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      Dele Alli splits from model girlfriend Ruby Mae ‘because he spent too long playing Fortnite’

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      FOOTIE ace Dele Alli has split from his pin-up lover Ruby Mae — with mates blaming the amount of time he spent playing online video game Fortnite.
      The pair, both 24, have separated after a series of heated rows and she has moved out of their £2million pad.

      Model Ruby Mae has split up with her footballer boyfriend Dele AlliCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Pals said Ruby got fed up with video game fan Dele’s lifestyleCredit: Instagram

      Friends said model Ruby was “incensed” over the Spurs and England star’s recent behaviour — including “spending too much time playing Fortnite.”
      One friend told The Sun: “Dele and Ruby Mae are finished.
      “Their relationship has been turbulent, but it now feels very much like the end. Ruby is sad but looking out for herself now.
      “She had enough of Dele’s good-time nature, and packed up her things.

      “She’s looking after number one from here.”

      Ruby is sad about the split ‘but looking out for herself now’Credit: Instagram

      Dele live streams himself playing Fortnite online to thousands of followers
      They broke up just before Valentine’s Day.
      Ruby, who has modelled for Dolce & Gabbana and Chanel, began dating Dele in 2016. They briefly split in 2018.

      Last year, masked robbers with knives raided their home as £150,000-a-week Dele was playing pool with his 24-year-old brother Harry Hickford and a friend.
      The midfielder — who last month reportedly wanted a move to Paris Saint-Germain after a lack of game time at Spurs — was punched in the face.

      Ruby has tens of thousands of followers on InstagramCredit: instagram.com/rube_mae

      Dele and Ruby broke up just before Valentine’s DayCredit: Instagram / @ruby_mae

      Dele and Ruby on holiday in Mykonos together last yearCredit: Instagram / @ruby_mae

      Ruby and Dele became victims of a violent robbery at his homeCredit: Instagram
      The crooks escaped with watches and jewellery and Dele beefed up security by buying a Dobermann guard dog.
      Ruby first hit the headlines after being spotted consoling him after England lost 2-1 to Iceland and were knocked out of Euro 2016.
      As they hugged, their relationship became public. And they have since been spotted together looking loved-up on various holidays, including in Mykonos and Ibiza.
      Ruby has established herself as a high-profile model with a host of big-name brands.
      She is an avid Instagrammer and constantly updates her profile with new snaps of her life.

      Ruby is signed to a number of leading fashion brands as a model

      Ruby has finally had enough of her relationship with Dele Alli and called it quitsCredit: Instagram

      Ruby has always shown support for Dele Alli at England tournamentsCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Last week, she was blasted by road safety chiefs for sharing a video with her 96,000 Instagram fans which she shot while over-taking on a motorway.
      It is illegal to use a phone while driving and campaigners have urged cops to investigate.
      Offenders can be fined up to £1,000 and potentially be banned.

      Ruby is saying goodbye to her life as a WAGCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Dele’s relationship with Rub went public in 2016Credit: Rex Features

      Dele has been a Tottenham player since 2015Credit: PA:Press Association

      Dele Alli’s girlfriend Ruby Mae slammed after filming video while overtaking on a motorway
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      Ex-England ace Alex Scott sports a new look wearing a red puffer jacket teamed with funky jogging pants

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      FOOTIE pundit Alex Scott scores highly for wackiness in this top-of-the-inflatable outfit clash.
      The eclectic combo combines a red puffer jacket teamed with funky jogging pants and yellow aviator sunglasses.

      Alex Scott teams a red puffer jacket with funky jogging pants and yellow aviator sunglasses

      Alex is usually more conservative with her outfits when she appears on TV as a punditCredit: Reuters

      Her hip outfit choice, was a far cry from the smart get-up the former football ace, 36, usually wears for her telly appearances.
      The ex-England ace may no longer play . . . but she’s still striking.
      The TV presenter penned a comment piece for The Sun this week about her struggles with depression, telling fans “I’m a tough cookie”.
      She wrote: “Most Brits are determined to put on a brave face and tell everyone they are ok even when it’s clear we’re not.

      Alex in her playing days for ArsenalCredit: The FA – Getty Images

      The former player is now a presenter on Sky SportsCredit: PA:Press Association

      “And I’m exactly the same.
      “There’s so many misunderstandings and misconceptions about mental health.”
      The star recently fronted BBC documentary, The Truth About Improving Your Mental Health.

      The ex-England ace, 36, may no longer play . . . but she’s still strikingCredit: PA:Press Association

      Alex Scott’s BBC mental health documentary reveals how to boost mood – from counting heart rate to probiotics
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      Chelsea players putting boots in MICROWAVE before games to make them more comfortable

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      CHELSEA players are using a microwave oven to warm their boots before matches.
      And the squad hope the secret weapon means they won’t get cold feet in the battle for a top-four finish this season.

      Chelsea players have been putting their boots in the microwave before matchesCredit: The Sun

      Chelsea players – pictured here are Ben Chilwell and Mateo Kovacic – hope their warm boots can give them an advantageCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The microwave is in the home dressing room at the club’s Stamford Bridge ground and even has a timer which pings when their boots are ready.
      It is also unplugged and taken on the team bus to domestic away games and is an integral part of pre-match preparations.
      The oven is used to soften the players’ boots and make them more supple and comfortable to wear.
      A club insider said: “Modern football boots seem to be pull-on types with much tighter fitting leather relying on a squeeze effect to stay on rather than the laces.

      “So when cold they can be quite tough, quite stiff and awkward to wear at least when they first go on.
      “The players put their boots in the microwave for a minute or two and the timer pings when they are soft enough. It’s actually a valuable addition to their equipment.
      “It’s not about Premier League millionaires being pampered. It’s about getting the best from the boots as quickly as possible, making the players comfortable so they can perform to their best as quickly as possible.”
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      Thomas Tuchel hopes his side can take a step forward in the race for a top-four spotCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Chelsea are at the forefront of using any new methods they can to gain an advantage over the opposition.
      They employ chefs to cook for the players in the bowels of the stadium after games to help them replenish lost energy.

      The microwave has been in place since last season and is a valuable asset in the bid to bring silverware to Stamford Bridge.
      Chelsea are at home to Manchester United this Sunday and the microwave will be used to help new boss Thomas Tuchel play the boot-iful game.
      The insider joked: “And once the players have warmed their boots, other staff can use it to heat jacket potatoes too – it’s very popular.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Gareth Bale is ‘happier than ever’ at Tottenham and playing without fear, says boss Jose Mourinho

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      JOSE MOURINHO reckons Gareth Bale is in his best shape since he arrived back at Tottenham.
      And the Spurs boss insists the Welsh superstar’s goal against Wolfsberger in the Europa League on Wednesday shows he is finally playing with freedom again.

      Gareth Bale is happier than ever at Tottenham, claims Jose MourinhoCredit: Getty

      Form and fitness restricted Bale, 31, to just two Prem starts since he rejoined the Londoners on loan from Real Madrid in September.
      But he is set to start tomorrow’s home clash against Burnley —  following his recent upturn in performances and attitude.
      Mourinho said: “Mentality is a consequence of the physical.
      “If a player feels great, if he is playing 100 per cent and if his feelings are all good, then there are no more psychological problems, fears or barriers.

      “When you have little worries, and especially when you have a recent history of injuries, it’s normal to have some fears — and these fears have consequences.
      “But lately he has been fine. It’s a question of how many minutes he can play and how many days he needs to recover between matches.
      “He looks happier than ever, he looks confident. In training you can see he has his confidence back, the way he hits shots.
      “You could see from his goal on Wednesday. It was a confident shot.”

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      He continued: “A player with fear or negative feelings would never hit that type of shot. To strike the ball that way, that strike means a lot.
      “It means freedom — and freedom in relation to the brain muscle.
      “For this, you need to be in a good condition. He is in the best condition since he arrived.”
      Bale’s rejuvenation and Dele Alli’s outstanding display midweek mean Tottenham fans may yet see their dream quartet of Bale, Dele, plus Harry Kane and Son Heung-min line up together regularly.
      For the N17 faithful, Mourinho’s Fab Four would rival Ossie Ardiles’ Famous Five — Teddy Sheringham, Jurgen Klinsmann, Ilie Dumitrescu, Nicky Barmby and Darren Anderton — of the 1990s.
      Mourinho said: “Can they play together? Of course, no problem.
      “They can play together and they will play together in some matches for sure — unless something happens to one of them — which I hope it does not.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Salford boss Richie Wellens desperate to get his players in the PUB – but coronavirus restrictions have thwarted him

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      RICHIE WELLENS knows one of the best ways to get into a player’s head is to get a drink into him.
      And if he could do that with his whole team, he might be able to break the mental block that he fears could cost him and Salford City promotion.

      How Richie Wellens’ pub sign might look

      Richie Wellens’ Salford are having an inconsistent season in League TwoCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But the normal getting–to–know-you exercise he and most managers use to build team spirit and understanding is still impossible because of Covid restrictions.
      Wellens, who quit Swindon for the Ammies on November 4, would by now have had a few nights  out with his squad and staff.
      He declared: “Getting the lads out for a bite and a bit of a bevvy is a great way to find out what makes each individual tick.
      “Nobody is talking about throwing loads of alcohol down necks.

      “But it’s amazing how people start relaxing and letting themselves go a little when they’ve had a couple.
      “Having a good time is great for team bonding.
      “Not only do you get to know your players better, but they get a better picture of who you are.
      “But with the lockdown that hasn’t happened.

      Salford are owned by Man Utd’s ‘Class of ’92’Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      “By now I should have a far better understanding of what makes each player tick than I do.
      “It’s crucial that a new manager finds out who he is dealing with in the dressing room and what the best approach is to get the best out of each individual.
      “And, of course, after 23 games I have a good idea.
      “But in a way, some of them are still like strangers to me because of the Covid restrictions.
      “They show up for training on their own — socially distanced from each other — then go home to shower and change.
      “The players travel to away games on the team bus but me and my coaches have to go separately.
      “Things are complicated enough for all of the managers in these times — but more difficult still when you are taking over a new set of players.”
      Wellens worries about that lack of communication more because he can’t work out why his side keep throwing away points at the end of games.
      He said: “Since I got here we have lost 12 points from winning positions in the 90th minute.
      “That has to be about some psychological block — maybe it’s to do with the fact that this club has come so far, so fast.

      “We are the best footballing team in the division but that means  nothing if you don’t make it pay.”
      Wellens was brought in by Gary Neville and the rest of the members of Manchester United’s Class of ’92 to replace Graham Alexander.
      The 40-year-old, who last season took Swindon out of League Two, is charged with continuing the climb that has seen four promotions since Neville and Co took over seven years ago.
      He said: “My job was made clear from the start and it’s a challenge I gladly accepted.
      “Promotion is the target this  season without question.
      “But every time we look like  getting on a run we stumble — when we win two in a row, we can’t make it three.

      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      “I’d love the chance to just sit around, have a meal, let the lads relax and really dig into what the problem is.
      “Pubs and restaurants will be fully open on May 17 but our season ends on May 8.
      “That’s too late for me to do what I’d normally do with a new bunch of players.
      “So I’m going to have to think up another way to find out what’s going on in their heads — socially  distanced, of course.” More

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      Steven Alzate hopes ‘hectic’ Leyton Orient season can help him in Brighton’s Prem survival bid

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      RELEGATION dogfights are nothing new to Steven Alzate.
      In fact, his introduction to professional football was a scrap for survival — and one far graver than Brighton face this season.

      Steven Alzate is calling on his experience at Leyton Orient to help Brighton seal survivalCredit: Rex Features

      The Colombian made his debut for the League Two side four years agoCredit: Getty

      The Albion midfielder, 22, made his bow four years ago playing for Leyton Orient in League Two.
      To call it a madcap campaign would be a huge understatement, as the O’s dropped out of the Football League to the backdrop of internal chaos.
      Alzate reflected: “I remember that season being a bit hectic, a bit crazy. I must have had at least four different managers.
      “At one point, quite a few of the youngsters got chucked in to play because the squad wasn’t getting paid, so a few players refused to play.

      “I had made my debut just before that madness. So it was a bit of a crazy one but I had to make the most of my opportunity and show what I could do.”
      It was actually five bosses, with hopeless owner Francesco Becchetti going through Andy Hessenthaler, Alberto Cavasin, Andy Edwards, Daniel Webb and Omer Riza.
      Webb was the one who gave Alzate his chance, two days before he was given the bullet.
      It puts into perspective the relative calm the Colombian is enjoying at the Amex under Graham Potter, even if they have been sucked into a relegation battle thanks to Fulham’s resurgence.

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      Liverpool boast the most-valuable squad in the Premier League

      The gap to Scott Parker’s men is just four points ahead of today’s crunch clash at West Brom.
      Relegation is clearly a threat but it does not tell the whole story of Albion’s campaign.
      Potter’s side had been on a six-game unbeaten run before Monday’s 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace, which included superb wins over Tottenham and Liverpool.
      Their style of  football has been lauded by the likes of  Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, while exciting talents such as Ben White, Tariq Lamptey and Yves Bissouma are emerging.
      Alzate would like to consider himself part of that group and now has his chance to impress, with Solly March set to miss the rest of the season injured.

      Pep Guardiola is a big fan of Graham Potter’s style of playCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The Londoner added: “Naturally, if you’re towards the bottom of the table, you’re going to  be thinking ‘we need points ASAP’.
      “I feel we shouldn’t be panicking too much because we have been playing good football.
      “Sometimes we have lacked that cutting edge. We haven’t scored as many as we want to.
      “But we are aiming to keep  working well as a team, keep  playing well and I’m sure the goals will come.
      “I feel we shouldn’t be too worried about relegation at this moment.”

      Alzate has won four caps so far for ColombiaCredit: Getty
      Born in Camden to Colombian parents, Alzate opted to play for the South American nation and now has four senior caps.
      His heroes growing up were Steven Gerrard and Radamel Falcao, the latter of whom he is now proud to call an international team-mate.
      For most, playing with an idol would be a pinch-yourself moment.
      But Alzate’s reaction sums up  why he should cope well with the  pressure of Brighton’s predicament.

      The star’s hero growing up was Radamel Falcao, now an international team-mate of hisCredit: Reuters
      He said: “Sharing a pitch with players of the calibre of Falcao and James Rodriguez was an honour.
      “But I wasn’t too fazed. It’s my job. I’ve played with big players before and I’ve played against big players in the Premier League.
      “Falcao’s a lovely, lovely person. From the moment he saw me, he started speaking to me as if he had known me for years. That made me feel really comfortable straight away.”
      Alzate is not of the mindset that Brighton  are befitting of the old cliche of being too good to go down.
      He added: “Of course not. We have to be aware of the position we’re in. That’s normal.
      “We have to respect that we’re near the bottom and we are in a battle. On the other hand, we need to be positive. That’s the only way out of this.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Joachim Andersen ‘fired up’ by detractors who reckon Fulham have no chance of Premier League survival

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      JOACHIM ANDERSEN loves to hear people dismiss Fulham as goners this season.
      And no, the Dane has not chucked in the towel on staying up already.

      Joachim Andersen says he is using Fulham’s doubters to inspire their great escapeCredit: Rex Features

      Instead, skipper Andersen is using it as fuel to fire the Cottagers’ fight for survival.
      After a week that saw them pick up two wins and a draw against Everton, Burnley and Sheffield United, Scott Parker’s side are now just three points from safety.
      The Great Escape II is very much a possibility, 13 years on from the original one under Roy Hodgson, whose Crystal Palace side host Fulham.
      Andersen told SunSport: “I love when people are saying that we are going down because it fires me up. I want to show it’s not going to be the case.

      “One week can change everything. We got seven points last week and we’re now three points behind Newcastle.
      “There’s no need to stress. In football, you always get what you deserve. When we played like we did for months, at some point it had to turn.
      “It’s such a big, big goal to keep this club in the Premier League and I feel that from every single player in the squad.”
      Andersen, 24, only arrived at Craven Cottage in October, sealing a deadline day loan from French side Lyon.

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      Liverpool boast the most-valuable squad in the Premier League

      His knack for inspiring others was quickly recognised by Parker, who made him captain after just FOUR games.
      Andersen’s impressive performances leading a hastily-put together backline have proved how adaptable he is.
      That skill was honed at an early age when he left home to join Copenhagen’s academy, before moving to Midtjylland at 15.
      Switches abroad followed, first to Dutch side Twente, then Sampdoria in Italy and then Lyon, where he became the most expensive Danish player ever, before finally, England with Fulham.
      He also credits his father Jacob, a wealthy businessman, for helping him strive for more.
      Andersen said: “It’s not so often that a loan player is the captain of a club. Of course, it’s a huge honour and something I didn’t expect.
      “It’s not something I’m unfamiliar with because in the youth teams for Denmark I was always the captain.

      Joachim Andersen and Scott Parker are plotting a Great Escape II for FulhamCredit: Reuters
      “I’m quite vocal and feel I have some good ideas on the pitch.
      “But it’s also about how I’m raised. I moved from my family at a young age. It helped me to mature and take care of myself.
      “I also have a dad who expects a lot from me. He’s a leader in his work. It’s something I learnt from him.”
      Jacob has often told his son he is his ‘own little business’ and has helped him with opportunities outside football.
      The pair own a clothing company and have invested in stocks. Like many, Joachim has not been to see his old man for some time due to the pandemic.
      He has spent time introducing his girlfriend to legendary sitcom Friends to alleviate the boredom.

      The Dane believes Jack Grealish’s Aston Villa are a great example for Fulham to followCredit: PA:Press Association
      Covid restrictions means it has been tough to adapt to another new country — not that you would know it from his  performances on the pitch.
      He namechecked Jack Grealish, Bruno Fernandes and Brighton’s Solly March as players who have impressed him.
      He feels Grealish’s Aston Villa provide the perfect example for Fulham to follow of how to survive the first season and then kick on the following year.
      First though, Parker’s side must do the hard bit and stay up.
      Asked if he would be keen to stay if Fulham beat the drop, Andersen said: “Yeah, of course. It’s early to say but I will not exclude anything. I’m open.
      “I have to speak with Lyon about my situation there, so it’s a little bit difficult to say because I haven’t spoken to them. We need to see that in the summer.”
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      Fifa planted ‘the law of the jungle’ trees they now wish to bulldoze with new regulations for agents

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      FIFA describe the current power of football agents as “the law of the jungle” with “conflicts of interests rife and exorbitant ‘commissions’ being earned left and right”.
      Bearing in mind football agents earned £470million in fees in 2019 — four times more than in 2015 — it’s not hard to see how they have come to this conclusion.

      Daniel Kinahan is entering the world of football as an agent

      The irony is that it was Fifa who planted the trees that they now wish to bulldoze to the ground, with what look like suitable new regulations for agents.
      This includes caps on fees, more transparency, a licensing system, avoiding conflicts of interest and maintaining high professional standards, all of which should benefit everyone involved in the game.
      But hold on there…
      The rewards of being an agent are so remunerative that others are emerging from the darkness wanting a piece of the action — and I wonder if any kind of reforms will hold them back.

      Alleged drugs chieftain Daniel Kinahan is expanding his sporting management operation MTK Global from boxing into football.
      Kinahan’s record persuaded Irish police in the High Court to name the 43-year-old as a drugs lord and crime boss in his native Dublin.
      “I’ve no criminal record anywhere in the world,” he pleads. But then neither does Vladimir Putin.
      World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury vouched what a nice chap Kinahan is — and no doubt he is very good to his mother.

      Kinahan has previously worked with Tyson FuryCredit: Reuters
      But that is a long, long way from a recommendation that he should glide unchallenged into football.
      The British Boxing Board of Control don’t like his alleged links with crime but say they can do nothing about it.
      They don’t explain why not — after all, they are the governing body for boxing. And what’s the point of having ‘Control’ in your title if you have none?
      So, of all the reforms proposed by Fifa, “maintaining high professional standards” will be the most difficult to translate into an actual regulation. But it is perhaps the most important.
      Representing football players and their careers should only be done by people who protect the integrity of football, prevent abuses and who genuinely have their players’ best interests at heart.
      And as administrators of the game, we need to ensure Fifa award licenses to agents who can and will do this.
      I understand and respect the fact players need to get as much from a short career as they possibly can.
      They are professionals who hold all the hopes and fortunes of our football clubs in their hands, and they deserve every penny they get.
      So I do worry about the influence and characters of the people who want to get the closest to them.
      If this Irishman’s plans do not put a rocket up the underpants of Fifa-dom, it should.

      And where are the PFA in all this? Are they not concerned about having characters like this representing the players? Are they not lobbying to prevent such types getting licenses to represent their union members?
      On the subject of the PFA, it’s hard to understand what role they play in football any more.
      They represent some of the most influential people on the planet (step forward Marcus Rashford) and their union members are keeping the whole country from going off their rockers during lockdown by continuing to play football.
      The PFA should have prestige, power, influence and a mandate for good. They should be driving the discussion on diversity and inclusion in the country by using the power of football to drive positive social change. Their values should represent the high ones set by the players themselves.
      They should be leading on every issue that affects the players, from education, financial planning, social media abuse, dementia, mental health and . . . who can and should represent them.
      When, oh when, is their reform going to happen?

      Eddie Hearn says he was ‘a little surprised’ by the uproar over Daniel Kinahan being praised by Tyson Fury More