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      Barcelona plotting to raid Arsenal for free transfer with chiefs set to repeat Ilkay Gundogan tactic

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      BARCELONA are looking to repeat their Ilkay Gundogan transfer tactic to grab Arsenal midfielder Jorginho on a free, according to reports.The Italian midfielder’s contract is set to expire next summer where he will be able to move to another club as a free agent.
      Barcelona are plotting a move for Arsenal midfielder Jorginho on a free transferCredit: Alamy
      Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo report that the Catalan side are looking to use the free agency market as a way around the financial issues that have plagued them in recent years.
      Barcelona beat Arsenal to the signing of Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer this summer after identifying him as a long term target.
      The Catalan club are now keen on Jorginho as they look for a midfielder that can help control the tempo of the game and maintain posession.
      With Jorginho’s contract expiring next summer, Barcelona will be able to approach the midfielder in January to sign a pre-contract at the club.
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      Arsenal’s signing of Declan Rice has seen Jorginho fall further down the pecking order at Arsenal, but the injury to Thomas Partey could see Arteta rely on the Italian more after the international break.
      Jorginho had been linked with a move to Fenerbache in the closing days of the summer window but his agent, Joao Santos moved to quash the rumours.
      He told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli: “This year he stays at Arsenal, then we can’t know what will happen next season.
      “For now he is focused on playing two very important competitions such as the Premier and Champions League with the Gunners. Italy is always in our hearts, never say never.
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      “If there is an Italian team that needs Jorginho and his characteristics we will see what will happen. A possible future for Juve? In modern football you can’t say he will be playing for one team or another.
      “We can talk to all the teams looking for a player with his characteristics.”
      Jorginho will likely be looking for a move if his playing time at Arsenal does not pick up after Thomas Partey’s injury.
      Luciano Spaletti left Jorginho out of his first Italy squad since becoming national team manager last week.
      Jorginho has been virtually an ever-present member of the national side since his first call-up in 2016 and will be looking to get back into the squad ahead of next summer’s Euros. More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo tells his fans they ‘don’t have to hate Lionel Messi’ as he opens up on relationship with old rival

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO has told his fans they “don’t have to hate” longtime rival Lionel Messi.Widely regarded as all-time legends, the pair regularly faced each other in Spain’s LaLiga with Real Madrid and Barcelona.
      Cristiano Ronaldo tells fans his rivalry with Messi is ‘gone’Credit: AFP
      Messi and Ronaldo have had a longtime rivalry in the La LigaCredit: Reuters
      The Portuguese superstar says his longtime rivalry with Messi is now “gone”, expressing his respect for the Argentine ace.
      Ronaldo said: “I don’t see things like that, the rivalry is gone. It was good, spectators liked it.
      “Those who like Cristiano Ronaldo don’t have to hate Messi and vice versa. We’ve done well, we have changed the history of football.
      “We are respected all over the world, that’s the most important thing.”
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      Between them, the record-breaking pair have won every piece of silverware the game has to offer.
      Ronaldo who now plays for Al-Nassr is Real Madrid’s all-time record goalscorer with 451 goals in 438 appearances.
      During his nine-year spell at Bernabeu, he won 16 trophies with the club including four Champions Leagues, two LaLiga titles and two Copas del Rey. 
      Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami, holds Barcelona’s all-time records for goals and appearances, scoring 674 goals in 781 appearances.
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      The 36-year-old won 35 trophies with the club, including 10 LaLiga titles, four Champions League trophies and the Copa del Rey seven times.
      Ronaldo continued: “He’s followed his path and I have followed mine, regardless of playing outside of Europe.
      “From what I’ve seen, he’s been doing well and so have I. The legacy lives on, but I don’t see the rivalry like that.
      “We shared the stage many times, it was 15 years. I’m not saying we’re friends, I’ve never had dinner with him, but we’re professional colleagues and we respect each other.”
      Either Ronaldo or Messi won the Ballon d’Or every year from 2008 to 2017 as the two competed for the title of the best footballer in the world.
      However, five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo has been left off the shortlist for the first time in two decades, while Messi could win it for the eighth time.
      Messi led his country to win the 2022 World Cup and a Copa America with Argentina.
      Ronaldo has won a European Championship and a Nations League with Portugal.
      The two have faced each other on the pitch 36 times – the last meeting was in January when Messi, then playing for Paris St-Germain, beat Ronaldo’s Riyadh All-Star XI 5-4 in a friendly. More

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      Mason Greenwood’s Getafe boss brushes off ‘controversial’ £75k-a-week signing as defiant striker trains with new team

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      MASON Greenwood’s new boss has brushed off concerns over the “controversial” signing as he trains with his new team.The £75,000-a-week striker, 21, signed for the Spanish club just hours before the transfer window deadline closed on Friday.
      Greenwood was unveiled by his new club on Tuesday nightCredit: Rex
      A topless Greenwood took selfies with fans of the Spanish clubCredit: PA
      Getafe have since released multiple videos of Greenwood being unveiled and training with his new teammates this week.
      But the Spaniards have been slammed as “tone deaf” over the signing, which came just days after he “mutually agreed” with Manchester United to rebuild his career away from Old Trafford.
      Getafe president Ruben Reyes has now claimed Greenwood’s arrival is “just the same” as the other signings made by the club.
      He added: “We did what we do, sign players that are available to sign.
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      “There is no need for us to handle anything. We have signed a footballer who is just the same as Diego Rico and Oscar Rodríguez, and that’s it.
      “We have to do our job, and that’s what we focus on.”
      Mr Reyes added: “We’re very excited with him. He was a player that we knew was out there. We worked on it, gathered information and bit by bit we saw that there could be a possibility.
      “We spoke to his family, to his dad, to his people for a long time. We were able to convince him to come here, to trust in us. We’re satisfied.
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      “He plays very free, as if he was on a school playground. He has a very high level. We dreamed that we could bring him here, and sometimes that gets fulfilled.”
      Greenwood was seen posing for photographs with children and signing shirts as he was unveiled on Tuesday night.
      He told a crowd of supporters: “I have been training for four or five months now so I am getting up to speed.
      “I have been training with my team-mates and I feel quite good.
      “We take one game at a time, I know the next home game is coming up soon, we are going to try and win it and do our best.”
      The striker was today seen taking part in weighted exercises and using a resistance band alongside his teammates.
      Getafe’s next game is at home to Osasuna on September 17.
      However, it is highly unlikely that Greenwood is match fit, having not stepped onto the pitch since January last year.
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      He was suspended by United following his arrest in October last year.
      Charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in February following the withdrawal of a key witness.
      Getafe president Ruben Reyes has spoken out on the signingCredit: Alamy
      Getafe released more footage of Greenwood training todayCredit: Twitter
      Clamouring fans reach out to high-five the striker as he emerged from a tunnel to be unveiledCredit: Instagram More

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      Taylor Swift’s die-hard fans launch shock campaign to help Jude Bellingham win Golden Boy award for hilarious reason

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM is being helped to Golden Boy glory… by Taylor Swift fans.The Real Madrid superstar is going head to head with Barcelona rival Alejandro Balde for the prestigious gong.
      Taylor Swift has been on a huge world tourCredit: Getty
      Jude Bellingham is battling to win European Golden BoyCredit: The Mega Agency
      Swift’s army of fans are behind the England starCredit: Getty
      According to Tribuna, Bellingham previously held 30 per cent of the public vote.
      That is, until an old comment by Balde surfaced – helping Bellingham to shake off his competition.
      The full-back is claimed to have said: “Do I like Taylor Swift? No, I don’t like her music.”
      Spotting the comment, one fan wrote on Twitter: “Hey Swifties! we can’t let this Balde guy win the golden boy award Vote for Jude Bellingham here.”
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      The tweet has since received nearly 7,000 retweets and 30,000 likes.
      From 30 per cent of the vote, Bellingham is now claimed to have rocketed up to 89 per cent.
      Should the England star win, it would not be just down to Swift’s army of fans.
      The midfielder has had a sensational year, moving to Real Madrid in a £115million deal earlier this summer.
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      He has gotten off to a blistering start to life in the Spanish capital, scoring five goals in his opening four games.
      Most recently, he bagged a last-gasp winner against Getafe on Saturday, having shown earlier in the match that he would not be bullied by older pros.
      The 20-year-old has now joined up with the England squad for matches against Ukraine and Scotland.

      Swift, meanwhile, is on a record-smashing world tour.
      The Eras Tour movie is projected to gross $100million (£80m) in its opening weekend.
      She toured solidly from March to late-August, but will now have a break until a trio of shows in Brazil in November.
      On Bellingham’s unlikely success with Swift fans, one social media user wrote: “Bellingham about to listen to all Taylor Swift Albums pre-game.”
      A second tweeted: “Don’t mess with Taylor swift.”
      While a third joked: “Power of the people.”
      Alejandro Balde is not a Taylor Swift fanCredit: Getty
      Swift, 33, toured solidly from March until last monthCredit: AFP More

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      Liverpool ‘tried to AXE Darwin Nunez in shock swap transfer… but top target snubbed Reds and Man Utd to stay in Spain’

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      LIVERPOOL reportedly tried to axe Darwin Nunez for Portuguese star Joao Felix in a shock swap transfer with Atletico Madrid.But Felix had his heart set on joining Barcelona and turned down the offer from the Reds.
      Liverpool were prepared to axe Darwin Nunez for Joao FelixCredit: Rex
      Felix joined his dream team Barcelona insteadCredit: Getty
      Manchester United are also said to have been keen.
      Felix, 23, signed for Barca on deadline day and was in floods of tears at his unveiling after sealing his dream move.
      That’s despite the forward, who joined Atletico in 2019 for a record fee of £113m from Benfica, only joining on loan, with no option to buy.
      Felix burst onto the scene with 15 goals in 25 appearances for the Portuguese side as a teenager.
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      Felix has failed to live up to his mammoth fee in the Spanish capital.
      He has scored just 25 goals in 96 appearances and had an underwhelming loan spell at Chelsea last season.
      Nevertheless, according to the Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, the Portuguese star had many admirers, especially Liverpool.
      And they say Jurgen Klopp was even willing to trade in his own £85m striker Nunez to seal a deal.
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      The 24-year-old joined the Reds last year from Felix’s boyhood club Benfica.
      He made 42 appearances last season and scored 15 goals last season.
      But Nunez showed fans a glimpse of his destructive best with a match-winning late double against Newcastle two weeks ago.
      The report claims Liverpool was not alone in signing Felix as United and Aston Villa were keen to recruit the forward.
      Saudia Arabia also tried to take their chances as Al-Hilal sounded out a deal to link him up with Neymar.
      The report added Felix swiftly declined all teams with the same reply: “No, thank you, I want to go to Barca and I’m going to wait for you.” More

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      Sergio Ramos SNUBS huge Saudi Arabian transfer offer to sign for former club in emotional return

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      REAL MADRID legend Sergio Ramos has snubbed a move to the Saudi Pro League in favour of an emotional return to Sevilla.The Spaniard left Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent in June following a two-year stint at the Parc des Princes.
      Ramos is set to join SevillaCredit: Getty
      The defender kicked off his professional playing career with Sevilla in 2004Credit: EPA
      He was heavily linked with a move to David Beckham’s Inter Miami throughout the summer transfer window, but a deal failed to materialise.
      Besiktas also sent a proposal to him, but the two parties failed to agree personal terms.
      And now Ramos is set to make an emotional return to his boyhood club.
      According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the 37-year-old has penned a one-year deal with Sevilla.
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      The report also claims he rejected approaches from Saudi Arabia in favour of a return to Spain.
      Al-Ittihad allegedly offered him £17.1million-a-year to join them, but the defender instead opted for a £855,000-a-year deal with Sevilla.

      Ramos joined the Sevilla academy at the age of 10 in 1996 and made his first team debut eight years later.
      He made 49 appearances during his first spell at the club before joining Real Madrid in 2005 for £23million – which was a record fee for a defender at the time.
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      In 671 appearances for Los Blancos he scored 101 goals, won four Champions League titles and five La Liga titles.
      After 16 years in Madrid, he left the Santiago Bernabeu in 2021 to join PSG in a free transfer.
      Ramos was limited to just 13 appearances during his first season in France due to a series of injury issues, but he returned to full fitness last season. More

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      Iconic stadium unrecognisable as it opens it doors for first game since incredible £1BILLION renovation works

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      THE Santiago Bernabeu has finally re-opened its doors after a near £1BILLION renovation.LaLiga big boys Real Madrid began renovating their iconic home back in 2019 with the aim of bringing it up to the standard of its modern rivals.
      Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu is finally open after its stunning refurbCredit: TWITTER@REALMADRID
      The Bernabeu looks stunning from the insideCredit: AFP
      The stadium’s facelift has made it even more luxuriousCredit: AFP
      The Bernabeu features a stunning new hospitality terraceCredit: TWITTER@REALMADRID
      The piste de resistance of the new and improved Bernabeu is undoubtedly its stunning and fully retractable roof.
      A brand-spanking new terrace – which provides fans a stunning view of the pitch and incredible hospitality – has also been installed in the historic ground.
      Real spared no expense with the upgrade, which also included a new pitch.
      The Spanish giants shared footage of the stunning renovation with the world on social media before their clash with Getafe on Saturday.
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      The clips give an inside and outside birdseye view of the stadium and its stunning new terrace.
      The Bernabeu’s renovations were due to have been completed LAST YEAR but went past their initial completion date.
      Real opened the doors of their new-and-improved ground for their first home game of the season – a Madrid derby against Getafe.
      Manager Carlo Ancelotti said: “It’s a spectacular atmosphere, there’s something new.
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      The stadium now has a retractable roofCredit: Twitter @realmadriden
      It was fully opened for the first time on SaturdayCredit: Twitter @realmadriden
      “I think the fans pushed a lot today, it’s a much more enclosed atmosphere.
      “You can feel that the fans pushed — it’s going to be a very important help and it was today.”
      Real ran out 2-1 winners thanks to a stoppage-time winner from England midfielder Jude Bellingham.
      Bellingham has made an incredible start to life in Madrid, scoring five goals and picking up one assist in four matches.
      Ancelotti said of the 20-year-old: “I’m not surprised by Bellingham’s quality. What surprises me is that he has scored so many goals in the first few games.
      “It’s quite surprising for everybody and for him. He’s a professional and he’s very serious.
      “The professionalism of the squad is at a high level and he has the example there.
      “He’s adapted very well and has gone on holiday with the rest of the young players. I think it’s all good.
      “He can get to 15 goals because he did it with Dortmund.
      “He excels without the ball and doesn’t give it away.
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      “He often gets into the box and breaks lines.
      “He’s in almost constant attacking movement and that’s why he has scored all those goals.”
      The Bernabeu opened its doors to fans on SaturdayCredit: GETTY
      Jude Bellingham bagged the winner in Real’s 2-1 win over Getafa on SaturdayCredit: REX More

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      Barcelona ace Lewandowski in astonishing rant with star at risk of lengthy ban after fuming ‘refs are killing league’

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      ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI risks being slapped with a lengthy domestic ban after claiming “referees are killing” LaLiga.The former Bayern Munich hitman is two seasons into the Spanish spell of his career, which is seemingly close to coming to an end.
      Robert Lewandowski is two seasons into his Barcelona careerCredit: REX
      The Poland international is far from happy with the officiating in Spain’s top-flightCredit: GETTY
      Lewandowski has been nothing but prolific since moving to the Nou Camp, scoring 34 goals and racking up nine assists in 49 appearances.
      But the Poland international is far from happy with the state of officiating in Span’s top flight.
      The 35-year-old said: “LaLiga is not attractive and attacking enough.
      “Referees are killing the league. I didn’t expect Spanish league teams to be this reluctant to play football.”
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      Lewandowski’s comments could land him in hot water with Spanish footie chiefs.
      LaLiga bigwigs began stomping out inflammatory comments on officiating last season.
      Valencia skipper Jose Gaya is currently serving a four-match ban for his condemnation of referee Jorge Figueroa for not giving them a penalty in their 2-1 defeat to Osasuna last season.
      He said: “It’s what we’ve been dealing with all season, [VAR] should have advised him about a clear penalty, as keeps happening to us this year.
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      “The referee saw it and well, he didn’t want to call it.”
      Former Real Madrid man Sergio Canales was also slapped with a four-game suspension after claiming his 13-second dismissal in Real Betis’ clash with Atletico Madrid last season was premeditated.
      If LaLiga bosses follow their new protocol, Lewandowski will likely also be hit with a four-match ban.
      The Spaniards’ stamping out of critical comments comes in the wake of Barcelona being charged for alleged payments to the former vice president of the refereeing committee.
      Prosecutors in Spain filed corruption charges against the club’s former presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu – as well as ex-executives Oscar Grau and Albert Soler – in March.
      Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is facing corruption chargesCredit: GETTY More