Mario Jardel has shared a surprising personal story that his sister briefly dated a teenage Cristiano Ronaldo when they were teammates at Sporting CP.
Jardel revealed Ronaldo once dated his sister Jordana
Ex-striker joked CR7 'could have been my brother-in-law'
Also recalled mentoring him during their time at Sporting
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Former Brazil international striker Jardel has revealed he once came close to becoming the brother-in-law of Ronaldo. In a wide-ranging interview with Brazilian outlet , Jardel explained that during their time as teammates at Sporting CP in the early 2000s, his sister, Jordana, was in a brief relationship with the then-teenage winger and claims he helped him improve his aerial ability.
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Asked about his time with Ronaldo, Jardel said: "I'd get the ball and call to him: 'Come on, kid, cross it to me and learn how to head the ball'."
The former striker joked: "My little sister could have married Cristiano Ronaldo, but she didn't. He could have been my brother-in-law, but that's life… I don't talk about that [with CR7], the guy is married, that's in the past, and the past is a museum."
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Jardel was the established superstar and a two-time European Golden Boot at the time, while Ronaldo was a gifted academy graduate just breaking into the first team before his career-defining move to Manchester United in 2003.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Jardel is the only Brazilian player in history to have finished as the top scorer in both South America's CONMEBOL Libertadores (with Gremio in 1995) and the Champions League (with Porto in 1999-00).
Dimitar Berbatov believes Benjamin Sesko's arrival at Manchester United can be a good thing for Rasmus Hojlund as it may lead to healthy competition.
Sesko signs for Man Utd
Hojlund linked with exit
Red Devils urged to keep Dane
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WHAT HAPPENED?
United confirmed the signing of RB Leizpig striker Sesko on Saturday, potentially casting doubt on Hojlund's Old Trafford future. Amid links with AC Milan, ex-Red Devils forward Berbatov feels that the Slovenian's arrival does not have to be the end of Hojlund; rather, he can use this as motivation to compete for a starting spot.
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WHAT BERBATOV SAID
He told The Mirror: "I am excited with him [Sesko] going to United, but at the same time I am a bit cautious because [Joshua] Zirkzee and Hojlund were performing great in their previous clubs. I watched how they moved, how they bullied defenders, how they scored goals, but then going to the Premier League, they found it difficult to adjust. And the stats speak for themselves, right? Three goals, four goals, for a striker, you are going to be disappointed with yourself. So it's not easy, and is it the speed? Is it the new team? Is it the new environment? Is it most of the time the expectation people put on you because when you are number nine of United, you need to score goals, you need to perform, this is your job, this is your job description. Of course, there is so much more to being number nine. Dropping down deep, getting the ball, then releasing your team-mates. Running of course, defending when you need to defend, release the spaces for the other team-mates. It's a lot more to [being a] number nine these days, but ultimately it's about the goals you score. It was difficult campaign for them and it's a difficult period that they are going through, and now with another striker coming in, of course the competition is going to be high. When you buy a striker now you start to think, 'Well am I going to play? Is my place in United? Am I still belonging here? Do I need to start looking for a club?' Or maybe then you start thinking, 'Alright, I like the competition. Now I'm going to show you. Now I'm going to fight for my place. Now I'm going to bring the fire.' So it's a two-way scenario. You choose the one I said or the other. So let's see what they are going to bring to the table as well."
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As Berbatov alludes to, Hojlund scored just four Premier League goals last season, and fellow forward Zirkzee added a paltry three of his own. United have struggled for goals for years, but now they hope that Sesko's arrival, along with summer recruits Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, can solve that problem. And perhaps Hojlund can be part of that solution, with the 22-year-old vowing to fight for his place at the club.
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WHAT NEXT?
Hojlund will hope to impress in United's final pre-season game against Fiorentina on Saturday before the new Premier League campaign starts next weekend. Incidentally, Berbatov added what Amorim must do to make the Dane feel wanted at the club.
He said: "You always want the competition, but at the same time, as a striker, because we think we're special, you need to feel welcome and wanted in the team, by the coach, by everybody. Then your motivation is going to be higher and your self-esteem is going to be higher. It's a lot of factors. It's not easy, but it's all in the head."
Former Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was left wincing in pain when having an iconic tattoo removed.
Swede boasts a lot of body art
Has had one design lasered off
Endured painful process there
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The legendary Swedish frontman – who also represented the likes of Juventus, Manchester United and the LA Galaxy during his distinguished career – boasts plenty of body art, including a giant lion inking on his back.
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He has, however, decided to have one of his tattoos lasered off. That is not a particularly comfortable process, with Ibrahimovic finding that out the hard way. The design in question sits on the left-hand side of Zlatan’s torso.
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WHAT ZLATAN SAID
Having billed himself as a sporting deity when competing at the highest level for clubs around the world, Ibrahimovic decided to get a tattoo which read: “Only God can judge me.” He has now had that removed in a painful procedure.
Previously explaining the tattoo, Zlatan had said: "They could write whatever they wanted in the papers. Scream anything at all from the stands. They still couldn't get at me. Only God could judge me! I liked that. You have to go your own way, so I got those words tattooed on me."
Oval Invincibles could be rebranded with the three-feathers crest of Surrey County Cricket Club, according to chairman Oli Slipper, who has told county members that the Hundred needs to be embraced to help shore up the whole of English cricket, including the County Championship.Surrey were notable sceptics when the Hundred was conceived in 2018, in part because of the impact its hosting would have on red-ball cricket at the height of the English summer, and also because its existence would undermine the existing T20 Blast, for which the club had long attracted full houses at the Kia Oval, the largest venue in the country.Now, however, Slipper says the club hierarchy has been won over by the Hundred’s revenue-generating potential and, in an end-of-year letter to the club membership, says Surrey will use their share of any equity from the ECB’s review of the tournament’s ownership model to bring Oval Invincibles under the club banner, and reinforce their claim to be “the greatest club in the world”.”For many long-standing and committed members of this club, the greatest challenge to the red-ball game is the Hundred,” Slipper wrote. “I fully understand and appreciate those concerns, but I want to assure you that, as chair, I will do nothing that will imperil the future of either this club or County Cricket.”The reality is the Hundred has been a huge success both from a ticketing and TV perspective,” he added. “It is also an extremely important revenue stream for the game of cricket, generating roughly 25% of the ECB’s revenue which funds the broader game of cricket, and helps maintain a viable 18 county ecosystem.”Despite the ECB’s ongoing review into the Hundred, in which various options have been tabled – including a rise to ten teams and an “open pyramid” option featuring all 18 counties in a two-division format – Slipper noted that the competition’s broadcast deal with Sky Sports is locked in until 2028 and therefore scrapping it is “not an option”.Instead, he said that the desire of the ECB and its 19 shareholders to “evolve and improve” the Hundred, including by handing ownership of the competition back to the counties and MCC, presented a “unique opportunity” for Surrey to exert a greater influence on the direction of the sport in England and Wales.Related
Sam Billings: Hundred equity carve-up must be fair deal for all counties
Mark Chapman, Manchester Originals chair: 'The ECB aren't talking to Hundred boards'
Lancashire chairman resists notion of county rebrand for Hundred teams
ECB seek decision on private investment in Hundred by spring 2024
Lancashire chairman: The Hundred becoming a T20 tournament 'makes sense'
“Whilst other counties will undoubtedly opt to sell equity in their team, under my stewardship Surrey will take a longer-term view and look to own and operate our own team within this tournament,” Slipper wrote. “We must find a way of ensuring the history, heritage and legacy of this club is represented in each month of the English summer.”We are not just a venue rented out to the highest bidder, we are the greatest club in the world. We are the pacesetters in English cricket and if any club expects to play domestic cricket at The Kia Oval, they should also expect to wear the Three Feathers of Surrey.”Therefore, it is my ambition, that we get to a point where anyone who plays domestic cricket at this ground does so in the knowledge that they are standing on the shoulders of giants such as Edrich, Hobbs, Stewart and Hollioake.”That ambition also extends to the women’s game, with Slipper signalling the club’s intention to take full ownership of the regional side, South East Stars, so that the “Three Feathers are represented at all levels of women’s domestic cricket”. The club is also exploring options to build a second venue outside of Kennington, to help address the growing pitch-capacity issues at the Kia Oval.Surrey’s men claimed a record-extending 22nd County Championship this summer, successfully defending the title they won in 2022, and Slipper promised to use their growing influence within the ECB to protect the sanctity of first-class cricket, which he described as “the pinnacle of our game and the prize we cherish more than any other”.”I believe that it is our seat at the table that will allow us to wield the power and influence necessary to not only further the interests of Surrey County Cricket Club, but also protect and even grow the red-ball game in this country,” he wrote. “The Counties will need strong voices in the coming years, not just from the sidelines but from within the game at all levels, and I intend ours to be a leading voice.”
Brooke Guest had a day to remember as Derbyshire ran through Sussex in the LV=Insurance Division Two County Championship match at Derby.After the first two days were washed out by rain, Guest marked his 100th appearance for the county as a wicketkeeper by taking seven catches to equal the record number of dismissals in an innings for Derbyshire. Sam Conners and Zak Chappell both took four wickets to skittle Sussex for 100 and in reply, Derbyshire closed on 94 for 1 with Luis Reece unbeaten on 50.Only three players made double figures in a flimsy Sussex batting display after Derbyshire took full advantage of winning the toss.After several days under the covers, the pitch offered some assistance although it was an undistinguished performance by Sussex whose promotion hopes were slim at best even before this collapse.The tone was set in the fifth over by Ali Orr who aimed a big drive at Chappell without moving his feet and gave Guest his first victim.Tom Alsop, leading the side in place of the suspended Cheteshwar Pujara, was also guilty of a loose drive at Conners three overs later and when James Coles threw his bat at a wide ball from Anuj Dal, Sussex were 40 for 3.Tom Clark pulled a short ball from Pat Brown for six but when Dal found some late movement to have him caught behind, the innings went into freefall.Dan Ibrahim was drawn into playing at a ball that left him to give Guest his fifth catch, the first time a Derbyshire wicketkeeper had achieved the feat before lunch since Bernie Maher on Royal Wedding Day in July 1981.Oli Carter was cleaned up playing back to a full-length ball from Conners and after Chappell struck twice in successive overs, Sussex went into lunch on 77 for 8.Only three overs were bowled after the interval before heavy rain delayed the game until 4.30pm but the second ball after the restart, Wayne Madsen damaged a finger trying to take a catch at second slip and left the field in obvious distress.Former Derbyshire allrounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice took Sussex to three figures before Jaydev Unadkat pulled Conners to midwicket, and the innings ended in the next over. Hudson-Prentice skied a pull at Chappell to give Guest his seventh catch, which equalled the record set by former England great Bob Taylor in 1966 who then matched it in 1975 before Harvey Hosein achieved the feat in 2014.It was the first time this season a wicketkeeper has completed seven dismissals in an innings in first-class cricket and his assured glovework consigned Sussex to the lowest total by a visiting team at Derby for 25 years.The Sussex bowlers failed to match the consistent lines of Derbyshire’s attack which allowed Reece and Harry Came to add 65 in 18 overs before Came miscued a pull at Sean Hunt to midwicket.That brought Guest back out to the middle and at stumps he had helped Reece take Derbyshire to within six runs of Sussex’s meagre total.
كشف الدولي المغربي ياسين بونو، حارس مرمى الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الهلال السعودي، رد فعل كانسيلو ونيفيز على تلقي خبر وفاة ديوجو جوتا، خلال تواجدهم بفندق الإقامة بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.
وتلقى الوسط الرياضي خبرًا صادمًا ومفجعًا وهو وفاة البرتغالي ديوجو جوتا، لاعب فريق ليفربول خلال حادث سير بإسبانيا رفقة شقيقه، أثناء عودتهما إلى إنجلترا بعد قضاء الإجازة الصيفية.
وكشفت الشرطة الإسبانية أن السيارة التي تواجد بها الثنائي والتي كانت من طراز لامبورجيني، خرجت عن الطريق، بسبب انفجار أحد الإطارات، ما أدى إلى فقدان السيطرة عليها واشتعال النار بها وتفحم الجثتين.
اقرأ أيضًا | الشرطة الإسبانية تعلن تفاصيل الحادث الذي أدى لوفاة ديوجو جوتا
وخسر الهلال بقيادة الإيطالي سيموني إنزاجي، أمام نظيره فلومينينسي البرازيلي بنتيجة 2/1 ليودع بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025 من دور ربع النهائي.
وكان النادي السعودي قد حقق معجزة بإقصاء مانشستر سيتي من دور الـ 16 بعدما استطاع أن يفوز عليه بنتيجة 4/3، بعد اللجوء إلى الأشواط الإضافية.
وتحدث بونو، خلال تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية عن حالة روبن نيفيز بعد تلقيه الخبر: “لم يكن الأمر سهلًا، روبن نيفيس صديق مقرب لجوتا، كان غاضبًا للغاية أمس في الفندق، اتصلت به عائلة جوتا في منتصف الليل ولم يستطع النوم”.
وأكمل: “عانى كانسيلو أيضًا، كان الأمر مؤثرًا علينا جميعًا، وأهنئه لأنه لعب ونافس بقوة وأدى عمله على أكمل وجه”.
Argentina are reportedly set to play a friendly match in Moscow – despite the Russian national team being banned by FIFA.
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Russia banned by FIFA after invading Ukraine
Reports of friendly against Argentina
But will all-time great Messi play?
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WHAT HAPPENED?
All Russian clubs and national teams were suspended from participating in FIFA and UEFA competitions following the invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. However, reports suggest the 2022 World Champions could face Russia in the November international break later this year.
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The report adds that if the match does go ahead, it is unlikely that stars such as Inter Miami ace Lionel Messi will take part, as Western sponsors would be uncomfortable with their partners playing in Russia.
DID YOU KNOW?
It is said that this encounter would take place at some point between November 10 and 18 in 2025 and would be held at the 81,000-seater Luzhniki Stadium – the national ground of Russia – in Moscow.
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WHAT NEXT?
It remains to be seen if this match between Argentina and Russia, who have played 16 friendlies since being hit with the ban, will go ahead later this year. Russia's last competitive match was a 1-0 loss to Croatia in November 2021.
Nicholas Pooran said that he, and the Lucknow Super Giants team management, were waiting for that one over in the last five that would be bowled by a Sunrisers Hyderabad spinner, and that’s the one they were waiting for. It came in the form of Abhishek Sharma’s part-time left-arm spin, and between them, Marcus Stoinis and Pooran took 31 from it.It was the 16th over of LSG’s chase of 183. They needed 69 from 30 balls. Aiden Markram threw the ball to Abhishek, and Stoinis hit him for two sixes before holing out trying to hit a third. That’s when Pooran walked out and hit his first three balls for six, becoming only the second player to do so in IPL history. For Pooran, it was the perfect match-up, the left-armer bowling into him.”We spoke at the break [the second strategic time out] and we felt like we needed sixes to win the game,” Pooran told the broadcaster after the game. “At that stage, we knew that they had one spinner to bowl and obviously we felt that once that spinner comes on we need to target him.Related
Mankad 64, Pooran 13-ball 44 take LSG back to No. 4
“Stoiny [Stoinis] targeted him the first two balls but unfortunately got out in the third ball and left-arm orthodox is my match-up, so I was happy to walk in and bat three balls off a left-arm orthodox. That got my innings going, so thank you to Sunrisers for that, but I really enjoyed that as well.”The 31-run over proved to be game-changing as it allowed LSG a way back into the match and they went on to register a seven-wicket win. Pooran ended on 44 not out from 13 balls.”T20 cricket is a batsman’s game. And I believe that part-timers, there’s a reason for part-timers. Either they are on for wickets or you can target them,” Pooran said. “This game is all about taking risks. No risks no rewards. I think it was really important in this game and once it’s your match-up, you need to make it count.”1:31
Should Markram have given Abhishek the 16th over?
Super Giants captain Krunal Pandya said that with batters like Stoinis, who scored 40 off 25 despite a slow start, and Pooran, the team always had belief that they could chase down the target.”The biggest thing what we need as a team and individuals is belief. We had that belief. Plus, players like Pooran, Stoin, they can do something [special],” Krunal said. “Pooran can do special things, he’s a special player. Whenever I see him batting, the self-belief and confidence that he has, it’s tremendous. We had that belief that we can chase it down.”He said that there was no “special message” sent out during the strategic time out and that it was a simple conversation that they needed to go boom or bust.”We knew that we had to go. Almost 80-90 [80] runs we needed in the last six and we had to go after that over,” Krunal said. “Luckily it paid [off] to us that Abhishek bowled that over and he went for five sixes and that changed the momentum.”
Tottenham Hotspur are expected to lodge a big-money bid for one of Europe’s most sought-after players in the summer, according to a new report.
Tottenham inconsistencies shine light on transfer plans
If there’s one word to describe Tottenham this season, it’s inconsistent. Ange Postecoglou’s side has swung between unstoppable and absent from one week to the next—beating teams like Liverpool and Manchester City in all too rare one-offs, only to then suffer defeats against the likes of Leicester City and Everton.
That inconsistency was on display again last week. Fresh off three consecutive wins over Brentford, Manchester United and Ipswich Town, Spurs delivered a lackluster performance against City, falling 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A goal from Erling Haaland was enough to secure all three points for the visitors.
Tottenham Hotspur manager AngePostecogloureacts
Speaking after the match, which saw Spurs drop back down to 13th in the table, Postecoglou insisted there were plenty of positives to take from the defeat – most notablty the performances of young stars like Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert.
“There’s definitely positives and I think you know, I keep saying there’s enormous growth that we’re witnessing before our eyes, even though we’re not getting the rewards for it right now,” he proclaimed.
“We’re disappointed, but like I said, in terms of performance, from my perspective anyway, there’s stuff in there where we can say, okay, we we’re going to take that forward and get to level we want to.”
Spurs bidding for Ademola Lookman
After what’s been a difficult season, Tottenham will no doubt be looking to bolster their squad in the summer, not only to add quality but also strength in numbers. According to reports in Spain, one man Spurs will be looking to acquire is Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman.
Spurs have apparently been scouting the Nigerian, who was named last year’s African Footballer of the Year, for several months. There are ‘offers estimated at around €45m (£40m) plus a number of bonuses’, although it is not clear if the bids have been made or just prepared for the summer, the latter of which seems more likely.
Atalanta's Ademola Lookman in action with AC Milan'sEmersonRoyal
Lookman, 27, has been one of Europe’s top players over the past two seasons. Last year, he scored 17 goals and produced nine assists for Atalanta, including a memorable hat-trick in the Europa League final as they beat Bayer Leverkusen to win the trophy for the first time in their history. This term, Lookman has scored 17 goals and produced seven assists in 30 games across all competitions.
Ademola Lookman Serie A Stats 2024/25
Games
21
Goals
12
Assists
5
Chances Created
43
Successful Dribbles
27
Stats per FotMob
Despite being one of Atalanta’s key men, Lookman’s future at the Gewiss Stadium has recently come into question due to a public spat he had with manager Gian Piero Gasperini. The Italian coach had called Lookman “one of the worst penalty takers” after he missed a spot kick as Atalanta were dumped out of the Champions League at the hands of Club Brugge.
“He has a frankly terrible record even in training, he converts very few of them,” Gasperini said. “Retegui and De Ketelaere were there, but Lookman in a moment of enthusiasm after scoring decided to take the ball and that was a gesture I did not appreciate at all.”
Lookman hit back at his boss by calling his words “disrespectful”.
Juventus boss Thiago Motta has personally requested the signing of an Arsenal star, with the Old Lady making contact ahead of a potential move for him.
Players likely to leave Arsenal this summer
Mikel Arteta faces the prospect of many squad members departing N5 at the end of this campaign.
£130k-per-week striker dreams of playing for Arsenal as Ayto prepares bid
The Gunners are chasing a centre-forward this summer.
ByEmilio Galantini Feb 25, 2025
Left-back Kieran Tierney is out of contract at the end of this season, with Celtic appearing in pole position to re-sign the Scotland international who’s fell down Arteta’s pecking order these last two campaigns.
Nottingham Forest (away)
February 26th
Man Utd (away)
March 9th
Chelsea (home)
March 16th
Fulham (home)
April 1st
Everton (away)
April 5th
Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that a summer move to Celtic is beckoning for Tierney, after the SPFL frontrunners couldn’t strike a January deal for their former star, but it could be worth waiting as the Hoops will be able to strike a free deal.
Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates after winning the League Cup
Fellow left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund in January, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, with the Ukranian making just 14 appearances in all competitions this season.
The 28-year-old appears surplus to requirements for Arteta, and unless Zinchenko impresses enough to be reintegrated into the Arsenal starting eleven from now until the end of this season, it appears highly likely that Arsenal could offload him.
There is also the matter of out-of-contract midfield duo Thomas Partey and Jorginho.
Both have been excellent servants since putting pen to paper on moves to the Emirates Stadium, but they’re set to leave on free transfers as things stand, with Arsenal believed to be negotiating a pre-summer deal for Martin Zubimendi to fill the midfield void.
Partey has been linked with moves to Saudi Arabia and Turkey, while Jorginho is said to be in talks over a move back to Brazil.
Flamengo are rumoured to be the club who are seriously advancing in pursuit of the former Chelsea and Napoli star, but according to Bolavip and their reporter Alexsander Vieira, Juve can’t be ruled out of the race.
Thiago Motta asks Juventus to sign Jorginho from Arsenal
According to their information, Motta has personally asked Juve to sign Jorginho, and the Serie A title outsiders have made contact over a potential transfer for the 33-year-old.
That being said, it is in fact Flamengo who remain in pole position, and as things stand, the midfield utility ace is more inclined to accept their proposal. At Flamengo, the club are apparently convinced he will be a star in the Brazilian Serie A, and are prepared to invest significantly in a two-and-a-half to three-year contract for him.
Sources close to Jorginho say that he will make a final decision on his next move in the coming weeks, but what appears certain is that the player is facing his final few months at the Emirates.
“I know him a lot, so for me it is nice to play with him he knows me well,” said Kai Havertz last season. “It makes life easy for me, he is a world-class player.”