Whether he’s turning on his club, coach and teammates or not, it cannot be denied that Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most famous people on the planet.
Considering his astronomical levels of fame, you’d think most people would be able to recognise the footballing superstar when they see him. Unless you’re this bloke of course.
For those uninitiated, this seemingly gullible gentleman is YouTuber, Twitch streamer and social media personality, IShowSpeed, who has shot to fame in the past year or so.
One of the reasons he has become so popular online is that he’s prone to the odd viral moment (or two) — for instance, being fooled by a Ronaldo lookalike.
Credit: IShowSpeed YouTube channel
As you can see in the video above, teaming up with crypto-brand ‘The Paradox Metaverse’, IShowSpeed is live streaming to his countless followers when those around him inform the teenager that they have a surprise for him: a Ronaldo lookalike which just so happens to fool him.
ADVERTISEMENT
It’s not exactly uncanny, is it? We’d like to believe he’s faking it but the face and overall reaction make us think otherwise. Plus, the fella has form for this kind of thing.
If you’ve ever come across this young man before, you’ll know that he has a track record for this kind of gaffe and despite playing games like FIFA for millions of viewers and becoming more and more engrossed in the world of football, it’s fair to say his knowledge of the game isn’t the best.
ADVERTISEMENT
A recent example would be when the impressionable American was pranked by fellow content creators Harry Pinero and Mark Golbridge of The United Stand YouTube channel into thinking they were part of past Manchester United teams.
Again, Speed — real name Darren Watkins Jr. — has so many of these pranks and memes in his locker that he must be joking or playing up to for clicks at this point.
On the other hand, he’s such a puzzling persona that we really can’t tell what’s real and what’s fake anymore and neither can he, apparently.
ADVERTISEMENT
He’s either very easily fooled or very good at playing the social media game.
Meanwhile, following his blockbuster interview with Piers Morgan, the real CR7 has ironically had his instantly recognisable likeness stripped from the front of Old Trafford as the club considers taking legal action following his comments.
The 37-year-old has levelled a number of claims at his current club, criticising the Glazers and lack of progression at the club, digging out his own manager in Erik ten Hag, and even taking aim at former teammates like Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney.
We wouldn’t expect to see him in a United shirt again.
Still, they could stick this average lookalike on the pitch and Speed wouldn’t spot the difference.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær says just three players have spoken to him since leaving Manchester United
Danny Jones
Club legend and ex-Manchester United player turned manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, has revealed that just three of his former players have been in touch since leaving Old Trafford.
Solskjær was sacked from the role as Man United head coach back in November 2021 after having been given the job permanently following an impressive winning run as interim manager.
The practically perfect start back at the helm of the club – where he starred as the ‘super sub’ during his playing days – was followed by a big slump, and the final decision was ultimately made in the wake of a 4-1 loss to Watford.
However, the ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’s’ popularity among the players and the fans alike was never in question, so it’s come as somewhat of a surprise to many fans that Solskjær has said only a specific trio of United players have got in touch with him since his dream job came to an end.
At least two of the names read out might not surprise fans, as not only was then-club captain Harry Maguire one of his first statement signings, but so was Bruno Fernandes, who now has the armband, and both have remained key players and leadership figures pretty much ever since.
Speaking to BBC Sport on the senior duo, Ole said, “For me, Harry has always been a leader and a fighter”, and never had any doubts about him deputising for him on the pitch, before going on to label both the centre-back and Bruno as “top human beings.”
As for the third, although Victor Lindelöf looks set to leave the club this summer, he’s actually been a long-serving squad member, having joined back in 2017 and been a seemingly popular figure around the dressing room, even if injury problems have sometimes hampered his minutes.
He also went on to discuss other matters regarding the club, including confessing that it’s “hard to watch” United amidst their present struggles, both under previous manager Erik ten Hag and now Ruben Amorim – even with a potential Europa League trophy consolation on the cards.
The retired striker also stated that he found the decision to let midfielder Scott McTominay go more than surprising, especially given the incredible performances he’s put on display since moving to Serie A.
Co-op Live has been named the number one arena in Europe following its debut year
Danny Jones
Despite a rocky opening month or so, Manchester’s Co-op Live made the ultimate instant recovery and has now been named the number one arena not just in the UK but all of Europe.
Manc music venues being best in class? Sounds about right.
Yes, even despite some obstacles, delays and early hiccups, Co-op Live‘s debut year as a live music and indoor entertainment venue has seen it beat out the likes of the long-established and iconic O2 in London to take the top spot.
The inaugural 12 months of the arena have not only seen it welcome all manner of music legends, as well as live sporting events such as the UFC and WWE, but the arena welcomed more visitors than any other venue across the continent during that time.
Names to have graced the industry-leading stage so far include Liam Gallagher, Stevie Nicks and Take That; Peter Kay, Elbow, Sabrina Carpenter, Paul McCartney, and so many more.
Commenting on the successful start, Tim Leiweke (CEO and chairman of the Oak View Groupbehind the venue) said: “Our ambition was to bring the world’s best music arena to one of the world’s greatest music cities and we are thrilled with the reaction from fans and artists alike over this past year.
“Co-op Live’s revolutionary acoustics investment has already attracted some of the world’s biggest artists and events to Manchester, with many more to come. And our sustainability commitment will ensure we remain responsible contributors to Manchester and the planet for years to come.
“We believe that amazing venues can transform cities for the better, and Co-op Live has done just that.”
It’s fair to say we’ve had some truly unforgettable nights in there already – and that’s just in the last month alone. Case and point:
With a continued commitment to achieving ‘Net Zero’ status too, the venue’s carbon reduction technologies, solar panels, heat pumps and rainwater harvesting, not to mention the recently refreshed CityLink walking in partnership with the Climate Pledge, are all things we can be proud of.
Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, went on to add: “We are delighted with the success of Co-op Live’s first year, and to see it taking the top spot off London.
“It shows Manchester is the home of live music in the UK, with Co-op Live bringing so many exclusives from artists like Bruce Springsteen to the city and Oasis playing massive hometown shows this summer – 2025 is going to be one of the biggest ever for our city’s music scene.”
Meanwhile, things are feeling less fortunate at the grassroots end of the spectrum, as the Music Venue Trust is imploring people to get behind a vulnerable Manc music institution.
Danny Jones -
17th November 2022 
