Author: v2406

Inside the gym of a bustling school on the outskirts of Madrid, two PE teachers, Manuela Infante and Jose Maria Cruz, flick wistfully through a set of photographs, pointing out the little boy with the bright blond hair and the familiar face of David de Gea. But there is a slice of confusion. De Gea, as young as six years old in some of these pictures published for the first time on MailOnline, is not wearing the goalkeeper’s jersey. Instead he blends into the outfield players as another boy, the chubby Ivan Gonzalez, keeps goal. Cruz, his old football coach, flashes…

DAVID Beckham is passionate about cars and has owned some of the most expensive models around. He even has a stake in a car company. It’s estimated Beckham could have spent around £3 million on cars since hitting the big time , but that hasn’t stopped run-ins with the law along the way. David Beckham has built up an incredible car collection over the yearsCredit: Splash News Becks has been involved in three nasty crashes, been caught using his phone behind the wheel – resulting in a six-month ban and a hefty fine – and more recently he was spotted…

Lifelong fan Usain Bolt thanked Erik ten Hag for “bringing the glory days back” to Old Trafford when the world’s fastest man met the Manchester United’s manager at the weekend. The 100 metres world record holder enjoyed a memorable visit to the north west as the Red Devils secured a 3-1 comeback win against Fulham in Sunday’s chaotic FA Cup quarter-final. The reward for Ten Hag’s men – who also progressed to the Europa League quarter-finals last week – is a semi-final against Brighton at Wembley, where they have already triumphed this season. February’s Carabao Cup win ended a six-year wait for silverware – the club’s longest…

ARSENAL star Mesut Ozil has revealed he’s already paid for 219 children in need to have surgery as part of the BigShoe charity. The German playmaker, 31, revealed he would pay for 1,000 surgeries for underpriveleged children to celebrate his wedding in the summer. Ozil has revealed he has already paid for 219 operations for kids in need after vowing to cover the costs of 1,000 in JuneCredit: Instagram @m10_official Mesut Ozil is changing the lives of kids in need by paying for their surgeriesCredit: Instagram @m10_official The Arsenal star, who rakes in £350,000 a week, married former Miss Turkey Amine Gulse in June…

Drogba came to define a trophy-laden era at Stamford Bridge, but where does he rank among the nominees for the Best Premier League Transfers Ever? Vote below… Didier Drogba – a true Chelsea king (Image: PA) Some players are mirrors of their managers, and Didier Drogba was Jose Mourinho incarnate on the pitch for Chelsea. A born winner, the Ivorian led the Chelsea front line with a fearless tenacity and world-class ability that few, if any, defenders could cope with. As part of our Best Premier League Transfers Ever series, we take a look at how Drogba became a Stamford Bridge legend… Drogba’s journey to…

NEW Liverpool sensation Virgil van Dijk dropped his dad’s name from his shirt over a family feud that has raged since he was 12, The Sun on Sunday can reveal. Close relatives of the £75million Dutch defender say he has never forgiven his dad Ron for walking out on his mum Hellen. That is why the ex-Celtic star, 26, uses his first name, rather than his surname, on his shirt. His mother’s brother Steven Fo Sieeuw has opened up about the bitter rift — as we plot the remarkable rise of the world’s most expensive defender. Dad-of-two Steven, 40, says: “Virgil has done…

KEVIN DE BRUYNE has revealed how being rejected by a foster family as a teenager became the driving force behind his career. Manchester City’s brilliant Belgian was the inspiration as his club reached a record-breaking 100 points in the Premier League last season. Kevin De Bruyne has become one of the best players in the world – but it’s been some journeyCredit: Reuters His current campaign has been blighted by injury – but his return is seen as crucial to City’s hunt for a quadruple. KDB has become one of the stars of world football since moving to the Etihad…

Manchester United star Antony has lifted the lid on his childhood upbringing ‘in hell’ and explained how critics who labelled him a ‘clown’ simply misunderstand him. The Brazilian winger is currently preparing to take part in his first ever World Cup, having become a crucial part of the Selecao squad across the past year. But before the tournament gets underway in Qatar, the 22-year-old revealed the trials and tribulations he’s had to overcome on his journey to the top – such as seeing a ‘dead body’ on his way to school. Man United star Antony has lifted the lid on his difficult upbringing…

DAVID Beckham has checked out of his five-star Qatar hotel after almost a week as fans discovered where he was staying. The former England star has reportedly been enjoying a stint at the elegant Baraha View suite at the Mandarin Oriental in Doha – costing up to £20,000 a night. The hotel’s Baraha View suite costs £20,000 a night Credit: Oriental Mandarin hotel The luxury suite boasts rooftop views of the Qatari capital of Doha Credit: Oriental Mandarin hotel Beckham had reportedly been staying in the plush pad for almost a week Credit: Oriental Mandarin hotel The former England captain checked out…

MIKEL ARTETA is the new Arsenal manager, but he has been through an incredible journey to get to this stage. But before the former Everton captain became a Premier League star as a player and assistant manager, he battled for his life as a baby and required an emergency heart operation. Mikel Arteta is the hot favourite to take the vacant Arsenal jobCredit: Rex Features Before becoming assistant coach at Man City, Arteta played for the GunnersCredit: AP:Associated Press The 37-year-old, who was once a youth player with Barcelona and played 149 for the Gunners, also has a glamorous wife. In 2010,…

Chelsea star Christian Pulisic has “found in the archives” a picture of himself and Blues team-mate Mason Mount. The pair impressed at Stamford Bridge this season, helping Frank Lampard’s side finish fourth in the Premier League. And it seems that the two attacking midfielders had a bond from an early age, even with Pulisic being American. Chelsea shared a photo of the two as youngsters on social media, captioning the pic: “Look what @cmpulisic found in the archives! @masonmount10.” The two, who are joined by one other, appear to be no older than early teens with all three having wide smiles. Christian…

Expectations are high for Erling Haaland after making his £51m move to Manchester City this summer, but he has suggested that he is definitely up for the challenge with a social media post Erling Haaland has sent Manchester City fans into a frenzy (Image: @ErlingHaaland/Twitter) The arrival of Erling Haaland at Manchester City has sparked plenty of excitement at the Etihad Stadium, and the striker is only fuelling the anticipation. The Norwegian striker posted two photos of himself as a toddler wearing a City shirt. On the back, a young Erling had ‘Dad 15’ printed on the back, with his father Alfie Haaland playing for…

It might not have been the best start to the season for Liverpool’s record signing Darwin Nunez, but he has managed to break this season’s record to become the fastest player in Premier League. The 23-year-old clocked a top speed of 22.68 miles per hour as the Reds sealed a 1-0 victory over West Ham, setting a new record in the top-flight this season. It might come as a surprise to some, but perhaps not all, after he recorded the second-fastest top speed in the Champions League last season. Liverpool star Darwin Nunez (pictured) is the fastest player in Premier League this season…

Manchester United midfielder, Casemiro has narrated how his mum would work as a housemaid to take care of them after the departure of his father. Casemiro had a significant turning point in his life when Real Madrid signed him from Palmeiras. He was loaned to FC Porto before returning to leave a trademark signature alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. The Brazilian talked about how his Dad left them when he was only 3 years of age and his mum had a work as a common housemaid for there survival. Casemiro went on to say he doubts if he’ll be…

Former Chelsea and Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba has confirmed his retirement as a player. The 40-year-old scored 164 goals in 381 appearances over two spells with Chelsea, helping them win the Premier League four times and the Champions League in 2012, as well as four FA Cup triumphs and three League Cup victories. Drogba had been playing this season in the United States with Phoenix Rising, the second-tier club at which he is a co-owner. The veteran forward had been expected to hang up his boots following the United Soccer League Cup final defeat by Louisville City earlier this…

Ask anyone who has worked with Bukayo Saka about him and “they would find that he’s doing what I’ve just done,” says Gareth Southgate, “meaning he starts smiling because he’s bringing this to you , you know?” Who else could you say that about in the cutthroat world of football? Two things seem unprecedented about Arsenal fans’ ‘Starboy’, their club and England’s Player of the Year Time Magazine cover star, this humble golden kid. One of them is that at 21 he is the talisman of a team chasing the title. No club has won the Premier League with its most important…

TO the Wayuu tribe, Luis Diaz is more than a footballer. Liverpool’s Quad-chasing star, born and raised in the heartland of Colombia’s largest indigenous community, is a symbol of resistance, hope and pride for his people. Luis Diaz and his family grew up in one of the world’s most challenging environmentsCredit: https://www.instagram.com/anny_diazm/ Liverpool hero Luis Diaz, who has unveiled a new haircut, is a hero to his Wayuu tribeCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk Colombia superstar Luis Diaz grew up in the small village of Barrancas Luis Diaz and fellow Colombian Gera Ponce, who have been together six years, are…

Maria Guardiola, the 21-year-old daughter of Pep, wowed her Instagram followers with her latest post which was hijacked by Manchester City fans urging her to get with their star man Maria Guardiola posed for the camera in a tight-fitting top (Image: maria.guardiola/Instagram) Manchester City fans have urged Pep Guardiola’s daughter to “marry Erling Haaland” after she wowed them with her latest Instagram post. Maria Guardiola, 21, uploaded several snaps of herself to her 413,000 social media followers this week. She could be seen wearing a tight-fitting brown top and a Balenciaga skirt while enjoying a coffee with friends out in London. Being no stranger to the…

Giving an explanation about why he took the no.8 shirt at Man United and the history behind it, Bruno Fernandes said: “That shirt means a lot [to me]. “There is a history behind that [number] because my father, when he used to be a player, he was playing with a number eight. “He quit from football because he had an offer from work, and obviously at that time for me and my brothers and for all the family it was better that he had proper work than [to] keep playing football. “The number eight] is the number he was using…

ENGLAND star Phil Foden has revealed his favourite hobby outside of football – and it’s not what you might expect. Foden, 22, has been a regular presence in Pep Guardiola’s squad since he made his debut five years ago – and has rediscovered his form in the past month. Phil Foden is a star for club and countryCredit: Reuters He has already accumulated a long list of accolades which includes four Premier League titles, four League Cups and an FA Cup as well as two PFA Young Player of the Year awards for his individual performances. But what Foden gets up to in…

Darwin Nunez entered the world in very humble beginnings in Uruguay and a picture of his first home illustrates that perfectly. On his Instagram account, the 22-year-old uploaded an image of his childhood home alongside the caption: ‘My house, where I was happy for 14 years! I will never forget where I came from and I will always remember her fondly’. It’s great that the former Benfica man isn’t afraid or embarrassed of his youth, he’s proud of how far he’s come and this was before he even arrived in Liverpool. Next season the eyes of the world will be on…

EX-FOOTBALL manager Andre Villas-Boas broke the mould when he traded management for rally car racing. The 45-year-old was once considered one of the most exciting young managers in Europe. Andre Villas-Boas gave up football management to race rally cars He entered the Dakar Rally in 2018 Credit: AP:Associated Press But he had to withdraw after crashing into a sand dune Credit: Jordi Rierola Villas-Boas attracted attention after an unbeaten season with FC Porto, in which he won the league title as well as the Europa League. This saw him be appointed to Chelsea in 2011 but was sacked a year later and moved…

Arsenal have been in touch with the PGMOL over some of the tackles that have been dished out to talisman Bukayo Saka this season, but the Gunners winger isn’t complaining Arsenal have been in touch with the PGMOL over Bukayo Saka (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC) Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has revealed that he was heavily influenced by former Gunners favourite Alexis Sanchez growing up – and the England star is channeling the Chilean forward’s fighting spirit after being roughed up on a regular basis this term. The Hale End academy graduate, 21, has spearheaded the Gunners’ shock title charge after accumulating 10 goals and nine assists over the…

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has revealed how important his father has been to his success as a footballer. In an interview and accompanying photo shoot for GQ Middle East, Salah said that his father paid a high price for him, and he is very grateful. In addition, he has given some tips to aspiring young players hoping to follow in his footsteps and become a professional. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah poses for a photo shoot and an interview with GQ Middle East Salah has revealed how important his father was when he was first starting out in his career ‘I would complain that I…