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Liverpool Hand Ronald Araujo Rare Shirt Number That’s Only Been Worn by 6 Players Before

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Liverpool announced the signing of Ronald Araujo from Barcelona on Monday evening. The Uruguayan has joined the club on loan, while the Reds also have an option to buy.

Araujo, who is a centre-back who can also operate at right-back, made his Barcelona debut in 2019. He has made 213 appearances for the club, scoring 14 times, and has helped them to eight trophies.

“I can’t wait to get started. I’m very, very happy,” Araujo told Liverpool’s official website after completing a move to the Reds.

“I’m excited to be here at this massive club with lots of history. I’m excited to meet my teammates, excited to get started playing, and I’m very motivated and really up for getting going.

“I think it was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career. I think it was a move that was necessary for me to take. As soon as I heard that interest from Liverpool, everything went into action really, really quickly.

“As I say, I’m super-happy to be here and excited to get started. I’m glad about the interest and it was the right move at the right time.”

Ronald Araujo Given Very Rare Shirt Number

Due to joining the club fairly late in the summer transfer window, there weren’t any low shirt numbers available for Araujo. Among the numbers he could have picked are No. 11, No. 13, No. 16, No. 24, No. 26, No. 27 and No. 29.

Araujo eventually chose to wear the number 33 shirt, which has only been worn by six players in Liverpool history.

The shirt number was first given to Layton Maxwell in the 1999/00 season. He made just one appearance for the Reds; a League Cup match against Hull City in September 1999. The following season, the number 33 was given to Alan Navarro.

Neil Mellor, who played a role in Liverpool’s Champions League triumph in 2005, wore the shirt between 2002-2005. Sebastian Leto wore it in 2007/08, while Jonjo Shelvey donned it from 2010 until 2013.

The last player to wear the shirt before Araujo was Jordon Ibe, who wore it from 2013 until 2016.

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Ronald Araujo Explains Reason Behind Shirt Number

Araujo has explained his reasoning for taking the number 33 shirt. He said, per This is Anfield:

“It’s a number that I like, a number that is special to me. Funnily enough, way back when I made my debut as a professional, that was the number I was wearing back then.

“But it has a personal meaning for me as well, it has a meaning which is all to do with my faith and my relationship with Jesus and God and religion.

“It’s a subject I spoke about and had a good conversation about with my friends, my family, my partner and my parents. It’s a number I’m very pleased on a number of levels to be wearing.”

Araujo will be hoping to make his Liverpool debut when the Reds welcome Como to Anfield for their final pre-season friendly on Saturday.

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WWE Fans Feel Sorry For Maxxine Dupri’s Real-Life Husband After Raw

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Since the release of WWE‘s Netflix series Unreal, the lines between real life and kayfabe, the scripted side of professional wrestling, have become more blurred than ever.

Last night’s episode of Monday Night Raw has once again got fans talking, this time relating to WWE Superstar Maxxine Dupri’s kayfabe relationship with fellow member of The Vision Austin Theory.

However, away from the kayfabe and storytelling of her job, Maxxine Dupri is married to another Superstar in the WWE’s ranks, Kam Hendrix.

Hendrix has been involved in social media clashes with Mason Rook (formerly known as Will Kroos), in which Rook has joked about Maxxine Dupri’s actions on Monday Night Raw, suggesting that Hendrix is unable to watch her at work.

After the conclusion of last night’s Monday Night Raw, fans have taken to social media to share their opinions on the ongoing ‘kayfabe’ relationship, with some extending their thoughts to her real-life husband.

WWE Fans Show Concern For Maxxine Dupri’s Husband

Maxxine Dupri & Austin Theory Screenshot via Netflix

“Maxxine Dupri doesn’t care anymore… even if her husband is watching at home,” one fan said in response to a clip of Dupri having her arms around Theory during the entirety of his entrance to the ring.

The fan went on to add: “Her JOB is on the line. If this Austin Theory angle doesn’t work, those WWE budget cuts might be coming. Is Maxxine Dupri going all in to save her job?”

WWE & Romance Has Heavy History

The WWE has had its fair share of romance mixed in with its storylines, some dating back decades, but some fans now believe the relationship between Austin Theory and Maxxine Dupri is re-telling a story that we have seen countless times before.

Another fan shared their thoughts after Dupri was seen kissing Theory at ringside during his match against Akira Tozawa. They said: “I have a feeling Maxxine Dupri is about to do what these wrestlers did with their partners. Triple H left Chyna for Stephanie, Lita left Matt Hardy for Edge, Nancy left Kevin Sullivan for Chris Benoit.

“History might be repeating itself…”

Maxxine Dupri and Austin Theory Screenshot via Netflix.

The couples listed all shared something that Austin Theory and Maxxine Dupri also share; a kayfabe relationship. However, the listed couples went one step further into real life.

In one of the kayfabe storylines, Triple H was due to drug and marry Stephanie McMahon before she joined him to create a faction. What followed in real life was the couple getting married and having a family.

However, at the very beginning of the storyline, it was alleged that Triple H was still with his ex-girlfriend Chyna while he was taking the kayfabe relationship with Stephanie McMahon away from work, leaving Chyna heartbroken and fans confused.

Fast-forward over 25 years later and many WWE fans are seeing the same similarities between Austin Theory and Maxxine Dupri, sharing their fears for her real-life husband as she commits to her job with all of her effort.

“This is concerning then for her husband,” another fan replied to the comparisons.

In a world where the line between real-life and kayfabe is being blurred, the general opinion of WWE fans across social media is that of admiration towards Maxxine Dupri’s work, so much so that they are beginning to feel sorry for her real-life husband.

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Why Mexico Went Against the USA and CONCACAF and Publicly Backed Infantino

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Mexico are one of 12 countries to have backed Gianni Infantino to stay on as FIFA President and there is a good reason why.

Infantino is under immense pressure after making controversial plans to sell stakes in the men’s FIFA World Cup to private investors. He and FIFA are accused of ‘breaking trust through deception,’ and three international football associations are demanding he step down from his role.

UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC penned an open letter explaining that they are holding discussions about organizing competitions between them. This would allow their nations, including world champions Spain, England, the USA, Canada, and Japan, to boycott FIFA competitions while Infantino is still in power.

Despite being a member of CONCACAF, the Mexican Football Federation has supported Infantino during the controversy surrounding his failed plans. Mexico, were one of three co-hosts at this summer’s World Cup, and the FIFA chief had reportedly made a promise to the North American nation to keep them on side.

Infantino Made Promise to Mexico

FIFA president Gianni Infantino REUTERS/Jennifer Gauthier

The Mexican Football Federation released a statement on August 7th, backing Infantino and opposing CONCACAF’s stance on the FIFA President. They were joined by Argentina, which has held a close relationship with the Swiss football administrator throughout his tenure.

According to Mexican journalist Martin del Palacio, as relayed by AS, Infantino promised Mexico that they could leave CONCACAF and play in CONMEBOL. They found the footballing and monetary interests of this proposal appealing, which would see them compete against South American nations such as Argentina and Brazil.

Mexico Players (World Cup) Raquel Cunha via Reuters

Infantino has a strong relationship with the Commissioner of the Mexican Football Federation, Mikel Arriola, and turned to him for support after his FIFA Forward Enterprise idea faced a huge backlash. The Mexicans are thought to be looking to leave CONCACAF due to a poor relationship with the sporting body.

Issues arose when the Mexican national team and Liga MX teams began competing in South America. CONCACAF then excluded them from the Copa América, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, and other competitions. If Infantino remains in charge, the World Cup will be expanded to 64 teams, allowing Mexico to participate regularly, as it does in CONCACAF, because the South American confederation will receive an additional number of berths in the tournament.

The FMF wrote in a statement:

“Soccer is the core value, and its best defense lies in institutional integrity and respect for the governance and processes that protect it.”

This indicates that the FMF is prepared to break alliances to secure its sporting and financial future. Co-hosting the World Cup with the USA and Canada hasn’t resolved the issue, and tension remains between Mexico and CONCACAF.

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Mexico Not The Only Ones Backing Infantino

Argentina's Lionel Messi with FIFA president Gianni Infantino after losing the World Cup final Lionel Messi with Gianni Infantino via REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Infantino remains determined to keep his job and he is turning to allies for support ahead of elections in March. Mexico is one of 12 nations that have publicly backed him, along with Argentina.

Morocco is another one of Infantino’s close allies, and he recently traveled to the African country that is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. It’s thought that he has offered the Moroccans the chance to host the tournament’s final.

Other nations standing by Infantino include 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Bhutan, the Philippines, and Paraguay. Three countries, Egypt, Niger, and Mauritania, haven’t endorsed him but have voiced their support.

FIFA consists of 211 members who are entitled to vote and to nominate candidates before the nomination deadline on November 18th. As it stands, more nations have publicly opposed Infantino and withdrawn support following his World Cup sale plans.

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European Heavyweights ‘On Track’ to Sign Spurs Star Spence

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Tottenham could be closing in on a major sale in the form of Djed Spence as they look to balance their spending a little amid a giant spend this summer. Spurs have spent more than £235million to revamp their defence and midfield, while they are now turning their attention to the top end of the pitch, needing to add a winger and potentially a striker.

Roberto De Zerbi is being given big money to spend this summer, but it comes amid the expectation of exits, with the likes of Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario expected to leave, while Lucas Bergvall could depart, and Luka Vuskovic has left already.

Spence is another who could leave to get more regular starts, and a deal could be close.

Inter ramp up efforts to land Spence

Djed Spence Face Mask England World Cup 2026 IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Brett Davis

Spence is said to prefer a move this summer to become a starter elsewhere, with De Zerbi likely to play Pedro Porro on one side and Destiny Udogie on the other. Spence can play both sides, and he is likely to feature plenty, but he is not likely to be the main starter.

That’s despite Spence having a very good World Cup with England, but that World Cup does give the full-back an opportunity to cash in and land a top job elsewhere.

Offering an update on the situation transfer guru Fabrizio Romano posted on X: “Inter are prepared to send official bid for Djed Spence if exit conditions change compared to €45m request post World Cup. Inter believe price can be under €40m now and talks will follow — back on track as exclusively revealed. Spence, keen on the move.”

Club

Appearances

Middlesbrough

63

Nottingham Forest (loan)

39

Tottenham

59

Rennes (loan)

8

Leeds United (loan)

7

Genoa (loan)

16

England National Team

14

Spence makes ‘outstanding’ impact

Djed Spence via Reuters

During the World Cup, England superstar Harry Kane described Spence as ‘outstanding’, and Ange Postecoglou agreed during his time at Spurs, saying: “He’s been outstanding since he’s come into the team. He had to bide his time. It’s fair to say we needed Djed to really be patient, and also just mature a little bit, and I think he has.”

England boss Thomas Tuchel added when he called up the full-back last year: “He had a very good end to the season with Tottenham and a very good start of the season. He was impressive against Paris in the European Super Cup final.”

Spence had a tricky start to life at Tottenham and ended up going out on loan with Leeds United, where he also struggled, and a loan spell with Genoa followed, but the full-back matured significantly after that and returned to play a significant role.

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