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      Samuel Umtiti ‘rejected Liverpool move’ in January forcing Jurgen Klopp to chase other targets to solve defensive crisis

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      SAMUEL UMTITI rejected a move to Liverpool in January forcing Jurgen Klopp to chase other targets, reports say.
      The Premier League champions were desperate for defensive reinforcements in the winter window.

      Samuel Umtiti reportedly rejected a move to Liverpool in JanuaryCredit: The Mega Agency

      According to The Athletic, Liverpool made an approach for Umtiti, but the Frenchman preferred to stay at Barcelona.
      Umtiti made just 18 appearances last season due to injury problems.
      This campaign he has already been ruled out for 15 matches with a knee problem, playing just seven times.
      But it is understood the centre-back wants to remain at the Nou Camp and fight for his place as he turned down Liverpool.

      Klopp was in the market for additions at the back with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez still out injured.
      Joel Matip briefly returned, but picked up an ankle knock which forced him out of Liverpool’s 3-1 win at West Ham.
      Midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have both been forced to cover at centre-back.
      Liverpool turned to Ben Davis in a shock £2million deal with Preston, before then making a move for Ozan Kabak from Schalke.

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      They signed Kabak on loan with the option to make the deal permanent for £26.5million in the summer.
      The Bundesliga strugglers acted quickly to secure a replacement from the Premier League.
      Arsenal outcast Shkodran Mustafi has joined his former team-mate Emirates Sead Kolasinac in Germany.

      Liverpool’s clash with RB Leipzig cannot be held in Germany over new coronavirus rules More

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      Chelsea want to ‘hijack Real Madrid’s move for David Alaba’ as Tuchel seeks to bolster Blues defence with contract rebel

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      THOMAS TUCHEL is reportedly ready to make a counter-offer to hijack Real Madrid’s bid for David Alaba.
      Bayern Munich are set to wave goodbye to the long-serving Austrian defender when his contract expires in the summer.

      David Alaba is preparing to leave Bayern Munich in the summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Chelsea are one of several teams said to be interested in the 28-year-old, along with Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester United.
      According to The Guardian, the Blues want to make a last-ditch attempt to gazump the LaLiga giants.
      New boss Tuchel is reportedly looking to improve his defence despite keeping clean sheets in each of his first three games in charge.
      The German has opted for experience so far with Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta returned to the team alongside Thiago Silva.

      A versatile defender who started out as a midfielder, Alaba would fit into a number of positions in Tuchel’s 3-4-1-2.
      But Spanish media believe a free transfer to Real Madrid is done and dusted.
      A four-year deal worth £185,000-a-week has already been agreed, according to Marca.
      Inter Milan full-back Achraf Hakimi has been linked to Chelsea amid the Italian club’s financial crisis.

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      Dayot Upamecano is another reported target with the RB Leipzig star’s £38million release clause activating in the summer.
      The Blues downed London rivals Spurs 1-0 at Tottenham Stadium on Thursday night.
      Tuchel said afterwards: “In general I am very pleased with the result, it is a deserved win.
      “We were very good in the first half, very dominant and strong with the ball, good counter-pressing and we did not allow counter-attacks against one of the most dangerous sides.
      “We lacked a little bit of precision in the box and composure to make it 2-0 and to score more goals and decide the match, so the second half was a bit hard.
      “We had some easy ball loses, and we lost a little bit of ball possession and confidence, but we never lost the structure to defend, we never lost the intensity to push up high, and the courage to defend up high and up front, so I am very pleased.
      “It is normal if you play a dominant game like this and you don’t score the second goal, it can happen that some minutes arrive when you have to suffer.
      “But we were absolutely ready for that both mentally and physical, and I am super happy with the effort. We defended excellently.”
      ⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

      Thomas Tuchel is reportedly a big fan of the Austrian defenderCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      David Alaba demonstrates his home workout for Bayern Munich fans More

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      Real Madrid ‘should consider selling Eden Hazard’ as injured £130m ex-Chelsea ace ‘yet to prove anything’, says Berbatov

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      DIMITAR BERBATOV has urged Real Madrid to consider selling Eden Hazard as he is ‘yet to prove anything’.
      The injury-prone star, 30, has played just 35 games for the Spanish side since he joined from Chelsea in 2019.

      Eden Hazard has failed to live up to expectations for the Spanish sideCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Hazard now faces another four to six weeks on the sidelines as he has suffered another muscle injury.
      His latest setback is the TENTH separate problem he has picked up since he arrived at the Bernabeu.
      Former Manchester United forward Bertbatov has urged Madrid to cut their losses on Hazard.
      During an interview with BetFair, he said: “Real Madrid should consider selling Hazard.

      “He has had a lot of injuries since he arrived in Spain, and that has prevented him from showing the brilliant football that he played at Chelsea.
      “If it was something occasional then it would be a different matter, but the fact is that the player is injured again and again and again, that is a sign that there is another problem that is affecting him.”
      Hazard made the move to Madrid from Chelsea for a fee that could exceed £150million.
      But Bertbatov would not be shocked if he left in the summer following his poor spell of form.

      Dimitar Berbatov has called for Real Madrid to cut their losses on the 30-year-oldCredit: Getty – Contributor

      He continued: “Will he be able to regain the form he had and show that the money Real Madrid invested in his was the right decision? Right now, the answer is no.
      “It’s true that Hazard has only just turned 30 and still has a lot of time to contribute a lot, but this question is one which needs to be asked.
      “Hazard has yet to prove anything in Madrid, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he left in the summer.”
      Berbatov, 40, has also claimed Frank Lampard deserved more time to prove himself at Chelsea.
      And he insisted former club United have turned this season into a ‘three-horse race’.

      Eden Hazard has struggled with a long list of injuries since he joined Madrid

      Watch Real Madrid stars including Eden Hazard have snowball fight in training as club confirm Osasuna game to go ahead More

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      Ex-Real Madrid star Pepe in tears as Porto team-mate Nanu is rushed to hospital after horror clash of heads

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      REAL MADRID legend Pepe was reduced to tears after Porto team-mate Nanu was knocked unconscious from a nasty collision.
      The 26-year-old was rushed to hospital in an ambulance after he collided with Belenenses goalkeeper Stanislav Kritsyuk.

      Nanu was knocked out cold after he collided with the goalkeeperCredit: Reuters

      Former Real Madrid star Pepe was in tears after the incident

      Nanu challenged for the ball as Porto pushed for a late winner during the Primeira Liga showdown on Thursday night.
      But the right-back was left in a heap on the floor after he collided with Kritsyuk in the air.
      The game was stopped for more than ten minutes as he received treatment from the medics.
      Players from both teams looked visibly distressed as Nanu laid motionless on the ground.

      He was then loaded into the back of an ambulance while wearing a neck brace.
      The Guinea-Bissau international was taken to the Sao Francisco Xavier Hospital for further treatment.
      Pepe, who was seen in tears, revealed after the game that his team-mate had regained consciousness.
      The exReal Madrid hard man, 37, said: “I wish our team-mate Nanu a speedy recovery.

      Nanu was loaded into the ambulance and taken to the local hospitalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      “The doctors in the ambulance told me that he was doing well, that he was already conscious.”
      Porto, who are second in the league table, also issued an update on Nanu.
      A tweet from the club read: “Nanu had a cerebral concussion and spinal cord injury with loss of knowledge.
      “At this moment he is stable, conscious and is already oriented in time and space.”
      Another post read: “The examinations performed at Hospital S. Francisco Xavier did not reveal any alterations of clinical severity.
      “He will continue to be observed at the hospital.”

      Players from both teams raced to help the defender after the clashCredit: AFP or licensors

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      Barcelona troll Gareth Bale with cheeky tweet about Griezmann’s golf celebration in now-deleted post

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      BARCELONA took a cheeky swing at Gareth Bale after an astonishing 5-3 turnaround win at Granada.
      The Spanish giants trolled the Spurs loanee, posting matchwinner Antoine Griezmann’s golfing-style celebration with the words: “Barca. Comeback. Golf. In that order.”

      Barcelona quickly took down their jokey jibe at Gareth Bale

      Gareth Bale got in hot water with Real Madrid when he joined Wales’ team-mates holding up a flag with this fiery Dragons’ message in 2019

      Bale has still to get back into the swing of things at TottenhamCredit: Rex Features

      Yet Barcelona could not have seen the wood for the trees at 2-0 down after 88 minutes of their Copa del Rey quarter-final.
      Griezmann’s quick double brought them to level par and took the tie into extra time, where Ronald Koeman’s previously-flagging side were rampant.
      Buoyant Barca then thought they had judged their humour to a tee – with their Griezmann tweet parodying Welsh fans’ famous “Wales, Golf, Madrid” song for Real Madrid misfit and golf nut Bale.

      But not wanting to drive a wedge between themselves and fiercest rivals Real, Barcelona soon deleted the putt-down.  

      Maybe best to abandon the bunker mentality.
      Bale himself had got into deeper water with Bernabeu boss Zinedine Zidane when he and Wales team-mates held a flag parading the fans’ song title as they celebrated reaching the Euros in November 2019.
      And to add fire to the “Wales, Golf, Madrid” jokey jibe, the Dragons’ flag had the extra line: “In that order”.
      Bale is of course still waiting for the delayed Euros – and also for the chance to win a regular place during his temporary stint back at Spurs.

      Jose Mourinho’s men bid to go sixth in the Premier League with a home victory over his old club Chelsea on Thursday night.
      But throughout his plight at Real, Bale found solace on the golfing course, including one he built at his £6.5million Madrid home.

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      That heightened tensions and question marks over his commitment to the club.
      But his passion for the Royal and Ancient game is just as strong back in Britain.
      Amongst the golf facilities at Bales’s converted farmhouse in Glamorgan are replicas of classic holes around the world – the 12th at Augusta, Royal Troon’s Postage Stamp and the tricky par-three 17th at Sawgrass.

      Barcelona’s two-goal hero Antoine Griezmann rescued them from 2-0 down after 88 minutes before they beat Granada 5-23 after extra timeCredit: EPA

      Mourinho heard giving Gareth Bale brutal warning in training about being sent back to Real Madrid to ‘play no football’ More

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      Real Madrid set to appoint either Raul or Max Allegri as new manager in summer ‘unless Zidane wins Champions League’

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      REAL MADRID have reportedly identified Massimiliano Allegri or club legend Raul to succeed Zinedine Zidane – should they sack the Frenchman.
      The 48-year-old is under huge pressure at the Bernabeu as the defending LaLiga champions currently sit in third place, ten points behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

      Max Allgeri has been linked with succeeding Zinedine Zidane at Real MadridCredit: Reuters

      Real Madrid Castilla boss Raul is also in the running should Zidane be sackedCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Diego Simeone’s side also have a game in hand over their local rivals, while Real were also dumped out of the Copa del Rey by third-tier outfit Alcoyano.
      And according to Cadena Ser via Football Italia, Los Blancos are considering hiring either Allegri or Raul.
      Allegri has been out of a job since stepping down as Juventus boss in 2019 after guiding the Old Lady to five consecutive Serie A titles.
      In his time out of management, he has been linked with taking charge of the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.

      It has been claimed that the board of the Spanish club prefer hiring the experienced Allegri over Raul – who is currently at the helm of Real Madrid Castilla.
      Should Zidane have his contract terminated, Real are said to want to bring in a proven winner who is able to handle the pressure of winning as well as managing the dressing room.
      SunSport previously reported that Zidane would only keep his job should he guide the club to another Champions League title.
      Real face Atalanta in the Round of 16 stage in the European Cup, with the first leg scheduled to take place on February 24.

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      Zidane admitted last month that he is unsure whether he has the backing of his squad following their poor form.
      He said: “I think so but you have to ask them [if I still have their support].
      “We have done good things, not so much lately, but apart from the last games we did good things this season.
      “We have to concentrate on the things that can be done.”

      Real Madrid looking to cash in on Vinicius Jr after former £39m wonderkid branded ‘next Neymar’ hits ‘rock bottom’ More

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      Best XI of stars who have played with Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi including Rooney, Ronaldinho, Henry and Xavi

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO and Lionel Messi are the best footballers on the planet.
      And they have played alongside plenty of other world class talent during their glittering careers.

      Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have played with some of the finest players of the modern era

      Ronaldo, 35, has played for two of the world’s biggest clubs in Real Madrid and Manchester United and is still banging goals in at Italian giants Juventus.
      But Messi, 33, has been at Barcelona since he was 13 and has won countless trophies and scored hundreds of barely believable goals in that time.
      SunSport has collated a best XI of players the pair have played alongside for club and country.
      But it was an impossible task so an alternative XI had to be produced.

      Ronaldo played with the best of the bunch when it came to goalies with Gianluigi Buffon at Juve, Edwin van der Sar at United and Iker Casillas at Real.
      Right-back was a no-brainer with world-class Dani Alves a shoe-in after revolutionising the position as part of the greatest club side of all time alongside Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi at Barca.
      Gary Neville made the alternate XI. Just.
      Ronaldo companions won the day at centre-back with Real captain Sergio Ramos and Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand coming up trumps.

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      You could make another three teams of icons the superstars have played with

      Nemanja Vidic and Gerard Pique slotted in together in the backup XI with Javier Mascherano and Carlos Puyol unlucky to miss out.
      It was a toss-up between Jordi Alba and Marcelo at left-back with both producing world class performances for Barca and Real for years.
      Xavi and Iniesta are joined by United icon Paul Scholes in the middle. Obviously.
      And Messi’s former partners Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho play off recently retired goal machine Wayne Rooney up front.
      The alternate line-up sees United long-termer Ryan Giggs on the left of a four man midfield with Ronaldo’s Portugal team-mate Luis Figo on the other flank.
      Midfield maestros Luka Modric and Sergio Busquets slot in the middle behind two of Ronaldo’s former strike partners Karim Benzema and Carlos Tevez in attack.
      In a display of the class of player the duo have featured alongside, Neymar, Luiz Suarez and Sergio Aguero are just some of the strikers who fail to make it into either team.
      For more than a decade, fans have bickered in pubs, parks and playgrounds about who is better – Ronaldo or Messi.
      And last year SunSport collated quotes from 12 stars who have played with BOTH including Tevez and Pique.

      The world will never decide who is better

      Watch Cristiano Ronaldo fume at being subbed as Pirlo says ‘there’s no contract clause that says he can’t be taken off’ More

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      Sergio Aguero ‘keen on Barcelona transfer’ after presidential candidates ‘contact’ Man City star’s camp

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      MANCHESTER CITY could face a fight to keep Sergio Aguero following reports of Barcelona presidential hopefuls contacting the striker.
      SunSport revealed last month that the LaLiga giants were tracking Aguero ahead of his contract expiring in June.

      Sergio Aguero is reportedly ready to hear out an offer from BarcelonaCredit: Reuters

      Presidential candidate Joan Laporta is one man rumoured to have contacted the striker’s campCredit: EPA

      But it is understood that the 32-year-old would like to remain in Manchester.
      A new contract offer is not expected to arrive until he can prove his fitness, having made just nine appearances all season.
      Should Aguero become available, Barcelona are reportedly ready to snap him up.
      According to Cadena Ser, a number of presidential candidates have enquired about the striker coming to Spain.

      And they have reportedly been told that he is keen on the switch.
      Aguero is good pals with Lionel Messi and his arrival may even help the club’s attempts to sign their talisman up to a new deal.

      The best XI of players available on free transfers this summer includes Aguero
      Victor Font, Joan Laporta and Toni Freixa are in the running to take over Barcelona when the delayed elections take place on March 7.
      Spanish outlet Carrusel Deportivo claim that Font is one of the men to have coveted Aguero, along with frontrunner Laporta.

      However, one sticking point in negotiations could be the Spanish side’s ailing financial picture.
      The coronavirus pandemic has bit Barcelona particularly hard, forcing two rounds of squad pay cuts in the past 12 months.
      Aguero is back at work with City following a bout of coronavirus.
      Pep Guardiola nonetheless expects the player to take a number of weeks to return to full fitness.
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      Victor Font is another Barcelona hopeful linked with wanting AgueroCredit: EPA

      The City boss said on Tuesday: “[Aguero] is still not training on the field.
      “He started to move a little yesterday but he will need a few weeks to come back.
      “He [tested] negative, this is the most important thing. He is healthy again and now he will come back again.
      “As the top scorer it is important for us to have him back.”

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