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      Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ‘tempted by Newcastle transfer if they qualify for Champions League’

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      NAPOLI superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is reportedly interested in a move to Newcastle if they secure Champions League football next season.The 22-year-old is in discussions with the Italian giants about signing a new deal – less than 12 months on from joining the club for £8.6million.
      Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is being linked with a move away from Napoli this summerCredit: Getty
      His existing contract runs until 2027 but he is earning just £26,000-a-week.
      A remarkable first season has seen him rack up 13 goals and 15 assists in 29 appearances.
      And while an improved deal looks to be on the cards, Kvaratskhelia, nicknamed “Kvaradona”, wants a release clause put into his contract.
      Napoli are reluctant to oblige as they value their man at around £140m.
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      It comes as Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain monitor his situation.
      According to Football Insider, Newcastle have now entered the race to sign the Georgian international.
      But Champions League qualification will dictate whether Eddie Howe’s men are in with a chance of acquiring him.
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      A 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Friday evening moved them to within one point of fourth-place Tottenham with a game in hand.
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      Meanwhile, Napoli are closing in on their first league title in 33 years.
      Luciano Spaletti’s side sit a huge 18 points clear at the top of Serie A.
      They are also in with a chance of winning the Champions League as they prepare to take on AC Milan in the quarter-finals.
      But they do face losing their two biggest stars in the summer, with Kvaratskhelia and striker Victor Osimhen both linked with moves away. More

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      Antonio Conte reveals both he and Harry Kane could STAY at Tottenham.. but they’ll need Champions League football

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      ANTONIO CONTE has hinted that Tottenham qualifying for the Champions League could have big ramifications on the future of Harry Kane and even his own.Spurs go to Southampton today sitting in fourth, ahead of a chasing pack that includes the likes of Newcastle, Liverpool and Brighton.
      Antonio Conte has revealed that both he and Harry Kane could stay at SpursCredit: Rex
      Conte, 53, is widely expected to leave when his contract expires in the summer.
      What happens to key man Kane — whose deal is up at the end of next season — is a subject on the lips of every Tottenham supporter.
      Yet when it was put to Conte what kind of effect having such uncertainty over the manager and star player is having on the club, the Italian responded in a way that suggested there is a scenario where BOTH could stay.
      He said: “To finish in the top four could be very important for everybody, first of all for the club and for the players, the manager and the fans.
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      “For sure if you finish in the top four many, many situations are more simple because you know that we are going to play Champions League.
      “The best players and the best clubs want to play in these competitions.
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      “We have this idea but other clubs have the same idea. We will see what happens.”
      Many Spurs supporters are expecting a change in the dugout next season — with some even hoping for it.
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      But surely every fan will be praying that the club’s all-time 270-goal record scorer Kane can be convinced to sign a new deal.
      Even if he does not, SunSport understands it is unlikely chairman Daniel Levy would sell to another English club this summer.
      It means the most probable outcome, should Kane refuse to pen fresh terms, is he leaves on a free transfer in the summer of 2024.
      Conte says it is on the club and the player to resolve the situation, rather than him.
      But he does see Kane, who turns 30 in July, as being able to emulate the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski in playing at the highest level well into his fourth decade.
      The ex-Chelsea boss added: “We are talking about a player that is showing every day to be a really, really good professional.
      “I see for him, for the rest of his career, a brilliant future because he takes care of himself — not only on the pitch but off the pitch.
      “This is the key. When you overcome 30 years old, if you take care of yourself then you continue to stay at the top. Cristiano Ronaldo is a really good example. We have a lot of important players that continued to have big, big careers for the rest of the time that they played.”
      On whether he had any frustration that Kane’s contract situation remains unresolved, Spurs boss Conte replied: “You know very well that in this type of situation it is difficult for the coach to force the situation on the other side.
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      “The player and the club will try to find the right situation.
      “For sure, I can tell you that every coach wants Harry Kane in his team. But then there are a lot of different situations that you have to see to find a situation. It is on the player and the club, not on me.” More

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      Fans think Eden Hazard ‘cursed’ Chelsea as Real Madrid star’s eerie statement after leaving club goes viral

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      SUPPORTERS think that Eden Hazard “cursed” Chelsea after his eerie farewell statement resurfaced and went viral.The Belgian international secured his dream move to Real Madrid from the Blues in 2019 in a £130m deal.
      Eden Hazard will face his old club Chelsea again in the Champions LeagueCredit: Rex
      Hazard, 32, arrived at Chelsea in 2012 and is regarded as one of the club’s most talented players ever having won the Premier League twice, FA Cup, League Cup and the Europa League on two occasions.
      When the star, who bagged 110 goals in 352 appearances, left he released a statement that read: “Chelsea and Chelsea fans will always be special to me and next season I will look for your results first.
      “I hope that we are drawn against each other in the Champions League next season and every season so we can meet again.”
      And, eerily, his wish has been granted almost fully.
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      The two teams avoided each other in the 2019/20 campaign, but they have drawn one another each season since in the Champions League.
      Chelsea beat Madrid 3-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals in 2021 before going on to win the competition.
      Then, last season, they were drawn together again in the quarters, only this time it was the LaLiga giants that triumphed 5-4 on aggregate before they went on to win the coveted prize.
      Now Chelsea will face Madrid again next month in the Champions League quarter-final – and some fans believe Hazard “cursed” them with his wish four years ago.
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      One tweeted: “His wish came through, he is really ta Wizard, he needs to gimme some uefa champions league predictions.”
      Another commented: “He cursed us after never facing them in the competition before then.”
      While a fellow fan wrote: “Thanks for the curse Eden.”
      Hazard has infamously struggled at the Bernabeu after suffering a number of injury issues.
      He has produced just seven goals and 11 assists in 73 appearances for the club. More

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      Supercomputer predicts Champions League winner after exciting quarter-finals draw.. and it’s awful news for Chelsea

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      A SUPERCOMPUTER has predicted the winners of this season’s Champions League… and it’s bad news for Chelsea fans.Manchester City and Chelsea are the two remaining Premier League representatives after Liverpool and Tottenham crashed out in the last 16.
      A supercomputer has predicted the eight remaining teams’ chances of winning the Champions League
      And Pep Guardiola’s City have been tipped to go all the way and lift the trophy in Istanbul on June 10 following Friday’s exciting quarter-final draw.
      On the other hand, the odds are not in Chelsea’s favour.
      Graham Potter’s side have been given just a five per cent chance of winning the tournament by FiveThirtyEight.
      Only AC Milan have been given a lower chance of winning the trophy than two-time winners Chelsea, who face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.
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      Even if they do get past Los Blancos, the Stamford Bridge side will take on the winners of Man City vs Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
      City are yet to win the coveted prize, with the defeat to the Blues in the 2021 final the closest they have come to winning the tournament.
      But Guardiola and Co have been given a 28 per cent chance of winning the Champions League this year.
      That’s the highest chance of any of the eight remaining teams, and comes despite a tough quarter-final tie against Bayern.
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      The German giants are the second most likely team to win the tournament, according to the supercomputer, with an 18 per cent chance – suggesting the winner of the tie will go all the way.
      Serie A high-fliers Napoli, who face AC Milan in the quarters, have the third best chance of winning the tournament.
      Napoli had never reached the Champions League last eight until this year, but now have a 17 per cent likelihood of winning the tournament altogether.
      They have a better chance of lifting the trophy than defending champions Real Madrid.
      The 14-time winners have been given a 13 per cent chance of winning the tournament.
      That is ahead of Benfica (ten per cent), and Inter (six per cent), who face off against each other in the next round. More

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      Newcastle dealt cruel blow in race for Champions League with top scorer Miguel Almiron out for THREE WEEKS with injury

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      NEWCASTLE have been dealt a huge blow in the Champions League race with Miguel Almiron set to miss three weeks through injury.The Paraguayan has been a key player for the Magpies this season as they look to challenge the Premier League’s established order.
      Miguel Almiron has been a key player for Newcastle this seasonCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      But a knock in training has left him missing the Friday night trip to Nottingham Forest and set for a spell on the sidelines.
      He has also not be picked for his international team due to the injury.
      Paraguay manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto said: “Miguel Almiron was injured yesterday [Thursday] and will be out for three weeks and it is not necessary for him to come.
      “We received the report from his club and we saw the video of the injury.”
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      The development comes as a huge blow to Newcastle who have been fighting to get into the top four.
      Almiron, 29, has been leading the charge and can boast 11 Premier League goals this season, more strikes than in his previous four seasons put together.
      His latest was a crucial winner against Wolves at St James’ Park last week.
      The timing of Almiron’s injury means he may not miss too many games.
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      The international break spans two weeks and he may only miss the crucial home game against Man United at the beginning of April.
      Despite their lofty league position, Toon have struggled for goals this season and have not scored three in a game since Boxing Day.
      Injury-hit strikers Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak have also not netted as many as they would like and only have 12 in all competitions between them. More

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      ‘The days of George Best will return to Man Utd’ if they complete shock transfer for in-demand wonderkid, says Henry

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      MANCHESTER UNITED could see the days of George Best return if they complete a transfer for Napoli wonderkid Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.Kvaratskhelia, 22, has been setting Serie A and the Champions League alight with his mesmerising displays this season.
      Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been compared to Manchester United legend George BestCredit: Rex
      The 22-year-old has been in sensational form
      Best won the Ballon d’Or while at Man Utd is regarded as one of the best players of all timeCredit: PA:Press Association
      Transfer links to Man Utd have drawn comparisons with legendary Red Devils forward George Best, regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
      Following a stunning goal against Atalanta, ex-Inter Milan striker Christian Vieri said: “The goal he scored was the stuff of madness!
      “If he goes to Manchester United, the days of George Best will return. Kvaratskhelia is the same.”
      Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has backed up this claim too.
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      Ahead of Napoli’s Champions League last-16 tie against Eintracht Frankfurt, Henry told CBS Sports: “He can press. He can hold the ball. He can see a pass.
      “He’s just the full package. Hopefully, it can carry on for him and they can win the league.
      “If they don’t win the league, it will be crazy because of the number of points that they have ahead. Winning the Champions League will be crazy.”
      Napoli have forged an 18-point lead at the top of Serie A to put them in a strong position to claim their first league title since 1990.
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      Back then they were inspired by Argentine legend Diego Maradona, and shortly after arriving Napoli fans dubbed Kvaratskhelia as “Kvaradona”.
      And the Georgian has done the name justice, scoring 13 goals and adding 15 assists in 29 appearances this season.
      One of his breakout performances came against Liverpool when Napoli tore the Reds to shreds in a 4-1 demolition in Naples, with Kvaratskhelia shining against Liverpool’s defence.
      He is also the Italian league leader for goal-creating actions and sits second only to Rafael Leao for successful take-ons.
      Despite comparisons to 1968 Ballon d’Or winner Best, United will face competition to sign him from a number of clubs.
      Newcastle, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are among the sides said to be in the race to sign the highly-rated winger. More

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      Napoli’s sexiest fan celebrates Champions League draw after promising naked bus tour if beloved team win trophy

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      ONLYFANS model and Napoli superfan Paola Saulino celebrated her team’s Champions League draw after promising to go on a naked bus tour if the Naples outfit wins the European title.Paola was very happy with the quarter-final draw after finding out that the Partenopei will take on Serie A rivals AC Milan, who knocked Tottenham out in the Round of 16.
      Napoli superfan Paola Saulino loved the Champions League draw against AC Milan
      Paola Saulino vowed to go on a naked bus tour if Napoli win the Champions League
      Paola Saulino is not afraid of any Premier League teams in the Champions LeagueCredit: https://twitter.com/PaolaSaulino/media
      Paola Sulino will rent a bus if Napoli win the Champions League this seasonCredit: https://twitter.com/PaolaSaulino/media
      The 31-year-old tweeted: “MILAAAAN WE GOT THIS.”
      Napoli have been a revelation this season as they are 18 points clear at the top of the Serie A table and their European exploits have led to many believing they could win the Champions League.
      And Paola has vowed to go “crazy” if Luciano Spalletti’s men go all the way in Europe after besting the likes of Liverpool, Ajax, Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt.
      The model promised to go around Naples on top of an open bus completely nude if the Serie A giants bring home the gold.
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      Paola told the Daily Star: “I can reveal to the Daily Star readers that I will do something crazy and celebrate by doing a naked open bus top of Napoli.
      “It is something I can do and it is something I can afford. Honestly I don’t think renting a bus is the most expensive thing in the world.
      “I think that with probably €3,000 (£2,625) I will do it and I can contact people who can rent me the bus or can provide for this service.”
      And the model is not afraid of any Premier League teams after Napoli destroyed Liverpool 4-1 in the group stage.
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      Paola added: “I wouldn’t be afraid of any English teams. English fans always think English teams are the best in the world then they get hit by reality like Liverpool did.
      “Honestly, only [Manchester] City makes me a bit scared. But it is incredible what we are doing in Serie A.
      “Unlike the Premier League where Arsenal have City on their heels, Napoli has no rivals, so there is no comparison.”
      Paola burst onto the scene in 2016 as she pledged to perform a sex act on anyone who voted “No” in Italy’s constitutional referendum.
      She later claimed she pleasured 700 “politically-active” men during her outrageous Pompa (Pump) Tour of her homeland.
      Paola Saulino burst onto the scene in 2016 during the Italian constitutional referendumCredit: https://twitter.com/PaolaSaulino/media
      Paola Saulino promised to perform sex acts on men who voted “No” on the referendumCredit: https://twitter.com/PaolaSaulino/media
      Paola Saulino claimed she pleasured 700 men after the referendumCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk More

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      Fuming Man Utd fans say Europa League draw is ‘even more fixed’ than Champions League

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      MANCHESTER UNITED fans have claimed the Europa League draw is “EVEN MORE FIXED” than the Champions League ballot after being handed a tough quarter-final tie.The Red Devils learned their fate for the last eight of Europe’s secondary club competition on Friday afternoon.
      Manchester United fans are fuming with the Europa League drawCredit: Rex
      The Red Devils have been drawn against Spanish giants Sevilla in the quarter-finals of the tournament.Credit: GETTY
      Some of the Old Trafford faithful have claimed the draw is ‘fixed’Credit: REUTERS

      Erik ten Hag’s troops will lock horns with six-time tournament winners Sevilla in the next round of the competition.
      Should they advance, United will face either Juventus or Arsenal’s conquerors Sporting Lisbon in the semis.
      And some of the Old Trafford faithful reckon the draw has been rigged against them.
      One tweeted: “Europa league draw even more fixed UEFA you are a f***ing joke.”
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      Another said: “Fixed draw.”
      And another said: “All European draws are fixed, IDC.”
      One remarked: “Looks like we are f***ing fixed draw. Destined to be us [and] Roma final.”
      One fuming Red Devil added: “At this point, I’m suspecting that this draw is fixed. Four Spanish teams in one campaign??”
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      The quarter-final draw for the Europa League took place after its Champions League counterpart.
      And the two remaining English teams remaining in the tournament were handed supremely tough ties for the next round of Europe’s elite club competition.
      Premier League strugglers Chelsea were drawn against tournament legends Real Madrid, who dumped them out of the competition last season.
      And reigning English champions Manchester City were handed a tasty tie against their German counterparts Bayern Munich.
      The first leg of the ties will take place on April 11, with the returns scheduled for a week later.
      The Europa League quarter-finals, meanwhile, will take place on the weeks of April 13 and 20 respectively. More