‘Not there to stitch anyone up!’ – What it is like to star in Welcome to Wrexham documentary as Ollie Palmer lifts the lid on Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney production

Ollie Palmer has grown accustomed to starring in the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary, with the cameras not there to “stitch anyone up”.

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Dragons star in their own showProfile of club and players raisedWork of Hollywood co-ownersWHAT HAPPENED?

Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have offered the Welsh outfit a window to the world, with the club’s profile – and that of certain individuals – being raised across the globe. Lower league performers have had to quickly get on board with the production, which follows their every move.

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Dragons striker Palmer has told of what it is like to have cameras on you at all times: “They are there a lot. I wouldn’t say 24/7, but they are there most days and they want to be involved with most of your life. They will be in the changing room four training days out of five and they will be at 90 per cent of the games, so they are there a lot. You get used to it, they have become a bit of a fly on the wall. They try not to get in your way but a few times, I know people have turned around and whacked their head on one of the big cameras.”

WHAT THEY SAID

Quizzed on whether Wrexham players and staff have to watch what they are saying for fear of generating stories that would usually remain behind closed doors, Palmer added: “Maybe a joke has gone too far and people have said ‘shhhh’. Obviously you have got to be careful. The lads are often mic’d up in training and they will give a little sign to the lads, ‘I’m mic’d up, be careful what you say!’ Obviously you don’t want to get anyone in trouble. Generally speaking it’s not there to stitch anyone up, it’s there to show the positives, the great people, the great community at Wrexham and everything going on.”

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Wrexham won promotion back to the Football League in record-breaking style last season and are hoping to bounce straight up into League One, with Reynolds and McElhenney having made the funds available that have allowed manager Phil Parkinson to bolster his ranks for 2023-24.

Revealed: How training ground incident sidelined Martin Odegaard and when Arsenal captain is expected to return

A concussion sustained on the training field has sidelined Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard.

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Odegaard missed three games for ArsenalSuffered from concussion during trainingExpected back after international breakGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Odegaard has been forced onto the sidelines due to fears he suffered a concussion in training after being hit in the face with a ball, according to the The Norway international subsequently missed the games against Newcastle. Sevilla and Burnley due to concussion protocol. Odegaard is also set to miss Norway's Euro 2024 qualifiers over the international break, although his absence has been put down to a hip injury.

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Arsenal will be eager to have their captain back in action as soon as possible, and it is hoped he will return after the international break. During the two-week break, Thomas Partey, Ben White, Cedric Soares, Gabriel Jesus, and Emile Smith Rowe are among a number of other players with injuries that Arteta will be hoping can recuperate in time for the Brentford clash.

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Gabriel Jesus hasn't played for Arsenal since October 24 owing to a hamstring injury, but the Brazilian football federation has exercised its right to assess his condition. Brazil will examine Jesus directly, despite the Gunners' desire for him to recuperate in London during the international window, according to

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Odegaard will likely be back in action when the Gunners take on Brentford on November 25 as they look to keep pace with Manchester City and Liverpool.

Revealed: What Chelsea flop Romelu Lukaku needs to do to secure £37m January move to Roma

Chelsea are reportedly ready to sell Romelu Lukaku for £37m as Roma look to raise funds in order to purchase the Belgian star.

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Chelsea keen to offload Lukaku in JanuaryLukaku hoping to stay back in RomaRoma must qualify for Europe to complete dealWHAT HAPPENED?

According to Chelsea are aiming to part ways with Lukaku in the next summer transfer window with Roma keen on turning his loan move permanent. Despite Lukaku's outstanding performance in the recent matches, which has seen him score nine goals in 14 games and four goals for Belgium against Azerbaijan in the Euro 2024 qualifier, Chelsea remain undeterred in their decision to sell and have slapped a £37million price tag for the 30-year-old striker. To make the move happen, though, Lukaku needs to agree to a significant pay cut. He is currently the Blues' top earner, despite their transfer activity in recent times.

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Roma manager Jose Mourinho supports a permanent move, but uncertainties remain around his stay at the club as several Saudi Arabia clubs reportedly want to lure him to the Middle East at the end of his current contract in Roma after they failed to get him last summer despite offering a £104m-a-year contract. Antonio Conte has reportedly emerged as a potential replacement who shares a strong bond with Lukaku from their Inter days.

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However, Roma's qualification for Europe and a potential sale of Tammy Abraham could impact the deal as Roma are looking for funds to complete the transfer. The English striker is nursing a long-term knee injury and might be sold off if he fails to score goals to make room for Lukaku.

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WHAT NEXT FOR ROMELU LUKAKU?

Juventus, who were previously interested, might reenter the competition, while AC Milan are also monitoring the situation. Nonetheless, Lukaku, who continues to be Chelsea's highest-paid player, might need to reduce his £325,000-a-week wages to half of the amount for a Serie A move.

‘Beautiful transfer for Germany’ – English fans told they will ‘miss Harry Kane’ after record-setting start to life at Bayern Munich for €100m striker

Lothar Matthaus says “English football fans will miss Harry Kane”, with Bayern Munich saluted for pulling off a “beautiful transfer for Germany”.

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Prolific frontman severed ties with SpursMade an immediate impact at Allianz ArenaBellingham starring after leaving GermanyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Bundesliga champions were able to put a stunning coup in place during the summer window of 2023, with Kane lured away from Premier League side Tottenham for €100 million (£87m/$109m). The England captain – who is the all-time leading scorer for Spurs and his country – has netted 21 goals through 16 appearances for Bayern, including three hat-tricks.

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Kane is already making history in German football, with Bayern legend Matthaus telling the of a move that has got him excited: “Beautiful transfer! Not only for Bayern Munich, for the Bundesliga, for Germany. I think English football fans will miss Harry Kane in the Premier League because he is scoring amazing! It’s a new record in Germany, in history.”

WHAT THEY SAID

World Cup winner Matthaus has also talked up another Englishman – with Jude Bellingham starring for Real Madrid after leaving Borussia Dortmund for Santiago Bernabeu. The ex-Germany skipper added: “I’m a little bit surprised about how many goals he’s scored. He plays a little bit different. In Borussia Dortmund he was the leader — at his young age it’s a lot of pressure on your shoulders. [Other teams could say:] ‘If we take out Bellingham, Dortmund was only 50 per cent’. But in Real Madrid if they can take out Bellingham, they have another seven or eight players who have a similar quality to Bellingham, but in a different way. So it is maybe easier for him to play in Real Madrid than in Borussia Dortmund because the team-mates make it better.”

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Kane and Bellingham have helped England to qualify for Euro 2024, which will be staged on German soil next summer, and their exploits at club level this season could see them come into contention for Ballon d’Or recognition at some stage in the near future.

Real Madrid tell Alphonso Davies NOT to extend his contract at Bayern Munich as Spanish giants prepare to submit formal transfer offer for Canadian full-back

Real Madrid have reportedly told Alphonso Davies not to extend his contract at Bayern Munich, with the Blancos plotting a summer transfer raid.

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Defender working on deal until 2025No fresh terms have been agreedBlancos want him at the BernabeuWHAT HAPPENED?

The Canada international full-back is tied to terms at the Allianz Arena through to 2025. Bundesliga champions Bayern had been hoping to thrash out a new deal with the 23-year-old by now, but his contract demands are said to have delayed that process.

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According to , Davies is now being advised by Real Madrid’s squad planner, Juni Calafat, to shun any further contract talks. That is because the Liga giants are ready to table a formal bid for his services – allowing him to take on a new challenge in Spain.

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Davies is said to be a “priority” for Real as they also work on securing the signature of long-standing target Kylian Mbappe – who is running his own contract at Paris Saint-Germain down towards free agency. Bayern will have to open themselves up to offers in the summer if Davies does not commit his future to them.

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Real are planning to “enter into negotiations with FC Bayern very soon”, with there a desire on their part to get an agreement in place with Davies long before the next window opens. The jet-heeled left-back – who can also operate on the wing – is considered to tick important sporting and commercial boxes at Santiago Bernabeu.

'Stop doing things with Albi!' – Paul Mullin reveals he got telling off from Wrexham's physio for spine injury suffered in a sandpit

Wrexham star Paul Mullin says he was given a telling off by the Welsh team's physiotherapist after damaging his spine while playing with his son.

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Mullin injured sitting in a sandpitStriker was playing with his sonWas told off by club physioWHAT HAPPENED?

Mullin has been a vital figure for Wrexham since joining from Cambridge United in 2021, playing a big role in their promotion from the National League to League Two. The Red Dragons want to take care of one of their most important players and admits he has put his fitness at risk to play with his son, Albi.

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"Like I’d said to Phil Parkinson, to some degree the club would have to trust that I knew how to look after myself," he wrote in his book My Wrexham Story. "If I don’t want to do a gym session it’s not me being a knobhead, it’s because I don’t feel like it’s what I need to do that day.

"Kev’s [Mulholland, Wrexham physio] been great with that, although I have been known to test his patience at times. For his fourth birthday, we took Albi to a trampoline centre. We went at a quiet time and it was lovely to see him and his cousins running riot. Thing is, professional footballers really aren’t meant to go on trampolines. I’d done the same thing earlier in the season, put some pictures on Instagram, and you’d think I’d gone base-jumping without a parachute the reaction I got. No way, though, am I missing out on family moments like that. I’m going to share every single thing I can with Albi. OK, I’ll admit occasionally that doesn’t always work out well. I recently banged the base of my spine sitting down on the edge of a sandpit. Kev couldn’t believe it – ‘You need to stop doing things with Albi!’ But he was laughing when he said it. He knew no way was that going to happen."

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It was not playing with his son that resulted in a serious injury for Mullin, though. The striker sustained a punctured lung in a collision during a pre-season friendly against Manchester United in the summer, resulting in him missing the first six matches of the League Two campaign this season. He has scored seven league goals in just 13 appearances since his return to action.

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Mullin and his Wrexham co-stars will be in action on Tuesday when they take on Burton Albion in the EFL Trophy. Four days later, they face Forest Green Rovers in League Two as they look to close the five-point gap on leaders Stockport County.

WATCH: Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior shares powerful anti-racism message after being confirmed as United Nations Human Rights Champion

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has been confirmed as the United Nations Human Rights Champion as he continues his fight against racism in sport.

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Vinicius confirmed as Human Rights ChampionWinger issued anti-racism messageBrazil star the victim of abuse on many occasionsWHAT HAPPENED?

The Brazilian attacker announced on social media that he has teamed up with the United Nations and will work to expand anti-racism education. The 23-year-old called for sports to have "zero tolerance" policies towards racial discrimination and reporting mechanisms for victims of abuse.

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"For me, this specific year has been a stark reminder that we still have a long journey ahead to eliminate bigotry from sports and society," he wrote. "I believe that anti-racism education must be at the heart of our efforts to advance equality and human rights everywhere. That’s why I’m very happy to announce my new role as United Nations #HumanRights Champion. A role that I’ll take on with pride, excitement and responsibility. Let's make sports a true model of inclusivity, free of racism & discrimination. It's our moment to stand united."

He added in the video: "We are here today to renew our commitment to protect human rights for all. Throughout history, racism and discrimination have denied opportunities to so many, even in sports. It is time for all of us to stand together against racism. Sports must have zero tolerance for racial discrimination. That means every institution should have reporting mechanisms in place and tackle discrimination without reservations. Victims should be supported, not victimised further."

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Vinicius has been the victim of racist abuse during matches many times since joining Real Madrid. He has spoken out about the issue on social media, even going head-to-head with La Liga president Javier Tebas on one occasion. Vinicius said that La Liga "belongs to racist", sparking some pushback from Tebas. The Madrid hero said in October that he is going to continue his fight to end racism in Spain, saying: "I know that I can change some things. So that those who come in the next few years do not go through this, so that children can have peace of mind in the future. For them I will do everything I can."

VIDEO: Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo reacts to yet more Lionel Messi chants from Al-Shabab fans with seemingly obscene gesture

Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo responded to more chants of Lionel Messi's name with a seemingly obscene gesture towards the Al-Shabab fans.

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Ronaldo reacts angrilyRonaldo scored penalty in winTalisca scores brace to save blushesWHAT HAPPENED?

Ronaldo put Al-Nassr 1-0 up via the penalty spot after Sadio Mane's effort was handled in the box. The Portuguese star celebrated in his usual style, before chants of Lionel Messi's name by the home fans prompted a rather outlandish reaction, with Ronaldo cupping a hand to his ear and then gesturing around his crotch. In a fiery game, Talisca scored a brace to win the game after Al-Shabab hit back twice.

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Ronaldo has been taunted by Messi chants consistently in recent months. Against Al-Hilal he blew kisses to the crowd in response as his side lost 3-0 and caused outrage after rubbing the same side's scarf on his crotch before throwing it back towards the stands in a different game. It is fair to say the teasing is starting to get under his skin.

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After winning today, Al-Nassr are just four points off Ronaldo's tormentors Al-Hilal, although his rivals do have a game in hand. The Portuguese star will naturally be desperate to lift silverware but may have to turn his attentions to the AFC Champions League if Al-Nassr cannot catch the league leaders.

'I'm a realist' – Ilkay Gundogan plays down Barcelona's chances of winning the Champions League as he admits he 'could have done more' to prevent Xavi stepping down

Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has admitted that his side will face an uphill battle in their pursuit of Champions League glory

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Played down Barca's European hopesClaimed he could have done more to save Xavi's jobBlaugrana take on Napoli in last 16 tie WHAT HAPPENED?

Barcelona have struggled through their Champions League campaign so far. The Blaugrana needed a win on the final day of the group stage to advance to the last 16, and are outsiders to taste European glory for the first time since 2015.

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In an interview with Spanish outlet , Gundogan conceded that the Blaugrana's chances of Champions League success are slim: "There are other teams in the competition with more of a chance and better experience, but if we can reach the quarter finals, we are entering special territory. I am a realist, but I also know it's difficult for everybody."

WHAT ILKAY GUNDOGAN SAID ABOUT XAVI'S RESIGNATION

Gundogan also revealed that he wasn't expecting Xavi to step down: "I was surprised by Xavi's decision to step down, I didn't expect it. I wish I could have done more for him. I have that feeling."

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Less than nine months on from sealing a first La Liga title in four years for Barca, Xavi is heading to the exit door, announcing in January that he will leave the club at the end of the season. Barca are eight points behind league leaders Real Madrid and out of the Copa del Rey.

A problem for the USMNT? Folarin Balogun stripped of Monaco penalty duties after fourth spot-kick miss of the season

USMNT's Folarin Balogun has been removed from penalty duties at Monaco after he missed his fourth spot-kick of the season.

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Adi Hutter stripped Balogun of penalty dutiesHis spot-kick misses have been costly for the teamThe recent miss against Lens was the final straw WHAT HAPPENED?

Balogun, who joined Monaco from Arsenal in the summer, has endured a challenging spell with penalties, missing crucial opportunities that have impacted the team's results. His two misses against OGC Nice earlier this season led to a costly 1-0 defeat for Monaco, while another miss in a penalty shootout against Rouen resulted in the team's elimination from the Coupe de France.

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Despite his latest miss against Lens, which fortunately did not affect the outcome as Monaco secured a 3-2 victory, Balogun's repeated failures prompted manager Adi Hutter to take decisive action. He revealed that Balogun will no longer be tasked with penalty-taking responsibilities and Wassim Ben Yedder will replace him.

WHAT HUTTER SAID

Speaking to reporters, Hutter said: "He (Balogun) is no longer our penalty taker. The No.1 now is Wissam Ben Yedder. When he isn’t on the pitch, the decision is in my hands."

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HUTTER IMPRESSED WITH BALOGUN'S ON-FIELD FORM

Despite his setbacks from the penalty spot, Hütter acknowledged Balogun's determination to excel and contribute positively to Monaco's success – especially after he found the net against Lens.

"I get the feeling that he wants to prove to everyone that he is a top-level forward. He is on the right path. By bringing this impact, as he did against Lens, he is helping us a lot,” he said.

"The way I see it is that he is on form, but playing against Paris Saint-Germain, anything can happen. He could score, he could miss chances, but that’s football. We have to differentiate his performance and the penalty situation. Okay, missing penalties is too much, but when I see his performance, how he worked for the team in this match, you see why we signed him this summer.”

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