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    Arsenal and Wales legend Aaron Ramsey wants new Nice deal after rebuilding career in France following Juventus hell

    AARON RAMSEY wants to extend his stay in Nice by signing a new contract.The Wales captain, 32, joined the French club on a 12-month deal last summer following a nightmare spell with Juventus.
    Aaron Ramsey has enjoyed his first season with Nice in Ligue 1Credit: Getty
    But injury-plagued Ramsey has managed to stay fit for the majority of the Ligue 1 season to make 34 appearances across all competitions for Nice. 
    The former Arsenal star said: “Things have panned out quite nicely this season.
    “We have worked hard, the coaches, medical staff and myself to make sure that I am in my best shape to go out and play.
    “That communication has been key. Managing my load throughout the week has been important. It’s been a real team effort.
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    “I feel good and that’s backed up by the amount of minutes and games I have played this year.”
    Ramsey added: “I feel very comfortable at the moment. Playing games, having opportunities and the coaches have been great to me.
    “They have given me a few days off here and there to go back and see my family. That’s been a challenge, there’s no doubt about that.
    “Football-wise, it’s a great club and it’s going in the right direction and this year we have taken a step forward so there’s no problems with that point of view.
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    “Of course, I’d like to be a part of that. I’m sure we will be in discussions at the end of the season.”
    A key factor in those talks for Ramsey will be whether his family join him on a permanent basis in the south of France.
    His wife Colleen and their three children have remained in Wales since he moved to Rangers in January 2022.
    When asked if his family would move to the Cote d’Azur, Ramsey added: “Of course, there’s a lot of decisions to make at the end of the season and what is best for me and my family. 
    “It’s not an easy thing to get that balance right. But that’s definitely something we will look into and is definitely an option.
    “We will see. Let’s finish off the season and then we can go from there.”
    While Ramsey is happy at Nice, Argentina superstar Lionel Messi is to leave the French top-flight and leaders Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires at the end of the season.
    Ramsey said: “He’s still a Paris player at the moment.
    “I can’t comment on speculation. That’s their problem and his. That’s nothing to do with me.”
    Nice, who beat Rennes 2-1 on Saturday, are eighth in the table but caretaker boss Dider Digard’s side, owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos, reached the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League.
    The Wales captain is keen to extend his stay in the south of FranceCredit: Getty
    Ramsey struggled at Juventus after a raft of injuriesCredit: Getty
    Ramsey added: “In spells this season we have seen what this team and club are capable of doing.
    “Now it’s about getting consistency over the course of a season and taking the next step of competing and fighting for Champions League places or the league. That’s the next step for this club to take.
    “The coach has come in with his staff and done a fantastic job. It’s not easy to come in mid-season and to go on the run we went on to arrive at a quarter-finals.
    “He’s been a player, he understands and he knows what is important to do and how to get the best out of the team. He’s been brilliant and there would be no arguments to see him there next season.”
    Ramsey has only scored once for Nice – back in August against Toulouse and knows his stats should be better.
    He said: “The way I play and the attacking opportunities that I like to get into, I would have liked to have scored more goals this season.
    “There’s still a few games left to get a few but on the whole I’ve had some opportunities.
    “Going forward, scoring more goals and killing the game when we have that opportunity is something we can improve on as a team. 
    “I know I have the capability of scoring goals and I want to score more.”
    Ramsey’s Wales are in talks to play South Korea in a Cardiff friendly in September before they travel to Latvia in a Euro 2024 qualifier.
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    Wales chief executive Noel Mooney said: “We’re really close to agreeing to playing in Cardiff in September against South Korea, which Jurgen Klinsmann manages.
    “We are hoping we can announce that quite soon. We’re close but it’s not done yet.”
    Ramsey stood out at Arsenal where he began his senior careerCredit: PA More

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    Neymar ‘likes’ post slamming PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe and posts cryptic message of his own after fans mob his house

    NEYMAR has “liked” a post criticising his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Kylian Mbappe, according to reports.This comes after the Brazilian’s house was mobbed by angry PSG fans this week.
    All appears to be not well between Neyma and Kylian MbappeCredit: AP
    Fans mobbed outside Neymar’s Paris home
    Furious supporters chanted “f*** off Neymar” as they gathered around his Paris home.
    The 31-year-old, as well as suspended team-mate Lionel Messi, have received plenty of criticism in the weeks following PSG’s Champions League exit.
    Pundit Ofuiclear instead tried to ship the blame for the French champions’ shortcomings on Mbappe, referring to him as the “prince”.
    He said: “This PSG team is the worst in recent years. For what? Because they renewed their prince for an extraordinary amount.”
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    Ofuiclear then added: “The same prince who caused the UCL elimination, who had an easy pass for Neymar but made a pass to the keeper against Bayern. He thinks he’s god now.”
    Neymar’s Instagram account is claimed by L’Equipe to have liked the post in which Ofuiclear blasted Mbappe.
    It is also claimed to have liked a post suggesting Neymar and Messi were happier during their Barcelona days.
    Neymar himself took to Instagram to post a cryptic message.
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    He wrote: “Don’t let people put you in their storm, put them in your peace.”
    Neymar is currently understood to be rehabbing his ankle injury in Brazil, having suffered the season-ending issue during the dramatic 4-3 win over Lille in February.
    The 124-cap attacker played well when fit this season, scoring 18 goals and assisting a further 17 in 29 appearances in all competitions.
    He is contracted until 2025, but has been linked with a move to Manchester United.
    Should Sheikh Jassim’s bid to buy the Red Devils be successful, he could target Neymar as his first signing.
    Police have been stationed outside Neymar’s homeCredit: EPA More

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    25 greatest football stadiums around world, from the Bernabeu to San Mames… but Tottenham’s £1bn ground down in 21

    ATMOSPHERE, capacity and the quality of the toilets are all taken into consideration when fans argue about the best stadiums in the world.And a poll to determine which ground holds that honour has revealed some surprising results.
    Boca Juniors’ La Bombonera home in Buenos Aires is one of the most iconic stadiums in the worldCredit: Getty
    Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium is also one of the most well knownCredit: Getty
    Tottenham splashed out a staggering £1BILLION on their new North London home which currently ranks just 21st despite being the most expensive stadium ever built.
    But surprisingly, it’s a stadium in Egypt that sits in the No 1 spot.
    Here SunSport reveals the results of a poll conducted by Spanish outlet Marca in 2020.
    1 CAIRO INTERNATIONAL STADIUM
    Home team: Al Ahly
    Capacity: 75,000
    Location: Cairo, Egypt
    Cairo International StadiumCredit: Getty – Contributor
    2 SANTIAGO BERNABEU
    Home team: Real Madrid
    Capacity: 81,044
    Location: Madrid, Spain
    Santiago Bernabeu stadiumCredit: Getty – Contributor
    3 NOU CAMP
    Home team: Barcelona
    Capacity: 99,354
    Location: Barcelona, Spain
    Nou CampCredit: Getty
    4 MOUNUMENTAL DE CHILE
    Home team: Colo Colo
    Capacity: 47,347
    Location: Santiago, Chile
    Monumental de ChileCredit: Getty
    5 SAN MAMES
    Home team: Athletic Bilbao
    Capacity: 53,289
    Location: Bilbao, Spain
    San Mames stadiumCredit: Getty – Contributor
    6 WANDA METROPOLITANO
    Home team: Atletico Madrid
    Capacity: 68,456
    Location: Madrid, Spain
    Wanda MetropolitanoCredit: Getty – Contributor
    7 ANFIELD
    Home team: Liverpool
    Capacity: 54,074
    Location: Liverpool, England
    AnfieldCredit: Getty
    8 LA BOMBONERA
    Home team: Boca Juniors
    Capacity: 49,000
    Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
    Boca Juniors’ La BomoneraCredit: Getty
    9 SIGNAL IDUNA PARK
    Home team: Borussia Dortmund
    Capacity: 81,360
    Location: Dortmund, Germany
    WestfalenstadionCredit: Getty – Contributor
    10 MOHAMED V
    Home team: Raja and Wydad Casablanca
    Capacity: 52,000
    Location: Casablanca, Morocco
    Mohamed V Stadium – CasablancaCredit: Africa Cup of Nations

    11 STADE OLYMPIQUE DE RADES
    Home team: Tunisian national team
    Capacity: 60,000
    Location: Rades, Tunisia
    Stade Olympique de RadesCredit: Getty
    12 WEMBLEY
    Home team: England national team
    Capacity: 90,000
    Location: London, England
    Wembley StadiumCredit: Alamy
    13 OLD TRAFFORD
    Home team: Manchester United
    Capacity: 76,000
    Location: Manchester, England
    Old TraffordCredit: PA:Press Association
    14 MARACANA
    Home team: Brazil national team, Flamengo, Fluminense
    Capacity: 78,838
    Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    Maracana stadiumCredit: Getty
    15 SAN SIRO
    Home team: AC Milan, Inter Milan
    Capacity: 80,018
    Location: Milan, Italy
    San SiroCredit: Getty
    16 ALLIANZ ARENA
    Home team: Bayern Munich
    Capacity: 75,024
    Location: Munich, Germany
    Allianz ArenaCredit: Getty – Contributor
    17 STADE VELODROME
    Home team: Marseille
    Capacity: 67,394
    Location: Marseille, France
    Stade VelodromeCredit: Getty – Contributor
    18 ESTADIO DA LUZ
    Home team: Benfica
    Capacity: 65,647
    Location: Lisbon, Portugal
    Estadio da Luz, LisbonCredit: Getty
    19 JOHAN CRUYFF ARENA
    Home team: Ajax
    Capacity: 54,990
    Location: Amsterdam, Holland
    Johan Cruyff arenaCredit: Getty – Contributor
    20 MOUNUMENTAL
    Home team: River Plate
    Capacity: 70,074
    Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
    Monumental, Buenos AiresCredit: AFP
    21 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM
    Home team: Tottenham Hotspur
    Capacity: 62,303
    Location: London, England
    Tottenham Hotspur StadiumCredit: Getty
    22 ESTADIO AZTECA
    Home team: Mexico national team, Club America and Cruz Azul
    Capacity: 87,523
    Location: Mexico City, Mexico
    Estadio AztecaCredit: Getty
    23 SOCCER CITY STADIUM
    Home team: South Africa national team, Kaizer Chiefs
    Capacity: 94,736
    Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
    Soccer City StadiumCredit: Getty – Contributor
    24 CELTIC PARK
    Home team: Celtic
    Capacity: 60,411
    Location: Glasgow, Scotland
    Celtic ParkCredit: PA:Press Association
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    25 AZADI STADIUM
    Home team: Iran national team
    Capacity: 78,116
    Location: Tehran, Iran
    Azadi StadiumCredit: Getty More

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    Why has Lionel Messi been suspended by PSG?

    LIONEL MESSI has been dealt a two-week suspension by his current club Paris Saint-Germain.The football legend’s future at the French giants has been up in the air in recent months.
    Lionel Messi in action for PSG during their 3-1 loss to LorientCredit: REUTERS
    The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s contract with PSG expires at the end of the season.
    And the Parisians are reportedly choosing not to offer the Argentinan a new deal at the Parc des Princes.
    Why has Lionel Messi been suspended by PSG?
    The World Cup winner has been banned by the Ligue 1 champions for an untheorized trip to Saudi Arabia.
    He reportedly did ask PSG representatives for permission to go on the trip to the Middle East.
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    But the club’s hierarchy did not give the former Barcelona man permission meaning he will be fined two weeks’ wages and suspended for two games.
    Messi’s two-gam ban will mean he will miss PSG’s matches against Troyes and Ajaccio.
    The French giants are currently five points clear at the top of Ligue 1 with five games remaining.
    What did the tourism minister of Saudi Arabia tweet about Lionel Messi’s visit?
    Ahmed Al-Khateeb (tourism minister of Saudi Arabia) tweeted: “I am happy to welcome Messi and his family to Saudi to enjoy the magical tourist destinations and authentic experiences,”
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    “We welcome visitors from all around the world to experience a unique trip to Saudi Arabia and its hospitality.”
    Lionel Messi pictured during his trip to Saudi ArabiaCredit: PA
    Lionel Messi and family on their trip to Saudi ArabiaCredit: PA
    The forward works as an ambassador for the country’s tourism board.
    He agreed a huge £25million deal to promote Saudi Arabia last May but had only visited once prior to this week.
    Messi shared a picture of his trip to the Gulf State on Instagram alongside a caption that reads: “Who thought Saudi has so much green?
    “I love to explore its unexpected wonders whenever I can. #visitsaudi.”
    Saudi side Al Hilal have also been linked with a mind-boggling £350million-a-year move for Messi. More

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    PSG ‘suspend Lionel Messi for two weeks’ after striker ‘skipped training to fly to Saudi Arabia without permission’

    LIONEL MESSI has reportedly been slapped with a two-week suspension by Paris Saint-Germain.The Argentine superstar allegedly skipped training to fly to Saudi Arabia without permission.
    Lionel Messi has been suspended by PSG for skipping training without permissionCredit: AFP
    The forward works as an ambassador for the country’s tourism board.
    He agreed a £25million deal to promote Saudi Arabia last May but had only visited once prior to this week.
    Messi jetted out to the Gulf State and was pictured with his wife and children.
    But he is said to have done so without getting approval from PSG manager Christophe Galtier or sporting director Luis Campos.
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    And RMC Sport reports he has been handed the two-week ban with immediate effect due to a breach of contract – while L’Equipe state the club are so furious they have decided not to extend Messi’s contract.
    It means Messi will miss the matches against Troyes this Sunday and Ajaccio on May 13.
    SunSport has contacted Messi’s representatives for comment.

    The PSG squad was initially expected back in for training on Tuesday.
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    But the unexpected 3-1 defeat to Lorient on Sunday meant the Ligue 1 leaders were hauled back in for an extra session on Monday – and given Tuesday off instead.
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    However, Messi had already organised his trip to Riyadh after previously having to postpone two planned visits before the latest rescheduling.
    Messi, 35, shared a snap of his trip to Saudi Arabia on Instagram alongside a caption that reads: “Who thought Saudi has so much green?
    “I love to explore its unexpected wonders whenever I can. #visitsaudi.”
    Messi has scored 20 goals and assisted 19 in 37 matches this season.
    But with his contract up at the end of the campaign, he could in theory have just three PSG matches left before signing for a new club.
    An emotional return to Barcelona could be on the cards, if the finances of a deal can be worked out with the Nou Camp giants.
    Although Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie reportedly rejected pay cuts to help Barca fund the transfer.
    And that could see the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner join David Beckham’s Inter Miami or even follow Cristiano Ronaldo’s footsteps to the Middle East. More

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    Mauricio Pochettino ‘turned down management offers as he waited for Real Madrid to call’ ahead of PSG move

    MAURICIO POCHETTINO previously turned down management offers to wait for the Real Madrid job.That’s before he eventually ended up joining Paris Saint-Germain two years ago.
    Mauricio Pochettino is set to join Chelsea after leaving PSGCredit: Getty
    The former Tottenham boss, now set to join Chelsea, was out of football for more than a year after being sacked by Daniel Levy in November 2019 following a lengthy spell with the North London club.
    The Argentine coach was linked with replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United several times – and then again before Erik ten Hag was appointed.
    Poch is now on the verge of becoming Graham Potter’s successor at Chelsea, replacing Frank Lampard once the caretaker boss finishes the remainder of the season.
    But it was reported last year by Mundo Deportivo that he was once waiting to take over from Zinedine Zidane at Los Blancos in 2021.

    It soon became clear that the role at the Spanish giants was not on the horizon so he joined PSG – ironically Zidane then left the Bernabeu while he was in charge of the Parisians.
    They then subsequently brought Carlo Ancelotti back to the club and he has had much success winning LaLiga and the Champions League last season.
    Pochettino won the Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions in his first season and then the Ligue 1 title in his second.
    However it was not enough for him to keep his job and he was relieved of his duties last summer.
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    The Champions League remains the trophy PSG are desperate to get their hands on and Poch signed the likes of Lionel Messi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos and Achraf Hakimi to help them.
    When the French side were knocked out of the Champions League by eventual winners Real Madrid in the Round of 16 it appeared Poch was on borrowed time.
    They had a 2-0 aggregate lead with just 30 minutes to play but crashed out of the competition in spectacular fashion.
    Karim Benzema’s quickfire hat-trick combined with PSG’s capitulation left the writing on the wall for Pochettino.
    Kylian Mbappe now has lots of control over decisions made at the club and there was rumours he wanted a new man in charge with the club eventually going for Christophe Galtier.
    But even Poch’s successor isn’t safe from the chaos behind the scenes, and now looks set himself to depart at the end of the season.
    Since leaving the Parc des Princes, former Southampton boss Pochettino has been linked with a number of jobs as he eyes a return to management.
    Nice were interested in him, as were Chelsea when they sacked Thomas Tuchel in September.
    But Poch and the Blues finally feel the time is right to come together as Todd Boehly looks to entrust his under-performing squad to a once-rival gaffer.
    Mauricio Pochettino will be back in management soon with ChelseaCredit: Reuters More

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    Jealous girlfriend told police her boyfriend was carrying a bomb to stop him from going to football match

    A JEALOUS girlfriend reportedly came up with a dangerous way of preventing her boyfriend from going to a football match.That’s by allegedly telling police her partner was carrying a bomb.
    The jealous girlfriend of a Marseille fan called police claiming he had a bombCredit: AFP – Getty
    French newspaper La Depeche, via L’Independant, claims the football fan went by bus to watch his beloved Marseille play Troyes on Sunday.
    But his girlfriend was not happy at being left at home by herself.
    And the 23-year-old reportedly phoned the police to claim her boyfriend was carrying a bomb.
    It’s claimed she told response handlers: “My friend is on the bus with a bomb.
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    “He wants to blow up everything in Marseille.”
    Police traced the phone call to Colomiers, near Toulouse.
    And cops dashed to the woman’s house before she admitted her lie.
    The girlfriend allegedly told a duty investigator: “He wanted to go and support Marseille, I wanted him to stay with me.”
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    Luckily for the boyfriend, he made it to the match and watched his side beat Troyes 3-1.
    However, he was summoned to the nearest police station to explain what he had been up to.
    The report added: “Invited to explain himself, this 29-year-old supporter appeared at the police station on Monday to swear that he had no bombs or explosives.”
    Meanwhile, his girlfriend has been summoned by the courts in Toulouse for a hearing at the start of May.
    The alleged incident came a week after six people were killed in Marseille after a block of flats collapsed following an “explosion.”
    Another five were injured, while others were left trapped under rubble.
    More than 32 buildings were affected, with 163 residents evacuated. More

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    Hilarious moment French football fans drop their pants to MOON rival penalty taker in bizarre attempt to put him off

    ALL’S derrière in love and war… Ligue 1 fans dropped their pants to MOON at an opposition penalty taker in an attempt to put him off.
    Angers fans didn’t bare to watch – they did it to try to unnerve Clermont’s second penalty-taker, Muhammed ChamCredit: AFP
    It’s the Full Clermonty! The home side celebrate sealing their comeback victoryCredit: AFP
    Perhaps they thought he was a crack shot.
    But the plan back-fired as Clermont tucked away their second spot-kick of the game – as they came from behind (of course) to beat Angers 2-1.
    Defeat left the visitors still BOTTOM and surely doomed to relegation as they are 17 points adrift with six games left.
    Yet things were looking up when Adrien Hunou put Angers in front on 28 minutes.
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    Grejohn Kyei, however, soon levelled with a penalty.
    And when Clermont were awarded another spot-kick in the 39th minute they chose Muhammed Cham to take it.
    That’s when Angers followers decided the butt stops with them to rescue the strugglers.
    Their heroes might lack creativity on the pitch but in the words of one Twitter user responding to the buttock-baring image: “The supporters of Angers do not lack imagination to destabilise the opposing team.”
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    Unfortunately for those fans, however, Austria midfielder Cham stayed focused to tuck the kick home.
    Credit to him, he then turned the other cheek rather than taunt Angers’ supporters.
    Back out in the middle, Clermont amazingly finished their victory with only nine men.
    Brazilian left-back Neto Borges picked up a straight red in first-half stoppage time.
    And in the 96th minute Ghana central defender Alidu Seidu was dismissed for his second yellow card.
    Luckily for the suffering Angers fans, their painful season is approaching the back end – albeit with a drop even more traumatic than the one they produced on Sunday. More