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      Barcelona offer Lionel Messi staggered pay packet, ambassador role and Haaland transfer in bid to convince him to stay

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      BARCELONA have pulled out all the stops to try and convince Lionel Messi to stay, according to reports.The Catalan giants are said to have offered the Argentine a staggered pay packet, an ambassador role after he retires and the signing of Erling Haaland this summer.
      Barcelona have offered Lionel Messi a multi-layered deal to convince him to stay at the Nou CampCredit: Rex
      The signing of Erling Haaland is included in the list of tempting elementsCredit: Getty
      Barca are in dire financial straits with the Nou Camp club said to be around £1BILLION in debt.
      And as a result, they cannot offer Messi anywhere near the £2.4million-a-week salary he is currently getting.
      Club chief Joan Laporta knows he cannot compete with the financial might of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain who are the favourites to sign the 33-year-old if he does leave Barca.
      And as a result he has offered Messi a deal that would see his earnings start lower than what he currently earns but gradually increase throughout the duration of the new deal as the club’s finances improve, according to RAC1.
      This would also see him transition into a role as a club ambassador when he decides to retire.
      One of Messi’s main gripes when he submitted a transfer request last summer was the quality of Barca’s sporting project.
      He was annoyed his mate Luis Suarez was forced out and allowed to join LaLiga rivals Atletico.
      And he was generally underwhelmed by the squad’s chances of winning trophies.
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      As a result, Catalan chiefs have assured the Argentine they will pull out all the stops to sign Haaland from Borussia Dortmund who they believe will transform the team’s fortunes.
      Messi’s representatives insist they have not received an official offer from Barca yet.
      But is understood an informal approach of this nature has been made and Messi’s agent and father Jorge is just waiting for it to be formalised.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Jude Bellingham, 17, gives cheeky response when asked about Champions League debut after leaving Guardiola stunned

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM joked he is ‘not bad for a Championship player’ after being hailed for his debut Champions League season. The England international joined Borussia Dortmund last summer for £25million after leaving boyhood club Birmingham.
      Jude Bellingham joked he is ‘not bad for a Championship player’

      In his first European campaign, he proved instrumental in Dortmund’s midfield, with ten appearances and a goal.
      The strike came in the second leg of their quarter-final against Manchester City, which they lost 4-2 on aggregate.
      But afterwards the 17-year-old was asked to comment on his meteoric rise and Bellingham took the chance to poke fun at any prior critics.
      He said: “Not bad for a Championship player eh?
      “I think I’ve taken every game in my stride, I had a bit of a tough start away at Lazio and then since then I think all of my best performances in BVB colours have come in the Champions League, including tonight.
      “For me it’s brilliant to play in this competition and for this club, it’s a huge honour, so I can take a little bit away from that and learn from it but I’m still gutted we didn’t make it through.”
      Bellingham was in demand at the end of last season, with City’s rivals United among the interested bidders.
      But he moved to Germany in favour of more guaranteed game time, as Birmingham retired the No22 he wore.

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      Etihad boss Pep Guardiola was so blown away by Bellingham’s ability, he reckons the starlet must be fibbing about his age.
      Guardiola said: “I cannot believe it, maybe he’s a liar! He’s so good for 17 years old, he’s a fantastic player.
      “There was one moment when he didn’t get the ball from central defenders, how he shouts and demands that ball to him at 17 means a lot.
      “I spoke with his manager, Edin [Terzic], and he told me what you see in these two games is like every training session.”
      Despite the high praise, it was Phil Foden, 20, who stole the headlines after the two ties, following his winning goals in both games.
      After Jude Bellingham made #UCL history against #MCFC, here’s a look at the ‘Hits & Misses’ from the quarter-finals…👇— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 15, 2021

      Guardiola said: “You have the feeling that he is a guy who never hides.
      “He always creates something. He is dynamic offensively, defensively with quality in the smaller spaces.
      “He is learning right now not to take just one touch. He is able to make more touches when making decisions.
      “He scored two important goals. The second goal in the Etihad and now helped us to be in the semi-final. We knew it from the beginning and how he grew up.
      “In the quarter-final of the Champions League, he was the important player to go through to play against PSG.”
      Pep Guardiola is relieved after ending Man City’s wait for a Champions League semi-final More

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      Barcelona make Erling Haaland ‘No1 transfer target and willing to wait until £65m Dortmund release clause activates’

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      BARCELONA have made Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland their No1 target this summer.And the Blaugrana are willing to wait until his £65million release clause triggers in 2022.
      Erling Haaland’s Borussia Dortmund crashed out of the Champions League last nightCredit: Reuters
      But their preference is to negotiate down Dortmund’s current rumoured asking price of around £130m.
      The German side, who were eliminated from the Champions League by Manchester City last night, are currently fifth in the Bundesliga.
      And, sitting seven points off the top four, their strong stance on keeping Haaland may alter if they fail to qualify for Europe’s top prize.
      According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are also battling to convince Haaland’ representatives that he is better off in Catalonia, rather than Madrid.
      Their logic centres around the benefits of the 20-year-old potentially getting to play with Lionel Messi in his first years at the club.
      Before he can then take the mantle as the face of the club upon the Argentine’s exit.
      They argue that, at Real Madrid, 22-year-old fellow young gun Kylian Mbappe will always be No1 in president Florentino Perez’s eyes.
      Leaving Haaland to constantly have to play second fiddle.

      Haaland, 20, has scored 33 goals this seasonCredit: EPA
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      Haaland has scored 33 goals in 35 appearances this season for Borussia Dortmund this season.
      And this almost unprecedented goalscoring has attracted most of Europe’s elite clubs.
      Manchester United, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea are believed to have all expressed an interest.
      While Dortmund’s Bundesliga rivals Bayern are also sniffing around the Norwegian.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Mino Raiola ‘wants to make Erling Haaland first £1m-a-week player as Man Utd step up transfer interest in Dortmund star’ More

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      Erling Haaland names seven strikers he thinks are better than him including Harry Kane and Chelsea star Timo Werner

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      ERLING HAALAND named the seven strikers he thinks are better than him – but would back himself in a crunch tie.The Borussia Dortmund star, 20, has burst on to the scene with a series of stunning displays over recent years.
      Erling Haaland could only think of seven strikers in world football better than him right now
      Scoring goals for fun, Haaland made his transfer to the German giants in the winter transfer window of 2020.
      And in an interview with VG, the Norwegian sensation could only think of seven centre-forwards in world football currently better than him – and it is some list.
      The seven is made up of five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski from rivals Bayern Munich.
      All of the remaining five strikers all ply their trade in the Premier League including Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as well as Tottenham hero Harry Kane.
      Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, Roberto Firmino of Liverpool and Chelsea new boy Timo Werner – who arrived from RB Leipzig in the summer – complete the elite group.
      But despite the hundreds of goals between the seven, Haaland emphasised he had the self-confidence to choose himself to lead the line in a huge match.
      There are, however, a few of the biggest No9 names left out.
      Haaland omitted the likes of Luis Suarez, Karim Benzema and Romelu Lukaku.
      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was one of five Premier League strikers to get on the listCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Haaland rates Harry Kane among the very best No9s in world footballCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      There was no space for Kylian Mbappe despite the Frenchman’s heroics for club and country alreadyCredit: AFP or licensors

      But the biggest surprise sees no Kylian Mbappe, arguably the most valuable player in the world, on the Norwegian’s list.
      The pair, both transfer targets for Real Madrid, may not see eye to eye after Mbappe, Neymar and their Paris Saint-Germain team-mates mocked the Dortmund star’s celebration following their comeback win in the Champions League last season.
      Haaland was also a target for compatriot Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before his Dortmund switch – but revealed the “good vibes” he got from the Bundesliga side convinced him to join Die Schwarzgelben.
      He said: “There were of course a couple of clubs involved, but at the same time I did not know too much about this.
      “But it was I who first mentioned Dortmund to my father (Alf Inge Haaland).
      “We were sitting at home in Salzburg and watching a game Dortmund played, and I said to him, ‘Oi, look at that wall behind the goal. There had been something to play there.’
      “I think he was half asleep on the sofa, but suddenly it became a reality. When I talked to them, I got a good vibe. I felt a little sold after that.
      “What I liked so much about them was how direct they were. They said exactly how it was right for me. I liked that.” More

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      Erling Haaland gets hands on Man City shirt and has another chat with Phil Foden after Dortmund are dumped out of Europe

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      ERLING HAALAND got his hands on a Man City shirt last night – but it was just an end-of-game swap.The Dortmund goal machine is at the centre of a massive transfer tussle between Europe’s big clubs including City.
      Erling Haaland got his hands on a Man City shirt and had a chat with Phil FodenCredit: AFP
      He swapped shirts with Oleksandr Zinchenko after Man City’s winCredit: Reuters
      The 20-year-old Norwegian was handed a light blue shirt after Dortmund’s Champions League exit.
      He swapped shirts with Oleksandr Zinchenko at the end of the quarter-final second leg.
      And Haaland was also seen chatting with Man City’s match winner Phil Foden after the game.
      The Dortmund superstar could soon be lining up alongside Foden and Zinchenko if Man City win the race for his signature.
      Manchester United are also in the frame, as are Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.
      But his agent Mino Raiola claimed that Dortmund might refuse to sell Haaland in the summer.
      He told Sport1: “I can confirm that I was in Dortmund for talks.
      “Michael Zorc made it clear to us that BVB does not want to sell Erling this summer.
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      Erling Haaland is wanted by all of Europe’s top clubs in a mega-money transferCredit: Getty
      “I respect that opinion, but that does not automatically mean that I also agree. BVB were very clear in their views. We are OK with that.
      “There is no war between us and BVB – absolutely not. The relationship with Zorc, Hans-Joachim Watzke and Kehl is still good.”
      The prolific Haaland has banged in 39 goals in 43 games this season for Dortmund and Norway.
      Dortmund chief Sebastian Kehl wants to keep hold of the striker for as long as possible but is resigned to losing him eventually.
      Kehl told Sky Germany: “Our position is clear – we are planning with Erling. We are very relaxed about that.
      “Of course, we have been following the situation. But we had a very, very good talk with Mino and his [Haaland’s] father just recently.

      “I don’t want to go into those talks now. From a certain point on, we may no longer be able to influence what the future will bring.
      “I have seen the boy in training in the last two days and I have seen how hungry he is and the sparkle is in his eyes. We are very ambitious, we need Erling to achieve our sporting goals, and we have made that clear.”
      Man City came from behind to win the second leg and set up a semi-final showdown with PSG.
      Foden scored the winner in a 2-1 victory that sealed a 4-2 aggregate win and a place in the last four.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Pep Guardiola is relieved after ending Man City’s wait for a Champions League semi-final More

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      Hansi Flick will QUIT Bayern Munich for Germany job in summer with Julian Nagelsmann replacing him, claims Matthaus

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      JULIAN NAGELSMANN is being lined up to replace Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich, club legend Lothar Matthaus has claimed.The former midfielder, 60, has predicted a huge turnover at the top of German football with Flick taking the national team job and RB Leipzig boss Nagelsmann heading to Bavaria.
      Julian Nagelsmann has been tipped to take over at Bayern MunichCredit: Getty
      The German giants could lose coach Hansi Flick in the summerCredit: Getty
      A rift has reportedly emerged at Bayern, who were knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday, between the coach and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.
      And while Nagelsmann has denied any links to the club, Matthaus believes discussions are already underway.
      He told Sky Sports in Germany: “I already said two weeks ago that in my opinion, this is Hansi Flick’s last season.
      “I’ve said that Hansi Flick is right at the top of the [German FA] DFB’s list.. There’s an offer from the DFB.
      “So, they want Hansi Flick and I think – or rather, I’m convinced – that Hansi Flick will no longer be Bayern coach after this season.”
      The German added: “Munich have already chatted a bit with Nagelsmann, including about financial matters.
      “Before the start of this season, Flick said that the coach should have a vote on new signings, which I think is right. As a coach, what am I going to do with players who I perhaps don’t want?
      “I think it’s got too much for Hansi, and then the offer, the opportunity is there to become Jogi Low’s successor.”
      Matthaus believes a big shake-up is about to occur in German footballCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      What is certain is Joachim Low’s exit as Germany boss in the summerCredit: Reuters
      Joachim Low will leave his role as Germany coach after Euro 2020 with his replacement not yet announced.
      Flick taking the role would, in turn, open up another of European football’s biggest jobs, at Bayern.
      Nagelsmann, 33, is one of the country’s top coaches with success at Hoffenheim and Leipzig.
      But he shot down the notion of leaving for Munich, and said: “There were and there are no talks with Bayern.
      “I have no idea where Lothar got this information from. This of course also applies to my agents, there were no talks.
      “I have not spoken to the club because there will be nothing to discuss. I still have a contract with RB until 2023.”
      Despite losing to Paris Saint-Germain on away goals, silverware is very much on the horizon for Bayern.
      A five-point lead over Leipzig keeps them top of the Bundesliga amid the speculation over Flick’s future.
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      We still have six games in the Bundesliga and that’s what we’re concentrating on now.Hansi Flick

      The makeup of the squad and the club’s transfer plans are said to be a huge area of disagreement between the 56-year-old and Salihamidzic.
      Speaking after the game in Paris, Flick assured: “The relationship is stable and nothing will change about that.
      “We still have six games in the Bundesliga and that’s what we’re concentrating on now.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Brazen Dortmund ultras set off ‘industrial strength’ fireworks outside Man City team hotel at 2.45am, 4.30am and 5.30am

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      MANCHESTER CITY players were given a rude awakening throughout the night as fans in Germany exploded fireworks outside their hotel.In comes as the Premier League champions take a 2-1 lead into the away leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Borussia Dortmund.
      Borussia Dortmund ultras pictured in WolfsburgCredit: Getty
      Ilkay Gundogan and John Stones traveling to DortmundCredit: Getty
      Witnesses heard ‘incredible bangs’ which awoke residents and members of Pep Guardiola’s travelling squad at the Radisson Blu in Dortmund.
      According to the Daily Mail, a gang of 17 ultras set off the first batch of ‘industrial strength’ fireworks at 2.45am which sparked City’s security staff to patrol the area.
      Then at 4.30am around half a dozen of the group returned and set off a second explosion in a different area near the hotel, again waking up those inside.
      Police were called to inspect the incidents, but it is claimed City’s security were forced to foil a THIRD attempt at 5.30am.
      The club’s staff are said to have spotted members of the gang returning and managed to chase them away.
      A source told the Mail: “These were not just bangers. We are talking industrial strength fireworks.
      “The bangs were incredible. It felt as if the hotel shook.”
      Police action is thought to be unlikely despite CCTV footage being examined.

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      It comes after Barcelona fans set off fireworks outside PSG’s hotel in February before the French champions won 4-1 in Spain.
      In the return tie a month later, PSG fans got their own back with a similar trick while the Barca squad was staying in the French capital.
      Goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden leave City with an advantage in Dortmund, but Marco Reus’ strike gives the Germans a vital away goal.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      Bayern confident of Erling Haaland transfer for £65m release clause next summer if he stays at Dortmund another season

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      BAYERN MUNICH are sure they can land Erling Haaland on the cheap – if they wait until next summer, reports say.The 20-year-old Dortmund striker is being tracked by all of Europe’s top clubs from Manchester City and Manchester United to Real Madrid and Barcelona.
      Erling Haaland is wanted by all of Europe’s top clubs and would cost £150mCredit: Getty
      Bayern want Haaland as a long-term replacement for goal machine Robert LewandowskiCredit: Getty
      Haaland could be on the move this summer in a deal worth a mega £150million.
      But the Daily Mail reports that Bayern think they can sign him for £65m next year.
      That would meet the release clause in his Dortmund contract and make him a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski, 33.
      And Haaland would then become the latest Dortmund player to move on to rivals Bayern like Lewandowski, Mario Gotze and Mats Hummels.
      His agent Mino Raiola this week claimed that Dortmund might refuse to sell Haaland in the summer.
      He told Sport1: “I can confirm that I was in Dortmund for talks.
      “Michael Zorc made it clear to us that BVB does not want to sell Erling this summer.
      “I respect that opinion, but that does not automatically mean that I also agree. BVB were very clear in their views. We are OK with that.
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      “There is no war between us and BVB – absolutely not. The relationship with Zorc, Hans-Joachim Watzke and Kehl is still good.”
      The prolific Haaland has banged in 39 goals in 42 games this season for Dortmund and Norway.
      Dortmund chief Sebastian Kehl wants to keep hold of the striker for as long as possible but is resigned to losing him eventually.

      Kehl told Sky Germany: “Our position is clear – we are planning with Erling. We are very relaxed about that.
      “Of course, we have been following the situation. But we had a very, very good talk with Mino and his [Haaland’s] father just recently.
      “I don’t want to go into those talks now. From a certain point on, we may no longer be able to influence what the future will bring.
      “I have seen the boy in training in the last two days and I have seen how hungry he is and the sparkle is in his eyes. We are very ambitious, we need Erling to achieve our sporting goals, and we have made that clear.”
      Scholes believes Man Utd will splash out £150m on Erling Haaland transfer More