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      Barcelona return for Depay but offer Lyon star HALF original pay packet despite transfer interest from three Euro giants

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      BARCELONA have reportedly cut their salary offer for Memphis Depay by HALF amid the club’s economic turmoil.The upcoming contract negotiations with Lionel Messi will coincide with attempts to reinforce Ronald Koeman’s squad on the cheap.
      Memphis Depay is set to become a free agent in the summerCredit: AFP
      The Dutch coach has wanted to sign compatriot Depay, 27, for almost a year but will have to wait until he leaves Lyon as a free agent in the summer.
      According to Spanish outlet Onze TV3, talks are underway with both Koeman and the player intent on reuniting at the Camp Nou.
      However, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, the winger is not being offered the same terms as in previous talks.
      Barcelona are said to have sat down with Depay’s camp in October in the hope of a January window switch to replace Ousmane Dembele.
      French winger Dembele stayed put and therefore, given the club’s tight financial picture, their pay packet offer to Depay has reportedly been halved.
      The former Manchester United flop’s desire to sign for the Catalans will be tested amid talk of rival interest.
      Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Inter Milan are all described as keen on a move and would offer a bigger wage.
      Depay has rebuilt his career in Lyon having left Old Trafford in 2017.
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      The club are battling to qualify for the Champions League and are a point off third-placed Monaco, who they face tonight in the Coupe de France.
      Barcelona are also linked with the free agent captures of Georginio Wijnaldum and Eric Garcia in the summer.
      But, like Depay, Manchester City defender Garcia is said to have been offered a lower salary than discussed earlier in the season.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Olympique Lyonnais star Memphis Depay shows off his physique as he works out at his luxury villa More

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      Even Florentino Perez’s Real Madrid stars hit out at European Super League as they ‘like’ David Beckham’s damning post

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      THE WALLS continued to close in on Florentino Perez’s European Super League dream as his own stars began to show their discontent.Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, Lucas Vazquez, Marcelo and Alvaro Odriozola all ‘liked’ David Beckham’s critique of the plot, as spotted by Marca.
      Florentino Perez’s European Super League is in tattersCredit: AFP
      A post by David Beckham has been ‘liked’ by a number of Real Madrid stars
      The England legend decried the game being ‘in danger’ as the ESL proposals emerged – before spectacularly collapsing under the weight of fan criticism.
      Los Blancos club president Perez, recently re-elected to 2025, spearheaded the operation financed by US bank JP Morgan.
      The 74-year-old cited the supposedly declining interest of young people in football as one key reason behind the ESL.
      But there was a sense of irony as the man who shot to fame through his Galactico transfers was called out by two of his most iconic signings.
      Beckham wrote on Instagram: “I’m someone who loves football. It has been my life for as long as I can remember.
      “I loved it from when I was a young child as a fan, and I’m still a fan now.
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      “As a player and now as an owner I know that our sport is nothing without the fans. We need football to be for everyone.
      “We need football to be fair and we need competitions based on merit. Unless we protect these values the game we love is in danger…”
      The statement came after Luis Figo, who controversially traded Barcelona for Madrid upon Perez’s first election win in 2000, slammed the ESL.
      He stated: “This so called ‘Super League’ is anything but ‘Super’.
      “This greedy and callous move would spell disaster for our grassroots, for women’s football, and the wider football community only to serve self-interested owners, who stopped caring about their fans long ago, and complete disregard for sporting merit. Tragic.”
      Inter Miami owner Beckham, 45, also played for ESL pair AC Milan and Manchester United, with the Red Devils already jumping ship.

      Reuters have quoted ESL vice-chairman and Juventus chief Andrea Agnelli as admitting the proposals cannot continue after the six Premier League clubs withdrew.
      Real president Perez failed to make a planned appearance on Spanish TV show El Larguero on Tuesday night as the plot crumbled.
      And he is facing a continued backlash across LaLiga with Villarreal president Fernando Roig declaring on Wednesday: “He is selfish, selfish and also… selfish. He only thinks of Real Madrid.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Furious fans flock to Man Utd, Chelsea and Prem Big Six stadiums for second day of protests over European Super League

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      PLANS to create a new European Super League involving only the game’s richest clubs led to a second day of furious fan protests.Premier League teams involved in the proposals have faced a huge backlash from their own faithful.
      Thierry Henry’s statue held a card asking for ‘our Arsenal back’ on TuesdayCredit: EPA
      Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium was adorned with a ‘Shame on you’ placardCredit: Getty
      On Tuesday, a number of supporters turned up on their club’s doorstep to demand they backtrack from the controversial plot.
      Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool have signed up to the ESL alongside three Spanish and three Italian teams.
      The proposals will take clubs out of the Champions League and into a new closed-shop setup, where teams qualify regardless of their performance.
      Uefa, Fifa, the UK Government and the Premier League are among the bodies to threaten the plotters with significant punishment, including throwing them out of this year’s competitions.
      While European football’s governing body and 14 other top-flight English clubs met on Tuesday, protests continued.
      Outside Liverpool’s home of Anfield, banners reading ‘FSG OUT’ and ‘SUPER GREED’ were hung up to condemn the club’s owners.
      A bouquet of flowers was left at Anfield with the message ‘RIP LFC’Credit: Reuters
      A banner at Liverpool called for owners FSG to leave the clubCredit: PA
      A Manchester United fan turned up at Old Trafford with an ‘RIP The Working Class’ messageCredit: PA
      Another supporter appeared at Chelsea to condemn his club’s plan to join the ESLCredit: Rex
      The Reds’ home will no longer feature fan banners across the empty seats after supporters’ groups demanded they be removed.
      Blues fans are set to appear en masse outside their home to demonstrate before Tuesday’s clash with Brighton, echoing Monday’s display before Leeds’ draw with Liverpool.
      Due to the coronavirus pandemic, supporters have been largely unable to make their feelings known in person with games played behind closed doors.
      The statue of Thierry Henry at Emirates Stadium was handed a cardboard message that read: “Give us our Arsenal back.”
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      Another banner put up at Old Trafford condemned the projectCredit: PA
      Another Anfield flag declared ‘RIP’ for the clubCredit: PA
      One Liverpool banner attacked the club’s American ownersCredit: Getty
      On Monday, fans turned up at Leeds’ draw with Liverpool to slate the ESLCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      At Old Trafford, Manchester United fans put up a banner stating: “We adored you and you sold our souls. RIP MUFC 1878-2021.”
      One placard attached to the gates at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium simply read ‘Shame on you’ alongside two club scarves.
      The protests were not limited to England with a message from Barcelona fans posted onto the Camp Nou.
      Their statement read: “FCB is our life, not your toy. Super League, NO.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      UEFA President Infantino says Super League a ‘disgrace’ and clubs must face consequences More

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      Arsenal ‘approve Hector Bellerin transfer’ with PSG ‘best placed’ to sign £22m defender ahead of Barcelona

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      HECTOR BELLERIN is edging towards a summer move to Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports.Arsenal are said to be ready to accept a fee of £22million despite the Spaniard being under contract until 2023.
      Hector Bellerin could end his ten-year association with Arsenal in the summerCredit: EPA
      A huge overhaul of Mikel Arteta’s playing squad begun last year and could see the club cashing in on Bellerin.
      The right-back arrived as an academy starlet from Barcelona in 2011 and has gone on to make almost 250 appearances for the Gunners.
      But, according to Spanish publication Sport, he is ready for a new challenge.
      And Arsenal are described as willing to sell Bellerin, 26, if negotiations with PSG are successful.
      Les Parisiens have reportedly enquired about the defender to his agent with the hope of reducing the £22m asking price.
      The right-back spot has been identified as an area of improvement for Les Parisiens.
      Roma loanee Alessandro Florenzi and Colin Dagba have been rotated in the position this season, although PSG are set to sign the Italian on a permanent basis for £8m.
      Barcelona have long been rumoured to be interested in their former player but are well-stocked in that department with Sergino Dest and Sergi Roberto.
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      Meanwhile, Arsenal will be able to fall back on Calum Chambers and Cedric Soares if Bellerin leaves.
      Chambers has made a strong comeback from a long-term knee injury to appear in four of the last six Premier League games.
      Arteta is thought to be prioritising recruiting a left-back in the coming summer, to provide an alternative to Kieran Tierney.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Lionel Messi’s wife ‘house hunting in Barcelona in HUGE indication Argentine is set to stay and sign new deal’

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      LIONEL MESSI’S wife Antonela Roccuzzo is reportedly house-hunting for a new property near Barcelona in a new sign the star striker could remain with the Catalan giants.Barcelona president Joan Laporta said after Messi lifted the Copa del Rey on Saturday having scored twice in his side’s 4-0 win over Atletico Bilbao that he was ‘convinced’ the Argentine wanted to stay.
      Lionel Messi’s wife Antonella has been househunting in BarcelonaCredit: Refer to Caption
      The report has sparked rumours the Argentine legend is set to stay at the Nou CampCredit: Instagram
      And on Tuesday it was claimed Antonela is looking for a new house for the couple and their children in the Garraf region just south of the Catalan capital.
      The mum-of-three is said to have been searching for a property in the coastline area, just over half an hour’s drive south of Barcelona, for several weeks.
      The Garraf region includes the popular resort town of Sitges, where Messi owns a four-star hotel.
      It has not been made clear whether the football star and his childhood sweetheart are planning to buy a new property as an investment or want to move from their current home on the exclusive Bellamar residential estate in Castelldefels which is slightly nearer Barcelona.
      They bought the mansion for £3.5million in 2009 and have spent more than £5m on renovations.
      The property is close to the place team-mate Philippe Coutinho was living at when he was burgled in February 2018 soon after signing for Barcelona from Liverpool.
      Former team-mate Luiz Suarez’s nearby home was also targeted a month before that in a crime blamed on an Albanian mob dubbed the Kojak gang.
      The house-hunting reports emerged a couple of days after Messi’s dad and agent Jorge was spotted in Barcelona.
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      He was seen watching a Barcelona B match on Sunday with another son Rodrigo after jetting to the Catalan capital from Miami for the first time since Lionel’s attempted departure from Barcelona last year.
      Jorge is expected to sit down with Laporta for talks on his son’s future once Barcelona complete an internal audit of its accounts and is in a better position to know what it can offer Messi to try to persuade him to stay at Nou Camp.
      In the meantime the star’s dad is expected to fly to Italy to deal with personal commitments.
      Messi’s current Barcelona deal expires on June 30.
      The Argentina international sought to leave the Catalan club last summer but stayed put after Barcelona threatened to take the 33-year-old to court if he pushed through with his attempt to depart.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Furious Liverpool and Tottenham fans protest European Super League plot outside stadiums with more supporters to follow More

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      Cheeky Real Betis remove Atletico, Real Madrid and Barcelona from LaLiga table after European Super League bombshell

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      REAL BETIS have removed Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona from the LaLiga table following news of the trio’s involvement in the European Super League.On Sunday, it emerged the Spanish giants have signed up to be part of the breakaway league – which will include a further 12 of Europe’s big clubs.
      Real Betis have removed Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona from the LaLiga tableCredit: REAL BETIS
      The LaLiga table as it currently standsCredit: GOOGLE
      And Betis have wasted little time in moving on, removing the LaLiga giants from the league table on their official website.
      The modified table has Sevilla, Villarreal and Betis occupying first, second and third place respectively – which Atletico, Real and Barca currently sit in.
      Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool represent the European Super League’s English contingent.
      Serie A big boys Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus make up the 12 ‘founding clubs’.
      A further three teams will be invited to make up the 15-team league, which has sparked global outrage.
      Football governing bodies Uefa and Fifa have reacted furiously to the plans and have threatened to impose bans on the clubs and players who participate in the league.
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      And uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has branded the proposal a ‘spit in the face of all football lovers.’
      He said: “We’re still assessing the situation with our legal team. It’s a bit too early.
      “We will take all the sanctions that we can and we will inform you as soon as we have a clear answer.
      “My opinion is that, as soon as possible, the players have to be banned from all our competitions.
      “I cannot stress more strongly Uefa and the footballing world are united against the disgraceful, self-serving proposals we have seen, fuelled purely by greed.
      “It’s a nonsense of a project. This idea is a spit in the face for all footballer lovers and our society.
      “We will not allow them to take this away from us.”

      ⚽ ⚽ EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE LATEST ⚽ ⚽

      Furious Liverpool and Tottenham fans made their views known by staging protests outside of Anfield and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
      The Premier League voiced their fury at the plans for the breakaway league in a joint statement with the English Football Association, Uefa, EFA, LaLiga and Serie A.
      It read: “UEFA, the English Football Association and the Premier League, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and LaLiga, and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Lega Serie A have learned that a few English, Spanish and Italian clubs may be planning to announce their creation of a closed, so-called Super League.
      This is arguably the best XI of players who as it stands would play in the European Super League

      “If this were to happen, we wish to reiterate that we – UEFA, the English FA, RFEF, FIGC, the Premier League, LaLiga, Lega Serie A, but also FIFA and all our member associations – will remain united in our efforts to stop this cynical project, a project that is founded on the self-interest of a few clubs at a time when society needs solidarity more than ever.
      “We will consider all measures available to us, at all levels, both judicial and sporting in order to prevent this happening. Football is based on open competitions and sporting merit; it cannot be any other way.
      “As previously announced by FIFA and the six Federations, the clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level, and their players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams.
      “We thank those clubs in other countries, especially the French and German clubs, who have refused to sign up to this.
      “We call on all lovers of football, supporters and politicians, to join us in fighting against such a project if it were to be announced.
      “This persistent self-interest of a few has been going on for too long. Enough is enough.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      Frustrated Man Utd star Eric Bailly set to be offered transfer escape by ex-City boss Manuel Pellegrini at Real Betis

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      ERIC BAILLY is poised to be offered a way out of Manchester United by former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini.SunSport exclusively revealed last month that the Ivorian plans to snub a new deal at Old Trafford.
      Eric Bailly has struggled for fitness at Old TraffordCredit: Getty
      The centre-back has made just eight Premier League appearances this season.
      He will be out of contract next summer and has struggled for game time amid competition from Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.
      Reports in Spain now claim Real Betis, managed by ex-City and West Ham chief Pellegrini, want the Ivory Coast international this summer.
      Central defender Aissa Mandi is set to leave the LaLiga club when his contract expires in June.
      Seville-based Betis are understood to be prepared to meet United’s likely £13million asking price for Bailly.
      And the 27-year-old would relish a return to Spain, having played for Espanyol and Villarreal before a £30m move to Old Trafford in 2016.

      Manuel Pellegrini is the man in charge at Real BetisCredit: Reuters
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      Bailly has not played since testing positive for Covid-19 following international duty last month.
      He helped the Red Devils win the Europa League and League Cup in his first season with United.
      But the defender has since been plagued with injuries, and has managed just 100 Red Devils appearances in five years.

      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Man Utd’s Eric Bailly shows what he is made of in high intensity training More

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      Messi’s dad and agent in Barcelona and set for crunch talks with club over star’s new contract

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      BARCELONA are set for crunch talks over Lionel Messi’s contract situation after the player’s father landed in the city.Jorge Messi was seen taking in a Barcelona B match on Sunday having flown in from his Miami home.
      Jorge Messi will be a key figure in contract negotiationsCredit: Reuters
      Lionel Messi led Barcelona to a Copa del Rey triumph on SaturdayCredit: Reuters
      It was his first visit to Spain since his son’s attempted departure from the club last year.
      As the Argentine’s agent as well as his father, Jorge will play a crucial role in the upcoming negotiations.
      And the Barcelona top brass were sat nearby at Estadi Johan Cruyff for the clash with Villarreal B, including technical secretary Ramon Planes, assistant coach Alfred Schreuder, Leo’s brother Rodrigo, and midfielder Pedri.
      But, according to Marca, Messi Snr. will soon fly on to Italy for personal commitments before sitting down with the club.
      The LaLiga side are reportedly not ready to make an offer to their talisman’s camp.
      The unfolding financial crisis at the Camp Nou has led to club president Joan Laporta taking stock before talks begin.
      He nonetheless described the deal as ‘progressing adequately’ in the week.
      With Messi’s deal expiring on June 30, the clock is ticking on an agreement being reached.
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      But Barcelona are focused on hunting down this season’s LaLiga title in the meantime.
      The 33-year-old scored twice in Saturday’s 4-0 demolition of Athletic Club to win his seventh Copa del Rey.
      A day later, leaders Atletico Madrid thumped Eibar 5-0 to pull three points clear of Real Madrid and five clear of Barcelona.
      Ronald Koeman’s side make up their game in hand against Getafe on Thursday and host Atletico next month.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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