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      Man City’s Treble puts them on course for astonishing bonus that could see club easily afford Kylian Mbappe transfer

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      MANCHESTER CITY’S Treble has put them on course for an astonishing £335MILLION bonus.The  Champions League winners know they will never be universally loved thanks to charges related to 115 alleged breaches of historical Financial Fair Play rules.
      Man City completed the treble on SaturdayCredit: Alamy
      But there is no doubting their sensational play on the pitch has brought in an unprecedented amount of prize money this term.
      City have lifted the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the space of  three weeks and they could soon have two more trophies in the bag, as they take on Arsenal in the Community Shield  and Europa League winners Sevilla in the Super Cup.
      A fifth Premier League crown in six years is estimated to be worth £164m.
      Their long-awaited first Champions League victory added another £117.2m, while beating Manchester United in the FA Cup saw them trouser £3.9m — taking the total to a staggering £285.1m.
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      That is not all — Saturday’s win over Inter Milan has guaranteed City entry into the new-look Fifa Club World Cup in 2025, which will be worth about £50m.
      That adds up to about £335m, which will delight chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and owner Sheikh Mansour.
      The total amount of prize money could see Man City recruit some huge transfer targets – potentially including Kylian Mbappe.
      Mbappe signed for Paris Saint-Germain in a huge £166million transfer from Monaco in 2017.
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      The Cityzens could also attempt to sign Neymar, who is expected to leave PSG this summer.
      Despite Man City’s huge cash bonus, club officials are set to kick off their summer business with a free transfer.
      The Prem champions are set to sign Mateo Kovacic on a free transfer from Chelsea as a potential replacement for Ilkay Gundogan. More

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      It has been a long wait, but Manchester City are really there after Champion’s League win

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      “WE’RE not really here.” That old City chant from the 1980s was never more true than in the Atatürk Olympic stadium on Saturday night.Surreal and unreal. As Ilkay Gundogan scaled the ad boards and bowled towards us with that huge iconic trophy, I couldn’t quite believe this was happening.
      Triumphant Man City players lift the Champions League trophyCredit: Reuters
      And neither could all the laughing, crying, emotionally wrecked fans around me.
      Earlier, at the fan park by the stadium, miles out on the edge of this gigantic, teeming city, a place with the weight of all human civilisation on its shoulders, 20,000 lads and lasses from Manchester and beyond partied in the sun.
      Tales of tortuous journeys abounded, of three-hour queues for free buses, of madly ­expensive taxi rides.
      But the overwhelming feeling was: Was this whole thing real?
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      As a City fan since 1969, when as a seven-year-old I watched them win the FA Cup on the first colour TV I’d ever seen, this, for 40 years of my life, was an impossibility.
      For 20 years in the ’90s and noughties, we were rubbish.
      With the piled-on pain of Man U’s successes.
      Of course, since we became rich in 2008 then, seven years ago, got the best manager the game has ever seen, hope and expectation has grown season by season.
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      Old fans like me were delirious with an FA Cup, and then, a couple of Prem titles.
      But, Champions League? You’re ­having a laugh.
      At this new-found highest level we were still Typical City, as several painful exits proved.
      Saturday night ended that.
      Back to the city on the brilliant all-night metro, we celebrated till the sun came up.
      A narrow cobbled alley of bars just off Istiklal Street, Istanbul’s Oxford Street, became City, Champions of Europe Boulevard.
      Grown men mimicked flicking monkeys off their backs.
      There was champagne and £1 cigars, strong beer and kebabs, flags and flares, banners and anthems, pledges of European Cup tattoos with ‘Istanbul 10.6.23’, like people do for the birth of a child.
      And we were really there.
      Party time as flares are lit in Istanbul’s Istiklal Street – now nicknamed ‘City Boulevard’ More

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      Jack Grealish belts out rap song after wild all-nighter celebrating Man City’s historic Champions League victory

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      PARTY boy Jack Grealish belted out a rap song from the Man City team bus as he led their Champions League celebrations into the early hours yesterday.The England ace, 27, repeatedly poked his head out of the sunroof, yelling “woo!” before they set off.
      Jack Grealish repeatedly poked his head out of the sunroof of the team busCredit: Simon Jones
      Grealish has a lager in the dressing room
      Grealish knocked back beers and belted out Blues chants with his teammatesCredit: Getty
      Jack had knocked back beers and belted out Blues chants with his teammates in the dressing room after they beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final to complete their historic Treble.
      The winger sang a version of Fleetwood Mac’s Everywhere with lyrics altered to turn it into a City tune.
      After the match in Istanbul, City’s £100million record signing was close to tears as he told what the achievement meant to him.
      Brummie Jack said: “Anyone that knows me knows how much of a family person I am and how much I love football and, I don’t know . . . this is what I’ve worked for my whole life.
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      “You think back to all the people that have helped you and just seeing my family in the crowd, it makes me emotional.”
      Grealish toasted the victory by sharing a kiss with girlfriend Sasha Attwood, also 27, on the pitch.
      City’s aces, manager Pep Guardiola and their loved ones then went back to the five-star JW Marriott Hotel Istanbul Marmara Sea to carry on the party.
      Grealish, Kyle Walker and others raved until 8.30am local time.
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      Goal machine Erling Haaland puffed on a cigar and declared his love for Grealish in an Instagram selfie.
      Walker was seen holding a microphone with a bottle of booze next to him in an 8.30am Instagram snap.
      City had an exclusive bash with a dancefloor, DJ decks and disco balls in a conference room and adjacent space outside.
      The equipment, booze and hotel space is likely to have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.
      The partying players showed no signs of slowing down as they departed the hotel — goalie Ederson was holding a bottle of Asahi on the team coach at 11.55am.
      The “big-eared” Champions League trophy was bundled on to the bus as City made their way to the airport.
      Players continued the celebrations yesterday afternoon during the three-and-a-half-hour flight home from Istanbul.
      Belgian midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne, who limped off with an injury in the first half of the final, posed wearing the golden crown from the Premier League trophy.
      The Belgian, 31, also bantered with Grealish.
      And local lad Phil Foden, 23, who came on for De Bruyne, could not stop smiling on the jet to Manchester.
      Guardiola led his squad off the club’s custom jumbo, hoisting aloft City’s first Champions League trophy alongside skipper Ilkay Gundogan, 32.
      Hundreds of fans lined the exterior fences of Manchester Airport to welcome their side home.
      City are now set to embark on an open-top bus parade through Manchester, starting at 6.30pm tonight.
      Thousands of fans will glimpse their Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies.
      Some 30,000 fans had descended on Istanbul, with midfielder Rodri’s 67th-minute strike breaking the deadlock.
      Ex-boxing world champ Ricky Hatton, 44, was among them.
      But Oasis legends Noel and Liam Gallagher did not attend.
      Read more on The Sun
      Noel, 56, on tour in the US, watched with fans in San Diego, California.
      After the game, he said: “Tonight, the Manchester rain will taste like champagne. This is the end of the beginning. This is only the start.”
      Local lad Phil Foden could not stop smiling on the planeCredit: Getty
      King Kevin De Bruyne with his Champions League crownCredit: Getty
      Heroes Pep Guardiola and Ilkay Gundogan arrive back home with the CupCredit: Getty
      A jubilant Pep waves to fansCredit: Simon Jones More

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      When is the Champions League final 2024 and where is it being held?

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      MANCHESTER CITY made history in the Champions League final – and they’ll be hoping for a repeat in the 2024 edition.Pep Guardiola’s well-oiled blue machine escaped Istanbul with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan.
      Manchester City beat Inter Milan to win the Champions League finalCredit: Rex
      And it meant that they became only the second English side to complete the Treble after their noisy neighbours Manchester United.
      However, all eyes will be on City for the 2023/24 campaign to see whether they can achieve the prestigious accomplishment once again.
      But fans want to know when the 2024 Champions League final is and where it is being held first.
      When is the Champions League final 2024?
      The Champions League final 2024 is expected to be played on Saturday, June 1, 2024.
      Read more on Champions League
      It will be the 69th season of Europe’s premier club football organised by UEFA.
      And the 32nd campaign since it was rebranded from the European Cup to the Champions League.
      Winners of the huge final earn the right to play the winners of the Europa League for a chance to lift the UEFA Super Cup 2024.
      Where is the Champions League 2024 being held?
      The Football Association (FA) won the right to host the Champions League final 2024 at Wembley Stadium in London.
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      This will be the third time the new Wembley is hosting the Champions League final having previously been held in 2011 and 2013.
      And it can host approximately, 90,000 spectators.
      While five matches took place at the original Wembley Stadium – 1963, 1968, 1971, 1978 and 1992 which hosted around 82,000 fans.
      Who has won the most Champions League titles?
      Manchester City became the latest team to secure Champions League glory by beating Inter Milan in a history-making final.
      But Real Madrid have been a dominant force in clubs football’s biggest competition, having lifted the trophy a record-breaking 14 times.
      Cristiano Ronaldo was a huge part of Real Madrid’s dominanceCredit: AP
      And Los Blancos specifically rubber-stamped their authority in the Champions League when their club legend Zinedine Zidane guided them to THREE consecutive triumphs – 2016, 2017 and 2018.

      Real Madrid – 14
      AC Milan – 7
      Liverpool – 6
      Bayern Munich – 6
      Barcelona – 5
      Ajax – 4
      Manchester United and Inter Milan – 3
      Benfica, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Porto – 2 More

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      Man City coach suffers huge scare after dad mysteriously disappears during Champions League final

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      MANCHESTER CITY coach Enzo Maresca had a huge scare after winning the Champions League, with his father going missing during the game.An announcement was made at the Ataturk Stadium for Pascquale de Caro, Maresca’s father, to make himself known to the nearest steward, while City launched an appeal for help on Twitter.
      Maresca has been Guardiola’s assistant since 2022Credit: Getty
      Maresca was on the bench last night as Manchester City completed an historic TrebleCredit: Getty
      Maresca attempted to contact his father by phone and City informed local police, but it was confirmed at 12.24am on Sunday morning, almost 2.30am in Istanbul, that De Caro had been found.
      Meanwhile, a huge number of City fans endured chaos getting to and from the 75,000-seat Ataturk.
      Nick Stapleton, a City fan and a reporter on the BBC series Scam Interceptors, shared his frustration on social media.
      Stapleton said: “Got to respect UEFA who are, as ever, absolutely committed to making the experience of being a match going fan as miserable as possible even at the Champions League final.
      READ MORE ON MAN CITY
      “I think you’d struggle to find one City fan who thought that was a well organised/easy event to attend. It was a disgrace.”
      UEFA had told City fans not to use the local metro network and instead use the shuttle buses provided.
      But Stapleton said the journey from the city centre took up to three hours with no water or toilets available, while there was a near two-hour queue for water inside the ground.
      After the game, he and his father walked along a grid-locked motorway to find a taxi as there were too few buses available.
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      Many other fans, including some family members of the City players, shared similar experiences.
      The chaos comes a year after the disastrous Paris final, where Liverpool fans were teargassed outside the Stade de France and an independent report laid the blame at UEFA’s door, saying supporters could have been killed.
      UEFA have been contacted for comment. More

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      Bleary-eyed Jack Grealish tries to get some air and Ederson carries on with the beers as tired Man City stars head home

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      JACK GREALISH looked worse for wear as the Manchester City players headed home from Turkey after their Champions League triumph.Pep Guardiola’s men became the first English side to complete the Treble since Manchester United in 1999 following their 1-0 win over Inter Milan in Istanbul on Saturday evening.
      Pep Guardiola waved at fans after emerging from the hotelCredit: PA
      Jack Grealish tried to take in some fresh air from a window in the roof of the busCredit: PA
      Riyad Mahrez did not look particularly fresh as he donned some sunglassesCredit: PA
      Ederson was pictured with a beer as he made his way out of the hotelCredit: Simon Jones
      Erling Haaland emerged after sealing the Treble in his first season with Man CityCredit: PA
      They celebrated on the pitch after the game, with defender Kyle Walker insisting, “Put any drink in front of me, I’m gonna destroy it”.
      Grealish was then pictured drinking a beer in the dressing room, before Erling Haaland smoked a cigar.
      And it’s safe to say the squad looked somewhat tired as they boarded the team bus on Sunday as they began the journey back to England.
      Grealish could be seen getting some air as he yawned out of a window in the roof of the bus.
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      Manager Guardiola appeared the freshest of the Man City party as he waved to those outside their hotel.
      But the same could not be said for Riyad Mahrez who donned some red-tinted sunglasses as he offered a tired acknowledgement for those that had come to see the squad.

      Meanwhile, keeper Ederson, who made some key saves in the final, was still holding a beer as he smiled for fans.
      Captain Ilkay Gundogan, who lifted the trophy, looked on the better side of those that made their way onto the coach.
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      Grealish was snapped appearing to yawn out of the team busCredit: PA
      Man City are set to return to England on SundayCredit: PA
      Captain Ilkay Gundogan was snapped on Sunday, hours after lifting the trophyCredit: Simon Jones
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      And striker Haaland was also snapped exiting the hotel as he brings the curtain down on an incredible season – which saw him register 52 goals in 53 games for the Treble winners.
      After winning his third Champions League as a manager – and first in 12 years – Guardiola said: “It was written in the stars that we’d win this season – and we did. I’m feeling tired, calm and satisfied. This f*****g trophy is so difficult to win.
      “We knew it would be hard. They are really good. We were anxious in the first half but it was a question of being patient. I told them to be patient.
      “You have to be lucky, with Ederson at the end, and this competition is [a toss of] a coin. The momentum came from winning the Premier League and FA Cup and now we have this.
      “It was not our best performance. I have no energy to think of next season and we need a break.
      “We will start from zero and it’s our job. Winning the treble is so difficult.”
      Mahrez was one of a number of people wearing ‘The best team in the land’ shirtsCredit: PA
      Guardiola will be looking forward to some well-earned downtimeCredit: PA More

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      Forgotten Premier League cult hero unrecognisable with designer stubble after taking top job at Uefa

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      A FORGOTTEN Premier League cult hero looks unrecognisable after taking a new job at Uefa.The retired footballer has become a technical director at the football association.
      Forgotten Premier League cult hero unrecognisable with designer stubble after taking top job at UefaCredit: Twitter @SteffenFreund
      The 53-year-old was in Istanbul for the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan.
      He had a picture with the trophy beforehand and tweeted it with the caption: “Only 2 hours and then it’s about this legendary pot! ⚽️ ⁦.”
      During his football career he played 127 times for Tottenham between 1998 and 2003.
      He joined Spurs after a five-year spell at Borussia Dortmund.
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      As a defensive midfielder, he rarely got himself on the score sheet but did net one goal in a 7-2 win over Southampton in the Premier League in 2000.
      The German then returned to his homeland before having a loan spell at Leicester City in 2004 before hanging up his boots.
      He scored one goal during his stint with the Foxes.
      He also made 21 appearances for Germany between 1995 and 1998.
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      The player is former Tottenham star Steffen FreundCredit: Getty
      He also coached at the club after retiringCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      The player is, of course… Steffen Freund.
      After retiring, he went into punditry and coaching and returned to Spurs as the assistant head coach in 2012 under Andre Villas-Boas.
      He then worked with Tim Sherwood before starting a new role as the international technical co-ordinator when Mauricio Pochettino was made manager.
      He made 21 appearances for the national side between 1995 and 1998.
      In his punditry career, he worked on EuroSports’ coverage of the Bundesliga as well as a commentator for the English world feed of the competition.
      Freund also starred for Borussia Dortmund during his playing careerCredit: Getty More

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      Thibaut Courtois’ stunning Wag Mishel Gerzig strips to bikini with hen party ‘sailors’ before wedding to Real Madrid ace

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      REAL MADRID star Thibaut Courtois’ fiancee Mishel Gerzig has sailed off for her hen do.Courtois and Mishel got engaged a year ago but have yet to announce their wedding date.
      Real Madrid star Thibaut Courtois’ fiancee Mishel Gerzig sailed off for her hen doCredit: Instagram @mishelgerzig
      Mishel posed with a white bikini during her bachelorette partyCredit: Instagram @tattooboutiquelarissa
      Michel and Courtois’ wedding date is not yet known after last year’s engagementCredit: Instagram @tattooboutiquelarissa
      Mishel also dressed up with a sailor’s hat along with her hen do crewCredit: Instagram @tattooboutiquelarissa
      The model, though, shared pictures of her bachelorette party as she was joined by friends for a sunny boat trip.
      The 26-year-old donned a white bikini and a sailor’s hat, just like her friends did.
      They all posed in front of the camera and issued a navy salute as they cruised to the open sea.
      Courtois also jetted off for a “bachelor weekend” dressed up as Super Mario character Luigi.
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      On the stories he shared on Instagram, the goalkeeper was seen enjoying some karting at the Carlos Sainz karting centre in Madrid.
      And while wearing a red race suit, the Belgium international was seen on the top step of the podium, lifting a trophy before spraying his friends with champagne.
      The former Chelsea star, who left Stamford Bridge in 2018, also issued a group photo showing him and his friends enjoying a night out in Budapest.
      Since joining Real, Courtois has gone on to add two LaLiga titles, a Copa del Rey Cup and a Champions League medal to his cabinet.
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      Mishel shared a raft of pics on social media from her hen doCredit: Instagram @tattooboutiquelarissa
      This comes after Courtois jetted off for his own bachelor partyCredit: Instagram @thibautcourtois
      Courtois partied in Madrid and Budapest along with his stag do crewCredit: Instagram @merola._.stefano
      That included two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup from his time with the Blues.
      However, this season Los Blancos’ campaign was far from stellar in Spain and Europe.
      The 31-year-old made 49 appearances, but could not help Carlo Ancelotti’s side avoid a semi-final exit from the Champions League before limping to second in LaLiga.
      The couple were pictured together in Monaco earlier this summerCredit: Getty
      The paid look set to wed soonCredit: Getty More