Gary Lineker seen arriving at Match of the Day studios ahead of final show tonight after controversial BBC exit
The sports pundit was snapped leaving a car with his bag slung over his shoulder as he entered through the basement car park.
After 26 years as Match Of The Day host, he will present his final highlights show tonight covering the last day of the Premier League season.
The 64-year-old was due to cover next year's FA Cup and World Cup but bowed out early.
This move sparked a battle for his signature between rival broadcasters.
It follows a controversial row over his use of social media.
The Leicester-born star, who moved seamlessly from footballer to one of the most famous presenters at the corporation, was temporarily suspended in March 2023.
He was embroiled in an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the then-government's new asylum policy.
In November 2024 he announced he would be stepping down from presenting Match Of The Day at the end of the season, but would still host World Cup and FA Cup coverage.
He exited the broadcaster early after apologising for sharing and then deleting a post on his Instagram account from the group Palestine Lobby.
It was illustrated with a picture of a rat, which prompted calls for him to be sacked.
After this the BBC said Lineker would leave his presenting role following the conclusion of Match Of The Day for the 2024/25 season.
The Beeb added that he would not present its coverage of the 2026 World Cup or next season's FA Cup.
Lineker was the corporation's highest-paid presenter, with the BBC's annual report for 2023/24 showing his salary to be to around £1.35 million a year.
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Daily Mail
a few seconds ago
- Daily Mail
The transfer to save Jack Grealish's fading career: Partying and boozy confessions marked Man City star's downfall from talisman to spare part - now he has a Premier League lifeline
Jack Grealish has moved one step closer to a move that would have been unthinkable 12 months ago: a season-long loan to middle-table, at best, Everton. It would mark the end of a dismal two years at Manchester City for the 29-year-old, whose stock at the Etihad has fallen at such an alarming rate that the world's top economists would struggle to find precedence. There are examples in the world of football, especially with Pep Guardiola, who has never been passive when met with a character that does not yield to his omnipotence and authority as boss. But given the crucial contribution Grealish made to City's historic continental Treble in the 2022-23 campaign, his then-British record £100million fee and the affection he enjoys from almost all of his team-mates, the manner in which he has been cast aside has, at times, been shocking. Of course, the winger bears responsibility in this. In Grealish's maiden campaign he earned a respectable 22 starts in the Premier League while making 39 appearances in all competitions as City pipped Liverpool to the league title by a single point. Counting stats - goals and assists - have never put the Birmingham native in particularly good light. He scored just six goals and assisted four for his team-mates, numbers dwarfed by the likes of Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling. But that summer brought change in Manchester. Confident that Grealish's elite dribbling ability and knack for winning free-kicks would allow his team to exert even more control over the opposition, Guardiola put his faith in the winger and was handsomely rewarded. Sterling and Gabriel Jesus were among the marquee talents that were allowed to depart as Guardiola set about achieving his ultimate aim of winning the Champions League. Nine months after their August start, he not only had his third European Cup but another Premier League and FA Cup for good measure. Grealish was one of several key performers for the Citizens during the campaign. Yes, future Ballon d'Or winner Rodri scored the winner in a tense 1-0 Champions League final win over Inter Milan and yes, new signing Erling Haaland broke a heap of records to power City to the league title but Grealish's part in the piece cannot be overlooked. That campaign saw the former Aston Villa man lap up the acclaim of pundits and fans alike, with many in agreement that he was performing at a level his astronomical fee demanded. '£100m player expectancy levels are huge, people demand the finished article immediately but you need a bedding in period and he's had that now,' former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand told BT Sport in 2023. 'I don't think I've ever seen him more confident than this. He's receiving the ball and demanding it under pressure with end product now and he's scored some big goals this season. 'His importance to the team is dragging players to him and creating an overload elsewhere - him and Bernardo do that as well as anyone in this team', he added. Daily Mail Sport's North West Sports Reporter Jack Gaughan wrote of the Englishman's 'undroppable' status and lauded the winger for kick starting his City career after his tepid debut. 'Guardiola barely ever drops him, something that has had a knock-on effect on Phil Foden,' wrote Gaughan. 'At the crux of his importance is that he never gives the ball away and it was Grealish who puffed his chest out when Arsenal were running over City on Wednesday night.' After Grealish's goal in that 3-1 February win over title rivals Arsenal, which took City top of the standings for the first time in four months, Guardiola said: 'In these types of games you have to keep the ball, two or three touches. 'We were not able to do it, just Jack. A little bit Riyad [Mahrez] but especially Jack.' Praise of the like was plentiful during a whirlwind few months that saw City match the historic feat of their cross-town rivals. The subsequent celebrations were not just justified but almost demanded of a footballer, who had by that point, built a bond with the footballing public, especially in the UK, akin to Paul Gascoigne before him. First fostered during his glittering displays in England's run to the final of Euro 2020, those comparisons went into overdrive in the weeks following City's European triumph in Istanbul. 'Jack the lad', 'Super Jack', 'Thirsty Jack' and a host of other more crude monikers were bestowed upon the winger as he took centre stage for the wild celebrations. Grealish was seen being propped up by Kyle Walker on his way to the airport in Ibiza, drenched in Haaland's champagne and then slurring back at the Norwegian through half-closed eyes. He was also seen sufficiently composed to make a request: 'I am a turkey and the turkey needs feeding.' Then promptly opening his mouth for the addition of more vodka. Former Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor admitted that he loved watching his fellow Brummie's antics, stressing that after their successes 'now it's time to celebrate'. But two years on, the question in most fans' minds is whether the celebrating continued beyond its allotted time. And whether this period marked the beginning of the end. The 'world of pain' Grealish admitted to being in after his three-day bender would unfortunately persist into the next season and beyond. Injuries. The first one struck in the fourth match of the 2023-24 campaign and sidelined him for a couple of weeks, by which point new signing Jeremy Doku - a far more direct winger, who embodied Guardiola's shifting wide preference - had firmly asserted himself as the starter on the left. Groin issues struck him down later on in the campaign and contributed to him starting just 10 top-flight matches that season. In February of that season, after being forced off before half-time in an FA Cup clash against Luton, Grealish was visibly distraught and had to be consoled by his team-mates. 'Looks like it [a recurrence of the groin injury],' Guardiola said after the game. 'It's the second time. Hopefully this time he can recover well.' Grealish would start just six more matches in all competitions that season, notably, the Cup final was not one of them. Most notable of all was that he would start none of England's Euro 2024 matches, well, because he was not selected for the squad. Five months after City's shock defeat by United, Guardiola suggested that his troops were 'a little bit hungover'. It was an unfortunate, but perhaps pointed, choice of word from the Spaniard given that Grealish and Haaland had led the celebrations after the side clinched a record fourth-straight league title in 2023-24. City's stars celebrated until 5am at Greek restaurant Fenix, as players took along their wives and girlfriends for a boozy night. Grealish and Haaland struck a pose early in the night as they showed off their watches, with a Premier League medal dripping from the striker's neck. The party started in the dressing room, where players danced and sung: 'Campeones, campeones, ole, ole, ole!' And it seemed Guardiola acknowledged that the title celebrations went a little too far, maybe even as far as costing them another trophy. Those would be the opening act to a remarkable series of unwanted headlines for the Englishman in the past 10 months. In January, the City boss blasted Grealish for his poor form - he had started just four Premier League games up to that point, registering just one assist. 'As much as (Grealish) looks at himself, he will see the competition,' Guardiola said. 'He has to compete with himself. Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack and that's why I played Savinho. 'I want the Jack that won the Treble. But I try to be honest with myself for that.' In February came headlines of an apparent outing with a mystery blonde woman, particularly unwanted given that his girlfriend Sasha Atwood had recently given birth to their first child. Grealish had been spotted out with the woman later revealed to be former model Emma Silverton and his friend friend Jaydon Gibbs, just one day after City's 3-2 defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League. He was seen leaving Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone accompanied by Silverton, however he was then heard shouting: 'She's not with me!'. Grealish then doubled back into the venue before returning shortly after, alone, and exited in a chauffeur driven car just after midnight. In March, he was spotted at a pub in Gorton, Newecastle, an outing England boss Thomas Tuchel described as 'not ideal'. Another month and yet more reports of less-than advisable extra curricular activities, given his struggles to make it into the City team. In April, footage obtained by The Sun showed the 29-year-old, wearing a white t-shirt underneath a blue jacket and at the head of a small circular table, leaping to his feet. He then stretched out both his arms, resembling the iconic stance performed by Leonardo DiCaprio's Jordan Belfort in the 2013 blockbuster the Wolf of Wall Street. Onlookers told The Sun how Grealish was the 'life and soul of the party' at Bagatelle, a glitzy location in Mayfair donned a 'clubstaurant' by British GQ. David Moyes is likely to give the Englishman more freedom to express himself than he has had at City He reportedly racked up a £5,000 bar bill while partying at a swanky club in London the day after he was given a three-minute cameo in City's win over Crystal Palace. In May, he was the last to leave the celebrations as Kevin De Bruyne threw a stylish night out for his team-mates and their loved ones as he prepared to bid farewell to his adopted home. Leaving the venue at around 1.35am, decked out in ripped jeans, Grealish was reportedly forced to squeeze his way past a drunk member of staff on his way out. Earlier this year, Grealish admitted that 2024 was 'the most difficult year' of his life and unfortunately the majority of 2025, from the outside at least, does not appear to have been much better. But his imminent move to Everton has the possibility of changing all of that. Grealish became adored by the masses when he was starring for his boyhood club Villa, first in the Championship and then in the top flight. It's there than fans fell in love with his mazy dribbling, low socks, slicked-back hair and cheeky smile. The similarities to the Toffees' side he could be walking into are abundant. He'll be a big fish in a small pond once more, and on the evidence of the superb displays of Iliman Ndiaye on Merseyside, David Moyes will give him the freedom to express himself in attack.
The Guardian
a few seconds ago
- The Guardian
Crystal Palace hit out at Europa League ban: ‘merit is rendered meaningless'
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Daily Mirror
a few seconds ago
- Daily Mirror
Jack Grealish's three-word remark that rattled Liverpool fans before Everton move
As Jack Grealish moves closer to a move to Everton, the Toffees' fierce rivals Liverpool may remember one comment from the Manchester City ace which enraged them Liverpool fans may still have Jack Grealish's cheeky three-word remark in their minds when he competes in his first Merseyside Derby for Everton. Grealish, 29, has agreed to move to Hill Dickinson Stadium after the Toffees struck a deal to take him on loan for a season. Three years previously, Grealish was one of Pep Guardiola's main players in City's historic Treble winning campaign. He was at the forefront of the Citizens' celebrations,from drinking champagne while topless on their open top bus parade, to stumbling out of a bar at 5am while looking worse for wear. In and amongst it all, Grealish posted a cheeky Instagram post which enraged some Liverpool supporters. He uploaded a selfie with former City kitman Brandon Ashton after City's 1-0 Champions League final victory over Inter Milan. READ MORE: Steven Gerrard to Wrexham tipped after just one game as Ryan Reynolds told he'd be perfect His caption provoked many Liverpool supporters, who interpreted it as a dig towards them. His three words which riled them were: "Weekend in Paradise" - in full, the caption read: "Weekend in paradise my friend? Let's f****n avvvvv it." The reason Liverpool supporters thought this was a swipe towards them is because Liverpudlian musician Jamie Webster wrote and regularly sings a song titled 'Weekend in Paradise.' Webster is the Reds fan who has followed Liverpool around Europe with his guitar, entertaining travelling supporters in fan-zones at various matches and finals across the continent with his songs about the club and their players. The criticism towards Grealish grew so thick, Webster came out and defended the former Aston Villa captain. He took to X and said: "Just because I'm a Liverpool fan, it doesn't mean that players and fans from other clubs can't enjoy my music. I've spoken with Jack about football and music a few times, he's a top player and a top fella." Whether Liverpool fans will still have Grealish's post in their mind remains to be seen. Assuming his move to Everton is not derailed and there is no injury, the attacker will make his first visit to Anfield as a Toffees star on September 20, for the Merseyside Derby. Grealish only made seven starts for City last season and was an unused substitute in their FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace. While several reports understand he was looking for a permanent exit from the Etihad Stadium, Grealish will have to be content with a loan move to the blue half of Merseyside. With the World Cup taking place next season, he is desperate to earn a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the competition across the USA, Canada and Mexico. Grealish was heartbroken when he was left out of the Three Lions' Euro 2024 squad who reached the final in Germany. He won three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup at City, after arriving from Villa as the division's first ever £100million player in the summer of 2021. But he struggled to replicate the same form in blue as he did for his boyhood club. Last season, he only contributed three goals and five assists in 32 appearances in all competitions for Guardiola's side, who failed to win a trophy.
