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      Karim Benzema scores stunning seven-minute hat-trick as Real Madrid batter Valladolid 6-0.. but is it all for nothing?

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      KARIM BENZEMA scored three goals in seven minutes as Real Madrid brushed aside Real Valladolid, but they still trail behind rivals Barcelona. Los Blancos tore apart Valladolid 6-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu with their Ballon D’or winning striker proving to be the star man.
      Karim Benzema was in scintillating form once again as he scored a hat-trick

      The Frenchman completed his hat-trick with a stunning acrobatic finish to add the cherry on top of his performance.
      He was joined on the scoresheet by Rodrygo, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez.
      Benzema has now scored 14 league goals this season, but is still second in the top scorers charts with Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski leading the way after netting 17 times.
      Real Madrid find themselves in a similar position in the league table as they currently sit in second place, miles off Barcelona who are 12 points ahead at the top of the pile.
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      The Catalan giants have been running away with the league under boss Xavi and it seems Carlo Ancelotti’s men have little hope of chasing them down.
      With only 11 games left to play time is running out for a spectacular title charge from Madrid.
      The two sides face each other on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey.
      Real may have to turn their attention to the Champions League as they gear up for quarter-final clash with Chelsea.
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      The two sides face off in the first leg of the tie on April 12 with the Spanish side heavy favourites against a struggling Chelsea team under Graham Potter.
      Real Madrid will be hoping to advance to the semi-finals as they seek to add a 15th Champions League to their trophy cabinet. More

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      Arsenal given fresh hope as they line up THIRD transfer bid for Barcelona star Raphinha in the summer

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      ARSENAL have been handed a new hope in their bid to land Raphinha, reports suggest. The Gunners tried to buy the winger last summer and in January, but saw Barcelona sign him before the Brazilian rejected a mid-season move.
      Barcelona have set Raphinha’s asking priceCredit: Rex
      However, with Barcelona still in an unenviable financial situation, Arsenal’s long-term pursuit has been handed a boost.
      According to Football Insider, Raphinha is one player who could be put up for sale in the summer.
      This comes with Barcelona looking to raise funds worth as much as £178million.
      And the report reveals Barcelona want to recoup at least as much as they paid to sign the 26-year-old.
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      The Spanish giants agreed a £55m transfer for Raphinha from Leeds.
      After an initial period where he struggled to adapt, Raphinha’s form has taken an upturn following the World Cup.
      Indeed, he has contributed to six goals in his last ten league games having previously contributed to four in 15.
      Raphinha is a Premier League-proven talent, having scored 17 goals and adding 12 assists during his two years at Elland Road.
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      On Barca’s financial issues, La Liga chief executive Javier Tebas explained: “We have strict economic controls. At the end of each window, we tell all the clubs in La Liga what they can spend.
      “In the case of Barcelona, they have to drop from spending on wages and transfers from 650m euros to 450m euros – so it’s a budget of minus 200m Euros.”
      However, any sale of Raphinha would come after Barca boss Xavi hailed him as “the future of Barcelona”. More

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      Chelsea fans troll Real Madrid by asking ‘haven’t you learned from Eden Hazard?’ amid Reece James transfer talk

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      CHELSEA fans have trolled Real Madrid amid rumours they want to sign Reece James. The LaLiga side supposedly want to sign both Jude Bellingham and the Blues defender this summer.
      Reece James is reportedly wanted by Real MadridCredit: Alamy
      Fans have trolled Real Madrid, comparing Eden Hazard’s injury hit spell at the club to Reece James’ fitness troublesCredit: Reuters
      Outlet AS report that the two England stars are their top two transfer targets.
      Chelsea have a history of losing players to Real Madrid, with the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Antonio Rudiger and Eden Hazard all switching West London for the Spanish capital.
      Hazard made the move in 2019 for a fee of £88million and has struggled with persistent injuries since.
      The Belgian has only played 73 times for the club, scoring just seven goals.
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      James has had similar regular injury troubles, missing 18 Chelsea matches this season and the World Cup.
      It has led to fans joking that Real Madrid risk making the same mistake by signing an injury prone Premier League star.
      One supporter said: “Madrid wants a taste of James’ injury record. I thought they’ve learnt from Hazard.”
      Another reacted: “Reece James would play like two games, get injured and then not be seen again until 2028.”
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      A third added: “Hazard all over again.”
      James penned a new deal at Stamford Bridge in September, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2028.
      The Blues are supposedly ready to offload a number of players at the end of the season to trim a bloated squad, yet the 23-year-old is not one up for sale. More

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      Barcelona confirm they will go all out to re-sign Lionel Messi in sensational free transfer two years after PSG move

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      BARCELONA have made contact with Lionel Messi’s camp over a free transfer this summer.The Argentina legend left the Nou Camp in the summer of 2021 after his contract expired.
      Lionel Messi is available on a free in the summerCredit: AFP
      Xavi is hoping to persuade his former team-mate back to BarcelonaCredit: Getty
      But his Paris Saint-Germain contract runs out at the end of the season and he could be available on a free transfer.
      Reports claimed he had verbally agreed a new deal with the French giants but a contract is yet to come to fruition.
      That has opened the door for Barca to make their move, and according to vice president Rafa Yuste the club has already taken steps to re-sign Messi.
      He said: “We’ve been in contact with Leo Messi’s camp. Leo knows how much we appreciate him and I’d love for him to come back.
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      “For sure Messi loves Barça and the city, so we hope to find the right conditions to continue his history here.”
      Manager Xavi revealed last month that the club are in “permanent contact” with the 35-year-old, hinting a return could be on the cards.
      He said: “Messi knows that Barcelona is his home and the doors are open, I said this many times.
      “He’s my friend — we are in permanent contact, a potential return will only depend on him. Leo is the best player in history, he’d always fit in.”
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      It is believed Xavi could help persuade Messi back to the Nou Camp having previously played alongside him for Barcelona.
      President Joan Laporta is also determined to land the superstar and reportedly met with his father and agent Jorge recently.
      Speaking last summer, Laporta said: “I don’t believe Messi’s chapter at Barcelona is over.
      “And I believe it is our responsibility to make sure that chapter is still open, that it hasn’t closed.
      “To have a moment to do it how it should have been done so that he may have a much more splendid ending than what he had.
      “If I feel like I owe him one? Yes.
      “Morally, as the president of Barcelona, I think I did what needed to be done. But also as Barcelona’s president, and personally, I believe I owe him one.” More

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      Fuming Chelsea ‘looking to sell Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Inter Milan’ in ‘anti-Barcelona’ transfer

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      CHELSEA are reportedly plotting to offload Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Inter Milan and in doing so blocking a return to Barcelona. The striker is out of favour at Stamford Bridge after his summer transfer unravelled within months of his arrival.
      Aubameyang has three goals in 18 appearances in all competitions this season for ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Reports in recent days have indicated that the 33-year-old is keen on moving back to Barcelona after his brief but successful spell at the Nou Camp last year.
      But Fichajes report that Chelsea have “anger” towards Aubameyang for flirting with Barcelona and are unhappy over the “disaster” that the signing has become.
      The outlet adds that Inter Milan are interested in the star but he is holding out while the option of Barca remains possible.
      The Catalan club are reported to still be keen on him after his stunning mid-season impact last year when he scored 11 goals in 17 league games.
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      The former Gabon international was in Spain before the international break as he joined former teammates to openly celebrate Barcelona’s crucial El Clasico win over Real Madrid earlier this month.
      It was the latest sign of the breakdown in relationship between the player and the club.
      Aubameyang’s Blues career had initially shown promise as he scored a blinding goal away at Crystal Palace and netted in both Champions League group stage games against AC Milan.
      But the forward fell rapidly from the pecking order despite goalscoring being a consistent issue for Graham Potter’s side.
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      Aubameyang could now be a part of the group of first-team stars that Chelsea look to get rid of this summer.
      Worrying financial results has made clear the club need to balance the books after this season’s astonishing transfer spree. More

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      Under-fire Chelsea boss Graham Potter is fourth-best paid manager in the world ahead of Ancelotti as top 12 are revealed

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      CHELSEA manager Graham Potter is the fourth-best paid manager in the world, ahead of Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti. The under-fire Blues boss even earns more than his predecessor Thomas Tuchel in his new job in charge of Bayern Munich.
      Graham Potter is the fourth-best paid manager in the worldCredit: Getty
      Carlo Ancelotti does not make the top five earnersCredit: Reuters
      The figures from French outlet L’Equipe reveal that three of the top four gaffers on the highest salaries work in the Premier League.
      Potter reportedly pockets a whopping £11,917,404 per year.
      By crunching the numbers, it works out that he takes home £993,117 every month, which equates to £229,180-a-week.
      Potter has had a difficult start to life as Chelsea manager with his team sitting in tenth place in the league.
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      In his 30 games in charge of the club, they have won 12, drawn eight and lost ten.
      Only Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp are on more than Potter.

      Simeone tops the list, taking home an eye-watering £29.8million-a-year.
      Guardiola comes in second on £19.7m and Klopp is third, earning £15.7m.
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      After Potter in fourth is Juventus boss Max Allegri on £11.3m per year.
      Tuchel completes the top six after recently signing a lucrative deal at Bayern where he will supposedly take home £10.5m every 12 months.
      Surprisingly, Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti is seventh with his wage of £9.6m.
      In eighth and ninth you find Simone Inzaghi of Inter Milan and Roma’s Jose Mourinho.
      Completing the list of world football’s highest paid managers are three shock names.
      Xabi Alonso makes the cut despite his role at German outfit Bayer Leverkusen being his first senior job in management.
      Staying in the Bundesliga, Wolfsburg’s Niko Kovac comes in eleventh place.
      Just making the cut is Barcelona boss Xavi. He earns £3.4m every year and is not higher due to him supposedly accepting a wage cut to help the club balance the books as they battle ongoing financial troubles.
      Diego Simeone is the best paid coach in football at Atletico MadridCredit: Getty More

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      Robert Lewandowski branded a ‘machine’ with ‘body like a rock’ as Barcelona star shows off insane physique

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      ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI stunned fans with his latest Instagram post. The Barcelona ace showed off his ripped figure while lifting weights in the gym.
      Robert Lewandowski showed off his ‘rock’ body in the gymCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CqaA1V3omq_/
      Lewandowski remains a top forward even at the age of 34 as a resultCredit: Alamy
      And many fans were left in awe at the Polish international’s insane physique.
      Taking to Instagram, one fan declared: “Body like a rock 😵.”
      A second fan said: “Such a machine.”
      A third commented: “Robocop 🔥🙌.”
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      “Machine Lewangoalski,” typed a fourth.
      A fifth added: “Terminator.”
      While another remarked: “Wow 😍.”
      It comes with Lewandowski having a peculiar dietary trick which even leaves his team-mate’s baffled.
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      The 34-year-old has a peculiar “backwards diet”, whereby he eats his dessert FIRST.
      Lewandowski believes it not only helps him to burn fat faster but it also makes him more energetic too.
      While still at Bayern Munich he said: “They still don’t understand.
      “They shake their heads when they see me finishing with some soup.”
      His wife, Anna, has also lifted the lid on his nutrition plan, which includes a ban on lactose.
      Speaking in 2019, she said: “The most important thing is training and nutrition.
      “We refrain from lactose and wheat flour. It’s about quality food.
      “Pancakes, brownies, vegetable spaghetti, porridge or millet. We also like to eat high-quality fish.
      “Sometimes after training we drink beetroot juice with cinnamon or cayenne pepper.
      “When we mix many foods at once, sometimes we aren’t doing the right thing.
      “We feel bloated, have to loosen our trousers. The mix is ​​too much for our body.”
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      Lewandowski joined current club Barcelona last summer.
      He has scored 25 goals in just 33 games, including 15 in La Liga which has helped the club forge a 12-point lead at the top of the table. More

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      Barcelona look to sign three players for FREE this summer as they plan transfer raid on Chelsea and Man City

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      BARCELONA are reportedly looking to sign three players for free this summer.That’s despite running into financial troubles again.
      Barcelona are looking to make three free signings this summerCredit: Rex
      Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be set for a Nou Camp returnCredit: AFP
      Barcelona were forced to activate several club levers last summer in order to fund a mega spending spree for the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha.
      But their troubles have not gone away, with whizkid Gavi now stripped of his contract and squad number due to a negative financial balance.
      Despite the setback, Mundo Deportivo says Barcelona are still looking to press ahead with more free transfers after snapping up Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie last summer.
      Top of their list is Athletic Bilbao and Spain centre-back Inigo Martinez, who could arrive as a replacement for Eric Garcia.
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      The defender also has offers from Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Napoli.
      But he is desperate to join Barcelona and will happily wait for as long as it takes to make a move happen.
      Next on Barca’s list is Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
      He only left the Nou Camp last summer in order to be reunited with Thomas Tuchel.
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      But the German was replaced with Graham Potter, who ended up axing Aubameyang from his Champions League squad.
      And the Gabon star is now set to be released from his Blues deal at the end of the season.
      The final freebie Barca want is Ilkay Gundogan.
      He is out of contract at Man City this summer, and an extension does not appear to be forthcoming.
      Pep Guardiola wants to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund and could sacrifice Gundogan to free up space in his squad.
      That would allow Barca to make a swoop for the Germany star, who can play holding or central midfield.
      And Gundogan could replace Sergio Busquets, who has been tipped for move to the MLS.
      Ilkay Gundogan looks set to leave Man City this summerCredit: Alamy
      Inigo Martinez has already made it clear he wants to swap Bilbao for BarcaCredit: Getty More