The Sun Newspaper

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER hailed Marcus Rashford’s exploits on and off the pitch, insisting he will become a Manchester United legend.
Rashford, 23, will receive a special award at Sunday’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year show for his tireless charity work on behalf of underprivileged children.

Solskjaer has backed Rashford to become a Manchester United legendCredit: EPA

Prior to that he will continue his day job by leading United’s attack in the Prem clash with bitter rivals Leeds.
And Solskjaer is amazed at the young striker’s marvellous multi-tasking.
The Red Devils manager said: “Sometimes you think ‘will this affect his football’ because he is such a young lad. But he has taken on this responsibility in a fantastic way and balanced it really well with his football.
“Marcus is talented enough, grounded enough and driven enough to be a club legend.

“In and around the dressing room as well, he is a Manchester United boy through and through.
“I am delighted with his contribution. He is a role model. He can affect and influence so many people.”
Rashford has helped raise over £20MILLION for kids to receive free school meals during the coronavirus lockdown.
His campaign also resulted in the Government providing 1.3m children with meal vouchers during the summer holidays.

Rashford, 23, has been sensational on and off the pitch in 2020Credit: Kevin Quigley-The Daily Mail

And having forced Prime Minister Boris Johnson to make one U-turn, Rashford then achieved another.
Just last month £400m was provided by the PM to support poor children and their families and Rashford was given an MBE in the Queen’s honours list.
In between his fantastic campaigning, he has scored 12 goals in 20 appearances.
Solskjaer added: “As a human being, we have seen the true Marcus Rashford ever since he was a kid.

And you see Marcus really cares about people who have had a difficult time or aren’t as privileged as many are, or as he is now
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

“You always get influenced and your character is shaped through your family and where you grew up.
“And you see Marcus really cares about people who have had a difficult time or aren’t as privileged as many are, or as he is now.
“He knows what they are going through and what he has done is exceptional.
“He has a great team around him — and wants his charity work to be organised by others as well so that he can balance the two most important things in his life.”
The drive to help the needy was born out of his own experiences growing up, often going without food and seeing his mother make sacrifices to help him and her family.
Rashford has also launched a book club to help children enjoy the escapism of reading.

Solskjaer tries to ‘protect’ RashfordCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Solskjaer added: “The opposition players and supporters, of course, they respect him for what he’s done.
“Some clubs, the response Marcus has had from them has been unbelievable.”
Solskjaer is trying to do his bit to help.
In last week’s 3-2 win over Sheffield United he kicked off with opposite number Chris Wilder, complained that Rashford was being roughed up by the Blades.
Solskjaer said: “Of course I try to look after him, try to protect him. You never know in a footballer’s career if you are lucky or unlucky with injuries.
“He had a back injury last year and it is mine and the staff’s job to make sure we protect him. Because with his talent, he’s always going to be a target for the opposition.”
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

Man Utd star Marcus Rashford takes on child food poverty in new BBC documentary Feeding Britain’s Children More

 PAUL POGBA is being warned he must toe the line — or face the boot.
The French star was given the stark reminder by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the war of words with his agent Mino Raiola rumbles on.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has laid down the law to Paul PogbaCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

The comments come after his agent Mino Raiola said it was all over at Man Utd for the FrenchmanCredit: Getty – Pool

The Old Trafford boss, who yesterday completed two years in charge, vowed: “I would just not stand for anyone thinking that he is bigger than Manchester United.
“No one is. Absolutely no one — and Paul knows this. It is not only for Paul. It is for all of us.”
His straight–talking stance is as much of an attack on controversial Raiola as a move to show the World Cup winner who is in charge.
Raiola infuriated Solskjaer the day before United crashed out of the Champions League to RB Leipzig earlier this month by claiming it was time Pogba left the club.

He followed that up by declaring: “I’ve said that Paul can leave in the summer because it’s hard to do deals in January.”
French midfielder Pogba’s £300,000-a-week contract expires in just 18 months.
But Solskjaer, whose side host Leeds today, has continued to talk him up, despite his posturing for a move back to Juventus or to Real Madrid.
And the United chief added: “Paul was here as a kid in the Under-18s. We signed him early on and he comes with the Manchester United DNA in him.

“He knows what we are about. United is about being in a team and Paul has always been an ambitious boy who loves playing football.
“He trains well, he never refuses to train or play, he has a good attitude.
“Of course, Paul wants to do as well as he can when he is in the team, however many minutes he is getting on the pitch.”
After last Saturday’s goalless Manchester derby, Pogba took to social media to hit out at the stick he was getting for Raiola’s comments.
He wrote: “I’ve always fought and will always fight for  Manchester United, my team-mates and the fans.
“All has been clear between the club and myself and that will never change.
‘I WANT PLAYERS WHO CAN HANDLE LIFE’
“When you don’t know what’s going on inside, don’t talk.”
But having backed their club-record £89million star consistently since he replaced Jose Mourinho two Christmases ago, Solskjaer is determined that Pogba will stay on.
And the Red Devils chief now hopes to get that message through to the French World Cup winner’s super agent Raiola.
As he prepared for today’s visit of Leeds, Solskjaer added: “I leave negotiations with agents to the club.
“In fact, I rarely speak to agents. I speak to the players — and that is the biggest thing for me.
“I need to see them eye to eye and I think it is important, the relationship between player and manager.
“I want players who can handle life as well. You can’t just go through agents.”
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

Man Utd star Marcus Rashford takes on child food poverty in new BBC documentary Feeding Britain’s Children More

GRAHAM POTTER will ask Manchester United for Dan James on loan to fire up Brighton’s survival fight.
Boss Potter worked with the Welsh flying winger at Swansea — and thinks he would be a great asset if United let him out for badly-needed game time.

Brighton are chasing Dan James – who has struggled for minutes this seasonCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

And James has told pals he would be happy to play for Potter again as he thrived under his style in their last spell together.
The Seagulls asked about James, 23, in the last transfer window but he opted to stay at Old Trafford.
However, his chances of starts are slim and he has the Euro 2021 finals on his horizon.
Wales want to see James playing more often and staying sharp for their campaign as he was a key part of their qualification.

Brighton, just above the drop zone, have found it hard to score lately and Potter needs extra attacking thrust.
Leeds are also long-term admirers of James, trying twice to land him before.
James has made only a handful of club appearances since the summer and often plays on the right when his preference and more effective position is the left.

James worked under Graham Potter at Swansea CityCredit: Reuters

The former Swan was a key man at Old Trafford last season, appearing 46 times in all competitions.

But he played just three times in the Premier League this time around, and hasn’t at all since October 24.
James was on the bench as the Red Devils beat Sheffield United 3-2 on Thursday night.
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

Daniel James has quick feet in training with Man Utd More

INTIMATE photos of Man City ace Gabriel Jesus and former Chelsea striker Diego Costa were found in a Bible handed in at a charity shop.
Both players appeared topless with the same mystery woman in snaps unearthed last week.

An intimate photo of former Chelsea striker Diego Costa was found in a Bible handed in at a charity shop

Another snap showed Man City ace Gabriel Jesus shirtless with the same woman

The Bible was in one of two bags handed in by a woman to a charity shop in Marylebone, Central London.
A source said: “The pictures were instantly recognisable as Jesus and Costa – and both were with the same woman.
“They were both laughing and seemed incredibly relaxed in her company while larking around on pillows without their shirts on.
“The pictures appear to have been taken at different times.

“The charity shop normally gets jigsaws and second-hand clothes, so this was certainly a change from that.”
Two bags were handed in during May, but the snaps were not spotted until staff started sorting them last week.

One snap showed a heavily tattooed Jesus pulling a face for the camera

The Bible was in one of two bags handed in by a woman to a charity shop in Marylebone, Central LondonCredit: © David Dyson – The Sun
The source said: “A woman of Spanish or Latin appearance dropped off the bags.
“She said a friend left the UK and wanted to get rid of a few bits and pieces.

“The woman who brought the bags in has never been back so no one knew what to do with the pics.”
It is not known when the photographs were taken.
Heavily tattooed Brazilian forward Jesus, 23, joined Man City in 2017 and split from model Fernanda Queiroz earlier this year.
The devout Christian was missing from City’s squad against Southampton yesterday.
A source previously said: “Jesus decided to end the relationship to focus on his career.”

Costa played for Chelsea for three years from 2014 and is now at Atletico MadridCredit: Reuters

Brazilian forward Jesus joined Man City in 2017Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Brazilian-born Costa, 32, played for Chelsea for three years from 2014 and is now at Atletico Madrid.
He is married with two daughters and there is no suggestion he cheated on his wife.
In 2014, The Sun on Sunday revealed he was dumped by Brazilian model girlfriend Michele Zuanne after she caught him trying to bed her sister.

Jesus split from model Fernanda Queiroz earlier this yearCredit: Instagram @dejesusoficial

Cheeky Diego Costa trick young mascot in hilarious pre-Atletico Madrid friendly video
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