Page 93 - Soccer360 - Issue 103

DID YOU KNOW?
• Inter Miami is unbeaten in Lionel Messi’s first 7 matches with the club (W5 D2, incl. two penalty shoot-out wins), the first seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions in club history.
WATTHITME?
Jamie Carragher got more than what he bargained for after being wiped out by NFL legend JJ Watt. The Liverpool favorite was on punditry duty for the Premier League opener between Burnley and Manchester City
at Turf Moor, when they invited
the American football star for
an on-air chat. Watt, a minority
shareholder in the Clarets, was
speaking about the club’s return
to the top flight when Carragher
decided to ask him about his
own background, something that
backfired big time. Carragher
asked JJ Watt to show off his
American football skills a bit, and it resulted in a tackle that left the former Liverpool defender lying flat on the Turf Moore pitch. With Burnley fans in the background cheering, Watt saw the funny side. He remarked: “I’m going to get yelled at, the pitch is ruined. I hope I didn’t break a rib, send me the bill!”
12
Against Athletic Club, Jude Bellingham became the first Real Madrid player to win 12+ duels in his first LaLiga game (15 in total) since Cristiano Ronaldo against Deportivo in 2009 (12/17).
BRUNO THE VET
Bruno Fernandes has revealed the surprise career route he could have gone down if he didn’t make it as a footballer. The 28-year-old was quizzed by Sky Sports as part of a Saturday Social feature and replied: “It’s a difficult one. When I was young I would have liked to have
been a vet. I like animals but
when you get older you start to
understand you’ll be scared of
some animals. When you’re young you don’t realise how bad they can be. For now, I’m more into dogs. Even with cats I’m a little bit like, ‘Oh I can’t trust you!”. But I like animals and that’s why.”
PENALTY KICKER
The Theatre of Dreams played host to Manchester United’s narrow and unconvincing 1-0 win over Wolves, achieved through a second-half header from Raphael Varane.
But it was also the location for a lesson in how to not take penalties by Richards. At half-time, the Manchester City legend and Jamie Redknapp took part in a penalty shoot-out for Sky’s A League of their Own program. Richards wore his full City kit and was met with chants of “You’re just a s**t Gary Neville”
by the fans who had stayed in their
seats. He trolled the United faithful by revealing an undershirt which had the message, “Why always Meeks?” - a nod to Mario Balotelli’s classic Manchester derby celebration in the 6-1 hammering against United back in 2011. The ex-England right-back even busted out the slow and annoying Paul Pogba run-up. But Richards did not show any sort of composure from 12 yards and missed all three of his spot-kicks. Richards got chants of “What the f**king hell was that?” and to make matters worse, he had to pull on a United shirt as a forfeit for losing.
NOT AT ALL PALS
Spurs striker Richarlison is set to refuse to shake hands with Michail Antonio, having not forgiven the West Ham striker for comments made
last season. Antonio joked about Richarlison’s poor goalscoring form, which prompted an angry response from the Brazil international back
in July. In a new episode of the Footballer’s Football podcast, Antonio revealed that he has learned from his Hammers teammate Lucas Paqueta, who also represents Brazil, that Richarlison plans on snubbing him when the two teams meet this season.
PROUD KIDS
Cristiano Ronaldo’s children beamed with pride as he got his hands on
the first piece of silverware for Al
Nassr. Ronaldo lifted the Arab Club Champions Cup title as he scored twice in a 2-1 victory over Al Hilal. The Portugal international’s girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez posted on Instagram showing three of his children standing in front of the TV screen and holding trophies themselves.
ALLI SUPPORT FROM FANS
Everton fans have shown their support for Dele Alli after the midfielder opened up about his recent struggles. Alli left fans, pundits and teammates stunned as he spoke candidly about trauma he suffered as a child, his battles with depression and alcohol abuse and a sleeping pill addiction. Everton fans sent a message of support to the star with a classy banner at the club’s Premier League opener against Fulham. A group of Toffees faithful unfurled a banner on the Gwladys Street Stand that read: “We are with you Dele. Together... we are stronger.”
THAT’S NUTS
Harry Kane has been
given a rather unique
welcome to Bayern
Munich by his new
teammate Thomas
Muller. Before Kane,
Spurs or Bayern had
officially confirmed the
move, Muller took to
Instagram to welcome
the England captain.
Posing with a pecan nut
in his mouth and what
appears to be a dog lead draped over his shoulders, Muller wrote: “What a blockbuster transfer for our @fcbayern. A warm welcome to @harrykane at this point. The pecan provides me with plenty of unsaturated fatty acids, proteins, fiber, and many vitamins. After walking the dog in the morning, I always start the day with a handful of nuts. Pecan is a regular part of my nut selection. Maybe for one or the other of you, it is a good inspiration to start the weekend.”
SOCCER360 MAGAZINE 93