FOOTBALL

🗣️ Changed your Toon

“It’s a proud moment for me”, said Swedish striker Alexander Isak as he gave his post-match interview in the precise tones of a Scandinavian MBA student who’s just won a year’s internship at Credit Suisse.

Nothing wrong with that, but it’s a little different to the roadman accent he uses when he’s with his Newcastle teammates.

In a recent behind the scenes video at the training ground, the 24-year-old sounded like a year 8 schoolboy flogging Haribo in a Hackney playground, telling Jacob Murphy: “Naaaah man, I see him on the road”.

He joins other international members of the Premier League mandem such as Arsenal’s former Catalan defender Hector Bellerin, whose landlady in academy digs once phoned his parents to warn them he was “becoming a rudeboy”.

FOOTBALL

😈 Had my Wycked way

Hell of a 92nd minute winner for Barnsley’s Sam Cosgrove against Wycombe on Tuesday night.

👕 A rare chance to own a piece of sporting history

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The fascinating collection includes:

• Over 400 football shirts, including match-worn shirts from most Premier League clubs.

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There are 1100 items in the catalogue, and there’s something for every budget size.

The auction takes place on 5th and 6th December.

FOOTBALL

💸 How the other Arf lives

By all rights Hatem Ben Arfa should be terrorising Saudi defences in front of 537 fans right now, but things never quite worked out for the unhinged winger.

The 36-year-old still hasn’t officially retired, but he’s now focusing his energies on padel, climbing to the top 3% in the world.

Hopefully he’s getting on better with the local league secretary than he did with his old bosses in French football.

When Lyon sold him for assaulting a teammate, Ben Arfa accused the club of “lacking class” and failing to pay his wages on time.

This barb was slightly undermined when the club emptied his training ground locker and discovered he’d left behind a cheque for €90,000.

Lyon’s finance director told the press: "To accuse us of being financially disorganised is a bit much coming from him”.

FOOTBALL

♟️ Your Mo-ve

Speaking of dribbling wizards pursuing extra curricular activities, Mo Salah admitted this week that he is “addicted to chess” and plays “every day, literally every day”.

According to Chess.com, the Liverpool star has an impressive online rating of 1400, but Mo isn’t the only one trumpeting his abilities on the board.

Last summer, Atletico Madrid gaffer Diego Simeone posted a photo of him and his son playing chess, describing it as "a duel that requires a lot of concentration."

There was just one sliiight problem - Simeone was playing without a king, which is kind of an important piece.

He deleted the post soon after.

FOOTBALL

🧑‍⚖️ You’ve made a clear and obvious error, your honour

When you’re thrown in a fearsome Brazilian slammer for “immersing yourself in cocaine” and dabbling in violent robbery, there are two ways you can go.

You can ingratiate yourself with the terrifying gangs who prowl the exercise yard, smuggle spice in your prison pocket and sip on hand sanitiser cocktails to unwind.

Or, like referee Rhamon Da Silva, you knuckle down, take the odd stabbing on the chin, and prepare for life on the outside.

After keeping his nose clean for 18 months, Rhamon is a free man, and has become to first ref to officiate a game while wearing an ankle tag.

UPSHOT PODCAST

🎙️ Benders with Beckham

The year is 1999 - Real Madrid are at war.

Legendary striker Raul brands the dressing room “a cesspit of lies, treachery and whispers”.

Something has to change...

From murderous hitmen to pigs’ heads on the pitch, this is the story of the Galacticos...

AND FINALLY

🗡️ Blades of glory

The Korean baseball champions win a giant sword.

That's it for today. Thanks to Clara and Joz.

Don’t forget to check out the incredible sporting memorabilia at Graham Budd Auctions. Sign up and view the auction here.

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