Damien Duff: Ex Chelsea Star Reacts After One of His Players Ditches Football for Love Island

• Premier League legend Damien Duff had a hilarious response after learning his goalkeeper had joined Love Island
• The goalie, Scott van der Sluis ditched Shelbourne so he could take part in the latest season of the dating show
• Since joining the club, he has only made a handful of appearances

Former Chelsea midfielder Damien Duff had a sarcastic response after learning one of his players had ditched the club to be part of the cast of popular dating show ‘Love Island’.

The player in question is goalkeeper Scott van der Sluis, who joined Duff’s club Shelbourne last year but has only made a handful of appearances.

Sluis, a Welshman, has already made waves on the show, and he introduced himself as a Shelbourne player on the ITV programme.

As reported on TalkSport, Duff as made aware of the player’s decision, and his reaction was as interesting as it was hilarious.

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"I was shocked and saddened that Scott chose a villa in Mallorca full of beautiful, single women over myself, the staff and the players," Duff said.

"I thank Scott for his services to Shelbourne FC and we all wish him the very best for the future, whatever that holds."

Van der Sluis rose through the ranks at academy level with Liverpool and Manchester United, and even played for Wales at youth level.

To some, it may be a surprise that he has decided to trade football for reality TV despite his age of 22, but the youngster does not seem to mind the change.

"Football is all I've ever done, all I've ever known. So this is a new and exciting opportunity for a change-up in life." He said on his move to Love Island.

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Interestingly, the show Love Island is no stranger to people who have ties to the footballing world.

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In January, Liverpool legend Michael Owen’s daughter Gemma made headlines after it was revealed she would be joining the cast of the show for a new season.

Her decision to be part of the show obviously caused ripples on social media, with former Liverpool and Newcastle striker Owen being the one bearing the brunt of the trolling.

Owen admitted in an interview that the criticism surrounding his daughter’s decision to join the reality TV show affected his family adversely.

Macclesfield Town lose player to Love Island

Sports Brief also reported on how Macclesfield Town also lost one of the club’s players to the Love Island franchise.

In January 2023, Love Island, through an official Instagram account, released a teaser of what fans could expect for the new season - and followers of the non-league division one will be familiar with one Tom Clare.

In the video teaser, there is a snippet of Tom introducing himself among the occupants of the infamous villa.