Latest news with #PortugueseRiviera
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Man United defender Diogo Dalot shows off his dance moves as he ties the knot with his stunning partner Claudia Lopes at a lavish ceremony in 18th century Portuguese palace
Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot and his bride Claudia Lopes danced the night away after a lavish wedding in southern Portugal. In a popular period for footballer nuptials, the Red Devils star tied the knot with his partner at the stunning Palace of Queluz in the Portuguese Riviera on Saturday night. Though none of his club or international colleagues were spotted a series of Instagram stories uploaded to the pair's social media accounts, the occasion was nevertheless marked by jubilant guests who shared in the loving spirit of the night. In one of the clips taken later on in the night, Dalot could be seen taking the stage with Portuguese musicians Richie Campbell and Plutonio. While in another, he and Lopes took to the dance floor with the defender showing his eye-catching moves. Dalot, who joined the Old Trafford club in 2018, and Lopes have been together since 2020. Lopes even joined him in Italy when he spent a year on loan with AC Milan during the 2020-21 season. The couple announced the birth of their first child, a baby girl called Clara late last year. The Portuguese defender showed off his moves as he took to the dance floor later on in the night In addition to the festivities later on in the night, the two also shared a heartwarming moment while delivering their vowels. The beaming smiles could not be swept from the happy couple's faces as they lapped up the love from all their guests in attendance. The special event will no doubt have been a welcome distraction to the United defender after a miserable season for his club. Dalot has been a regular starter under his compatriot Ruben Amorim, who joined the club in November and presided over the Red Devils' worst-ever Premier League campaign. Amorim came under huge pressure after United Europa League final defeat by Tottenham, with some calling for him to be dismissed after only six months in the job. But Dalot backed the boss who has shown faith in him and insisted he is the right man to take United forward. 'I'm 100 per cent sure that he's the right man for us because I see it every day, the standards that he has, what he demands from us, the view that he has for the club, for the players, for the coaching staff,' he said. 'A lot of changes are happening at the same time, but ultimately it's going to be what we do on the pitch. We have to take responsibility from that. 'Nobody apart from us is going to the pitch and try to get results. So this season it's been obviously a very way off how this club should be and the way this club deserves. 'We have to take responsibility on that and take this time that we're going to be away.' Amorim will remain in charge this summer and lead a recruitment drive that he will hope will better equip him to compete next term. Dalot, who has made at least 50 appearances in each of the last two seasons, is expected to continue to feature heavily for the Red Devils next term, with additions in the attacking areas seen as prioritise this window.
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Welcome to World Sevens Football – DJs, smoke cannons and £3.7m prize pot
Of all the unique elements to the new World Sevens Football tournament, the Jaws theme tune being played before a penalty kick was perhaps the most striking. Bizarrely brilliant is the best way to describe the first full day of women's football's new competition. Few knew what to expect from this tournament, which will earn the winners £1.9 million in prize money. Even the teams competing were not sure what was waiting for them when they arrived in Estoril on the Portuguese Riviera. An unpredictable DJ, smoke cannons and street-style football was the answer. Telegraph Sport was on the ground in Estoril to take in and assess women's football's new format. Eyes on the prize There had been questions over how seriously the competing teams would take the World Sevens. Manchester City left several of their big-name players at home in contrast to Manchester United, who brought a full strength squad. But it was clear from the start that every team competing want to win. That is no doubt due to the huge prize money available to the winners. The total prize pot is worth £3.72 million while the winners will take home £1.9 million, with a percentage of the money going directly to players. 'For any team who wins it, it would do a lot,' Marc Skinner, the United coach, said of the prize pot. 'If we then get to the point where we can win the prize money, then of course that can be huge for us as well. But more importantly, the players have to enjoy it and that's exactly why we were here.' Speaking after his side won their second game on penalties, Nick Cushing, the interim City manager, said: 'Because it's new, there's no real jeopardy. If we lost today, we would be disappointed, but it's not like you've been knocked out of the Champions League. 'As the tournament starts to go on, you get closer to the prize money and you get closer to being the first winner, the jeopardy starts to come in and the tactics start to change.' Fun, flair and vibes The seven-a-side format means players are not bound by the strict tactics and principles we often see in the Women's Super League. The whole point of the World Sevens is for games to be entertaining and there was no hint of a low block or a bore draw. In fact, draws are not allowed – with matches having five minutes 'over-time' and penalties if teams are level after 30 minutes. 'I think this format really speaks to the next generation, it's football fun again,' said former United States player Tobin Heath, who is one of the former pros on the player advisory council. Living in the moment 🤣 #MUWomen || #WorldSevensFootball — Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) May 22, 2025 'Football has become so professionalised, so prescribed. We're missing the fun, the feel of what football is, what I fell in love with. I don't see it enough anymore. I think it's being coached out too young, too soon. And even speaking to the players, it's been fantastic.' There was a moment in Bayern Munich's game against Benfica when Tuva Hansen took her shirt off after scoring and was booked by referee Minka Vekkeli. But organisers decided to rescind the yellow card, with the pair then taking part in a light-hearted video. At World Sevens Football, we celebrate joy! @FCBayernEN — World Sevens Football (@worldsevens_) May 22, 2025 Most players seemed to embrace the format and, in truth, when else do they really get to let loose and just enjoy themselves? At the start of each game, the starting seven players are announced on the speaker before they run out onto the pitch. It was clear several found it amusing but many embraced it, with United's starting team all doing cartwheels for their second game. Players clearly enjoyed the opportunity to have fun. City forward Kerolin said it felt like she was back playing in Brazil while United's Gabby George said players have been able to relax after a tough domestic campaign. In addition to Hansen, Bayern Munich appeared to be having a team competition for the best goal celebration. 🎣 Bayern ready to reel in another spectacular win 😜 📺 Watch it all LIVE & FREE on DAZN 🗓️ May 22 🔗 Link in bio #DAZNxW7F #WorldSevensFootball — DAZN Women's Football (@DAZNWFootball) May 22, 2025 🍎Bayern moving into the semis like... 📺 Watch it all LIVE & FREE on DAZN 🔗 #DAZNxW7F #WorldSevensFootball — DAZN Women's Football (@DAZNWFootball) May 22, 2025 'It's enjoyable for the fans, but also enjoyable for us,' George said. 'We've just had a long, gruelling season, we put ourselves under immense stress and pressure because we want to win things. But here we've just been able to let our hair down and show our flair.' NBA-style atmosphere and the fan experience At the start of the tournament, the in-house DJ would play music when players went to take corners as well as when goals went in. The highlight was undoubtedly the Jaws theme tune being played before Ajax midfielder Lily Yohannes took and scored a penalty against City's Khiara Keating. 🎯 Johannes gives Ajax comeback hope from the penalty spot! 📺 Watch it all LIVE & FREE on DAZN 🗓️ May 22 🔗 #DAZNxW7F #WorldSevensFootball — DAZN Women's Football (@DAZNWFootball) May 22, 2025 'I don't know if you're familiar with going to any basketball games, but music is such a part of that culture and we're really trying to bring the culture into the experience of the game,' Heath said. Music during Women's Super League games is something traditionalists would turn their nose up at, and rightly so, but in this format it works. The crowds taking in games were not huge but given the location that is not a surprise – Portugal is hardly a hotbed for women's football. Many of the teams taking part were not announced until a couple of weeks before and more fans may have travelled over had they been given more notice. That is something that organisers will hope to navigate in the future. There did appear to be a sizeable engagement with the tournament, which was broadcast for free on DAZN, on social media. Is the tournament here to stay? The obvious question is: can the World Sevens become a regular part of the women's football calendar? It has certainly been a hit with players. The involvement of Heath, and other former pros such as Anita Asante and Caroline Segers, has been key. Competing teams were impressed by the arrangements made for them and how organisers catered to their specific needs. A lot of the build-up to this tournament centred on injury concerns ahead of this summer's European Championship, and whether players are overloaded. But United's Grace Clinton countered that players would only have been doing the same type of games in training had they not been at the tournament. 'I've heard from a lot of players who are thankful that they have a space to continue to play, to continue to have their fitness, to get their confidence,' Heath said. 'I understand being overloaded, but I can tell you that's like maximum 10 per cent, five per cent, of the footballing population. And I can tell you most of the footballing population, they're being under-loaded. There's so many players that are just craving for minutes.' World Sevens Football is funded by the United States-based philanthropist Jennifer Mackesy, co-owner of National Women's Soccer League club Gotham FC. It is understood there is a commitment to invest as much as $100 million (£75 million) in W7F over the next five years, with further events planned. A second tournament will take place on another continent between November and December, with different teams competing. So, the tournament is here to stay in the short term. It will be intriguing to see whether the interest and excitement can be maintained in the long term, but the early signs show there is definitely an appetite among players for the tournament to continue.
