Autor: Luis Lopez

Flash forward to March 2024, and the Belgian international is still stuck on just one league start throughout the current campaign. He left Villa for reigning Serie A champions Napoli in search of more regular game time in January but has actually played fewer minutes in Italy than he did under Unai Emery.

Difficult season for Aston Villa’s Leander Dendoncker

The former Wolves man has featured in just 21 out of a potential 810 minutes in Italy. And while Napoli retain an £8 million option-to-buy clause in Dendoncker’s contract, a handful of cameo appearances off the bench will not have the underperforming Partenopei rushing to turn a short-term deal into a permanent one. 

“Of course, he would like to help (the team) more to achieve their goals, but these are the coach’s prerogatives,” Seraino Dalgliesh, Dendoncker’s representative, tells Radio CRC. “However, he remains positive and will use this break to work even harder and get more minutes in the final part of the season.  

“We defend the Napoli choice. We don’t regret it. Of course, he would like to play more. However, this does not mean that Leander is discouraged or that he would not make this choice again.

“The boy remains calm. Not entirely satisfied, but very calm.” 

Napoli sale hanging in the balance

Dendoncker has not been helped by the fact that Walter Mazzarri – the man who brought him to Naples – was sacked soon after the January window closed. Francesco Calzona, hired on an interim basis until the summer, has played Dendoncker only once since his appointment a month ago. 

“Finishing Serie A in the best possible way is his immediate objective. Then, we will talk to the club at end of the season, and we’ll see if there are the conditions to continue,” the agent adds.

“The change of coach inevitably influenced Dendoncker’s playing time because, now, the coach who wanted him is not coaching Napoli.”

Dalgleish insists that Dendoncker is happy in Italy for the time being, and is enjoying living in Napoli. Fortunately for him, Calzona’s contract expires in a matter of weeks, though his hopes of a longer stay on Italian soil may depend on who ends up taking his place in the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona dugout.

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Authors claim ‘UFO’ that crashed in Aztec, New Mexico, had ’16 humanoid bodies’

The ‘UFO’ crash incident that allegedly occurred on March 25, 1948, has been branded as a hoax by many, but ufologists continue to argue that people are unaware of what exactly happened.

Several authors and UFO enthusiasts still continue to claim that a spacecraft crashed in Aztec in 1948 when it was trying to land. The destroyed vehicle was allegedly spotted by localities before the military intervened.

If the rumors are to be believed, the UFO was about 100 feet in diameter and 18 feet tall. More than the size of the spacecraft itself, people were baffled by the supposed passengers it was carrying.

It has been claimed that 16 “humanoid bodies” were “secretly retrieved” from the UFO and studied by some of the world’s leading scientists.

While the authors and UFO enthusiasts have bought the above theory, the government is believed to have never investigated the matter.

Ufologists show ‘alien bodies’ on national television

Even today, Mexico is a hot spot for alleged UFO sightings and earlier this year, a UAP hearing saw ufologists display “alien corpses” on national television.

The skeletal remains allegedly belonged to “non-human” species that were mummified. “X-rays” of the unidentified creatures showed they had “ovaries and eggs” similar to humans.

They were believed to be over 1000 years old, which was determined by studying the DNA found in the corpses using carbon dating.

The journalist at the hearing claimed that the “alien corpses” shown to Congress were not recovered from a UFO site, but instead, they were found in mines in Cusco, Peru.

But, people around the world expressed their skepticism about the remains belonging to an alien, and some Internet users even turned it into a viral meme by revealing it to be a cake.

Fear of aliens is looming large everywhere

From claims about aliens in the backyard of a house in Las Vegas to predator-like ‘Face Peelers‘ in Peru, the fear associated with UAPs is on the rise. Here are more such reports that’ll boggle your mind:

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Sabrina Duran Montero was shot seven times

As per reports, Sabrina was reportedly approached by a group of people while she was at the intersection of Alberto Blest Ganna and Primera Transversal, Chile.

They allegedly took her car and attacked her by shooting her seven times. The officers were quick to arrive at the scene and Sabrina was transferred to Sapu Santa Rosa hospital. She was pronounced dead shortly after.

The tragic incident took place a month after Sabrina was released from prison as she was serving a sentence for drug trafficking.

What we know about the TikTok star

Sabrina got her nickname ‘Ina’ as it was a short form for ‘narcoreina.’ The TikTok star worked as a drug trafficker in her region and was arrested in March 2022 alongside her brothers for running a drug business.

However, her social media personality was completely different. With over 444k followers, Sabrina constantly posted on the platform.

Most of her content was dance videos or a clip of her doing nails or makeup. She also had a good reach on the platform with many of her videos getting millions of views. The last video that Sabrina had posted was a day before her death. In it, the TikTok personality was seen showing some makeup products while wearing a black top and jeans with accessories.

Picture from the shooting go viral

A picture from the shooting has been going viral on social media and we urge users to report it as it could be distressing to many. You can report the image by following one of the options below:

If you wish to do it on Twitter, follow the steps below:

1. Navigate to the Tweet you’d like to report.
2. Tap the icon located at the top of the Tweet.
3. Select Report Tweet.

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1. Go to the post you want to report.
2. Tap in the top right of the post.
3. Tap Find Support or Report Post.
4. To give feedback, tap the option that best describes how this post goes against Community Standards. Tap Next.
5. Click submit

To report on Instagram, follow these steps:

1. Click on the three dots on the top right of the post
2. Select Report

To report on TikTok, follow the steps below:

1. Select the video you want to report
2. Click on the arrow that appears in the bottom right corner of the video
3. Select ‘Report’ from the options that appear
4. Choose ‘Misleading’ from the options
5. Click on submit

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UFO filmed over Spain looks like a ‘boat’

The unverified footage of an alleged UFO seen flying over Spain has been making the rounds on TikTok for a while now.

Several accounts have re-shared the clip that was supposedly filmed in August 2023 with similar captions that claim the occurrence was captured from inside an airplane, while the object was at a distance.

The unidentified object looks like a white flat disc cruising in the sky, without any other visible details around it. The so-called flying saucer doesn’t fit the typical description of a spacecraft and looks more like a glitch in the matrix than an actual object.

The original source of the video is unknown and we can’t tell for sure if the sighting is real as it was never reported or investigated. Due to the fact that social media is full of fabricated videos of UAPs these days, the possibility of the above sighting being authentic is further minimized.

Unidentified object looks like a ‘boat’

The TikTok video showing the “UFO” over Spain is interpreted in different ways by users. Some think the footage itself isn’t real, while those who believe in aliens think they may have seen an actual UAP.

One user said the object illusion could just be a “reflection”, while a few others have said that it resembles a “boat”.

One comment read: “Just the sun shining off of something on the ground, good proof of this is the solar forms in Vegas that look like this from the sky.”

“This is clearly fake. Why didn’t they film it longer to see where it goes?” asked another.

Unverified reports about UFOs and aliens

Humans are clearly divided over the possible existence of aliens, but there are some rumors stemming from unverified reports that’ll make you wonder if there is life beyond Earth.

Below are such sightings and occurrences that are hard to explain:

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Matthew Perry was linked to Gilmore Girls star Lauren Graham

Matthew Perry was linked to Gilmore Girls star Lauren Graham in 2003, however, the ‘relationship’ didn’t last long as he was single again just a few months later.

Five years later, the two appeared on the big screen together, in the indie movie Birds of America. The two also co-starred in the sitcom, Odd Couple, where Graham plays his ex-wife, Gaby, on the show.

During an Odd Couple fan Q&A, the Friends star said about Graham: “She’s one of my favorite people,” he said, slightly gushing. “We have great chemistry when working together and it’s fun to work with a close friend.”

The two remained close friends, and Lauren even promoted his memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing last November on X, formerly known as Twitter, as she penned:

“Happy, happy pub day, @MatthewPerry!”

Lauren said the pair ‘almost but never exactly dated’

Lauren has spoken about her relationship with Perry a number of times, including on an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

In a piece written for the Daily Mail back in 2016, the 56-year-old said about the Friends star: “The only bright spot, men-wise, was at an event where I met Matthew Perry. He became my Friend Who I Almost But Never Exactly Dated.”

Speaking about the relationship in her memoir, Talking as Fast as I Can, the actress said the two exchanged flirtations but never took it beyond that.

The Friends star then went on to date Rachel Dunn for two years

After the ‘flirtations’ with his Odd Couple co-star, the TV icon then went on to date professional volleyball player Rachel Dunn for two years.

The two were together when Friends came to an end after ten seasons, in 2004.

However, a year later, the two went their separate ways, with a source telling PEOPLE at the time that “there was no drama involved in the breakup.”

“There was no drama involved (in the breakup), just a commitment by Matthew to stay focused on his sobriety,” the insider revealed.

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‘UFO crash in Norway’ video is viral

A video posted by the TikTok account @WiggyWiggyWiggy has raised eyebrows with what appears to be the retrieval of an unverified object.

The person who is recording the video claims rovers were sent in to allegedly map the object that was resting under the water about 70 feet deep. The man alleges the object was at least 20 meters long with a “smooth surface” and was found “just laying on the bed.”

However, the video doesn’t determine the exact nature of the object and claims that scientists will have to study the collected data in order to find out if it’s really an unidentified flying object and if it’s as old as the person in the video suggests.

Moreover, the supposed retrieval of the object from the water doesn’t appear to have been conducted officially as it hasn’t made it to the papers or been covered by news channels.

There is no follow-up on the collected data or supporting evidence to believe the object lifted from the lake in Norway is real.

Supposed UAP linked to the 1946 incident

Norway is a hotspot for UFO sightings, and legend holds that in 1946 or 1947, several residents saw a spacecraft that ended up crash-landing in the water.

The unproven incident was mentioned in newspapers, documentaries, and even press conferences, but critics find the claims surrounding it unacceptable due to the lack of evidence.

Former U.S. Air Force officer, Dwynne Arnesson was at a press conference organized by Dr. Steven Greer when he revealed supposed encounters with UFOs in Norway.

He claimed a sighting that’s said to have occurred in 1967 was specifically imprinted on his mind because a UFO was seen near a missile saddle and then the missiles were deactivated.

The above claim further fuels wild theories about extraterrestrial lives possessing superpowers, such as the one that claims aliens in UFOs could have saved lives after a tragedy struck the Fukushima nuclear plant in 2011.

Fear of aliens takes over the Internet

Amid the ongoing debate about the possibilities of life outside Earth, humans are left more confused by rumors and unexplainable sightings from around the world. While most claims are fabricated by Internet users, a few others will make you question your beliefs.

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Rumored date for 2023 Starbucks Christmas cups

Starbucks is rumored to be releasing its Christmas cups on Thursday, November 2, 2023 – the same day that the Holiday Menu supposedly launches.

On that date, the coffee chain is said to be swapping its normal white paper takeaway cups for Christmas-themed ones for the festive season.

Plus, that’s when they will release their first range of Christmas drink merchandise which is available to purchase in stores and at Target.

Rumors say there will then be two more holiday cup drops after that, with Chapter 2 on November 21 and Chapter 3 on November 28.

However, some eagle-eyed Starbucks fans have already spotted some holiday cups in stores early, so it’s worth taking a look.

Starbucks’ holiday cup preview for 2023

On October 17, Starbucks gave us a preview of some of their 2023 holiday cups and there are some adorable options this year.

The Iridescent Winter White Cold Cup is set to be really popular, which is reminiscent of a winter wonderland.

If you want something more classic, there are three different cups in a deep red color that just scream Christmas.

The Poinsettia Red Prism Cold Cups, Deep Red Pleated Tumbler and Glitter Red Cold Cup will be going straight on your wishlist.

There are some blue cups too which are embossed with the chain’s iconic siren dancing against an iridescent background.

However, that’s just a few of the holiday cups. This TikTok video shows loads more which are rumored to be coming this month:

Rumored date for Starbucks’ Red Cup Day 2023

Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day promotion is also rumored to be returning on Thursday, November 16 2023.

Every year, the chain gifts reusable red cups to its customers to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season.

You can bag yourself a free red plastic cup when you order one of Starbucks’ handcrafted Christmas beverages.

They’re only available for one day while supplies last in stores and via the Starbucks app or Starbucks Delivery.

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Prehistoric ruins in China linked to aliens

The strange pipes were first discovered in 1996 by a Chinese writer/archeologist who went by the name, Bai Yu. He was exploring the remote land around Mount Baigong when he came across a cave shaped like a triangle.

Britannica states that the explorer entered the cave assuming it was man-made, but little did he know he would witness something unexplainable shortly.

What he saw inside the cave was “an array of metal pipes rising from the floor and embedded in the walls.” He saw more of these pipes along the surface of the hill and some led to the shore of Toson Lake.

When the samples from the pipe were tested, they found out 8 percent of the material consisted of “unknown composition.” From here stemmed a lot of speculative theories about how the pipes were created and some believe the material used to build it could be from “outer space” or a different planet that isn’t Earth.

The test results showed the pipes existed before human habitation in the area, fueling wild theories about aliens.

Research presents plausible explanations for the ancient pipes

Studies conducted in the following years helped scientists reach more plausible conclusions; the formation of pipes as a result of a natural phenomenon and geopolitical processes.

One theory suggested that the uplift of the Plateau of Tibet could have caused fissures, that were eventually filled with iron-rich sediments from floods and took the shape of pipes once hardened.

Another convincing theory was that the pipes are nothing but fossilized casts of tree roots. This was proven more likely to have happened owing to similar cylindrical structures found in soils in southern Louisiana.

But, many still think there’s more to the story of Baigong pipes which humans refuse to believe.

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TikTok star shares crazy story time about a hockey player

The Put A Finger Down Challenge is a style of TikTok video that started as a way of exposing funny things about yourself, and has transformed into a convenient way for people to share their most outrageous, eyebrow-raising tales. For example, author and internet star Emma Noyes encouraged her followers to “put a finger down” if the following had ever happened to them, before launching into one of the wildest dating stories we’ve ever heard, knowing full well that no one else would be able to relate.

According to Noyes, a friend of hers had been seeing a professional ice hockey star for eight years who was the “love of her life”. The couple were based in the US but, thanks to an offer of “an insane amount of money”, the hockey player upped sticks to Russia to ply his trade over there for a few years.

After granting him her blessing to move, the couple tried going long distance, and all was well initially – with “rings and weddings” being discussed during their daily phone calls. Things took a turn for the worst, however, when February – the month the hockey player was due to return home – rolled around, and he was nowhere to be seen.

After reaching out to his friends and family, the girlfriend was told that the hockey player had gone on vacation, but she had had next to no response to any of the various texts she sent him – bar one rather ambiguous message which supposedly read: “I’m sorry I’m not home yet. I will be home soon. This is not a good response or a drunk response. I will text you a good response tomorrow.”

The hockey player reveals a new girl, but that’s not all…

Shockingly, that bizarrely blunt text was the last line of communication the deserted girlfriend ever had from her now-ex-man, who even ignored her when she mailed him a box of his contents along with a letter asking for closure.

Perplexed by his sudden anonymity, the girlfriend is forced to see pictures of him from when he returned to their home state during the off-season – the only evidence she now has of his existence. Beyond that, she is left in the dark until he uploads a particularly telling photo on Instagram…

Around a month into his second hockey season in Russia, the absent player uploads a photo of a girl. Although the picture is untagged, the ex-girlfriend’s friends used their “FBI Agent” adjacent skills to piece together who the mysterious woman may be.

Needless to say, the gang of sleuths used their social media scouring skills sufficiently, and successfully identified not just who she is and what she does, but the fact that there appears to have been a significant amount of crossover between the time the hockey player and Noyes’ friend were together, and when she and the star shacked up.

As if things couldn’t get any more shocking, on November 3 the hockey player uploaded yet another picture of his new girlfriend and, this time, she had a ring on her finger…

TikTokers fume about the hockey horror story

It will likely come as no surprise to you to learn that the hockey player is now officially public enemy number one in the comments under the video on TikTok.

“He MUST do time!” suggested one angry social media user in response to the astonishing story time tale. “His family and friends (and) no one said anything?” Asked another user. “The way I would’ve imploded his life.”

Discussing the decision to break things off without so much as a farewell text, someone else wrote: “Honestly that’s not even ghosting. You don’t (ghost) someone you’ve been with for almost a decade. You ABANDON them.”

Another user described how she attempted to do her own investigating, writing: “Not me asking my hockey obsessed fiance all of the hockey players who play in Russia who recently got engaged.”

While some TikTok users have theorized who the mystery hockey player may be, there is no evidence to suggest that any of them were involved in the situation described in the TikTok video.

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Psychic predicted an apocalypse in 2023 due to ‘alien invasion’

Late Baba Vanga, known for her prophesies, alleged that aliens would invade Earth in 2023, and when they did, our planet would be “covered in darkness.”

She is believed to have said that there won’t be any light on Earth for days when the extraterrestrials make a visit and during the visitation, none would see any kind of light – be it natural sunlight or brightness created with electricity and other power sources.

Aliens would invade to take over mankind, so millions of lives would be claimed in the process.

A TikTok that dwells on the Mystic’s prediction claims she foresaw as less as 10,000 lives on Earth if we were to be invaded by non-human beings.

Her prediction about extraterrestrials was also linked to another prophecy – humans would grow in labs in 2023. Many still believe, that technological advancement was a precursor to the supposed catastrophe, in which event humans will have to expand the lost population with scientifically created “lab babies”.

UFO investigator says extraterrestrials will soon visit the Earth

Fear of aliens is looming large not just because of Baba’s prediction alone, but the same possibility has been echoed by ufologists and UFO enthusiasts.

Former CIA officer John Ramirez has already warned mankind of a visitation from our counterparts and he believes its outcome won’t be pleasant.

In an interview, John said people in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world are “being prepared to the reality that there is something.” before adding that “their presence is here.”

“We need to explain their presence because if they show up and we continue to do what we did before in previous decades, there will be mass panic,” he said, thus supporting the possibilities of life beyond Earth.

But, the former CIA claimed that humans have until 2027 to prepare for such an event. “And, if they come in 2027, the U.S. government has to prepare the people about what is up there,” he added.

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What happens if you fail No Nut November?

No Nut November is a month-long challenge that requires men to refrain from ejaculating. So, that means no sex or masturbate. And you fail to practice self-restraint, then you’re out of the challenge and it’s game over.

This also means you cannot participate in the Destroy D*ck December challenge, which is follow on challenge and allows men to indulge in any amount of sexual activity during December. It’s basically a reward for the prior month abstinence.

Although there are no conclusive studies on the NNN challenge (believe it or not) the first week of November is where the majority of participants fail according to social media chatter.

Nevertheless, as back by some actual scientific evidence courtesy of Harvard University, regular ejaculation is not considered a bad thing and has been proven to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. So if you’re going fail, fail in blissful harmony.

What are the rules for NNN?

The No November Nut challenge has a set of rules you need to follow in order to emerge victorious at the end of the month. Here’s what they are:

• No ejaculation is allowed during the challenge
• Watching x-rated content is allowed
• Participants have to do the challenge for 30 consecutive days during November

Unfortunately the Not Nut November challenge is not for girls but there are plenty of other TikTok challenges that anyone can get involved with.

People think cat and hamster had a baby

A lot of TikTok users are asking – can a cat get a hamster pregnant? The answer is no.

Some may dismiss the question as illogical, but we believe the viral video of the much-talked-about baby hamsters may change your opinion.

The TikTok account @fiestyrachet documents the birth of a litter that belongs to the content creator’s hamster, which lives with a domestic cat.

The baby hamsters looked like gummy bears at first, but their fur started to develop colors and texture in no time, and much to our disbelief, two of the baby hamsters ended up looking just like the cat!

The owner of both animals also claims the male hamster never came “close” to the female hamster, thus implying that the former can’t be the father of the babies.

The initial video featuring the baby hamster with a coat similar to the cat came with a caption that implies the two animals could have possibly mated.

MORE FOCUS STORIES

The overlay text on the viral video with more than 34 million views states: “When you thought your hamster and cat were just ‘playing’ in corners but your hamster suddenly falls pregnant and produces a mysterious child.”

No, the two species can’t get each other pregnant

The two hamsters resembling the cat more than their mother or actual father may have carried genes different than their siblings to look unique. But, the justification offered by some users that cats and hamsters can reproduce is simply ridiculous.

Moreover, a few have added to the confusion by sharing screenshots of responses from websites like Quora and Reddit, where unverified sources have made wild claims about the two animals producing babies together.

The misconception stems from the caption for the viral video which states: “Is there anything in scientific literature that says a hamster and cat can have babies? She gave birth to a baby that looks just like my cat!”

There is no evidence that cats and hamsters have bred with creatures outside their species for one to believe the above speculations to be true.

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Spotify shows just how eclectic our music choices can be, and Wrapped can be a nostalgic affair for those who have been through a lot in the previous 12 months. Well, 10 of the 12, to be precise, because Wrapped actually stops tracking on October 31st of the year in question.

Spotify Wrapped tracks for 10 months of the year

As reported by Pop Buzz, Spotify will stop tracking on October 31. Every year the counting period for the wrap is from January 1st to October 31st.

As of now, Spotify has never revealed how it counts the data. Nonetheless, people have been happy with their results all these years. Things are no different this year as people are waiting eagerly for their wraps to be released.

From personal experience, Wrapped always gets it spot-on. Those songs we just have to listen to every day or always at the top. Whereas some that hit hard during particularly important parts of the previous year often get a well-deserved place on the list.

SEE: How to do the AI Grinch filter that’s cracking up social media

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Chelsea are in the market for a new left-back with Ian Maatsen – who is currently on loan at Borussia Dortmund – set to secure a move away from the club.

We also believe that the club are ready to move Spanish international Marc Cucurella on at the end of the season after failing to impress following his £55m move from Brighton.

Chelsea eyeing move for Locko this summer

It’s been another frustrating season at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea once again out of contention to qualify for the Champions League.

Under the ownership of Todd Boehly, they’ve spent a huge amount of money and build an exciting but inexperienced side.

Cole Palmer’s introduction to the team has been inspired, but there are plenty of question marks over some of their other new signings.

They’ve spent an awful lot of money hiring key personnel from on and off the pitch from Brighton with HITC Football reporting that Sam Jewell is the latest person to make the switch between the two teams.

Unfortunately, the decision to sign Marc Cucurella last year hasn’t paid off despite his strong performances under Graham Potter on the south coast.

Chelsea now want to add another left-back to their squad this summer and they’ve identified Bradley Locko as a potential addition.

The 21-year-old has helped Stade Brestois defy the odds this season and they currently sit 2^nd in Ligue 1.

The defender has started every match this season and that’s unsurprisingly caught the attention of several huge clubs.

Locko one of France’s most exciting prospects

Chelsea’s scouting department have been looking at left-back options and Locko is one name that has emerged.

He made his professional debut at Stade Reims in a team that contained the likes of Hugo Ekitike.

He moved to Brest in January 2023 and spent much of the season on the bench deputising for Jean-Kevin Duverne.

However, Duverne moved to FC Nantes last summer and Locko stepped up, and his performances have been so good that they’ve attracted the attention of Chelsea.

The Blues have watched the 21-year-old several times in the last month and HITC Football believes that they’ve been very impressed with what they’ve seen.

Pochettino will be keen to continue shaping his squad into his own image and bringing in a player like Locko would aid that.

He’s exceptional going forward and carrying the ball, while also being a very strong tackler.

Given Ben Chilwell’s fitness concerns, Locko would be an able deputy and has plenty of similar qualities.

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So, why does Karim Benzema wear a bandage? Let’s take a look…

Why Benzema wears a bandage

Well, the Frenchman suffered a gruesome finger injury back in January 2019 during Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Real Betis in La Liga.

Benzema collided with Marc Bartra and fell to the ground, putting his right hand out to cushion his fall.

However, the 36-year-old ended up fracturing the little finger on his right hand as a result.

📸| Karim Benzema may have broken his little finger after a challenge from Marc Bartra. 🤕 pic.twitter.com/AbsnaBZS6b

— 𝗥𝗠𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 (@ReaIMadridOnly) January 13, 2019

Benzema had to be substituted, and missed Real Madrid’s next game – a Copa del Rey Round of 16 clash against Leganes.

However, the Lyon-born striker was back in action after that game, wearing his now trademark white bandage which he opted for instead of undergoing immediate surgery, which would have seen him miss more games for Real Madrid.

Despite eventually finding time to have an operation during the summer of 2019, Benzema continued to wear the bandage.

Explaining his decision, AS quote the forward as saying: “I did have an operation, but when you have surgery you have to be out for two months. I’ve hurt (the finger) again, but I don’t have time to stop and have another operation, so I wear the bandage when I’m playing.”

Benzema could join Arsenal or Chelsea

Fresh talk about Benzema’s bandage comes amid serious doubts over his future in Saudi Arabia.

Sources recently told HITC Football that the striker is set for talks with At-Ittihad over his situation amid links to Arsenal, while Graeme Bailey previously reported that Chelsea could move to sign him.

Benzema profile

Full name: Karim Mostafa Benzema

Age: 36

Height: 6ft 1in (1.85m)

Date of birth: 19th December 1987

Place of birth: Lyon

Nationality: France

Club: Al-Ittihad

Position: Striker

Salary: £303,050-a-day

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Fabio Silva, reportedly a target for Celtic, has joined Old Firm rivals Rangers on loan instead. Bojan Miovski looks destined to stay at Aberdeen, at least until the summer. Szymon Wlodarczyk, meanwhile, is far too expensive at near £20 million. 

Ange Postecoglou could boost Celtic’s striker hopes

In more positive news, Bologna appear highly unlikely to slam the door in Sydney van Hooijdonk’s face, the £4 million-rated Dutchman out of favour and gathering cobwebs on the bench. Celtic’s interest goes back a number of months, scouts recommending the former Heerenveen talisman to the Scottish champions. 

Celtic enquired about Van Hooijdonk’s availability back in November. And, according to Il Resto del Carlino, Bologna are in the process of identifying replacements, Tottenham Hotspur youngster Alejo Veliz one of the options under consideration. 

The Argentina Under 20 international moved to London from Rosario Central over the summer. He opened his Premier League account for ex-Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou during Thursday’s 4-2 loss at Brighton and Hove Albion. Postecoglou may be open to farming Veliz out on loan, however, with Richarlison and Heung-Min Son ahead of him in the Tottenham pecking order. 

Bologna eye Alejo Veliz loan

Van Hooijdonk, meanwhile, has started only one more league game than Veliz has in 2023/24.

“I’m fine (at Bologna). I’m at a good team and I like life a lot. But I have to do what’s best for my growth. For my career, I also have to play,” Van Hooijdonk told Corriere dello Sport recently, seemingly throwing open the door to a January departure.

“Do the rumours about my possible transfer bother me? It’s normal when you don’t play. In the last year-and-a-half, I’ve played a lot and also scored a lot.

“We will see what happens.”

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The paint that broke the coat’s back

The unnamed aunty, 28, married a “very wealthy” man, 34, and spent Christmas with his family for the first time following the pandemic. After telling her mother-in-law how much she adored her coat, she was gifted one of her own as her Christmas prezzie. Said coat is a whopping $20k. She only found out how expensive it was in January when her niece googled the brand.

“I won’t lie, I didn’t wear it after that because I was afraid of ruining it,” she explained on the popular Reddit thread AITA.

But disaster struck after another visit to her sister’s house. Her niece, for some wild reason, thought it was appropriate to prank her aunty. 

She explained: “While I was putting it back on to leave, I felt something go splat on my back, then my niece started cackling and the smell of paint hit me. I was so p****d off while she was not apologitic at all. Her mom screamed at her and said she was grounded. Then she said she will pay for the dry cleaning.”

But it doesn’t stop there, as her niece posted it on Instagram alongside the caption: “I’m going to hit my aunt’s $20k coat with a paint filled balloon to see how she reacts.”

The niece took down the post but was in hot water again after her aunty discovered that the coat could not be saved. Rest in peace beautiful coat.

She wanted the money back for the coat

The original poster continued to explain: “The next day I found out my coat can not be saved, so I called my sister and told her that her daughter has to pay it back.

“Well, we got into an argument and she said that they will not be paying it, and if I wanted a new one, I should get my husband to buy it for me. I think that they should pay for it (they can afford to, IMO they should sell my niece’s car and pay me back my money).”

Because she failed to reach an agreement with her sister, the woman intended to pursue the legal route. As a result, she had some take her side and others take her sister’s.

Reddit shares their thoughts on Coat-gate

While most people agreed with the original poster, there were those that said her sister should not be punished for her daughter’s stupidity.

One person scathed: “OPs sister is also saying that OPs husband can simply buy her another one, yet the coat didn’t even come from him. It was a gift from his mother. NTA OP, if your sister won’t give her daughter proper punishment, you may need to force it.”

Another suggested: “NTA. This is a really good way for your niece to learn that actions have consequences and hopefully will serve her well in the future, when she’s older. And your sister seems to need that lesson too.”

She later offered an update

The original poster took to Reddit once again to offer an update to her legions of supporters. Her husband came to the rescue. 

She wrote: “Apparently, my BIL was not in the know, and he was very pissed off at what my niece did, and my sister’s response.

“So they came to this solution: my niece’s car will be sold, and if it doesn’t fetch the whole compensation money, she will have to get a job and pay me the whole check untill it is paid off. Also she is grounded for the rest of the school year.”

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Starring Matilda icon Mara Wilson as the young Susan Walker, Miracle on 34th Street follows Kringle, played by Richard Attenborough, as he wows shoppers with his unconventionally charitable ways and attempts to reignite the dimmed Christmas spirit of a prematurely pessimistic six-year-old Susan.

Kringle is forced to attempt to prove to a rather skeptical court that he is of sound mind and not lying to himself about being Santa, prompting an impassioned response from Susan, who defends Kringle after he promises to make her Christmas wish of a dad, a new house and a baby brother come true.

Why we love the movie

The sign language representation

One of the many touching moments in Miracle on 34th Street is the adorable scene when our iconic in-store Santa is told by the parent of a young child that he doesn’t have to speak to her, as the child is deaf and just wanted to see Santa in person. Without missing a beat, Kringle greets the girl, played by Samantha Krieger – a deaf actress – and in perfect sign language tells her that she is “a very beautiful young lady.”

Richard Attenborough’s performance

The late actor, director and producer extraordinaire passed away in 2014, boasting an astoundingly comprehensive filmography. And while the brother of David, the iconic broadcaster, may have starred in a range of classics like Doctor Dolittle and Jurassic Park, Miracle on 34th Street is a vintage performance from Attenborough and one that is always fondly remembered by his fans.

A good take on a classic

While many filmmakers shy away from re-hashing Christmas classics out of fear of failing to do them justice, the 1994 take on Miracle on 34th Street is a rare example of a Christmas re-do done right. Although there is little change story-wise from the 1947 original, John Hughes’ and Les Mayfield’s 90s adaptation does a more than adequate job of presenting the movie for a new generation of viewers, without losing that crucial feeling of nostalgia.

The wholesome message

Of course, the best thing about 34th Street is the message of joy it leaves us with. The overarching theme of Miracle on 34th Street is the idea that employing a sense of faith and belief will result in a much more rewarding Christmas than approaching the holiday season with skepticism and reluctance; a message that can be relevant to just about everybody at some point in their lives.

Where to watch Miracle on 34th Street in the UK and the US

Miracle on 34th Street (1994) is available to stream on Disney+ in the UK and the US, and can also be rented or purchased from Rakuten TV.

UK residents without Disney+ are in luck, as the movie will be shown this Saturday (December 23) live on TV on Channel 5 at 11.50am and again at 12.50pm, with Channel 5 +1 repeating each screening an hour later, respectively.

You can find all the movies from our advent calendar on our Christmas page.

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Monzo drops ‘wild’ Spotify-style Wrapped, and people are mortified

Scores of startled Monzo customers awoke this festive Monday morning horrified to learn that, not only has Monzo been keeping track of every single one of their spending habits, but the bank has gone to the effort of presenting them all in an adorable slideshow format, too.

Whether it was trips to McDonald’s in the early hours or one of the hundreds of taps you made on your morning commute, the watchful eye of Monzo has been watching this whole time.

In direct contrast to the idea that money is a taboo topic that shouldn’t be discussed in public, the e-bank has presented its UK customers with facts and statistics about their spending. That way users can see exactly how their monetary matters line up with the rest of the country.

In a press release, Monzo confirmed that spending in cinemas saw a big boost in July thanks to the Barbie and Oppenheimer hype, while Taylor Swift‘s Eras tour helped bolster Ticketmaster traffic, rather unsurprisingly.

Embarrassed spenders expose worst financial habits from 2023

Some confident customers have taken to social media to show off the statistics they are most, or least, proud of – and it makes for some rather interesting reading.

One user, for example, not-so-proudly boasted on Twitter that they were part of the top 20% of shoppers at supermarket giants Asda, sarcastically writing: “Brilliant thanks Monzo I’ll add that to my CV”.

“I don’t know how I’m still alive,” wrote another user, who was informed by the bank that they had made 30 transactions at Greggs, and a further 76 at McDonald’s. “I’m deleting Monzo”.

One user summarised the comparisons to Spotify Wrapped rather succinctly, writing: “Listening to music is nice and losing money is sad…Monzo, you have direly misread the national mood”.

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