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      Arsenal star Marcelo Flores, 18, to snub England and Canada after being called up to Mexico senior squad for first time

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      ARSENAL prodigy Marcelo Flores has been called up to Mexico’s senior squad for the first time.The Arsenal U18 midfielder is also eligible to represent England and Canada.
      Flores joined the Arsenal youth set-up from Ipswich in 2019Credit: Getty
      He’s well known for his acrobatic celebrationsCredit: Getty
      But journalist Charles Watts reports he has flown out to link up with the national team, who face Chile in a friendly next week.
      Flores has previously represented Mexico at U16 and U20 level.
      He qualifies through his Mexican father, but was born in Canada and granted a British passport earlier this year.
      It means he can still change his mind and switch allegiances to one of the latter two, but only before making four senior appearances for Mexico.
      He also can’t switch if he plays at a major tournament, and must wait three years to change national side should he earn a senior cap.
      Flores has previously spent time at an England U16s camp, although couldn’t represent the Young Lions as he didn’t have an English passport at the time.
      The playmaker has been in stunning form in the U18 Premier League for Arsenal this campaign.
      He’s scored six goals and provided two assists in just nine games.

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      And his performances haven’t gone unnoticed to boss Mikel Arteta, who has promoted him to train with the first team on multiple occasions.
      Flores was also named Player of the Tournament at the Revelations Cup this month with Mexico – an U20s tournament – after scoring twice in three games.
      It’s that rich vein of form that has seen him called up to the senior side for the first time, to the delight of the Mexican press.
      His father Ruben though is insisting that his son’s performances come as no surprise.
      He told GOAL: “The press and the TV have been giving him a lot of attention. But I don’t know why they are all so excited about it.
      “Marcelo has had lots of good experiences with the U20s. He’s gone to lots of camps in places like Denmark and Spain, and he’s always done well, so this isn’t really anything different.
      “Maybe it’s because of the game against Brazil, when he played well and he scored. But Marcelo won’t let this get to him. He just wants to play football. He loves it.” More

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      Footballers with tattoos score more goals than those without, shows new study

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      TATTOOED footballers net 42 per cent more goals than players without inkings, a study found.But they are also more likely to get a yellow card.
      Footballers are more likely to score if they have a tattoo, and get bookedCredit: BackGrid
      Scientists claim those with visible tattoos, such as PSG’s Brazil star Neymar, are viewed as more aggressive — giving them a psychological edge over opponents.
      They reckon the body art bunch are greater risk takers, leading to more goals. The findings follow analysis of Spain’s 2018-19 LaLiga season — when more than a third of top pros had tattoos.
      On average they scored 2.7 goals a season compared to 1.9 for unadorned players.
      They had a 91 per cent chance of getting a yellow card, while those without tattoos had an 83 per cent risk.
      Half of players from South America were inked, compared to a third of Europeans.
      Researcher Dr Nicolas Kluger, a dermatologist at Finland’s Helsinki University Hospital, said: “Tattoos are associated with ego boosting, and symbolise physical strength as well as traits of aggressiveness and rebelliousness.”
      The findings appeared in the journal Annals of Dermatology and Venereology.

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      Pitch invader, 11, reveals her ‘masterplan’ for scoring Ronaldo’s shirt

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      RONALDO superfan Addison Whelan took the day off school yesterday to celebrate scoring the footie star’s shirt – as she revealed she even slept with it.The 11-year-old footie nut jumed over the pitchside barriers to get onto the grass after the World Cup qualifier between Ireland and Portugal at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday night.
      Delighted Addison with younger brother GreysonCredit: Gary Ashe – The Sun Dublin
      Lucky strike…Addison couldn’t believe getting to meet heroCredit: AP
      Superstar Ronaldo spotted Addison running towards him and ordered the security guards to leave her alone – before giving the overjoyed schoolgirl his shirt.
      Shelbourne Under-13 striker Addison yesterday described meeting her idol as “a dream come true” – and took the day off class to spend time with her new prized possession.
      And speaking to The Irish Sun last night, her proud dad Peter lifted the lid on her daughter’s “masterplan” to meet her hero.
      PLAN TO MEET IDOL
      Peter said: “Addison put a good bit of work into the plan and she took the day off school to celebrate it working.
      “She went down to her nannie’s house today in East Wall to celebrate and chill out, she is chilling out.
      “Her plan worked a treat. We had a little plan in place. We had a poster done up with Ronaldo’s name on it, asking for his shirt but I don’t think he saw it.”

      He continued: “So her second part of the plan was to try and get onto the pitch. We had good seats, we were in the second row from the front, close to the corner flag, so they were good seats. And it didn’t take a whole lot to get onto the pitch.
      “The were two parts to the plan. The poster was the first option. After work on Thursday I went home before the game and we sat at the table and drew a poster with his name on it and saying could we have his shirt.
      “I don’t think he saw the poster so Addison had to take things into her own hands and go for the pitch. She is fast and pulled it off.”
      TV cameras captured Addison storming onto the pitch and being chased by security and stewards as the whistle sounded on a scoreless draw.
      Plucky Addison managed to get close to the Portuguese and Manchester United sensation after shouting his name to catch the legend’s attention.
      DREAM COME TRUE
      Addison, of East Wall, Dublin, recalled: “Ronaldo turned around and saw me and told them (security) to leave me, he came over to me.
      “I was shaking and crying.
      “I asked him ‘can I have your jersey please, I’m a huge huge fan?’ And he said ‘okay’.
      “When my Dad saw him taking off the shirt his face was in shock. I was thinking ‘Oh my god, this is my dream and it’s finally coming true’.”
      Addison and her family feared they were facing a €3,000 fine after her pitch dash – but officials announced they would not be issuing a fine.
      Responding to the development, she told us last night: “That’s amazing news, it is so great. There was talk about me getting fined and my dad would have to pay it. Thankfully we don’t have to worry about that now.
      “I wouldn’t have sold the shirt for the world! I wouldn’t have sold it in a million years! I’m going to get it framed and it’s going to go on my wall. I won’t be letting it out of my sight.”
      The youngster spent yesterday fielding media queries and was due to go on the Late Late Show last night.
      Addison’s father Peter said: “The interest has been immense. The phone hasn’t stopped all day. Addison is like a celebrity now!”
      TALENTED FOOTBALLER
      Dublin Port worker Peter is also her football coach at Shelbourne FC and told how his daughter is “making waves” as a forward with the Shels Under-13 team.
      But the stunned dad last night described his girl netting Ronaldo’s shirt as “her best strike yet”.
      Peter revealed to The Irish Sun how Addison was now sleeping with Ronaldo’s shirt and declared: “She is absolutely over the moon, she won’t let it leave her sight.
      “She pulled some moves to get to him. She is quick for sure. She is playing great for Shelbourne. Addison is a striker. She is only 11 so she is playing for the Under-13s.
      “She actually played with the Under-14s last week and scored a cracking goal from outside the box. She is well known in the club. Shelbourne want her to bring the shirt to the club and show it off. She deserves all the attention, she works hard.
      “She’s doing great at Shelbourne but I have to say this is her best strike yet!
      “He just asked her was she ok. Because the security guys were after grabbing her. He asked her ‘are you ok?’ And she said ‘yeah, yeah, yeah, can I have your shirt?’ And he gave it to her.
      ‘IN HER ELEMENT’
      “She is in her element. I was going to work this morning and I stuck my head into her bedroom and there she was asleep with the shirt beside her on the pillow. She slept with it. She loves him, she absolutely idolises him. She is over the moon to get his shirt.
      “She’s actually not a Man United fan, we’re big Arsenal fans but she just loves Ronaldo. She is Ronaldo mad.”
      Proud dad…Peter with AddisonCredit: Pacific Coast News
      The football star offered his top to the superfanCredit: AP
      As Addison’s pitch invasion made headlines around the world, Peter flagged up how it was not his daughter’s first time on the grass at the Aviva Stadium.
      Peter told us: “It is not the first time she was on that pitch. She made an ad with Roy Keane and Brian O’Driscoll. It was an ad with Roy Keane and Brian O’Driscoll in the Aviva, and Roy Keane handed a ball to a girl at the end of the ad. That was Addison.
      “And Roy Keane just took to her like a duck to water, signed her boots, signed her bag, gave her the ball. At the end of the ad, we were all having pizza and he came straight out and gave her the ball.
      “And we still have the ball in the house. It is pride of place in the house. Now she has Ronaldo’s shirt as well.”
      The Whelan family previously hit the headlines with Addison’s older sister Megan a singing sensation who has just launched her debut single with her band Melladaze.
      The girl group have released I H8 U after finishing close runners up on the BBC One Little Mix The Search in 2020.
      Peter said: “Addison has an older sister Megan Whelan and Megan is in a band called Melladaze which was on Little Mix: The Search.
      “They got to the final last year and released their first song this week. Her sister is a singer in the band and she is flying as well. Megan is 20 and her band released her first tune this week I H8 U. It’s going well for them.
      “I’ve got a singer and a budding soccer player. I’m so proud of them both.” More

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      in Boxing

      Ben Whittaker reveals his hope to be Mayor of Wolverhampton and give everyone ‘a grill and gold chain’ in epic interview

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      BEN WHITTAKER plans to become the Mayor of Wolverhampton by winning Olympic gold.The Darlaston light-heavyweight booked his place in the semi-finals of Tokyo 2020 this morning with a narrow win over Brazil’s Keno Machado.
      Ben Whittaker booked his place in the semis with a narrow win over Brazilian Keno MachadoCredit: Alamy
      An elated Whittaker celebrates booking his place in the semisCredit: Alamy
      Whittaker, 24, is guaranteed at least a bronze medal but is hellbent on becoming the man of the town by bringing gold back to the West Midlands.
      After getting past Machado, Whittaker said: “I knew this would be a hard fight.
      “I am a confident, arrogant lad and I am not going to lie, this morning I felt a bit weird.
      “My legs felt heavy and my stomach was twisting.
      “But I listened to the corner and the tactics were great. It doesn’t matter whether it was a split or unanimous.
      “Sunday is where it gets real now. I want to go back home with the gold medal and become the Mayor of Wolverhampton!
      “I want one of those nice chains on my neck, calling all the shots.
      I want to go back home with the gold medal and become the Mayor of Wolverhampton!Ben Whittaker
      “Everyone in Wolverhampton will have a nice ice grill and a nice big chain, courtesy of Ben Whittaker.”
      Whittaker, a bronze medallist in the 2019 World Championships, was overcome with emotion after booking his place in the semis.
      He said: “I have been crying like a baby.
      “It was weird. Everyone has heard me for the last week and the last month saying a bronze is nothing, silver is nothing. I truly did mean that.
      “But when the win came, I had a roar and a little celebration and then it hit me: ‘You know what you’ve done, Ben? You know what you’ve done?
      “All those years I have watched the Olympics, all those years I have been in the gym with Olympians and they tell you their story.
      “When it hits you, it is a weird feeling. The coaches say you are going to be on that wall in Sheffield.
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      “I need a haircut now. I don’t want to be on there with messy hair!”
      Standing between Whittaker and his dream of claiming Olympic gold is Russian Olympic Committee’s Imam Khataev, whom he’ll meet early on Sunday morning.
      Should he get past the Russian, he will face either Bayram Malkan, Loren Dominguez, Arlen Lopez or Rogelio Torres in the final on Wednesday morning.
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      James McClean reveals death threat after anti-Irish troll warned he’d burn down his house with his family inside

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      JAMES MCCLEAN has revealed a sickening message he received threatening to set his house on fire and burn his family.
      The Stoke City midfielder posted a statement on Instagram days earlier urging more support against anti-Irish abuse.

      James McClean revealed a sick death threat he received on InstagramCredit: Instagram @macajw

      He posted this message in response to the abuseCredit: Instagram @macajw

      Irish international James McClean in action for StokeCredit: PA:Press Association

      And the 31-year-old has since shared a vile direct message he received over the weekend.
      The message from an account named elliot.rg20 read: “don’t make me set your house on fire and burn everyone inside it”.
      There were three more abusive messages sent to the footballer, which McClean highlighted.
      In response, McClean called him a ‘wee d***head’ and challenged him to repeat the insults to his face.

      The 31-year-old added: “Honestly god I’d happily slap the head of (sic) him.”
      It came after McClean’s lengthy post on Friday in which he called for discrimination to end.
      He wrote: “Does being abused for being Irish and anti-Irish abuse acceptable?
      “I have highlighted the abuse publicly on social media recently and the silence from everyone is deafening.”

      James McClean hit out at anti-Irish abuse and called for more support to tackle itCredit: Sportsfile
      Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have been urged to do more to tackle hate and abuse.
      Stars like Axel Tuanzebe have been subjected to racist abuse, while managers Mikel Arteta and Steve Bruce both were targeted with death threats.
      Instagram have promised to impose stricter penalties including deleting accounts.

      McClean has been targeted in the past for refusing to wear a poppy on Remembrance Day.
      He wrote an open letter citing the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre as his reason, which he described as ‘one of the darkest days in Irish history’.
      The British Army killed 13 people and injured 15 more on that day after 15,000 protesters gathered in the streets of Derry.

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      Roy Hodgson puts Crystal Palace future in doubt as 73-year-old boss admits he’s not bothered about getting new contract

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      ROY HODGSON cast doubt over his Crystal Palace future by admitting he is not bothered if he gets a new deal or not.
      Hodgson guided Palace to victory at Newcastle which leaves them on the brink of another season in the Premier League but the 73-year-old’s contract is up in the summer.

      Roy Hodgson admits is he not bothered whether he signs a new deal

      And having inflicted a defeat which kept the pressure on Steve Bruce, the Eagles manager was candid when quizzed about his future at Selhurst Park.
      Hodgson said: “I’m not bothered about that. I’ll let whatever happens happen there.
      “As far as I’m concerned I’m trying the best I can to enjoy every day in football still and I don’t know what the future holds, but at the same time I’m not that bothered quite frankly what the future holds.”
      Gary Cahill’s 50th career goal proved decisive as Palace responded to the shock of conceding within two minutes to secure back-to-back wins which means they are now 15 points clear of the bottom three.

      The only sour note was the loss of Wilfried Zaha to what is feared to be a hamstring injury, with Palace already missing several key players.
      Hodgson added: “We’re having a lot of trouble, really hitting a bad patch when it comes to players picking up injuries.
      “I’m rather hoping it won’t be a serious one because Wilf’s got tremendous powers of recovery. To add him to the three players we lost at the weekend and the ones we lost in the past, it’s quite strange and the squad gets smaller and smaller.
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      Gary Cahill’s goal proved decisive in a crucial Palace win over Newcastle
      “The good thing is we got points on the board and that works as a plaster to the sore.”
      But Newcastle remain a target for the relegation strugglers, and boss Bruce was left to lament his side’s failure to take a series of chances in the first half.
      He said: “That’s the most disappointing because you know that you’re not going to get a hatful in the second half.
      “Especially with Crystal Palace with a lead to defend, you know they’re going to defend that little bit deeper.
      “We found it a struggle to create the second half but the first half chances that we had, really, we’ve got to be a bit more clinical, a bit like what they were.”

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      Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City in three-way Achraf Hakimi transfer fight with full-back up for £35m from Inter Milan

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      CHELSEA, Arsenal and Manchester City are set for a transfer tussle for Inter Milan’s £35million full-back Achraf Hakimi.
      The Moroccan star only arrived from Real Madrid last summer but a growing financial crisis at Inter may force the Italian giants to cash in.

      ⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

      Achraf Hakimi is wanted by Premier League trio Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City
      Hakimi has reportedly been tipped by Arsenal scouts as a potential replacement for Hector Bellerin, while Chelsea are long-term admirers of the former Borussia Dortmund loanee.
      Now Manchester City are hoping to trump their Premier League rivals in the summer, according to Calciomercato.
      The 22-year-old has been one of the stars for Antonio Conte’s men this season as they sit just two points behind bitter rivals AC Milan at the top of Serie A.

      The struggle for funds at Inter has seen them miss a payment instalment on the deal which took Hakimi from the Bernabeu and the Italians have been forced to agree a new deadline in March.
      Now they could lose him altogether with the Premier League trio sensing an opportunity to secure one of the most highly rated young full-backs in world football.
      Hakimi plays as a right wing-back for Inter in Conte’s 3-5-2 system, but can also play as a right back or on the left.

      Antonio Conte faces losing one of Inter Milan’s prized assets
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      Born in Madrid to Moroccan parents – and boasting 32 caps for the African nation – Hakimi rose through the ranks at Real after joining them aged just eight.
      It was at Borussia Dortmund, however, where he made his name, having joined on loan in 2018. His two seasons in the Bundesliga allowed Real Madrid to cash in, selling him to Inter for £35million.
      With coronavirus plunging Inter’s balance sheet in the red, they are now vulnerable to a bid just a year later from the cash-rich Premier League sides. More

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      Man Utd teen star Ethan Laird joins MK Dons on loan in bid for playing time at League One club

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      MANCHESTER UNITED teenager Ethan Laird has joined MK Dons on loan for the rest of the season.
      The talented defender will bid to secure regular football with the League One club.

      Manchester United youngster Ethan Laird has moved to MK Dons on loanCredit: AFP

      The 19-year-old full-back has played two games for United which were both in the Europa League last season.
      England Under-19 defender Laird was promoted to first-team training last summer after a number of injuries at Old Trafford.
      Laird was rewarded with a new contract last year which runs until 2023, with the option of extending the deal by another season.
      The academy graduate has been with United since the age of 10 and is highly rated by the Red Devils.

      Laird will gain valuable experience playing for MK Dons for the remainder of this season.
      The pacy defender told the MK Dons website: “I need to work my way into the team and get to know the lads, but I want to make as much of an impact as I can while I’m here.
      “That’s something I’ll always hold myself too – how can I affect my team-mates and the club in a positive way.
      “This is the perfect place for me to continue developing, with the way the team play.

      “They are aggressive, they like to get in behind and they leave it all out on the pitch and that’s my idea of football.”
      Laird started on the bench for MK Dons’ FA Cup third round tie at Premier League side Burnley this afternoon.
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      His league debut is likely to come at promotion challengers Peterborough next Saturday.
      MK Dons manager Russell Martin said: “Ethan is someone with real quality and we’re really pleased to be able to bring him in. He’s chosen to come here over a number of options, which is brilliant for us.
      “He’s very explosive but with lots of quality on the ball and he can play in a couple of positions in defence or further forward, which gives us some more versatility.”
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

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