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      Real Madrid to ‘ask squad including Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema to take ANOTHER pay cut due to coronavirus pandemic’

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      REAL MADRID stars are reportedly being asked to take a second pay cut amid the coronavirus pandemic.
      Football’s finances have taken a major hit in the crisis with ticket and merchandise income slashed.

      Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos are set to take part in talks over a second Real Madrid pay cutCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Los Blancos had already agreed a pay cut, ranging between 10 and 20 per cent of their annual wage, in the spring.
      That allowed the LaLiga giants to avoid job losses and the club saw out a quiet summer transfer window.
      According to ESPN, Madrid fear more pay cuts are necessary to avoid substantial losses in the new season.
      Spain has suffered a second wave of the pandemic and there is no sign of fans returning to grounds en masse anytime soon.

      Talks with captains Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane are described as ongoing.
      Furthermore, the exact figure to be cut is not yet decided while Real bosses set a budget for the year.
      Reigning champions Madrid sit fourth in the table in a mad start to the season, which sees Real Sociedad claim top spot and Barcelona back in eighth.
      Gareth Bale was allegedly the only player to refuse the voluntary pay cut in April, which also saw Real stars forego their bonus for winning LaLiga.

      Fellow Spanish sides Barcelona and Atletico Madrid were forced to enact drastic pay reductions, worth up to 70 per cent, earlier in the year.
      Having announced losses of £88m in October, the Catalans are once again said to be negotiating a round of cuts.

      Gerard Pique, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Frenkie de Jong and Clement Lenglet recently signed new contracts that included a reduced salary.
      The threat of bankruptcy is reportedly looming over the Camp Nou if further cuts cannot be agreed.
      And it has even been claimed that Barcelona lost £23m-a-year in their new deal with shirt sponsor Rakuten due to the uncertainty over Lionel Messi’s future.

      Gerard Pique is among the Barcelona stars to agree a second salary reductionCredit: AFP or licensors

      Sir Ian Diamond reveals that coronavirus cases are starting to flatten off in Britain More

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      Man Utd star Alex Telles tests positive for coronavirus for a second time after playing for Brazil against Venezuela

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have been dealt a blow after left-back Alex Telles tested positive for coronavirus for a second time.
      The 27-year-old has already missed four games for the Red Devils after first testing positive for Covid-19 at the end of October.

      ⚠️ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

      Manchester United defender Alex Telles has tested positive for coronavirus on international duty with BrazilCredit: PA:Press Association
      Telles joined up with Brazil’s squad for the international break as he produced a negative result.
      And the former Porto defender even came off the bench in his nation’s 1-0 win over Venezuela on Friday.
      Yet Guilherme Arana has now been called up after the Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed Telles tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday.

      The CBF claim that United star Telles is ‘no longer in a transmissive stage’ as the rest of Tite’s players will undergo a second test on Saturday.
      But if the Red Devils ace returns a second successive positive result today then he won’t be able to travel with Brazil for their game against Uruguay.
      Telles would then be forced to return to United to undergo a second period of isolation which would be a huge blow to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
      The Old Trafford chief is already without Luke Shaw for at least a month due to a hamstring injury sustained in the 3-1 win over Everton.

      And that could leave Solskjaer with just Brandon Williams as United’s only available left-back if Telles tests positive for coronavirus again today.

      United resume their Premier League campaign next Saturday at Old Trafford as they host struggling West Brom.
      The club will then look to exact revenge on Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League following a shock 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture.
      Telles has managed just one appearance for United since his recent move due to testing positive for coronavirus the first time.

      Man Utd star Marcus Rashford and Wolves’ Conor Coady OUT of England squad for Belgium and Iceland Nations League clashes More

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      AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli tests positive for coronavirus and goes into quarantine as he looks set to miss Napoli clash

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      SERIE A leaders AC Milan have confirmed coach Stefano Pioli’s positive test for coronavirus.
      The Italian, 55, is showing no symptoms but could miss next weekend’s big clash with Napoli.

      Stefano Pioli’s diagnosis was confirmed on SaturdayCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      A club statement on Saturday read: “AC Milan announces that Stefano Pioli has tested positive following a quick test carried out this morning.
      “The health authorities have been informed, and the coach, who is currently showing no symptoms, has gone into quarantine at home.
      “All other tests carried out by the squad and staff came back negative.
      “As a result, today’s training session has been cancelled. Training ahead of the match with Napoli will resume on Monday, subject to the checks set out in the federal protocol.”

      Milan have been on top form under Pioli since the turn of the year, dispelling the club’s plans to install Ralf Rangnick as coach.
      On November 22, the Rossoneri host third-placed Napoli with a three-point gap back to Gennaro Gattuso’s side.
      And Pioli’s diagnosis is not the first time coronavirus has threatened to derail Milan’s title bid.
      Last month, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Jens Petter Hauge returned positive tests, along with three members of coaching staff.

      Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of a handful of AC Milan stars who have tested positive for coronavirusCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic tested positive for the illness in September following the infections of Daniel Maldini, Matteo Gabbia and Leo Duarte.
      The Swede missed a total of four games, including two in Serie A, and yet remains the division’s top scorer.
      Last Sunday’s clash with Hellas Verona saw Ibrahimovic continue his run of scoring in every league game he has played by netting a late equaliser at the San Siro.

      Liverpool star Mo Salah tests positive for coronavirus after linking up with Egypt national team More

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      England vs Scotland WILL have fans, Government reckon thanks to coronavirus vaccine

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      THE Government are confident the Euro 2020 clash between England and Scotland WILL be played in front of fans, thanks to the Covid vaccine.
      The Auld Enemy face off in a group game at Wembley on June 18 — and under current restrictions supporters would not be allowed in.

      England manager Gareth Southgate salutes the fansCredit: AFP or licensors

      England and Scotland are expected to be able to play with fans in the delayed Euro 2020 tournamentCredit: Getty – Contributor

      But SunSport has been told the Pfizer vaccine breakthrough — with an AstraZeneca version to follow this month — has given ministers belief crowds will be able to attend games.
      Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “We want fans back in stadia as quickly as is safe to do so.
      “And the real progress we are making on testing and vaccines means that next year’s Euros are firmly in our sights.”
      Up until as recently as last month, there were real fears in Whitehall that Euro 2020 matches would be behind closed doors as the country battles to keep a lid on the virus.

      But the impending arrival of vaccines has changed the landscape.
      Uefa has confirmed the Scots will get 14,400 tickets for Wembley.
      But the Tartan Army is likely to be bolstered by thousands more who bagged seats in last year’s Uefa general ballot.
      Steve Clarke’s team won their spot after a thrilling penalty shoot-out win in Serbia.

      Keeper David Marshall was the hero saving Fulham ace Aleksandar Mitrovic’s effort.
      Mitrovic had to score after after all nine previous spot-kicks were converted successfully by both sides.
      And the Scottish players celebrated ending 22 years of hurt with a proper dressing room boogie.

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      Watch ecstatic Scotland heroes BOOGIE in dressing room as wild Euro 2020 party kicks off More

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      Mo Salah tests positive for coronavirus just days after Liverpool star attended brother Nasr’s wedding in Egypt

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      MO SALAH has tested positive for coronavirus just days after he attended his brother’s wedding in Egypt.
      The Liverpool forward, 28, is not suffering from any symptoms after returning a positive swab test while on international duty, the Egyptian FA confirmed.

      Mo Salah, who has tested positive for coronavirus, dances with his brother Nasr at his wedding in Egypt Credit: Newsflash

      Mo Salah at his brother’s wedding in Cairo

      It is the latest blow for Reds boss Jurgen Klopp – who is already without several key players.
      Salah, the Premier League’s joint-top scorer this season with eight goals, will have to self-isolate for ten days, ruling him out of the clash with Leicester next Saturday.
      The Egyptian star attended his brother Nasr’s wedding in Cairo on Tuesday and footage appeared on social media of the football star dancing among a small crowd of guests.
      He was wearing a mask pulled down below his nose and around his chin in several images taken at the ceremony, which was also attended by international team-mate and Aston Villa star Mahmoud Trezeguet.

      The Egyptian FA initially announced Salah was the only member of the Egyptian side to test positive before later revealing three other players were being sent for retests.
      A statement on their website read: “A second swab was conducted for Mohamed Salah and the result showed a positive case for the infection of coronavirus.
      “All measures are being taken for this and the necessary international medical protocol for the case is being followed.
      “The Egyptian star is in high spirits and none of the usual symptoms appear on him.

      “A special room has been prepared for isolation and another room for medical follow-up, while the team doctor, Dr Muhammad Abu Al-Ela, communicates with Liverpool club doctor Jim Moxon.”

      Mo Salah has tested positive for coronavirus while on international duty

      Salah could be seen enjoying himself at the celebrationsCredit: Newsflash
      He is now set to miss Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at home to Togo on Saturday and the reverse fixture on Tuesday.
      Apparently, Salah went to an award ceremony in his honour on Wednesday.
      Amr El Ganainy, head of the normalisation committee that runs the Egyptian FA, made clear his organisation had done everything by the book in terms of looking after Salah.
      He said : “He got Covid because of our ceremony and honour?
      “Everything has been done with co-ordinating with his agent and Liverpool. We did everything that Liverpool asked.”

      Mo Salah and brother Nasr pose together at Nasr’s weddingCredit: Newsflash

      Salah and brother Nasr danced while being hoisted aloftCredit: Newsflash

      Salah looked sharp in a fitted black suit and skinny black tieCredit: Newsflash

      Salah appeared to be enjoying the celebration with other attendeesCredit: Newsflash
      The former Chelsea ace is not the first global star to contract the virus after Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo tested positive while away with his national side in October.
      Juventus forward Ronaldo chartered a private ambulance jet to escape back to Italy and continue self-isolating in his Turin home.
      Salah’s test result is the latest Covid drama to hit football after England’s Premier League stars learned the Republic of Ireland’s Alan Browne – who played 90 minutes at Wembley on Thursday night – tested positive for the virus after the game.
      The Three Lions won the friendly 3-0 thanks to goals from Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho and a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty but despite the scare SunSport understands the FA are not worried about anyone catching the virus from him during the game.
      In September, Egypt allowed weddings to be held in open-air venues but with a limit of 300 guests and only in tourist and hotel facilities with health and safety certificates.
      Salah is the FIFTH Liverpool star to contract the virus after new boy Thiago, Sadio Mane, Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita all returned positive tests in recent months.
      The news will come as another blow to Reds boss Klopp, who also saw Joe Gomez pick up a significant injury while during this international break.

      Salah could be seen smiling behind a maskCredit: Newsflash

      Salah was in close contact with a number of individualsCredit: Newsflash

      Salah was snapped sitting down at a table without a maskCredit: Newsflash
      Gomez suffered a serious knee injury in England training on Wednesday and underwent ‘successful’ surgery on a tendon blow with Liverpool hopeful he will feature again this season.
      The Premier League champions are facing a mounting injury crisis after Trent Alexander-Arnold pulled out of Three Lions duty with a calf problem.
      The right-back sustained the injury during the 1-1 draw away at Manchester City and is expected to miss four weeks after being forced from the field.
      Talismanic Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk is still months away from fitness after picking up an ACL injury in a controversial collision with England No1 Jordan Pickford.
      Initial fears suggested Gomez might have sustained a similar injury.
      The Reds have only just welcomed back Joel Matip to their depleted backline, but makeshift centre-back Fabinho is also out.
      Midfielders Thiago Alcantara and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also missing.
      Liverpool have been forced to play 19-year-old Rhys Williams and last year’s outcast Nat Phillips already this season.

      Mohamed Salah scores 94th minute penalty vs Congo to take Egypt to World Cup finals for the first time since 1990 More

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      England vs Scotland WILL have fans, Govt reckon thanks to Covid vaccine

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      THE Government are confident the Euro 2020 clash between England and Scotland WILL be played in front of fans, thanks to the Covid vaccine.
      The Auld Enemy face off in a group game at Wembley on June 18 — and under current restrictions supporters would not be allowed in.

      England and Scotland are expected to be able to play with fans in the delayed Euro 2020 tournamentCredit: Getty – Contributor

      But SunSport has been told the Pfizer vaccine breakthrough — with an AstraZeneca version to follow this month — has given ministers belief crowds will be able to attend games.
      Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “We want fans back in stadia as quickly as is safe to do so.
      “And the real progress we are making on testing and vaccines means that next year’s Euros are firmly in our sights.”
      Up until as recently as last month, there were real fears in Whitehall that Euro 2020 matches would be behind closed doors as the country battles to keep a lid on the virus.

      But the impending arrival of vaccines has changed the landscape.
      Uefa has confirmed the Scots will get 14,400 tickets for Wembley.
      But the Tartan Army is likely to be bolstered by thousands more who bagged seats in last year’s Uefa general ballot.
      Steve Clarke’s team won their spot after a thrilling penalty shoot-out win in Serbia.

      Keeper David Marshall was the hero saving Fulham ace Aleksandar Mitrovic’s effort.
      Mitrovic had to score after after all nine previous spot-kicks were converted successfully by both sides.
      And the Scottish players celebrated ending 22 years of hurt with a proper dressing room boogie.

      Watch ecstatic Scotland heroes BOOGIE in dressing room as wild Euro 2020 party kicks off More

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      Mo Salah tests positive for coronavirus days after Liverpool star attended brother’s wedding in Egypt

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      LIVERPOOL’S Mo Salah has tested positive for coronavirus just days after he attended his brother’s wedding in Egypt.
      The forward, 28, is not suffering from any symptoms after returning a positive swab test while on international duty, the Egyptian FA confirmed.

      Mo Salah at his brother’s wedding in Cairo

      Mo Salah has tested positive for coronavirus

      Salah tested positive on international duty with Egypt but is not experiencing symptoms

      Salah attended his brother Nasr’s wedding in Cairo on Tuesday.
      Footage appeared on social media of the football star dancing among a small crowd of guests.
      He was wearing a mask pulled down below his nose and around his chin in images taken at the ceremony which was also attended by international team-mate and Aston Villa star Mahmoud Trezeguet.
      Salah was the only member of the Egyptian side to test positive in the African nation’s round of testing.

      Salah will now miss Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Togo on Saturday and the reverse fixture on Tuesday.
      Salah is the FIFTH Liverpool star to contract the virus after new boy Thiago, Sadio Mane, Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita all returned positive tests in recent months.
      The news will come as another blow to Reds boss Jurgen Klopp as the German manager is already sweating on the fitness of defender Joe Gomez.
      Gomez suffered a serious knee injury in England training and underwent ‘successful’ surgery on a tendon blow with Liverpool hopeful he will feature again this season.

      The Premier League champions are facing a mounting injury crisis after Trent Alexander-Arnold pulled out of Three Lions duty with a calf problem.
      The right-back sustained the injury during the 1-1 draw away at Manchester City and is expected to miss four weeks after being forced from the field.
      Talismanic Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk is still months away from fitness after picking up an ACL injury in a controversial collision with England No1 Jordan Pickford.
      Initial fears suggested Gomez might have sustained a similar injury.
      The Reds have only just welcomed back Joel Matip to their depleted backline, but makeshift centre-back Fabinho is also out.
      Midfielders Thiago Alcantara and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also missing.
      Liverpool have been forced to play 19-year-old Rhys Williams and last year’s outcast Nat Phillips already this season.

      Mohamed Salah scores 94th minute penalty vs Congo to take Egypt to World Cup finals for the first time since 1990 More

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      Will England stars have to isolate after Alan Browne’s positive coronavirus test and will Premier League be affected?

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      REPUBLIC OF IRELAND midfielder Alan Browne tested positive for coronavirus within hours of playing the entire 90 minutes against England at Wembley on Thursday.
      But FA chiefs are NOT concerned, while the FAI remain insistent their Nations League game with Wales in Cardiff on Sunday will go ahead as scheduled.

      Alan Browne tested positive for Covid after playing the full 90 minutes vs EnglandCredit: Reuters

      SunSport answers all the key questions surrounding Browne’s diagnosis – and why the response has been so restrained.
      What happened?
      Preston midfielder Browne and the rest of the Ireland squad were tested at their hotel on Thursday morning, before the Wembley game, with the results coming back today.
      Browne was the only player or staff member who tested positive.
      So Browne is sent home?
      Yes.

      And he will have to isolate for ten days.
      What about the rest of the Irish squad?
      The FAI say there was no ‘close contact’ with any other member of the Irish party, with the players all allotted their own rooms and not sharing.
      Indoor team meetings were kept to a minimum and other strict protocols were in place.
      There is no reason for anything to change ahead of Sunday’s game.

      The FA and FAI aren’t overly worried as they claim Browne was never in ‘close contact’ with anyoneCredit: PA:Press Association

      But they will be tested again before Sunday?
      Certainly. As will the Welsh players, under Uefa conditions to prevent the spread of the virus.
      But unless there is an outbreak in the Irish camp over the next 48 hours, the game will go ahead as planned.
      What about England? Haven’t they already had one Covid case this week?
      Not quite.
      But Wolves centre half Conor Coady was sent home on Thursday aftre the NHS Test and Trace service revealed he had come into contact with a person who contracted the virus.
      Coady is now self-isolating and may have to to miss Wolves’ post-break game against Southampton on November 21.

      Browne has been forced to self-isolate for ten days after his positive testCredit: Sportsfile – Subscription
      And the England players who shared the Wembley pitch with Browne?
      Southgate and his England squad will be tested again before they fly to Belgium for Sunday’s Nations League game.
      But medical advice is that the virus is only likely to spread if you are in ‘close contact’ with an infected person, normally indoors, for 15 minutes or more.
      That did not happen on the Wembley pitch as any close contact with the Preston man was fleeting.
      Given that he stayed on the pitch all match, he was not able to infect anybody on the bench.
      What happens if there is an outbreak?
      If England are unable to fulfil the match because of a clutch of Covid cases, it would be awarded to Belgium.
      As would Wednesday’s match with Iceland, now confirmed to stay at Wembley, under Uefa regulations.
      But that is not a worry at this stage.
      Won’t PL clubs be concerned?
      Probably, because the Irish players did share a dressing room.
      Those who were closest to Browne in the large Wembley changing rooms may be most worried but the FAI-run tests should sweep aside any concerns.

      England coronavirus scare as Ireland ace Alan Browne tests positive after playing full 90 mins against them at Wembley More