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Daily Record
12 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Freddy Adu reveals truth behind Celtic transfer interest and why 'America's Pele' never fancied Rangers
The former prodigy caught the eye in a game against the Hoops in 2007 during their pre-season tour of the States Freddy Adu is a name synonymous with millions of Football Manager players around the world - and one that Celtic fans of a certain age might remember too. The American made his debut in the MLS at the age of just 14 and was soon the talk of the town all over Europe, even spending time on trial at Manchester United. But while the man once dubbed as 'America's Pele' went onto win 17 caps for his country and make a few appearances for Lisbon giants Benfica, Adu infamously never fulfilled his potential, and retired aged 31 in 2021 after nomadic career that took him to several countries including Serbia, Finland and Sweden. Celtic were touted as a potential destination for the wonderkid back in 2007, with his agent even going as far as saying he planned to get in touch with the Parkhead club about Adu's talent during a Hoops' trip to the States for an MLS-All Stars friendly encounter that summer. A year earlier, a 16-year-old Adu had caught Celtic's attention when he found the net in a 4-0 friendly victory for D.C United against Gordon Strachan's team and says he remembers that goal all too well. Speaking exclusively to Record Sport via the home of slots, Adu recalled: "I remember scoring the goal, a really nice through-ball and I got on the end of it and was able to finish it. It was one of those games where I was able to show my different forms of skill and in turn create a lot of chances and get the first goal of the game! It was a fun time! "I had one of my better games that day! I thought we played some of the best soccer we've ever played as a team against Celtic. I remember that I was pumped up to play that game, and I played one of my best games I think, as 16 or 17 year old. "I remember I was juiced up to play that game because it's not every day you get a chance to play against one of the premier teams in Europe, which Celtic was at the time. Celtic is always a big name, and everybody knows Celtic, so I was really excited. "And I ended up having one of my better games, that game! And I do remember we beat pretty handsomely too, 4-0! That might have been the best game that we played that season, believe it or not!" Although his agent went public about wanting to speak to Celtic, Adu says no discussions about making the move across the pond ever took place. "No", he added. "The weird thing is that there were some rumblings, but it wasn't big enough for me to really get into it I guess. At that point, there were a lot of stories and whatnot about this team or that team, but it never really went anywhere, so I wasn't really aware of it to that extent, I guess." But the now 36-year-old insists he would have loved the chance to dazzle under the lights at Parkhead and reveals his preference over Celtic for bitter rivals Rangers, where former international teammates Maurice Edu and DaMarcus Beasley both spent some time during their respective careers. He stated: "It would have probably been Celtic. Growing up between the two teams, I liked Celtic. I love (Henrik) Larsson, he was very good for them. That Celtic were really, really good in my childhood and I liked them. "I liked them more than I liked Rangers, for sure. And the funny thing is, DaMarcus Beasley did play for Rangers, and I remember Maurice Edu played for Rangers as well, and I remember telling Beasley one time: 'Rangers is cool and all, but Celtic all day, every day!'
BBC News
12 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Standout' Stephenson set for Tannadice return
Jim Goodwin is confident of securing a deal to bring Liverpool's Luca Stephenson back to Dundee United and says it "shouldn't be an issue" to free up a loan space for the 21-year-old shone during a season-long loan at Tannadice last term, making 34 appearances and scoring three times."Luca was one of our standout performers last season and won the young player of the year award. I have made my feelings known to everybody about my thoughts on Luca," said manager Goodwin."We are still talking with Liverpool. It is not quite finalised yet, but I am really hopeful and quietly confident that we will get some positive news on that and get it over the line."United currently have six loan players, which is the maximum number permitted under SPFL rules."We are at that point at the moment so we need to tidy one or two bits up on an admin front but it shouldn't be an issue," added Goodwin, who is reportedly set to convert, external Finnish Dario Naamo's loan move into a permanent United boss added: "A lot of the loans have been set up in a way that there is the option to buy at the end of the loan. If we need to speed that process up in order to free up a loan place then we are well within our rights to do that."Danish midfielder Julius Eskesen this week became United's 12th recruit of the summer window, arriving on a two-year deal from Norwegian side said: "Really pleased to get Julius done, it is the type of player that we are just missing at the moment in the midfield, just one that can tie it all together."We have got guys in there who are really comfortable on the ball but Julius will give us that something a little bit different."He has a really good range of passing, plays forward, can see things that maybe sometimes other players can't, so hopefully we will get to see him at the weekend."
The Sun
12 minutes ago
- The Sun
Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko reveals heartbreaking moment with wife and daughters that ‘made me feel ashamed'
THAT'S GUNNER HURT Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko reveals heartbreaking moment with wife and daughters that 'made me feel ashamed' OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO admits he felt 'ashamed' after being dropped by Mikel Arteta last term and described it as his 'worst season' as a professional. The Arsenal left-back made just 15 Prem appearances in the 2024/25 campaign, with just FIVE starts, as he fell out of favour following the emergence of teenage sensation Myles Lewis-Skelly. 6 Oleksandr Zinchenko admitted to feeling 'ashamed' after being dropped from Arsenal's XI Credit: Instagram @zinchenko 6 Zinchenko shared a story about his daughters looking for him on the pitch - only to realise he was a substitute Credit: Instagram @zinchenko 6 Zinchenko has two daughters with his sports reporter wife Vlada Credit: Instagram 6 The Ukrainian made just 15 league starts last term Credit: Reuters As a result, the 28-year-old has been linked with a move away this summer, with Borussia Dortmund reportedly interested in snapping up the Ukrainian, who has one year left on his Arsenal deal after joining from Manchester City in July 2022 for around £30m. Zinchenko is desperate to fight for his place in North London, but in an updated chapter of his autobiography 'Believe', he reveals the mental toll last season took on him and his family. During a game at the Emirates last term, his wife Vlada took his two young daughters to a match, and Zinchenko explained: 'Eva, the older one at three-and-a-half, says to Leia, 'Look, there's Daddy'. 'Leia looks all over the pitch but can't find me. And then Eva points and says, 'No, he's not playing. He's on the bench'. 'Hearing that pained me a lot. It made me feel ashamed. "I'm quite grateful that the girls are not yet at an age where they're exposed to social media and don't have to read nasty stuff about their dad who can't get into the Arsenal team anymore. 'I was basically out of the starting XI altogether, bar a few isolated matches. "In pure personal terms, it was easily the worst season I ever experienced as a professional. SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN 'A player who doesn't play is nothing. It's one thing when your body lets you down. That can happen. 'But going from one of the established players of the side to an unused sub is much harder to deal with. 'The sense of rejection you feel if your manager no longer believes in you can take the stuffing out of you, even if you're the most resilient guy on the planet. 'Sitting on the bench in the Premier League for a very generous wage packet is obviously still a privilege, the kind of problem that billions of people on this planet would swap their much tougher lives for in a heartbeat. 'Trust me, as a Ukrainian, I'm aware of that. Every single minute. 'But every footballer started playing because they love to play the game. A big part of your life is missing without it. 'Imagine this little boy who's dedicated his entire existence to becoming good at one particular thing and then finds at 28 that he's essentially no longer needed, that there are others who can do the job for him. It's not a nice feeling. '[Vlada] doesn't want to show that she's affected, for fear of upsetting me even more. But every once in a while, the mask slips.' A player who doesn't play is nothing - Oleksandr Zinchenko 6 Zinchenko believes he 'didn't do enough' and 'didn't play well enough' to keep his spot in the side Credit: Getty 6 Zinchenko said Vlada does not show it has impacted her to avoid upsetting him Credit: Instagram / @ Zinchenko's outspoken partner once slammed Pep Guardiola's tactics after City exited the 2021 Champions League. He continued: 'I can only blame myself. If I don't play, it means that I didn't work hard enough, didn't do enough, didn't play well enough. 'Let's see what time will bring. Because I still want to play football. I want to enjoy the game and come back with a smile on my face in the evening.' After suffering from injury issues with a troublesome calf in previous seasons, Zinchenko started a new regime that had him fit and ready to hit the ground running last term. He added: 'Unlike the year before, injuries were not to blame. A small problem with my calf kept me out of action in the month of September. A knock here and there. 'But I was otherwise fit for most of the campaign.' Lewis-Skelly's rapid rise – only making his senior debut in September – saw Zinchenko stuck to the bench, and the 18-year-old England international looks set to keep his place for the new campaign, which kicks off on Sunday at Old Trafford against Manchester United. The future looks bright for the Hale End kid, who signed a new long-term deal back in June. Zinchenko said: '[Lewis-Skelly] came in and made the left-back position his. He's a special talent. Such a good player. What he's done is unbelievable, really. 'And I told him, 'You've got everything. With your ability, you will be at the top level for the next 10 years or even more, you will be one of the best players in the world, not just in the club but also in the national team'. 'I've heard stories of older players ganging up on youngsters to defend their territory, the sort of stuff you see in animal documentaries. 'I will never, ever undermine a team-mate of mine. That's not me. 'Yes, he plays in the same position as me. But I still need to acknowledge his talent, applaud him and help him, if only in a little way, to achieve his potential. 'He pushes me to become a better version of myself and to improve further. These are the demands at this level. If someone's better than you, you will be dropped. There's no option but to keep your head straight and to look forward.' If I don't play, it means that I didn't work hard enough, didn't do enough, didn't play well enough - Oleksandr Zinchenko Despite links away, Arteta is understood to want Zinchenko to stay at Arsenal, primarily for his leadership skills in the dressing room, as well as adding depth and versatility to his defensive options. Zinchenko continued: 'I'm a professional and it's my job to get on with it. At Arsenal, we don't have many egos, everyone understands their role, their duties and responsibilities. 'I'm not the guy that comes in, shows a bad face and spreads bad vibes, I still try to lighten the mood with a few jokes and make people smile. I tried my very best to stay positive inside. 'I did everything asked of me and was happy to play in any position for the subs' XI who stand in for the next opponents in training. 'Maybe some players might react differently, they might feel slighted having to pretend they're centre-backs when they're wingers, or the other way around. 'But not me. It doesn't bother me at all. I see it as an opportunity to learn and to show that I will do whatever is necessary to play my part.' ARSENAL TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: All the latest rumours from the Emirates
