.Timeline of Robinho’s rape caseThe rape case involving Brazilian footballer Robinho spans several years. Here’s a brief timeline:January 22, 2013: Robinho was one of a group of six men convicted of sexually assaulting an Albanian woman in a club during his stint for AC Milan.2014: Brazilian media reported on the allegations against Robinho, but no formal charges were filed at that time.2017: Robinho was found guilty of sexual assault by an Italian court and sentenced to nine years in prison. However, he denied the charges and appealed the verdict.2020: After the appeal process, Robinho’s sentence was upheld by the Italian court. But due to the statute of limitations in Italy, he was not extradited to serve his sentence.2022: Robinho’s prison sentence is ratified.March 2023: Robinho surrendered his passport to authoritiesNovember 2023: Italian prosecutors said they felt Robinho should serve his time in Brazil.March 20, 2024: Brazil’s Superior Court formed a simple majority and voted for Robinho to serve the sentence in his home country.Hughes said: “It was a crazy day, there were bids going out for Lionel Messi and all sorts! “We finally managed to get Robinho over the line which was a hell of a statement, and the rest is history. “There’s probably a grain of truth in the rumour that Robinho thought he was actually signing for Manchester United. “He certainly didn’t recognise me when he turned up, he was probably expecting to see Sir Alex Ferguson at the airport! “He was probably a bit disappointed to say the least.”Robinho’s recollectionRobinho later recalled: “My first goal was to go to Chelsea as it was the only club to have made a formal offer. “But Real did not like Chelsea shirts with my name on being sold before sorting out the negotiations.“Also, they did not reach the value Real demanded so then Manchester City came in at the last minute to sign me.”Whatever the truth, Robinho started his City career well, scoring a fine free kick on his debut against, of all teams, Chelsea.But a 3-1 defeat by the Premier League’s original moneybags club underlined how far City had to go.And Robinho would not be there to see the glory years as he and fellow Brazilian signings Jo and Elano failed to impress.Mark Bowen, Hughes’ assistant, reflected: “What we found was, for all his talent, Robinho – and maybe Elano at the time, and Jo – yes they were sticking together but they weren’t putting the shift in. “When the going got tough in certain games, you could almost see Robinho thinking “What am I doing here? I’ve come from Real Madrid’.”That could cause problems, sometimes on the training ground and matchdays in the dressing rooms. “They wanted to see that commitment of putting the effort in.”Inside Robinho’s cell in the notorious prisonRobinho started his promising career at Brazilian giants SantosCredit: AFPRobinho returned to Santos in 2010, 2014 and 2020 – with the latter causing uproarCredit: Getty Images – GettyRobinho returned to Santos on loan in early 2010 and helped them win another Brazilian title.But he was unable to secure a permanent deal to go home and was instead sold to AC Milan for £15m.With 14 goals in his first season, Robinho was a key figure in Milan’s Scudetto triumph and he scored 11 more as they finished runners-up the following year.Injuries took their toll, however, and in 2013, the year of the rape, he almost returned to Santos twice before agreeing a new San Siro deal on a lower salary.More injury problems hindered Robinho again and in the summer of 2014 he made his second return to Santos.That reunion lasted just a year, only for another to appear, as the winger joined the talent exodus to the mega-rich Chinese Super League to play under Scolari at Guangzhou Evergrande.Robinho scored three times in 10 league games in 2015 as he claimed a title in a fourth different country.Then it was back to Brazil again, this time with Atletico Mineiro. In the second of his two seasons there, he received a one-off recall to the Brazil squad.He made his 100th and final appearance for his country in January 2017 in a friendly against Colombia.Brazil picked a group of entirely home-based players for the match that was staged to raise money for Chapecoense, the Brazilian club that had lost 19 players when their plane crashed on the way to the Copa Sudamericana final in Colombia.Robinho is still married to his childhood sweetheart Vivian GuglielmettiCredit: ReutersThe allegations against Robinho are said to have broken VivianCredit: ReutersRobinho admitted cheating on his wife but denied rape at his trialCredit: Instagram / @robinhoRobinho was still only 33 and seemed to gain a new lease of life when he moved to Turkey.After a promising season and a half at Sivasspor, he joined newly-rich Istanbul Basaksehir and helped give them bragging rights over their three big city rivals as they lifted their first Turkish title in 2019-20.But Robinho could not enjoy that fifth league crown of his career for long.Santos announced his latest return on October 10, 2020. But the backlash was swift.Brazilian media published transcripts of voice and other messages that formed part of the 2017 trial in Milan at which Robinho was found guilty of raping the woman.In one message, Robinho said: “I’m laughing because I couldn’t care less, the woman was completely drunk, she has no idea what happened.”Inside Robinho’s family lifeIN 2009, Robinho married Vivian Guglielminetti. The couple have two sons, Robson Jr, 17, and Gianluca, 14, and a daughter Giulia, 9.Robinho and Vivian’s love story began when they were teenagers.The childhood sweethearts had been together 12 years prior to tying the knot in July 2009 at the Casa Grande hotel in Guaruja, Brazil.At the time Robinho was already playing for City and was still the Premier-League’s highest paid player, earning £165k-a-week.Vivian initially postponed their wedding when Robinho was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a nightclub in Leeds earlier that year.The wedding was rescheduled after the case was dropped and Robinho and Vivian have remained together since – despite Robinho’s current convictions.But the allegations broke Vivian, who told police she stood there like a “stupid woman who doesn’t know anything”.Son Robson Jr is following in his father’s footballing footsteps, having signed a professional deal with Santos.He’s regarded as one of the gems of their youth academy and already has a release clause of over £40m, with European sides likely to come calling.In another chat Robinho insisted he did not have sex with the victim.His friend replied: “I saw you when you put your penis inside her mouth.”Robinho’s response was: “That doesn’t mean having sex.”Orthopride, a leading dental health firm in Brazil, cancelled its shirt sponsorship in protest at Robinho returning to Santos.Chief operating officer Richard Adam said: “We have enormous respect for Santos’ history. But at this point, we have decided to terminate the sponsorship contract.“Our audience is mostly female and, out of respect for the women who buy our products, we had to make that decision.“We want to make it clear that we were not previously informed about the signing of Robinho, we were taken by surprise by the news over the weekend.”Robinho and Santos finally read the room and cancelled the contract, leaving him to concentrate on his defence.The player always protested his innocence and claimed his sexual contact with the woman in 2013 was consensual.Brazilian jails are overloaded with dozens of convicts in a single cell in some placesRobinho was transferred to Penitentiary 2 of Tremembe, in Sao Paulo, where he will serve his nine-year sentenceCredit: Laurene Santos/TV VanguardaBut later in 2020, the Milan Court of Appeals upheld Robinho’s conviction and sentence, finding that he had “belittled” and “brutally humiliated” the victim and misled investigators with a false account of what happened.In January 2022, Italy’s Supreme Court of Cessation also confirmed the original trial’s findings and a month later an international arrest warrant was issued for Robinho.Brazil does not extradite its citizens to overseas jurisdictions and refused to hand over Robinho and his friend Ricardo Falco, who had also been found guilty of the rape.But in 2023, Italy asked Brazil to make them serve their sentences in Brazil under a law that had been introduced in 2017.On March 20, 2024, the Brazilian authorities agreed to impose the nine-year sentence on Robinho. Two days later, he was arrested and jailed – justice was finally served, 11 years after the crime.Robinho is now a different kind of celebrity.Some reports credit him with helping to set up a controlled version of Tinder that allowed inmates in his jail to make contact with those in a nearby women’s prison. It is a distasteful and disturbing idea.Among Robinho’s fellow inmates are notorious murderers, including Lindemberg Alves, a man who kidnapped and shot dead 15-year-old former girlfriend Eloa Cristina Pimentel in 2008.Despite that appalling crime, Alves was among the prisoners let out for 11 days over Christmas 2024, according to local reports.But Robinho spent the festive season behind bars.Cells at the Dr Jose Augusto Cesar Salgado P2 prison are between eight metres and 12 metres squared. Up to six men cram into each one.Robinho was once spoken of in the same breath as Pele. After one of football’s most shocking falls from grace, he is now forced to share the air with fellow criminals. More

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      From football’s poster boy to bench-warmer… Grealish now has more brand deals than goals & even keeper has more assists

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      THE images are iconic – a topless Jack Grealish, drenched by rain, fuelled by an almighty booze bender, riding an open-top bus and the crest of a wave.Manchester City had just won the Treble and the most expensive player ever purchased by English football’s richest club had played a major role in an historic triumph.Images of Jack Grealish celebrating Manchester City’s incredible Treble have become iconicCredit: AFPFans loved images of Grealish’s boozy open-top bus parade anticsCredit: AFPThe £100m star had played a pivotal role in City’s stunning trophy blitzCredit: GettyBut a year and a half later, what the hell has happened to Grealish?City’s Brummie wideman can barely get a game – he has played just 33 minutes of Premier League football since Christmas and has been an unused sub in four of City’s last six matches in the competition. Grealish is a creative player who has provided fewer Premier League assists (one) than goalkeeper Ederson (two) this season.And since that 2023 Treble, Grealish has had more sponsorship deals than his six top-flight goal involvements.He is a face of Gucci, of Pepsi, of Puma, of Bose audio equipment, of Airwayz drones and of Kinetica Sports nutrition.Last summer, cardboard cut-outs of Grealish adorned our supermarkets, urging us to spread Hellman’s mayonnaise on our barbecue burgers, while watching England at the Euros.Except that Grealish wasn’t there in Germany. He had been axed from Gareth Southgate’s squad, a shock late omission which prompted near-mutiny among some of his team-mates.   Grealish is a hugely popular figure with fellow players, one of those infectious personalities who illuminate a dressing-room.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSTo England supporters he has been a cult hero, with his relative lack of game time often used as a stick with which to clobber the supposedly-cautious Southgate.Commercial partners lap up the good looks and ready smile that make him a natural-born poster boy.Grealish, whose sister Hollie has cerebral palsy, frequently engages with disabled fans in person and with video messages, as well as being an ambassador for Special Olympics UK.Moment Jack Grealish needs a helping hand at hotel as he lets his hair down in Dubai after missing out on Euros squadGrealish’s sister Hollie has cerebral palsy and Jack always makes time to engage with disabled fansCredit: @JackGrealishBut Grealish has largely been reduced to a bench role so far this seasonCredit: ReutersAlso, you won’t find too many members of the media delighting in Grealish’s descent – a sitdown interview with ‘Super Jack’ is a rare pleasure. The man is honest and engaging with a wicked sense of humour.The problem is the actual football.Asked about his decision to select Brazilian winger Savinho over Grealish in the 4-1 win over West Ham last month, Pep Guardiola was almost as brutal about his player as Ruben Amorim had been about Marcus Rashford.Although, while Rashford attracted plenty of interest during the January window before joining Aston Villa on loan, the idea of a move for Grealish was never seriously mooted.A sitdown interview with ‘Super Jack’ is a rare pleasure. The man is honest and engaging with a wicked sense of humour. The problem is the actual football.After that West Ham win, Guardiola said: “Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack and that’s why I played Savinho.“Do I want the Jack that won the Treble? Yeah, I want it, but I try to be honest with myself.”They have to fight. You can say it’s unfair. Okay, if you think that, then it’s fine, but you have to prove (to me), ‘Okay, I’m going to fight with Savinho, to deserve to play in that position’, every single day, every single week and every single month.”I don’t have any doubt about the quality of Jack… I fought a lot for him to be here. “I know that he can do it because I saw him. I saw his level and I want that, every single training session and every single game.”This strongly hinted that – like Rashford at United – Grealish has not been training or preparing well enough.And since then, Grealish’s only Premier League appearance came as a sub at Ipswich, when City were already 5-0 up.Over the next five days, City will face Leyton Orient and Real Madrid.Fashionable Grealish inked a reported seven-figure deal with GucciCredit: InstagramGrealish penned a deal with Hellmans before the Euros – only to be dropped by EnglandCredit: CollectGrealish has signed more sponsorship deals than his six top-flight goal involvements since winning the TrebleCredit: SuppliedBose are another of Grealish’s sponsorship dealsCredit: BoseGrealish might get a run-out at Brisbane Road in the FA Cup on Saturday but is highly unlikely to start against the 15-time champions of Europe on Tuesday night.So what has gone wrong? Since his £100million arrival from Villa in 2021, there has often been a feeling that Guardiola has clipped Grealish’s wings, stifling his natural tendency to dribble and beat defenders, taking much of the joy out of his game.Southgate’s reluctance to start Grealish – who won 20 of his 36 caps from the bench during the former England manager’s reign – was born of the idea that the player was at his best as the main man in a limited Villa side.That he is a ‘big fish in a small pond’ player and that for England, as well as City, his influence is reduced.His reputation as a pretty-boy poser is lazy and unfair. Grealish is a fighter, who has taken more kickings than most, on and off the field.Interestingly, in three appearances as a No 10 under Lee Carsley, Grealish scored twice – doubling his international goals tally before he thanked the interim boss for “bringing back the enjoyment in an England shirt”. There is a widespread image of Grealish as a show pony, as Scotland’s Stephen O’Donnell admitted when he went public with his wind-up tactics after the goalless draw with the auld enemy at the Euros in 2021.“I was telling him how good looking he was and that I loved his calves,” said O’Donnell. “I was asking him how he got his hair like that.”Grealish engaged in ‘banter’ about his famous calves in a surreal exchange with the Shrek character Donkey on a pre-season trip to Orlando Universal Resort last summer.Grealish has another deal with boot manufacturers PumaCredit: PumaAnd has been promoting Kinetica sports nutritionCredit: SuppliedBut his reputation as a pretty-boy poser is lazy and unfair. Grealish is a fighter, who has taken more kickings than most, on and off the field.He became a father last year, will turn 30 this September and is contracted to City until 2027.With City well stocked for widemen – Savinho, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku, as well as their new versatile £59million forward Omar Marmoush – it is surely time for him to seek a new challenge this summer.Grealish is too talented a footballer to warm the bench for much longer.He must rediscover the sense of adventure that made him a Treble-winner on a double-decker with a singular ability to light up a football ground. More

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      Wembley glory win will be nice… but Newcastle need Champions League to keep £150m Alexander Isak from Arsenal and Co

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      A WEMBLEY CUP triumph will be nice – but it’s Champions League football that Newcastle need to hang on to Alexander Isak long-term.The Swedish superstar showed long-term suitors Arsenal once again exactly what he can do as he helped fire the Magpies to a second Carabao Cup final in three seasons.Eddie Howe is desperate to bring the first trophy to Tyneside in 70 yearsCredit: RexBut the Toon manager will be more eager to hang onto Alexsander IsakCredit: GettyIsak, 25, tormented Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba from the first whistle on what proved to be a famous night at St James’ Park.Although he failed to add to his 19 goal haul this term, the forward was at his majestic best as the Magpies won 2-0 to seal a 4-0 aggregate victory over the Gunners.That booked them another date under the arch and provided Isak with an opportunity to achieve legendary status on Tyneside in the final next month.It’s been 70 years since the club last won a major cup, and if he can score the winner at Wembley, don’t bet against a statue of him being resurrected outside SJP.Medals and glory are what every kid dreamed of growing up – but it is regular Champions League football that elite players now need.Isak, of course, has had a taste of that already on Tyneside but the club know they need to return there to stave off interest from the likes of Arsenal and Europe’s top dogs.It’s where the big boys play and the big bucks are paid out.Understandably, fans are starting to get ultra defensive whenever the prospect of his potential departure is brought up.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSEspecially when Arsenal’s name gets thrown into the conversation.Isak has been continually linked with a move to their Premier League rivals despite being under contract until 2028, a date that leaves Newcastle chiefs quite relaxed about his situation.Arsenal fans will have watched Carabao Cup disaster and wished Alexander Isak was playing for them – he’s unbelievableSun Sport understands that Isak still remains one of Mikel Arteta’s top targets, and that they will try to go all out to try and get him… even if it costs them the reported £150m price tag.He is already one of the top earners at Newcastle on £130,000-a-week as well.Isak, a club-record £63m buy from Real Sociedad in 2022, has earned every penny of those wages with his performances on the pitch.Last season he became the first Toon star since Alan Shearer two decades ago to hit 20 Premier League goals.Even finally ending that long trophy-drought may not quite be enough for Isak.And after a slow start to this season he has rediscovered his top form with his recent eight-game scoring run in the Prem.Although tentative talks over an improved deal may have stalled, they are set to resume in the summer, but it is unlikely to just be the money on offer that proves crucial.And even finally ending that long trophy-drought may not quite be enough for Isak.During a recent interview with Toon’s all-time top marksman Shearer he did little to dampen talk of a potential big-money transfer.When Super Al brought up Erling Haaland’s recent new nine-year deal and asked what was next for Isak, the Magpies ace vaguely replied: “We’ll see. You never know.”Isak has scored 17 goals and counting this seasonCredit: ReutersIsak still remains one of Mikel Arteta’s top targetsCredit: ReutersBut if Newcastle can build on their cup run and secure a top four finish then that could be pivotal… if not then the speculation won’t go away.And it’s fair to say that his manager Eddie Howe would not be the only one devastated to see Isak leave – even if it was for mega money.The Toon Army have always loved No9s, from Jackie Milburn and Malcolm Macdonald to the likes of Andy Cole and Shearer in more recent times.However, Isak is a little different, producing magic with 14 on his back, and he is in no rush to follow in the footsteps of those greats named above.Every top star now wants to play their best on the biggest stage – the Champions League.He said: “Many great players have had the No14. You had [David] Ginola from Newcastle and when I signed, out of the numbers that were available, I think that No14 was the most iconic.“I’m doing well, I’m happy with 14. But, on the other hand, I know the number nine is a special shirt for the fans.”It was not even out-and-out strikers that Isak grew up idolising either.Spain’s LaLiga was the most-covered football during his childhood years, and that meant it was Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo that he tried to emulate.And even now, despite his ruthlessness in front of goal, he has a lot more to his game than just sticking the ball in the onion bag.Isak told Alan Shearer that he and his team-mates want to be back in the Champions League next seasonCredit: ReutersHe explained: “I was more into dribbling, skills… I liked the street football style.“That’s the player I want to be and enjoy my football out there. That’s when I think that I play my best.”And every top star now wants to play their best on the biggest stage – the Champions League.Isak even admitted as much himself at the end of 2024, saying: “The whole team are very ambitious. We played Champions League last year and it is in our mind to get back there.“It is a long way to go until the end of the season so I don’t think we should be looking too much at the table.“The ambition of the team is of course to get in Europe again. We just need to take one game at a time.”ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS: Saliba will be having nightmares about Isak as Lewis-Skelly is only Gunners star to show upARSENAL were humbled by Newcastle at St James’ Park as the Magpies beat them 2-0 to secure a spot in the League Cup final.The North Londoners knew they needed to take an early advantage if they were to overturn the 2-0 defeat at the Emirates.But Jacob Murphy was on hand to put the Magpies a goal ahead after Alexander Isak’s shot rebounded off of the post and out to him.Shortly after the break, Anthony Gordon doubled the lead to all but confirm a second League Cup final in three years for Eddie Howe.Here’s how SunSport’s Gary Stonehouse rated the Gunners.David Raya – 5Stitched Declan Rice right up for the second goal.And that absolutely killed this as a contest for his side.Jurrien Timber – 6Tried to get forward and support the attack early but soon found himself dropping deeper to avoid being caught on the counter.Tough night for the Dutchman up against Gordon in front of the red-hot home crowd.William Saliba – 4Let frustration get the better of him when he got himself booked for grabbing Anthony Gordon’s shirt.And the winger almost embarrassed him again at the start of the second period when he caught the defender sleeping, nicked the ball from him, but could only shoot wide.The usually assured star will be having nightmares of Gordon and Isak.Gabriel Magalhaes – 6Another who struggled to contain Toon’s two pacey attacking threats but did fair slightly better than his usually formidable partner.Myles Lewis-Skelly – 7Another assured performance from the full-back in a raucous atmosphere.Could not be faulted for any of the goals and showed flashes off his potential despite the humbling.Martin Odegaard – 6Everything Arsenal did try came through the skipper.Although he loses a mark as things could have been a very different story if he had finished his first half effort had hit the inside rather than outside of the post.Thomas Partey – 6Plenty of running about but very little to show or product for his efforts.Declan Rice – 6Looked to take a knock late in the first half and continued to struggle on after the restart.Was hung out to dry by his goalie for the second goal and he did keep pushing until the very end.But it was a disappointing night for the England star and his partner Partey as they came up short against Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.Gabriel Martinelli – 5Struggled to get past big Dan Burn during his brief time on the pitch.And his night was brought to an abrupt end when he limped off before the break.Kai Havertz – 4Outmuscled, outbattled and outthought but Svan Botman and Fabian Schar.Produced zilch on an evening when he and his team-mates lacked creativity and ideas.Leandro Trossard – 5Many will have been fancying him to cause some problems for the 34-year-old Kieran Trippier but the veteran had him in his pocket all night.Arteta had seen enough by the hour mark and opted to let Raheem Sterling have a go instead.Subs usedEthan Nwaneri (37 mins for Martinelli) – 6Desperately tried to inject some pace and threat into the faltering Arsenal attack but the task proved too much for the young Gunn.He should have plenty more big occasions to look forward to though in his career.Mikel Merino (70 mins for Odegaard) – 5The game was already done and dusted when he entered the fray for battle.Some nice touches, but like those before him, he couldn’t produce anything for the visitors.Raheem Sterling (61 mins for Trossard) – 4Got half an hour to try and get at Trippier but, just like Trossard before him, he was not given an ounce of joy.Riccardo Calafiori (78 mins for Timber) – 4Was brought on simply to get some minutes in his legs.Jorginho (78 mins for Partey) – 4See above. Little chance to make an impact with the game well and truly over. More

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      Ridiculous scorelines, bizarre gaffes, fanatical fans & celebrations with a GOAT… inside Europe’s most bonkers league

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      IT’S the most bonkers league in Europe… one that makes even our Championship look predictable.A division where the team currently sitting third haven’t won a home game all season.Fans at Schalke vs FC Nurnberg showed it’s a cracker of a divisionCredit: RexMagdeburg fans haven’t seen their high-fliers win at home all seasonCredit: GettyFans let off firebombs when Schalke faced Magdeburg at the Veltins-ArenaCredit: GettyWhere 8-3 scorelines are not considered unusual.And where one club hands out free tickets to its fans.Welcome to the wacky world of the German Second Division.While Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich have made an unsurprising return to the Bundesliga summit, the division below is once again conjuring its unique brand of chaos and craziness.In 20 matchdays this season, the team leading at the top of the table has changed nine times and in mid-December the gap between first and ninth was just three points.Magdeburg, who are now third, have not won a single league game at home this season in nine attempts – yet they topped the division in late January.Cologne currently lead the way. A city famous for its twin-spire cathedral, Lukas Podolski kebab house and bizarre love of Tony Woodcock – they don’t do things by halves when it comes to football.JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSThis month they will bring out another outrageous kit to celebrate carnival time (they once finished a season with seven different shirts) and the fans will embark on a week-long party in fancy dress.But for Cologne, that is pretty much the norm. This is the club that has a live billy goat mascot, who arrives for every match with the Rocky theme tune blaring and a line of cheerleaders… and then spends the game grazing on the touchline.Cologne star Anthony Ujah celebrates goal by grabbing horns of goat mascot Anthony Ujah once ‘celebrated’ a goal by grabbing the horns of Cologne’s famous goat mascot, HennesHamburg supporters see the famous club languishing in the second tierCredit: GettyHe even unwittingly joined in a goal celebration when former striker Anthony Ujah memorably grabbed his horns a decade ago.Anywhere other than Germany, and you would probably raise an eyebrow.But that is the beauty of the 2. Bundesliga, where every week something bizarre seems to happen.This season, in a match between Magdeburg and Greuther Furth, two penalties were awarded for players inexplicably picking up the ball, believing the whistle had blown.A few years back, VAR awarded a spot-kick to Bochum after a Kiel sub warming up behind the goal put out a leg to stop a wayward shot before it had left the field of play.And Brentford keeper Mark Flekken needs no reminding about the time he turned his back on the action to have a drink, thinking his Duisburg team had scored, only for the goal to be ruled out and Ingolstadt to run down the other end and net themselves.But don’t be fooled into thinking there is a lack of quality. Far from it.Rudi Voller, Jurgen Klinsmann, Marco Reus and Joshua Kimmich are among a host of star names who have all cut their teeth in the German second tier.And a certain Jurgen Klopp made his name there both as a player and manager with Mainz.As for the clubs, it is not just Cologne who are a powerhouse.Brentford keeper Mark Flekken was playing for MSV Duisburg when he famously conceded a goal while getting a drink of waterFlekken was left embarrassed when Ingolstadt scoredHamburg, Kevin Keegan’s old outfit, are second in the table and the other week took 20,000 away fans to another giant Hertha Berlin, resulting in a staggering attendance of 71,500 at the Olympiastadion – which hosted England’s Euro 2024 final against Spain.Former Bundesliga winners Kaiserslautern had plummeted into the third division but are now pushing for a return to the top flight, having gone from ninth to third in the space of a week in early December.Hannover are also knocking on the door, just behind Fortuna Dusseldorf, a club that is once again handing out free tickets to its matches as part of its Fortuna For All initiative.Last season, Dusseldorf trialled it for three games and received 350,000 ticket applications. This season, they extended it to four matches, with the Hamburg game in October attracting 135,000 requests for its 52,000-capacity stadium.And then there’s Schalke.Having reached the Champions League in 2019, they were trounced 7-0 at Manchester City and have lurched from one crisis to another ever since.Schalke, who still count former Everton defender Jonjoe Kenny among their ranks, sat top of the table after the first match of this season.But within a month they were flirting with relegation to the third tier of German football.To put that into perspective, they are the third biggest club in the country, akin to an Arsenal or a Tottenham. And when was the last time you saw Spurs mentioned in the same breath as relegation…England legend Kevin Keegan was with Hamburg from 1977-1980Credit: GettyAnother ex-Three Lions striker, Tony Woodcock, has icon status at CologneCredit: GettyDespite Schalke’s woes, their attendances still average just over 60,000.In fact, six clubs average more than 41,000 and as of last weekend, a whopping 5.5million fans had watched a match this season in the division.And where there are German football fans, there is beer and bratwurst – and lots of it.Schalke’s stadium, sponsored by brewers Veltins, has its own three-mile long beer pipeline so their long-suffering supporters are never short of a pint, while the club is still backed by a sausage magnate.The fans aren’t starved of entertainment either.Ridiculous scorelines and incredible comebacks are a regular occurrence, with the second tier averaging 3.19 goals a game. Even our wildly unpredictable Championship has managed only 2.48.On 13 of the 20 matchdays, at least one club scored five goals in a match, and on one of the weeks when it didn’t happen, five teams still netted four each.Nuremberg’s 8-3 win over Regensburg – a match that was 3-3 in the 58th minute – is still the highest scoring this season.But there has also been a 5-3 and a 4-4, while 4-3s are as common as a love of lederhosen.Throw in the fact the average season ticket costs you £170 and you can see the appeal.So if you like your football fast and frenetic, your beer strong and cheap and your sausages a foot long, you know exactly where to go.Magdeburg are dreaming of promotion to the elite domain of Bayern and CoCredit: Getty More