logo
James Milner and his wife show off matching ripped physiques on beach in Barbados as Brighton midfielder, 39, targets playing into his FORTIES

James Milner and his wife show off matching ripped physiques on beach in Barbados as Brighton midfielder, 39, targets playing into his FORTIES

Daily Mail​6 days ago

James Milner has jetted to the Caribbean to unwind after a challenging season for Brighton with the end of their Premier League campaign.
The 39-year-old former Liverpool star was sidelined for the majority of the term under new manager Fabian Hurzeler, after injuring himself in just the third game of the season when the Seagulls met Arsenal.
After undergoing knee reconstruction, Milner had been targeting a return to action in December.
But a freak instance of damage to a nerve tendon set back his progress, with the midfielder making his first appearance since August in the final game of the season against Tottenham.
Milner looked keen to put the 2024/25 term behind him as he soaked up the sun with his wife Amy Fletcher.
The pair looked in similarly tip-top condition as they enjoyed the tropical climes of Barbados on Wednesday.
Reflecting on his injury this week, Milner admitted that his fitness was what convinced him that he could continue playing into his forties.
'I couldn't lift my foot or my toes, not an ideal scenario,' said the 39-year-old of the nerve damage. 'I didn't know whether I would be able to walk properly again let alone play football.
'There was a chance I might not have come back at all. Nobody said quit. But with my age it was highly unlikely I would get back. I think that was one of the things that drove me most. My first aim was to try and get the knee as strong as possible which I did.
'It's been a long, tough road,' he continued. 'I don't think many would have come back from this. The medical staff have been incredible.
'We worked hard and thankfully it has paid off. I've just run out of time with the season. If the season was next week, I would be fit.'
Milner made his Premier League debut for Leeds at the age of 16 and won the title with both Manchester City and Liverpool.
But the former England midfielder is targeting a long career with a view to playing into his forties
He lifted the FA Cup and League Cup with both clubs and the Champions League with Liverpool in 2019, and has earned 61 England caps from 2009-16, but Milner believes that his journey is far from over.
'I would like to keep playing,' said Milner, who will be 40 in January. 'I look at my fitness now and I feel good. I've definitely got another year left in me.
'We're in talks with the club and quite close so it will be nice to be here and be part of the team and help the boys. Hopefully I can be part of it.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Chelsea interested in West Ham star with £85m release clause that can be triggered by Premier League clubs
Chelsea interested in West Ham star with £85m release clause that can be triggered by Premier League clubs

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

Chelsea interested in West Ham star with £85m release clause that can be triggered by Premier League clubs

Chelsea are among the clubs keen on West Ham 's Mohammed Kudus. Kudus has an £85million clause for Premier League clubs, active for the first 10 days of July. The Blues also continue to appreciate Jamie Gittens of Borussia Dortmund, Hugo Ekitike at Frankfurt and Brighton 's Joao Pedro. A bid for Gittens is expected to go in this week. The latter is also on lists at Newcastle United and Arsenal. Chelsea have also spoken to AC Milan over goalkeeper Mike Maignan who could leave for just £25m this month. The 29-year old has one year left on contract and Chelsea could offload Djordje Petrovic who has interest from West Ham. Enzo Maresca's side are set to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich after triggering the £30m release clause and agreeing personal terms. They have also announced the arrival of Sporting Lisbon's Dario Essugo for £18.5 after the two clubs reached an agreement in March. Chelsea will be hoping to add to their squad ahead of the Club World Cup. The Blues begin their campaign against Los Angeles FC on June 16 before matches against Flamengo and ES Tunis.

Viktor Gyokeres responds to new Arsenal FC transfer question amid Manchester United links
Viktor Gyokeres responds to new Arsenal FC transfer question amid Manchester United links

Evening Standard

timean hour ago

  • Evening Standard

Viktor Gyokeres responds to new Arsenal FC transfer question amid Manchester United links

United, meanwhile, are attempting to rebuild their entire attack after a torrid campaign in which they finished 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final, having already completed the £62.5million signing of Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves and now also expected to enter into talks with Brentford over Bryan Mbeumo, who is said to want a move to Old Trafford.

Bruno Fernandes reveals he rejected Saudi Arabia move to ‘stay at the highest level'
Bruno Fernandes reveals he rejected Saudi Arabia move to ‘stay at the highest level'

The Guardian

timean hour ago

  • The Guardian

Bruno Fernandes reveals he rejected Saudi Arabia move to ‘stay at the highest level'

Manchester United's captain, Bruno Fernandes, has confirmed he has turned down a money-spinning move to Saudi Arabia because he wants to 'stay at the highest level'. The 30-year-old midfielder has been the subject of speculation linking him with a £100m switch to Al-Hilal, with the Saudi Pro League side reportedly prepared to pay him £700,000 per week. However, Fernandes confirmed he had rejected the chance to move after speaking to Ruben Amorim and his own family. 'The president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask about the possibility of me moving there,' Fernandes said, according to the Portuguese news outlet O Jogo. 'I had to wait a while to think about the future. As I've always said, I would be willing to do it if United thought it was best to move on. 'I spoke with Ruben Amorim, who really tried to talk me out of it. I spoke to the club, who said they weren't willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave. From my side, it was a very ambitious proposal, the president was a fantastic person. I never talked about the money, it ended up coming up later, with my agent. 'I had to make the decision as a family and understand what I wanted for my future. That was the question my wife asked, what my professional goals would be. At no point did she say yes or no, she always supported me and put my professional side first. It was an easy move, even at a family level. I had Rúben Neves, João Cancelo. My children are used to playing with theirs. 'But I simply want to stay at the highest level, playing in the big competitions, because I still feel capable of that. I want to continue to be happy and do what I love most. I'm still very passionate about this sport. It's my way of seeing football and I'm happy with my decision.' Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion As news of Fernandes's decision circulated, the former United and England defender Gary Neville welcomed the reports as Amorim starts the process of reshaping his squad after a dismal season. Neville told Sky Sports: 'It's significant. To turn that money down at a point where Manchester United are at their lowest ebb and say, 'No, I want to fight through this, I want to see it through the other side, I want to come out and achieve things,' I think it says a lot about him as a person, as a character.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store