Gossip: Man Utd weigh up striker options
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The Independent
24 minutes ago
- The Independent
Max Verstappen confirms he is staying at Red Bull
Max Verstappen has confirmed for the first time that he will stay with Red Bull – after George Russell admitted he is on the brink of a new Mercedes contract. Verstappen's break clause from his Red Bull deal can no longer be activated, after his fourth-placed finish in Belgium last Sunday ensured he will not be lower than third in the world championship at the summer break which follows this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix. Asked at the Hungaroring if he can say for certain that he will be at Red Bull in 2026, Verstappen replied: 'Yes. I never really said anything about it because I was just focused on talking to the team about improving our performance, future ideas and next year and that is why I had nothing really to add. 'But I think it is time to stop all the rumours. For me, it was always quite clear that I was staying anyway and that was the general feeling in the team because we were always in discussion about what we could do with the car and when you're not interested in staying, you stop talking about these kind of things, and I never did.' Mercedes have made little secret of their desire to sign the four-time world champion. As it stands, Russell – who despite a series of impressive performances this year – is without a deal for 2026. Speaking prior to Verstappen, Russell, who it is understood has received a contract offer from Mercedes in the past week, said: 'Conversations have started. We are now heading into the summer break. 'I have spoken a lot with (Mercedes CEO and team principal) Toto (Wolff) this week, but we have not spoken once about the contract because we are both trying to solve the performance and getting the team in the right place. And that is genuine. 'I want to go into the summer break and enjoy the only two weeks off I have in the year. I don't want to be thinking about contracts. 'And there isn't really a major time pressure now from my side, nor from Mercedes' side, because of the Verstappen situation and I presume he is staying at Red Bull. 'Not that I was ever concerned about that but from the team's perspective I guess that has an impact. 'From my side, I was never concerned I was going to lose my seat. I want to go into this weekend and try and get the team back on track and perform better than we have shown at the past six races. Then I am going to go straight on holiday for two weeks and do a week's training and I want to enjoy that to be honest.' It was then put to Russell, 27, that he will be driving for Mercedes next season, but it is now just a question of how his contract looks. He replied: 'Yes, I guess so.' Despite the continued speculation surrounding suggestions Verstappen could trade Red Bull for Mercedes, those close to the Russell camp have indicated for a number of weeks the 27-year-old is extremely confident of striking a contract extension. Russell has scored 157 points to rookie team-mate Kimi Antonelli's 63 after 13 of the 24 rounds. Mercedes are third in the constructors' standings, 296 points adrift of McLaren.
The Independent
24 minutes ago
- The Independent
Conor McGregor loses appeal against civil jury's finding he sexually assaulted a woman
Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor on Thursday lost his legal appeal against a civil court's finding that he sexually assaulted a woman at a Dublin hotel. In November a jury at the High Court in Dublin found McGregor liable for assaulting Nikita Hand, who says he 'brutally raped and battered' her in a hotel penthouse in 2018. He was ordered to pay Hand almost 250,000 euros ($285,000), as well as about 1.3 million euros ($1.5 million) in legal costs. Hand, 35, successfully sued McGregor in civil court after prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. McGregor alleged that Hand fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. He launched an appeal, but at a hearing earlier this month his lawyer unexpectedly withdrew a request to introduce new evidence. Three appeals court judges in Dublin on Thursday dismissed the appeal 'in its entirety.' Hand was in court for the ruling, but McGregor was not. The 37-year-old fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime in the ring, has become known for anti-immigration statements and criticism of Irish politicians. He has flirted with the idea of running for president of Ireland. U.S. President Donald Trump, a UFC fan, invited McGregor to the White House to mark St. Patrick's Day in March. McGregor also faces a lawsuit in Florida for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in the bathroom of the Kaseya Center, home arena of the Miami Heat, during a 2023 NBA finals game with the Denver Nuggets.
BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
My teammates are another level
Watford midfielder Hector Kyprianou says he has been inspired by working amongst world-class players ahead of the new Championship season with the Giorgi Chakvetadze and forward Kwadwo Baah are two of those he's keen to play alongside when the season gets underway."I'm glad I'm playing on [Giorgi's] team now rather than against him. I've seen Baah's pace it's frightening, can cause anyone problems," he told BBC Radio Three Counties season Kyprianou steps up to the Championship after leaving League One Peterborough United for Hertfordshire, but believes under the leadership of recently appointed head coach Paulo Pezzolano, Watford are capable of a promotion push.'I've always known them as a Premier League team.""[Pezzolano] winning titles in other countries creates a big buzz around the training ground."Watford travel to newly promoted Charlton in Saturday's early kick-off for their opening game of the Championship season and Kyprianou believes the playing squad must adopt the right mindset to get their season off to a winning start."I play for Watford now and we're expected to be winning those games."Listen to the full interview with Hector Kyprianou and more on BBC Sounds.
