Celtic quartet feature in SWPL TOTW
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Daily Mail
a few seconds ago
- Daily Mail
Jamie and Rebekah Vardy's potential new life in Italy: God-like status with fanatical supporters, romantic boat trips and partying... just don't expect a diet of pizza under Napoli's manager!
Jamie Vardy could write the final chapter of his hard-as-nails career in one of Europe's most romantic destinations - Naples. The forward has emerged as a shock candidate for the Italian champions Napoli, meaning he could enjoy his last hurrah in a paradise of pizza, parties, and footballing passion. It is, in many ways, a perfect fit for Vardy - a city which wears its heart on its sleeve, a club which crowns its favourite sons as kings, and a culture which has welcomed other British players to much fanfare in recent years. Napoli are on the hunt for another striker after Romelu Lukaku 's injury on the eve of the season and, while they may face competition from the likes of Celtic, where Vardy's old boss Brendan Rodgers pulls the strings, they have a lot to offer the 38-year-old. From breathtaking islands to world-leading restaurants, from boat trips to poker parties and rooftop bars, the region has an explosion of activities to indulge those with deep wallets - and its footballers take full advantage. Just ask Scott McTominay what life is like out there. The former Manchester United star could scarcely have asked for a better first year after leaving England with his girlfriend Cam Reading. So beloved is McTominay, now a Serie A title-winner, that he already has a shrine dedicated to him in Via San Nicola a Nilo, a central street. One fan revealed a McTominay-themed birthday cake. Another got a tattoo in tribute to him. Give you all to Napoli and they will give their all to you. 'I love this place, I love the fans, I love my team-mates,' he declared in December. And there is plenty to entertain him and girlfriend Cam away from the football. The duo have been dining on the Amalfi coast, enjoying parties with their team-mates and families, and exploring the wider region. One of the favourite pastimes of Napoli stars is to hire out a boat and drift off towards one of the islands in the Gulf of Naples: Ischia, Capri, Procida, Vivara, or Nisida. Substitute goalkeeper Nikita Contini shared intimate snaps soaking up the sun with his partner Martina Fusco as they took a boat trip out to Ischia one summer. In July, Pasquale Mazzocchi posed on a boat in front of the Aragonese Castle on a diving trip with some of his close friends. And forward Matteo Politano said: 'The city is wonderful: the sea, climate, and landscapes score a hundred points. I find it a small city, being used to Rome, so I can easily get around. 'The most beautiful thing about being here is being able to take a boat trip or maybe go to the coast as soon as you have one or two days off, while when I was at other clubs I couldn't wait to get back home.' If maritime adventures don't tickle your fancy, then why not tuck into some of the region's renowned cuisine? The Sorbillo restaurant chain has three outlets in the city and is owned by Gino Sorbillo, one of the world's most famous pizza-makers whose recipes are such as hit that he was even made a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. It's not just pizza which gets the tastebuds tingling in Naples - the city is also known for its seafood, pasta, and rice. That said, manager Antonio Conte is a strict monitor of his players' diets, so Vardy shouldn't expect to be gorging on treats too often. The former Chelsea boss is a proponent of the 'Bresaola diet', meaning fried food, mozzarella and alcohol are firmly off the menu (even if he has been spotted out and about having a tipple in Naples), while a Mediterranean menu of vegetables and protein-rich white meats such as turkey and chicken are on the table. What becomes clear, when you dig into the lives of Napoli's stars, is how united they appear to be away from the field. McTominay fortunately has Scottish pal Billy Gilmour to help him settle in, and the duo have had Italian lessons from none other than Conte himself, but the wider culture of the team appears friendly. After their Scudetto success last season, the squad and their partners went for a night out at the Riserva Rooftop bar in the exclusive neighbourhood of Posillipo, which many of the affluent members of Naples society call home. Riserva is reasonably priced in some aspects but lavish in others - a bottle of still water from the Dolomites, for example, can set you back 25 euros. Napoli's heroes took their trophy and their medals to the chic spot and manager Conte was even seen letting his hair down there. But what stands out the most about Naples is its raw passion for the game. Diego Maradona is almost a religion in himself - 515 babies were named after him in the seven years he spent at the club, and his influence still reverberates around the city's streets in graffiti, murals, and statues. The sky-blue colours of Napoli stretch as far as the eye can see and the feet can wander, with flags hanging down over narrow streets and street vendors selling knock-off merchandise. It's not just Maradona who is lionised - from recent years, the likes of Marek Hamsik and Lorenzo Insigne also have enduring legacies in the city's streets. As Victor Osimhen put it: 'Naples should be a country, I see the reason why lot of players spend many years there, because the love they show to their players is really massive and they love football.' Or take Dries Mertens, who spent nine seasons with them: 'In Naples, you breathe football. Not only the young people, it's also a thing for the grandmothers and kids. It's crazy! 'It's something special: waking up, having coffee in the morning, and talking about football. I started to live like them, I love the food, the sea, all the islands here.' There is a lot to weigh up for Vardy, who hopes to keep playing beyond the age of 40. And he isn't the only one in this discussion - his wife Rebekah and their kids matter, too, and they have a lot to weigh up. Moving to Italy could be a chance to escape the glare that abounds in the Premier League or even remaining playing in Britain more general - particularly after Rebekah lost her High Court libel battle with Coleen Rooney. And if Vardy called up McTominay, one of his old Premier League rivals, he would only hear a glowing report. As the midfielder has said: 'The pride of playing here is really special and when I found out that Napoli was interested in me I felt the fire inside me. 'I wanted to come here and push as much as possible because the fans are crazy, I would say they are some of the best fans I have ever seen. Incredible. 'I can't talk enough about the fans, the people, the city and the welcome that my teammates and coaches gave me.' He also told BBC Scotland: 'It was a big decision, but in some ways it was quite straightforward. 'I saw the passionate fans, I saw the coach, I saw the players and I saw an opportunity. 'I took it. I didn't look back. It didn't take me long to make the decision because I knew that was what I wanted and I'll never have any regrets in my life. 'I love this place. I love the fans, I love my team-mates.'
Daily Record
30 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Leicester City legend spotted at Celtic as Brendan Rodgers gives VIP tour of Lennoxtown
The Premier League winning legend was pictured at Celtic's training base ahead of Wednesday's Champions League playoff All the talk has been about Jamie Vardy making a stunning move to Celtic Park. But another Leicester City legend has been reunited with Brendan Rodgers in Glasgow. Premier League-winning legend Marc Albrighton was given a VIP tour of Lennoxtown today after being invited north by former boss Rodgers. Albrighton, 35, worked under Rodgers at the Foxes but retired in 2024 following the end of his contract at the King Power. The former winger - who played a key role in Claudio Ranieri's remarkable 2015/16 title-winning side - has since returned to boyhood club Aston Villa in a coaching capacity. Albrighton currently works with Villa's academy players and was spotted at Celtic's training HQ in Lennoxtown today as the Hoops were put through their paces ahead of Wednesday's Champions League playoff blockbuster with FC Kairat. The ex-Villa and Wigan star will have been given a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into Rodgers' coaching methods as Albrighton looks to continue his own coaching journey. It comes as ex-Foxes teammate Vardy has reportedly set his heart on a sensational switch to Celtic Park. Ex-England star Vardy, 38, is out of contract after leaving Leicester at the end of last season and has been linked with Napoli, West Ham and Wrexham. But reports claim the veteran striker would love a crack at life with the Scottish champions, and has set his sights on playing at the highest level for another couple of seasons. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. here and our Celtic community here.
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Forgotten former Man United star signed by Sir Alex Ferguson joins new club just hours after having contract ripped up
Former Manchester United youngster Nick Powell has found a new club just hours after having his contract ripped up by Stockport County. The midfielder, now 31, was described as 'an exceptional talent' by the great Sir Alex Ferguson when he signed for the Red Devils for £6million in 2012. Then only 18, he had just scored a stunner for Crewe Alexandra in their League Two play-off final win against Cheltenham and seemed destined for a successful career at Old Trafford. But things just never worked out for the Crewe-born wonderkid. After making just six appearances in his first campaign in Manchester, Ferguson's last, Powell was deemed surplus to requirements by both David Moyes and Louis van Gaal and loaned out to Wigan Athletic, Leicester City and later Hull City. In total, Powell played nine times for United, scoring one goal, before being released in the summer of 2016. He has since carved out a career for himself in the football league, first enjoying a successful three year period at Wigan Athletic, where he fired home 41 goals in 140 appearances. Powell later moved onto Stoke City, making more than a 100 appearances for the club, before signing for Stockport in 2023. He was a prominent member of their side in his first season but found himself on the bench in League Two with far more regularity last season. The Hatters announced his departure on Monday with a statement reading: 'The club can confirm that midfielder Nick Powell has departed Edgeley Park following a mutual agreement to terminate his contact.' But perhaps surprisingly it was just hours later that Powell found himself a new club, with Stockport's League One rivals Bradford City announcing they had secured his signature. Speaking about the switch, the former Man United star said: 'I am really pleased to be here. 'I spoke to Graham Alexander, he sold the club to me and I am raring to go. 'The crowd here is a massive draw, having such large attendances in League One is a massive pull for anyone.' Alexander, who was appointed as manager of the Bantams in 2023 and led them to promotion last season, added: 'Nick's ability is undoubted and he is determined to rediscover the form he has shown many times previously. 'It is a deal that suits both parties and we are looking forward to helping him enjoy his football and show his quality once more.' Powell becomes Bradford's 10th signing of the summer as they look to put together a successful season in the League One. They've started their campaign strongly, winning two of their three fixtures, drawing the other.
