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‘Shamrock Rovers were top of my list’ – Danny Mandroiu signs new long-term contract with League of Ireland giants

DANNY MANDROIU is staying at Shamrock Rovers and has agreed a new long-term deal with the Hoops. 

Mandroiu, 26, rejoined the Hoops last September on a short-team deal after ending his two-year stay at Lincoln City.

12 December 2024; Danny Mandroiu of Shamrock Rovers after the UEFA Conference League 2024/25 league phase match between Shamrock Rovers and Borac at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Danny Mandroiu has signed a new Shamrock Rovers contract
Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Out of contract over the winter, he explored options in Europe but has now agreed a new contract to remain in Tallaght. 

The Dubliner said: “I’m really happy to get the deal over the line and really happy to be at Rovers for the foreseeable future

“I was considering both and what might come up, but Rovers was top of my list, and I wanted to be here so, as I said, I’m excited to be staying at Rovers again.”

The attacking midfielder joined the Hoops in 2021 from Bohemians and impressed quickly as he was called into Stephen Kenny’s Ireland squad. 

He departed midway through the 2022 season with Lincoln activated a clause in his Rovers contract with a bid as he went on to score 15 goals in two seasons with the Imps. 

Madroiu turned down a longer deal deal in England and then came home to Dublin to join the Hoops appearing 15 times and scoring one goal in the second half of last term.

But he believes there is more to come from him now after getting a full-season training. 

He said: “Pre-season is key, it gives you a base that sets you up for your whole season. I’m getting the full pre-season under my belt right now.”

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Aston Villa join Marcus Rashford transfer race with Barcelona increasingly unlikely to sign Man Utd outcast

MARCUS RASHFORD is a late January target for Aston Villa – with a move to Barcelona looking increasingly unlikely.

The out-of-favour Manchester United striker has not played for the Red Devils since December 12.

Marcus Rashford in a Manchester United jersey.
Getty
Marcus Rashford is being eyed by Aston Villa late in the transfer window[/caption]

Rashford has been linked with various loan moves away from Old Trafford during the ongoing window.

AC Milan, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund were all interested in a temporary move for the England man.

Barcelona are still hopeful of signing the 27-year-old, who has spent his entire career with the United.

But Rashford’s £325,000-a-week wages have proved a stumbling block in negotiations with the Spanish side.

The England striker revealed he was “ready for a new challenge” just weeks after Ruben Amorim took over in the North West.

And according to The Athletic, Villa are ready to swoop late in the window.

Unai Emery’s side are keen for reinforcements upfront to help out Ollie Watkins.

Jhon Duran is set for a £64million switch to Saudi club Al Nassr, while Emi Buendia has moved to Bayer Leverkusen.

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The report claims Rashford’s own preference would be a move to Barcelona.

But the Catalan giants have financial issues which could stand in the way of a loan deal.

The Man Utd star would reportedly “need some convincing” to head down the M6 to Villa on a temporary deal.

Rashford’s last appearance for United was in a Europa League game against Plzen almost two months ago.

He signed a five-year contract extension with the Red Devils in the summer of 2023.

A little over 18 months later, it looks unlikely he will play for the club again.

Man Utd ratings vs FCSB as Mainoo shines in new role but one team-mate struggles

KOBBIE MAINOO ran the show as Manchester United marched on in the Europa League in Romania.

SunSport’s Henry Tomlinson has given his ratings of the United players against FCSB…

Altay Bayindir – 6

He was often a bystander during the game despite the hosts often getting up the pitch.

Did show that he needs to work on his ball control with his feet with a few sloppy clearances.

Noussair Mazraoui – 7

Battled well at times as he took up the third centre-back role.

Did very little wrong throughout the match.

Matthijs de Ligt – 7

Solid showing from the Dutchman in Romania who provided the muscle in the backline.

Lisandro Martinez 70′ – 6

Did well to help out in defence and keep the ball moving forward.

Although, he should never have been allowed to take a decent free-kick opportunity in the first half that he blazed over.

Diogo Dalot – 7

Out on the wing, Dalot struggled to have a good impact on the game and was caught out on occasion when needing to defend.

But proved crucial as he netted the opening goal with a tap in after making a good run at the back post.

Toby Collyer 45′ – 6

Made up one-half of Man United’s academy midfield duo and looked composed throughout the clash.

He did not let the occasion get to him, as he showed plenty of strength when required.

Harshly hooked at half-time.

Kobbie Mainoo – 8

Excelled in a slightly more advanced role to Collyer in the midfielder.

Mainoo set up the opener with a cracking low cross to Dalot before scoring himself with a composed finish.

Tyrell Malacia 45′ – 5

Provided plenty of width in the left-wing-back role and whipped in a couple of decent crosses.

Was replaced at the break

Christian Eriksen 70′ – 6

Forced a decent save inside 20 minutes and linked the play between the midfield and final third.

Fell off during the second half and was replaced by Casemiro.

Bruno Fernandes – 6

Had a couple of moans at the referee in the first half and was largely quiet.

Benefitted from the changes at the break as he had more natural attackers to link up with.

Rasmus Hojlund 80′ – 5

The misfiring striker put in plenty of effort as he was often making runs.

Had a decent chance with his head but failed to get enough power on it to trouble the goalkeeper.

SUBS

Amad Diallo 45′ – 6

Added a bit more threat on the wing after replacing Malacia.

Alejandro Ganracho 45′ – 7

Almost made an instant impact as he latched onto a loose ball but his effort hit the wrong side of the post.

Picked up an assist with a decent pass to Mainoo.

Leny Yoro 70′ – 6

Slotted into the backline to help see out the game.

Casemiro 70′ – 6

Dropped deep into the midfield and gave himself as an option for defenders to pass to do move the ball forward.

Joshua Zirkzee 80′ – 5

Did not get much of an opportunity to grab a goal.

Rashford has managed just four goals this season from 15 appearances.

And Amorim claimed last week he would rather pick his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach over the wantaway forward.

Amorim said: “I’d put [goalkeeping coach Jorge] Vital on the bench before a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day. I’ll not change in that department.

“It’s always the same reason. The reason is the training.

“The way that I see what a footballer should do in training,  in life, every day.  If things don’t change, I will not change.

“Same situation for every player — if you do the maximum, if you do the right things, we can use every player.”

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Bill Gates admits to being ‘obnoxious loner with no girlfriend’ while climbing to top with Microsoft in bombshell memoir

BILL Gates has admitted he was “a loner, a nerd, a bit obnoxious” at school and didn’t have a girlfriend while he began to build Microsoft.

The geeky tech billionaire, 69, makes the confession in upcoming memoir Source Code, which is out next week.

Bill Gates sitting at a desk among many computers.
Getty
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates as admitted he was a ‘loner’ while building the company[/caption]
Book cover featuring a young Bill Gates; Source Code: My Beginnings.
Knopf
His memoir Source Code (cover pictured) will be released on February 4[/caption]

Gates writes in the book of his difficult childhood while studying at exclusive North Seattle private boys’ school Lakeside in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

“I was called a loner, a nerd, a bit obnoxious,” he says. “I was probably all of those things.

“I didn’t fit in, and I didn’t know how to fix that. So I pretended that I didn’t want to.”

Gates tells the story of how he was rejected after asking his crush to go to the high school prom with him.

He says the girl, named Vicki Weeks, was one of the most popular in his senior class at Lakeside.

He became besotted with her while they worked together on a theatrical performance of Black Comedy, by British playwright Peter Shaffer.

After he worked up the courage to propose going to the prom with him, Vicki asked to be given until the next day as there was another boy she had her eye on.

The next day she broke the news that “her guy came through”.

“It took me a while to get over the rejection; I shied away from making myself vulnerable for a while after that,” Gates writes.

Gates also admits that when he later decided to drop out of Harvard in 1975 to focus on building Microsoft he had “no girlfriend, no hobbies.”

He reveals in the book that he experimented with LSD on several occasions in his youth.

Recounting the first time he did acid, Gates says that he had smoked pot earlier and was feeling “uninhibited” when a friend offered him LSD.

He took the drug without realizing its effects would still be present when he had an appointment for dental surgery the next day.

Gates says he vowed never to drop acid on his own again – especially if he had plans for the following day.

Bill Gates bio

Microsoft founder Bill Gates is one of the richest men who has ever lived and regularly features high on the list of the world's wealthiest individuals.

Gates grew up in Seattle, Washington with his two sisters and parents.

He started Microsoft with Paul Allen after dropping out of college.

Gates stepped down from the board of Microsoft on March 13, 2020, nearly 45 years after he founded the company with Paul Allen and 20 years after he stepped down as CEO in 2000. 

He has now sold or given away much of his stake in the company.

In 2000, he and his then-wife Melinda Gates worked together to found the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the largest charitable foundations in the world with an endowment of $50 billion.

To date, Gates has donated $35.8 billion worth of Microsoft stock to the Gates Foundation.

Forbes places his next worth as of January 2025 at $106.9 billion.

The book delves into Gates’ experiences after he was sent to get therapy because of his bad relationship with his parents.

He says that his mother and father sought help after an argument at the dinner table which saw Gates behave like a “smart aleck.”

He was so insulting to his mother that his father threw a glass of water in Gates’ face, prompting him to respond “Thanks for the shower.”

Gates writes that the therapy sessions helped him realize he was destined to win his “imagined war” with his parents and that he was in fact a “lucky kid.”

Gates says his parents were left “stunned” when the therapist told them “Give it up. He’s going to win.”

Bill Gates and Bill Gates Sr. at the Lasker Awards.
Getty
Bill Gates and dad Bill Sr pictured at the The Lasker Awards in 2013[/caption]
Bill Gates holding Microsoft floppy disks.
Getty
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates poses in November 1985[/caption]
Bill Gates speaking at a conference.
AFP
Gates speaks during the Global Investment Summit at the Science Museum in London in 2021[/caption]

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Iran’s terrifying nuke scheme REVEALED: Satellite pics show secret warhead sites hidden by tyrannical regime…until now

IRAN’S tyrannical regime has been secretly building nuclear warheads for missiles that can fire more than 3,000km, according to new chilling docs.

Satellite pictures have uncovered three sites that Iran’s leaders claimed were being used as part of a space initiative.

Satellite image of Iranian nuclear warhead sites.
Satellite images reportedly show a secret missile site in Shahrud, Iran
Google Earth
Satellite image of a suspected Iranian nuclear facility.
Chilling documents also revealed a site in Semnan pictured in 2024
Google Earth
Emad missile launch in Iran.
EPA
Iran’s terrifying nuke scheme has been uncovered[/caption]

Humiliated by recent defeats of its terror proxies and weakened by the downfall of Syria’s dictatorship, Iran’s regime has ramped up repression.

The Sun reported last week how Iran’s merciless leaders have ordered a surge in executions – including of two political prisoners on trumped-up charges.

Iran has now accelerated its nuclear weapons development and is building terrifying nuclear warheads for solid-fuel missiles with a range exceeding 1,800 miles (3,000km).

They are being developed at two sites in Shahrud and Semnan, which were previously pinned as rocket or space satellite launch sites.

A third site, Sorkheh Hesar, is also said to be carrying out projects, including research on nuclear power and underground explosions.

Nukes are being quickly created under the watchful eye of the regime’s nuclear weaponization entity, the Organization for Advanced Defense Research (SPND).

Bosses are developing nuclear warheads for the solid-fuel Ghaem-100 missiles, which are equipped with mobile launch platforms at the Shahrud site.

Iran’s rocket designers have used North Korea’s missiles as a guide to develop the Ghaem-100 missile.

When the missile was in a very early testing stage in 2011, dozens of missile experts were killed at the Modarres site in Tehran.

Personnel vehicles are banned from entering the Shahrud site and are forced to park at a checkpoint before people are transported in.

The bombshell docs were released by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a political organisation founded in Tehran in 1981 aiming to overthrow the country’s tyrannical rule.

Meanwhile, they are using the liquid fuel missile Simorgh to develop nuclear warheads in Semnan.

Iran has staged three successful Ghaem-100 missile launches over the past two years, enhancing the regime’s capability to deploy nuclear weapons.

Leaders have now ordered the development of nuclear warheads to go on the rockets, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards are set to test more advanced Ghaem-105 missiles in the coming months, docs revealed.

The ballistic missile tests of Ghaem-100 and Simorgh were conducted under the guise of satellite launches, as these weapons are described as “satellite carriers”.

Iran’s barbaric regime has attempted to conceal the expansion of its missile site in Semnan as the Imam Khomeini Space Launch Terminal.

The site now includes eight complexes, compared to only two in 2005 while six additional complexes were added by 2012.

Satellite imagery part of the Semnan facility shows that construction of this complex began in early 2005.

Qaem 100 Iranian space launch vehicle on a transporter-erector-launcher.
Wikipedia
Iran is believed to be developing nuclear warheads for its Ghaem-100 missile[/caption]
Satellite image of a suspected Iranian nuclear warhead site.
Google Earth
Images show the Semnan site after the underground facility was covered with earth in 2012[/caption]
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waving before a meeting in Tehran.
Iran’s leaders including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are accused of covering up the sites claiming they are part of a space initiative
AFP
Satellite image of a missile launch in Iran.
Pics show the missile launch platform at the Shahrud site
Google Earth

Excavation work started in March 2009, the concrete foundations were made in October 2009, and by 2012, the site was completely covered with earth.

It is understood a covered hall is connected to other facilities within the complex via underground tunnels.

Insiders say activity has intensified in recent months at the site – using desert areas for practical tests.

NCRI’s US representative Soona Samsami said Iranian mullahs are “masters of lies, deception, and evasion”.

She told The Sun: “For over two decades, they have used negotiations and the West’s leniency as a means to advance their nuclear weapons program, threatening global peace and stability.

“Tehran has never been as weak and vulnerable as it is today. The desperate Iranian regime is thus speeding up the development of nuclear weapons.

“Now is the time to hold the regime accountable for internal killings, regional warmongering, and nuclear weapons development.

“As long as this regime is in power, it will never abandon its nuclear weapons program, even if it makes tactical concessions.

“The only sure way to end the Iranian regime’s threat is to end the rule of the clerics in Iran by the Iranian people and their organized resistance.

“All nuclear-related sites of the Iranian regime, including all uranium enrichment capabilities, must be shut down.

“Diplomatic overtures without accountability have only encouraged the regime’s deceptions.”

It comes after Donald Trump demanded the US build its own version of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system to fend off threats by nations including Iran.

The president’s executive order came amid his huge plans to radically reform the US military in the face of growing global threats against his nation.

He also hinted that a new deal with Iran would be “nice” in a hint that the new president would look for a diplomatic solution with the country.

Tehran has a network of puppet terror proxies that often carry out Iran’s dirty work.

Iran is known to arm terrorist groups such as Hezbollah to wreak havoc on enemy turf.

The regime this week warned the US and Israel would be “crazy” to attack its nuclear facilities.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told Sky News it would turn the “whole region into a very bad disaster”.

Satellite image of a suspected Iranian nuclear facility.
A helicopter pad at the entrance to the Shahrud site
Google Earth
Satellite image of Iranian nuclear sites.
A third site at Sorkhe Hesar is also being used for nuclear projects according to the docs
Google Earth
President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
Reuters
Trump said it would be “nice” if a new deal could be reached with Iran despite tensions[/caption]

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