Sports
‘I Was the Most Hated Player in England
Pulling on the Three Lions shirt is widely regarded as one of the greatest honours an English footballer can experience.
Representing your country at major international tournaments is the pinnacle of the sport, but that privilege also comes with enormous pressure, not only to perform but to carry the expectations of millions of supporters.
Few players understand that burden better than Gary Neville. The Manchester United legend was England’s first-choice right-back during one of the most challenging eras in the national team’s recent history, and he remains recognised among the Premier League’s all-time greats.
However, while many England players have endured criticism for their performances, Neville found himself at the centre of a very different controversy in 2003 — one that, according to his own admission, made him feel like ‘the most hated footballer in the country.’
The controversy stemmed from his decision to support Rio Ferdinand, who had been controversially removed from the England squad after missing a scheduled drugs test. Neville, alongside several experienced teammates, threatened to boycott a Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey in protest, believing the FA had treated Ferdinand unfairly.
The situation quickly escalated, and Neville ultimately found himself pushed to the brink as a consequence.
Neville later reflected on the events of 2003 in an interview with the Daily Mail, explaining how the episode almost destroyed the international career he had worked so hard to build.
“I’ll always be the one who takes the blame for the England team threatening to go on strike before the Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey.
“At 28, I would never play for England again. I’d be slaughtered by the media and fans. I’d definitely become England’s most hated footballer – if I wasn’t already. But that’s how strongly I felt about it.”
He added: “It was the week of England’s final qualifying match for Euro 2004 and my dad had just picked up me and my brother to take us to Manchester Airport so we could fly to London and meet the squad when I got the call: Rio had been dropped because of the missed drugs test. At first, I genuinely thought someone was joking.”
At 28, Neville was entering what should have been the peak of his playing career. By then, he had already represented England at two European Championships in 1996 and 2000, as well as the World Cup in 1998, having only missed the 2002 tournament through injury.
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At Manchester United, Neville was also on track to secure his sixth Premier League title in eight seasons. Walking away from football at that point would have been virtually unheard of, but the intensity of the media backlash made him seriously contemplate it.
“By the following morning, news of our decision had leaked and we were being branded a disgrace. The media certainly weren’t lining up to support a group of millionaires threatening to strike.
“Unless the FA changed its position, I was prepared to walk away, despite the serious consequences.
“The pressure was overwhelming. The more I thought about it, the more I convinced myself there was only one option — to leave.”
‘I’m a Man Utd Icon with 85 caps – My England Career was a Massive Waste of Time’
“Playing for England was one long roller-coaster: ups and downs, but also quite a few moments when you’re not really sure if you’re enjoying the ride”
Ferguson’s Phone Call Changed Neville’s Mind
Throughout his playing days, Neville regularly spoke about the immense respect he had for Ferguson. Therefore, when he found himself considering walking away from England, it was fitting that the legendary Scot was the person who convinced him otherwise.
“Look, you’ve trained too hard, played too hard, you can’t throw everything away. You’ve made your point, you’ve taken it as far as you can, now you’ve got to go and play the game.
“You just need to calm down and think that your England career could be over in one hit. What effect does that have on you as a player, as a person? Does that affect United? I can’t let you do that.”
When the Rio Ferdinand controversy finally subsided, Neville remained an England international, although his career with the national side never truly reached the heights many had expected.
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England again failed to live up to expectations at Euro 2004, suffering a heartbreaking quarter-final defeat to Portugal on penalties. Two years later at the 2006 World Cup, history repeated itself with another painful elimination at the same stage, against the same opponents, via another penalty shootout.
Neville eventually won the last of his 85 caps in 2007, retaining immense personal pride but achieving little tangible success with England. He later reflected on his international career and admitted that, in many ways, it felt like a “waste of time”.
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt.com – Correct as of 27-06-26.
Manchester United are set to miss out on a deal for a midfielder this summer, as Mundo Deportivo claims that one target has rejected an exit from his club.
It comes as the Red Devils are considering their options in the central areas, with as many as three signings expected in the middle of the park in the coming weeks of the transfer window.
Ederson is set to join from Atalanta as the first signing in that position, but the other two options remain open, as Man United position themselves for some impressive players.
Mateus Fernandes has been a key target, along with Sandro Tonali, but there is a battle for the pair as Premier League rivals Tottenham have muscled their way into discussions for the midfield duo.
However, there are other options being assessed, though one of those now appears to be off the cards.
Marc Bernal Rejects Barcelona Exit
Manchester United have been among a whole group of teams monitoring a potential move for Barcelona midfielder Marc Bernal, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The 19-year-old, who has been described as a “special” talent, has impressed since making his breakthrough into the senior team from La Masia.
The midfielder has shown plenty of potential, making 33 appearances over the past season for the Blaugrana, which has caught the attention of the Red Devils.
That said, a deal looks almost impossible now, as the report claims that Bernal has fully committed his future to Barcelona and has rejected the motion of an exit.
The youngster has a €500 million release clause in his deal, which runs until 2029, meaning any move is unlikely to be completed for him in the near future.
It may leave Man United rocked, with another midfield option taken away from them, albeit one who is likely to be a long-term option for the club.
It shows how tough the market is for the stars in the central areas, as the merry-go-round continues.
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Man United’s Future-Proofing Plan
In the past, Man United have been caught in awkward situations by landing players who are in the latter part of their career. It has tied them down to expensive options without the longevity that comes with having a younger star.
This summer’s approach has certainly shifted away from that, with Fernandes still only 21 years old, while even Tonali is at the start of his peak at just 26 years old.
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Throwing either alongside the likes of Kobbie Mainoo could create a pairing that will serve Man United for years to come. That strategy is clearly underlined in the club’s interest in a youngster like Bernal.
There is a long-term plan that the Red Devils have planned out. There is some hope that once all the pieces fall into place, there will be no need to change the central areas, and future windows can focus on adding quality elsewhere.
When asked about the women’s GOAT of tennis, you would imagine many picking Serena Williams, but not Boris Becker.
With the most female Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era at 23, Williams isn’t just in the discussion when it comes to the GOAT of female tennis players, she is also up there as one of the best tennis players, male or female.
With 836 wins compared to 155 losses throughout her career, anyone coming up against her would feel threatened.
The former world number one tennis player, Becker, does not see these achievements as enough to make her the greatest of all time in the women’s game, though.
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Eurosport Germany had the chance to ask Becker about who he believes is the best female and male players to grace the court.
His male pick was not the most surprising, with Novak Djokovic taking the title. The Serbian has won one more Grand Slam singles title than Williams, with 24 to his name, so with that you might have then thought that he would go for the American with her impressive tally as well, but he did not.
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The likes of Venus Williams, Martina Hingis, Billie Jean King, and Serena Williams all make the list.
Who you might be wondering has taken his top spot. Is it Martina Navratilova? No. Could it be Chris Evert? Not quite. His vote went to German Steffi Graf.
Graf achieved 22 singles titles during her career, seven of those happening at Wimbledon. One way to compare these two greats of the female game is through win percentage, with Graf finishing her career at a crazy 91.4%. Williams finished at a slightly lower 86.8%. Maybe this is one of the factors Becker took into account when deciding on who he believes to be the greatest.
Graf also takes the crown when it comes to the number of weeks ranked as the world number one, with a staggering 377 weeks under her belt.
Due to injuries, Graf had to cut her career short, retiring at 30 years old. Who knows where the now 57-year-old’s career could have taken her if she’d been able to stay in the game a bit longer.
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Despite many expecting Williams to get the title from Becker, if you look further back in history, there have been many dominant and impressive female tennis players that also deserve to be held in the same high esteem that Williams is in.
What we do know, though, is that everyone will have a different opinion when it comes to the GOAT of female tennis. Some may say Graf, some may say Williams, and some may go for another incredibly successful lady.
Police have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing regarding an alleged rape by Cape Verde’s Ryan Mendes, who is currently playing at the 2026 World Cup.
Cape Verde, the third smallest nation in World Cup history, have progressed to the Round of 32 after drawing with Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Mendes has captained his country in all three group stage games and is one appearance away from his 100th cap.
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But it has now been reported that the 36-year-old is being investigated by police over an incident that allegedly took place in March this year.
Cape Verde’s Captain Investigated By Police
According to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, the incident took place while the Cape Verde team were staying in Oceania for two friendly matches. They played against New Zealand and Chile during the FIFA Series.
A Brazilian woman living in New Zealand was contracted by the New Zealand Football Federation as a translator for the Cape Verde team and staff. The complaint alleges the incident happened on March 27 at the hotel in Auckland, New Zealand, where the team were staying.
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Mendes allegedly entered her room, strangled her, punched her, bit her and raped her while she was trying to defend herself. The medical report noted bruising in several areas of her body, such as her neck, lips, and areas of tenderness.
A genital examination reportedly found ‘two circular lesions, painful to the touch, at the base of the labia minora’. The alleged victim and her husband sent extrajudicial notices on May 10th to the Cape Verde Football Federation and FIFA with evidence and her account of events.
Cape Verde Statement on Mendes Situation
However, they reportedly received no reply. Globo claim to have revealed a WhatsApp conversation which shows an official from Cape Verde’s camp telling the alleged victim that the matter was ‘Ryan’s personal problem‘. The implication appears to be that they would not be looking into the complaint.
But New Zealand police have confirmed the matter has been under investigation since April and the country’s football federation said in a short statement: “We understand that this matter is with the New Zealand Police, so they would be more appropriately positioned to comment on the situation.”
FIFA, however, have declined to comment on the matter involving Mendes, who plays for Igdir FK in the Turkish Second Division.
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