Jack Grealish happy to play transfer waiting game as Man City outcast in limbo with clubs scared off by huge wages
REECE JAMES' smart free-kick put Chelsea through to the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup with a 1-0 win over Benfica.
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BBC News
20 minutes ago
- BBC News
Ireland omissions 'still kill you inside'
By Nick Timoney's own admission, his last Ireland cap was "a long time ago now".The most consistent performer in an inconsistent Ulster team, the 29-year-old has found the Test game a tougher nut to making his debut for Andy Farrell's side against the USA in July 2021, the back row was a late inclusion for that November's Test against Argentina - so late, in fact, that he was sat in his house in Belfast on the morning of the game - and then started a year later against being in various squads over recent years, including touring parties to New Zealand and South Africa, he has not featured since that game three Autumns has consistently selected three from Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan, Peter O'Mahony and Caelan Doris as his loose forward trio, with the odd man out providing impact off the with the former pair away with the British and Irish Lions, O'Mahony retired, and Doris injured, there are rare opportunities to impress for back row hopefuls in Test matches against Georgia on Saturday and Portugal a week later."I'd be lying if I said there weren't times where I was frustrated. I certainly have had times where I feel like I'm incredibly close to it, and I've felt like if I had a chance, I would've taken it and run with it," said Timoney. "I still feel that way, but at the same time, Irish Rugby's not in the business of just dishing out caps because you've had a good game. Like he [Farrell] is still picking the best four lads for the squad, and if those lads stay fit and are playing well the whole time, I mean that's just the way it goes." The likes of Cian Prendergast, Gavin Coombes and Max Deegan are other back row options in a summer squad that will be led by Paul O'Connell with usual head coach Farrell on Lions duty. All have had their own struggles earning selection ahead of Ireland's established options despite impressing for their respective provinces. "It can be tough because, being a realist, you come into a lot of camps and you know that you're not necessarily top of the pecking order," Timoney continued."All the other lads are desperate to play, and then the game against England is opening the Six Nations or something like that and it still kills you inside a little bit every time you're not announced and you're not in the team."Ultimately, if you really value playing for Ireland enough, then there's no choice but to put more emphasis on getting better and working harder so that's just what I try to do."Now 29-years-old, Timoney says he will still "come into every single camp thinking this will be the one" when he makes his true international breakthrough."There's examples of it all over. There's the Deon Fouries of the world who are uncapped until 35 and [play] in a World Cup final," he added, citing the South African hooker who played 76 minutes off the bench when the Springboks won the World Cup in 2023. While his only previous experience against Saturday's opponents came as a sevens international, Timoney is well familiar with at least one star of Georgia's a youngster, he would regularly turn to YouTube for clips of the best back rows of the era. The likes of Sebastien Chabal, Sean O'Brien, David Wallace and Stephen Ferris provided regular viewing, but the rampaging Mamuka Gorgodze was a particular favourite."I have hours of Mamuka Gorgodze footage watched from when I was a kid. I used to watch a highlight video of his pretty much every week," said Timoney of the former Montpellier back row nicknamed 'Gorgodzilla'."Back in the day when you're a kid, as you would with loads of different rugby players that were in your position and you kind of looked up to, you'd look up some of their clips, their highlights, but there was a 10-minute compilation video of Mamuka Gorgodze playing a lot of European countries for Georgia, loads of clips from them playing Poland and Russia and Spain and stuff. "So I used to watch that a bit when I was younger. He was a bit of a tank." 'We know what's coming' While the decidedly more nimble Davit Niniashvili is the current star of Georgian rugby, under former Leicester Tigers and Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill, Timoney expects a robust challenge in Tbilisi. "They're big, they're physical, they're passionate and you're not going to get an easy game against them," he said."We've seen that over the last number of years with lots of their performances, so we know what's coming."That sort of selfish desire to impress is going to be there a little bit with a lot of people, but channelling that into the battle that's going to come is key for us."
The Sun
22 minutes ago
- The Sun
Man Utd captain Bruno Fernandes rakes in £8million off the pitch after snubbing mega-money Saudi Arabia transfer
BRUNO FERNANDES has scored £8million in image rights payments - softening the blow of snubbing the mega riches on offer at Al-Hilal. The Manchester United captain recently rejected an eye-watering three-year tax-free deal worth £200million to move to Saudi Arabia. 2 2 Al-Hilal were reportedly ready to pay United a £100million fee. However, Fernandes, 30, insisted that he wants to remain in Europe and play at the 'top level'. And while his decision could cost him hundreds of millions of pounds, latest accounts for his image rights firm show he has tucked away £8million in off-pitch earnings. Paperwork covering the 2023/24 season shows the attacker has piled up £8.3million in BF8 Sports Limited, the firm he used for off-field pay. That figure shot up £2.1million compared to the previous year. That works out at £175,000 a month on top of his playing pay. After paying bills, the Portuguese star is left with £7,849,371. The company was set up in 2020 and is listed as 'other sports activities'. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Fernandes is reportedly on £12.5million a year at United, with bonuses, image rights and lucrative sponsorship deals with brands such as Adidas and EA Sports earning him additional millions. He is also reported to have a number of properties in both England and Portugal. Paul Pogba breaks down in tears as ex-Man Utd star seals return to football after doping ban with Ligue 1 side Monaco Fernandes is under contract at Old Trafford until the summer of 2027. Man United chiefs possess an option to extend the deal by a further 12 months. Manager Ruben Amorim has made clear he believes United must keep hold of Fernandes if they want to be successful. He said: 'He is seeing us taking some actions to change all the things and I think that is all that he wants to stay. 'He's saying 'no' to a lot of things, but it shows that he wants to win. 'He's really young, he's really good. He needs to be in the best league in the world.'
Daily Mirror
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
England Lioness Lucy Bronze's baby bombshell with famous boyfriend
Lioness legend Lucy Bronze 's England team are entering Women's Euro 2025 as the defending champions – so the stakes are high. But in a wide-ranging chat with Women's Health UK, Lucy, 33, says she fancies her team's chances at lifting the cup once again. Recognised as one of the best female football players in the world, Lucy is going to this month's Euros, her seventh major tournament, with her eyes firmly on the prize. The Chelsea right-back, who in her interview also opens up about having autism and ADHD, reveals she got into the sport because it 'was the only way she could connect with people'. One of England's most decorated female players, she says she and her teammates have talked about what they've achieved in the past – but they are a 'new England' now, as they head into Euro 2025, and are more than ready to create their 'own history'. Danielle Armstrong shares her stunning holiday co-ord that you can shop for under £50 The squad's self-proclaimed 'bossy mum', Lucy hopes this new England approach will lighten the load for the new Lioness cubs. 'There are people going to the Euros and it'll be their first ever tournament wearing an England shirt. You want them to enjoy that. And I think taking away that pressure is a great way for them to do it.' The sporting star also speaks movingly about what she calls her 'superpower', autism, though she admits the world still wants her to fit a certain mould. Four years ago, on the suggestion of an England team psychologist, Lucy was tested for, then diagnosed with, autism and ADHD. She bravely went public with her diagnosis last year, and she praises her neurodiversity for helping her reach the dizzying sporting heights she has achieved to date. 'It's made me successful – it makes me obsessed with things, it makes me think 10 steps ahead – but I wish it didn't take being a successful footballer for me to be free to be who I am. 'That's the thing – everything in the world is set for one generic way. If you don't fit that standard, where do you fit in?' Lucy may have conquered British women's football, but fascinatingly, she is a very big fish from a very, very small pond. While her birthplace is often listed as Berwick-upon-Tweed, about 60 miles north of Newcastle, Lucy was actually born on The Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Accessible only at low tide, the Island has a population of around 160, and along with the English folk-rock group Lindisfarne, Lucy is arguably its most famous export. The oldest Lioness at 33, the subject of retirement is something Lucy has considered. Asked about her future when she eventually steps down from professional sport, she admits she's 'not as good' as she was six years ago – but is learning to celebrate her incredible achievements. And she has a few ideas about her future. 'I could get a corporate job. I could try to be part of the Federation or Fifa.' But as Lucy, who is in a relationship with Spanish footballer Ona Batlle, admits, there's only one thing that she's 'dying' to do – and that is to have a family of her own. 'My brother's got two kids and that's what I'm most jealous of, seeing my niece and nephew. But there's plenty of time for that...' The full interview is available in the July/August issue of Women's Health UK, on sale now
