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      Fans think Eden Hazard ‘cursed’ Chelsea as Real Madrid star’s eerie statement after leaving club goes viral

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      SUPPORTERS think that Eden Hazard “cursed” Chelsea after his eerie farewell statement resurfaced and went viral.The Belgian international secured his dream move to Real Madrid from the Blues in 2019 in a £130m deal.
      Eden Hazard will face his old club Chelsea again in the Champions LeagueCredit: Rex
      Hazard, 32, arrived at Chelsea in 2012 and is regarded as one of the club’s most talented players ever having won the Premier League twice, FA Cup, League Cup and the Europa League on two occasions.
      When the star, who bagged 110 goals in 352 appearances, left he released a statement that read: “Chelsea and Chelsea fans will always be special to me and next season I will look for your results first.
      “I hope that we are drawn against each other in the Champions League next season and every season so we can meet again.”
      And, eerily, his wish has been granted almost fully.
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      The two teams avoided each other in the 2019/20 campaign, but they have drawn one another each season since in the Champions League.
      Chelsea beat Madrid 3-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals in 2021 before going on to win the competition.
      Then, last season, they were drawn together again in the quarters, only this time it was the LaLiga giants that triumphed 5-4 on aggregate before they went on to win the coveted prize.
      Now Chelsea will face Madrid again next month in the Champions League quarter-final – and some fans believe Hazard “cursed” them with his wish four years ago.
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      One tweeted: “His wish came through, he is really ta Wizard, he needs to gimme some uefa champions league predictions.”
      Another commented: “He cursed us after never facing them in the competition before then.”
      While a fellow fan wrote: “Thanks for the curse Eden.”
      Hazard has infamously struggled at the Bernabeu after suffering a number of injury issues.
      He has produced just seven goals and 11 assists in 73 appearances for the club. More

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      Arsenal target Kaoru Mitoma set to be offered record new deal by Brighton as Real Madrid & Man City join transfer chase

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      BRIGHTON are reportedly set to offer Kaoru Mitoma a record new contract to thwart off interest from Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid.The Japanese international winger, 25, has been one of the star men in what has been an impressive campaign for both him and the Seagulls.
      Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma is set to be offered a record new contractCredit: AP
      Following his season-long loan last year at Belgian side Union SG, he has become one of high-flying Brighton’s key men this term with 14 goal involvement in his 26 Premier League appearances.
      Mitoma, who delayed signing a professional contract in his homeland with Kawasaki Frontale at 19 to instead go to university and wrote a thesis on dribbling, arrived on the South Coast for a fee of just £2.7m in 2021.
      Now his displays have seen his valuation rocket to around £35m with a host of clubs keen to snap him up.
      Arsenal have held an interest since January in Mitoma.
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      Now TEAMtalk are claiming that Pep Guardiola’s Man City and LaLiga giants Real Madrid are also interested.
      And they state that Bayern Munich are also monitoring the situation.
      However, Brighton are desperate to hang on to the attacker and are allegedly willing to pull out all the stops to keep him.
      Mitoma is currently under contract until 2025.
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      But the Seagulls are set to fend off interest in him by offering the ace and record deal to make him the club’s highest-ever earner.
      Meanwhile, Mitoma will be hoping to secure a day at Wembley today when Brighton face Grimsby in the FA Cup quarter-final. More

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      Barcelona face bleak future amid ‘ref bribe’ scandal.. but the weird and wonderful club will never be shown red card

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      OFF the field Barcelona are a mess but none of their previous scandals equal the new allegations of bribing a referee.The city’s prosecutor alleges that between 2001-2018, two club presidents bribed the vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, with £6million.
      Barcelona have been alleged to have bribed a refereeCredit: Getty
      Their defence is that they asked Negreira in his words “to ensure neutral refereeing”.
      An odd objective to request and it seems to suggest some referees were not neutral which is, by definition, the only reason they exist.
      The allegation against former Barcelona club presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu is quite different.
      The charge is that they wanted Negreira “to carry out actions aimed at favouring Barca in the decision-making of the referees in the matches played by the club and thus in the results of the competitions”.
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      It will be a sensational, long lasting and costly investigation.
      If guilty the club faces a bleak future.
      Heavy fines, lost points, relegation are all possible, although not, I think, closure.
      That would be too much dynamite.
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      As Barca is the very heart of Catalan culture, enforced closure would all but start a war and might even re-charge demands for separation from Spain.
      And arch-rivals Real Madrid have lit a fuse or two.
      President Florentino Perez supports the investigation but as he has form with pressuring a referee, that’s rather like the pot calling the kettle black.
      Both Barca and Real still favour a European Super League and the result of this wrangle could be the end of this obnoxious scheme.
      Bribing refs strikes at the very heart of football.
      Nothing compares with the damage it would cause.
      In the Premier League cries of “you’re a cheat ref” are the crow-like squawks of frustrated fans.
      Referees may make wrong decisions and sometimes appear to be half blind, but instances of corruption in our league are just fiction.
      Which leaves me with two questions: Why on earth would two men running a club worth £5billion try so pathetically, not to mention expensively, to bribe a senior refereeing official who went on to acknowledge payment in his business accounts?
      Why should a club featuring several of the all-time giants of football, Lionel Messi, Xavi, Carles Puyol and half-a-dozen others, even think of risking their future by paying such a dubious source?
      The players are affronted at the idea of needing outside help.
      As former defender Gerard Pique put it “Barca have not bought referees, I would put my hands in the fire on it.
      “If you want to buy a referee, you do it on the ‘black market’, not by declaring invoices and leaving evidence of payments…
      “You go with dirty money and that’s it, things are simpler than going to the vice president of the CTA and paying him. It doesn’t make sense.”
      Since 2001, Barca have won the Champions League four times, the Copa del Rey seven, LaLiga ten, which almost certainly will be 11 soon.
      And now they have debts of £1.3bn and lost Messi to PSG while, according to Bayern Munich head coach Julian Nagelsmann: “Barcelona are the only club that has no money — but then buy every player they want.”
      They have been fined three times, so far, for breaching LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play rules.
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      A weird and wonderful club.
      But they’ll never be shown the red card. More

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      Frenkie de Jong deals Man Utd transfer blow as he drops huge hint about his Barcelona future

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      FRENKIE DE JONG has dealt Manchester United a fresh transfer blow as he admitted he hopes to stay at Barcelona ‘for many years’.The Dutch star was among United’s main targets last summer and the Red Devils went all out to try and land him.
      Frenkie de Jong has made 31 appearances in all competitions this seasonCredit: Rex
      But they could not spring the 25-year-old from the Nou Camp despite De Jong being involved in a pay dispute with Barca.
      Now any potential transfer looks even further away after the midfielder pledged his future to the Catalan club.
      He appeared to hint at a long-term stay in Spain as he made clear he wants to play at the newly renovated Nou Camp, which will not be completed until the 2024-25 season.
      De Jong, who signed for Barcelona from Ajax in 2019, told TV3: “I hope I will play at the new Camp Nou.
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      “Barcelona is the club of my dreams, so I plan to stay for many years.
      “It looks like it’s going to be nice. The plans for the stadium are very good.”
      Speculation has continued that United could try to land de Jong when the window opens this summer.
      His former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag is known to be a big fan but eventually settled for Christian Eriksen when it was clear the deal could not be done.
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      Chelsea and their owner Todd Boehly are also reported to have interest in de Jong.
      United fans got a taste of what the Dutch international could bring when he starred in the Barcelona midfield for the Europa League play-off games last month. More

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      Real Madrid ‘considering Romelu Lukaku transfer swoop with Inter Milan unwilling to buy Chelsea striker’

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      REAL MADRID are considering a move for Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku, according to reports. The 29-year-old Belgian is on loan from the Blues at Inter Milan following an unsuccessful return to Stamford Bridge last season.
      Real Madrid are considering a move for Romelu LukakuCredit: Rex
      However, having struggled with injury and form, the Italians have already insisted he WILL NOT be staying beyond the end of the season.
      Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta said: “He will return to Chelsea as it’s a straight loan, it’s part of the deal — then we will see.
      “Lukaku is not in good condition yet, we are still waiting to see the real Romelu as we saw in the past.”
      That has thrown the striker’s future into doubt, with Chelsea wanting to cut their losses following his £97.5million transfer in August 2021.
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      And Real Madrid are set to take advantage of this situation by launching an offer for Romelu Lukaku.
      According to Fichajes, Los Blancos want to bolster Karim Benzema’s firepower by adding Lukaku to the fold.
      The report suggests Carlo Ancelotti and Co are admirers of Lukaku having seen how devastating he can be when he is not blighted by injuries.
      Indeed, just two seasons ago Lukaku fired Milan to the Serie A title and was crowned their Player of the Year.
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      Lukaku has been heavily hit by injury this season, seeing him make just 18 appearances and yield five goals in all competitions.
      He has been open with his desire to stay at Inter and his ultimate career path.
      The former Manchester United and Everton striker said: “Everyone knows what I want.
      “I hope to stay at Inter. I love this club and we will speak to Chelsea in order to find a solution.
      Lukaku has struggled for form in the Serie A this season
      “Inter fans are really special, for me they are the best in the world.
      “Because even if we are in difficulty they are always there to help the team.
      “It was a surprise for me, I thought they were angry with me.
      “But in the end they know I’ve always had Inter in my heart. Even if I left, they know I’ve always had Inter in my heart.
      “I’ve had conversations with my team-mates, with people from the club and they know I’ve told the truth about why I left.
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      “Now I’m back and I hope to stay in the future. I mean that for me Inter is worth everything.
      “The idea is to finish my career with Anderlecht. I’m nearly 30, my son started school here and plays in the Inter academy. I want to stay here and do things right.” More

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      Former Real Madrid doctor reveals Gareth Bale is best athlete he’s ever seen… even ahead of iconic Cristiano Ronaldo

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      GARETH BALE was a better athlete than Cristiano Ronaldo, according to ex-Real Madrid doctor Jesus Olmo.Ronaldo, who moved to Saudi Arabia after his release by Manchester United, is famed for his physique and even maintains it at the age of 38 but Olmo reckons Bale is the best athlete he has ever seen.
      Gareth Bale is a better athlete than Cristiano Ronaldo, according to a former Real Madrid doctor
      Jesus Olmo claimed Bale is the best athlete he has ever seen despite Ronaldo being famed for his impressive physique
      Ronaldo is no stranger to showing off his physiqueCredit: Getty
      Having been team-mates during Olmo’s time at the Bernabeu, Bale and CR7 probably have their own ideas about who keeps in better shape but the Portuguese doc was in no doubt.
      The ex-Los Blancos doctor previously told Ideal in 2020: “Perhaps the best athlete I’ve ever seen is Bale.
      “Gareth Bale is a natural athlete who can excel in practically any sport.
      “He has incredible athletic skills, and I would also say technical skills.
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      “He is the one who impressed me most in all aspects.”
      The medical expert also said Real Madrid fans did not see the best of the Welsh wizard during his time in Spain, because he was suffering from several injuries.
      Bale, 33, hung up his boots in January following a disappointing World Cup with Wales.
      After Ronaldo leapt 8ft 5ins into the air to score a header against Sampdoria in 2019 he revealed his fitness secrets that keep him going and claimed he could play on until he was 41.
      His mum Dolores also backed up his claim last year.
      The Madeira-based mum-of-four told presenter and comedian Guilherme Geirinhas: “I’ve already asked him if he wants to be a coach when he stops playing.
      “He told me he wants to enjoy life. He’ll play until he’s 40.” More

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      Barcelona ‘prioritise signing Man City outcast’ Joao Cancelo but will have to pay £17.5m loan transfer fee

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      BARCELONA have reportedly made Manchester City outcast Joao Cancelo their “priority signing” this summer.The defender, 28, joined German club Bayern Munich on loan for the rest of the season after falling out with Pep Guardiola.
      Barcelona have prioritised signing Joao Cancelo from Man CityCredit: Getty
      The pair were reportedly involved in a training ground bust-up after Cancelo found out he was dropped for the club’s FA Cup clash against Arsenal.
      This came as Guardiola tweaked his system after questioning his players’ hunger to win the Premier League again.
      With Cancelo’s and the City boss’ relationship becoming strained, the club took the bold decision to allow Cancelo to leave on loan.
      The Portuguese international started life at Bayern in impressive fashion and already has one goal and four assists from his eight appearances.
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      However, it has now emerged that the star is growing frustrated after being benched by the Bundesliga side’s boss Julian Nagelsmann.
      And it seems unlikely that Bayern will take up their option to buy him permanently for £60m.
      But he will still have another option regarding his future with Barcelona making him a priority signing, according to Spanish outlet SPORT.
      City are allegedly prepared to do business and would sanction another loan departure.
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      Although they are demanding a fee of at least £17.5m from Barcelona to borrow him.
      Nou Camp president Joan Laporta has already revealed that he will attempt to sign a new full-back over the summer.
      Veteran Sergi Roberto is the only recognised right-back in the current squad.
      City signed the player in a £60m deal three-and-a-half years ago from Juventus.
      Cancelo only signed a contract extension with City 12 months ago and is currently tied to the club until summer 2027. More

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      Thibaut Courtois reveals Eden Hazard’s sad reaction to missing out on opportunity to revive Real Madrid career

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      EDEN HAZARD’S head dropped after he returned from the World Cup to sit on the Real Madrid bench, keeper Thibaut Courtois has revealed.Hazard, 32, has not played a single minute of LaLiga or Champions League football since Belgium were knocked out in the group stage in Qatar three months ago.
      Thibaut Courtois, left, has spoken about team-mate Eden Hazard’s strugglesCredit: Getty
      He has now retired from international competition and had hoped to revive his Real Madrid career as he prepares to enter the final year of his contract.
      Hazard has contributed just seven goals and 11 assists during his four seasons in the Spanish capital.
      But any ideas he had of forcing his way back into Carlo Ancelotti’s team have been dashed in recent months.
      The ex-Chelsea man even failed to secure any game time in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Liverpool when they had wrapped it up 6-2 on aggregate.
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      Ancelotti made five changes towards the end of the game, but Hazard was not one of them.
      And Courtois has confirmed the lack of opportunities has had an impact on his former Belgian team-mate’s mental state.
      As reported by Marca, he said: “When Hazard returned from the World Cup, he trained very well and was waiting for an opportunity because the Brazilians were not there.
      “The opportunity did not come and he lowered his head a bit. He has never disrespected anyone.”
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      Real Madrid are expected to try and sell Hazard in the summer in a bid to avoid him leaving on a free in 2024.
      Earlier this week, he revealed he wants to stay at the Bernabeu despite no longer speaking to Ancelotti.
      Talking to Diario AS, he said: “I would like to stay. I’ve always said that. I hope to play and to show that I can still do it.
      “People have doubts, that’s normal, I understand. But for me, I’m still here next year. You never know, but a transfer is not in my plan.
      “There’s respect between Ancelotti and I. But I’m not going to say we talk to each other, because we don’t. But there will always be respect.
      “I have to have respect a guy like Ancelotti. For what he represents for football, and for what he’s done in his career.”
      However, Ancelotti attempted to quash talk of a fractured relationship with Hazard before their second leg against Liverpool.
      He said: “The relationship is not cold. He has been very honest, we don’t talk much and it’s the truth.
      “Many times it’s a matter of character, you feel better talking to one person than to another.
      “This is not the most important thing, for me it’s that even though we don’t talk much and he doesn’t play, he respects me. I value this a lot and I respect him in the same way.
      “If he doesn’t play a lot it’s because there’s a lot of competition. In his position there’s a player who is contributing a lot and it’s Vinicius.”
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      Premier League leaders Arsenal were linked with a move for Hazard in January.
      A move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce and Galatasaray was also mooted last summer. More