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    Barcelona transfer chaos as new signings Christensen and Kessie could leave for FREE if not registered by Saturday

    BARCELONA pair Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie could sensationally LEAVE as free transfers without playing a competitive match.Both men arrived for nothing at the Nou Camp earlier in the window after running their contracts down at Chelsea and AC Milan respectively.
    Barcelona snapped up Andreas Christensen on a free transfer earlier in the windowCredit: Rex
    Franck Kessie turned down a new deal at AC Milan in order to link up with BarcaCredit: Getty
    But with three days to go until the start of the new LaLiga season, they are yet to be registered with the Spanish league.
    It was claimed last month how the Blaugrana were unable to register the duo due to financial fair play restrictions.
    And according to ESPN, they could now leave for free if they aren’t registered before Barca’s opener against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.
    They state that they may decide to execute a clause in their deals in Catalonia that will see their contracts ripped up.
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    It has also been said that fellow new arrivals Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde are also yet to be registered.
    But their situation is different as they were not snapped up on free transfers.
    The news outlet has declared that while Christensen and Kessie have an option to leave, there is no suggestion it will come to that.
    And if that looked to be a possibility, the club would speak to their team to avoid such an embarrassing outcome.
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    As well as Barca’s new arrivals, they also haven’t been able to register Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto after they penned new deals.
    With Barca struggling for funds, they are hoping to offload Frenkie de Jong, despite the midfielder wanting to stay.
    It has been claimed how Chelsea are closing in on a £67.6million agreement for the Holland international.
    Manchester United are said to be refusing to give up hope of landing him with Erik ten Hag making the ex-Ajax ace his No1 target. More

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    Chelsea set to complete £67.6m Frenkie de Jong transfer with Barcelona agreement close in huge Man Utd blow

    CHELSEA have reportedly won the race to sign Frenkie de Jong with the club close to agreeing a £67.6million deal with Barcelona.The news will come as a huge blow to Manchester United who had made the midfielder their No1 target this summer.
    Barcelona and Chelsea are in advanced negotiations over midfielder Frenkie de JongCredit: Getty
    Despite the 25-year-old claimed to be unwilling to depart the Nou Camp, Barca are pushing for him to leave.
    According to Sport, Chelsea and Barca are in advanced negotiations over a £67.6m transfer.
    They state that the Blues only opened talks a few days ago to sign the Dutch midfielder, but they have acted quickly in trying to secure his services.
    The Red Devils are understood to have already agreed a deal with the LaLiga outfit for De Jong, but he is refusing to make the move to Old Trafford.
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    But in a boost for Chelsea, they can offer the ex-Ajax maestro Champions League football, whereas United will be competing in the Europa League this term.
    However Sport have insisted that the final decision will come down to De Jong.
    They state that the player is aware the Spanish giants are prepared to sell him to ease their financial situation.
    That is despite president Joan Laporta and boss Xavi keen for him to stay at the club.
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    De Jong was offered an ultimatum by Barca last month to either accept a pay cut or be sold.
    Barcelona already owe De Jong £17m in unpaid wages after the midfielder agreed to defer the payment of his salary during the pandemic.
    It has even been said that the Spanish giants are threatening legal action against De Jong in their quest to get him to slash his wages.
    Still, Sport have insisted that it remains to be seen whether he will depart Catalonia before the transfer window shuts.
    The next few hours are believed to be crucial with Chelsea in constant contact agent with De Jong’s team as they look to convince him to make the move to Stamford Bridge. More

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    Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema admits that Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer exit in 2018 helped him change game for the better

    REAL MADRID star Karim Benzema has admitted that Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2018 exit helped him change his game for the better. Benzema has stepped up to the plate since 444-goal Ronaldo’s transfer away from the club.
    Benzema says his game has improved since Ronaldo’s 2018 exitCredit: Reuters
    The Frenchman helped Real win two LaLiga titles and a Champions League, putting him on course to record a career-first Ballon d’OrCredit: Reuters
    The Frenchman has scored 131 goals since the summer of 2018 across all competitions, helping Real win two LaLiga titles and last season’s Champions League.
    His incredible goal scoring form earned him a France recall for Euro 2020, he’ll lead the line at the Qatar World Cup AND he’s favourite to win the 2022 Ballon d’Or.
    And Benzema attributes his uptake in form to Ronaldo’s exit, with his focus shifting away from providing assists.
    The 34-year-old said, as carried by the Irish Examiner: “It’s been different for me since Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid.
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    “It’s true that I’ve scored many more goals, but when Cristiano was here, we had a different style of play, I was providing more assists.
    “He really helped me on and off the pitch.
    “But at that time, I did know that I could do more and when he left, it was the time to change my game, change my ambitions and I am doing that well at the moment.”
    Things haven’t exactly gone to plan for Ronaldo since leaving Real.
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    The 37-year-old’s adventure in Turin with Juventus failed to produce a Champions League title for the Italian giants.
    And his return to Manchester United saw the Old Trafford club record a sixth placed finish in the Premier League – just about enough to book a place in the Europa League. More

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    Arsenal in Yeremy Pino transfer boost with Villarreal ‘ready to accept bid of around £34m if player wants to leave’

    ARSENAL have reportedly received a boost in their pursuit of Villarreal starlet Yeremy Pino ahead of a potential summer swoop.The Gunners, as well as Liverpool, are claimed to be interested in the 19-year-old winger with boss Mikel Arteta keen to bring in another forward.
    Villarreal winger Yeremy Pino is on Arsenal’s radar ahead of a potential moveCredit: Getty
    Big things are expected of the teenager, who chipped in with seven goals and four assists in 40 games in all competitions last season.
    His fine form saw him called up for senior duty for Spain in October, where he has since made four appearances under Luis Enrique.
    Understood to boast a release clause worth a whopping £67million, it is believed that Villarreal would be willing to sell him for considerably less.
    According to AS, the LaLiga outfit are bracing themselves to receive an offer in the region of £34m-£42m.
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    Should they receive that much money, it has been said that they would likely accept it as it would ease their economic situation.
    And the sale could match or eclipse their record departure which stands at £34m when Chinese side Beijing Guoan activated Cedric Bakambu’s release clause in February 2018.
    And Villarreal will be more likely to allow the transfer to take place if Pino expresses his desire to leave the club.
    The Spanish news outlet has also stated that it remains to be seen whether it will be Arsenal or Liverpool that make the first move for the 2021 Europa League winner.
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    Arteta witnessed Pino first hand in May 2021 after the player starred against Arsenal in the Europa League semi-final second leg at the Emirates.
    He gave left-back Kieran Tierney a torrid time in North London as the Yellow Submarine avoided defeat to set up a final clash against Manchester United.
    Pino started the clash against the Red Devils, but was brought off in the 77th minute, with his side going on to win on penalties.
    Along with Pino, Bayer Levekusen ace Moussa Diaby has also been linked with a switch to Arsenal.
    Though with the Frenchman valued at £60m, the Gunners could decide against making a move.
    Pino featured against the Gunners in the Europa League semi-final in 2021Credit: Reuters More

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    Chelsea transfer blow as Frenkie de Jong ‘doesn’t want to leave Barcelona AT ALL’ despite contract dispute

    FRENKIE DE JONG has dealt Chelsea a huge blow in the transfer market after telling them he doesn’t want to leave Barcelona, reports suggest.Chelsea looked set to hijack De Jong’s transfer to Manchester United, but now it appears they could suffer the same fate as their Premier League rivals by failing to land him.
    Frenkie de Jong is set to snub Chelsea for a Barcelona stayCredit: AFP
    The Dutchman’s future has been a hot topic this summer, with Barcelona reportedly trying to force him out of the club in order to prevent them breaking financial fair play rules.
    The Spanish giant’s attempts to register a number of new signings has been rejected by LaLiga owing to their excessive wage bill, which the sale of De Jong would pay for.
    They are even said to have threatened him with legal action to revert back to his pre-2020 deal after finding “evidence of criminality” around the contract given to him by the club’s old board.
    Regardless, De Jong has no plans to leave.
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    As reported by Sport, the 25-year-old told Chelsea owner Todd Boehly of his intention to stay days ago, with the American then calling him to try and convince him.
    However, De Jong reaffirmed his desire to see out his contract at Barcelona which runs until 2026, and “does not want a move in any form.”
    Barca boss Xavi and club president Joan Laporta have both expressed their wish to keep De Jong at the club, and the midfielder’s performance in their last game shows why.
    Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has claimed to “know for a fact” that De Jong does not want a transfer to Man Utd.
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    But their disappointing performance against Brighton, particularly midfielders Fred and Scott McTominay, during Erik ten Hag’s first game will make their need for De Jong even more desperate.
    This being said, they have reportedly agreed a £15million deal to sign Adrien Rabiot from Juventus.
    Chelsea in contrast to United won their opening game against Everton.
    And despite a staggering outlay of over £160m on transfers, the club don’t appear to be finished yet.
    Deals for Leicester’s Wesley Fofana and former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are said to be in the works. More

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    Barcelona ‘prepare court battle with Frenkie de Jong, Pique, Ter Stegen and Lenglet as new deals set them back £263m’

    BARCELONA are reportedly preparing for a court battle with four of their OWN PLAYERS if they do not agree to scrap the contracts they signed nearly two years ago.Frenkie de Jong, Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet and Marc-Andre ter Stegen penned new-look contracts in October 2020 which saw them take a wage cut in the short-term to help the club’s financial situation.
    De Jong has had an ongoing salary battle with the club for some timeCredit: Rex
    Pique signed a contract reducing his wages in the short-term to help the clubCredit: Rex
    The deals were the final action of outgoing president Josep Maria Bartomeu’s reign as he departed one week later.
    The plan was to pay the players back in the following seasons – a move that came with a total extra salary cost of £263million in the long term.
    But now Barca’s current regime – headed by president Joan Laporta – is making the case that there is “evidence of criminality” within the deals signed in 2020.
    The club want the four players involved to give the green light to annul those deals and revert back to the contracts they had in place beforehand.
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    If the individuals do not agree to do so, Sport are reporting that Barca are willing to go to court.
    The plan would be to allege the contracts written up by the previous directors are not valid.
    Barca are said to have been preparing for a court battle for three months.
    Pique’s contract extension was until 2024, Ter Stegen’s until 2025, while De Jong and Lenglet furthered their deals until 2026.
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    De Jong is reportedly owed £14.5m in wages by Barcelona – a factor which has contributed to holding up his move to Manchester United.
    He understandably feels he is owed the money as he agreed to wage reductions for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 campaigns with the knowledge that they would be supplemented in the following four seasons.
    Laporta claimed last week that both De Jong and Barca are now keen for him to stay at the Nou Camp.
    Pique and Ter Stegen remain part of Xavi’s squad – although there are reports that Pique has been told he is surplus to requirements.
    Lenglet has been sent out on loan to Tottenham for the 2022/23 season.
    Lenglet is currently on loan at Tottenham from BarcelonaCredit: Getty
    Ter Stegen has spent eight years at Barcelona since joining in 2014Credit: Getty More

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    Barcelona ‘get £32m tax hit after inflating value of TV rights and still haven’t registered their summer signings’

    BARCELONA reportedly paid about £126million of their own money to inflate the value of the club’s TV rights.It happened as part of the deal to sell a 25 per cent stake of future TV rights to Sixth Street, according to Spanish radio station COPE.
    Bayern Munich legend Robert Lewandowski was one of three big summer signings by Barcelona this summerCredit: Getty
    And it means the LaLiga giants must now pay about £32m in tax on that payment, according to the report.
    COPE claims the Catalans set up a holding company called Logksley Investments SL to facilitate the deal.
    The injection of extra cash – a perfectly legal manoeuvre – is said to have boosted the sale price from about £436m to £562m.
    Barcelona were hoping the inflated amount would count as new income.
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    However, COPE says LaLiga has only accepted the lower amount as being the value of the sale.
    The radio station says the move was made to satisfy LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play rules.
    Barca were required to stay within the FFP rules with their summer signings of Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde.
    The trio of international stars arrived at the Nou Camp for a reported combined amount of around £130m.
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    The report also says Barca will need to sell more of their current stars to be able to make further signings within FFP rules.
    And it says player sales will also be needed to register their three big new signings with LaLiga.
    Barca’s finances have been under scrutiny since it was revealed last year they were close to £1billion in debt.
    Xavi’s side warmed up for the new season by thrashing Mexican giants Pumas 6-0 to win the Joan Gamper Trophy on Sunday night. More

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    Former Arsenal and Tottenham target Isco signs for Sevilla on free transfer after Real Madrid exit

    SEVILLA have confirmed they have reached an agreement to sign Isco on a free transfer.The Spanish playmaker had been linked with a number of Premier League clubs earlier this year, including Arsenal and Tottenham.
    Sevilla have confirmed they have reached an agreement to sign IscoCredit: Reuters
    But he will now join Sevilla for free after leaving Real Madrid earlier this summer.
    Isco will undergo a medical outfit with the LaLiga outfit on Monday, the club confirmed.
    The 30-year-old will then officially put pen to paper on a two-year deal.
    Isco has spent the last nine years at Real Madrid, winning FIVE Champions League trophies in the process.
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    In total he played 353 games for Real, scoring 53 goals and providing 56 assists.
    But he fell out of favour in recent seasons at the Bernabeu, and started just three LaLiga games in the last campaign.
    Earlier this summer he bid an emotional farewell to Real Madrid ahead of his contract with the club expiring.
    He summed up his spell in the Spanish capital by saying he had had a “f***ing fun time”.
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    Isco wrote: “I was in Malaga and I knew I had to go. I got engaged to another team. But Real Madrid knocked on my door and Real Madrid cannot and should not be told no, although there are always exceptions.
    “I remember telling my people ‘f*** Madrid haven’t won the Champions League for many years and I have a feeling that it’s about to fall’ and LA DECIMA arrived, everything that comes after is already history.
    “Nine years later, my time at the club that has made it possible for me to fulfill all the dreams I had when I was little comes to an end.
    “Apart from fulfilling dreams, winning more titles than I had imagined, playing with the greatest, meeting incredible people: I HAVE HAD A F****** TIME AND THEY CAN’T TAKE MY DANCING OUT OF ME.” More