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Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Ryan Reynolds' £7.5m target's dad drops huge hint on record Wrexham transfer going through
A Wrexham transfer target's dad appears to have hinted that a record £7.5m move is close with a cryptic post, sparking fan excitement as the club gears up for the Championship Nathan Broadhead's dad appears to have dropped a major hint that his son is about to complete a move to Wrexham in a club-record deal. The Red Dragons, owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, were reported to have tabled a £7.5million bid for the Ipswich Town forward last week. Broadhead, who was previously part of Wrexham's academy, joined the Tractor Boys from Everton for £1.5m in January 2023. He played a key role in Ipswich 's back-to-back promotions from League One and the Championship, before being restricted to just seven Premier League starts last season. Now in the final year of his contract at Portman Road, talks over the Wales international's proposed move were initially understood to be progressing well. The deal looked to have stalled at the weekend though due to injuries and transfer interest in other Ipswich attackers. However, the 27-year-old's dad, Mark Broadhead, has offered hope to Wrexham fans after sharing a cryptic post from his personal Facebook account. Simply captioned "12 years later," it shows an image of a young Nathan playing for Everton in 2013, followed by one of him celebrating a goal for Ipswich last year. The final picture, titled "Now," shows Nathan sporting a Wrexham shirt while kneeling on the pitch at the Racecourse Ground back in his academy days. While the deal has not been confirmed by either club, supporters have taken it as a sign that his return is imminent after a screengrab of the post was shared on X by the Fearless in Devotion fan account. One person replied: "That's all the info we need." While someone else posted: "As good as an official announcement, that." Another supporter wrote: "Someone may have just let it slip also outside the ground too." Ipswich fans also seemed convinced, with one adding: "You've got yourselves one hell of a player. Good luck this season." Broadhead has bagged 23 goals in 83 appearances for Ipswich in total and his arrival at Wrexham would be seen as a big coup. The Welsh side are preparing for their first campaign in the second tier for 43 years after securing promotion from League One in April. Manager Phil Parkinson has so far signed eight players this summer as he looks to improve his squad. Sheffield United striker Kieffer Moore became the latest addition on Tuesday, joining on a three-year contract in a deal reportedly worth £2m. Wrexham face a tough start to the season as they travel to face relegated Southampton on Saturday in their opening game. Liberato Cacace is another new face who signed up last month from Italian outfit Empoli, and the left-back is looking forward to getting started. Explaining why he signed, he told the BBC: "There was interest in Italy, but for me, I'm a big football fan as well. I watch a lot of football and I've always watched English football, from the Premier League to the Championship so I know the level I'm heading into. "It was always a big dream of mine to play in the UK. Obviously Wrexham having so much publicity in the media as well you could see what the club was like. It's a very exciting project and I'm also very excited to start the season as well." He added: "I've already had chats with the players and with the manager and I think I'm settling in pretty well. I'm a professional person as well so I always like to keep fit. I'm going to use every day to make sure that against Southampton I'll be ready to go." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mirror
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Wrexham wrapped up big-money transfer in Italian restaurant as star's dad speaks out
Wrexham signed Liberato Cacace from Serie A side Empoli and his dad has praised the club's family feel after hosting the manager and CEO at his restaurant in New Zealand The father of one of Wrexham 's new big-money signings has revealed how he toasted the deal with club chiefs when they visited his restaurant. Liberato Cacace signed for the Red Dragons from Italian side Empoli earlier this month in a deal believed to be worth just over £2million, potentially rising to as much as £4m with add-ons. The left-back has played in Serie A for the last three-and-a-half years, racking up 86 league appearances. Empoli were ultimately relegated from the Italian top tier at the end of last season. The New Zealand international was widely expected to stay in the division following interest from the likes of Cagliari, Pisa and Cremonese. However, Wrexham, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, stole a march to secure Cacace's signature as he penned a three-year contract with the Championship new boys. The Welsh outfit were coincidentally set to play a friendly match in the 24-year-old's hometown of Wellington, New Zealand, around the time the deal was finalised. Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson and chief executive Michael Williamson took the opportunity to pop in to his dad's restaurant, La Bella Italia, for a glass of wine and some food. Antonio Cacace, who was born in Naples but moved to New Zealand in 1992, has now explained how their visit convinced him that his son made the right choice. Speaking in an interview due to be aired by Wrexham fan podcast Fearless in Devotion on Wedneday, he said: "We only knew at the last minute that they were coming which was fantastic and that's proof of the family environment at Wrexham. It was an honour and a pleasure for us to meet Phil and Michael. "We had a little bit to eat and a glass of wine. We appreciate how humble these people are to come and meet the parents of a player. It was a fantastic experience for them and for us, also for the team to be here in Wellington. "Just the fact that they came to see us, that's already a sign that they're going to look after Liberato. During the hour and a half to two hours that we were there talking, laughing and singing, that [feeling] became even more strong." Williamson played a key role in signing Cacace having previously held senior roles with Serie A giants Inter Milan. As per New Zealand news outlet Stuff, this enabled him to speak directly with his agent and Empoli's sporting director. Wrexham were in New Zealand to play a friendly against Cacace's boyhood club Wellington Phoenix as part of their pre-season tour Down Under. They lost 1-0 in a surprise result but their pain was eased by the signing of the local hero. Outlining his son's motivation for joining Wrexham, Antonio said: "Being a humble man, he loves the fact of being in a nice, small community, where everyone is behind the team and the club. I think that's the major reason why he chose to come to Wrexham. "After a very disappointing time when Empoli went down to Serie B, he always expressed the desire to stay in Serie A. There were two or three clubs very interested in having Liberato, along with Wrexham. "We always talk to each other and he came to us several times [for advice]. At the end, he decided to choose Wrexham." Wrexham have achieved huge success since Reynolds and McElhenney bought the club in 2021 after registering three successive promotions. They now sit just one level below the Premier League and Antonio hopes his son can help continue their meteoric rise, despite confessing he would one day like to see him play for his own hometown team Napoli. "If Wrexham get to the Premier League, it will be an incredible journey," said Antonio. "It will be fantastic, not only for the players and the club, but also for the community, which I understand is strong, wonderful and warm. "Liberato will give 300 percent to make that happen. I can feel it and I can see it from speaking to him in the last few days. He's very focused, very determined and very committed to do well, which is great." He added: "To be honest, it is a dream for me [for Liberato to play for Napoli]. Maybe it would be a dream for Liberato as well, especially with the way Napoli is now with [Antonio] Conte as coach. "But at the end of the day, if he gets to the Premier League, I think he will have achieved what he always wanted to achieve, which is [to play in] Serie A and the Premier League. These are the two best leagues in the world." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year.
Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Wrexham U-turn on Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's powerful transfer tactic
Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have had to turn to a previous transfer tactic in a bid to help Phil Parkinson's side get deals over the line Wrexham have had to make a U-turn by enlisting their A-list owners to help seal crucial signings as competition in the transfer market heats up. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney sometimes had to get involved in persuading players to join when they first took over the Welsh club in February 2021 due to it being in the National League. Their hands-on approach included charming key targets over the phone, a strategy that paid off with high-profile captures like Paul Mullin from Cambridge United in July 2021. However, with Wrexham riding the wave of success with three back-to-back promotions taking them to the Championship, club director Shaun Harvey revealed in May that the actors' personal approaches were no longer necessary with players now lining up to join. Speaking on the Fearless in Devotion fan podcast, the former EFL chief executive said: "Rob and Ryan do speak to all of them, but it's usually afterwards. Famously, they did speak with Paul Mullin to tell him that they were serious. "When we were in the National League, they did need to become more involved to convince players that this wasn't just a scam. They don't need to get on a telephone call now to tell players that we're serious. "They can see that for themselves. The agents ring us now so we don't need to deploy them as much because of that." But fast forward three months, and with manager Phil Parkinson gearing up to build a squad fit for the second tier, he's revealed the co-owners have already had to reach out to at least one potential summer signing. Speaking to New Zealand news outlet Stuff, he said: "We're looking to sign a player and we've got a lot of competition to get the signature. I spoke to Rob and Ryan about it so they put a call in to the player as well, explained the back story and why we wanted them." While the target's identity remains under wraps, Wrexham have been linked with several high-profile stars this summer. They include Leicester legend Jamie Vardy, Fulham skipper Tom Cairney, and former West Ham pair Aaron Cresswell and Danny Ings. So far, Parkinson has welcomed two new faces during the current transfer window. Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie was the first to join on June 16, while Leicester City goalkeeper Danny Ward signed on Tuesday. Parkinson's plea for Reynolds and McElhenney's involvement comes after Wrexham were warned that replicating their recent triumphs next season will be a tall order. The cautionary note was struck by football finance guru Kieran Maguire parly due to the presence of numerous billionaire club owners in the Championship. Speaking on the Second Tier podcast, Maguire said: "I think the big issue for them is that you are against some pretty senior citizens. You're up against clubs where the owners have been quite happy to put in £300,000 to £400,000 a week like Steve Gibson at Middlesbrough. "Even the likes of Preston and Milwall, they've been losing £1m a month. All of a sudden it becomes a completely different beast. Yes, they will be connected with some big names, but at the same time they're going to find it not as easy." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year.
Wales Online
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's powerful transfer tactic gets reintroduced at Wrexham
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's powerful transfer tactic gets reintroduced at Wrexham Wrexham's owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have been forced to step in again to help land key transfers as the club faces tougher competition in the Championship Phil Parkinson has asked Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to get on the phone to a Wrexham transfer target (Image:) Wrexham's Hollywood owners have had to revert to their old ways as they look to get transfer deals over the line. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney first bought Wrexham in February 2021 when the club was in the National League. The North Wales side's lowly position at the time meant the two actors sometimes had to intervene to persuade top players to drop down from higher divisions. Their key strategy involved making a personal phone call to Phil Parkinson's main targets to convince them that their ambitions for the club were real. The tactic was most notably used to secure the signing of star striker Paul Mullin from Cambridge United in July 2021. The Red Dragons have since achieved promotion in each of their last three seasons, taking them from non-league's top tier to the Championship. Club director Shaun Harvey said in May that Wrexham's success meant Reynolds and McElhenney were no longer required to step in, with players queuing up to join. Speaking to the Fearless in Devotion fan podcast, the former EFL chief executive said: "Rob and Ryan do speak to all of them, but it's usually afterwards. Famously, they did speak with Paul Mullin to tell him that they were serious. "When we were in the National League, they did need to become more involved to convince players that this wasn't just a scam. They don't need to get on a telephone call now to tell players that we're serious. Article continues below Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has asked the club's owners to help him get a transfer deal over the line (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images ) "They can see that for themselves. The agents ring us now so we don't need to deploy them as much because of that." However, around three months on, and with Parkinson looking to assemble a squad capable of competing in the second tier, the manager has now revealed they have already put in a call to at least one potential recruit this summer. Speaking to New Zealand news outlet Stuff, he said: "We're looking to sign a player and we've got a lot of competition to get the signature. I spoke to Rob and Ryan about it so they put a call in to the player as well, explained the back story and why we wanted them." Watch Welcome to Wrexham season 4 on Disney+ This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more from £4.99 Disney+ Get Disney+ here Product Description Welcome to Wrexham is back on Disney+ for a fourth season. Fans can watch the series with a £4.99 monthly plan, or get 12 months for the price of 10 by paying for a year upfront. Although the identity of the target was not disclosed, Wrexham have been linked with several big name stars this summer. They include Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy, Fulham captain Tom Cairney and ex-West Ham duo Aaron Cresswell and Danny Ings. Parkinson has so far made two signings during the current transfer window. Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie was the first arrival on June 16, followed by Leicester City goalkeeper Danny Ward on Tuesday. The manager's request for Reynolds and McElhenney's intervention follows Wrexham being warned they will find it tough to repeat their recent successes next season. The note of caution was sounded by football finance expert Kieran Maguire due to the existence of a number of billionaire club owners in the Championship. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year. Sign up for Wrexham is the Game here Article continues below The presence of newly-relegated Premier League teams in receipt of parachute payments also poses an issue, despite Reynolds and McElhenney's estimated combined net worth of more than £300m. Speaking on the Second Tier podcast, Maguire said: "I think the big issue for them is that you are against some pretty senior citizens. You're up against clubs where the owners have been quite happy to put in £300,000 to £400,000 a week like Steve Gibson at Middlesbrough. "Even the likes of Preston and Milwall, they've been losing £1m a month. All of a sudden it becomes a completely different beast. Yes, they will be connected with some big names, but at the same time they're going to find it not as easy."
Daily Mirror
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool's new goalie coach was so bad he was branded club's worst-ever keeper
Xavi Valero has returned to Liverpool as head goalkeeper coach after spells with Inter Milan, Real Madrid and West Ham, but his playing days weren't quite as prosperous A goalkeeping coach branded as Wrexham 's worst-ever keeper has rejoined Premier League champions Liverpool. Xavi Valero has returned to Anfield as the Reds' new head of goalkeeper coaching after a seven-year spell at West Ham. The Spaniard has carved out an impressive coaching career after first joining Liverpool under Rafael Benitez in 2007. The 52-year-old later followed his compatriot to Inter Milan, Chelsea, Napoli and Real Madrid, before later linking up with the Hammers in the summer of 2018. However, Valero's playing career was less distinguished after it began with Spanish teams like Castellon and Lagrones in the late-1990s and early-2000s. Following spells in the Spanish Segunda Division and Segunda Division B, he arrived on British shores in January 2005. Valero's move to Wrexham happened after the club's first-choice goalkeeper suffered a thigh injury, leaving them without a senior shot-stopper. Denis Smith was Wrexham's manager at the time and made the decision to sign Valero on a one-month deal, despite previously only having seen video footage of him. His stint with the Red Dragons was both short and disastrous as he, conceded nine goals in three appearances in League One, dropping several howlers along the way. Valero was hooked off by Smith at half-time during his final game against Chesterfield after the keeper's teammates told the manager they weren't comfortable playing with him. Former Wrexham coach Kevin Russell previously revealed he had major reservations about the signing before it was even agreed. Talking to the Fearless in Devotion podcast, he said: "We got a video sent through of him. We were watching it with Denis, and there was a big crowd. Denis said, 'He looks alright, I think I might sign him.' I said, 'That might not even be him. I'm not comfortable signing him like that.' "We played Chesterfield away, and it's got be the worst f***ing 45 minutes I've ever had in terms of a goalkeeping experience. Denis goes, 'I'm f***ing taking him off.' I said, 'Take him off? I wanted to get him off after the first ten minutes.' Russell added: "I say that, but what a coaching career that boy has had. He must not work on catching the f***ing football." Valero's return to Liverpool follows the departure of Fabian Otte and Claudio Taffarel from the Reds' goalkeeping department. His arrival was announced alongside that of Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who takes the position of Arne Slot's assistant coach after it was vacated when John Heitinga took over as the new Ajax boss this summer. In contrast to his playing days, Valero's talents as a coach are clear to see and not just isolated to assisting goalkeepers. He was once praised by former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres for helping to improve his finishing. Speaking in 2008, Torres said: "We've a Spanish goalkeeping coach and he has been a genius at telling me every week exactly what kind of task lies in front of me in the following match. Nobody has ever worked with me like this before. It's outstanding. "Basically, I know days before the next game exactly the best way to finish a chance against the keeper I'm about to face. Xavi Valero tells me precisely what each keeper tends to do – stay big, go down early, if they have a preferred side they try to push you to. It's vital information. I've refined the way I take chances as a result." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
