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      Police raid French Ministry of Finance offices as Neymar’s £198m PSG transfer is investigated for fraud

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      POLICE raided the French Ministry of Finance on Monday as they continue to investigate Neymar’s 2017 transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports.The Brazilian moved to PSG from Barcelona in a world-record £198million deal six-and-a-half years ago.
      Neymar signed for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017Credit: AFP or licensors
      Neymar, 31, left France to move to Saudi Arabia last summer.
      But his previous transfer to Ligue 1 continues to be put under the microscope.
      According to French outlet Mediapart, cops from the Central Office for the Fight against Corruption and Tax Fraud raided the General Directorate of Public Finances on Monday.
      Mediapart’s investigation alleges that PSG were helped to not pay taxes on their record swoop for Neymar.
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      They claim that Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin, his chief of staff at the time Jerome Fournel and then vice-president of the National Assembly Hugues Renso were all involved in helping PSG dodge paying taxes on the transfer.
      Fournel, 56, is accused of coming up with ideas to help PSG avoid taxes in the deal.
      He, along with Darmanin and Renso, is claimed to have been in contact with PSG’s then-general director Jean-Claude Blanc and former director of communications Jean-Martial Ribes.
      The raid is said to have taken place as cops investigate alleged “acts of active corruption and influence peddling” and “passive acts”.
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      French Minister of National Education and Young People Amelie Oudea-Castera recently claimed that nothing “illegal” took place.
      While Darmanin himself said on Monday: “I am very happy that football or rugby players come to our territory and pay a lot of taxes and charge a lot of revenue taxes.
      “If Neymar had not come, no taxes would have been paid, no football shirts would have been sold in his name and no social security contributions would have come in.”
      Neymar left PSG for Al-Hilal in a deal reportedly worth an initial £77.6million last summer.
      He subsequently played just five times for the Saudi Pro League side before suffering a serious knee injury in October.
      The Brazilian international appeared 173 times during his time at PSG, scoring 118 goals and laying on 77 assists.
      Neymar, 31, joined Al-Hilal last yearCredit: Reuters More

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      Real Madrid ‘considering making transfer move for Erling Haaland’ as fresh doubts emerge over Kylian Mbappe switch

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      REAL MADRID could turn their attention to Erling Haaland if they fail to sign Kylian Mbappe, according to reports.The Paris Saint-Germain star has just six months left on his deal in the French capital, meaning he is allowed to negotiate with other clubs ahead of a summer move.
      Real Madrid are concerned they won’t be able to agree a deal with Kylian MbappeCredit: Getty
      Erling Haaland is an alternative for Real MadridCredit: Getty
      Real Madrid are in talks with the superstar but no agreement has been struck.
      Reports suggest that Mbappe will have to take a pay cut to secure a move to Los Blancos.
      And Real Madrid have put an end of January deadline on discussions to force him to pen a pre-contract.
      This has reportedly left Mbappe “unimpressed” with their approach as he planned to make a decision later this year.
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      Real Madrid are desperate to sign a marquee forward this summer.
      Should Mbappe reject them, the club could instead go for Haaland.
      Outlet AS claim the release clause in his Manchester City deal is closer to £100m than £200m.
      City have never confirmed a figure.
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      Haaland’s agent Rafaela Pimenta revealed in November that the striker is open to a transfer in the future.
      She said: “Erling is the master of own destiny, always.
      “He will always do what’s good for him and for Man City.
      “When they all are open to make a change, it will happen.
      “Erling will always be respectful. For sure respect has to be on both club and player side. I’ve no doubts, Man City will respect him.
      “If something has to happen one day, we will agree on every step together with the club. It’s always about respect.”
      His dad Alf-Inge previously suggested his son wants to play all over Europe, saying: “I think Erling wants to test out his capabilities in every league.
      “Then he can stay in every league for three to four years maximum.
      “He could have two-and-a-half years in Germany, two-and-a-half in England, and then in Spain, Italy, France, right?” More

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      Former Man Utd and Chelsea star ‘eyeing return to Premier League’ after telling French side Rennes he wants to quit

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      NEMANJA MATIC reportedly wants to return to the Premier League – after telling Rennes he is ready to quit the club.But he has allegedly considered RETIRING if an immediate transfer exit gets blocked.
      Nemanja Matic is fed up at Rennes and wants to quit immediatelyCredit: Getty
      The former Chelsea and Manchester United star, 35, joined the Ligue 1 outfit in the summer after one season with Roma following his Old Trafford exit in 2022.
      The holding midfielder is yet to score for his new side but did get three assists in six Europa League group games – and has already served two suspensions for picking up seven Ligue 1 yellow cards.
      However, just six months and 13 league appearances into his spell with Rennes, it is said he has had enough.
      Matic has reportedly struggled to gel with his team-mates and there are complications regarding his children’s schooling.
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      According to L’Equipe, Matic skipped training on Tuesday and has emptied his locker in the hope of finding a new club to enable an early exit from his two-year contract until 2025.
      The report adds that the Serbian is “unhappy at Rennes and pushing for an immediate departure” with it growing increasingly unlikely he will play for Rennes ever again.
      And it is thought the central midfielder is keen to sign for French rivals Lyon or head back to England, with several clubs apparently interested.
      L’Equipe add that successful talks have already taken place between Matic’s representatives and Lyon – but if Rennes did their heels in and refuse to let him leave then he may hang up his boots and quit football for good.
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      Matic first joined Chelsea in 2009 but made just three first-team appearances then headed to Benfica before returning to Stamford Bridge in January 2014.
      In three-and-a-half seasons with the Blues he appeared 151 times and lifted two Premier League titles.
      The 48-cap international made the switch to United in 2017 but despite playing 189 times and the club reaching both the FA Cup and Europa League finals during his five seasons at Old Trafford, he could not add to his trophy cabinet.
      In December he launched a frank and stinging attack on the Red Devils – and singled out Paul Pogba and Jadon Sancho for particular criticism.
      Matic said: “At Chelsea, players acted professionally.
      “They were punctual and were never late for training but at United it happened almost every day.
      “Among the players who would always be late were Paul Pogba and Jadon Sancho and a couple of other players.
      “The rest of us who were always on time were angry so we decided to form a kind of an internal disciplinary committee with me serving as its president.
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      “During one particular season, we collected around £75,000 in fines.”
      There was more European heartbreak for Matic last season, too, as Jose Mourinho’s Roma lost to Sevilla in the Europa League final before his wretched Rennes move.
      Matic won the Premier League twice with ChelseaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The Serbian spent five years at Old TraffordCredit: PA More

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      Unemployed Jesse Lingard ‘offered free transfer to top Ligue 1 side’ – where he would link up with ex-Man Utd team-mate

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      UNEMPLOYED Jesse Lingard has reportedly been offered a career lifeline in France.And he would link up with a former Manchester United team-mate at the Ligue 1 giants.
      Jesse Lingard could be on his way to France to join LilleCredit: Reuters
      But the deal could collapse over new Brexit regulations.
      Lingard, 31, has been without a club since leaving Nottingham Forest in the summer.
      The free agent spent one season at the City Ground – despite four-year contract offers elsewhere – following his release from Old Trafford in 2022 after 22 years with his boyhood club.
      He trained with West Ham then underwent a one-month trial with Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq but did not get offered a contract as the Saudi club had already maxed out their overseas players quota with Jordan Henderson, Demarai Gray and Georginio Wijnaldum.
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      Now, though, the Mirror claim Lille are interested in snapping up midfielder Lingard who continues to keep himself sharp by training at local pitches.
      Lille, champions in 2020-21, sit fifth in Ligue 1 – 12 points adrift of leaders PSG.
      Paulo Fonseca’s side includes stars Nabil Bentaleb, Jonathan David and Samuel Umtiti, while former Red Devils youngster Angel Gomes is on the books at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
      Like Lingard, Gomes came through the youth academy at Manchester United and made ten first-team appearances.
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      But because the former Young Lions star, 23, is English, he counts as one of the four permitted non-EU stars following Brexit.
      And the limits imposed on countries not in the EU or without a cooperation agreement may mean Lingard’s move is scuppered.
      The report adds two other French clubs are also weighing up a move for the 32-cap England man.
      Meanwhile, a free transfer to North America is another option ahead of the new MLS season which starts in February.
      Lingard spent the 2022-23 season with Nottingham ForestCredit: EPA
      Angel Gomes, right, came through at Man Utd and is now at LilleCredit: AFP More

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      Ethan Mbappe, 16, makes PSG debut with older brother as Kylian nets twice on 25th birthday to secure big Ligue 1 win

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      THERE was a heartwarming tale in Paris last night as Ethan Mbappe made it onto the pitch to make his Paris Saint-Germain debut. The 16-year-old, the younger brother of superstar Kylian, entered the pitch in the final moments of the 3-1 win over Metz.
      Kylian Mbappe netted as brace as younger brother Ethan made his PSG debutCredit: Getty

      And Ethan’s introduction meant there was a hat-trick of sorts for Kylian as he celebrated his 25th birthday.
      Kylian scored an expert brace against the Ligue 1 relegation battlers to put PSG five points clear at the top of the table going into Christmas.
      His first saw him score from outside the box with a stunning curling effort that crashed in off the bar.
      That made meant Mbappe was the first PSG player to score on his birthday for six years – after he also netted on his 19th birthday.
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      He nabbed his second of the evening when he rushed onto a poor back pass and poked the ball around the goalkeeper who had come rushing off his line before passing the ball into an empty net.
      Just nine minutes later, younger brother Ethan was introduced to share the pitch with his older brother for a brief spell.
      The 16-year-old has made 18 appearances for PSG’ Youth side this season.
      Playing from centre-midfield, he has scored three goals and added two assists in the National U19 Group A.
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      He has also made six appearances in the Uefa Youth League.
      The Mbappe brothers are not the only big brother-little brother duo who have rising stock in football.
      Jude and Jobe Bellingham, who star for Real Madrid and Sunderland have had a meteoric rise in the last 12 months.
      There are also Chelsea brother and sister Reece and Lauren James, as well as Serbian national team duo Sergej and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
      Kylian Mbappé gifts a goal on his birthday 🎁A 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 strike from the birthday boy doubles Paris Saint-Germain’s lead! pic.twitter.com/Sg2IqSQxnw— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 20, 2023 More

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      I was told I’d die or end up in jail trying to avenge my dad’s murder but football saved me – now I play for my country

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      SHAMAR NICHOLSON says he was told he would die or end up in jail trying to avenge his father’s MURDER – now he is an international football star.The 46-cap Jamaica forward is currently with Ligue 1 side Clermont on loan from Spartak Moscow.
      Shamar Nicholson has opened up on his tragic childhood in JamaicaCredit: Getty
      And the boyhood Arsenal fan, 26, even held transfer talks with Watford during the summer.
      Nicholson previously played for Belgian side Charleroi after landing his first European break with Slovenians Domzale.
      But the striker has a tragic past after his dad Wayne was killed in Kingston’s notorious Trench Town ghetto.
      Speaking to So Foot, Nicholson revealed: “Football is my life. I began playing aged seven – Cesc Fabregas was my idol, as I supported Arsenal.
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      “It is thanks to football that I could escape gangs and violence. It was the only option for me.
      “When my father was killed I was at my lowest point and I quit football. He was my idol.”
      Nicholson then admitted: “My only thought was to avenge his murder. I hung around with bad guys, and thought about killing people.
      “Even before his death I was a troublemaker who looked for fights.
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      “I could easily have got a gun. My family told me I would either die or end up in prison.
      “But instead I took the sensible route of following my dream of becoming a footballer.”
      Nicholson continued to explain: “I began with Boys Town in Jamaica, playing without pay, then went to Slovenia as it was my dream to play in Europe.
      “I could have gone to play in the MLS in America, but as a kid I always watched the Premier League on TV.
      “It was tough at first in Slovenia. I would go back to my hotel after training and cry.
      “My family stopped me from doing stupid things, and they saved my life.
      “When I became a footballer I decided to give them better lives and help them out of the ghetto.  
      “I’m proud that now my mum, aunt and grandmother live in much better surroundings.” More

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      Chelsea’s Benoit Badiashile already lined up for shock transfer exit less than 12 months after £35m move from Monaco

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      BENOIT BADIASHILE could leave Chelsea just a year after signing for the club, according to reports.The centre-back joined the Blues from Monaco for £35million in January 2023.
      There is interest from Lyon in Benoit BadiashileCredit: Getty
      But he could already be set for a move back to Ligue 1 with Lyon making him a “priority” target, claim Foot Mercato.
      The French giants have at least £45million to spend in next month’s transfer window and they are desperate for additions amid their shock relegation battle.
      Lyon are seven-time winners of the title but currently sit 16th – just two points off the bottom of the table.
      Therefore, they are determined to bolster their defence and Badiashile is on their radar.
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      The Frenchman has played 16 times for Chelsea, scoring one goal.
      He has struggled for minutes this season, making just five appearances due to injury problems.
      But Mauricio Pochettino will not want to lose the 22-year-old as he has now recovered and started four of the Blues’ last five Premier League games.
      Speculation suggests Badiashile is willing to fight for his place at Stamford Bridge and he has six-and-a-half years left on his contract.
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      Although Lyon are reportedly hopeful they can seal a deal due to their strong relationship with Chelsea chiefs.
      It saw the likes of Malo Gusto and Diego Moreira move between the two clubs in the summer. More

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      PSG star Letellier and family ‘kidnapped and held at knifepoint with wife hit in face during terrifying burglary’

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      PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN goalkeeper Alexandre Letellier was attacked by burglars in the early hours of Tuesday morning.According to French outlet RMC, the 33-year-old, his wife and their two children were kidnapped and held at knifepoint.
      Alexandre Letellier was attacked by violent burglars in the early hours of Tuesday morningCredit: Getty
      The goalkeeper’s wife was hit in the face by the attackersCredit: Instagram @alexandre_letellier30
      The attackers then demanded money and jewellery before hitting Letellier’s wife in the face.
      However, the police were quickly able to intervene and three of the four intruders – two minors and an adult – were arrested.
      Letellier and his partner were awoken at around 2am after a security alarm was triggered.
      They immediately called the police, but the attackers had already made their way into the garden.
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      One police officer suffered an injury to the knee while at the scene.
      Three suspects – one 21-year-old and two 16-year-olds – have since been placed in custody.
      Letellier and his wife live in Yvelines, Northern France.
      They have two children aged two and six.
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      The Frenchman is currently PSG’s third-choice goalkeeper.
      He is yet to make an appearance for the Ligue 1 champions this season. More