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      Xavi brutally confirms date he will leave Barcelona if Spanish giants fail to meet his expectations this season

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      BARCELONA boss Xavi hinted he will leave the Nou Camp at the end of the season if he doesn’t win a trophy.The Barca legend led his beloved club to the LaLiga title in his first full campaign in charge despite persistent financial issues.
      Barcelona boss Xavi revealed he will leave if he doesn’t win a trophy this seasonCredit: EPA
      Xavi hinted he could depart from Barcelona in JuneCredit: AFP
      However, the Catalan giants suffered a humiliating 4-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Super Cup Final on Sunday.
      And Barca have dropped to fourth place in LaLiga with eight points separating them and shock leaders Girona.
      Xavi is still determined to win either the league or Copa del Rey and still holds out hope for the Champions League.
      However, if the 43-year-old finishes the season empty handed he suggested he could leave in June – one year before his deal runs out.
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      Xavi said: “This year, the objective is to win important titles, the Copa del Rey, LaLiga or the Champions League.
      “If the goals are not achieved, I will be the first to say that I did not achieve them and I will leave.”
      Xavi admitted he was “embarrassed” and “destroyed” following the Super Cup thrashing to Real.
      The former Barca captain did not hold back when he spoke about the performance after the whistle.
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      Xavi said: “I’m embarrassed. This is not the type of match we should play, especially in a final, and against Madrid.
      “As a Barça fan, I am destroyed. I’m sorry for the fanbase.
      “We lacked everything. We have to accept criticism. We were not up to par. I want to apologise. Congrats to Real Madrid, a deserved win.
      “We can’t start a final like this. We were horrible in the first ten minutes. We had a lot of expectations and motivation for the match. It’s a shame.” More

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      Jose Mourinho’s agent ‘offers manager to former club’s hated rivals’ after Roma sacking

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      JOSE MOURINHO’S agent Jorge Mendes has put his name on the table to be Xavi’s replacement at Barcelona.The former Real Madrid manager was brutally sacked by Roma on Tuesday.
      Jose Mourinho left Roma’s training ground once and for all on MondayCredit: EPA
      Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid President Florentino Perez pose with his named shirtCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Mourinho, 60, was dismissed after leading the club to back-to-back European finals.
      The self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ was relieved from his duties with the club sitting ninth in Serie A.
      It was the sixth sacking of his career, following fall-outs with clubs including Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid.
      But now his agent is eyeing up a shock move for the veteran boss to take over at Madrid’s fierce rivals Barcelona.

      The Catalans sit fourth in La Liga and were thrashed 4-1 by bitter rivals Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday.
      While Barca have confirmed their commitment to manager Xavi, the situation could become unsustainable.
      CEO Joan Laporta might consider bringing someone else in if Barca continue to slide down the table or lose to Napoli in the Champions League.
      Mourinho spent three seasons at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, and won the Copa del Rey, the La Liga title and Super Cup.
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      Spanish news outlet El Nacional reported that Mourinho’s complicated past with Barcelona would prevent the club from considering his agent’s proposal.
      One big controversy being his 2011 physical altercation with Tito Vilanova, who was then Barca boss Pep Guardiola’s assistant.
      Following Lionel Messi’s winner, a brawl broke out as Mourinho poked Vilanova in the eye at the Camp Nou.
      Potential candidates to replace Xavi include his fellow ex-Barca teammates Thiago Motta and Rafa Marquez.
      Mourinho was part of many bitter El Clasico show downsCredit: AFP or licensors
      He had several on-field disputes with players such as Lionel MessiCredit: AFP More

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      Reason why Toni Kroos was only Real Madrid player not to wear special shirt after Spanish Super Cup win vs Barcelona

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      TONI KROOS did not join his team-mates in wearing a shirt with Arabic inscription as Real Madrid celebrated their Spanish Super Cup win over Barcelona.The two sides, in addition to Atletico Madrid and Osasuna, jetted out to Saudi Arabia for the four-team tournament last week.
      Toni Kroos did not wear the number 13 shirt written on it in Arabic… because we did not allow him and his national team to support 🏳️‍🌈 😅😂 pic.twitter.com/jfM0m9hpkJ— محمد الكعبي (@Qatari) January 15, 2024

      Toni Kroos had been in action against BarcelonaCredit: AP
      Real Madrid booked their place in the final with a 5-3 victory over Atletico, despite a comedy gaffe by Kepa Arrizabalaga leading to an Antonio Rudiger own goal,
      Barca, meanwhile, overcome Osasuna 2-0 to set up an El Clasico final.
      The showpiece final was played at the 25,000-seater KSU Stadium in Riyadh.
      After their 4-1 win, Real Madrid players wore commemorative shirts with an Arabic inscription on the back.
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      Kroos didn’t, however, having been outspoken about the Saudi Pro League.
      When 21-year-old starlet Gabri Veiga snubbed Napoli to move to Saudi Arabia from Celta Vigo last summer, Kroos called it “embarrassing”.
      He then told Sports Illustrated that players were just moving to the Kingdom for money.
      Kroos, 34, said: “It’s been said that they play ambitious football there, but it’s all about the money. In the end, it’s a decision for the money and against football.
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      “That’s when it starts to become difficult for the football we all know and love.
      “Everyone has to make that decision for themselves, like Cristiano Ronaldo, who decided to do it towards the end of his career.
      “But it becomes very difficult when players, who are in the middle of their career and have the quality to play for the best clubs in Europe, decide to make those changes.”
      Kroos’ comments did not go unnoticed, with the German booed by the crowd during Sunday’s final.
      It did not appear to affect him, as he played 81 minutes of his side’s dominant 4-1 win.
      Responding to the jeers after the semi-finals, he appeared to sarcastically tweet: “That was fun today! Amazing crowd.”
      He then wrote on Sunday: “We just won a trophy!”
      After the game, Xavi claimed that he felt “destroyed” by his side’s defeat.
      The 43-year-old said: “I’m embarrassed. This is not the type of match we should play, especially in a final, and against Madrid.
      “As a Barça fan, I am destroyed. I’m sorry for the fanbase. This is not the type of match we should play.
      “We have to improve so much. We’ve played one of the worst matches of the season.
      “We lacked everything. We have to accept criticism. We were not up to par. I want to apologise.
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      “Congrats to Real Madrid, a deserved win. We can’t start a final like this. We were horrible in the first 10 minutes.
      “We had a lot of expectations and motivation for the match. It’s a shame.”
      Xavi was left disgusted by his team’s performanceCredit: AFP More

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      Chilling details of World Cup winner Angel Correa’s robbery hell emerge after armed thugs locked up young family in raid

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      CHILLING details of World Cup winner Angel Correa’s robbery reveal that armed thugs locked his family up during the raid.The four masked men also made their terrified victims hand over their mobiles so they couldn’t call police during the ordeal on Saturday night.
      World cup winner Angel Correa’s house was robbed on Saturday, January 13Credit: Getty
      Angel Correa of Argentina celebrates with his family after Argentina won the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022Credit: Getty
      The burglars reportedly locked Correa’s partner and three young daughters in a roomCredit: Instagram
      Civil Guard investigators are looking into the break-in at Atletico Madrid striker’s home in Boadilla del Monte, a 35-minute west of Madrid city centre, and have yet to make any arrests.
      Yesterday the news broke about the horrifying incident which occurred around 9pm on Saturday, January 13.
      Further details of the crime emerged overnight.
      El Confidencial, which claimed to have accessed details of the police investigation, said the four intruders got into the three-storey property through a ground-floor window.
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      The La Liga player’s long-time partner Sabrina Di Marzo, 28, and their three daughters Lola, seven, Luz, two, and Lia, who will be one next month, were taken by surprise as they were relaxing at home.
      After taking their mobile phones off them, they reportedly shut Correa’s long-term partner and children in a downstairs room.T
      The footballer was then ordered to take the criminals to an upstairs safe at gunpoint which the armed robbers emptied before fleeing the property and making their getaway in a car waiting for them outside driven by a fifth suspect.
      The criminal gang took six designer watches from the safe worth thousands of pounds as well as jewellery and a “considerable” amount of cash, reported respected Spanish news website El Confidencial.
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      The Argentina International’s forward is said to have raised the alarm after releasing his loved ones and making sure they were safe.
      Fortunately no-one was physically injured.
      Neither Correa or his partner, who also comes from the port city of Rosario in Argentina, have yet made any official comment on their social media.
      The footballer was a last-minute inclusion in the World Cup winning Argentina team in Qatar last year after Nico Gonzalez suffered an injury.
      Correa, said to be considering a huge £52 million contract over three years to play in Saudi Arabia, becomes the latest in a long list of LaLiga stars to fall victim to break-ins.
      In October former Manchester United and Chelsea striker Radamel Falcao was targeted.
      Several men broke into his property in an upmarket suburb of Madrid while he was enjoying dinner with his family at a nearby restaurant.
      The 37-year-old father-of-four, regarded as one of the greatest Colombian footballers of all time, had scored a last-gasp penalty earlier in the day to secure his current side Rayo Vallecano a valuable point at home against LaLiga rivals Mallorca.
      The intruders are said to have taken designer bags, watches and some jewellery before being surprised by an employee and fleeing.
      In June 2019 former Chelsea frontman Alvaro Morata’s wife Alice Campello was confronted by armed intruders while she was alone at their home north of Madrid with a nanny and twins Alessandro and Leonardo, then aged just one.
      They took valuables and family momentos.
      The Italian beauty admitted afterwards she would be “afraid for a long time to come.”
      She said in a social media message: “I think this is one of those things that are not easily forgotten, one of those things that makes you realize how much love and life is worth.
      “Knowing that you have your children at home and thinking they can touch them or do something to them is really an inexplicable emotion.
      “Fortunately we are all well and know it could have been much worse.
      “They have stolen so many memories but it’s over now.
      “Now I will try not to think about it and think about our family and try to forget.”
      Correa, whose Atletico contract runs until 2026, came off the bench to play half-an-hour at the Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on Wednesday as they lost to rivals Real Madrid in a thrilling Spanish Super Cup semi-final.
      The 14-times European Cup winners beat Barcelona 4-1 last night to be crowned champions.
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      The Argentina international is said to be “open” to a move away this month after becoming frustrated at not being used by Atletico Madrid as often as he would like.
      The Saudi Pro League club said to have offered him a lucrative contract has not been named. More

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      ‘Embarrassed’ Xavi admits he is ‘destroyed’ as Barcelona are hammered by Real Madrid in Spanish Super Cup

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      XAVI has admitted that he was “embarrassed” following Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Real Madrid.Real won the contest 4-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Vinicius Junior and a goal from Rodrygo.
      Xavi was ’embarrassed’ by Barcelona’s defeat to Real MadridCredit: AFP
      Real Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup 4-1Credit: Getty
      Robert Lewandowski netted for Barcelona, but the goal only proved to be a small consolation.
      Xavi did not hold back when he spoke about the performance in which he admitted to feeling “destroyed” by the result.
      He said: “I’m embarrassed. This is not the type of match we should play, especially in a final, and against Madrid.
      “As a Barça fan, I am destroyed. I’m sorry for the fanbase.
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      “This is not the type of match we should play.
      “We have to improve so much. We’ve played one of the worst matches of the season.
      “We lacked everything. We have to accept criticism. We were not up to par. I want to apologise.
      “Congrats to Real Madrid, a deserved win.
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      “We can’t start a final like this. We were horrible in the first 10 minutes.
      “We had a lot of expectations and motivation for the match. It’s a shame.”
      Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti insisted the was “happy” with the result as he outlined how his team won the final.
      He said: “We made good use of the high line, with Vini inspired on the counter [attack]. It was a tough game.
      “The result is too much for how Barcelona played. At 3-1 it was level. At 4-1 they have lowered their arms a little.
      “We used the counter-attack too much when we made it 2-0, but we’re happy.
      “It was a special night, but there are a lot of special nights at Madrid.
      “That’s the strength of this club.”
      Recently, the retired midfielder felt the need to tell his players that they are not the Barcelona of 2010, which was one of the best sides ever made.
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      Xavi has come under pressure as manager of Barcelona with reports claiming that he is “fighting” to save his job.
      Jude Bellingham rubbed salt into Barcelona’s wounds as he got a  Grand Theft Auto-style banner from the crowd to parade it around the pitch.
      Jude Bellingham got a GTA style banner from the crown at full timeCredit: Twitter / Totalcristiano More

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      Fans say ‘there’s something seriously wrong with this guy’ as Rudiger squeezes second player’s nipple in two games

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      FANS have joked that there is “something wrong” with Antonio Rudiger after he was spotted squeezing Luka Modric’s nipple.It is the second time in two games that the Real Madrid star has done this, as he was seen touching Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata.
      Antonio Rudiger squeezed Luka Modric’s nippleCredit: https://twitter.com/centregoals
      Modric pushed Rudiger’s hand awayCredit: https://twitter.com/centregoals
      The two former Premier League stars were celebrating after the Spanish Super Cup win at the Al-Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
      Rudiger, 30, then squeezed Modric’s nipple before lifting the trophy.
      Modric could be seen removing the German international’s hand from his chest as he kept a smile on his face.
      Fans spotted the moment as they flocked to social media.
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      One fan posted: “There’s seriously something wrong with this guy.”
      A second commented: “The man needs to be stopped.”
      A third wrote: “Rudiger… why are you always like this?
      A fourth said: “Rudiger needs to be stopped.”
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      A fifth added: “Antonio Rudiger letting his intrusive thoughts take over again.”
      Another joked: “He needs to stop doing this rubbish.”
      Vinicius Junior stole the show in the match as he bagged himself a hat-trick.
      Robert Lewandowski netted for Barcelona but the result was made sure of as Rodrygo scored Real’s fourth.
      Rudiger did the same thing to Alvaro Morata in his last gameCredit: Twitter More

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      Jude Bellingham begs fan for his sign to parade around pitch after Real Madrid’s Super Cup final win over Barcelona

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM urged a fan to give him a Grand Theft Auto-style sign following Real Madrid’s Super Cup win over Barcelona.Carlo Ancelotti’s men thrashed their LaLiga rivals 4-1 in Saudi Arabia on Sunday to clinch the trophy.
      Jude Bellingham took a sign from an adoring fanCredit: Twitter / Totalcristiano
      He walked off with the banner and began parading it around the pitchCredit: Twitter / Totalcristiano
      It showcased Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo in a Grand Theft Auto styleCredit: AFP
      The title of the banner read ‘Super Copa de Espana XIII’ as it was Real Madrid’s 13th Super Cup triumphCredit: AFP
      Vinicius Junior was the star of the show as he struck a first-half hat-trick to inspire Los Blancos to victory.
      But it has been Bellingham – who assisted the opening goal – that has stolen the show for much of the season so far.
      The England international, 20, has scored 17 goals and provided six assists in 24 matches.
      And when he headed over to the Real Madrid fans at the end of their Super Cup triumph, he located an incredible sign one fan was holding that he wanted to take.
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      Bellingham reached over and collected the banner from the supporter, before he paraded it around the pitch.
      It depicted himself, Vinicius and Rodrygo all in suits in a GTA-style image.
      And the title written above the artwork read: “Super Copa de Espana XIII.”
      This referenced the fact that Real Madrid have now won 13 Spanish Super Cups in their history.
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      That is still one fewer than the 14 collected by Barcelona, but Real have claimed three of the last four Super Cup trophies.
      Ancelotti’s side also sit seven points clear of Barcelona in the LaLiga table.
      They are second, but are just one point behind Girona with a game in hand. More

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      Caglar Soyuncu lined up for shock Premier League transfer return just six months after Atletico Madrid move

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      CAGLAR SOYUNCU has been lined up for a shock return to the Premier League, according to reports.The defender could leave Atletico Madrid before the end of the transfer window just six months after joining the club.
      Caglar Soyuncu has been linked with a Premier League return amid interest from FulhamCredit: Getty
      Soyuncu completed a free transfer to the Spanish giants in the summer following five years at Leicester.
      Despite signing a four-year deal through to 2027, the 27-year-old has made just one league start for Atletico this season.
      He is now being linked with a January loan move and is even attracting Premier League interest.
      According to A Bola, Fulham are one of three clubs currently interested in Soyuncu.
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      The Cottagers are said to be facing competition from Porto and Roma for his signature, though.
      Fenerbahce have also made a move for Soyuncu, but were rejected by the player, according to the report.
      However, Atletico are understood to be open to a loan deal before the window closes.
      The Turkish international has made just nine appearances for the club across all competitions this season.
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      Of those, just two have come from the start, with his solitary LaLiga start ending after 45 minutes.
      Soyuncu was withdrawn at half-time in a 2-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao in December.
      During five years in England, the defender scored four goals in 98 appearances for Leicester.
      He was also part of the Foxes’ FA Cup-winning side in 2021 and played for the club in Europe. More