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      Real Madrid ‘targeting sensational double transfer swoop for Jude Bellingham AND Kylian Mbappe to form new Galacticos’

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      REAL MADRID reportedly want to sign Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham to lead a new group of “Galacticos”.Bellingham, 19, is said to be on the verge of a summer move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
      Jude Bellingham looks set to join Real Madrid this summerCredit: Rex
      Los Blancos are also targeting a sensational swoop for Kylian MbappeCredit: Getty
      This comes after Premier League heavyweights Liverpool and Manchester City both reportedly pulled out of the running due to the cost of a potential deal.
      It was claimed that Bellingham has been offered a deal worth £12million-a-year by Madrid with Dortmund wanting a fee of up to £130m.
      Now The Telegraph have claimed that “after opening talks over a deal for England midfielder Bellingham” that Los Blancos “are also ready to revive their long-term interest in Mbappe”.
      The LaLiga giants looked to have secured the French superstar last summer from Paris Saint-Germain.
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      But they were left fuming when he penned a mega new contract with the French side.
      However, PSG are expecting big changes over the coming months and Madrid “will look to exploit the uncertainty”.
      Former Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is being strongly tipped for the PSG job with Christophe Galtier expected to be dismissed after a poor showing in the Champions League.
      There are also claims of a massive squad fracture, with Lionel Messi set to depart along with world-record signing Neymar, who SunSport understands is another target for United.
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      Mbappe has also publicly criticised the club for using his image too prominently on their promotional material, saying: “I disagree with this posted video. It is certainly not Kylian Saint-Germain.”
      The 24-year-old World Cup winner was believed to have committed his future to the club until 2025 but now it is reported that the final year is only an option, which could see him put pressure on them to sell him now.
      But Real will look to revive their interest in Mbappe as they have discussed both him and Bellingham arriving as “part of a new ‘Galacticos’ team that could dominate Europe over the next decade”. More

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      Fans are just realising why Barcelona’s badge has St George’s cross on it and the bizarre reason they wear red and blue

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      JUST three British players have ever featured for Barcelona.Yet a famous piece of England takes the field with the Spanish giants every time they play.
      Robert Lewandowski is the latest legend to don the iconic colours of BarcelonaCredit: AFP
      The Spanish giants have the St George Cross prominently on their badgeCredit: Roddy Scott – The Sun Glasgow
      And many fans will be surprised to realise just why the Barca badge includes the St George Cross.
      The red cross on a white background is of course the basis for the flag of England.
      But St George is also the patron saint of Georgia and… Catalonia, where he is known as Saint Jordi.
      The reason, however, for Barcelona’s iconic red and blue colours is less saintly.
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      It’s all down to Joan Gamper, the club’s founding president in 1899.
      Gamper, from Switzerland, also set up FC Zurich and supported home-country team FC Basel.
      So he simply adopted Basel’s colours for Barcelona.
      It’s the badge, though, that might intrigue British supporters most.
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      And that symbol is a touch ironic when you consider the incredibly low number of footballers who have swapped the UK for Barca.
      Terry Venables, who later bossed Tottenham and England, signed the first of the trio, Steve Archibald from Spurs, in 1984.
      The Scotland striker won LaLiga in the first of his four seasons at the Nou Camp.
      Next came Gary Lineker from Everton and Manchester United’s Mark Hughes, both in the summer of 1986.
      Lineker bagged 21 goals in his first term, including a hat-trick against Real Madrid.
      But the England hero was sold to Tottenham in 1989 after struggling once Johan Cruyff  became Barca manager.
      And Wales frontman Hughes lasted just one campaign at Barca before a season on loan at Bayern Munich and a return to Old Trafford. More

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      Stunning football Wag risks wardrobe malfunction and Instagram ban for bikini pic that even has some fans concerned

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      STUNNING football Wag Jessica Goicoechea risked a wardrobe malfunction and Instagram ban by posting a picture of her borderline bikini.The Spanish beauty is the girlfriend of former Barcelona player Marc Bartra and has become a social media star thanks to her sexy posts.
      Jessica posted this risky picture promoting her new range of bikinisCredit: INSTAGRAM
      The model and influencer is currently dating former Barcelona player Marc BartraCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Jessica has amassed 1.8 million followers on Instagram with her glamourous snapsCredit: https://www.instagram.com/goicoechea/
      She took to Instagram to share a picture of her modelling her new range of bikinis to her 1.8 million followers.
      The picture shows her wearing one of the outfits and is accompanied with the caption: “We know you have been waiting for this for a long time. Our new swimwear collection is coming so soon!! Stay tuned, we will be announcing the date very soon.”
      It didn’t take long for people to start engaging with the post and in less than 24 hours the picture had racked up over 51,000 likes with hundreds of comments.
      However, not all the interaction was positive with some criticising Goicoechea for the post.
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      One user said: “The first photo is a bit disgusting isn’t it?
      Another added: “Is this necessary?”
      A third commented: “Just about shows her whole reproductive system!”
      But, there was plenty of positive reaction from fans to the picture and new line of bikinis.
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      One user commented: ” I literally can’t wait, I just know I’ll buy almost anything from this collection.”
      A second said: “I love you already.”
      A third added: “Amazing pic, amazing body.”
      While a fourth commented: “Stunning, beautiful and the most beautiful in the world.”
      Jessica has had fans enthralled for some time now and stunned wearing a see-through black top last month.
      The Spanish model has also recently wowed with hot beach pics.
      Her boyfriend Bartra is currently at Turkish club Trabzonspor after joining last year.
      The 32-year-old went to Borussia Dortmund and then Real Betis after leaving the Nou Camp.
      Fans flock to Jessica’s photos and leave admiring commentsCredit: Getty
      Jessica confirmed her romance with Marc Bartra earlier this yearCredit: Instagram / @goicoechea More

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      Sergio Busquets ‘to leave Barcelona after 15 seasons with captain most likely to make Saudi free transfer’

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      SERGIO BUSQUETS has reportedly decided to NOT sign an extension at Barcelona and will leave this summer.The 34-year-old club captain, who came through the youth ranks at the Nou Camp, is said to have informed Barca of his decision today.
      Sergio Busquets is reportedly set to depart Barcelona this summerCredit: AP
      The club captain will leave on a free once his contract expires in JuneCredit: Getty
      Marca claims that the Spanish World Cup winner was wary of staying past his prime and did not want to damage his legendary status with a decline in performances.
      And another Spanish publication, SPORT, claims that they have discovered that “Saudi Arabia is positioned as the number one option for Busquets’ new destination”.
      They did also add that he has not yet agreed to join any team in the Middle East, but they did reiterate that he has made his mind up that his time at Barca is over.
      Barcelona boss Xavi, the former midfield partner of Busquets, wanted his skipper to remain with the Catalans after fifteen trophy-laden seasons.
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      But the financially-stricken club were unable to offer him an acceptable proposal.
      An official announcement is set to be made over the coming days ahead of what could be their LaLiga title-clinching game with city rivals Espanyol this weekend regarding his exit.
      And Barcelona will no doubt want to honour one of their most iconic names before the end of the campaign with a final farewell at the Nou Camp.
      Meanwhile, the MLS could also be another potential option on the table for the veteran.
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      His old team-mate Lionel Messi could also move to America with Inter Miami keen on snapping up the Argentine when his contract expires at Paris Saint-Germain in June.
      Busquets has been as influential as ever for Barcelona this term as he chases a ninth LaLiga title with his boyhood club.
      As well as winning both the World Cup and Euros with his country, the star has lifted the Champions League and Fifa Club World Cup on three separate occasions with Barca. More

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      Arsenal want transfer for ANOTHER former Man City ace after taking Jesus and Zinchenko from title rivals

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      ARSENAL want to sign Ferran Torres from Barcelona, according to reports.Torres, 23, joined the La Liga giants in a £55million transfer from Manchester City in December 2021.
      Arsenal are interested in signing TorresCredit: Getty
      Upon his arrival at the Nou Camp, a huge £842m release clause was inserted into his five-and-a-half-year contract.
      However, Barcelona are expected to put the striker up for sale when the summer transfer window opens in order to raise funds for the potential return of club legend Lionel Messi.
      And they will accept far less than his release clause.
      According to TalkSPORT, Arsenal are considering a swoop for Torres.
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      Mikel Arteta is said to be a long-standing admirer of the Spaniard and he is keen to add him to his ranks this summer.
      But the Gunners will face competition from Aston Villa for his signature.
      Torres spent 16 months with City before joining Barcelona.
      During his time at the Etihad he scored 16 goals in 43 appearances and won a Premier League title.
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      Arsenal raided the Cityzens last summer, signing both Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
      Both players have significantly bolstered the squad this season, with the Gunners battling for the Premier League title. More

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      Aubameyang ‘keen to terminate Chelsea deal’ a year early after disaster transfer and take big pay-cut with former club

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      CHELSEA striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is keen to terminate his contract prematurely so that he can return to Barcelona, according to reports.The 33-year-old joined Chelsea in a £10million transfer from the La Liga giants in September, but he has struggled to establish himself as a regular first team starter.
      Aubameyang wants to terminate his Chelsea contractCredit: EPA
      He has been limited to just 21 appearances across all competitions this season having fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge.
      And according to Spanish outlet Sport, he is subsequently eager to terminate his contract.
      Aubameyang wants leave Chelsea so that he can return to Barcelona when the summer transfer window opens.
      However, the La Liga leaders will have to manage their financial issues before facilitating another move for the striker.
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      Barcelona need to make up a financial deficit by selling several players, meaning they will struggle to buy new players unless the adequate funds are found.
      Should Aubameyang become a free agent he will be able to join for nothing, although he will likely have to accept a huge pay cut.
      The striker joined Barcelona at the beginning of 2022 after his Arsenal contract was terminated due to a series of disciplinary issues.
      He scored 13 goals in 24 appearances in Spain, but he fell down the pecking order after Robert Lewandowski joined the club.
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      Aubameyang is not the only Chelsea player that has been linked with a move to Barcelona ahead of the summer transfer window.
      Xavi is also said to be plotting a move for N’Golo Kante.
      The Frenchman’s contract expires next month, so as things stand he will become a free agent in July. More

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      Eden Hazard breaks silence on summer transfer as Real Madrid contract expires… and fans are all saying same thing

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      EDEN HAZARD has broken his silence on a summer transfer.And fans all said the same thing in response.
      Eden Hazard appears to have made a decision on his futureCredit: Getty
      The Belgian winger, 32, sees his Real Madrid contract expire at the end of next season, five years on from joining the Spanish giants from Chelsea.
      But with no possibility of an extension following a torrid time with Los Blancos, he looks almost certain to leave the Bernabeu in 2024 with Fenerbahce reportedly keen.
      However, rather than leave at the end of this season to try and resurrect his career, Hazard has every intention of making the most of another 12 months on his club-record £400,000-per-week-plus deal.
      As reported by Fabrizio Romano, he said: “Honestly, I’m planning to stay at Real Madrid next season.
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      “I expect to stay as I want to celebrate the last year of the contract I have left.”
      But fans piled in on Hazard and accused him of being a money-grabber – especially after playing just 331 minutes of football across all competitions this season, including just 35 in LaLiga since September 11.
      That has yielded one goal and two assists – one of each coming against Celtic on September 6 – and he has been an unused sub in 24 of Real’s 33 league matches in 2022-23.
      One fan replied: “I want to stay for one more year to collect my big salary, whilst collecting silverware on the bench.”
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      Another said: “This one is so unserious. I don’t even pity him anymore. He prefer that sweet money.”
      A third added: “This guy, I’m disappointed tbh. Thought he was more serious a footballer than all of this. Such a shame and waste of talent.”
      And one user brutally commented: “He gets to keep eating, getting fat, winning trophies and still getting paid. Who would say no to such life?”
      Injury-plagued Hazard has managed just seven goals and 75 matches since arriving from Stamford Bridge for an initial £88million.
      However, despite his limited input, in that time the 126-cap ex-Belgium captain has collected six trophies – including two LaLigas and the Champions League. More

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      Pep Guardiola wanted me to be the new Pique, but now I don’t even say I played for Barcelona

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      DMYTRO CHYGRYNSKYI was once set to become Gerard Pique’s partner at the Nou Camp but now he doesn’t even admit he played at Barcelona.Chygrynskyi joined Barca in 2009 after a stunning season with Shakhtar Donetsk as he helped the Ukrainian outfit shock Europe by winning the UEFA Cup.
      Pep Guardiola wanted Dmytro Chygrynskyi to partner up with Gerard Pique at BarcelonaCredit: AFP
      Then Blaugrana manager Pep Guardiola was so impressed with the former Ukraine international that he wanted him to be Pique’s long-term partner at centre-back.
      Chygrynskyi told Relevo: “In winter there were rumors in the press, but there was nothing.
      “Days after winning UEFA, I received a call: ‘Now it’s serious, Dmytro. They love you’. Wow! It was the first time I felt real pressure in my career.
      “But even so, the moment in which I really saw that the thing was serious was when Guardiola called me while I was in pre-season in Switzerland. That’s when I was ‘scared’.
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      “Pep told me: ‘I want you to be a couple with Pique for many years. Trust me, I like your way out of the ball, your first pass… I was in shock.”
      However, Chygrynskyi never managed to shine at Barcelona and only lasted a year before returning to Shakhtar.
      The 36-year-old, who is still active and plays in Greece for Ionikos after a successful spell at AEK Athens, admits his brief stint in Catalonia was unsuccessful.
      So much so that when asked about his time in the Catalan capital he says he “was” at Barcelona instead of stating he “played” for the Spanish giants.
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      The defender blames it on his poor mentality at the time but insists current Manchester City boss Guardiola always had faith in him.
      But after a sudden change in the club’s hierarchy, which saw Sandro Rosell replacing Joan Laporta at the top, the Ukrainian was let go in 2010.
      Chygrynskyi added: “I never say that I played for Barca. I say: ‘I was at Barca’. And that’s different, because to say that you played there you need to have been an important part of the team.
      “It was something more symbolic, something that shows that you can achieve your greatest dreams. I wanted to learn as quickly as possible. It was different football, a different country…
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      Chyhrynskyi now won’t admit he played for Barcelona after his brief stintCredit: AFP
      “Now I know that the main problem I had was my psychology. I was in too much of a hurry. I pushed myself too much.
      “Pep told me: ‘Just do what I ask you, don’t think too much’. But I knew I wasn’t the best in training, so the sessions ended and I stayed working. I was obsessed with progressing quickly. With the language, doing double sessions in the gym…
      “I put constant pressure on me to turn the situation around. And Pep saw it, because in several conversations he asked me to calm down. It’s Barca. You’re not going to have two, three or four chances. If you’re not good enough, a year is a lot. It’s not like in England.
      “On a general level I don’t think it would fail, but if we talk about some specific games, yes , I failed. And that is the price you pay at Barca.
      “I say it without qualms: In the Cup match against Sevilla I failed. And against Cadiz in the League I also failed, despite the fact that we won. I had mistakes that at Barca are not acceptable, because the bar is very high.
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      “It also did not help me that the following year Joan Laporta left and Sandro Rosell came in, since I had not played much and nobody could guarantee me anything.
      “Despite everything, Guardiola told me: ‘Don’t read anything, get ready. You didn’t have a pre-season, but this year will be different’. But what happened, happened and that’s how my story at Barca ended.” More