Cristiano Ronaldo ventures into movie industry, unveils new studio

Superstar footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo has announced a  career away from the pitch.

The Portuguese footballer currently plying his trade for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, Ronaldo, 40, is opening a new business venture. This will see him partner with filmmaker Matthew Vaughn, 54, the producer of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and the director of gangster films such as Snatch, and Layer Cake.

Ronaldo and Vaughn’s collaboration will see them launch a brand named UR MARV, an independent film studio that will focus on ’embracing innovative technology with a nod to tradition’.

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A statement posted to Ronaldo’s official account on X, formerly Twitter, said: ‘Cristiano Ronaldo loves movies; Matthew Vaughn loves sport – and they both love a good story.

‘Both have been disruptive champions at their game and will now combine the world of sport and storytelling through the launch of UR MARV, an independent joint venture film studio embracing innovative technology, with a nod to tradition.’

Vaughan also stated: ‘Cristiano has created stories on the pitch that I could never have written, and I look forward to creating inspiring movies with him – he’s a real-life superhero.’

Cristiano Ronaldo ventures into movie industry, unveils new studio

Mohamed Salah pens new two-year deal at Liverpool

Mohamed Salah put an end to months of speculation over his future by signing a new two-year contract with Premier League leaders Liverpool on Friday.

Salah, 32, has scored 243 goals in 394 appearances for the Reds since joining from Roma in 2017, making him the club’s third highest goalscorer of all time.

Mbappe demands €55m from PSG in unpaid wages

France football captain Kylian Mbappe’s legal team has taken fresh legal action against his former club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), over an ongoing salary dispute, demanding €55 million in unpaid wages.

The team has also appealed to the French sports minister and UEFA to intervene, as tensions over the issue continue to mount.

“We’re going to go on the attack,” Mbappe’s lawyer, Delphine Verheyden, declared during a press conference on Thursday.

Although the French League had previously ordered PSG to pay the outstanding amount, the French football federation dismissed Mbappe’s request, citing an active case in a civil court.

In response, Mbappe’s legal representatives approached a Paris court and obtained an order to freeze €55 million from PSG’s accounts.

“We have protectively seized the accounts of PSG, to the tune of 55 million euros, this morning,” explained Thomas Clay, one of the legal experts representing Mbappe.

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PSG has yet to respond to the latest development. However, in October, the club indicated that it might be “forced to bring the case before the competent courts” while still pursuing an “amicable solution” with the player.

Back in January 2023, Mbappe stated that he had reached an agreement with PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi to “protect all parties and preserve the club’s serenity for the challenges ahead.”

Mbappe, who became PSG’s all-time top scorer during his seven-year stint with the club, left as a free agent last year to join Real Madrid. PSG previously claimed that the forward rejected an offer from the LFP to mediate the dispute.

Adding to the legal pressure, another member of the France captain legal team, Pierre-Olivier Sur, revealed that a harassment complaint has been filed, alleging that PSG applied pressure on the player to renew his contract in 2023—just one year before it was due to expire.

PSG, for its part, maintains that Mbappe’s contract was “legally amended” and that he failed to honor certain commitments after deciding to leave for Madrid.

UEFA, while distancing itself from direct involvement, stated its position via a spokesperson: “The case is only indirectly linked with us in terms of possible arrears of payment. If a final decision is taken by the French authorities and confirms that there are indeed arrears … the club would then have to pay the arrears on time or risk non-compliance with financial fair play.”

Mbappe demands €55m from PSG in unpaid wages