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      Gareth Bale’s four Tottenham goals have cost the club a whopping £3.4m EACH since Real Madrid loan

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      GARETH BALE has been a whopping £17,400-a-minute flop at Tottenham — with his four goals costing a staggering £3.4million EACH.
      And club insiders fear the Wales superstar was so badly ‘damaged’ at Real Madrid he may never get back to anything approaching his best again.

      Gareth Bale is costing Spurs a fortune for very little return so farCredit: AFP

      Bale, who left Spurs for the Spanish giants in 2013 for a then world-record fee of £86m, returned on a season-long loan on September 19 — exactly 21 weeks ago.
      As part of the deal, Spurs agreed to pay £250,000 of his £650k-a-week wage — with Real Madrid footing the rest.
      In his 21 weeks in North London, Bale has pocketed £13.65m.
      But the move has not gone as planned, with the four-times Champions League winner making just 15 appearances in all competitions — a total of 785 minutes.

      That works out at £17.4k for every 60 seconds of first-team football this season.
      But if you ignore the cup action and focus solely on his Premier League return — a paltry 231 minutes across six games — that figure rises to £59k.
      And the four goals he has mustered in all competitions have cost £3.4m each.
      It is why Spurs are having serious doubts about taking up the option to extend Bale’s loan for a second season.

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      Jose Mourinho and his staff are shocked by how far off the pace the Welshman is after his nightmare spell at Real MadridCredit: Alamy Live News

      The Wales skipper hardly played in his last 18 months at Real after being frozen out by Zinedine Zidane over issues with form and fitness.
      Spurs boss Jose Mourinho warned Bale would not be the same explosive player he once was.
      But SunSport understands even Mourinho and his coaching staff have been shocked by how far off the pace and how much of a shadow of his former self the returning hero has been.
      Insiders insist they are not only concerned about the star’s fitness but also his confidence, application and attitude in trying to make this move a success.
      There are worries if the 31-year-old still has the appetite to play through pain.
      Mourinho says he left Bale out of his squad for Wednesday’s 5-4 FA Cup exit at Everton after he told him he ‘was not comfortable with some muscular area’.
      Spurs are losing patience and Bale is losing face.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Rio Ferdinand slams Tottenham after FA Cup loss to Everton More

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      Luka Modric offers to slash pay to ‘whatever it takes’ to stay at Real Madrid for another season amid coronavirus crisis

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      LUKA MODRIC has reportedly offered to slash his pay in order to stay at Real Madrid for another season.
      Mundo Deportivo claims Modric made the proposal after a squad-wide second wage cut, brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, was rejected by the majority of Real’s first team.

      Luke Modric is ready to take a pay cut so he can extend his Real Madrid dealCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Modric, 35, is out of contract at the end of the season but has been one of Zinedine Zidane’s most reliable players this term.
      Only five players have clocked up more minutes than the Croatian midfielder.
      And Modric is eager to continue his Bernabeu adventure for at least one more year.
      The former Spurs man earns £390,000-a-week in the Spanish capital.

      But Modric has offered to take a hefty pay cut in order to earn a new deal for the 21/22 campaign.
      However, the report adds that he may be alone in making the proposal.
      It’s said that the majority of players are ‘surprised and annoyed’ at the latest pay cut talks.
      Real stars believe the club still plan on making big-money signings this summer, with PSG’s Kylian Mbappe and Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland linked.

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      And they feel the money they give up will go towards paying for another expensive addition.
      But it seems Modric is happy to forgo a bulk of his pay cheque in order to extend his Real stay for a tenth season.
      He joined Los Blancos from Spurs in 2012 for £30million and has gone on to score 26 times in 371 games.
      Modric has won a large number of trophies in that time, including two LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues.
      He also scooped the Ballon d’Or in 2018, ending Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s dominance.
      And Modric picked up the World Cup Golden Ball in the same year too after leading Croatia to the final in Russia, which they lost to France.

      Real Madrid star Isco slammed for taking one minute and 20 seconds to do his hair before warming up More

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      Neymar WILL miss Champions League clash at Barcelona and could sit out return leg as injured PSG ace ruled out for month

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      NEYMAR will MISS Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League clash at his old club Barcelona next Tuesday with a groin injury.
      The Brazilian could also be forced to sit out the second-leg in France on March 10 as he faces up to a month on the sidelines.

      Neymar will miss PSG’s Champions League game at Barcelona next TuesdayCredit: Icon Sport – Getty

      PSG’s star forward picked up the injury during Wednesday’s 1-0 Coupe de France victory at Caen.
      Boss Mauricio Pochettino was left exasperated after Neymar was replaced by Kylian Mbappe following a hefty collision on the hour-mark.
      The French giants were not hopeful after the game and hospital scans on Thursday confirmed their worst fears.
      Neymar, 29, has a grade two tear of his left adductor, according to reports from France.

      The former Barca star was seen looking glum as he left hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine on Thursday and his entourage confirmed the superstar’s diagnosis.
      PSG also said: “Neymar Jr suffered a lesion to the left adductor on Wednesday evening.
      “After analysis of clinical exams and scans, it is expected that he’ll be out for around four weeks depending on the evolution of the injury.”
      Neymar has not commented but tweeted on Wednesday night: “Honour and glory to God at all times.”

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      Honra e glória a Deus em todos os momentos 🙏🏽❤️
      — Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) February 10, 2021

      Neymar hobbled off injured in PSG’s win over Caen

      PSG travel to the Nou Camp for the mouth-watering tie as they look to progress to the last-eight of the competition they were runnners-up in last season.
      After news emerged of his injury against Caen, fans online suggested he had been struck by the curse of his sister’s birthday AGAIN.
      Coincidentally, the Brazilian superstar almost always appears to pick up a knock just before sister Rafaella Santos celebrates her big day.
      The ‘curse’ started in 2015 while playing for Barcelona.
      He was suspended after picking up too many yellow cards and Barca allowed him to attend her birthday.
      It was the same the following year when suspension allowed him to celebrate at her Disney-themed party.
      Fast forward to 2017 and a muscular injury again ruled him out of a clash with Deportivo – the day after her birthday.
      And the trend continued into 2018 and 2019 when injuries ruled him out of matches although he was still fit enough to party.
      Neymar has been heavily linked with a return to the Catalans since leaving for PSG in a world record £198million transfer 2017.
      But latest reports suggest he is set to sign a bumper new four-year contract which would keep him at PSG until he is 33.

      Neymar has a history of missing matches around his sister’s birthday

      Neymar certainly does not like to miss Rafaella’s birthday bash

      Teden Mengi reveals Man Utd trio Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba are three leaders of team WhatsApp chat More

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      Lionel Messi revealed as Spain’s biggest taxpayer for past four years – with staggering £324m paid after contract leak

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      LIONEL MESSI has been revealed as Spain’s biggest taxpayer for the past four years.
      The Barcelona superstar paid a staggering £324million to the taxman in that time, his leaked contract showed.

      Lionel Messi has paid a reported £324m in tax since signing his mammoth contract in November 2017Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Messi penned his latest Nou Camp contract in November 2017, running until the end of this season.
      But with the mammoth deal worth up to £492m – the biggest sporting contract in history – that also means the Argentine must pay significant income tax on his whopping wages.
      In fact, according to El Periodico, he is the single biggest contributor to the Spanish treasury and even pays more than many big companies.
      Of his annual pay packet of £121m, £58m is understood to be taxed – just shy of 50 per cent.

      Messi also pockets additional bonuses, such as the £120m ‘renewal fee’ simply for signing on the dotted line and £69m ‘loyalty bonus’ each year for staying put at Barca.
      It is added that Messi’s tax payments equal the average contributions of 120,000 Spanish citizens combined.
      On top of that, the report adds Messi has to pay tax on other wealth such as image rights and other businesses.
      Messi and his father Jorge were found guilty of tax fraud in July 2016 and originally handed suspended 21-month prison sentences. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner was also fined £1.5million.

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      At the time he admitted he wanted to leave Spain over the mess.
      The report also states Messi could have saved around £275m in tax if he moved to Andorra, where tax rates are just ten per cent.
      But there was no chance of that with Messi forced to ‘integrate into Catalan society and culture’ including by learning the language as part of his Barcelona contract.
      The bizarre clauses also mean he has the ability to trigger a free transfer should the Catalonia region become independent of Spain.
      Messi reportedly plots to sue Barcelona for the leak of the 30-page documentation to newspaper El Mundo.
      The club and former president Josep Maria Bartomeu both strenuously denied being behind the confidential contract getting publicised.

      Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta slams PSG for Messi transfer pursuit More

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      Isco slammed for taking one minute and 20 seconds to do his HAIR before warming up in new Real Madrid low

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      ISCO has been slammed for spending a minute and 20 seconds playing with his hair during Real Madrid’s clash with Getafe last night.
      Some fans were surprised when boss Zinedine Zidane opted against restoring Isco to his starting XI, instead preferring youngster Marvin Park.

      Isco fiddled with his barnet as he was meant to be warming up

      The Spaniard made sure his hair was inch perfect before shaking a leg

      Warming up could wait

      But when Zizou did eventually send the Spanish playmaker to warm up, he was more concerned with how he looked.
      Having been joined by fitness coach Gregory Dupont, Isco should have been being put through his paces.
      But in a video revealed by Marca, the 28-year-old had bigger concerns.
      The long-haired star spent 80 seconds perfecting his precious barnet, first slicking it back with water then tying it into a ponytail.

      He also grins and laughs, seemingly without a care in the world.
      The attacking midfielder, who has started just three games in LaLiga this season, was eventually called upon in the 76th minute.
      By this point, Madrid were comfortably leading 2-0, through goals from Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy.
      A former favourite of Zidane’s during his first spell at the club, Isco has been anything but this time around.

      Isco, 28, has been out of favour with boss Zinedine ZidaneCredit: EPA
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      In fact, he has played just 80 minutes of his side’s last 12 LaLiga matches, struggling to make an impact.
      Last night’s win took the reigning champions back into second ahead of Barcelona.
      But they remain five points behind city rivals Atletico, with Diego Simeone’s men possessing two games in hand.

      Football star Isco shows off his skills at the Real Madrid training ground More

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      Sevilla 2 Barcelona 0: Watch Kounde’s stunning solo goal before Rakitic scores against old club in Copa del Rey semi

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      BARCELONA’S nightmare spell continued as their old midfielder Ivan Rakitic scored for Sevilla to give them a huge advantage in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final.
      Jules Kounde scored a stunning solo goal to put the hosts 1-0 up before Croatian Rakitic struck to seal his former team’s fate.

      Ivan Rakitic barely celebrated scoring Sevilla’s second against his old clubCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Jules Kounde opened the scoring with a stunning solo goalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      French centre back Kounde opened the scoring in the 25th minute, dribbling from his own area and playing a one-two before bursting past four Barca players to confidently slot past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
      The Barca keeper made a superb save to prevent Sergio Escudero doubling Sevilla’s lead at the end of the first half.
      But Croatia midfielder Rakitic made sure of the victory with a thumping finish into the roof of the net in the 85th minute.
      Lionel Messi could have hit back but was thwarted by Sevilla keeper Bono.

      And Ronald Koeman’s side still couldn’t find the away goal they were looking for as the Andalusians kept a clean sheet to take a big advantage into the second leg at the Camp Nou on March 3.
      The ban on supporters attending matches due to coronavirus restrictions did little to dissuade locals getting fired up for the game and the home team’s bus was greeted by pockets of chanting fans letting off flares when it arrived.
      Barca made the better start and would have taken the lead but for the first of three outstanding saves from keeper Bono to thwart Messi – the Moroccan blocking the Argentine’s shot with his flailing leg.
      Kounde fired Barca a warning shot by shooting just wide of the far post and the 22-year-old soon steamrolled through the Barca defence to score the opener, further increasing his appeal to the top European clubs circling to sign him.

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      It just had to be…Ivan Rakitic! 😱An outstanding finish against his former club doubles Sevilla’s lead and puts them in the driver’s seat in this semi-final tie 👀 pic.twitter.com/c6nZBMZyU5
      — Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) February 10, 2021

      It was a frustrating night for Lionel Messi who had two good chancesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Sevilla, fourth in LaLiga and one point behind Barca, controlled the first half but Barca enjoyed more possession after the interval and Bono kept out another strike from Messi.
      The hosts found their second goal by storming forward on the counter-attack.
      Rakitic burst beyond his former team-mates to latch on to a punt forward and hammered past Ter Stegen for a goal he barely celebrated.

      Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta slams PSG for Messi transfer pursuit More

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      Barcelona ‘will not play Philippe Coutinho for rest of season’ to avoid paying Liverpool £4.5m transfer instalment

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      BARCELONA will not play Philippe Coutinho for the rest of the season to avoid paying Liverpool a £4.5million transfer installment, according to reports.
      The Catalan giants have been hit hard by the financial impact of Covid-19 and are desperate for ways to reduce their outgoings.

      Barcelona will not play Philippe Coutinho for the rest of the seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      They are said to be on the verge of bankruptcy after racking up debts close to £1BILLION.
      And freezing Coutinho out is one way they can save some cash, according to Spanish outlet Onze.
      Barca reportedly have to cough up the extra money if the 28-year-old plays seven more games for them this season.
      That is thanks to a clause included in the £145m deal that took him from Anfield to the Nou Camp in January 2018.

      But the LaLiga side will not let that happen and won’t use him unless they are desperate.
      Onze journalist Javi Miguel said: “One of the club’s priorities is to save [money] and he has variables for games played and Barca don’t want to pay more for him.
      “Barca have to pay £4.5m more in seven games and that will not happen.”
      Coutinho is currently out injured but is set to return to fitness in March.

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      Barcelona owe a fortune in transfer instalments

      But he will likely have to wait until next season to play first team football again.
      Barca are said to owe 19 other teams money in various transfer installments.
      The total amount they owe is reported at £112m – with nearly £26m of that being owed to Liverpool.
      Barcelona’s crippling financial crisis has been laid bare following the impact of the coronavirus.
      At the end of last season, accounts showed the club had lost a whopping £88m with Barca forced to play in an empty Nou Camp.
      Despite slashing players’ wages by 70 per cent during the pandemic, the club also disclosed debts of £443m.
      And a report in La Vanguardia claimed that figure does not include a ‘runaway’ deficit that totals around £360m taking the total to just over £800m (€900m).
      Barcelona have the highest wage bill in world football, topping £355m.

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      Isco’s Real Madrid hell hits new low as he fails to start against Getafe despite injury crisis with Zidane picking kids

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      ISCO’S Real Madrid hell has sunk to new depths after boss Zinedine Zidane overlooked the Spain midfielder in favour of using his kids.
      Los Blancos are in the midst of an injury crisis but rather than use the 28-year-old with 38 international caps – Zidane has looked to blood some exciting youngsters.

      Isco has slipped way down Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid pecking orderCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The reigning LaLiga champs had looked like they would only be able to name ONE sub against Getafe on Tuesday with the likes of Sergio Ramos and Eden Hazard sidelined.
      And former Tranmere Rovers player Marvin Park, 20, made his first start for Madrid in the 2-0 win.
      While Isco had to settle for a place on the bench but the fact 19-year-old midfielder Sergio Arribas was called upon before him signals the rift between player and coach.
      The result pulled Real back into second place as they look to keep pace with Diego Simeone’s table-topping Atletico Madrid – who are five points ahead with two games in hand.

      Former Malaga star Isco was given 15 minutes at the end by Zidane who shut down talk there was anything sinister behind his lack of game time.
      After the game, the Frenchman said: “Isco couldn’t start.
      “He has only trained once with the team. That’s why I gave him 15 minutes. That’s all.”
      Isco reportedly wants to quit the club after his relationship breakdown with Zidane.

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      Isco is said to have fallen out with Real Madrid boss ZidaneCredit: Alamy Live News

      He is said to have been humiliated by assistant boss David Bettoni – filling in for Covid-hit Zidane – choosing to sub on Arribas ahead of him against Levante on January 30.
      Isco has been linked with a move to a number of the Premier League’s top six sides and was most recently rumoured to be heading to Arsenal before the Gunners opted to sign his team-mate Martin Odegaard on loan in January.
      After watching his men win back to back games for the first time in 2021, Zidane reiterated his belief that they can still reclaim their league crown.
      He added: “It will not change anything, we will do our thing. Our duty is to fight, to continue with our work, without paying attention to others.
      “It’s a good win. They are two consecutive victories, we needed it. Also with many injuries. We needed it now.
      “I don’t think there are Madridistas who think we’re going to lose the league. On the contrary, they think we can always change things and that is what we are going to try to do. 
      “With difficulties, it is clear, but we continue to do our thing. You have to keep fighting, little by little.”

      Football star Isco shows off his skills at the Real Madrid training ground More