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      Disgraceful scenes as fans hang Vinicius Jr effigy from bridge ahead of Copa del Rey Madrid derby

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      ATLETICO MADRID supporters hung a disgusting effigy of Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr from a bridge ahead of tonight’s derby.Diego Simeone and Carlo Ancelotti’s sides collide at the Bernabeu with a spot in the Copa del Rey semis at stake.
      Atletico Madrid fans hung an effigy of Vinicius Jr from a bridge ahead of tonight’s derbyCredit: Getty
      And there is little love lost between fans of the Spanish capital heavyweights, with Atleti looking to avenge September’s 2-1 defeat in LaLiga.
      However, some supporters engaged in disgraceful behaviour yesterday by hanging an effigy of Vinicius Jr off a bridge in the city.
      An accompanying banner read: “Madrid hates Real Madrid.”
      And LaLiga chiefs are demanding swift action be taken against those responsible, with Vinicius Jr also racially abused by some Atletico fans during September’s game at the Wanda Metropolitano.
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      A statement read: “LaLiga strongly condemns acts of hatred and intimidation against Vinicius Jr. 
      “LaLiga, as in the past, will press for an investigation into the matter by relevant state security forces and bodies, seeking convictions for those responsible and requesting the most severe sentences.”
      Atletico condemned the “despicable” behaviour, saying: “Acts like this are absolutely repugnant and inadmissible and embarrass society. Our condemnation of any act that attacks the dignity of people or institutions is resounding and unmitigated.
      “The rivalry between both clubs is at the highest level, but so is our respect. No individual, whatever his intentions or his colours, can stain the coexistence between different clubs. It is everyone’s responsibility to avoid it.
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      “We do not know the instigator or instigators of this despicable act, but their anonymity does not avoid their responsibility. We hope that the authorities are able to clarify what happened and that justice helps to banish this type of behaviour.”
      Meanwhile, a Real Madrid statement added: “Real Madrid would like to thank you for the support and expressions of affection received after the regrettable and repugnant act of racism, xenophobia and hatred against our player Vinicius.
      “We would like to express our strongest condemnation of these acts, which are an attack on fundamental rights and the dignity of people, and which have nothing to do with the values that football and sport represent.
      “Attacks such as those suffered by our player, or those suffered by any sportsperson, have no place in a society such as ours.
      “Real Madrid trusts that those who have participated in such a despicable act will be held accountable.”
      Vinicius Jr himself previously called for racist fans to be banned for life, saying in October: “If you hurt other people, you must pay.
      “It’s hard to say that [racism in football] will end with so many people still doing it. But I like to believe that there are more good people than bad.
      “All the racist people must pay in some way, if they like to watch soccer, so those Atletico Madrid fans [who abused me in September’s game] should never be allowed to step foot in a stadium again.
      “That will make them suffer the consequences and reflect about their actions.” More

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      Gerard Pique goes Instagram official with stunning girlfriend Clara Chia 12 years his junior after bitter Shakira split

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      GERARD PIQUE has gone Instagram official with his new girlfriend Clara Chia amid a bitter split with ex-Shakira. The Barcelona legend posted a picture next to Clara – who is 12 years his junior – with the pair smiling for the camera.
      Gerard Pique with new girlfriend Clara ChiaCredit: Instagram
      It comes after Pique, 35, and Shakira, 45, split last year when the Spaniard was believed to have left her for 23-year-old Clara.
      The pair have been engaged in a sour falling-out since they parted ways after a 12-year romance.
      Shakira even released a diss track on her former partner, who she shares two kids with, Sasha, seven, and Milan, ten.
      The singer’s explosive song left little doubt that she is referring to her former partner and his younger lover.
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      In the new track, she takes a swipe at Clara’s age with the lyrics: “I’m worth two 22s. You traded a Ferrari for a Twingo, you traded a Rolex for a Casio.”
      And Pique responded to the song by turning up to work in an £8,000 Renault Twingo.
      It was also reported that Shakira recruited a team of professionals to snoop on her ex before their split last year.
      She is said to have hired a private investigator to trail Pique to confirm her suspicions.
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      The super sleuth spotted the footballer frequenting the nightclub where his now girlfriend worked, Marca reports.
      It is thought the singer was getting her ducks in a row before the inevitable bitter court showdown over custody of their children and their £12million mansion.
      Rumours have also swirled that Shakira first smelt a rat after taking a look in her fridge at their five-storey Barcelona property.
      The recording artist is said to have returned home from a period of travelling to find a jar of her strawberry jam had been eaten.
      It’s been claimed that Pique follows a strict diet and would not have tucked into the jam – and neither would her children.
      The star is then said to have come to the conclusion that someone else – more specifically another woman – had been in her home, and her fridge.
      Clara is a PR student who is employed by Pique’s events production company, Kosmos.
      Pique is thought to have met her through the organisation.
      Shakira announced her shocking break-up with the World Cup winner last June.
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      Her publicist’s statement read: “For the well-being of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect their privacy. Thank you for your understanding.”
      Gerard Pique and Shakira pictured in 2015Credit: Getty More

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      Gareth Bale takes swipe at Real Madrid when asked by Jon Rahm if he misses former club

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      GARETH BALE took a swipe at Real Madrid when asked by John Rahm if he misses his former club.Recently-retired Bale, 33, spent nine years at the Bernabeu following a then-world record £85million move from Tottenham in 2013.
      Gareth Bale has taken a fresh swipe at former side Real MadridCredit: AP
      Bale aimed his dig while playing golf with Jon RahmCredit: Instagram @pgatour
      Bale scored 106 goals in 258 games, winning three LaLiga titles and five Champions Leagues.
      But despite his stunning performances, the forward endured a rocky relationship with the club and their supporters.
      After his passion for the Spanish giants was questioned by fans, Bale infamously posed with a sign saying: “Wales, golf, Madrid – in that order.”
      In 2021 Bale was abused by a group of supporters who gathered at Real’s training ground.
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      And after departing the Bernabeu for a move to LAFC last summer, Bale admitted he was enjoying feeling loved again by a new fanbase.
      But the Wales legend has now aimed another dig at Real while playing golf with iconic putter Jon Rahm.
      The Spaniard asked Bale whether he missed playing for the European heavyweights.
      And Bale responded: “I miss them a little… but not too much.”
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      After their game of golf, Rahm also revealed he couldn’t believe how good Bale was at the sport.
      Rahm declared: “I told Gareth you just can’t be so good at football and golf at the same time, it just doesn’t seem fair.
      “You can’t be dedicated to one thing and still have this much talent for golf, it’s not fair in the slightest.
      “He loves golf. He really wants to play a little bit more and hopefully in the future I’ll see him more times in the Pro-Am.” More

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      Barcelona have attempt to register Gavi as first-team player REJECTED by LaLiga and are now banned from adding to squad

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      BARCELONA’S attempt to register wonderkid Gavi as a first-team player has been REJECTED by LaLiga – and the Spanish giants are banned from adding to their squad.Gavi, 18, is currently listed as an academy player despite being a full Spain international.
      Barca have been blocked from registering Gavi as a first-team playerCredit: Rex
      The midfielder signed a new contract in September and Barca thought it followed LaLiga’s criteria for a first-team player.
      And so they were confident their request to register Gavi would go through when they sent over the documentation.
      But according to The Athletic, Barca’s attempt to register the La Masia wonderkid was turned down.
      Barca are now unable to register any new contracts on their wage bill due to LaLiga’s salary caps.
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      The Nou Camp club had thought the departures of Memphis Depay and Gerard Pique would allow them to register Gavi.
      Barca have a negative balance, which is largely due to their Champions League exit in the group stages.
      And so LaLiga did not validate Gavi’s extension.
      Barca will have to significantly reduce their wage bill in summer, or find new sponsorships to register contracts.
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      They will also not be able to call upon last summer’s tricks and pull any more economic levers.
      It allowed Barca to register players but this avenue has been stopped after LaLiga changed its rules to reduce their impact on the salary limit calculation.
      Barca have been saving the No6 in their squad for Gavi since last summer.
      They wanted to hand Gavi the iconic shirt worn by current manager Xavi.
      But he will have to stick with the No30 as he cannot wear a squad number below 25 due to technically still being an academy player.
      Defender Ronald Araujo is in the same situation as Gavi.
      He agreed to a contract extension until 2026 but is still not registered with LaLiga as a first-team player. More

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      Arsenal target Ivan Fresneda misses training with Real Valladolid as he’s set to make decision on future TODAY

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      REAL VALLADOLID wonderkid Ivan Fresneda reportedly missed training today as he decides whether to sign for Arsenal or Borussia Dortmund.We reported earlier how the Gunners and Dortmund had agreed a £13.1million deal for the right-back.
      Arsenal target Ivan Fresneda missed training with Real Valladolid todayCredit: Getty
      The Spaniard, 18, has shone at Real Valladolid in LaLiga this season and has attracted interest from a number of clubs including Newcastle.
      But now the star appears to have a straight choice between joining Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders or the Bundesliga giants.
      Spanish outlet Marca claims that Fresneda was “absent with discomfort” from the club’s training session earlier.
      Arsenal have allowed full-back Cedric Soares, 31, to depart the Emirates and join Fulham on loan for the rest of the season.
      READ MORE ON ARSENAL
      That has freed up space in the squad for the potential arrival of the Spanish U19 international.
      It has been widely-reported that Dortmund believe they are ahead of the Gunners in the chase for the teen’s signature.
      They are currently in a battle for a top four spot in the Bundesliga, sitting sixth but just seven points off leaders Bayern Munich.
      Meanwhile, Arsenal are top of the Premier League, five points ahead of defending champions Man City.
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      But whichever outfit he eventually opts for, it is also expected that Fresneda will spend the remainder of the campaign with Valladolid on loan.
      He has already made 12 appearances this term, but he has been unable to stop Valladolid’s shocking recent form.
      The club have lost five games in a row in LaLiga and are without a win since the beginning of November.
      As a result of their poor run, they have slipped into the relegation zone. More

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      Ex-Arsenal ace denied Sevilla transfer due to fitness concerns as Spanish club recall disastrous Anthony Martial loan

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      FORMER Arsenal starlet Jeff Reine-Adelaide was denied a loan move to Sevilla over fitness concerns – with the Spanish club recalling Anthony Martial’s disastrous six-month stay.Sevilla reached an agreement with Lyon for a loan deal with an option to buy for £10.5million.
      Jeff Reine-Adelaide saw the plug be pulled on a loan move to Sevilla over fitness concerns
      Sevilla were keen to avoid a repeat of Anthony Martial’s disastrous six-month loanCredit: PA
      Reine-Adelaide, 25, even under went medical tests, but the results raised concerns for relegation-threatened Sevilla.
      According to L’Equipe, medical staff detected a lack of pace during the tests.
      The midfielder had only recently recovered from a knee injury, and is said to have needed another few weeks to get back up to full match fitness.
      Marca report that Sevilla were keen to avoid a repeat of Manchester United star Martial’s loan, which saw the only highly-rated player pick up three injuries.
      READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS
      The Spaniards did not want a serious injury from Reine-Adelaide’s past to creep back up in such a crucial time.
      The six-time Europa League winners are sat 15th in LaLiga after 18 games – one point above the drop zone.
      Sevilla secured a 1-0 win in their last outing against relegation rivals Cadiz.
      Former Barcelona ace Ivan Rakitic held his nerve to convert a late penalty.
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      Reine-Adelaide will now return to Lyon and assess his options.
      The former Arsenal star has only featured 14 times this season, one of those being a start.
      The Frenchman has also failed to register a goal or an assist. More

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      Real Madrid want Jude Bellingham in sensational swap transfer as they ‘prepare offer of £88m AND Eduardo Camavinga’

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      REAL MADRID are reportedly desperate to sign Jude Bellingham ahead of a string of Premier League clubs.And they are ready to offer £88million AND Eduardo Camavinga in exchange for the Borussia Dortmund star this summer.
      Real Madrid are set to bid £88m for Borussia Dortmund star Jude BellinghamCredit: Getty
      Real are also ready to offer Eduardo Camavinga as part of their bidCredit: Rex
      Sky Germany claims Real chiefs are ready to make an offer their German counterparts can’t refuse as the race for Bellingham heats up.
      The England ace, 19, is one of Europe’s most sought-after players after an outstanding World Cup campaign.
      And Bellingham is being chased by almost all of the Premier League’s top sides to spark a major summer scramble.
      However, Real believe they can land the teen as long as they can persuade Dortmund into accepting an offer.
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      The Spanish champs can’t afford the reported £135m price-tag, having already committed to a £60m deal for 16-year-old Brazilian winger Endrick.
      So Real are instead plotting to bid a tasty £88m fee while also handing over Camavinga in exchange.
      Like Bellingham, the 20-year-old France international is rated as one of the continent’s top young midfielders.
      However, it appears Real see Bellingham as the better long-term prospect for their ambitions.
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      And they are reportedly ready to sacrifice Camavinga to get a deal over the line.
      The tempting swap-plus-cash proposal could be enough to twist Dortmund’s arm.
      It would firstly provide the Bundesliga side with an immediate like-for-like replacement.
      And they would also have a stunning amount of money to significantly strengthen several other areas of their squad.
      Most importantly, Camavinga is apparently open to the idea as well after struggling for minutes at Real this season.
      And on the other side of the deal, it would take a lot to dissuade Bellingham from linking up with fellow young icons like Vinicius Jr and Aurelien Tchouameni. More

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      Inside Gareth Bale’s stunning garden golf course based on legendary holes as he enters tournament days after retiring

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      GARETH BALE will be able to get plenty of practice in ahead of his PGA Tour debut – as he has a selection of iconic holes in his garden.The former footballer announced his retirement in January 2023 and 15 days later revealed he would be teeing off in a pro-am golf tournament.
      Gareth Bale is a keen golfer and has a brilliant set-up in his gardenCredit: Dugout
      Former Wales ace Bale often had golf on his mind during his careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The 33-year-old signed up to join 156 amateurs and professionals, including Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and Patrick Cantlay, at Pebble Beach, California in early February.
      And he has the perfect set-up at home to get his eye in.
      The ex-Real Madrid ace’s stunning Welsh estate has a mini golf course, which he has been carefully sculpting over recent years.
      His chosen three holes were the 12th at Augusta, Royal Troon’s Postage Stamp and the tricky par-three 17th at Sawgrass.
      The 17th at Sawgrass is immediately recognisableCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Gareth Bale’s estate in Wales has a mini course on redeveloped landCredit: Dugout
      Bale said: “As I moved here I had a lovely bit of land here and I had something I really wanted to do with it and decided that I would love to make a dream come true and build a mini golf course in my house.”From a plain piece of land to build what we have now it was a lot of hard work and a lot of craftsmanship.
      “It’s a lot better than I ever thought it could be and I’m just so happy I’ve got it here now and so happy that I chose Southwest Greens.”
      In 2015, keen golfer Bale helped Wales beat England, Ireland and Scotland in the Celebrity Cup at Celtic Manor.
      Bale revealed he would take part in a PGA Tour pro-am just weeks after retiring from footballCredit: Instagram @garethbale11
      The Welshman adores the game and gets in a round at every opportunityCredit: Getty – Contributor
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      He added: “I try to play as much golf as possible. In fact, I’m obsessed with it.
      “I’ve not really thought about what I’ll be doing in 20 years when I’m retired from football, but, hopefully, I will be playing golf.”
      Bale was frequently mocked during his time at the Bernabeu for prioritising Wales and golf over the famous Los Blancos.
      So much so that he even joined in holding up a famous banner declaring his passions were in that order.
      And at the World Cup in 2022, the Dragons captain had to ban himself from using the hotel golf simulator in case he got injured.
      But with his football boots now hung up after a brief stint in the MLS with Los Angeles, he can dedicate even more time to his beloved golf.
      Gareth Bale modelled his course on famous holesCredit: Dugout
      The world’s best golfers will be taking on the 12th hole at AugustaCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Gareth Bale has his own version in WalesCredit: Dugout
      The Postage Stamp is a tricky green to hitCredit: Alamy
      Bale has painstakingly recreated the famous holeCredit: Dugout More