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      European giants CANCEL Goal of the Month competition and sack boss as ruthless fans call it ‘the Chelsea special’

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      BASEL have cancelled their Goal of the Month awards as the team has failed to hit the back of the net throughout the entirety of October.The Swiss giants have been enduring a disastrous season that has seen them drop to the bottom of the Swiss Super League table.
      Basel had to cancel their Goal of the Month awards amid a disastrous seasonCredit: 2023 UEFA
      The once Champions League regulars have only won one out of 11 league matches and have lost a staggering eight long the way.
      To make matters worse, the 20-time Swiss champions haven’t scored a single goal this entire month.
      Last season’s Europa Conference League semi-finalists have instead conceded a whopping 10 across their four matches this month.
      Basel tweeted: “No goals in October = No goal of the month.”
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      That tweet sparked some intense reaction from the club’s fans but there were also some rival supporters who found the opportunity to poke some fun.
      In fact, some of them even saw similarities with Chelsea’s turbulent season.
      The Blues are still languishing in 11th place in the Premier League table.
      And the West Londoners almost went the entirety of September without a goal until their 1-0 win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup just four days before October began.
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      One fan tweeted: “The Chelsea special.”
      Another commented: “Sometimes you want to be San Marino.”
      A third posted: “Feels bad.”
      This fan wrote: “Could run Goal of the Month with goals from the youth and women’s teams.”
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      And that one stated: “What a shame. The saddest tweet I have ever seen.”
      Basel are trying to shake things up by hiring their third manager of the season with Fabio Celestini replacing Heiko Vogel.
      Vogel was on his third stint in the dugout after replacing Timo Schultz last month.
      Basel announced: “Due to the worsening sporting crisis in the first team, FC Basel 1893 has decided to part ways with head coach Heiko Vogel.
      “With a contract until the end of the season, Fabio Celestini will take over management of the team immediately. He is assisted by the existing coaching staff.” More

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      Peter Crouch slams ex-boss for tactical blunder in 2007 Champions League final and reveals how Liverpool could have won

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      PETER CROUCH has slammed Rafa Benitez for dropping him for the Champions League final in 2007.Liverpool faced AC Milan in Athens – a repeat of the famous final two years earlier in Istanbul.
      Peter Crouch did not start the 2007 Champions League finalCredit: 2007 Etsuo Hara
      He claimed that Liverpool would have won if he had played from the startCredit: 2007 AFP
      Crouch has dugout out Rafael Benitez for not starting himCredit: PA:Press Association
      This time round the Italian giants came out on top, winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Filippo Inzaghi, with Dirk Kuyt replying for the Reds.
      Crouch, 42, only came on as sub as manager Benitez made the controversial call not to start a recognised striker, also leaving out Craig Bellamy.
      Crouch had impressed during the Champions League campaign, having scored seven goals in 14 appearances in the competition and started the majority of games.
      The former England international believes that if he had started Liverpool would have won, and also aimed a subtle dig at Benitez.
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      Speaking to Paddy Power as the star of their ‘Life with More Chances’ TV ad, Crouch said: “If I could change any moment in my life, it would probably be a football-related one.
      “There will always be the games that got away in any footballer’s career, but for me it was the Champions League Final in 2007 with Liverpool against AC Milan.
      “If I could replay one game, it would probably be that because we lost.
      “I’d be sitting in front of you today as a Champions League winner instead of a Champions League finalist.
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      “I played every game up until the final, and then I didn’t start. So, I’d start the game and we’d have won the game.
      “That is what I would change.”
      Liverpool made a change to their options up front in the following transfer window as Bellamy was sold to West Ham.
      This allowed Atletico Madrid star Fernando Torres to be brought to Anfield.
      And Crouch left Liverpool for Portsmouth in the summer of 2008. More

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      Ballon d’Or shortlist in full ahead of glitzy ceremony with Man Utd’s Andre Onana among 11 Premier League stars

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      THE BALLON D’OR ceremony takes place in Paris tonight, with Lionel Messi the hot favourite to take home his eighth gong.The Argentine, 36, is set to be crowned the greatest player on the planet after leading Argentina to victory at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
      Lionel Messi is favourite to win an eighth Ballon d’OrCredit: AFP
      Messi already leads the way as the player who’s won the award most with seven Ballon d’Ors to his name – two more than his nearest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
      The lavish ceremony will take place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris from 6pm on Monday night, with football’s biggest names also attending.
      Messi will be joined by Erling Haaland, the second favourite to pick up the award after his 51 goals last season for Manchester City, alongside the likes of Kylian Mbappe.
      Haaland is one of six Manchester City players to make up the 30-man list alongside Josko Gvardiol, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Julian Alvarez.
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      Other Premier League nominees include Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard and Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez.
      Men’s Ballon D’or nominees

      Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig and Manchester City)
      Andre Onana (Inter Milan and Manchester United)
      Karim Benzema (Real Madrid and Al-Ittihad)
      Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
      Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
      Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
      Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt and Paris Saint-Germain)
      Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid)
      Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
      Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
      Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
      Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
      Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
      Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan)
      Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
      Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
      Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City and Barcelona)
      Yassine Bounou (Sevilla and Al-Hilal)
      Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)
      Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
      Rodrigo (Manchester City)
      Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami)
      Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
      Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
      Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
      Kim Min-jae (Napoli and Bayern Munich)
      Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
      Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-German)
      Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
      Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich)

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      There is also a separate award for goalkeepers under the Yashin trophy and Premier League nominee’s include Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale, Manchester United’s Andre Onana, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and Manchester City’s Ederson.
      Yashin award nominees

      Brice Samba (Lens)
      Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb and Fenerbahce)
      Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
      Andre Onana (Inter Milan and Manchester United)
      Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
      Ederson (Manchester City)
      Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (Barcelona)
      Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
      Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
      Yassine Bounou (Sevilla and Al-Hilal)

      Real Madrid and England superstar Jude Bellingham is the hot favourite to take home the Kopa Trophy, the award for the best player under the age of 21.
      Kopa Trophy Nominees

      Xavi (RB Leipzig / PSV Eindhoven)
      Jamal Musiala (FC Bayern)
      Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund / Real Madrid)
      Alejandro Balde (FC Barcelona)
      Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid)
      Gavi (FC Barcelona)
      Rasmus Höjlund (Atalanta / Manchester United)
      Pedri (FC Barcelona)
      Antonio Silva (Benfica)
      Elye Wahi (HSC Montpellier / RC Lens)

      England stars Millie Bright, Rachel Daly and Mary Earps are all nominated for the women’s award, which was won by Barcelona star Alexia Putellas last year.
      Most read in FootballWomen’s Ballon D’or Feminin Nominees

      Daphne Van Domselaar (Twente and Aston Villa)
      Lena Oberdorf (Vfl Wolfsburg)
      Hinata Miyazawa (MyNavi Sendai)
      Millie Bright (Chelsea)
      Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
      Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
      Hayley Raso (Manchester City and Real Madrid)
      Amanda Ilestedt (Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal)
      Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich)
      Olga Carmona (Real Madrid)
      Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona)
      Rachel Daly (Aston Villa)
      Alba Redondo (Levante)
      Lina Caicedo (Real Madrid)
      Kadidiatou Diani (Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais)
      Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona)
      Ewa Pajor (Vfl Wolfsburg)
      Guro Reiten (Chelsea)
      Sam Kerr (Chelsea)
      Debinha (North Carlina Courage and Kansas City Current)
      Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
      Alexandra Popp (Vfl Wolfsburg)
      Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)
      Jill Roord (Vfl Wolfsburg and Manchester City)
      Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
      Wendie Renard (Olympique Lyonnais)
      Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona)
      Mary Earps (Manchester United)
      Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw (Manchester City)
      Mapi Leon (Barcelona) More

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      Chelsea star Trevoh Chalobah ‘offered Champions League transfer’ with Blues exit in January ‘100 per cent confirmed’

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      TREVOH CHALOBAH has reportedly been offered a move to Borussia Dortmund.The Chelsea ace has not made a single appearance this season as he has been sidelined with a thigh injury.
      Trevoh Chalobah is reportedly wanted by Borussia DortmundCredit: Getty
      Chalobah, 24, could now be the latest Englishman to swap the Premier League for the Bundesliga.
      Dortmund have become known for signing young English players such as Jadon Sancho, Jude Bellingham and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.
      The German outfit were keen on signing Southampton defender Armel Bella Kotchap in the summer but took a “risk” not to.
      News outlet BILD, have now reported that the club are interested in making a move for Chalobah.
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      The report suggests that Dortmund have “set its sights” on the Chelsea ace in the winter window.
      Furthermore, Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Chelsea have decided to cash in on the defender and sell him in the window.
      In his CaughtOffside column, he wrote that the decision to move Chalobah on is “100 per cent confirmed”.
      Despite not playing this season, his exit will see the Blues look to sign a replacement.
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      Chalobah has made 63 appearances for the West London side while also turning out for the likes of Huddersfield Town and Ligue 1 club Lorient.
      Earlier this month, fans were split on whether or not Chalobah should be sold.
      The Blues, however, have been tipped with a move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba.
      The Burkina Faso international is rated as one of the best defenders in Europe following his performances in Germany.
      He would not come cheap, having only recently extended his contract at the BayArena. More

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      Andriy Shevchenko reveals reason he flopped at Chelsea as former club record transfer apologises to fans

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      ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO has revealed the true extent of the injury hell which caused his Chelsea nightmare.The Ukrainian icon arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2006 in a £30.8million deal but never lived up to expectations, scoring just 22 goals across two years.
      Andriy Shevchenko revealed the true extent of the injury hell which caused his Chelsea nightmareCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Ex-Chelsea star has opened up in his book
      Injuries plagued his time at Blues and his new book, My Life, My Football, reveals how his body all but broke down.
      Shevchenko, 47, details how he arrived with an issue following the 2006 World Cup in Germany and things never got better with two hernia operations and a back injury.
      He said: “I would like people to understand my difficulties were due to physical issues.
      “The fans were great with me but sadly I never managed to show them my best. I was afraid I was going to have to retire from football.
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      “I felt bad for the people and the club. I’d have given the world to return the affection they were showing me. Instead, I was broken.”
      Shevchenko’s problems began before he even joined Chelsea.
      In Ukraine’s 3-0 World Cup quarter-final defeat to eventual champions Italy, Shevchenko suffered a knee injury.
      His hasty recovery left him tired at the start of his Blues career.
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      He said: “I did my best and gave my all: that was just my way. Still, I knew my motor wasn’t running as it ought to.
      “The newspapers criticised me heavily but only I knew the real problem: that accursed fatigue that had never lifted.”
      Things improved in early 2007. Chelsea won the League Cup but Shevchenko discovered a hernia.
      He played through the pain but missed the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool and the FA Cup final against Manchester United before having a summer op.
      He revealed: “During the operation, something didn’t go to plan. I didn’t get back to what I was before.”
      Shevchenko went into the next season still not right and in a 4-4 Boxing Day draw with Aston Villa — during which he scored twice — the failed surgery caused a herniated disc in his back.
      He added: “I lost all my strength. I was in a rich vein of form — the worst possible moment to suffer an injury.”
      Shevchenko worked his way back to fitness but said: “I was barely a shadow of the player I used to be.”
      The season ended in more despair, forced to watch the 2008 Champions League final defeat to Manchester United from the bench and then discovering on a US trip his hernia had returned and required more surgery.
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      The striker limped through pre-season but conceded defeat, requesting a move back to AC Milan to end his Blues time.

      MY LIFE, MY FOOTBALL by Andriy Shevchenko is available from https://backpagepress.co.uk/books/my-life-my-football

      Shevchenko is the current manager of UkraineCredit: EPA More

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      Toni Kroos lines up shock Premier League transfer with Tottenham leading six-horse race for Real Madrid legend

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      TONI KROOS is sounding out the possibility of finishing his career in England — if he fails to nail down a new deal at Real Madrid.The German midfielder is out of contract next summer and has always fancied a crack at the Premier League.
      Toni Kroos could leave Real Madrid for the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
      If there are no talks with the LaLiga giants by Christmas, he could be available as early as the January window.
      Kroos, 33, wants to continue playing in the Champions League, and his representatives will sound out Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and both Manchester clubs.
      He previously worked with Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich, and champions City lost an experienced head when Ilkay Gundogan left last summer.
      Spurs is a likelier destination, with sources claiming Real would only seek a nominal fee for a player who has been at the Bernabeu since 2014.
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      Since his arrival at the club Kroos has helped them to win the Champions League four times among 19 major trophies.
      The midfielder has made 430 appearances for the club, scoring 28 goals and assisting 92 more in all competitions.
      Should Kroos join Tottenham he would be a different signing to what the club has made since the arrival of Ange Postecoglou.
      In the summer transfer window, the club focused on younger players such as Brennan Johnson and Micky van de Ven.
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      James Maddison, 26, was the most experienced outfielder brought into the club.
      The new philosophy has worked wonders at Spurs so far this season as they currently sit top of the Premier League table.
      After Spurs beat Crystal Palace on Friday, Postecoglou has now collected 26 points from his first ten Prem games.
      That record is better than anyone else, including the likes of Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger.
      Should Kroos join the club in January then he could offer vital experience to help the club maintain their challenge at the top of the table. More

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      Barcelona 1 Real Madrid 2: Unstoppable Bellingham steals the show in first Clasico with stunner AND dramatic late winner

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM scored a scintillating screamer AND a last minute winner in his first El Clasico to down Barcelona in their own backyard.Los Blancos were staring at their second defeat of the season after Ilkay Gundogan’s sixth minute opener.
      A Bellingham screamer levelled the scores in the 68th minuteCredit: Reuters
      And he was there to poke home the winner in the dying seconds of the gameCredit: Reuters
      Bellingham let out a cry of emotion after his second secured victory for MadridCredit: Getty

      But up stepped Madrid’s English golden boy with a world class strike from around 20 yards to level the score after 68 minutes.
      And then, in the dying seconds, Bellingham poked home Luka Modric’s miscontrolled touch in the box to silence Barca’s Olympic Stadium with his trademark outstretched celebration.
      In short, one of the best players on the planet currently single-handedly stole the headlines in the biggest game in world football. 
      It is now 13 goals in 13 games for Bellingham in Spain – remarkably, that’s more than Real Madrid royalty Zinedine Zidane ever managed in a single season.
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      And the scary thing is, he doesn’t look like stopping.
      Barcelona came into this one with a mounting injury list, but good news in the shape of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha returning to the bench.
      Meanwhile, Madrid looked to be starting with Vinicius Jr. down the middle and Bellingham in a high, left wing position.
      Barca started the stronger and were rewarded inside the first 10 minutes with Gundogan’s opener thanks to some slack Madrid defending.
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      The stats that tell the story of Bellingham’s El Clasico debut
      The Birmingham-born star thanked Madrid’s travelling fans after the final whistleCredit: Rex
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      Ilkay Gundogan opened the scorer for Barcelona in a shirt bearing the Rolling Stones logoCredit: Getty
      The Barca fans also showed off a large Rolling Stones Tifo – The Stones were sponsoring Barcelona for El Clasico due to a collaboration with SpotifyCredit: Getty
      And while the whole of England was cheering on Jude, Mick Jagger cut a dejected figure as his team for the day slumped to a 2-1 defeatCredit: ESPN
      The ex-Manchester City midfielder’s through ball found no one but Madrid’s back line stood and watched as Gundogan latched onto his own pass, powering through David Alaba before slotting past Kepa.
      He celebrated in Barca’s jersey which bore the Rolling Stones logo on it for the day – thanks to the club’s collaboration with Spotify.
      Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood were both in attendance to mark the occasion and were probably the only two Englishmen not cheering on England’s 20-year-old wonderkid for this game.
      A frustrated Bellingham dropped deeper to pick up the ball from Toni Kroos, yet the hosts did well to crowd him out in midfield.
      Madrid looked shaky. Kroos lost the ball outside his own box and Fermin Lopez struck the post with an effort.
      Bellingham looked desperate to make an impact, and so decided to use his brute force with some hefty challenges to try and inspire some attacking threat from his teammates.
      Instead, the game turned spiky, as Vinicius Jr had words with Barca boss Xavi by the technical area, the latter laughing it off with a playful slap of the Brazilian’s cheek.
      It wasn’t just the Catalan legend getting physical, as Andreas Christensen and Gavi both took turns to wipe out Bellingham whenever he got a sniff of the ball.
      Ancelotti responded after the break by bringing on Eduardo Camavinga to allow Bellingham more freedom to roam, yet Barca continued to defend the Englishman well while also forcing Kepa into a few good stops.
      Ancelotti shifted Bellingham around during the match to ensure he wreaked havoc on a Barcelona side that marked him tightly
      The man of the moment flashed his trademark celebration after his match-winnerCredit: Getty
      And pointed to the Real Madrid badge as he thanked Madrid’s travelling fansCredit: Reuters
      The introduction of Lewandowski was met with rapturous applause on the hour mark, while Ancelotti chucked on Luka Modric and Joselu.
      And then, the moment. Out of nothing, with the game slipping away, Bellingham picked up the ball on the edge of the box and decided to silence the Olympic Stadium with a screamer from around 20 yards into the top corner.
      No celebration. No outstretched arms. He simply ran back to the halfway line ushering his teammates to do the same, while pointing to the new badge he has grown to adore, and they adore him.
      With the visiting Madrid fans in rapture, the camera cut to a seriously dejected looking Mick Jagger in the stands.
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      Even Ronnie Wood’s words of comfort for Jagger couldn’t lift his spirits as it became clear the tide of the Clasico had emphatically changed.
      That equaliser rattled Barca, and lifted Real to be more decisive on the ball. All they needed was a moment, and they got it thanks to you-know-who in injury time. More

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      My dad won the Champions League and almost won Ballon d’Or – now I’m making my own way in Premier League

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      JUSTIN KLUIVERT’S smallest dream must be to emulate his famous dad’s goalscoring record in the Premier League.Kluivert senior – Holland strike legend Patrick – was far better known for his heroics with Ajax and Barcelona than his six-goal season for Newcastle.
      Justin Kluivert’s first target is to become a regular pick for the CherriesCredit: 2023 Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth
      Justin says dad Patrick is ‘proud’ of Kluivert Junior’s career so far
      Patrick Kluivert celebrates one of his six goals in 25 Prem games for Newcastle, the only English top-flight club he played forCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Justin, 24, insists he did not even look up his father’s Prem stats when he arrived at Bournemouth from Roma in June this year.
      And for now that’s just as well – because the twice-capped winger has started just four top-flight games so far.
      Kluivert Junior has also made three Prem appearances off the bench as he awaits his first goal.
      Former AC Milan, Valencia and PSG star Patrick – who was fifth in the 1995 Ballon d’Or won by George Weah – manages Turkish side Adana Demirspor.
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      And having won the Champions League with Ajax, as well as Liga at Barca, the 47-year-old is well-qualified to give his son some attacking tips.
      Justin heralded his summer move to the Prem by telling Sky Sports: “It’s funny because I’ve been through a lot of leagues and also some clubs that he played also, so that’s also nice.
      “And also in the Premier League, where he played a bunch, years back and now me also.
      “I know he’s proud of me and that’s very nice also to say that my dad played in the Premier League and now it’s my time to give my all for Bournemouth in the Premier League.”
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      The ex-Ajax ace, who had loan spells with RB Leipzig, Nice and Valencia, confirmed he was in the dark over his dad’s tally at the Toon.
      Asked if father and son had bantered about Kluivert senior’s Prem record, he replied: “I haven’t, I haven’t.

      “I don’t know how much he has, I’m not sure, but of course I want more and that’s what I’m going for, for sure.”
      More than six doesn’t seem much of a goal target but as he takes time to adjust to the Prem this term it would be a magnificent seven if he pulled it off by next May.
      Kluivert, seen training with Dominic Solanke, Marcus Tavernier and Lloyd Kelly, only moved to the Vitality Stadium in JuneCredit: 2023 AFC Bournemouth More