The role of insurance brokers in driving growth
Christian Eriksen makes concerning confession about Man United dressing room after disappointing European opener
What's even more distressing is that his manager and several teammates seemed to agree afterwards.
The post Christian Eriksen makes concerning confession about Man United dressing room after disappointing European opener appeared first on The Manc.
Why the Make-up Money Train is what really turns stars into BILLIONAIRES & who’s the real winner from Molly-Mae to Kim K
SELENA Gomez has joined Rihanna and Kim Kardashian on the Makeup Money Train as the singer has officially amassed a fortune worth $1.3billion (£973 million).
And while these women are known for other talents like singing, and acting, their big fortune has come from the beauty industry.
Kim Kardashian ventured out into the beauty world and is making millions[/caption]Selena’s billion dollar wealth has come mainly from her Rare Beauty make-up company making her one of the “youngest female self-made” stars, according to Bloomberg.
She is one of many A-List women, including Rihanna and Kylie Jenner, making millions from cosmetics.
In 2022, the global market for personal care and beauty reached an impressive $1,088.7 billion (£809.54bn) which showcases the opportunities here.
Beauty PR expert and director of We are Lucy says: “The beauty and wellbeing market is something that is only ever increasing and teamed with the power of social media for these mega influencers – you are onto a winner.”
This means the beauty industry is now one of the most lucrative avenues for A-listers to go into.
Megan Boyle, head of PR at TAL Agency, says: “We’re seeing an increasing number of celebrities launching their own beauty brands.
“The potential for passive income, premium pricing, and brand diversification makes beauty a lucrative and tempting venture.
“Many celebrities that have brands will have a genuine interest in beauty and skincare, viewing their brands as a way to express themselves creatively and influence beauty trends.
“But it’s also a way to leverage their existing fan base by tapping into a ready-made market; the type of people within their following are likely already interested in the likes of makeup and skincare.”
Here, we take a look at the celebs with the biggest global beauty empires.
Rihanna
Fenty Beauty: Estimated £477 million turnover
Her innovative approach addressed a clear market need[/caption]Introduced in 2017 across 17 countries, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna has become the most successful celebrity cosmetics line globally.
Since her launch, Rihanna, who holds a 50 per cent stake in the brand alongside luxury goods company LVMH, is the celebrity to beat when it comes to having a successful beauty empire.
She earned her top place by providing make-up for all skin tones, and prioritising formulas suitable for all skin types to ensure inclusivity for women everywhere.
Celebrity brands often command a higher price point than non-celebrity brands for a number of reasons
Megan Boyle
Riley Gardiner, Founder of No Strings Public Relations, says: “Stars like Rihanna have adeptly capitalised on personal branding to create strong connections with their audiences.
“Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty, introduced in 2017, significantly changed the landscape by emphasising inclusivity with its extensive foundation shade range.
“This innovative approach addressed a clear market need, positioning Fenty as a decisive industry leader.”
Selena Gomez
Rare Beauty: Estimated £299 million turnover
Selena’s cosmetics brand was launched in September 2020 and promotes self-acceptance and individuality, encouraging people to embrace their unique qualities.
The brand, which partnered with one of the biggest luxury beauty stockists, SpaceNK, offers products including foundations, concealers, lipsticks, blushes, and in a variety of shades to cater to various skin tones.
The financial success of these ventures often arises from the merging of genuine branding
Riley Gardiner
According to Bloomberg, the brand reportedly did net sales of $400m (£299 million) in the 12 months to February.
Megan says: “Celebrity brands often command a higher price point than non-celebrity brands for a number of reasons.
“These include the perceived higher quality when endorsed by celebs, the exclusivity of limited editions, incredibly strong brand loyalty, and a big marketing budget – allowing them to invest in marketing stunts, pay for famous faces to front their campaigns and ultimately get them ‘everywhere.’
“Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez has gained significant popularity – almost overnight – for its focus on mental health awareness and inclusive products.”
Trinny Woodhall
Trinny London: Estimated £180 million
Trinny created a brand that focused on personalisation and ease[/caption]Following years of experience in the fashion and beauty industry, Trinny launched her business “from her kitchen table” in 2017 with the aim of “giving everyone the tools to be their best.”
Today, her beauty brand, Trinny London, is generating a big fortune as she has a customer base of 1.2million people around the world.
Launching online in 2017, with make-up targeted at women over 35, followed by skincare in 2022, Trinny has now built an £180 million beauty empire.
Megan says: “Trinny Woodall’s journey from TV personality to successful beauty guru is a testament to her passion, expertise, and ability to connect with the audience she’s built up over the years.
Beauty products are often more accessible, and are viewed as a daily essential or affordable luxury
Megan Boyle
“With decades of experience in both fashion and beauty, Trinny spotted a gap in the market for a more accessible and personalised beauty brand that catered to women of all ages and backgrounds.
“A strong move, given a high percentage of her following will be made up of women who watched her on the TV years ago.
“Building on her foundation of expertise, Trinny created a brand that focused on personalisation and products that were easy to use; they were designed to be customised to individual needs and preferences, making them feel more personal and effective.
“She used her platform to share her knowledge and advice on beauty, fashion, and lifestyle, positioning herself as a trusted name in the industry giving out sage advice.”
Kim Kardashian
Kkw Beauty, Inc: Estimated annual turnover £100 million
Despite products costing up to £200, beauty fans are still flocking to buy them[/caption]She transformed herself from reality TV star to one of the leading female business women in the world.
The 43-year-old first launched her beauty brand in June 2017 selling her well-known contoured makeup look, before entering the KKW Fragrance in November that year.
She’s also embarked on celebrity collaborations, including Winnie Harlow, Mario Dedivanovic and Kylie Jenner.
The range includes cleansers, toners, hyaluronic acid serum, face creams and oil drops.
It also features home accessories, including a waste basket made of concrete for £130.
Despite products costing up to £200, beauty fans are still flocking to buy them.
Kim shifted 300,000 units of her signature Creme Contour Kits within two hours of their launch in 2017.
Riley says: “The financial success of these ventures often arises from the merging of genuine branding and personal identity.
“Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS and KKW Beauty are brilliant at transforming social media presence into consumer trust, achieving considerable sales and recognition.”
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham Beauty: Estimated annual turnover £89.1million
Introduced in 2019, Victoria Beckham Beauty quickly emerged as the most profitable segment of Victoria Beckham’s business portfolio.
Despite her fashion label reporting a £5.9 million loss in 2021, the beauty products have played a significant role in maintaining her overall earnings.
Megan says: “When it comes to Victoria Beckham, her fashion line has seen success on the catwalks and the pages of Vogue, but not so much when it comes to the everyday person.
“However, Victoria Beckham Beauty, on the other hand, has skyrocketed in popularity.
Molly-Mae’s success in beauty has proved it’s not only Hollywood stars who can win big in this space
Carol Driver
“This drastic difference in success is probably caused her target audience alignment; her fashion line often targets a high-end, luxury, ready-to-wear market which can limit the potential customer base – especially in today’s time of economic uncertainty.
“On the other hand, beauty products – especially skincare – are often more accessible, and are viewed as a daily essential or affordable luxury.
“It may also come down to personal branding; Victoria’s personal style is often associated with her fashion brand, which may not resonate with everyone.
“Whereas her beauty line can be seen as an extension of her personal care routine, making it more relatable to consumers.”
Molly-Mae Hague
Filter By Molly-Mae: Estimated annual turnover £300k
Molly-Mae’s success in beauty has proved it’s not only Hollywood stars who can win big in this space[/caption]She has been dubbed the UK’s Kim Kardashian thanks to her shrewd business acumen and savvy social media skills.
The 25-year-old has an estimated net worth of £6 million and that’s thanks to her career as creative director at Pretty Little Thing – which reportedly saw her net a £400 million salary – as well as social media earnings, and her beauty brand Filter by Molly-Mae.
Who doesn’t want to look as flawless as these stars, like Molly-Mae?
Carol Driver
The mum-of-one launched Filter in 2019 which sells popular products including body polish and a body crème.
Filter by Molly-Mae is considered one of her successful business endeavours, contributing to her overall financial success.
Carol Driver, a journalist and PR expert, says: “While Molly-Mae’s success in beauty has proved it’s not only Hollywood stars who can win big in this space.
“These savvy entrepreneurs are essentially monetising their fame by creating beauty products that feel like extensions of their personas, allowing fans to buy into a piece of their lifestyle.
“And who doesn’t want to look as flawless as these stars, like Molly-Mae?”
The stars who paved the way in the beauty industry
By Claire Shiels, a beauty PR and founder of Harley Street Publicity
Launching a beauty brand has long since been a tried and tested way for celebrities to introduce another stream of revenue.
Since Cindy Crawford launched her Meaningful Beauty skincare line back in 2004, other celebs including JLo, Kim Kardashian and most recently, Selena Gomez, have jumped on the bandwagon, eager to have a share in the global beauty market which is anticipated will be valued at around $717 billion in 2025.
The idea of profiting from celebrity beauty has been around since the 1980s, when Elizabeth Taylor famously launched her perfume range. The outstanding success of her beauty business venture helped to develop the concept of celebrity-branded beauty ranges over the next forty years.
Having a pre-existing dedicated fan base helps enormously when launching a product range, creating demand before products even become available. It can also help to validate higher price points, increase profit margins and maintain press presence for the celebrity in question, even when there may be no other work or projects to promote.
Investing in the ever-growing beauty sector, particularly when partnered with established beauty companies can therefore be an extremely profitable business decision for a celebrity. It can create a cross over, not only attracting their own fan base but anyone invested in skincare and beauty products.
One of the most successful forays into beauty products was led by Rihanna with her Fenty Beauty range of extensive skin coverage products, introduced in 2017, which is now believed to include around 50 shades of foundation. The Fenty Beauty range was believed to have earned her company about $602.4 million, making Rihanna not only an award-winning global artist, but one of the wealthiest self-made women in America.
Others have followed suit including Ariana Grande with her R.E.M. Beauty range; Lady Gaga with Haus Laboratories and Paris Hilton Skincare, demonstrating that launching a beauty brand provides an ideal opportunity for celebrities to leverage their influence and create an extremely profitable and potentially sustainable business.
Claire’s new book: Beauty PR: The Ten Commandments is now available from Amazon, priced £9.99
Watch moment woman, 27, & boyfriend try Dirty Dancing lift – and is left missing her front teeth after bloody smash
THIS is the horrifying moment a woman was left missing her front teeth in a bloody smash while attempting the famous lift from “Dirty Dancing”.
Flo Bragg, 27, was holidaying with her boyfriend when she decided to try the famous lift from the 1987 smash, made famous by Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze.
Flo Bragg being lifted by her partner during the dance move[/caption] She then topples face first into the shallow pool[/caption] Flo then pops up clutching her face after the smash[/caption]The pair were “bored” when she decided to pass the time by recreating the famous lift with her partner, 40, while on holiday in Provence, France.
But it all went wrong when she flew face-first into a wall – knocking out her two front teeth, and breaking her nose in the process.
Now, she’s trying to raise money for her dental treatment – including x-rays and a double root canal – which will set her back £270.
Flo, a sales executive from Exeter, said: “We were just bored one day – we decided to attempt it a couple of times.
“I guess we thought it would be funny if we just nailed it. But I went face-first into a wall on my second attempt.
“My boyfriend had knocked out my two front teeth, and broke my nose.”
Video filmed by the couple shows them enjoying the sunshine in the pool before trying out the famous dance move.
She leaps up into his arms and his propelled above his head just like Jennifer in the smash hit movie.
But she then topples over his head into the pool with a large splash.
Plunging face first she quickly surfaces with her hand clutched around her teeth having smashed into the pool.
She can be heard shouting “ow, ow” as he rushes to help.
Flo’s partner drove her to hospital after the accident on September 19, 2024 where she had her teeth temporarily glued back in.
But she was unable to enjoy the rest of the hols being unable to eat “regular” food.
And she had to keep her face out of the sun due to her injuries.
She needs to raise the cash to help cover her French medical bills after her return to the UK.
Heartthrob Patrick Swayze holds actress Jennifer Grey above his head in the hit 1987 film Dirty Dancing[/caption] Flo is now raising money to help pay her medical bills[/caption]I’m a money guru – here’s how to save £2.4K before Christmas with my ten easy tips & one will make you £500 by November
TINSEL in supermarkets, twinkling lights on the high street – yep, the countdown to Christmas is officially on.
With just three months to go until Santa’s in town, Brits are scrambling for cash to deck the halls with great deals.
Looking to make some serious savings before the festive craze? Money whizz Francesca Henry has revealed how[/caption]But it’s no mean feat, says financial whizz Francesca Henry, aka The Money Fox.
“I absolutely love Christmas, but I don’t love the pressure we feel around the holidays – all those photos of presents under trees on social media.
“According to research by MoneySuperMarket, the average cost of Christmas rose to £1,811.70 per household last year – that’s more than 80% of the average monthly income.
“I know many mums who’ve got into debt because of Christmas but with a few easy hacks, you can have a stress-free festive season.”
Here, Francesca shares her top ten tips to save £2.4k for Christmas.
Look down a shelf at supermarkets
Taste tests prove shoppers can’t tell the difference between top brands and budget food items – so why waste your money?
Lower your gaze during the big shop. Take Tesco for example. Swap Heinz beans (£1.40) for Stockwell beans (29p), Kellogg’s corn flakes (£3.20) for value corn flakes (79p) and Innocent fresh orange juice (£3) for Grower’s Harvest (79p) and you’ve already saved over a fiver.
If you start buying foods from the lower shelves – where cheaper brands are normally placed – now, you’ll save about £25 a week up until Christmas.
Total saved = £300 (three months of weekly shops)
Sell unwanted gifts
Research claims that the average household has over £1,500 worth of unwanted items.
So, now’s the time to turf out the cupboards and sell any unused gifts from last year.
Think sealed perfumes, labelled clothing, clean toys and games.
You may think that no one wants your items, but 63 per cent of us have bought second hand in the past year.
Things like baby toys, winter clothing and electronics sell best. If you sell 10 unused gifts for £10 you’ve made a quick £100.
Total saved = £100
Start spending in cash
It’s hard to keep track of spending when we’re tapping card machines all day.
Seeing your money slide into a till makes you more conscious of spending it, so it’s time to go card-free where you can.
Set a spending budget at the start of each month and take the figure out of your bank in cash.
If you’ve got any spare change at the end of the month, pop it in a money box until December.
This will vary wildly between households as nobody has the same situation or salary.
But after bills an average income household could take out around £700 and could have £200-£300 left over for saving.
Total saved = £200
Lessen your lunch spend
With the average supermarket meal deal around £5 these days, buying lunch at the office is an expense we can’t spare.
Start making your own pack up now.
Why not take leftovers from last night’s dinner? You can pad out dishes on the cheap with bulky tummy-filling foods like lentils, chickpeas and eggs.
If you think a Tesco meal deal is £4, taking leftovers every day could save you £20 a week, £100 a month and £300 before Christmas.
Total saved = £300
Swap takeaway for fakeaway
Everyone loves a cheeky Saturday night takeaway, but your favourite pizza, Chinese or Indian can set a family of four back up to £50 a week.
It’s so tempting to have a lazy dinner, but if you get the kids involved and make your own fakeaway, your savings pot will thank you.
Total saved = £500 by first week of December
Cancel the morning coffee
Much like a lunchtime meal deal, that coffee shop latte will set you back a fiver a day.
But bring your own flask to work, or make use of the office coffee machine, and you’ve saved £25 a week – that’s £100 per month.
Total saving = £225 by first week of December
Get free TV
In the lead up to Christmas there’s plenty of good films to watch on Freeview.
If you’ve got the latest streaming services like Disney Plus (£7.99 a month), Netflix (£10.99), Sky (£19), Apple TV (£8.99) and Amazon Prime (£8.99), cancelling them will add over £50 to your festive fund.
Total saving = £168 (totalled three months of the above services)
WHEN TO BUY WHAT
Festive food shop
You can start adding small, non-perishable items like chocolate and nuts to your shopping basket now – as long as it’ll keep for the big day. For fresh and big ticket items, wait until mid-December. And for vegetables, drop in around ten days before Christmas. That’s when supermarkets start battling to offer the cheapest deals.
Christmas tree
If a real cut tree is on your wish list, try not to buy it in the first week of December when the majority of people start looking for theirs. A well-kept tree cut in late November should retain its needles until Year’s Eve, and you’ll still have the pick of the bunch before demand gets too high.
Toys
If you know what your kids are pining for, now’s the time to act. Supermarkets begin toy sales around late September-October each year, lasting up to two weeks. Dates are subject to change, and you’ll need to be a member to take advantage of those low prices, whether it be Nectar, Clubcard or Morrisons More.
Booze
Last year, money saving expert Martin Lewis reported supermarket booze sales until late November, so hold off until the cold snap really hits. Loyalty customers can expect up to 25 per cent of popular prosecco and wine.
Tech
If you plan on gifting mobile phones, laptops or air fryers this year, don’t leave your shopping too late. Research shows that prices are cheapest in September and October, and tend to rise in November and December when demand gets higher.
Keep an eye out for Black Friday (November 29) deals and check prices in advance to make sure it’s a proper steal.
Make at-home fun at weekends
While we’re thrilled the kids are back at school, those summer holidays rinsed us dry.
Instead of paying out £40 for cinema tickets (£10 per head) and theme parks (about £30 per head) each weekend, take advantage of at-home fun.
Keep tabs on library craft clubs – they’re usually free or a small fee of a few pounds – take adventurous kids on woodland walks and crack out the painting supplies on rainy days.
Total saving = £600, based on three months, saving £50 per weekend
Cut down on Xmas cards
As of April this year, a first-class stamp for a standard letter in the UK costs a whopping £1.35.
Now, imagine posting 30 Christmas cards to family and friends.
That’s £40 down the drain. Why not go paperless and email your Christmas wishes, instead?
Total saving = £40
Sign up to a supermarket savings scheme
Every little helps when it comes to Christmas spending, so take advantage of supermarket saving schemes.
Popular stores like Tesco, Asda, Iceland and Morrisons have their own Christmas clubs, allowing you to pay in money and reap rewards.
The more you save, the more vouchers you’ll earn – you could save up to £25 off that festive mega shop.
Total saving = up to £25
Major supermarket recalls pesto over fears it’s laced with ‘vomiting bug’ as customers told ‘do not eat’
A MAJOR supermarket has pulled pesto pots off shelves after salmonella was found in the products – with customers warned not to eat them.
Salmonella is a group of bacteria that causes food poisoning, so eating anything contaminated with bug can leave people with nasty symptoms like diarrhoea and stomach cramps.
Waitrose is recalling pesto pots over fears their contain salmonella bacteria[/caption]Young children and people over the age of 65 are at greater risk of becoming severely ill with with food poisoning caused by salmonella.
A recall alert issued by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said Waitrose was recalling No1 Pesto alla Genovese because salmonella has been found in the products .
Products with a ‘use by’ date of September 26 are affected.
The major supermarket chain warned consumers who’ve bought the pasta sauce pots not to eat their contents, or risk getting food poisoning.
“Symptoms caused by salmonella usually include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps,” the FSA warned.
Instead, Waitrose advised customers to package the items up and return them to their local Waitrose and Partners branch for a full refund.
“We apologise that it has been necessary to recall this product and for the inconvenience caused,” the chain said in a point of sale notice to customers.
It comes shortly after five people were left in critical condition in a Paris hospital after eating pesto suspected to be contaminated with botulism.
They had all eaten wild garlic pesto from O’Ptits Oignons, a French artisanal brand.
The incident left French authorities racing to racing to locate 600 pots of the posh sauce before anyone else ate it.
Salmonella bacteria typically live in animal and human intestines and are shed through faeces.
In most cases, people become infected with the nasty bug through consuming contaminated water or food, according to the FSA.
Salmonella bacteria tend to be found in:
- Raw meat
- Under-cooked poultry, such as chicken or turkey
- Eggs
- Unpasteurised milk
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says symptoms of salmonella food poisoning usually begin six hours to six days after consuming contaminated food.
They tend to last between four to seven days.
Most people will recover within that time period, with the help of rest and plenty of fluids to replenish those lost in trips to the loo.
But some people can get severely ill and may require antibiotics to stop their symptoms.
The CDC warns that those most risk of salmonella and developing a severe illness include:
- Children under 5 years old – they are the most likely to get a salmonella infection
- Babies younger than 12 months – they are more likely to get a salmonella infection
- Infants, adults aged 65 and older, and people with a weakened immune system are the most likely to have severe infections
- People taking certain medicines (for example, stomach acid reducers) are at increased risk of infection
What to do if you've bought the pesto
If you’ve bought the Waitrose No1 Pesto alla Genovese, here’s what you need to do:
- Do not consume
- Package up the item
- Return it to your local Waitrose branch for a refund
You can contact Waitrose customer service on 0800 188 884, option 4
Last week, the FSA urgently announced a mass recall of more than 50 foods they believed could be contaminated with peanuts not listed on the label.
Sold under several different brand names and across a range of stores, all the recalled dips, sandwiches and salads contain mustard powder, which may have traces of peanuts.
The FSA later issued a wider allergy alert urging Brits Brits with peanut allergies to avoid all mustard-containing products while they determined the source of the contamination.
Do I have food poisoning?
Food poisoning is rarely serious and usually gets better within a week.
It’s hard to miss the symptoms, which include:
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Diarrhoea
- Being sick (vomiting)
- Stomach cramps
- A high temperature of 38C or above
- Feeling generally unwell – such as feeling tired or having aches and chills
- The symptoms usually start within a few days of eating the food that caused the infection.
- Sometimes they start after a few hours or not for a few weeks
How to treat food poisoning
You can usually treat yourself or your child at home.
The symptoms usually pass within a week.
The most important thing is to have lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration.
You should also see a doctor if along with other symptoms you have high fever, blood in your stool, or feel dehydrated or unable to keep any food or liquid down.
Make sure you stay off school or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days.
Source: NHS
Raphael Varane confirms new job immediately after former Man Utd star retires aged 31
RAPHAEL VARANE has already confirmed his new job after retiring from football at the age of just 31.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United centre-back announced on Wednesday he was hanging up his boots just two months after joining Serie A side Como on a free transfer.
He suffered an injury after making his debut for the Italian club and swiftly decided to call it a day.
And in his emotional retirement statement he revealed he will remain at Como in a yet unspecified position.
He said: “And so, a new life begins off the pitch.
“I will remain with Como. Just without using my boots and shin pads. Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon.”
Varane could become a part of Como’s coaching staff – which is led by manager Cesc Fabregas following his appointment in the summer.
Last season, the club were promoted for the third time in five years as they reached the top flight after more than two decades away.
They picked up their first win of the campaign in a 3-2 victory away at Atalanta on Tuesday.
And Varane’s experience could be a valuable asset to Fabregas’ side.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Raphael Varane career stats
RC Lens
- Appearances – 24
- Goals – 2
Real Madrid
- Appearances – 360
- Goals – 17
Man Utd
- Appearances – 95
- Goals – 2
Como
- Appearances – 1
France national team
- Caps – 93
- Goals – 5
Club Honours:
- 4x Champions League
- 3x La Liga
- 4x Club World Cup
- 3x Spanish Super Cup
- 3x UEFA Super Cup
- 1x Spanish Cup
- 1x FA Cup
- 1x Carabao Cup
International Honours:
- 1x World Cup
- 1x Nations League
He made 360 appearances for Real Madrid during his 10-year spell with the Spanish giants, winning three LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues.
Varane joined Man Utd for £42million in 2021 as a World Cup winner having triumphed with France in 2018.
The defender, who earned 93 caps for his country, played 95 games for the Red Devils, winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
His full retirement statement read: “They say all good things must come to an end.
“In my career I have taken on many challenges, rose to occasion after occasion, almost all of it was supposed to be impossible. Incredible emotions, special moments and memories that will last a lifetime.
“Reflecting on these moments, it is with immense pride and a feeling of fulfilment that I am announcing my retirement from the game that we all love.
“I hold myself to the highest standard, I want to go out strong, not just holding on to the game. It takes a big dose of courage to listen to your heart and your instinct.
“Desire and needs are two different things. I have fallen and risen a thousand times, and this time, it’s the moment to stop and hang my boots up with my final game winning a trophy at Wembley.
“I have loved fighting for myself, my clubs, my country, my teammates and the supporters of every team I have played for. From Lens to Madrid to Manchester, and playing for our national team. I have defended every badge with everything I have, and loved every minute of the journey.
“The game at the highest level is a thrilling experience. It tests every level of your body and your mind. The emotions we experience you cannot find anywhere else. As athletes, we are never satisfied, never accepting of success. It is our nature and what fuels us.
“I have no regrets, I wouldn’t change a thing. I have won more than I could have even dreamed of, but beyond the accolades and trophies, I am proud that no matter what, I have stuck to my principles of being sincere and have tried to leave everywhere better than I found it. I hope I have made you all proud.
“And so, a new life begins off the pitch. I will remain with Como. Just without using my boots and shin pads. Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon.
“And so, a new life begins off the pitch. I will remain with Como. Just without using my boots and shin pads. Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon.
“Thank you, football. With love, Rapha.”
Why is Leandro Trossard not suspended for Arsenal’s match against Leicester after being sent off vs Man City?
ARSENAL fans had it in their head that they would be welcoming Leicester to the Emirates without Leandro Trossard – but that is not the case!
The Gunners forward was controversially sent off after picking up two yellow cards in a frenetic clash against Manchester City last weekend.
Leandro Trossard was sent off in the crunch clash against Man City[/caption]And in normal procedures, Trossard would be suspended for the next Premier League match.
However, the Belgian is part of the squad for Arsenal‘s home fixture due to a little loophole.
SunSport can explain what that is below.
Why is Leandro Trossard not suspended against Leicester?
Leandro Trossard is eligible to play for Arsenal against Leicester as he would have already served his suspension for the Gunners’ midweek Carabao Cup clash against Bolton.
Rules state that suspensions from a two-yellow card dismissal can be carried into the next match across all domestic competitions.
Trossard became the second Arsenal player to see red in the past three games – the other being Declan Rice against Brighton.
Declan Rice was sent off for a similar incident just weeks before[/caption]Why did Leandro Trossard get a red card?
The Belgian was initially booked for a tug on Manchester City star Savinho‘s shirt.
And then Trossard was sent for an early bath after barging Bernardo Silva in the back before delaying the restart by kicking the ball away.
Arsenal were forced to play the entire second half with a man less and finally conceded a dramatic late equaliser in stoppage time.
John Stones bundled the ball over the line in the 98th minute to rescue a point for the champions.
What has been said?
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was furious with the decision that saw Trossard receive a red card.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Arteta said: “We were more efficient and went 2-1 up and then there were two incidents, very similar, one in particular, but had a very different outcome which then forces you to have a game which nobody wants to watch.
“I think it’s very clear. Very obvious. Hopefully what 100 per cent of what people thinks.
“It’s not my job to come here and judge what happened. My job is to survive in the most difficult environment you can throw in football for 55 minutes.
“And try to get things done to survive. That’s my job, the rest is not my job.
“It’s already the second time it has happened in five games, which is really, really worrying if we want to see the best Premier League.”
Arteta added: “Anyone that has played football or any sport [can see] it’s less than a second. Less than a second. The previous one [Doku] is more than a second. That’s it, simple.”