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      David Beckham hell-bent on Inter Miami world domination as Man Utd legend reveals when he’ll know MLS club are global

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      DAVID BECKHAM is hell-bent on world domination with Inter Miami.Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, now calls South Florida home and has catapulted the club to a level of global recognition they could only have dreamed of six years ago.
      David Beckham and a group of investors bought Inter Miami in 2021Credit: AP
      Becks managed to lure footie superstar Lionel Messi to Chase StadiumCredit: GETTY
      Beckham has huge plans for the MLS franchiseCredit: GETTY
      But Beckham, fellow owner Jorge Mas and all involved in this frenzied football club are not stopping there.
      Having played at Manchester United and Real Madrid, Beckham knows what it means to be a truly big club.
      Javier Morales, the assistant manager who has been with the club since the start and played against Beckham when he played for LA Galaxy, said: “When I first spoke to David, he said he thinks this could be a big club.
      “Obviously he came from Man United and he used to play for big teams. That is his idea.
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      “He wants Inter Miami to be not just a top team not just in the country but also in the world.”
      Their ambitions are, in a very American and Miami fashion, straightforward and stratospheric. Inter Miami are aiming to become the New York Yankees of football.
      With the stardust of Messi, Beckham and the celebrities who are regulars at their Chase Stadium – Inter Miami want their pop of pink to be as recognisable as the pinstripes of the Yankees.
      And when you see Messi, having dazzled in the Major League Soccer season opener on Wednesday night, hugging Hollywood star Will Smith as he heads down the tunnel at half-time it is hard to say it is not possible.
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      Hollywood superstar Will Smith was in attendance for Inter Miami’s midweek clash with Real Salt LakeCredit: Instagram
      Xavier Asensi, one of the top figures at the club who joined after a decade on the Barcelona board, said: “Football is global, Messi and Beckham.
      “After Covid a lot of celebrities moved here, it is super well connected.
      ‘He’s just taking the p**s,’ say fans as they spot ‘savage’ Messi’s ‘disrespectful’ skill against injured opponent
      “It is a mosaic and a place that embraces and welcomes people from all over the world.
      “You have the two largest languages in use around the world here.
      “All this combined creates this aura, which gives a power if you know how to action it that the sky is the limit.
      “Do you like baseball? I don’t. But do you have a cap with the NY of the Yankees? How cool is that?
      “For me, that is the potential we have. We have the potential of the sexiness, the brand that can be a fashion.
      “We have that potential. In order to unlock that, only the best are enough.
      David Beckham recently secured the services of Luis Suarez for Inter MiamiCredit: EPA
      Becks is loving the latest chapter of his football careerCredit: AP
      “We need to surround ourselves with the best people to unlock the potential that we have as a brand.
      “This is not just football, we can go bigger and better.”
      The attitude of only the best being enough has seen Beckham’s club chase not only Messi but a trio of his former teammates from Barcelona.
      Luis Suarez was unveiled by the ex-England captain along with a fireworks display ahead of their win over Real Salt Lake, with Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who struggled somewhat, also starting.
      Landing Messi was a statement of intent, proving they can compete not only with European clubs but also the emerging threat of Saudi Arabia.
      And more will follow. World Cup winner Antoine Greizmann is expected to join the club in the not-too-distant future, potentially following Messi as the biggest name once the Argentine calls it a day.
      Asensi said: “More players from Barcelona? Yeah, why not? What we want is good players and if they are coming from Barcelona, perfect.”
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      Messi made Inter Miami the most Googled sports club in the world last year and helped them embark on a world tour across pre-season, something unprecedented in MLS.
      A first League title is the expectation this season, but Beckham’s ambitions go way beyond MLS and even Messi. More

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      Dani Alves’ ex-wife Joana Sanz looks defiant in selfie posted MINUTES after former Barcelona star found guilty of rape

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      DANI Alves’ estranged wife Joana Sanz posted a glowing selfie just minutes after the former footballer was found guilty of rape.The Spanish model appeared unfazed in the snap she uploaded on her Instagram story – just a few minutes after the sentence of her ex-husband was announced.
      Joana Sanz posted the selfie a few minutes after Alves’ sentenceCredit: instagram/@joanasanz
      The Brazilian footballer was found guilty of raping a woman at a nightclub in BarcelonaCredit: Reuters
      The Spanish model posted a photo of herself holding a coffeeCredit: instagram/joanasanz
      Sanz testified in court Alves “smelled of alcohol” after arriving home the night of December 30Credit: Getty
      Sanz, who is in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria for an advertisement shoot, according to El Español, posted a series of snaps on Instagram.
      In one of them she shared a photo of herself holding a coffee as she is surrounded by makeup tools.
      The model testified in court earlier this month that her ex-husband “smelled of alcohol” and “he bumped into several pieces of furniture and collapsed on the bed” when he arrived home the night of December 30.
      This morning the ex-Barcelona star, 40, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for raping a woman in the toilets of the nightclub Sutton in Barcelona.
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      He was also ordered to pay the victim £130,000 (150,000 euros) and to stay away from her for nine-and-a-half years.
      The court said in a statement: “The sentence considers that it has been proven that the victim did not consent and that there is evidence, in addition to the testimony of the plaintiff, to consider the rape proven.”
      State prosecutors were seeking nine years while the lawyers representing Alves’s accuser wanted 12 years.
      Alves, who has been held in pre-trial detention since his arrest last year, was then transferred back to Brians 2 prison.
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      Speaking outside the court, Alves’s lawyer Inés Guardiola said they were planning to appeal the sentence.
      She told reporters:” Four and a half years is much better than 9 and 12 that the accusation requested, but we are going to appeal because I still believe in Mr. Alves’ innocence. 
      Dani Alves’ model ex Joana Sanz arrives at court to reveal what ‘drunk’ ex-Barcelona star told her moments after ‘rape’
      “We are going to review the sentence, but I can tell you that we are going to appeal.
      “We continue to believe in the innocence of Mr. Alves. He already knows the sentence and is whole.
      “We will defend his innocence to the end.”
      Alves had appeared before court two weeks ago and denied the allegations insisting the encounter had been consensual. 
      He denied any wrongdoing, telling his defence lawyer that he is “not that type of man”.
      The three-day trial at Barcelona’s Audiencia Provincial Court saw the victim, witnesses and experts testifying.
      His accuser told the prosecution that she had willingly entered the bathroom with him, but that he forced her to stay after she wanted to leave.
      During the first day of the footballer’s trial, a friend and cousin of his accuser claimed he also groped them in the VIP area.
      The two women claim he then invited their friend, the alleged rape victim, to follow him through a separate door after flirting with her.
      The dad-of-two has made repeated bail requests but they have all been turned down, with judges saying his alleged victim’s version of events was coherent and pointing out Alves had changed his story several times as the evidence authorities have against him has emerged.
      He was sacked by Mexican side UNAM Pumas following his arrest after he flew back to Barcelona to attend his mother-in-law’s funeral.
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      As well as two spells at Barcelona, Alves has played for Seville, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Sao Paulo.
      Sanz claimed her ex-husband stumbled on furniture after coming home that nightCredit: Instagram @joanasanz
      Alves was transferred back to Brian 2 prison after the sentencingCredit: EPA More

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      Dani Alves will APPEAL bombshell 4.5-year prison sentence after ex-Barcelona star found guilty of raping woman in club

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      FORMER Barca star Dani Alves is planning to appeal the bombshell four-and-a-half years prison sentence he was handed this morning.The Brazilian defender, 40, was found guilty of raping a woman in the toilets of the nightclub Sutton on December 30, 2022.
      Dani Alves appeared before court earlier this month and denied all the claimsCredit: Reuters
      The footballer’s lawyer Ines Guardiola said they would be appealing the sentenceCredit: Reuters
      The Brazilian defender has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prisonCredit: Reuters
      As well as two spells at Barcelona, Alves played for Seville, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Sao PauloCredit: AFP
      Alves arrived at the Barcelona court this morningCredit: EPA
      The Brazilian was summoned to court at 10am local timeCredit: EPA
      He was ordered to pay £130,000 (150,000 euros) to the victim and stay away from her for nine-and-a-half-years.
      “The sentence considers that it has been proven that the victim did not consent and that there is evidence, in addition to the testimony of the plaintiff, to consider the rape proven,” the court said in a statement.
      Speaking outside the court, Alves’ lawyer Inés Guardiola said they were planning to appeal the sentence.
      She told reporters: “Four-and-a-half years is much better than nine and 12 that the accusation requested, but we are going to appeal because I still believe in Mr Alves’ innocence. 
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      “We are going to review the sentence, but I can tell you that we are going to appeal.
      “We continue to believe in the innocence of Mr Alves. He already knows the sentence and is whole.
      “We will defend his innocence to the end.”
      State prosecutors were seeking nine years while the lawyers representing Alves’s accuser wanted 12 years.
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       Following the sentence, Alves headed back to Brians 2 prison near the Catalan capital.
      In a trial held in Barcelona earlier this month, the footballer denied the allegations and said the encounter had been consensual. 
      The trial, held at Barcelona’s Audiencia Provincial Court lasted three days with the alleged victim, witnesses, and experts testifying.
      The Brazilian defender was accused of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub on December 30, 2022.
      He has previously confirmed he had sex with a woman in the nightclub’s toilet but insisted it was consensual.
      Alves has been held in pre-trial detention since his arrest in January 2023.
      In a brief statement, the Barcelona court said Wednesday it had “summoned all parties in the Alves case, including the defendant, to appear in court for a so-called “notification procedure”.
      His accuser told the prosecution that she had willingly entered the bathroom with him, but that he forced her to stay after she wanted to leave.
      She claims that he was aggressive with her, slapping her and insulting her, and then forced her to have sex with him.
      During the first day of the footballer’s trial a friend and cousin of his accuser claimed he also groped them in the VIP area.
      The two women claim he then invited their friend, the alleged rape victim, to follow him through a separate door after flirting with her.
      His ex-wife Joana Sanz told the court Alves “smelled of alcohol” and “he bumped into several pieces of furniture and collapsed on the bed” after arriving home the night of the assault.
      Dani Alves’ model ex Joana Sanz arrives at court to reveal what ‘drunk’ ex-Barcelona star told her moments after ‘rape’
      But she said she didn’t want to talk to him because of “the state he was in”.
      Alves has made repeated bail requests but they have all been turned down, with judges saying his alleged victim’s version of events was coherent and pointing out Alves had changed his story several times as the evidence authorities have against him has emerged.
      In an exclusive interview from his cell in Brians 2 Prison near Barcelona last June with Spanish TV he claimed: “The only person I have to ask for forgiveness is my wife, Joana Sanz.”
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      As well as two spells at Barcelona, Alves has played for Seville, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Sao Paulo.
      He is widely considered one of the greatest full-backs of all time and became the oldest player to represent Brazil at the World Cup in December 2022 in Qatar.
      The defender was found guilty of raping a woman in the nightclub Sutton in Barcelona
      The footballer apologised to his wife Joana after the bombshell claimsCredit: AFP
      His ex-wife told the court he ‘smelled’ of alcohol after arriving home that nightTimeline of Dani Alves’ caseDecember 30, 2022: A woman alleges she was sexually assaulted in the toilets of Sutton nightclub

      January 1, 2023: Cops in Barcelona investigate an alleged sexual assault in a nightclub involving Dani Alves
      January 5, 2023: Dani Alves’ alleged victim makes a formal complaint claiming she was sexually assaulted
      CCTV footage shows Alves had been alone for 47 seconds in a toilet at the nightclub with his accuser
      January 20, 2023: Alves is remanded in custody by a judge in Barcelona
      He initially denies ever meeting his accuser but later confirms they had sex in the nightclub’s toilets – but insists was consensual
      January 31, 2023: His wife Joana Sanz, 29, demands a divorce
      February 8, 2023: It emerges that Alves is said to be receiving ‘VIP treatment’ in prison
      March 17, 2023: Alves goes on a hunger strike following split from wife
      November 14, 2023: The footballer is ordered to stand trial for the alleged assault
      November 24, 2023: Prosecutors demand nine years jail time and to pay the alleged victim  £130,000, if found guilty
      February 5, 2024: Alves appears in court in Spain facing twelve years in jail
      February 6 2024: Joana Sanz testified in court about a “drunk” phone call her husband made to her after the alleged assault
      February 7 2024: Alves tells a Spanish court the encounter was consensual More

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      New Tottenham wonderkid Lucas Bergvall slams Bojan Krkic’s dad after Spurs transfer sparks bitter row with Barcelona

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      NEW SPURS wonderkid Lucas Bergvall has hit back at claims that he used Barcelona to get a better deal out of Tottenham.Ex Barca scout Bojan Krkic snr, dad of the former Stoke star of the same name, also questioned Bergvall’s ambition after the highly-rated midfielder chose to leave Swedish side Djurgarden for North London instead of the Nou Camp.
      Tottenham beat off competition from Barcelona and other big clubs to sign Lucas BergvallCredit: Rex
      But Bergvall, 18, said: “They can say what they want. I know what the truth is.”
      Krkic snr claimed Bergvall’s girlfriend and mum steered him towards Spurs and his camp played Barca along to improve Tottenham’s offer.
      Krkic said: “Where is the player’s ambition? Barça would be the opportunity of his life right now.”
      When asked if the smears could be bitterness on Barcelona’s part, Bergvall said: “That could be the case, absolutely.
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      “There was a lot of speculation, but it’s nice that everything has settled down and that I can focus only on Djurgården.”
      Tottenham beat off a late challenge from two Premier League rivals to sign Bergvall, who had a trial at Manchester United when he was 14.
      Bergvall, who cost Tottenham an initial £8.5m, and is currently on loan at Djurgarden, will arrive in the Premier League – midway through the Swedish season that runs from late March to November.
      He revealed Spurs are working behind the scenes to prepare for his arrival, with either his mum or dad set to join him in England to help him settle.
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      Bergvall told Aftonbladet: “One of them is moving with me for the first month so that I can get into it, then we’ll have to take care of things. 
      “It’s nice to have someone you can lean on, especially in the beginning. 
      James Maddison gives young Tottenham fan ‘memory to last a lifetime’ as England star shows his true colours
      “It is clear that we are in contact [with Spurs] and they are working to sort everything out, but not so much as regards football.” More

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      Lionel Messi’s Barcelona replacement hits back after being named one of Premier League’s worst ever forwards

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      LUUK DE DONG has hit back at his critics after being named as one of the Premier League’s worst ever strikers. Back in the second half of the 2013/14 season, De Jong had a brief 12-game loan spell with Newcastle where he failed to score.
      Luuk de Jong has hit back at his critics after he was told he was named among the worst strikers in Premier League historyCredit: Getty
      De Jong had a goalless 12-game loan spell at Newcastle in 2014Credit: Getty
      De Jong has been on fire in the Champions League this season
      A decade on from then and he was told about him being ranked at No75 in a 2017 list of “the biggest flops”.
      In an interview with The Guardian, De Jong could not help but laugh at his ranking.
      Biting back, he said: “Really? When I only played 12 matches and not all of them from the start?
      “And not in my position, either? Oh well, that’s the football world, you know. I was young.
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      “I think I am better armed now to take on Premier League defenders.
      “It’s about your response to adversity – that makes the difference.”
      De Jong, 33, has come a long way since then, scoring for PSV in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund for starters.
      His pedigree in European competitions speak for itself, with 12 goals in 38 Champions League games and 17 in 48 Europa League games.
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      Former Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart also names him as the best header of the ball in Europe.
      Opta stats backing up that claim, with 77 goals being scored with the 6′ 2″ forward’s head including 13 of the 27 strikes the PSV captain has this season.
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      De Jong puts this down to his upbringing – by Dutch international volleyball player parents who played with him in the garden or at the beach – which helped with his sense of timing.
      The Dutchman has also featured for Barcelona for one season, scoring seven goals in 29 games.
      But he admitted his time there was “strange” due to him being labelled as Lionel Messi’s replacement following the Argentine’s move to Paris Saint-Germain.
      He said: “That was very strange. Of course I was not brought in as his direct replacement.
      “No one can replace that man. I came there as a target man. But I was actually sitting at his place in the dressing room. That was nice.”
      One of the crowning moments of his career came after he was told he could leave the Camp Nou by Xavi, who had replaced Ronald Koeman after he signed De Jong.
      De Jong said: “After that I scored some important goals, mostly headers. At one point they sang my name at Camp Nou at every corner or free-kick.
      “You wouldn’t think it gets better than that. I am very proud of that.”
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      Good times come with the tough however, and De Jong has credited his mental strength as part of the reason he is now the “best version of himself”.
      He said: “I never gave up. I always kept working hard and I think I am the best version of myself now.”
      De Jong arrived at Barcelona and was labelled as Lionel Messi’s replacementCredit: Getty
      De Jong scored seven times in his sole season with Barcelona and revealed he sat in Messi’s old seatCredit: Getty More

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      Barcelona CRISIS as they are forced into fire sale to slash wages by £57m while facing threat of European ban

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      BARCELONA’S crisis situation looks set to go from bad to worse after the club were told by LaLiga they will need to slash their salary bill by £57MILLION.The Spanish giants have underwhelmed in the league this season, sitting in third place behind Girona and eight points behind league leaders Real Madrid.
      Barcelona saw their salary permit reduced by LaLigaCredit: Getty
      It means they will need to sell players to steer clear of a penaltyCredit: Getty
      The likes of Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Robert Lewandowski could all be sold as a resultCredit: Getty
      But that gap may stretch over the next few years after Barcelona’s financial situation got even worse amid a feared exodus of players.
      LaLiga announced the Blaugrana would be having their permitted salary limit cut down from £231m to 174m for the 2024/25 season.
      With the club’s real squad cost – the total of salaries and transfer amortisations – for this season officially budgeted at £421m, they are some way over budget and will need to make significant cuts.
      Add to this the fact Uefa are not accepting Barcelona’s plea to accept future media sale revenues in their FFP calculations, which could yet land the club a Champions League ban, and you have a far-from-ideal scenario.
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      It means Barcelona will need to sell a host of their most valuable players to stay in line with the rules or face a transfer ban.
      And all this will happen while having to also convince a new manager to come in and take the reigns after club legend Xavi Hernandez announced he was stepping down at the end of the season.
      Big names who have been linked with the exit door include but are not limited to Frenkie de Jong – who remains on a colossal wage – Robert Lewandowski, Gavi, Raphinha, Ronald Araujo and Pedri.
      De Jong was linked with a summer departure to Manchester United two seasons ago before the move fell flat due to the Dutchman’s lack of stomach for a move.
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      However, recent reports suggest the 26-year-old has changed his tune and is now open to an Old Trafford switch.
      With his contract up in 2026, Barca still have £65m to amortise when considering the transfer fee they paid to Ajax and the remaining value on his contract.
      Iconic stadium looks unrecognisable as new footage reveals crane on pitch and every single seat removed
      So if Man Utd come calling again they will smell a chance to make some money back, though De Jong is also said to be settled in Spain.
      Robert Lewandowski seems to have finally hit the other side of the mountain in his remarkable football career.

      He has been average this season despite four goals in his last three league games, and according to The Athletic “multiple sources” at the club would accept an offer for the 35-year-old forward.
      The Pole is reported to be earning a cool £22m a year, wages Barca would love to shift for a star on the decline particularly if Saudi Arabia were to reignite their interest in him.
      However, like De Jong Lewandowski is said to be happy in Catalonia.
      The likes of Pedri and Gavi are among the club’s most valuable assets.
      Selling even one of them would likely go a long way in easing the crippling situation Barcelona find themselves in.
      Who will be Barcelona’s next managerWHEN even a club legend like Xavi Hernandez feels he has to get out of the Nou Camp kitchen because he cannot take the heat any more, you do have to wonder if Barca are now a basket case.
      Whoever comes in will have to deal with a cash crisis that could yet see the Catalan giants banned from the Champions League next season – Uefa are still refusing to allow Barca to count the sale of future media revenues in their FFP calculations.
      Mikel Arteta emphatically denied suggestions that he was ready to leave Arsenal for his homeland. But, in the words of a famous ex-model: He would do, wouldn’t he?
      Win the Prem – or the Champions League – with the Gunners and Arteta might feel he has accomplished all that is possible in N5.
      However, Barca will also be looking at Alonso and De Zerbi, as well as former Bayern and Germany coach Hansi Flick.
      And there is at least one, potentially two, Champions League-winning managers who might fancy the challenge…

      Gavi, 19, has already been linked with a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain after Kylian Mbappe confirmed once and for all that he was leaving this summer.
      His £855m release clause likely won’t be triggered and Barcelona do see him as “unsellable”, but when the chips are down in football, money talks.
      Former Premier League star Raphinha seems to be a no-brainer sale option for the club given his dwindling importance after the emergence of Lamine Yamal and the form of Ferran Torres.
      The ex-Leeds star has already been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd, who could come knocking once again if they find out he is available in the summer.
      Araujo can consider himself unfortunate to be arguably the club’s most lucrative defensive asset.
      It is not that he is not wanted at the Camp Nou, far from it, but it is that there are far too many options already in the position.
      And with a host of clubs including Bayern Munich sniffing around at the 24-year-old’s availability, it may end up coming down to a financial call from the club’s point of view.
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      Premier League clubs will no doubt be keeping tabs on the situation in case any other stars become available.
      Add to all of this that Real Madrid will be able to spend almost £450m more in wages next year, and you have a recipe for domination likely does not feature Barcelona being the top dog. More

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      Luis Suarez reveals Arsenal ‘had Karim Benzema transfer all done’, before his bite on Chiellini changed everything

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      LUIS SUAREZ has claimed his infamous bite on Giorgio Chiellini caused Arsenal to lose out on signing Karim Benzema. The year was 2014 and Suarez was looking to leave Liverpool with both Real Madrid and Barcelona interested.
      Luis Suarez infamously bit Giorgio Chiellini in the 2014 World CupCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Karim Benzema was close to joining ArsenalCredit: Rex
      And Madrid already had Benzema on the way out and Suarez lined up for a replacement during the World Cup.
      But after the Uruguayan was caught biting Chiellini, he claimed Madrid lost interest.
      He instead decided to join Barca, meaning Madrid kept Benzema and Arsenal were left empty handed.
      He told La Mesa: “Before the 2014 World Cup, Real Madrid wanted to sign me and everything was on track.
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      “They were planning to sell Benzema to Arsenal, it was all done. “When the World Cup started, Barca joined the race, and obviously I preferred Barca.
      “With the bite situation, Madrid lowered their interest, and Barca became more interested.
      “In the end I had both options and I chose Barcelona because it was my dream.”
      Suarez was caught on camera biting into Chiellini’s arm during a group stage match between Uruguay and Italy.
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      It came just a year after he did the same to Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.
      Suarez was banned for nine international games by Fifa but his move to Barca still went through.
      Watch moment star gets booked for throwing Luis Suarez’s boot off the pitch as former Liverpool star rolls around
      He would go onto win four league titles and lift the Champions League during his time at the Nou Camp.
      And now Suarez is back with team-mates Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami.
      But Suarez did reveal plans to retire, saying: “Yes, I cannot be more sincere and the family already knows. The date is not yet set, but this is the last step.
      “I am prepared for this last challenge but it is also exhausting and I have to think about having a quality of life afterwards.
      Suarez opened up on retirement after signing for Inter MiamiCredit: Reuters More

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      Barcelona make Premier League manager top choice to replace Xavi but cash-strapped side may be put off by release clause

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      BRIGHTON boss Roberto De Zerbi is Barcelona’s top choice to be their new manager.But De Zerbi’s Seagulls release clause – said to be worth up to £10m – could prove a sticking point for the cash-strapped Catalan club.
      Xavi has already announced he will quit Barcelona at the end of the seasonCredit: EPA
      Roberto De Zerbi is wanted by BarcelonaCredit: Rex
      Reports in Spain claim De Zerbi has the support of key Barca figures to replace Xavi when the playing legend leaves the dugout at the end of this season.
      President Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco, the former Chelsea and Barcelona star, both want the fiery Italian.
      They love the Seagulls’ style of football under De Zerbi, his commitment to youth, and his personality.
      De Zerbi’s agents, Edmundo Kabchi and Edoardo Cnajr, met Deco in Barcelona last Wednesday.
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      Although the talks were originally scheduled in order to discuss a contract renewal for another of their clients, defender Ronald Araujo, it is believed there were discussions about De Zerbi’s availability.
      When he replaced Graham Potter at the Amex in October 2022, he signed a four-year deal.
      Brighton and their head coach have been in talks for a couple of months about an extension which might well include a larger release clause.
      But even the current amount would be a problem for Barca as the club continues to juggle its fragile finances.
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      Xavi himself spent millions buying himself out of his contract at Qatari club Al Sadd in order to take over at the Camp Nou.
      De Zerbi could attempt something similar if he were desperate to force a move to Barcelona.
      Football’s weirdest contract clauses revealed including non-Arsenal agreement and a private jet promise
      But if the issue cannot be resolved, former Bayern Munich and Germany boss Hansi Flick is the Italian’s biggest rival for the job.
      Flick is now represented by super-agent Pini Zahavi, who has good connections with Barcelona and most recently managed to take Robert Lewandowski there from Bayern Munich. More