Some future club legends hit the ground running with a Man of the Match-worthy debut, and the immediate adulation of the fans.

Others, meanwhile, take a little longer to settle in. Patrice Evra was certainly in the second camp, as the former Manchester United Left-back claims that he was laughed at during his first few months at Carrington.

The Frenchman first arrived at United in January 2006, having been signed from AS Monaco for a fee in the region of £5.5 million.

According to the man himself, it took him a long time to meet the club’s famously high standards, with many of his new teammates initially wondering why the club had bothered to sign him.

In a recent interview with Betfair, Evra revealed: “I love to be challenged in my life. I think that’s when you see the best version of myself.”

“I’ll be honest with you, players like Paul Scholes, they said: ‘Patrice I think you were a joke! I think we should send you back for free to Monaco!'”.

Far from being intimidated by such comments, Evra claims that he worked tirelessly to get up to speed – and develop the physical game he’d need in order to thrive in the Premier League.

The 41-year-old recounted: “I remember some players like Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney they were laughing at me in training when people were pushing me down because I needed to adapt my football.”

“I was a skilful player, I didn’t know that first you needed to be strong. So first I went in the gym, which I never did while I was playing in France.”

He added: “When people talk about me, it’s not like a need them to surprise myself but that’s when I think, okay guys, now it’s show time.”

As we all know, Sir Alex’s gamble on the French international paid off in the long-run.

Evra would stay at United for eight years, earning a Champions League winner’s medal in his second full season, as well as five Premier League winner’s medals.

After playing 379 times for The Red Devils, he’d go on to enjoy a successful spell at Juventus, where he’d pick up a further two league titles.

Stints at Marseille and West Ham United would follow, before he eventually called time on his career in 2018 at the age of 37.

Where does Patrice Evra rank among the Premier League’s best ever Left-backs? Let us know what you think.

The Man United legend who Wayne Rooney mocked, and Paul Scholes wanted to ‘leave on a free’ after he signed Read More

Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken of the one match that makes him miss management after being retired for 11 years following his legendary spell in charge of Manchester United.

Sir Alex was appointed as United manager in 1986 and went on to be in the dugout at Old Trafford for more than 25 years, overseeing an unprecedented era of success over two-and-a-half decades.

Under Sir Alex’s leadership, United won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, five FA Cups, four League Cups, the European Cup Winners’ Cup, the European Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup during a trophy-laden spell.

He announced his retirement back in 2013 as he became a United director and ambassador, with David Moyes announced as his replacement.

Since Sir Alex stepped down, United’s fortunes have fallen drastically and they are no longer the dominant force in English football they once were with inconsistent results and sporadic trophies in that period.

United have also had numerous bosses in the decade since including Moyes, Louis Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik Ten Hag and now Ruben Amorim, with none of them able to win either the Premier League or Champions League for the club.

Sir Alex, now aged 82, has reflected on his retirement and admitted there is one match in particular which makes him miss being in the dugout.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Sir Alex admitted going to finals of European competitions, such as the Champions League, are the games he really misses being a part of, which he told his late wife Cathy a year after he had stepped back from management.

He said: “I’ve been retired 11 years now so you find a way of adjusting.

“I miss it sometimes. I think in my first year after I was retired I went to the European (Cup) final and I said to Cathy ‘this is what I miss. Big games, the European games.’

“I go to most of the European finals because I find something that I can relate to and what I’d like to have done everyday.

“Because these are the big events that a club like United should always be involved in.”

Sir Alex managed United in four Champions League finals, winning the trophy in 1999 and 2008, but was beaten by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in both 2009 and 2011.

Sir Alex Ferguson names the one match that made him miss being Man Utd manager most in rare interview Read More

Unseen footage of Tyson Fury’s reaction to his loss against Oleksandr Usyk has emerged – and it’s safe to say he wasn’t best pleased.

Fury, 36, and Usyk, 37, went toe-to-toe for a second time at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday evening.

They previously fought back in May, with the Ukrainian securing a majority decision points victory, crowning him the undisputed heavyweight champion on that occasion.

Despite coming in at a career heaviest 20st 1lb, the ‘Gypsy King’ could not make his 55lb weight advantage pay on Saturday night as Usyk evaded most of Fury’s power shots only to reply with three of four-punch combinations of his own.

As Michael Buffer announced the judges’ identical scorecards—all 116-112 in favour of Usyk—the Manchester-born heavyweight left the ring and did not speak to the media immediately after the fight.

However, new footage has surfaced on X, appearing to show an annoyed Fury walking away from the ring in the aftermath of learning his feat.

“The promotors, Oscar De La Hoya… said he had me four rounds up,” said Fury [via Fights Centre].

“It is what it is, innit.”

Fury continued to make his way towards the bowels of the arena, flanked by his team, who told him there was “no way” it was a “116-12”.

“It’s a no-hoper then completely,” he added.

“Every f*****g round.

“I thought I won it by at least three rounds.”

The judges cards has Usyk up by four rounds meaning he won eight of the 12 scheduled.

“I bossed on [the] front foot all night…” stressed Fury.

Before he continued, further voicing his dismay at the result.

While former coach Ben Davison appeared to try and comfort Fury, the Morecambe-based heavyweight continued.

“I’ll tell you what it is, you’re not getting nothing in these countries,” exclaimed Fury.

Despite his protestations at the result, a Fury win would have benefitted almost everybody involved – apart from Usyk and his team.

If he registered a victory, this would have likely meant a third fight in the future to settle the score. But with Usyk now sporting two wins over Fury, a third bout is highly unlikely.

Usyk could face current IBF champion Daniel Dubois, who got in the ring and demanded a rematch with the unified champ, having previously been defeated by knockout against the Ukrainian back in August 2023.

For Fury, a fight which would make financial sense is one with fellow Brit and ex-world champion Anthony Joshua.

New backstage footage of Tyson Fury emerges after Oleksandr Usyk defeat and it doesn’t look good Read More

Riley Gaines slams transgender athlete competing against women.

Riley Gaines recently slammed a high school basketball player named Henry Hanlon, who she called male, for putting up strong performances in women’s matches.

On Thursday, January 18, 2024, the San Francisco Waldorf High School girls basketball team dominated the Jewish Community with 54-22 points. Hanlon alone scored 24 points in the faceoff.

Hanlon is a junior and a three-sport athlete, participating in girls basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Ranking fourth in basketball in California’s North Coast Section with 2.08 points per game, the three-sport athlete led the San Francisco Waldorf High School to the CIF North Coast Championship in Volleyball last season.

Gaines took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to slam Hanlon, stating that the athlete scored more than 1/3 of the team’s points in three consecutive games.

“Male player, Henry Hanlon, scored 26 pts in girls high school basketball game last week in San Francisco. This is the third consecutive game where he’s scored more than 1/3 of the team’s points,” she wrote.

“The emperor wears no clothes,” the former NCAA swimmer added.

The former University of Kentucky swimmer has been a vehement supporter of women’s safety in sports since the 2022 NCAA Championship. At that event, she and Lia Thomas tied for fifth place in the women’s 200-yard freestyle event but only Thomas, the transgender athlete, was presented with an award.

“Good on these girls. Don’t participate in the farce” – Riley Gaines commends girls’ high school basketball team for refusing to compete and share locker room with a transgender athlete

Riley Gaines advocates for the exclusion of trans athletes from women’s sports.

A few days ago, Riley Gaines lauded the Averroes High School girls basketball team that refrained from competing against the San Francisco Waldorf High School in California’s Bay Area due to the participation of a transgender athlete.

The girls’ high school basketball team, which mainly consisted of Muslim girls, not only refused to compete against the trans athlete but also denied using the same locker room.

Gaines took to X to inform the fans about the incident, initially brought to light by Women Are Real, and applauded the girls for taking a stand.

“Good on these girls. Don’t participate in the farce,” Gaines wrote

Days after praising the girls, Riley Gaines shared a picture of the team’s captain, the transgender player, and wrote a sarcastic remark.

“Picture of the male in question who also happens to be captain of the team. I don’t know what would give it away that he’s a boy. Couldn’t be his wing span, foot size, height, or muscular definition.”

High school girls basketball team refused to play and share locker room with a transgender athlete – Riley Gaines criticized transgender athletes competing against women. Read More

Riley Gaines delighted as Lia Thomas loses legal battle on transgender participation in women’s sports

Riley Gaines has expressed delight as transgender swimmer Lia Thomas lost a legal battle against the World Aquatics at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Thomas was challenging the swimming body’s decision to ban transgender swimmers from participation in women’s sports.

Thomas rose to prominence after beating Olympic medalist Emma Weyant by a huge margin of 1.75 seconds, hence becoming the first transgender swimmer to win the NCAA Championships. However, what followed was a huge outcry over social media, prompting a change in the eligibility rules by World Aquatics.

Any transgender swimmer who experienced “male puberty” was deemed to have a physical advantage over female competitors and was therefore disqualified from competing in the women’s division. Thomas challenged the decision at the CAS, arguing the decision was ‘invalid and unlawful’. However, the 25-year-old lost the battle on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

Riley Gaines, who has been a vocal critic of transgender participation in women’s sports, welcomed the decision against Lia Thomas wholeheartedly. She termed it as a significant victory for ‘women and girls everywhere’.

“Great news! Lia Thomas won’t be able to compete in women’s category at the Olympics or any other elite competition. He has just lost his legal battle in Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling. This is a victory for women and girls everywhere”, she wrote on X.

 

Gaines and Thomas faced off at the 2022 NCAA Swimming Championships in the 200-meter freestyle event. While both of them had achieved similar timings, Thomas was awarded the higher position, prompting Gaines to become an activist against transgender participation in women’s sports.

Riley Gaines claims Lia Thomas was active with women during the 2022 NCAA Championships

House Oversight Committee Holds Hearing Examining Female Athletics And Title IX

Speaking on Joe Rogan’s podcast in March this year, Riley Gaines claimed that Lia Thomas was physically active with women during the 2022 NCAA Championships, which the transgender athlete had won.

Rogan asked the former Kentucky swimmer if Thomas had slept with any girls while competing in the NCAA Championship. Gaines replied:

“At the time, again this is what I know based on what his teammates have told me and what really has been public knowledge. At the time of that National Championships, he was still dating women, and active with women,” Gaines revealed.

 

The 24-year-old also revealed that Lia Thomas was ‘engaged to another man’.

“He’s engaged to another man, who claims to be a woman. So two men but they call themselves lesbians,” she added.

“This is a victory for women and girls everywhere”- Riley Gaines reacts to transgender swimmer Lia Thomas losing legal battle against World Aquatics Read More

The debate over Algeriaп boxer Imaпe Khelif’s geпder has reached boiliпg poiпt, with Olympic faпs threateпiпg to boycott the Games if she is пot stripped of her medal. The coпtroversy overshadowed what shoυld have beeп a celebratioп of sportiпg excelleпce, highlightiпg the challeпges faced by traпsgeпder athletes oп the world stage.

Khelif, who woп a gold medal iп boxiпg at the 2024 Olympics, is at the ceпtre of heated discυssioпs aboυt her geпder ideпtity. Despite followiпg all the rυles set by the Iпterпatioпal Olympic Committee (IOC) regardiпg traпsgeпder athletes, Khelif’s participatioп aпd victory sparked oυtrage amoпg some factioпs of the sportiпg commυпity aпd the geпeral pυblic.

Calls to strip Khelif of her medal stem from coпcerпs aboυt fairпess iп womeп’s sport. Critics claim that Khelif’s participatioп iп the womeп’s category gives her aп υпfair advaпtage dυe to the physical attribυtes associated with her traпsgeпder ideпtity. These coпcerпs were amplified oп social media, where a growiпg пυmber of Olympic faпs expressed their discoпteпt aпd demaпded that the IOC take immediate actioп.

“I’ve beeп a faп of the Olympics for decades, bυt if they let this happeп, I’m doпe,” oпe faп said oп Twitter, echoiпg a seпtimeпt shared by maпy. “It’s пot jυst aboυt oпe athlete, it’s aboυt the iпtegrity of the competitioп.”

The coпtroversy sυrroυпdiпg Khelif is пot aп isolated iпcideпt. As more traпsgeпder athletes compete iп sports, similar debates have emerged, raisiпg qυestioпs aboυt how to balaпce iпclυsioп aпd fairпess. The IOC has always said its gυideliпes aim to eпsυre a level playiпg field, bυt the reactioп sυggests пot everyoпe is coпviпced.

Imaпe Khelif’s sυpporters, however, believe she followed all пecessary protocols aпd shoυld пot be peпalized for her geпder ideпtity. “Imaпe Khelif has worked iпcredibly hard to get where she is,” said oпe of her teammates. “To deprive her of her medal woυld be a grave iпjυstice aпd a step backwards iп the progress we have made iп terms of iпclυsioп.”

As the coпtroversy moυпts, the IOC fiпds itself iп a difficυlt positioп. While the orgaпizatioп has demoпstrated its commitmeпt to sυpportiпg traпsgeпder athletes, it also faces moυпtiпg pυblic pressυre to review its policies. The poteпtial faп boycott adds aпother layer of complexity, threateпiпg to overshadow the spirit of the Games aпd the achievemeпts of all the athletes iпvolved.

Iп respoпse to the oυtcry, the IOC issυed a statemeпt sayiпg it was reviewiпg the sitυatioп aпd woυld make a decisioп based oп the best iпterests of the sport aпd all competitors. However, for maпy, this may пot be eпoυgh to qυell the oυtrage.

Imaпe Khelif’s sitυatioп is a microcosm of the broader societal debate aboυt geпder ideпtity aпd eqυality. With sport remaiпiпg the battlegroυпd for these issυes, decisioпs made by orgaпisatioпs sυch as the IOC will have profoυпd coпseqυeпces, пot jυst for athletes, bυt for society as a whole.

With the threat of a boycott loomiпg, pressυre is moυпtiпg oп the IOC to haпdle this coпtroversy delicately. The oυtcome of this sitυatioп coυld set a precedeпt for how similar cases are haпdled iп the fυtυre, shapiпg the laпdscape of competitive sport for years to come.

For пow, the world watches aпd waits, as the fate of Imaпe Khelif aпd her Olympic medal haпgs iп the balaпce.

HOT NEWS: Olympic Faпs Threateп To Boycott The Games If Imaпe Khelif Aпd Valeпtiпa Petrillo Are Not Stripped Of Their Medals After Sparkiпg Coпtroversy Over “MALE” DNA Read More

In a powerful and emotional response to a wave of online bullying, Algerian gold medalist Imane Khelif has spoken out against the unfair treatment she and her family have faced, highlighting the role of public figures like Elon Musk in amplifying the negative developments. Khelif, who rose to prominence after her remarkable performance at the Olympics, has found herself in the crosshairs of online harassment, prompting her to address the issue publicly. Khelif’s boxing journey is one of inspiration. As a young athlete, she devoted herself to the sport, overcoming obstacles to reach the pinnacle of her career. The gold medal not only brought her personal success, but also made her a proud symbol for Algeria and a role model for aspiring athletes, especially women in sports. However, the pressures of fame come with their own challenges, and Khelif has recently found herself grappling with the dark side of public attention.

Her addiction to social media began shortly after her Olympic victory, fueled by social media platforms where differences can sometimes empower cruelty. Negative comments, demeaning memes, and personal attacks flooded her feed, damaging not only her reputation but also her health. Khelif expressed her shock at the level of harassment, saying, “I never expected to face such hostility after achieving something I worked so hard for. It was truly devastating for me and my family.”

Making the situation even more complicated is the involvement of high-profile figures like Elon Musk, whose tweets and comments on Twitter have a significant impact on public opinion. Khelif has accused Musk of perpetuating harmful rhetoric through his platform, raising questions about the responsibility of independent individuals to shape the conversation, especially when it comes to suppressing underrepresented voices in sports. “When someone with that kind of power speaks out, it resonates. You have been fair to me and my family, and it is time to acknowledge the impact of your words,” she said at a press conference. Khelif’s comments highlight a broader issue that many athletes, especially women and those from minority communities, face in sports. The pressure to maintain a clean public image often collides with the reality of being human, leading to a toxic environment where criticism can spiral into harassment. The psychological toll of cyberbullying is immense, with many athletes reporting anxiety, depression and reduced performance due to the stress of cyberbullying attacks.

In response to the backlash, Khelif stood up not only for herself but also for others who may be suffering from silence. She called for a more supportive environment for athletes, encouraging the public to celebrate their achievements rather than divide them. “We need to lift each other up. The world of sports should be a community of support and economic cooperation,” she stressed.

The collaboration between social media platforms and sports is gaining traction, with many advocates calling for stricter regulations on social media platforms to combat sexual harassment. Athletes are increasingly using their platforms to raise awareness about health and the importance of creating a safe space for discussion. Khelif’s collaboration with speakers serves as a source of inspiration, collaboration, and encouragement for others to share their experiences and seek help when needed.

Furthermore, Khelif’s situation highlights the need for accountability among public figures. As social media dominates the commercial landscape, the words of independent individuals carry significant weight. It is important that those with large followings recognize the power they wield and use it responsibly. Khelif’s call for fairness is a reminder that every voice matters and that support can come from unexpected places.

In short, Imae Khelif’s response to the cyberbullying she faced is a powerful testament to her strength and resilience. By addressing the unfair treatment she and her family have received from each other, especially in relation to figures like Elon Musk, she has not only stood up for herself but also stood up for others who have been harassed. Her story is a call to action for a more compassionate and supportive environment in the world of sports and beyond, highlighting the importance of weight management, stadium literacy and adaptability in an increasingly digital age. As Khelif reflects on her journey, her voice resonates as a beacon of hope for those facing similar challenges, inspiring a movement towards change and healing.

‘You have ridiculed, treated me and my family unfairly’: Algerian boxing champion Imane Khelif talks about cyberbullying and Elon Musk’s involvement Read More

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In a surprising turn of events, Caitlin Clark, the standout basketball player from the University of Iowa, has drawn comparisons to Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer who made headlines for her performance in collegiate sports. The discussion escalated when WNBA star Brittney Griner weighed in, stating, “She looks like a man,” which ignited a fierce debate across social media platforms.

Caitlin Clark has garnered attention for her exceptional skills on the court, leading her team to impressive victories and showcasing her talent as a player. However, the comparison to Lia Thomas, who faced scrutiny and controversy for her participation in women’s swimming, has stirred up a complex conversation about gender identity and representation in sports.

Griner’s comment, made during a recent interview, has been met with mixed reactions. While some fans agree with her perspective, others have criticized the statement as unnecessary and harmful. The debate quickly spread on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, with users passionately discussing the implications of comparing female athletes to one another based on appearances and gender norms.

Supporters of Clark argue that her accomplishments should be celebrated without the backdrop of such contentious comparisons. They emphasize that discussions around gender in sports need to focus on inclusivity and respect rather than derogatory comments. Conversely, those who support Griner’s viewpoint believe that these discussions are necessary to address broader issues of competition and fairness in women’s sports.

As the conversation continues to unfold, it raises important questions about how society perceives female athletes and the complexities of gender identity within competitive sports. The reactions from both fans and fellow athletes highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding these issues, reminding us of the need for thoughtful dialogue and understanding.

In conclusion, the controversy surrounding Caitlin Clark, Lia Thomas, and Brittney Griner serves as a reflection of the challenges faced in modern sports. As conversations about gender and identity evolve, it is essential for fans, athletes, and commentators to engage in respectful discussions that honor the contributions of all athletes, regardless of their backgrounds.

Social network explosion: Caitlin Clark Draws Comparison to Lia Thomas, Brittney Griner Stirs the Pot with ‘She Looks Like a Man’ Statement Read More

A record-breaking athlete’s historic achievement wasn’t the only standout moment of a special event in New York City — it became unforgettable for another unexpected reason.

Fans Criticize Travis Hunter’s Fiancée for Her ‘Dry’ Reaction to His Heisman Trophy Win — Video Read More