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      Barcelona thump Real Madrid 3-0 in Texas-sized El Clasico as Carlo Ancelotti critiques ‘sleeping’ stars

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      XAVI’S Barcelona has walked away from Texas with their second-straight El Clasico win on US soil.Barca and Real Madrid faced off in front of over 80,000 Texans in attendance at AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
      Dembele was one of the stars of the show on SaturdayCredit: Getty
      England star Jude Bellingham (R) hit the woodwork before being subbed for Joselu in the 73rd minuteCredit: Getty
      The game may have technically been little more than a friendly, but you would have been hard-pressed to notice as much in the first half.
      Both Xavi and Carlo Ancelotti sent out full-strength sides for the first 45 which had the feeling of a true El Clasico.
      After just three minutes, former Southampton man Oriol Romeu hit the woodwork for Barca before Real came close to taking the lead thanks to Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo.
      After fourteen minutes Ousmane Dembele gave Barca the lead.
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      This came courtesy of a well-worked free-kick routine which saw ex-Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan clip the ball back to Pedri who slipped it in neatly for the Frenchman who snuck behind Madrid’s defense unnoticed.
      But just five minutes later, Real were handed a golden opportunity to even the odds with a penalty following a Ronald Araujo handball.
      Unfortunately for Los Blancos fans, Vinicius Jr. slammed the crossbar.
      The end-to-end game continued with tensions clearly rising as halftime drew nearer before a Frenkie De Jong foul led to a clash between players in the center of the park.
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      By comparison, the second half was relatively tame, feeling far more like a prototypical friendly as the game began to slow.
      Two late goals ultimately sealed the deal for Barca with Femin Lopez netting an excellent volley in the 84th minute while Ferran Torres chipped Thibaut Courtois en route to the game’s third goal just six minutes later.
      The game was far from as one-sided as the scoreline would suggest, with Vinicius Jr. in particular having come close on multiple occasions.
      Unfortunately for him and Madrid, the woodwork was their best friend and worst enemy on the night as they failed to find that much-needed clinical finish.
      Reflecting on the loss, Ancelotti said after the game that he felt “we played really well for most of the time.”
      However, he also felt that “we were sleeping in some situations…in the free kick when we conceded the first goal, and at the end, we didn’t have the balance that we needed in that kind of situation.”
      A true El Clasico in the first half, and a relatively tame second, both have plenty of positives to take away from an enthralling afternoon in Texas.
      Both Dembele (L) and De Jong (R) impressed at AT&T StadiumCredit: AP
      Ancelotti’s response to their loss was mixedCredit: Getty More

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      Uefa hint Barcelona could be BOOTED OUT of Champions League amid claims they paid refs’ chief £6m

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      BARCELONA could be KICKED OUT of the Champions League next season as Uefa investigate allegations of payments to referees.Uefa announced in March that it was opening an investigation into the Catalan giants.
      Barcelona are being investigated by UefaCredit: Alamy
      This came after it was reported they had paid just shy of £6MILLION to companies owned by Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-president of Spain’s referees committee.
      The payments are claimed to have been made between 2001 and 2018.
      Uefa’s appeals body confirmed the club had been granted provisional access to the 2023-24 Champions League but acknowledged: “A future decision on admission/exclusion from the Uefa club competitions is reserved.”
      Uefa said four months ago that ethics and disciplinary investigators had been appointed to look into “a potential violation of Uefa’s legal framework” in relation to this case.
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      The appeals body said on Thursday: “The investigators in charge of the case are invited to continue and finalise their investigation and to send a further report to the appeals body if and when they consider that the admission/exclusion of FC Barcelona should be assessed.”
      Barcelona deny any wrongdoing in the case.
      Xavi’s men are set to enter the competition as a Pot 1 side after they won the LaLiga title last season.
      And they will be hoping to avoid a third straight group-stage exit.
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      Last season, Barca finished third in their group behind Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.
      They dropped down to the Europa League but were swiftly eliminated in the play-off round by Manchester United.
      Barcelona have reached just one Champions League semi-final in eight years – which came in 2019 when they spurned a 3-0 aggregate lead to lose to eventual champions Liverpool 4-3 in a remarkable tie. More

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      Man Utd flop ‘to RIP UP Valencia contract as he targets third club in three years on free transfer’

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      FORMER Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani is set to rip up his Valencia contract as he eyes a move to Boca Juniors, according to reports.The Uruguayan forward, 36, left Old Trafford last summer after two seasons with the club, netting 19 goals in 59 appearances.
      Edinson Cavani scored just seven goals for Valencia last seasonCredit: Getty
      He penned a two-year deal with Spanish side Valencia back in August.
      But he managed just seven goals in 28 matches as he continues to slow down during the twilight years of his career.
      Now, according to TYC Sports, he is preparing to pay his way out of the final 12 month of his deal.
      It will reportedly cost him around £1.28m, but he is keen to do so as a move to Boca Juniors is in the works.
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      The Argentine side are understood to be offering him an 18-month contract.
      Speaking about Cavani’s situation, his brother Christian said: “The termination of the contract with Valencia is being fixed.
      “Although we want it to be done quickly, we’ll see how the Valencia thing ends and if he reaches an agreement with Boca.
      “I have a good feeling that his arrival in Boca will be achieved.
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      “This time is different from the others. His return to South America is all more on track.
      “Boca has a lot of history. I dream of seeing him with the shirt. I want him to arrive as much as the people who write to me. I’ve said it to him. I love that idea.”
      Cavani has played for a host of top European clubs including Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain, Man Utd and Valencia.
      He has scored a sensational 379 goals in 673 club appearances.
      And at international level, he has 58 goals in 136 caps for Uruguay – a tally topped only by Luis Suarez. More

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      Five-time Champions League winner, 31, completes shock free transfer to ex-club’s rivals after seven months unemployed

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      FORMER Real Madrid star Isco has ended his stint as a free agent in controversial fashion after signing for Real Betis.The Spaniard, 31, left the Bernabeu last summer following nine years with Los Blancos.
      Isco won five Champions Leagues with Real MadridCredit: Getty
      He signed for LaLiga side Sevilla but saw his contract ripped up four months later, featuring just 19 times.
      Isco also claimed he had a physical altercation with then-sporting director Monchi – who now works for Aston Villa.
      The forward saw a transfer to Union Berlin collapse during the January window.
      And he has been a free agent ever since.
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      But now he has agreed a one-year deal to join Spanish top-flight outfit Real Betis.
      Manager Manuel Pellegrini, who previously coached Manchester City, is keen to bring him in.
      The controversial aspect of the deal comes from the fact that Betis are Sevilla’s bitter rivals.
      However, given how things ended with Sevilla, it is unsurprising Isco does not feel any loyalty towards the club.
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      During his time at Real Madrid, he registered 53 goals and 57 assists in 353 games.
      He won three LaLiga titles and five Champions Leagues – including three in a row between 2016 and 2018.
      Isco has also racked up 38 caps for the Spanish national team, netting 12 times. More

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      Barcelona break club protocol lasting 45 years with release of new away kit.. with special nod to legendary ex-player

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      BARCELONA have broken 45 years of protocol by releasing a WHITE away kit for their 2023-24 season.The Catalan club typically stay clear of the colour scheme given its association with fierce rivals Real Madrid.
      Barcelona’s new white away kit… the same colour as rivals Real Madrid’s home shirtCredit: Instagram @fcbarcelona
      The red and blue bands on the sleeve of the shirt are a nod to Johan Cruyff’s armbandCredit: Instagram @fcbarcelona
      Johan Cruyff was the last Barcelona captain to wear a white kit… against Aston VillaCredit: Rex
      But there is a good reason behind this season’s white away strip.
      The kit is inspired by Barca legend Johan Cruyff, who captained the team the last time the team donned a white away kit.
      The shirt features a classic white design with red and blue stripes on the cuffs which mimic the captain’s armband Cruyff wore in the late 70s.
      The club wrote on their website: “Barcelona introduces their second kit for the 2023/24 season, which has an innovative design that pays tribute to the man who developed Barca’s playing style, Johan Cruyff.”
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      The statement continues: “This isn’t the first time Barca has used the colour for their kits. Players like Alcántara, Samitier, César and Kubala, among others, already wore a white jersey between the 1920s and 1970s.
      “When it comes to Cruyff – who developed a new brand of playing style for FC Barcelona – he also wore white on several occasions, like on 1 March 1978 during a UEFA Cup game against Aston Villa, when he captained and led the team.”
      Barcelona have resisted the urge to go back to their white away kit origins over the years – so as not to anger fans that believe it to be the colour of Real Madrid.
      Instead they have favoured yellow, orange, grey and blue away kits in recent seasons.
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      Barcelona announced the new kit with a tongue in cheek video on Twitter that featured President Joan Laporta opening a cardboard box with “It’s just a box” written on it.
      Laporta has a surprised reaction when he pulls the shirt out of it which likely reflects what many supporters felt when the club unveiled a kit in the colour of their rivals.
      But social media reaction to the kit was generally positive.
      One fan tweeted a picture of Cruyff in the 70s kit with a number of love heart emojis as caption – clearly appreciating the throwback vibe of the kit.
      Another fan replied: “Love it.”
      A third fan replied “We wear white better” – in reference to rivals Real Madrid.
      Barcelona will be hoping the kit is a good luck charm as they look to retain the LaLiga title and also return to Champions League action in the 2023-24 season. More

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      Real Madrid in big Kylian Mbappe U-turn with club ‘willing to PAY to secure transfer from PSG this summer’

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      REAL MADRID are ready to move for Kylian Mbappe this summer to stop him going to Saudi Arabia.Spanish reports claim the LaLiga giants are now willing to pay for the French striker this summer, despite the opportunity of a free transfer in 2024.
      Real Madrid are ready to pay for Kylian Mbappe now to avoid missing outCredit: Getty
      Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly accepted Al-Hilal’s world-record £259million offer.
      The Saudis still need to convince Mbappe his future lies in the Middle East.
      And Marca say that Madrid are ready to step in to make sure that does not happen – even though it remains unlikely they will match Al-Hilal’s proposal.
      The paper’s deputy editor Carlos Carpio says: “Real Madrid is willing to pay for the transfer of Mbappe .
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      “I don’t think it will be before July 31 , I’m sure they will reach an agreement.”
      Mbappe, signed from Monaco for £162m in 2018, finds himself in an uneasy stand-off with PSG.
      The World Cup-winner shocked the French giants last month when he publicly revealed he will not be extending his deal with the club.
      But he has insisted he wants to stay put next season before leaving on a free transfer at the end of his contract.
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      PSG’s board believe he has already agreed a deal with Madrid from 2024.
      And president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is determined to auction their star asset off this summer to avoid making a massive loss.
      This would be devastating for the Ligue 1 champions after making him the most expensive teenage player in the world.
      Kylian has been left out of PSG’s pre-season tour in Japan and South Korea.
      And there have even been suggestions he will not be selected for an entire year if he continues to refuse negotiations over a new contract.
      Former PSG sporting director Leonardo also advised his old club to put him up for sale as a result of his recent behaviour.
      He said: “For the good of PSG, I think the time has come for Mbappe to leave.
      “Due to his behaviour in the last two years, Mbappe has shown that he is still not a player capable of really leading a team.
      “It is difficult to build a team around him.”
      A host of Premier League clubs have also registered interest in Mbappe, including Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.
      Tottenham have also been linked, although Mbappe is reportedly “completely uninterested” in a move.
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      Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr takes part in body shot challenge with Tyson Fury’s next opponent Francis Ngannou

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      REAL MADRID star Vinicius Junior hilariously took on former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in the “body shot challenge”… but did little to trouble the MMA star.Ngannou, 36, is preparing to make his boxing debut when he takes on WBC champion Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia on October 28.
      Francis Ngannou did not flinch at Vinicius Junior’s punchesCredit: Twitter
      He jokingly shrugged them off with a goading responseCredit: Twitter
      He has established himself as one of the toughest, hardest-hitting men in the history of the UFC.
      And that has led to him challenging people to punch him in the stomach.
      Now Real Madrid have shared footage of Vinicius being called out by the heavyweight.
      The Brazilian forward, 23, steps up and rattles off a few tame shots at Ngannou.
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      But the fighter simply shrugs them off by replying: “Come on bro.”
      Vinicius then returns to land a few more blows, but again Ngannou does not flinch.
      And the clip ends with an unmoved Ngannou adding: “That’s all?”
      Reacting to the clip, Ngannou said: “It was a good attempt bro@vinijr 😂.”
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      One fan responded: “Hope @vinijr didn’t hurt himself.”
      And another added: “Vini gotta get in the gym and get some hands 🥊.”
      Real Madrid are in the US for a series of pre-season games – the first of which they won 3-2 against AC Milan on Monday.
      They will also face Manchester United, Barcelona and Juventus, before beginning their LaLiga campaign away at Athletic Bilbao on August 12. More

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      I’ve made £75m in career earnings and won Champions League 5 TIMES but I’m unemployed at 31 and haven’t played in months

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      ISCO has been without a club since December after having his contract ripped up by Sevilla.The 31-year-old left Real Madrid for Seville in the summer of 2022 following a highly-decorated nine years at Santiago Bernabeu.
      Isco played 19 times for Sevilla last seasonCredit: Getty
      The attacking midfielder has won the Champions League five timesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Having arrived as the first signing of Carlo Ancelotti’s first stint in Madrid, Isco won five Champions Leagues with the club.
      He played 353 times for Real Madrid, with Capology claiming that he has so far earned £75million in wages during his career.
      After coming to the end of his contract, he opted to reunite with his former Real and Spain boss Julen Lopetegui.
      The former Sevilla boss “loved” Isco but following his departure, it emerged that transfer chief Monchi didn’t.
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      After just four months and 19 appearances, Isco was headed for the exit – with Monchi publicly claiming that the attacking midfielder wanted to leave.
      Isco has since denied this in an explosive interview with Marca – before claiming that he and Monchi, who now works for Aston Villa, even came to physical blows.
      He said: “I told [Monchi] that he was the most deceitful person I had ever met in the world of football and he attacked me.
      “He came towards me, took me by the neck and security had to separate us completely. As you will understand, after that, I did not want to continue there under any circumstances.
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      “And although I was sorry, because I had a very good relationship with my team-mates and the fans treated me wonderfully, I couldn’t be comfortable in a club where the sports director attacks me and nobody speaks up or apologises.
      “Not because of the aggression, not because of all the lies he was leaking. So I forgave my contract and left. Overcoming the barrier of violence is not something that I could let go.”
      Isco’s contract was subsequently ripped up, making him a free agent going into the January transfer window.
      Despite his pedigree a move to failed to materialise – with Union Berlin coming closest to signing him.
      The Bundesliga side, who were second in the top flight, looked set to recruit Isco with the player having completed a medical – only for the deal to fall through.
      Explaining what happened, Union’s sporting director Oliver Ruhnert said: “We would have liked to see Isco with us, but we have our limits.
      “Those limits were overstepped today, contradicting the earlier agreement. In the end, the Isco deal will not come to pass.”
      I prioritise, on this occasion, going abroadIsco
      In March it emerged that Isco was training at home with a personal trainer in a bid to stay fit and ready for a potential offer.
      As August approaches, the 38-cap star still finds himself without a club.
      On what he wants next, he told Marca: “I prioritise, on this occasion, going abroad. I have played in Valencia, Malaga, Seville and Madrid.
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      “I am excited about the experience of playing in another league, learning another language, growing personally also outside of Spain… I am not ruling out anything.”
      He was recently linked with French side Marseille, although the rumours have since died down.
      Isco left Sevilla after a falling out with MonchiCredit: Getty – Contributor
      The 31-year-old is still without a club after leaving SevillaCredit: Getty – Contributor More