\n<\/p>\n
Alsanawi says he got his big break working at Chelsea, where he cut players’ hair for three years.<\/p>\n
“I met John Terry, Eden Hazard,” he says, adding that posting about his work on social media got the attention of other Premier League stars.<\/p>\n
“Then I connected with Pogba, a couple of the City players, Jack Grealish.”<\/p>\n
A-Star Barbers grew through word of mouth, boosted online by players sharing their experiences in the chair, and now has 1.3 million Instagram followers. <\/p>\n
Social media has been “massive” for the barbering industry, says dad-of-three Alsanawi, whose Instagram is filled with videos of him giving players including England vice-captain Declan Rice fresh trims.<\/p>\n
He also names musicians such as rapper Dave among his clients.<\/p>\n
But any regulars hoping to get a cut from the man himself at his shop in Chessington, Surrey, might be out of luck for the next six weeks as he attends his fourth World Cup.<\/p>\n
If all goes to plan, Alsanawi will be stationed in the England squad’s camp to keep players looking fresh for the next six weeks.<\/p>\n
While the logistics of it can be “last-minute”, he says, there are some players he knows he will be trimming, including Chelsea captain Reece James. <\/p>\n
“He’s my boy,” says Alsanawi.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been cutting him for a few years now and I can’t wait to see him at a major World Cup.”<\/p>\n
Alsanawi says he takes relationships with his clients seriously.<\/p>\n
When Newsbeat asks for his take on a recent story, where a leaked Chelsea starting line-up was linked to left-back Marc Cucurella’s barber<\/a>, he’s clear on his own stance.<\/p>\n “It’s sort of in your best interest and in the team’s interest to keep your mouth shut,” he says.<\/p>\n “Like, certain things you’re just not going to share, and I wouldn’t share.<\/p>\n “You’ve got to build a trustworthy relationship with your client, whether it’s a footballer or not.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n