Gossip: Everton eye director of football Weir
Everton would like to bring in former player David Weir as their director of football, a position the 54-year-old Scot currently occupies at Brighton. (Telegraph - subscription required), externalWant more news? Read Thursday's full gossip columnFollow the gossip column on BBC Sport
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The National
5 hours ago
- The National
There's a new reason for Scots to visit Naples
The face of Diego Maradona, who secured two other historic championship wins with Napoli, gazes down from murals and giant flags strung over the shaded alleys. But there's another face and name around the city, too. Scotland's Scott McTominay, who joined Napoli last summer, has already become an icon for Neapolitans. His goal that helped the team to its fourth championship has raised him to the saint-like status Maradona enjoys. READ MORE: US enters war with Iran after Donald Trump orders bombing of key nuclear sites McTominay is everywhere in the city now – memorialised in murals, celebrated on T-shirts and modelled into the famous figurines of its Christmas nativity scenes. If you're a fan of the footballer, there's no better place to honour him than in Naples this summer. Sitting at the packed plastic outdoor tables of a trattoria in Naples's historic Quartieri Spagnoli, scooters roaring past beside me, I can see a freshly spray-painted effigy of a noble-looking McTominay on the opposite wall, a seductive Sophia Loren beside him. The grid-plan alleys of the neighbourhood are an open-air gallery of murals, mainly featuring Maradona. Wander the shaded passages and you'll see him in various guises – Christ-like with a crown of thorns, graced with the wings of an angel, and sanctified with a halo. Similar tributes are now being paid to McTominay. Already, a black and white icon of the Scot's face has been inserted in the niche of a deconsecrated votive shrine along Via San Nicola a Nilo. And in an even more blatant statement, a mural on a wall near the San Pietro a Majella music conservatory shows the footballer leaping backwards to kick the ball, substituting the figure of God in the famous Michelangelo painting the Creation of Adam. On the walls of the decadent, crumbling palazzos that line the centro storico neighbourhood you'll see the graffitied phrase 'McFratm' – McTominay's dialectical nickname that roughly translates as 'McBro'. Souvenir stalls also sell flags and scarves with his name, but the most characteristic Neapolitan ode to the player is found on Via San Gregorio Armeno. This narrow alley in the heart of the historic centre is renowned for its workshops producing figurines traditionally used in presepi, or nativity scenes. The quirk here, though, is that Neapolitan nativity scenes are not just populated by Mary, Joseph and other biblical figures. Celebrities, politicians, popes and royalty have long been witnesses to Jesus's birth in Naples. New famous people who are modelled into figurines each year represent a line-up of those the world's been talking about most. Naturally, McTominay has now joined the ranks. Miniature scullptures of sculptures of him, with combed blond hair and a football in his hand, make for the perfect football fan souvenir If you are visiting Naples, when it comes to accommodation, you stay in style like McTominay and his family do at the five-star Romeo Hotel Napoli. Housed inside a Kenzo Tange-designed glass and steel building, the hotel is all sleek ebony panelling, volcanic stone from Mount Vesuvius and textured glass. Despite opening nearly 15 years ago, it still feels very on trend. It is packed with owner and Neapolitan businessman Alfredo Romeo's artworks – from an Andy Warhol of the nearby volcano to Mark Kostabi paintings and Zaha Hadid fireplaces and an eclectic chair collection. The Krug Champagne-branded roof terrace with an infinity pool overlooks the sweeping bay with shadowy Mount Vesuvius behind. Some rooms have panoramic harbour and volcano views, while wellness rooms are fitted with saunas, Turkish baths and jacuzzis. Suites feature opulent marble fireplaces and the Zen Garden suite has a Japanese-inspired outdoor area with an open-air jacuzzi. In the basement, there is a vast, futuristic spa where McTominay might have recovered from his game in the Himalayan salt-walled sauna or beneath the snow cascade in the frigidarium.
Metro
10 hours ago
- Metro
Man Utd urged to complete shock transfer for 'physical' Premier League star
Manchester United have been urged to sign 'physical' Premier League star Beto from Everton this summer in what would be a shock move. United head coach Ruben Amorim is keen for a new-look strike force at Old Trafford with the Red Devils linked to a number of attacking players. Matheus Cunha has already joined United from Wolves and Amorim is reportedly keen to recruit Viktor Gyokeres from his old club Sporting CP. But Fernando Lopes is convinced that Beto would be a better choice for United, despite the striker scoring just 15 goals in 71 games for Everton. Lopes, the president of Portuguese club Uniao Tires, where Beto started his career, told The Sun: 'Everyone thought Amorim would sign Gyokeres as he had him at Sporting – but the Premier League is completely different to Portugal. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. 'Teams are more physical and compact at the back, it is quicker and more competitive. 'Gyokeres would struggle to play as a lone No. 9 waiting for service. 'Beto's a more physical player, who fights with defenders and doesn't lose duels. 'He is a real headache for opponents – if he gets the service. 'In their golden era, United always scored a lot of goals from set-pieces but haven't had a proper striker for many seasons. 'Nowadays, teams have small, quick strikers or a false forward because there is an obsession for possession of the ball. 'Beto represents the typical old style, because of his physique, power and work-rate – plus he is very fast. 'When [David] Moyes went to Everton he showed what a handful he is for defenders to stop. 'He'd be like Amorim's ace up his sleeve in a game of poker.' More Trending Everton paid around €30m (£25.8m) to sign Beto from Italian club Udinese in the summer of 2023. The 27-year-old Guinea-Bissau international scored eight Premier League goals across 30 top-flight games in the 2024-25 campaign. Beto is currently under contract at Everton until the summer of 2027. 'One of Beto's attributes is the fighting spirit first injected at Tires,' Lopes added. 'He has had the attitude of never giving up since he was a boy. I'd love to see him in a more attacking team because if he has the service, he will definitely score around 20.' MORE: Atletico Madrid reject chance to sign Arsenal star in summer transfer window MORE: Ruben Amorim sends message to Manchester United over Emiliano Martinez transfer MORE: Chelsea set Nicolas Jackson asking price as Premier League club join transfer race
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Man United 'stepping up shock move for Everton flop but may face competition from Saudi clubs for £44.5m star' as Ruben Amorim targets new striker
Former Everton striker Moise Kean is reportedly on Manchester United 's radar. Kean enjoyed a resurgence at Fiorentina last season after a difficult spell at Goodison Park. The 25-year-old scored 19 goals and provided three assists in 32 Serie A appearances, helping the club secure a European place. According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, United are now monitoring Kean's situation with increasing interest. The Italian forward is understood to have a £44.5million release clause and is also attracting attention from Saudi side Al Qadsiah. It remains unclear whether Kean would be open to a move to the Middle East, although a lucrative offer could tempt him. United are in the market for a new striker, with Rasmus Hojlund having struggled to make an impact since his big-money move to Old Trafford. Sporting Lisbon's Victor Gyokeres, a target who previously worked with Ruben Amorim, is said to prefer a move to Arsenal, while Liam Delap has already opted to join Chelsea over United. Kean's first spell in the Premier League with Everton failed to live up to expectations. Signed as a highly-rated youngster, he struggled to adapt to life in England and was criticised for his attitude. His struggles were perhaps best summed up when then-interim manager Duncan Ferguson substituted him just 18 minutes after bringing him on during a match against United at Old Trafford. Kean managed only four goals in 39 appearances for the Toffees before a loan spell at Paris Saint-Germain and then a permanent move to Juventus.
