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“I had no mum, no father, multiple step-mothers and I was surrounded by drugs and crimes” – Jermaine Pennant opens up about childhood trauma

Jermaine Pennant has opened up about his childhood trauma and claims he can relate to Everton star Dele Alli after his interview with Gary Neville.

Pennant played in the Premier League for the majority of his career and represented the likes of Arsenal, Birmingham City, Liverpool and Stoke City.

Pennant has admitted to binge-drinking and addictions while battling with depression, which is something he now claims is down to his childhood trauma.

The former Champions League finalist opened up about his experiences on TalkSport. But what did Pennant say about his footballing career and why did he go to jail?

Jermaine Pennant praised Dele Alli for opening up about the trouble he faced in his life and claims he could relate to a lot of what he was saying on a personal level.

Alli spoke candidly to Gary Neville about his childhood trauma and said he was sexually assaulted at six years old. Alli went on to explain that he suffered from addiction to sleeping pills and excessive alcohol consumption.

Pennant expressed the importance of Alli’s interview and how helpful speaking up can be. He said: “When you bottle these things up it’s like a timebomb, and it will go off unexpectedly and you become very high risk of addictions. Whether it’s drugs, alcohol, gambling. Anything to take that hurt away, anything that gives you joy, you will go to.

“And now he’s spoken openly about what he went through. He can move past that trauma, past that hurt and it will not now dictate his life and his choices.”

What did Jermaine Pennant say about his childhood?
Jermaine Pennant opened up about his childhood during an interview on TalkSport.

He said: “I would go work, go training, I would put on a brave face and smile. I’d play up because there was so much trauma and darkness inside me. I was embarrassed to tell my story about what I went through and where I came from.”

Pennant went on to discuss his childhood. He explained that he was abandoned by his mother at the age of three and says he was raised by his dad, who neglected him.

Pennant said: “I would take myself to school at the age of eight, I would make my own dinner. Which was usually cornflakes. It got to a stage where my friends called me the cornflake boy as that was all I was eating.”

Pennant’s dad became a drug addict during his early teens and he added that he was surrounded by drugs and crime during his childhood.

The footballer added: “I had no mum, no father, multiple step-mothers and I was surrounded by drugs and crimes. I was also diagnosed with ADHD so as a child I was battling with that.”

Pennant claimed he never told anyone about the issues he faced and believes that it damaged his career in football.

He said: “I made bad decisions. I remember in my second year at Liverpool, I couldn’t work out why I was depressed. When things weren’t going well on the field I’d unleash it in any way possible.

“I’d want to go out, to be around people, I’d try anything as pain relief, to get drunk, binge drink, to numb the pain.”

Jermaine Pennant was a member of the Arsenal academy who emerged as an upcoming prospect after a loan spell at Leeds in 2003/04.

The prospect made 24 appearances for England’s under-21 team and signed for Birmingham City in 2004.

In 2005, the footballer was sentenced to 90 days in prison for drink driving, whilst being disqualified. He was allowed out after 30 days but was forced to wear an electronic tag.

Pennant praised former manager Steve Bruce during this period and claims he regularly visited him during his time in prison.

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“He came to visit me in prison. Not to talk about Birmingham. To come to see me, as a person, as a young man, to see how I was doing and my health.

“It was weird because everyone knew who he was. Everyone was looking around in the meeting room but that meant a lot.”

He added: “Most managers that I have had have thrown me away, ‘go and train with the kids’, never had a conversation where they’d ask me if I was alright in the head, everything okay at home?”

Pennant retired from football in 2018 and he now works as a pundit for TalkSport. He says he has turned his life around and credits this to therapy which gave the help that he needed.

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Roy Keane Blasts ‘Frightened’ Manchester United After West Ham Draw

Roy Keane reacting angrily during a football analysis session

Manchester United thought they had the job wrapped up at Old Trafford… until they didn’t.

Diogo Dalot’s tidy finish just before the hour mark looked like the moment that would push the Red Devils to a much-needed victory. But in classic 2025 Manchester United fashion, control slipped, intensity dipped, and West Ham pounced.

And of course—when things go wrong—Roy Keane is never far from the verbal action.


“They Weren’t Nasty Enough!” – Keane Fires Shots

After the 1-1 draw, Keane wasted zero time calling out what he sees as the real issue at United: timidity.

According to him, United “took their foot off the gas” right after scoring. Against a team in the bottom three, he expected more authority, more aggression, and definitely more hunger.

Instead, what he saw was a team “almost frightened” of finishing the job.

He slammed the players for hiding when pressure kicked in, criticized their lack of killer instinct, and even called out the relaxed body language during substitutions.

In typical Keane fashion, the message was simple:
United should never be this soft.


Amorim Also Frustrated: “The Game Was Ours To Win”

Manager Ruben Amorim didn’t sugarcoat anything either.

While he didn’t go full-Keane, he admitted:

  • United lost control after scoring

  • They failed to win second balls

  • They should have killed the match earlier

  • The inconsistency is becoming a real problem

For a team chasing European places, three draws in five games simply isn’t good enough.


West Ham Deserved Their Point

To be fair, West Ham didn’t just sit back and wait. They fought, pressed, countered, and eventually got their reward when Soungoutou Magassa slotted home the 83rd-minute equaliser.

United had late chances, but the story of their season resurfaced again:
moments created, moments wasted.


Where Do United Go From Here?

Sitting eighth on the table, United’s inconsistency continues to be their biggest opponent. Keane believes the team lacks bite. Amorim believes the team lacks control.

Fans believe the team lacks… well, everything except drama.

What’s clear is this: until United find their identity and intensity, nights like this will keep happening.


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Beckham Joins Bellingham & Trent to Unveil Retro Gunmetal Adidas Predator Mania

David Beckham Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold posing with the gunmetal adidas Predator Mania boots

Beckham Links Up With The New Generation

Adidas just pulled off the ultimate fusion of eras — pairing Real Madrid legend David Beckham with modern-day stars Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold to unveil the new throwback Predator Mania Gunmetal.

The visual alone is powerful:
Beckham, the man who helped define the Predator legacy, standing alongside the players shaping a new generation at the Santiago Bernabéu.

It’s nostalgia meeting modern football culture in the cleanest way possible.


How Beckham & Zidane Made The Predator A Cultural Icon

In the 2000s, football boots had personalities — and none louder than the Predator.

Thanks to players like:

  • David Beckham

  • Zinedine Zidane

  • Steven Gerrard

…the Predator brand became more than footwear — it became a symbol of confidence, control, and creativity.

Beckham’s signature whip-your-free-kick technique and the unforgettable fold-over tongue made Predator Mania one of the most legendary boots ever created.

And now in 2025, it’s back — reborn with purpose.


A Historic Gunmetal Colourway Returns

The 2025 Predator Mania comes in a stunning Gunmetal grey, blending early-2000s nostalgia with fresh modern flair.

Adidas describes it as:

  • “Metallic, polished and aggressive”

  • Featuring crisp white Three Stripes

  • And the iconic red fold-over tongue — embroidered and unapologetically bold

Beckham famously wore this colourway during his early Real Madrid days.
It quickly became a cult favourite, often called “one of the most photogenic boots of its era.”

Now it’s back — and it looks better than ever.


Engineered For Today’s Game

While the look is faithful, adidas didn’t simply remake the past — they improved it.

The 2025 Predator Mania is crafted in the historic Scheinfeld factory in Germany, the birthplace of many legendary Predator lines.

Key enhancements include:

  • Upgraded comfort

  • Subtle structural refinement

  • Increased responsiveness

  • Modern fit for today’s style of play

In short:
Old-school swagger meets high-performance engineering.


Back On The Bernabéu Grass

The revival feels even more fitting because two current Real Madrid stars — Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold — will bring the Gunmetal Mania back to the Santiago Bernabéu pitch.

From Beckham’s free-kick artistry to Bellingham’s midfield dominance and Trent’s laser passing…
the Predator legacy remains in elite company.

Adidas couldn’t have scripted a better generational handover.


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Galatasaray Vs Samsunspor: Can Cimbom Break Samsunspor’s Unbeaten Run In A Heated Super Lig Clash?

Galatasaray players celebrating a goal ahead of their match against Samsunspor.

Galatasaray Vs Samsunspor Match Preview

The Turkish Super Lig title race is heating up, and Friday’s clash between Galatasaray and Samsunspor carries huge implications for both ends of the table. Cimbom remain top, but their recent dip in form has opened the door for rivals — and Samsunspor are arriving in Istanbul with confidence and a 14-game unbeaten streak.

This matchup promises intensity, tactics, and a battle of resilience versus home dominance.


Galatasaray Searching For Lost Spark

Galatasaray head into this fixture frustrated after conceding a 95th-minute equaliser in the derby against Fenerbahce — a result that denied them a chance to go four points clear.

Their early-season sharpness has faded:

  • 9 wins in their first 10 games

  • Only 1 win in their last 4

  • Three matches without scoring during Victor Osimhen’s absence

The Nigerian striker’s return instantly improves their attack, but Okan Buruk’s side still need to rediscover the fluid, cohesive football that put them top of the table.


Samsunspor’s Incredible Unbeaten Run

Samsunspor enter the match in fantastic form:

  • Unbeaten in 14 across all competitions (7W, 7D)

  • 10 straight games unbeaten in the league

  • A habit of rising to big games — drawing against Besiktas, Fenerbahce, and Trabzonspor

However, three consecutive draws — including a late 1-1 against Alanyaspor — show they sometimes struggle to finish opponents off.

Thomas Reis’s men sit 5th with 25 points, but defeat could drop them down the table. Still, their discipline and structure make them one of the most difficult teams to break down this season.


Head-to-Head: A Fixture Dominated By Galatasaray

History heavily favours the hosts:

  • Galatasaray have won the last eight meetings

  • Samsunspor’s last victory over Cimbom feels like a lifetime ago

  • Recent games have been high scoring and entertaining

With form and past meetings combined, Galatasaray remain favourites — but Samsunspor’s current resilience cannot be ignored.


Team News

Galatasaray

Out injured:

  • Ismail Jakobs

  • Wilfried Singo

Suspended (betting scandal):

  • Eren Elmali

  • Metehan Baltaci

Osimhen is fit but still regaining full sharpness.

Samsunspor

Long-term absentees:

  • Olivier Ntcham

  • Ebrima Ceesay

  • Bedirhan Cetin

  • Tanguy Coulibaly

  • Afonso Sousa

Also missing:

  • Lubomir Satka (injured)

  • Celil Yuksel (betting scandal)

  • Joe Mendes (red card suspension)


Probable Lineups

Galatasaray:

Cakir; Sanchez, Bardakci, Lemina, Karatas; Torreira, Sara; Sane, Gundogan, Yilmaz; Osimhen

Samsunspor:

Kocuk; Yavru, Borevkovic, Van Drongelen, Tomasson; Makoumbou; Musaba, Aydin, Holse, Kilinic; Ndiaye

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