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      in Soccer

      Egypt expect Mo Salah to play at Tokyo Olympics next summer will fly to Liverpool for showdown talks with Jurgen Klopp

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      EGYPT Olympic bosses expect Mo Salah to be part of the Tokyo Olympics – and will meet Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp for showdown talks.
      SunSport understands Salah, 28, will be the first name on the teamsheet for the rescheduled Games in Japan.

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      Liverpool star Mo Salah is expected to lead the way for Egypt in the delayed Tokyo OlympicsCredit: Rex Features

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      Egypt’s Olympic coach Shawky Gharib is determined to have Salah in his teamCredit: AFP – Getty
      And the Pharaohs are prepared to fly to Anfield to explain why the star striker should put country before club in 2021.
      It would mean he will play throughout next summer and miss the start of the 2021-22 Premier League season.
      Shawky Gharib, coach of the Egyptian Olympic National team, said: “The only and first name I put in the squad is Mohamed Salah.
      “All Egyptian players would like to have the honour to play in the Olympics but all of us wanted Salah so he will be with us.

      “I’m ready to put all the pressure on Liverpool to accept his participation, and I could travel to England for that.
      “I remember when I was the assistant coach of the Egyptian National Team.
      “I travelled to Germany to meet Jurgen Klopp and convince him to let Mohamed Zidan join the team and he accepted.
      “We will use Salah of course and the Egyptian Football Federation will play a role.”

      Another complicating factor for Liverpool is that Salah would be called up for the Africa Cup of Nations if Egypt qualify.
      The event in Cameroon has been moved back 12 months to January 2022.
      Gharib added that they are also planning to speak with Aston Villa midfielder Trezeguet about the prospects of going to the Olympics.

      Mo Salah’s amazing body transformation from skinny Chelsea flop to ripped Liverpool superstar More

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      in Soccer

      Wilfried Zaha fears being priced out of transfer again as Crystal Palace demand £70m… with 25 per cent owed to Man Utd

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      WILFRIED ZAHA fears being priced out of the market by Crystal Palace for a second year running.
      The 27-year-old winger has told the club he wants to leave this summer after a disappointing campaign.

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      Wilfred Zaha fears being priced out of the market by Crystal Palace for a second year runningCredit: Rex Features

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      Zaha was fuming when he was hit with an astonishing £100m price tag by Palace owner Steve Parish last summerCredit: PA:Press Association
      And Eagles manager Roy Hodgson is ready to listen to offers for the exciting Ivory Coast international.
      But Palace are expected to demand as much as £70MILLION for their star player and Zaha’s representatives worry that will scupper hopes of a move.
      Zaha was fuming when he was hit with an astonishing £100m price tag by Palace owner Steve Parish last summer.
      And though his value has plummeted as a result of his indifferent form and the financial consequences of coronavirus, Palace are still in no mood to let him go on the cheap.

      The biggest stumbling block for any deal is the sell-on clause which Palace agreed with Manchester United when they brought the player back to Selhurst Park in 2015.
      United paid £10m to make Zaha the last signing of Alex Ferguson’s reign but he only managed seven months at Old Trafford before being resold to Palace for £6m.
      But it is understood that Palace promised United as much as 25 per cent of any future sale.

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      Manchester United stand to profit 25 per cent of any future Zaha sale
      And it is that sell-on clause which makes it almost impossible for Palace to slash their asking price.

      Arsenal’s £40m bid was rejected out of hand last summer after former boss Unai Emery made Zaha his No1 Emirates target. 
      But the Gunners are no longer in the market after overruling Emery’s wishes to pay a club-record £72m for Nicolas Pepe.
      Big-spending Everton also had a £52m bid turned down before returning with an improved £70m offer plus midfielder James McCarthy in part exchange on the eve of the transfer deadline.
      Yet that was also rejected by Palace because there was no time to sign a replacement, leading to disappointed Zaha parting company with his agent.
      Everton director of football Marcel Brands remains a big admirer of Zaha, although it is not known if new boss Carlo Ancelotti is quite so keen.
      But the Merseysiders will be working on a restricted budget this summer after blowing more than £200m on failed signings in recent years.

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      Palace are expected to demand as much as £70m for their star player
      One possible solution is for Everton to offer Alex Iwobi and Cenk Tosun plus a fee of around £20m for Zaha.
      Palace had agreed a £17m fee to sign Turkish international Tosun when he joined them on loan in January.
      But the striker suffered a serious cruciate injury the following month and the loan agreement was cancelled.
      Iwobi cost Everton £35m when they signed him from Arsenal last summer, the day after their improved bid for Zaha was rejected.
      But the Nigerian international winger has failed to shine at Goodison and could be allowed to leave after just one season.
      Tottenham are also thought to be interested in Zaha but are not likely to become involved in a bidding war for a player who scored just FOUR goals all season.
      Hodgson was critical of Zaha’s efforts since Palace emerged out of lockdown last month and said: “It’s obviously affected him because his form in the last few weeks has been quite poor considering what he is capable of doing.

      “It’s a dilemma for him and for the club if he is set on leaving.
      “We still like him very much but we can’t make him like us and it would be sad if he feels he doesn’t want to be with us any more.”
      Zaha became the highest-paid player in Palace history two years ago when he signed a £130,000-a-week deal which runs to 2023.

      Glenn Murray says now is the time for Wilfried Zaha to leave Crystal Palace More

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      in Soccer

      Tottenham teen Troy Parrott set for season-long loan transfer to Championship Millwall

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      MILLWALL are closing in on a season-long loan for Tottenham’s Republic of Ireland strike starlet Troy Parrott.
      Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has agreed to throw his teen hitman to the Championship Lions next term.

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      Milwall are closing in on a season-long loan for Tottenham’s Republic of Ireland strike starlet Troy ParrottCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The South Londoners hope to finalise the deal with the youngster today before announcing it next week.
      Parrott, 18, is one of the most highly-rated prospects in Tottenham’s academy.
      The Dublin-born ace won his first cap for his country – in their 3-1 win over New Zealand in November – before he made his Prem debut as a sub in Spurs’ 5-0 thrashing of Burnley a month later.
      After turning 18 in February he signed a new three-and-a-half year deal with the North London club and many of their fans were hoping he would be given a crack at first-team football next season.

      But Mourinho – who criticised the youngster’s attitude after taking over as boss in November – believes the rookie needs to toughen up and gain more life-experience before he is ready to play for Tottenham in the Prem.
      So the Special One has rubberstamped his kid’s secondment to South Bermondsey – despite offers from a number of other clubs.

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      Jose Mourinho with striker Parrott who he plans to loan out
      Mourinho gave the thumbs-up after learning that his star striker Harry Kane benefited from a 2012 loan stint at the Lions.
      The England captain has said his spell at the Den “turned him into a man.”

      Mourinho hopes it will do the same for Parrott – regarded as the hottest young forward at Tottenham since Kane.
      Parrott, who has been inundated with loan offers from clubs in the Premier League, Championship and across Europe, is also keen on joining Millwall after speaking with Kane.
      The promising striker and his representatives are also pleased with the way the Lions have dealt with the deal.
      Millwall finished eighth in the Championship this season, narrowly missing out on the play-offs.
      Lions boss Gary Rowett wanted to pair Parrott with Wigan’s Wales forward Kieffer Moore in a dream partnership next term.

      Moore held talks with the Lions this week after they had a £2million bid for him accepted by the Latics.
      But Millwall fear he prefers a move to Cardiff, whose manager Neil Harris tried to sign him twice while in charge of the Lions.
      Preston are also interested but it appears the player now has his heart set on the Bluebirds.

      Jan Vertonghen says he is ‘considering the options’ regarding transfers after leaving Spurs More

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      in Soccer

      Coronavirus showed football’s good, bad and ugly from long-awaited glory and charitable stars to Wigan’s shocking demise

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      SO the circus has left town for seven weeks, packed and gone, after our festival of football.
      A season of two segments if you like — Football BC and AD (Before Covid and After Disease).

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      Liverpool were rewarded for their Premier League dominance by winning the title by 18 points from dethroned champs Manchester CityCredit: EPA

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      Man Utd striker Marcus Rashford had a brilliant season on the pitch and excelled himself off it too with his charity work
      What we got to see after football shut down and then when it re-emerged was The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the nation’s game — and for posterity it’s good to dwell for a moment.
      THE GOOD
      Premier League football’s return was the main one, of course.
      We saw the rightful ascension to the throne of Liverpool, the best team in the country — the European, world and now Premier League champions.
      We also witnessed the top-flight return of the mighty Leeds United.

      There were moments of positive influence from footballers, specifically Marcus Rashford.
      The Manchester United superstar not only got supermarkets to donate millions for food banks but also got a slightly forlorn Government, so battered by handouts, to do a U-turn and ensure that lunch support continued for children of disadvantaged families.

      Despite my cynicism that #playerstogether initiative was a ruse to get around pressure for pay cuts, it raised millions for good causes.

      We saw Pep Guardiola, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Neymar and a raft of high-profile football people make significant charitable financial donations, alongside luminaries like Gary Neville opening his hotel for NHS workers and Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace doing something similar with his portfolio of rental properties.
      Despite my cynicism and belief that the #playerstogether initiative was a ruse to get around media and public pressure for players to take pay cuts, which en masse they managed to avoid, it raised several million for good causes.

      Most notable among them was the NHS, so this must be given the thumbs-up.
      THE BAD
      We unfortunately saw some gormless footballers not quite getting their responsibilities during lockdown —  Jack Grealish, Andre Gray, Salomon Kalou, Moise Kean and Kyle Walker  deciding the rules didn’t apply to them.

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      Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish blotted his contribution to the season during lockdown, summed up by his morning-after footwear
      What was difficult to stomach was the immorality of players knowing football was financially broken and refusing to assist financially, which was undoubtedly badly compounded by a deplorable outlook from their union, the PFA.
      Further down the pyramid, the curtailing of League One and Two was a disgrace.
      There was also a lack of governance, or a solution to the financial woes of the Football League that continue despite the game having the biggest opportunity in 30 years for a desperately-needed reset.
      And the ongoing failings to deal with  Sheffield Wednesday and Derby’s alleged breaches of EFL financial rules aren’t just bad, they are negligent.
      THE UGLY
      The disgraceful demise of Wigan Athletic, a club that means so much to its fans.

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      Wigan’s Joe Gelhardt and Co were badly let down by the club’s shocking takeover saga, meaning a 12-point penalty and thus relegationCredit: PA:Press Association
      The Latics were tossed into a financial dumpster, put into administration and relegated by a faceless owner with no apparent reason, logic or care — all perhaps in the pursuit of betting returns.
      Unedifying carry-ons at Charlton, with wall and the wallpaper merchants getting into positions of ownership of clubs, none of them seeming to have two pennies.
      There were unseemly debates about monies, Range Rovers and flats and meanwhile a club gets relegated and fans and a manager left broken-hearted.

      And to Newcastle United — the ownership of a football club with such great heritage potentially falling into the hands of a regime whose crimes against humanity should really exclude them for owning such meaningful things.
      This set of anecdotes for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, could be as long as Tolstoy’s War and Peace. I haven’t even touched the Manchester City Uefa, FFP, CAS situation  and will leave you to decide which one that falls into . . . Whoever said football was dull!
      SIMON JORDAN’S Final Word is on talkSPORT from 5-8pm on Sunday.

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      in Soccer

      Jose Mourinho helping boost Saudi Arabia’s image as oil-rich nation plan UK academy if Newcastle takeover is completed

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      SAUDI ARABIA are using Jose Mourinho to boost their image.
      The Tottenham boss sent a message to the Saudi ministry of sports on Monday after they unveiled a new football academy.

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      Abdullah bin Faisal Hamad, president of Mahd Sports Academy and believed to be close friend of Jose Mourinho

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      Jose Mourinho sent a message to the Saudi ministry of sports
      Mourinho is believed to be a close friend of Abdulla bin Faisal Hammad, who is the brains behind the Mahd Sports Academy — which came about after Saudi Arabia were thrashed 5-0 by Russia in the 2018 World Cup.
      And the Portuguese said: “I always think the beginning of big things start with very negative things.
      “I think you reacted in the most beautiful way — by launching the academy and investing in infrastructure.
      “I always say that a defeat is not the end of the world.

      “A defeat is the beginning of a new cycle of victories. The sun will rise again.”
      SunSport understands that Saudi Arabia are planning to build a headquarters for the academy in England if the £300million takeover of Newcastle goes through.
      They hope it will ‘become one of the largest in the world over the next decade’ and plan to scour the UK for the best young talent, sending the cream of the crop to Newcastle.
      And Mourinho was not alone in bigging up the Mahd Sports Academy, with ex-England manager Fabio Capello and Fifa chief Gianni Infantino joining the chorus.

      President Infantino said: “This academy can surely be a game-changer in the country and region.
      “There is no excuse, the next step is to win the World Cup!
      “We count on Saudi Arabia.”

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      Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Minister of Sports is hoping to develop a UK academy More

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      in Soccer

      Jamie Vardy’s name set to be erased by hard-up non-league club where Golden Boot winner launched his career

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      GOLDEN BOOT winner Jamie Vardy is about to be booted out of the club that launched his career.
      Hard-up Stocksbridge Park Steels plan to take the Premier League striker’s name off their main stand in a desperate bid to raise funds.

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      Jamie Vardy won the Premier League Golden Boot this seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Vardy’s name is currently on the stand at Stocksbridge Park SteelsCredit: STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS
      SunSport can reveal the Northern Premier League minnows are upset the multi-millionaire superstar has so far ignored their financial plight.
      And the South Yorkshire club are now actively seeking a sponsor to replace the name of their most famous player to make ends meet.
      The tiny metal structure was named in recognition of Vardy scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League games in 2015, breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s previous record.
      Vardy, 33, is the oldest winner of the Golden Boot having bagged 23 Prem goals in Leicester’s failed bid to qualify for the Champions League.

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      Vardy spent seven seasons at Bracken Moor LaneCredit: Bradley Ormesher – The Times
      Park Steels chairman Graham Furness said: “If we can get a sponsor for the stand we will take his name off it – needs must, to be fair.
      “At the moment we need to raise as much income as we can because since the pandemic started most of our income streams have stopped.
      “We are looking at £16,000 sponsorship for two seasons and we’re talking to someone at the moment – but if Vardy wants to pay it to keep his name there he can.”
      Ex-England star Vardy is the Foxes’ highest-paid player, believed to be on £140,000 per week and said to be worth £12million.

      In comparison, Park Steels’ annual playing budget is £37,000.
      Yet Furness confessed he and other board members were a little hurt and surprised that the club’s prodigal son had not come to their rescue.

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      The non-league club may have to remove the name of their star former playerCredit: STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS
      He said: “Jamie Vardy has gone off the radar a bit with his old connections, which is sad if I’m being honest.
      “We haven’t asked for any help from Jamie but we are aware he knew about our plight but hasn’t done anything.
      “When you think of the money he’s earned you would like to think he might do something to help.
      “Harry Kane did something for Leyton Orient and you would like to think that would spur him on but obviously not.”
      Vardy spent seven seasons at Bracken Moor Lane, scoring 66 goals in 107 league games after being released by Sheffield Wednesday at 16 for being too small.
      Park Steels even stood by the player when, at 20, he was convicted for a criminal assault and had to wear an electronic tag on an ankle.

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      Vardy is a legend at the club where it all beganCredit: Peter Revitt – STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS
      The striker was allowed to leave games early or be excused from playing in extra-time so that he could be home by the 6pm curfew.
      Stocksbridge banked £15,000 from Halifax for Vardy in 2010 and received a further £25,000 sell-on fee when the Shaymen sold him to Fleetwood for £150,000.
      Vardy’s 31 goals in 36 appearances not only helped Fleetwood win promotion to the Football League but it earned him a £1million transfer to Leicester.
      Furness said: “Selling him to Halifax helped us out and we were thankful for the sell-on clause which we were more than happy with at the time.
      “But lately we’ve had a horrendous couple of months just after lockdown because the tractor engine blew up and vandals broke into our training ground and broke the mobile goal.
      “Then our sponsors decided not to renew their deals because of the uncertainty — and there was a real danger we wouldn’t be able to start the season at this level.”

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      The club are disappointed Vardy has not stepped in to donate himself
      The club used crowdfunding to fix the tractor that trims the pitch and recently secured a new sponsor, Eco Power Environment, to safeguard their future until 2022.
      Furness added: “I didn’t expect anything from Jamie and he’s not obliged to give anything.
      “We’re not going to force the lad. If he donates, fantastic — if he doesn’t, people will make up their own minds about that.”

      A spokesperson for Vardy said:  “Jamie is disappointed to hear these comments, especially as he has had no formal approach from anybody at Stocksbridge.
      “Jamie is a huge supporter of non-league football and he has helped many players fulfil their dreams in the game through his V9 Academy, which he funds himself.
      “Jamie will continue to champion non-league football and invest in helping players follow in his footsteps.”

      Leicester’s top scorer Jamie Vardy wins the Premier League’s Golden Boot More

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      in Motorsport

      Silverstone chiefs vow to stage ‘record-breaking’ British GP next year as 350,000 fans miss out due to coronavirus

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      SILVERSTONE chiefs are planning a “record-breaking” bumper British Grand Prix for 2021 to make up for this year’s behind-closed-doors race.
      Last year, over 350,000 fans attended over the four days whereas this year the grandstands will be empty as part of the coronavirus measures.

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      Lewis Hamilton hopes to soon be reunited with the Silverstone faithfulCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Circuit bosses have warned fans not to waste their time trying to get close to the track to sneak a glimpse of Lewis Hamilton or even hear his Mercedes on track.
      However, next year, Silverstone MD Stuart Pringle wants to recapture the atmosphere from 1992 – when Nigel Mansell won the world title – a period dubbed “Mansell Mania” when British F1 fans flocked to the circuit.
      He said: “I am certain we will all feel the lack of fans but we want to focus on next year.
      “We don’t know what the world will be like but I sincerely hope we are operating as normal by July next year.

      “Providing it is safe to do so, I think we need to have a look and see if we can break some records next year because there is unquestionably a pent-up demand.
      “I have my sights on topping Mansell Mania. That’s what I want to go for – ’92 particularly because that was absolutely massive.

      “What’s interesting now is that it is all coming in to focus, even for the less casual viewer.
      “Lewis Hamilton is now recognised as one of the greatest ever and then you have Lando Norris, who is fourth in the championship for McLaren.

      “Then, if you are a fan of the sport, you will be aware of what a great job George Russell is doing.
      “We are about to enter a golden period for British Formula One interest.
      “We have arguably the greatest ever and then the other two British lads, who are the heirs to his throne.”
      Pringle says that the Northamptonshire circuit is now fully prepared for this weekend’s race – followed by a GP to mark the sport’s 70th anniversary next week in a unique doubled-header.
      He added: “I am happy. I don’t have any concerns.
      “I think we are lucky we are the fourth and fifth races of the year and we are benefiting greatly from F1 and the FIA’s experiences from the first three rounds. All the testing procedures are up and running.”

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      McLaren ace Norris says the British GP without fans will not feel “as special” as his F1 debut last year.
      He said: “It is going to feel weird going to the home GP and not having any of the fans there.
      “It would have been nice to see even more flags with my name on. When you don’t have the fans it doesn’t mean as much, it’s not as cool, it’s not as special.
      “But at least we’re racing, back on track, and heading in the right direction. Hopefully, next year we can get the fans back and they can enjoy the racing again.”

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      in Boxing

      Anthony Joshua insists he’s ‘waiting’ for Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder as he looks to cement heavyweight legacy

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA is pleased Tyson Fury gatecrashed the heavyweight championship party — but now wants to hunt him down.
      The Gypsy King spent almost 1,000 days out of the ring after unifying the division by dethroning Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.

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      Anthony Joshua is ready and waiting for Tyson Fury and Deontay WilderCredit: Getty – Contributor

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      Fellow British heavyweight Fury is WBC heavyweight champCredit: Richard Pelham
      Fury’s thrilling return and February demolition of Deontay Wilder should strike fear into potential opponents — but Joshua has his fellow Brit top of his guest list.
      Watford’s WBA, IBF and WBO king told Apple Music: “I’m happy Fury won — it changed the whole dimension of the heavyweight division.
      “We’re fighting for legacy. I need Wilder. I need Fury. I’m ready for them. I’m waiting for them.”
      As well as enjoying the depth of quality in the division, AJ remembers being impressed with a different type of talent at the London 2012 Olympics, where he won gold.

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      Tyson Fury beat Deontay Wilder in FebruaryCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The 30-year-old said: “A good memory for me was just all the different countries being in one place.
      “I wanted to throw a party with those Jamaican girls, Swedish girls, all those different countries! I was like ‘Wow, this is amazing’.
      “The annoying thing about being in the athletes’ village was that I boxed on the last day of the whole two weeks.
      “So I knew people who had won a gold medal on the third day and were then walking around loving life while I was still doing running and physio.”

      AJ could have had a very different view of the 2012 Games after he was arrested in the build-up with 8oz of cannabis, while dressed in a Team GB tracksuit.
      He said: “I was boxing for Team GB a year before the Olympics and at that stage I was on about £500 a month, so it could not keep me away from opportunities that came my way.
      “I was on a notorious estate in north-west London. I was a young boxer in my Team GB tracksuit. I was driving a Mercedes,  cruising through the estate and three undercover police stopped and said that my car smelt a bit.

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      “I told them my uncle was a Rasta, they smoke weed and I had just dropped him off at the station. I told them I hated it because I was just trying to focus on the Olympics.
      “They said they understood and told me to stay focused but then one of them picked my big bag and asked ‘What is this?’.
      “I got charged and I got community service. I also got banned from the Olympic team for a while. That was a tough time.”

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