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      ‘Laporta’s words hurt me’ – Lionel Messi slams Barcelona president and insists he was never asked to play for free

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      LIONEL MESSI has slammed Barcelona president Joan Laporta for suggesting he could have played for free as he insisted he was never asked to.The 34-year-old departed the Nou Camp in August on a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain after 21 years spent in Catalonia.
      Argentine forward Lionel Messi swapped Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in the summerCredit: Getty
      Barcelona president Joan Laporta stated earlier this month he was surprised Messi didn’t offer to play for freeCredit: AFP
      Messi had wanted to remain with the Blaugrana and had agreed to lower his salary by 50 per cent, only for LaLiga to impose a salary cap on the crisis club.
      Speaking earlier this month, Laporta revealed he thought that Messi would have offered to play for nothing instead of linking up with Les Parisiens.
      That is despite Spanish law making it legally impossible for a player to represent a team for free, with the rule in place to avoid financial manipulation.
      Laporta, 59, told RAC1: “With Messi I do not get angry because I appreciate him.
      “I know he had a huge desire to stay, but also a lot of pressure because of the offer he had.
      “Everything indicates that he already had the offer from PSG. Everyone knew that he had a very powerful offer. We knew from Messi that they had a very good offer.”

      Before adding: “I did hope that at the last minute Messi would say that he would play for free. I would have liked that and he would have convinced me.
      “I understand that the league would have accepted it. But we cannot ask that of a player of his level.”
      And Messi has now broken his silence over Laporta’s comments as he declared he has been left ‘hurt’, with the forward stating he did everything possible to stay.
      He told Sport: “The truth is that, as I explained on my way out, I did everything possible to stay, never at any time was I asked to play for free.
      “I was asked to cut my salary by 50 per cent and I did it without any problem. We were in a position to help the club more.
      “The desire of me and my family was to stay in Barcelona. 
      “Nobody asked me to play for free but at the same time, it seems to me that the words said by the president are out of place.
      “They hurt me because I think he doesn’t need to say that, it’s like getting the ball off you and not assuming its consequences, or taking charge of things. 

      “This makes people think or generates a type of doubt that I think I do not deserve.”
      Messi has also declared he does intend to return to Barca in the future, though only when his playing days are over.
      The six-time Ballon d’Or winner is planning to become the club’s ‘technical secretary’ – a role designed to bridge the gap between the boardroom and dressing room, as well as helping to sign players and hire coaches.
      Football fans convinced Lionel Messi played with an injury as PSG star spotted massaging hamstring More

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      Mauricio Pochettino ‘still admires Man Utd’ amid ‘PSG uncertainty’ as Red Devils draw up manager shortlist

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      MAURICIO POCHETTINO ‘still admires’ Manchester United as speculation around Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s job continues.The former Tottenham manager, 49, has been heavily linked with the hot seat at Old Trafford for years.
      Mauricio Pochettino is thought to still be appreciative of Manchester United – but will he replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer?Credit: Getty – Contributor
      And according to The Athletic, he maintains his appreciation for the club to this day, despite plenty of issues on and off the field.
      Poch is currently in charge at Paris Saint-Germain, aiming to get Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar to power the French giants to Champions League glory.
      However, the report adds there is ‘uncertainty’ around the Argentine boss’ future at the Parc des Princes.
      They sit top of Ligue 1 and their Champions League group but recent results against Marseille, Rennes and Club Brugge have caused concern for some.
      And that has led to some suggesting he could replace under-fire Solskjaer at United.
      The Norwegian is battling for his future, with Sunday’s 5-0 nightmare against Liverpool leaving him at his most vulnerable after three years in charge.

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      However, SunSport understands he looks set to KEEP his job for now – despite the calls for him to be sacked intensifying.
      It comes after a dismal run of results with no win in four Premier League matches and a series of shocking performances.
      Old Trafford chiefs held talks yesterday over Solskjaer’s future, with the board mixed over when he goes or stays.
      The ex-Cardiff boss is set to take training this morning, and prepare his team for Tottenham this weekend.
      The 48-year-old will also hold clear-the-air talks with his squad as their season descends into chaos.
      But although Solskjaer remains in the job for now, SunSport also revealed United have drawn up a four-man shortlist of possible replacements.
      A top agent is contacting out-of-work pair Zinedine Zidane and Antonio Conte about their interest as well as Leicester City chief Brendan Rodgers and Erik ten Hag at Ajax.
      ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
      Man Utd draw up four-man shortlist to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer including ex-Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers More

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      Watch Dimitri Payet turn Lionel Messi inside out with outrageous skill sending fans wild during Marseille against PSG

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      DIMITRI PAYET gave Lionel Messi a taste of his own medicine as he twisted and turned away from the Argentinian maestro.The Marseille playmaker grabbed possession from his Paris Saint-Germain rival in Sunday’s heated ‘Clasique’ between the two French giants.

      Shielding the ball just outside the centre circle, Payet then spun 360 degrees to wrongfoot Messi and send him stumbling into thin air.
      The France international was then free to stride into PSG territory as he quickly turned defence into attack.
      The scene was one familiar to any defender who has attempted to shut down Messi over the years.
      And fans couldn’t believe what they were seeing as the former Barcelona star was made to look like an amateur in France.
      Fan ‘RMA_Jonnis’ wrote on Twitter: “Dimitri Payet roasted Lionel Messi and showed him levels tonight.”
      ‘OsayiOsa’ wrote: “Messi actually got sent back to Barcelona by Payet but no one’s gonna talk about it.”

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      ‘Clem6times’ wrote: “Payet taught Messi a footballing lesson last night.”
      And ‘abhishek_87’ added: “Lol Payet just gave Messi a taste of his own medicine. Left him for dead.”
      Payet’s midfield heroics were not enough to break a 0-0 stalemate at the Stade Velodrome as the hosts failed to capitalise on a man advantage.
      PSG’s Achraf Hakimi was sent off close to the hour mark but the visitors clung on for a point as they stayed on top of Ligue 1.
      Watch Dimitri Payet’s shocking dive for Marseille against rivals PSG with defender YARD away from ex-West Ham star More

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      Watch Arsenal loanee William Saliba make amazing last-ditch tackle to stop Mbappe and his stats vs PSG are incredible

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      WILLIAM SALIBA produced a sensational last-ditch tackle to stop Kylian Mbappe and thwart a Lionel Messi through-ball.The Marseille defender – on loan from Arsenal – showed Gunners fans what they’re missing when he pounced to halt the Paris Saint-Germain striker.

      PSG star Kylian Mbappe is played through on goalCredit: Getty
      Marseille’s William Saliba slides in with a last-ditch challengeCredit: AP
      The Arsenal loanee took the ball to deny Mbappe a one-on-one chanceCredit: Reuters
      Messi had found his PSG team-mate with a delicious pass that threatened to send him one-on-one with Pau Lopez in the Marseille net.
      But Saliba turned on the afterburners and slid in with a goal-saving tackle that left Mbappe hopelessly appealing to the ref.
      The tackle was all the more impressive with Saliba as the last man – had it gone wrong he would have surely seen red.
      The intervention came as Marseille held rivals PSG to a 0-0 stalemate at Stade Velodrome.
      The Ligue 1 leaders’ cast of attacking riches was blunted in Sunday’s ‘Clasique’, with Saliba playing a huge part in holding them off.
      The 20-year-old produced a masterful performance at the back – and the stats back that up.

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      The centre-back was solid in defence as he won five of six duels, three tackles, made an interception and a clearance apiece, and won his only aerial duel.
      He also impressed with the ball at his feet as he played 57 passes with an accuracy of 96%.
      Arsenal fans clearly liked what they saw as they dubbed Saliba a ‘Rolls-Royce’ on social media.
      Fan ‘Finn_AFC’ tweeted: “William Saliba pocketed Messi, Neymar and Mbappé at the age of 20. Rolls Royce CB”
      User ‘iBraa_Afc’ added: “Last ditch tackle by Saliba on Mbappe. What a player man. Get this boy back to Arsenal ASAP.”
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from The Emirates
      Watch Gunners supporter Ty try to snatch phone out of fan’s hand who shouted ‘f**k Arsenal TV’ after posing for selfie More

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      Ten stars who have played for both Barcelona and PSG including Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Mikel Arteta

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      BARCELONA and Paris Saint-Germain have had their pick of some of the most talented footballers to have ever graced Europe’s top divisions.And a few have had the privilege of leaving their mark on both sides.
      Lionel Messi became the most high profile player to have swapped Barcelona for Paris Saint-GermainCredit: Getty
      Here is a look at ten players who have experienced life at the Parc des Prince and the Nou Camp.
      Lionel Messi
      The Argentina skipper, 34, is considered by many to be the greatest to have played the game alongside his late compatriot Diego Maradona and Pele.
      The six-time Ballon d’Or winner spent 21 years at Barcelona winning ten LaLiga titles, seven Spanish Cups and four Champions League crowns before sealing a sensational move to Paris this summer.
      Zlatan Ibrahimovic
      The former Sweden international, 40, joined his Inter team-mate, Maxwell, at Barcelona in 2009 in a £59million deal.
      And he helped the Nou Camp giants win a Club World Cup in December that year.
      The Swede would later have an acrimonious fallout with ex-Barca coach Pep Guardiola following the club’s Champions League semis loss to Inter in 2010.
      The striker moved to PSG in 2012 after a year at AC Milan where he finished as Serie A’s top scorer in 2011-12.
      Zlatan Ibrahimovic won the Fifa Club World Cup with BarcelonaCredit: AFP – Getty

      Mikel Arteta
      The Arsenal boss, 39, began his senior playing career in Barcelona’s B and C teams making 47 appearances between 1999 and 2002.
      But after failing to break into Barca’s first team the playmaker headed to PSG in December 2000 in search of more playing time.
      And he made his debut for the French giants, then managed by Luis Fernandez, in a Champions League group stage match in the 2000-01 season.
      PSG has hoped to retain Arteta at the end of his loan spell and did have an option to buy the midfielder.
      However, Glasgow Rangers came in with a higher offer which saw Arteta move to Scotland in 2002.
      Mikel Arteta swapped Barcelona for PSG in a bid to get more first team opportunities during his playing careerCredit: Rex
      Richard Dutruel
      The retired stopper, 48, who has one cap for France, spent seven seasons at the Parc des Prince between 1991 and 1996 where he won a Cup Winners Cup in 1996.
      However, with first-team opportunities limited he would spend two seasons on loan at Caen from 1993 to 1995 before spending four more at Spanish club Celta Vigo, making 128 appearances for them.
      This was then followed by a two-year spell at Barcelona from 2000-02.
      Former PSG stopper Richard Dutruel spent two years at the Nou CampCredit: Empics
      Frederic Dehu
      The former centre-back, 48, joined Louis van Gaal’s Barcelona side in the summer of 1999, playing 23 games across all competitions in the 1999-00 season.
      However, the player was let go by the Nou Camp giants after one term and returned to France.
      There he joined PSG and won the French Cup in the final season of his four-year career at the club.
      Juan Pablo Sorin
      The retired Argentina international, 45, embarked on loan spells at the Nou Camp and Parc des Prince.
      The midfielder made 15 appearances for Barcelona in 2003 whilst on loan from Brazilian club Cruzeiro and following an injury-ravaged one-year stint at Lazio.
      And the player would spend 2003-04 on loan at PSG with whom he won the French Cup during that term.
      Ronaldinho wowed fans in LaLiga after he left PSG for Barcelona in 2003Credit: Reuters
      Ronaldinho
      The mercurial Brazilian, 41, who moved to Spain from PSG in 2003, is considered one of the greatest players to have ever played in LaLiga.
      The winger wowed fans in the Nou Camp with his trickery and ability to bamboozle his markers.
      He helped his side win the Champions League in Paris in 2006 with the club’s famous 2-1 victory against Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal side.
      Ludovic Giuly
      Guily, 45, finished as Barcelona’s second-highest scorer with 11 goals in his first season at the club in 2004-05 despite disruption caused by injuries.
      In 2005-06, the former Lyon and Monaco ace won a LaLiga title and Champions League crown with the Catalan giants.
      After losing his spot to Lionel Messi the Frenchman moved to Roma for one season before returning to France and joining PSG in July 2008.
      Ludovic Guily helped Barcelona to the LaLiga title in 2006 before joining PSG in 2008Credit: AFP
      Thiago Motta
      Motta, 39, joined Barcelona’s B team at 17, before breaking into the club’s first-team in 2001.
      And he helped the team reach the semis of the 2002 Champions League contest.
      The midfielder would spend the final six years of his 19-year playing career at PSG before retiring in May 2018.
      Thiago Motta helped Barca reach the 2002 Champions League semi-finalsCredit: Getty
      Maxwell
      The former left-back enjoyed a three-year spell at the Nou Camp from 2009 to 2012 following a move from Inter Milan.
      He covered for the injured Eric Abidal towards the second half of the 2009-10 season.
      The retired Brazil star helped the club win La Liga at the end of that term before moving to PSG on a three-year deal.

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      Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho reunited as Barcelona legends hug ahead of PSG vs Leipzig More

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      Mauro Icardi and Wanda Nara ‘set for showdown talks’ with PSG star missing training after claims he cheated on his wife

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      WANDA NARA has reportedly flown back to Paris with husband Mauro Icardi so the couple can discuss their future following explosive claims the footballer cheated on her.The Paris Saint Germain striker missed training on Monday after jetting to Milan to try to win back the mother of his two children.
      Wanda Nara has made it clear her marriage is on the rocksCredit: Instagram @wanda_icardi
      In happier times with husband Mauro Icardi
      Model Maria Eugenia Suarez has been suggested as the ‘third party’ that Icardi was texting – however she denies this
      And today the Wag and influencer was understood to be back in the French capital after agreeing to return home with Icardi, although some media in Argentina are saying she now plans to travel to Argentina to put space between her and her husband.
      The PSG frontman posted a photo of the pair cuddling each other along a dedication which said: “Happy Day mummy” to mark Mother’s Day in their native Argentina on Sunday.
      But the mum-of-five, who married Icardi after splitting from his former team-mate Maxi Lopez, father to her other three children, sparked speculation in her homeland she will insist on a divorce by posting a photo of her hand minus her wedding ring on Instagram to her 8.9 million fans and saying: “I prefer my hand without a ring on it.”
      Meanwhile popular Argentine TV gossip show Los Angeles de La Manana is describing Wanda’s return to her homeland as ‘imminent’.
      The star couple are understood to have flown back to Paris together on a private plane, although the photo Wanda posted on her Instagram Stories yesterday was of her on the plane on her own.
      The pretty peroxide blonde also appeared to confirm she blames actress Maria Eugenia Suarez for trying to snatch Icardi from her.

      Suarez said ‘I have no idea where this came from’
      Suarez is well known in Argentina
      Wanda shared a picture without her wedding ringCredit: Instagram @wanda_icardi
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      Suarez has been widely identified as the “third party in discordance” in Argentine media, however the model herself denies the claims, saying: “I have no idea where all this came from. Whoever it may be. I don’t even know them. I myself have just separated.”
      Explosive messages the footballer and the Buenos Aires actress and model reportedly exchanged on Telegram, published by respected Argentine newspaper Clarin, point to the brunette beauty telling Icardi: “Some day you and me have to go out partying in some part of the world where they don’t know you.”
      The footballer, said to have identified Suarez with the initials CS on his phone, reportedly replied: “What for? I’m bored of partying these days.”
      Overnight Wanda got involved in an angry exchange on social media with Argentine model Alejandra Maglietti, who accused the Wag of allowing her supposed love rival to be trolled online by throwing accusations her way.
      Wanda sparked stunning claims Icardi had cheated on his wife with Suarez, better known in Argentina as ‘la China Suarez’, by writing on Instagram Stories over the weekend: “Another family that you have ruined for a s##g” before unfollowing her husband on social media.
      The footballer’s wife ripped into the model-turned-journalist Alejandra after her outburst in a private message leaked to Argentine media which said: “Do you need names you stupid little girl? Or a map to know who is the b##ch that sends photos to married men.
      “I’m sending you this privately just in case you’re the only one who didn’t understand it.”
      Alejandra kept the ugly war of words going by answering with the sarcastic riposte: “At last this stupid little girl went to university.”
      Her angry outburst remained on her Twitter feed today.
      PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino, confirming Icardi had missed training because of a personal problem and was a doubt for the French side’s Champions League match against Leipzig tonight, said in a pre-match press conference on Monday “He has a personal problem and couldn’t train today.
      “But he’s in tomorrow’s squad and we’ll see what happens.
      “Tonight we will analyse the situation and see if he can be with the group.”
      Unconfirmed reports in his homeland said Icardi, who had been linked in recent days to Newcastle following the Saudi buyout, had told his wife he was willing to give up football if it meant saving his marriage.
      One-time friends and former Sampdoria teammates Maxi Lopez and Mauro Icardi had a soap opera-style falling out over Wanda Nara, who divorced her first husband and father of three of her five children after accusing him of cheating on her.
      Wanda got involved in an angry exchange on social media with Argentine model Alejandra Maglietti, who accused the Wag of allowing her supposed love rival to be trolled online
      Wanda regularly shares naughty snaps on social mediaCredit: Instagram
      As well as modelling, Wanda is a TV presenterCredit: Instagram @wanda_icardi
      She married PSG striker Icardi, 28, in May 2014 shortly after the divorce from Lopez was finalised.
      The love triangle between the two players and pretty Wag Nara was exposed in November 2013 when it was revealed Icardi had made moves on his former friend’s wife as their marriage fell apart.
      Lopez refused to shake his ex-pal’s hand when they met on the field in an April 2014 Serie A match between Sampdoria and Inter, leading the press to dub the game the ‘Wanda derby.’
      Things between them soured even more in June 2015 when Icardi tweeted a new arm tattoo of the three children Wanda had with Maxi Lopez with the message: “I love these three little angels.”
      As well as being married to Icardi, the mum-of-five is his football agent.
      The couple have two children together, Francesca Icardi Nara who is aged six and Isabella Icardi Nara who is five later this month.
      Argentine media have already speculated the PSG striker, said to interest Newcastle’s new owners, could now have a rethink about his professional future.
      Recent reports claimed he would reject the Magpies’ transfer interest because Wanda wanted to stay in Paris.
      Gabriele Giuffrida, the agent who helped orchestrate Icardi’s transfer from Inter to PSG told Gazzetta dello Sport before the split reports: “Leaving Paris is not in Mauro and Wanda’s plans, it’s the last thing they want.
      “I don’t see Mauro joining another club soon.”
      Mauro Icardi’s partner Wanda Nara poses with nothing but a towel covering her modesty More

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      Liverpool ‘weighing-up Sergej Milinkovic-Savic transfer with Lazio midfielder also wanted by Real Madrid’

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      LIVERPOOL are one of a number of European giants eyeing a move for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, according to reports.Serie A champions Inter Milan and Italian rivals Juventus, along with LaLiga heavyweights Real Madrid, are also interested in the 26-cap Serbia star, according to Calciomercato.
      Milinkovic-Savic joined Lazio from Genk in 2015Credit: Getty
      We reported in the summer how Manchester United have also reignited their interest in Milinkovic-Savic, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer keen to team him up with Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes.
      Chelsea, Tottenham, Juventus and Paris-Saint Germain have also been linked with the 26-year-old Serb.
      Milinkovic-Savic has been in sparkling form at the start of this season with three goals and two assists in eight games.
      He is contracted to Lazio until June 2024 and Calciomercato say the club value him at about £59m.
      It is thought Liverpool view Milinkovic-Savic as an ideal replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum, who left as a free agent to join Paris Saint-Germain in June.
      The Serbian has established himself as one of the best midfielders in Europe since joining Lazio from Genk in 2015.

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      He has scored 50 goals and chipped in with 40 assists in 257 appearances for Maurizio Sarri’s side.
      Calciomercato say Milinkovic-Savic ‘combines great physicality with an enviable technical quality’ and has been ‘one of Serie A’s best midfielders for several seasons now’.
      And he underlined his battling qualities in a match against Fiorentina in May when he played the entire second half with a broken nose.
      Despite knowing it was probably a fracture caused by a clash of heads, the Serbian insisted on playing on with two large plugs up his nose to stem the bleeding. He later needed an operation to repair the damage.
      Klopp praises Mo Salah after Liverpool’s smashing 5-0 defeat of Watford More

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      Mauro Icardi and Wanda Nara appear to be back TOGETHER as they share loved up pic on Instagram

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      THE whirlwind relationship between Mauro Icardi and wife Wanda Nara appears to be BACK ON after their rumoured split.Paris Saint-Germain striker Icardi released pictures of the pair cuddled up together on his Instagram account.
      Mauro Icardi updated his Instagram Story with this loved-up image
      He shared another set of photos with wife Wanda Nara on his profile
      That came after the 28-year-old was accused of cheating on Wanda in a cryptic post released on her social media channels.
      Icardi reportedly failed to show up to PSG training as he battled to save his marriage from its latest crisis.
      And his most recent Instagram update appears to show all has been forgiven as he captioned it simply with two love hearts.
      Wanda had earlier alluded to infidelity and then promptly unfollowed hubby Icardi on social media.
      She wrote angrily in Spanish, ‘Another family that you have ruined for a s***’ in a coded message on Saturday night that set fans gossiping.
      Then, according to L’Equipe, Icardi was left on his own as Wanda jetted off from Paris with their children.

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      PSG confirmed Icardi missed training due to ‘family reasons’.
      The pair have been married since 2014 and have two children together, Francesca and Isabella.
      But they met in controversial circumstances, with Nara accused of cheating on ex-husband Maxi Lopez with Icardi, who were team-mates at Sampdoria at the time.
      Earlier this year, the mum-of-five also appeared to confirm that she cheated on Lopez in an Instagram live chat.
      Icardi also posted an image of Wanda, 34, with her kids
      However, she steered clear of revealing who the victim was and didn’t name the person she was unfaithful with.
      Icardi spent one year on loan at PSG before signing permanently for the Ligue 1 side in 2020.
      He has an impressive scoring record for the French giants, netting 36 times in 73 games.
      The Argentine has featured in 11 games for PSG this season, scoring three goals.
      Wanda Nara leaves with kids on jet following Mauro Icardi cheating claims More