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    Eden Hazard could make shock transfer return to Lille after Chelsea legend’s struggles at Real Madrid, says club chief

    EDEN HAZARD could make a shock return to Lille in January after reportedly being placed on the transfer list at Real Madrid.The winger joined the Spanish giants in 2019 for a huge fee of £89million but has failed to live up to expectations.
    Real Madrid are willing to let Eden Hazard go in JanuaryCredit: AP
    He has not scored a goal in the 12 appearances he has made so far this season, with the club reportedly willing to let him leave in the next window.
    Now, Lille president Olivier Letang about the possibility of a return to the club for the 30-year-old.
    When speaking to L’Equipe Letang said: “A return of Hazard to Lille? It is not impossible to see it here.
    “I go to Spain if necessary. It may seem impossible.
    “Obviously, Hazard is an incredible player with a lot of quality.
    “Right now, he is a Real Madrid player and is under contract with Real Madrid every day.”
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    Hazard made his professional debut for Lille in 2007 and remained at the club until he signed for Chelsea in 2012.
    He scored 50 goals during his five-year spell at the French club and helped them win a league title and the Coupe de France in the 2010-11 season.
    Whilst a return to France is possible, the winger will have to lower his wage demands if Lille are to have any chance of taking him back.
    Hazard has already been linked to a number of clubs this season with offers from teams such as Belgian Minnows KVS Westerlo and Fenerbahce.
    A move back to England is also a possibility after he was linked to West Ham, Newcastle and Chelsea.
    Belgium manager Roberto Martinez recently revealed that Hazard is ‘unhappy’ at Real Madrid due to his situation in a hint he is looking to leave the club. More

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    Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Man Utd and PSG stars’ head to head record ahead of Champions League showdown

    IT IS the question that divides football fans across the globe –  who is better: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?They gave El Clasicos a bit of extra spice for nine years and were set to face off in the Champions League Round of 16 before the draw was repeated after an error.
    The last time Messi and Ronaldo met, CR7 scored two penaltiesCredit: GETTY IMAGES
    Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have played against each other 36 times
    Manchester United and Paris St Germain were paired together in the first draw, but a mistake in picking out the balls means the whole draw has taken place again.
    The greatest managers of the modern era have had their say, fans have had their say and even former team-mates have waded in on the never-ending GOAT debate.
    So we thought we’d look past the trophies and accolades to see how they fared when they were in direct competition.
    The pair know each other well, of course, having gone toe-to-toe in dozens of El Clasico contests down the years.
    Not only would the rivals share the same pitch whenever Real Madrid played against Barcelona, but they would tussle for LaLiga supremacy season after season.
    El Clasico has always been more that just a football match to the clubs’ fans and having the two best players in the world took it to a different dimension.
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    Ronaldo has gone up against Messi 36 times in total during his spells at Manchester United and Real Madrid, Juventus as well as on the international stage.
    The Portuguese legend was ruled out of the first group stage game between Juve and Barcelona due to coronavirus – but made sure to get revenge in the return fixture netting a brace from the penalty spot.
    Messi pipped the former Los Blancos ace by one goals in all of their meetings, finding the back of the net 22 times.
    Ronaldo and Messi have enjoyed a career-long rivalry

    While Ronaldo may have one goal fewer, he holds the record for the scoring in the most consecutive El Clasicos – in six consecutive games in 2012.
    Messi poetically netted his 500th goal for the Catalan giants against Real in a thriller in 2017, which also put Barca top of LaLiga.
    The Argentina ace famously celebrated by whipping off his No10 shirt and holding it aloft to the away support to prove why he is considered to be the greatest footballer of all time.
    Ronaldo later had to have his say too, of course.
    The next time he visited the Nou Camp and scored in the Supercopa de Espana final first leg in August 2017, he mimicked his great frenemy’s celebration by showing his No7 shirt to the crowd.
    In that same clash, Ronaldo’s night hit a sour note when he was shown a second yellow card for diving, which resulted in the forward PUSHING the referee.
    He had already been booked for taking his shirt off after mimicking Messi’s celebration.
    That has been the only red card shown to either hero in the duo’s 36 stand offs with Messi managing to keep his cool and escape with three fewer yellows than his arch-rival.
    Lionel Messi scored a last-minute winner to give Barcelona a 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in April 2017
    Cristiano Ronaldo showed the Nou Camp who was boss in his celebration
    Football is a results business so when it comes to score lines, the Argentine maestro leads the way.
    In the 35 matches, Messi has 16 wins, Ronaldo has 11 and there have been nine draws.
    Ronaldo’s United got the better of Barca in the 2008 Champions League semi-finals with a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp and 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
    Messi and Co got their revenge a year later, winning the 2009 final 2-0 as Messi scored a header.
    That started a run of five consecutive wins for Messi over Ronaldo including a 5-0 Barca win and a 2-1 victory for Argentina over Portugal in an international friendly as both players found the net.
    Arguably their greatest contest came in the 2012-13 LaLiga campaign as both players scored twice in a 2-2 draw in Barcelona.
    Messi played his entire career at Barca up until last summer when his contract expired.
    The Argentine signed for PSG and has five UCL goals in the group stages, but it’s not quite Ronaldo’s six for United.
    Ronaldo might just get the chance to show Messi up after his record-breaking seventh Ballon d’Or win.
    Breakdown of Ronaldo and Messi’s careers More

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    Wanda Nara ‘held talks with Juventus’ over husband Mauro Icardi returning to Serie A on loan from PSG

    MAURO ICARDI’S wife and agent Wanda Nara has spoken to Juventus about him joining them on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in January, according to reports in France.Nara has met with Juve’s President Andrea Agnelli to float the idea, reports Foot Mercato.
    Icardi joined PSG from Inter Milan in 2020Credit: AFP
    Icardi’s wife Wanda also acts as his agent for footballing mattersCredit: Social Media – Refer to Source
    Wanda has nearly ten million followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram @wanda_icardi
    Icardi was a superstar in Serie A with Sampdoria and particularly during a seven-year spell with Inter Milan, where he bagged 111 goals in 188 games.
    The Argentinian signed for the Ligue 1 giants for £54million in May 2020.
    He had been on loan with PSG and at the time it had been mooted that he wanted to return to Italy having lived away from his family while in France.
    Juve have long been linked with Icardi and there have been repeated rumours of a switch to Turin after struggling for playing time in Paris.
    He has fallen down the pecking order at PSG following the summer the arrival of Lionel Messi from Barcelona and could be allowed to leave on loan.
    The 28-year-old has scored three league goals in 17 competitive appearances so far this season.
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    And he could be the right fit for The Old Lady, who are struggling to score goals with Alvaro Morata’s future uncertain and Paulo Dybala yet to agree a new deal.
    Nara, 39, wed Icardi in 2014 after previously being married to ex-Barcelona forward and Icardi’s former team-mate Maxi Lopez, 37.
    It was reported in October that Icardi and Nara’s marriage was on the rocks after claims he cheated on her.
    Cristiano Ronaldo’s £12.9m transfer from Juventus to Man Utd under investigation More

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    Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Man Utd and PSG stars’ head to head record as they face Champions League showdown

    IT IS the question that divides football fans across the globe –  who is better: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?They gave El Clasicos a bit of extra spice for nine years and now, they could be set to face off against each other again in the Champions League.
    The last time Messi and Ronaldo met, CR7 scored two penaltiesCredit: GETTY IMAGES
    The pair have met 36 times on the pitch, with Messi having the edge on the head-to-head
    Breakdown of Ronaldo and Messi’s careers
    Due to Manchester United finishing top of their group, and Paris Saint-Germain coming in at second in theirs, Messi and Ronaldo could face off in the Round of 16.
    The greatest managers of the modern era have had their say, fans have had their say and even former team-mates have waded in on the never-ending GOAT debate.
    So SunSport thought we’d look past the trophies and accolades to see how they fared when they were in direct competition.
    The pair know each other well, of course, having gone toe-to-toe in dozens of El Clasico contests down the years.
    Not only would the rivals share the same pitch whenever Real Madrid played against Barcelona, but they would tussle for LaLiga supremacy season after season.
    El Clasico has always been more that just a football match to the clubs’ fans and having the two best players in the world took it to a different dimension.
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    FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
    Ronaldo has gone up against Messi 36 times in total during his spells at Manchester United and Real Madrid, Juventus as well as on the international stage.
    The Portuguese legend was ruled out of the first group stage game between Juve and Barcelona due to coronavirus – but made sure to get revenge in the return fixture netting a brace from the penalty spot.
    Messi pipped the former Los Blancos ace by one goals in all of their meetings, finding the back of the net 22 times.
    Ronaldo and Messi have enjoyed a career-long rivalry

    While Ronaldo may have one goal fewer, he holds the record for the scoring in the most consecutive El Clasicos – in six consecutive games in 2012.
    Messi poetically netted his 500th goal for the Catalan giants against Real in a thriller in 2017, which also put Barca top of LaLiga.
    The Argentina ace famously celebrated by whipping off his No10 shirt and holding it aloft to the away support to prove why he is considered to be the greatest footballer of all time.
    Ronaldo later had to have his say too, of course.
    The next time he visited the Nou Camp and scored in the Supercopa de Espana final first leg in August 2017, he mimicked his great frenemy’s celebration by showing his No7 shirt to the crowd.
    In that same clash, Ronaldo’s night hit a sour note when he was shown a second yellow card for diving, which resulted in the forward PUSHING the referee.
    He had already been booked for taking his shirt off after mimicking Messi’s celebration.
    That has been the only red card shown to either hero in the duo’s 36 stand offs with Messi managing to keep his cool and escape with three fewer yellows than his arch-rival.
    Lionel Messi scored a last-minute winner to give Barcelona a 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in April 2017
    Cristiano Ronaldo showed the Nou Camp who was boss in his celebration
    Football is a results business so when it comes to score lines, the Argentine maestro leads the way.
    In the 35 matches, Messi has 16 wins, Ronaldo has 11 and there have been nine draws.
    Ronaldo’s United got the better of Barca in the 2008 Champions League semi-finals with a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp and 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
    Messi and Co got their revenge a year later, winning the 2009 final 2-0 as Messi scored a header.
    That started a run of five consecutive wins for Messi over Ronaldo including a 5-0 Barca win and a 2-1 victory for Argentina over Portugal in an international friendly as both players found the net.
    Arguably their greatest contest came in the 2012-13 LaLiga campaign as both players scored twice in a 2-2 draw in Barcelona.
    Messi played his entire career at Barca up until last summer when his contract expired.
    The Argentine signed for PSG and has five UCL goals in the group stages, but it’s not quite Ronaldo’s six for United.
    Ronaldo might just get the chance to show Messi up after his record-breaking seventh Ballon d’Or win.
    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More

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    Arsenal revive Jonathan David transfer interest by scouting Lille strike sensation as part of double transfer swoop

    ARSENAL are keen on signing in-form Lille striker Jonathan David, according to reports.The Gunners could see two or more first-team strikers leave next summer.
    David has out-scored Messi in Ligue 1 this termCredit: GETTY IMAGES
    Both Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette are out on contract next June and are showing no signs of agreeing to new terms.
    According to the Evening Standard, Arsenal are already drawing up a list of targets ahead of next season to bolster their attacking ranks.
    And Mikel Arteta is prepared to revive his interest in Lille’s David next year.
    The 21-year-old has scored 10 Ligue 1 goals in 16 games for the defending champions, nine more than Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi.
    David has also expressed his desire to play in England, calling the Premier League ‘the best in the world’.
    And with dreams of becoming the best striker in world football, he may make the move over the channel to do just that.

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    He could come at a hefty cost though.
    Lille managed to get around £70million out of the Gunners a couple of seasons ago for Nicolas Pepe, and they’ll undoubtedly try and fetch a high fee again.
    Arsenal could also look to Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
    The 24-year-old is seen as a perfect fit for the Gunners.
    But he has made just three league appearances for the Toffees this season after suffering a fractured toe.
    Like Lille, Everton could look to generate as much money as possible if they’re going to part with their main man.
    But boss Rafa Benitez has admitted every player has a price.
    He said: “Some clubs have been selling players at the right time, and with the money they received they improved the squad.
    “That is something we have to learn. The owner is ready to spend money but we can’t spend all the time without bringing money back in.
    “So I think we have to be clever in the future but at the moment, at this time, we have to make sure we can bring the best out of our players.”
    Get all the latest Arsenal news, updates and transfer gossip with our live blogs More

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    PSG vs Nice: TV channel, live stream, kick-off time and team news for Ligue 1 clash TONIGHT

    THE Ligue 1 title is a minimum requirement as a PSG manager.Mauricio Pochettino knew this from the moment he took over the reigns of the Parisian outfit.
    Leonardo is keen to keep hold of his man Credit:AFP
    Galtier resigned two days after his title win, declaring ‘my time is up here’
    With a 12-point gap between first and second, everything seems to be going to plan for the Argentine manager.
    Nice now have Lille’s title-winning coach, Christophe Galtier, at the helm. Sitting third in the table, some way off today’s opponents, the visitors know the importance of closing the gap with their rivals.
    With Neymar still out following his horrific injury against St Etienne, it offers some glimmer of hope for Nice to do the unthinkable and come away from the Parc des Princes with all three points.
    Now moving onto his next challenge, the task does not get much tougher than facing PSG’s side with world class talent oozing through their squad.
    He managed to do just that with Lille in their title-winning season, can lightening really strike again in the French capital?
    What time does PSG v Nice kick off?

    PSG take on Nice on Wednesday, December 1.
    The match kicks off at 8pm UK time.
    The sides meet at Parc des Princes.

    What TV channel is PSG v Nice on and can I live stream it?

    You can watch the game live on BT Sport 2 from 8pm.
    Stream on the BT Sport app.
    EE phone customers can watch for FREE – simply text SPORT to 150 for a free three-month trial to BT Sport mobile.

    Team News
    Neymar is still out injured after his horrific landing in the game vs Saint Etienne causing ankle damage.
    He joins Mauro Icardi, Julian Draxler, Gini Wijnaldum and Marco Verratti in PSG’s list of absentees.
    Nuno Mendes is expected to replace Juan Bernat at left-back.
    Nice have a full strength team to choose from.
    Latest Odds

    PSG 2/5
    Draw 4-1
    Nice 13/2 More

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    Five defenders Chelsea could sign to replace Rudiger including Kounde and Szalai as Real Madrid close in on centre-back

    CHELSEA are still sweating over the future of Antonio Rudiger. The German, 28, is yet to sign a new deal and has attracted attention from Europe’s elite, most notably Real Madrid.
    Chelsea are still sweating over the future of Antonio RudigerCredit: Rex
    Cesar Azpilicueta, 32, Thiago Silva, 37, and Andreas Christensen, 25, are also defenders Chelsea face losing for nothing unless contract extensions are agreed.
    The Blues are said to be prepared to offer all four new deals, but it will not stop them from scouting out alternatives.
    Here, SunSport runs down five centre-back options for Chelsea.
    Jules Kounde
    Frenchman Kounde, 23, looked all set for a move from Sevilla to Stamford Bridge in the summer and is believed to have agreed personal terms.
    But, after Chelsea sold Kurt Zouma, 27, to accommodate the move, Sevilla raised the price tag to £60million at the last minute, opposed to the original £43m.
    That is said to have caused Chelsea to pull out of the deal, which in turn paved the way for 22-year-old Trevoh Chalobah’s emergence in the squad.
    Jules Kounde looked all set for a move to Stamford Bridge in the summerCredit: Getty

    Attila Szalai
    Fenerbahce’s Szalai, 23, has emerged as a cut-price alternative option at the back for the Blues.
    And speculation from Turkey has even claimed Chelsea have agreed a deal of £20m to sign the defender in the winter window.
    Szalai has won 21 caps since making his senior international debut for Hungary in 2019.
    Attila Szalai has won 21 caps since making his senior international debut for Hungary in 2019Credit: PA
    Marquinhos
    Chelsea were last summer linked to the Brazilian, 27, who is the current PSG captain.
    And despite reportedly being prepared to pay up to £86m for Marquinhos, neither the player or PSG appeared interested in the deal.
    But that is not to say Chelsea would not try their luck again, especially as Marquinhos could be deemed the perfect successor to former team-mate Silva.
    Marquinhos is the current PSG captainCredit: Getty
    Niklas Sule
    Earlier in the year, German Sule, 26, was rumoured to be a target Chelsea were considering signing in the summer.
    Since then, he is yet to sign a new Bayern Munich deal, which is set to expire at the end of this season.
    It means Chelsea could be cleared to negotiate a free transfer with Sule as soon as next month, with Newcastle also linked with the defender.

    Niklas Sule is yet to sign a new Bayern Munich dealCredit: Reuters
    Pau Torres
    Villarreal’s Torres, 24, was close to a move to London in the summer, but with Chelsea’s rivals Tottenham.
    And already the defender could be a favourite amongst Blues fans after turning down Spurs.
    He is said to have been a name shortlisted on Chelsea’s defensive targets in the past and is believed to have a £56m release clause in his contract.
    Vllarreal centre-half Pau Torres rejected a move to SpursCredit: Getty More

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    Chelsea given easier run at Aurelien Tchouameni transfer after Juventus pull out of race for Monaco star

    CHELSEA have been given a boost in their quest to sign Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni after Juventus reportedly pulled out of the race.The 21-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from the principality in 2022 following an impressive start to the season.
    Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has been linked with a move to Chelsea next yearCredit: Getty
    Valued at £42million by the Ligue 1 outfit, Tchouameni has chipped in with two goals in 22 games for Niko Kovac’s men.
    His fine form saw him called up to the France senior side in August, with the player since being capped on seven occasions.
    Thomas Tuchel is understood to be a huge admirer of the ex-Bordeuax man, as he looks to lure him to Stamford Bridge next summer.
    Tchouameni, who is tied down at Monaco until 2024, has also been claimed to be on the radar of Juventus and Real Madrid.
    But according to Calciomercato, the Old Lady have decided against securing his services to give the Blues an easier run at landing him.
    They state that the Serie A side have deemed him as too expensive, with the club only open to signing him on loan, while Monaco will only allow him to move on a permanent deal.

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    As a result, Juve will now look to bring in other targets – notably Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic.
    Speaking to L’Equipe recently, Tchouameni declared that he isn’t paying attention to rumours over his future.
    He said: “My father called me, we talked about everything and he told me that I was on the front page of Marca. I went on Twitter and saw for myself.
    “I told him it was cool, but what does it actually matter? It doesn’t. The front page of Marca will not define me or allow me to perform well in matches.
    “It’s not real life, but it is the media world, the football business. They talk about me today but tomorrow, they’ll be talking about another.
    “In the dressing room, they put the cover up and laughed’ ‘Oh, you’re leaving us already?’.
    “It’s flattering, but I don’t wake up in the morning thinking about it.

    “When I started in Bordeaux, the media were already wondering every summer if Aurelien Tchouameni was going to move to a bigger club.
    “In 2018, they were already talking about Juventus or Milan.
    “I know for a fact that what is true in October is not necessarily what’s true in June. If I start to think that I’m going to leave, it will show directly in my performances on the pitch.”
    Chelsea stars Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso compete in bake off but Blues skipper cooks up ‘complete disaster’ More