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      Two former Premier League stars look unrecognisable as they star for Real Madrid in legends match

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      TWO former Premier League stars looked completely unrecognisable as they recently lined-up for Real Madrid in a legends match.One was a Croatian striker that was almost unplayable at the 1998 World Cup.
      Two former Prem stars looked unrecognisable as they returned to match actionCredit: Twitter
      The pair both played recently for a Real Madrid legends teamCredit: Twitter
      One of the icons posed with ex-ref Mark Halsey and posted the snap on TwitterCredit: Twitter
      The hotshot grabbed the Golden Boot as he fired his team to a fourth-place finish and eventually ended up as his country’s all-time top scorer.
      Domestically, he starred for Sevilla before going on to shine at Real Madrid during a three-year spell from 1996.
      Then, to a lesser extent, the ace headed to England to join Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal for a season before moving across London to West Ham for a 12-month stint.
      He scored eight goals in 22 Premier League appearances for the Gunners, with just two in 11 for the Hammers, and then moved to Germany to finish his career at 1860 Munich.
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      The ex-forward was then president of the Croatian Football Federation.
      Meanwhile, the other was a team-mate of the Croatian striker briefly at the Bernabeu after Real snapped him up from Mallorca in 1998.
      He became a huge favourite and a stand-out star due to his famed perm haircut, winning the Champions League twice at Madrid.
      However, he was shipped out on loan to Bolton Wanderers in the 2002/03 campaign and eventually made that move permanent.
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      Under Sam Allardyce, the Spanish international midfielder played for the Trotters for another five years and achieved icon status at the club before going on to join Ipswich Town for a season prior to ending his career at Cypriot club AEK Larnaca.
      The two players in question, of course, are Davor Suker and Ivan Campo.
      The pair were recently reunited as they starred for a Real Madrid legends team.
      An ex-Premier League referee was also involved with Mark Halsey being the man in charge of the action.
      And Campo, now 49, even shared a shot of himself with the whistleblower and captioned it with: “Today I was with a special person and big friend : @RefereeHalsey.
      “Very very very happy to see you again in Orihuela playing with @VeteranosRM.”
      He also posted numerous other shots from the match, including one with him next to now 55-year-old Suker.
      And some of his followers were quick to jump into the comments, with one writing: “Look at those legends.”

      “Dream team right there,” declared another as a fellow fan tweeted: “Ivan Campo Ivan Campo my hero … Baller end of .. love this man ..”
      And the two men both showed they still possessed some of the magic as they helped Madrid to a 5-0 win over an Alicante XI thanks to a brace from Edwin Congo and goals from Jose Amavisca, Fernando Moran and Alberto Rivera.
      Davor Suker went on to star for Arsenal after Real MadridCredit: Reuters
      Ivan Camp achieved legend status after a switch to England with Bolton WanderersCredit: PA:Press Association More

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      Eden Hazard to make shock U-turn on ‘retirement decision’ and sign for new club with brother after Real Madrid release

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      EDEN HAZARD is reportedly considering a shock move to the Belgian Jupiler Pro League.The 32-year-old will become a free next month following a four-year stint at the Santiago Bernabeu.
      Hazard’s Real Madrid contract was ripped up earlier this monthCredit: Getty
      The winger could join his brother Kylian (R) in the Belgian Pro LeagueCredit: https://www.instagram.com/hazard.k10/
      His contract was due to expire next summer, but Real Madrid made the decision to TERMINATE his deal at the beginning of June.
      Following the announcement of his departure, many reports suggested that Hazard would retire from professional football.
      However, Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri claims he could join his brother, Kylian, at RWD Molenbeek in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League.
      Tavolieri tweeted: “At first sight improbable, the possibility of a return [to the] Belgian Jupiler League has been considered by Eden Hazard. 
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      “In this context, the ‘financial’ factor would be considered incidental if he decides to continue his career. Playing with his brother Kylian at RWD Molenbeek is part of the thinking.”
      Hazard scored just seven goals in 76 appearances for Real Madrid after joining the club in a huge £125million transfer from Chelsea in 2019.
      He now has just one other transfer offer on the table – from MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps.
      The winger retired from international football in December after Belgium were knocked out of the World Cup at the group stages.
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      In an official statement on Instagram, he wrote: “A page turns today… Thank you for your love.
      “Thank you for your unparalleled support. Thank you for all this happiness shared since 2008.
      “I have decided to put an end to my international career. The succession is ready.
      “I will miss you…”
      Hazard scored 33 goals in 126 appearances for Belgium during his 14-year international spell. More

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      Forgotten Arsenal cult hero on verge of completing free transfer to third club in a YEAR since leaving Gunners

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      FORMER Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin is set to complete his THIRD transfer in just NINE MONTHS as he prepares to return to Real Betis.The Spanish right-back, 28, left the Emirates last summer after more than a decade with the club.
      Hector Bellerin looks set to return to Real Betis where he enjoyed a loan spellCredit: Alamy
      He spent more than a decade at Arsenal before leaving last summerCredit: Getty
      He played 239 times for the North London outfit, winning three FA Cups.
      But his Arsenal exit began a tumultuous 12 months for Bellerin.
      In September, he agreed to join Barcelona – who he left for Arsenal as a youth-team player.
      And things did not turn out how he would have hoped at the Nou Camp.
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      Bellerin had totalled just 141 minutes by January and was shipped out of the club after just four months.
      He signed for Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon where he made 13 appearances, scoring one goal.
      But at the end of the season he was released as he searched for another new path.
      And now Fabrizio Romano is reporting that he is “on the verge” of joining LaLiga side Real Betis – with parties simply “waiting for paperwork”.
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      Bellerin spent one season on loan with Betis during the 2021/22 campaign – prior to his permanent departure from Arsenal.
      He played 32 games for the Spanish outfit, registering five assists.
      And he could feature in the Europa League next season after Betis’ sixth-place finish in LaLiga saw them qualify for the competition. More

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      Incoming Leicester manager Maresca broke Aguero’s nose with brutal headbutt before linking up with him at Man City

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      INCOMING Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca once broke Sergio Aguero’s nose during a LaLiga match between Sevilla and Atletico Madrid.The 43-year-old is currently in advanced talks to take over from Dean Smith at the King Power Stadium.
      Maresca violently headbutted Aguero during a match in 2008Credit: https://twitter.com/lcfcadyy/status/1669429284002250758
      The striker was left with blood pouring from his noseCredit: https://twitter.com/lcfcadyy/status/1669429284002250758
      Although he has no managerial experience in England, Maresca has spent the last season as Pep Guardiola’s assistant coach at Manchester City.
      Before becoming the Spaniard’s right-hand man, he took charge of City’s Elite Development Squad for one year, where he worked with some of the club’s top talents.
      His move to Manchester saw him reunite with some old friends – and foes.
      Upon his arrival, he met with Aguero again – 12 years after the pair clashed during a LaLiga match.
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      In March 2008, Maresca’s Sevilla played host to Atletico Madrid, who boasted 19-year-old up-and-coming striker Aguero.
      With 30 minutes left to play, the Argentina striker tripped Maresca on the halfway line, which sparked a furious reaction from the midfielder.
      He immediately got up and HEADBUTTED Aguero, subsequently leaving him covered in blood.
      Maresca was sent off for violent conduct as a result, but Aguero was able to play on despite suffering a broken nose.
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      Atletico Madrid went on to win the match 2-1 thanks to goals from Aguero and Maxi Rodriguez.
      After hanging up his boots in 2017, Maresca turned to a career in coaching.
      He enjoyed stints as an assistant manager at Ascoli, Sevilla and West Ham respectively before joining Man City.
      The former midfielder then spent six months as manager of Serie B side Parma prior to reuniting with Guardiola in June 2022.
      He is now on the verge of becoming the new manager of Leicester, who were relegated to the Championship last month.
      Maresca is now set to become the new manager of LeicesterCredit: Getty More

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      Eden Hazard came to Real Madrid for a lot of money and let his career die, slams former team-mate who’s won it all

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      EDEN HAZARD “let his career die” at Real Madrid, his former team-mate Toni Kroos has claimed.Hazard, 32, saw his £400,000-a-week contract ripped up by Los Blancos last week after a torturous four years at the Bernabeu.
      Eden Hazard was let go by Real Madrid earlier this monthCredit: Getty
      Toni Kroos pulled no punches in his assessment of Hazard’s time at the BernabeuCredit: Getty
      Plagued by injuries and fitness issues, the Belgian, who arrived from Chelsea for an initial £88million, contributed just seven goals and 12 assists in 76 appearances for the Spanish giants.
      Now a free agent, he is reportedly considering retirement from football.
      And Real Madrid’s £115m signing of Jude Bellingham, 19, has brought with it a warning from Kroos, 33, as he compares the deal with Hazard’s in 2019.
      Speaking on his Einfach mal Luppen podcast, he said: “We had another player [Hazard] who came for a lot of money and basically let his career die.
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      “It was a lot of money, I think everyone would say that wasn’t a good transfer. But let’s be positive.”
      Back in May, it was confirmed Kroos had taken up a contract extension to remain at the club until 2024.
      He has already won three LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues since joining Real Madrid from Bayern Munich in 2014.
      But he now faces huge competition for his spot in Carlo Ancelotti’s midfield.
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      The German, who has enjoyed a legendary partnership with Luka Modric, 37, will be attempting to fend off Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga.
      Meanwhile, after Bellingham signed for Real, Vinicius Junior tweeted: “Welcome to the best team in the world, @BellinghamJude.”
      The England international arrives after Real missed out in both LaLiga and the Champions League this season.
      Barcelona coasted to the Spanish title, while Ancelotti’s side came up short in the defence of their European crown as they were blown away by Manchester City in the semi-finals.
      Jude Bellingham was confirmed as Real Madrid’s latest signing on WednesdayCredit: PA More

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      Liverpool ‘have £51m bid REJECTED for Real Madrid star as club demand £85m’ after splurging on Jude Bellingham transfer

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      LIVERPOOL have reportedly had a £51million bid rejected for Real Madrid star Federico Valverde.And they will have to spend over £30m more to get him.
      Federico Valverde being bet for by Liverpool hopefuls.Credit: Getty
      Reds manager Jurgen Klopp is keen on the Uruguayun midfielder as he attempts to change up his midfield after a disappointing seaosn.
      Liverpool have already completed the £35m signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton.
      But Klopp is not done there and Spanish outlet El Nacional claim the Reds have already made their move for Valverde, 24.
      However, the say that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will not accept anything less than £85m for one of their key players this season.
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      Valverde has proven himself a valuable asset to Real Madrid after multiple successful seasons, scoring seven goals and notching four assists this year.
      He has been with Madrid for almost five years, and signed a new contract in 2021 , holding him until 2027 with a massive £856m release clause.
      At the time of signing he was also given a pay raise and now with an integral position in the team, Madrid are reluctant to let him go whilst improving their own midfield.
      Although Liverpool’s bid reportedly included add-ons that would increased the fee, Madrid remain reluctant to budge.
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      That is despite the Spanish giants spending £115m on Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, a record fee for a British player.
      Reports claim Klopp has tried to sell Valverde the dream of playing in the Premier League as he did with Mac Allister, who admitted he was sold on Klopp’s vision.
      Bellingham who will be signed for six future seasons, according to Real Madrid’s announcement about the deal. More

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      I was Jude Bellingham’s teacher back in Birmingham… he taught me more than I taught him

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM’S old teacher reckons the new Real Madrid star “taught me more than I taught him”. The England star has officially joined Los Blancos from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £115million to become the most expensive British player of all time.
      Jude Bellingham with his academy manager Michael Dodds (right)
      Jude Bellingham has joined Real MadridCredit: Getty
      His rise to becoming one of the most sought-after players in Europe began at Birmingham, where he made his debut aged just 16.
      Micheal Dodds was academy manager at the Blues and helped nurture Bellingham from when he first arrived at St Andrew’s as a seven-year-old until he left for Germany ten years later.
      He remembers when the midfielder joined Birmingham and “bounced around like Tigger”.
      Dodds explained to The Times: “One thing with Jude I learnt very quickly is that he was so emotionally intelligent, you couldn’t fluff things up and you couldn’t skirt around things.
      READ MORE ON BELLINGHAM
      “If it was a difficult conversation, he wanted to have it because he wanted clarity and he wanted the information.
      “I was always saying to the staff that whatever you say to him has to be authentic because he will read you like a book.
      “He could tell if an adult was lying to him.
      “He would openly tell me when my session was poor. He always wanted every session and every game to be better and better and better.
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      “I took it as feedback that I hadn’t challenged him appropriately.
      “I did an interview for a German magazine and they said that Jude sees me as his mentor. I said it’s funny because I see him as my mentor.
      “He taught me more than I taught him in terms of not allowing the arrogance of the coach’s title to blind what you are trying to do.
      “There was a period where he didn’t talk to me. I used to have underloaded-overloaded training sessions and I would always put Jude on the underloaded team.
      “There was one session where I purposefully tried to push his buttons a bit.
      His mentality was: I want to play, forget my age, give me a chance and I will show you I can play. Jude Bellingham’s teacher, Micheal Dodds
      “He would ask for a foul and I would play on. After that session, he said to his parents, ‘I don’t like Doddsy. I don’t want to go back to the football club.’
      “Mum [Denise] and dad [Mark] deserve a huge amount of credit and they said, ‘No, no. You’re fine.’ He actually didn’t talk to me for two months. So we had to have a clear-the-air moment around that.”
      Bellingham excelled in Birmingham’s youth-teams and demanded to play at a higher level as he was not feeling challenged in the academy.
      Dodds said: “He came down to the office looking for me and I thought he was going to beat me up.
      “He was fuming. He said, ‘I need to have a chat with you.’
      “He’d got sick and tired of hearing, ‘Be patient, Jude. You are 16. Be patient.’
      “His mentality was: I want to play, forget my age, give me a chance and I will show you I can play.
      “The club wanted to protect him a bit because he had just left school. He wanted to play every minute of every game.
      “He unloaded his frustrations on me and said they were using his age as an excuse not to play him. I remember saying to him, ‘Relax.’
      “‘No, I am sick and tired of hearing that. I don’t want to hear that. Judge me on my ability and performances.’”
      Mark Williams was the caretaker at Bellingham’s primary school and used to have to fetch footballs for him that got stuck on the roof.
      He would ask for a foul and I would play on. After that session, he said to his parents, ‘I don’t like Doddsy. I don’t want to go back to the football club.’Jude Bellingham’s teacher, Micheal Dodds
      He told The Independant: “It seemed to be a daily occurrence. Every day the ladders were out. I kept them on standby because of that reason.
      “He was a very pleasant lad. He always asked you to get the ball down nicely.
      “You could tell then he was quite a good little footballer and he was destined to be.”
      Bellingham’s year two teacher Suzanne Shackleton added: “He was just really a lovely lad. Really genuine. Really personable. Extremely courteous and polite.
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      “He was really dedicated to everything he did, not just his sport and football. Across all areas of the curriculum he was well-motivated and tried hard with everything he did.”
      A neighbour in Stourbridge where he grew up also recalled that Bellingham and his younger brother Jobe, who is also a wonderkid, used to be constantly playing football together and with their father. More

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      Fans in love with Real Madrid’s new 2023/24 ‘retro’ home kit as they call it a ‘masterpiece’

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      REAL MADRID’s new kit has been hailed as a “masterpiece” by fans.The LaLiga side’s home shirt for the 2023/24 campaign was revealed today.
      Real Madrid have released the club’s new shirtCredit: Real Madrid
      The release featured the likes of Vinicius JnrCredit: Real Madrid
      And fans were thrilled with the new edition of the shirtCredit: Real Madrid
      It has a classic white body with a smart-looking gold and navy blue trim on the sides and sleeve cuffs.
      Madrid have said that the shirt will “celebrate the union between the club and fans throughout 121 years of history”.
      It also features the phrase “Hala Madrid!” on the back of the collar.
      And fans have loved the kit’s release and its retro look.
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      One fan said: “MASTERPIECE looks like early 2000’s kits.”
      A second tweeted: “Real Madrid new kit looking very very NICE.”
      A third wrote: “Real Madrid have launched their new home kit for next season and it’s an absolute classic.”
      A fourth commented: “Gold blue and white are best colors for Real Madrid kits.”
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      A fifth declared: “Crazy good kit.”

      While another added: “I love Real Madrid’s kit. It’s history🤍.”
      In the reveal of the new shirt, the video and pictures feature stars players such as Vinicius Jnr, David Alaba, Toni Kroos and Eduardo Camavinga.
      It is the shirt that will see Jude Bellingham feature next season after Madrid and Borussia Dortmund agreed a deal which will see the midfielder move to Spain. More