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      Set-piece specialist Lionel Messi does NOT practice free-kicks in training, reveals ex-Barcelona team-mate Nelson Semedo

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      LIONEL MESSI never practices free-kicks in training, according to his ex-Barcelona team-mate Nelson Semedo.
      The Wolves right-back also believes the Argentine’s phenomenal talents are just ‘natural’.

      Lionel Messi never practices free-kicks in training

      That is according to his former Barcelona team-mate Nelson SemedoCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Messi has scored a staggering 55 direct free-kicks in his career.
      But Semedo – who left Barca for Wolves last summer – said his genius is God-given.
      Asked what it was like to play and train alongside Barcelona’s greatest ever player, he told the Telegraph: “Wow. I really don’t have many words that can describe how good he is.
      “You know what makes him even more amazing? I never once saw him take a free-kick in training, in all of the time I was there. I swear he never did.

      “We always used to practice shooting from distance but Messi never took a free-kick. For him, it was just natural.
      “They say practice makes perfect – with him it was no practice and it was still perfect.
      “An unbelievable player, you can’t explain it to anyone really. The free-kick against Liverpool [in the Champions League semi-final in May 2019], I was standing right behind him.
      “In one of my first games in Barcelona, he got the ball and went past three, four and then five players.

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      Messi has scored 55 direct free-kicks in his career

      “Subconsciously I was there on the pitch thinking ‘how can this guy do this?’ He makes good players look bad.”
      Despite his impressive free-kick haul, Messi does not even make the top-10 highest direct free-kick scorers of all time.
      He’s not even the top Argentine… he also sits behind his own BOSS, Ronald Koeman, and a goalkeeper on the list.
      Instead, Messi ranks 11th.
      Last year it emerged that despite his absolute genius on the pitch, Messi has no interest in most games in the first few minutes as he is observing the opponent’s defenders.
      Talking to the Financial Times, his former Nou Camp boss Ernesto Valverde revealed why Messi ‘ignores’ the ball early on.
      He says the No10 ‘takes a reconnaissance walk’ around the opposition defence.
      There, he notes exactly each man’s position. Valverde said: “Then, as the game advances, he gets in little by little.
      “But he knows perfectly where the rivals’ weaknesses are.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Lionel Messi stuns Elche goalkeeper Edgar Badia by asking for his shirt after Barcelona’s 3-0 LaLiga win More

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      Zidane explodes at constant Sergio Ramos contract questions blasting ‘it’s madness’ as Real Madrid star’s deal runs down

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      ZINEDINE ZIDANE has finally exploded after constant questions regarding Sergio Ramos’ contract, blasting it as ‘madness’.
      The Real Madrid boss faces the prospect of losing his captain on a free transfer with his current deal expiring this summer.

      Sergio Ramos’ future continues to attract plenty of attention for Zinedine ZidaneCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And despite the defender being out injured since January, press conferences are dominated with questions about Ramos.
      Speaking ahead of the LaLiga clash with Real Sociedad – in which Vinicius Junior scored an 89th-minute equaliser – Zidane was quizzed once more, this time losing his cool.
      The Frenchman said: “You always ask me the same thing, it’s madness. That’s impressive mate.
      “I want him to get fit, but apart from that, nothing else. Tomorrow we have a game.

      “What more should I say about it now? I have no idea.
      “I just said that we are only thinking about the game. I want that to be sorted out as soon as possible.”
      Ramos joined Real Madrid in 2005 and has made 668 appearances for the club, scoring 100 goals.
      But contract negotiations have stalled with the defender thought to want more than just the one-year extension Los Blancos usually offer.

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      Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are the two sides heavily linked with securing Ramos on a free should no new deal be agreed at the Bernabeu.
      United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate to bolster his defence in the summer – and Ramos could bring both quality and trophy-winning experience into the dressing room.
      At PSG, meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino may view the 113-cap Spain international as the ideal signing with his four Champions League winner’s medals.

      Zidane’s centre-back is out of contract at the end of the season and his future is still unclearCredit: EPA

      Sergio Ramos makes it look easy as he shows off his fantastically fast feet in training More

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      Real Madrid ‘ready to sell Raphael Varane to Man Utd’ with defender set to snub offer to become club captain for exit

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      REAL MADRID are reportedly ready to sell Raphael Varane to Manchester United.
      The Frenchman looks set to snub the offer of the Real club captaincy which will force the Spanish giants to cash in this summer.

      Real Madrid are ready to sell Raphael Varane to Man UtdCredit: Rex Features

      The 27-year-old defender has entered the final 18 months of his contract at the Bernabeu where he has been for 10 years.
      And he is dragging his feet over whether to commit his future to the LaLiga giants.
      With fellow centre-back and United target Sergio Ramos, 34, becoming a free agent in June, Real have made it a ‘priority’ to tie down Varane long-term.
      But the two parties are said to be too far apart on salary expectations despite Real including the club captaincy as part of the deal to try and tempt him.

      As a result, Real will cash in at the end of the season rather than lose him for nothing next summer, according to MEN.
      Real’s debt level is said to have risen to £779million as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
      And they also need to free up cash to sign top target Kylian Mbappe.
      United’s interest in the defender has stretched back to 2018 when he first considered walking away from the Bernabeu.

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      Ed Woodward is said to have sanctioned a £100m deal but Real valued him at more than that given his success at the 2018 World Cup with France.
      United also made enquiries in 2019 when Zinedine Zidane’s return convinced Varane to stay.
      But with the Real boss under-pressure himself, the France legend’s presence may not be a factor this time.
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been linked with a host of defenders as he looks for someone to partner skipper Harry Maguire at the back.
      Both Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are also keen on the former Lens ace.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Rio Ferdinand recalls Man Utd legend Roy Keane punching Chris Eagles in training More

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      Real Madrid desperate to offload Gareth Bale to Tottenham and replace him with £135m Kylian Mbappe transfer

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      REAL MADRID could free up funds for a Kylian Mbappe swoop if they offload Gareth Bale to Tottenham.
      The Welshman, 31, has finally found form in a Spurs shirt after his season-long loan deal.

      Real Madrid are delighted that Gareth Bale is finding form at TottenhamCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And they could use Bale to help fund a £135m Kylian Mbappe moveCredit: Rex Features

      SunSport earlier reported that Real are now ready to capitalise on that by shipping him off permanently.
      And clearing Bale’s £650,000-a-week wages off their books would help them in their Mbappe quest.
      Los Blancos are reportedly lining up a £135m swoop for PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe.
      The Spanish giants hope it will persuade Tottenham to extend Bale’s stay for the final year of his contract next term.

      And the good news for them is the North Londoners will look at taking him on loan again for next season if he continues to impress between now and the summer.
      That will have Bernabeu bosses jumping for joy as they are desperate to get the Welshman, 31, off their wage bill.
      So desperate, in fact, that they agreed to let him rejoin Spurs in a ridiculously cut-price deal that involved no loan fee and the Premier League club paying around half of his weekly wages.
      Real hoped this deal would lead to Tottenham taking it up again next season, though the execs based at Lilywhite House were always eager to point out there was never any agreement in writing.

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      Especially when Bale — after nearly two years left out in the cold by Zinedine Zidane — was blowing out of his backside and struggling to get into a Jose Mourinho side that was hardly pulling up trees.
      That frustrated Bernabeu bean counters who, with bridges to China burned by the collapse of his megabucks move to Jiangsu Suning last February, faced the prospect of their highly-paid and underplayed employee spending another 12 months getting his golf handicap down on local courses on their time.
      Worse still, from a football point of view, it seemed the career of one of the modern greats, and arguably the greatest British export of all time, was fizzling out with hardly a whimper.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      But, less than a month after even his own agent appeared to admit his client was coming to the end of his career, Bale hit back with a bang to cast a new light over his Tottenham future — and, indeed, his own.
      After encouraging cameos in both legs of Spurs’ Europa League last-32 romp over Wolfsberger and as a sub in their 2-1 Prem defeat by West Ham, the four-time Champions League winner reminded us there is still plenty of life in the old Dragon yet against Burnley on Sunday.
      After his brace and assist in the 4-0 win, boss Mourinho said: “Now he is better than ever. It’s not just the two goals, it’s about his physical performance. Now he’s not flat.”

      Jose Mourinho hints Gareth Bale may have earned Prem start for Tottenham with goal and assist in Europa League More

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      Gareth Bale’s form delights Real Madrid chiefs who hope Tottenham will extend £650,000-a-week ace’s loan transfer

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      GARETH BALE’S long-awaited return to form is being celebrated as much in Spain as it is at Spurs.
      The Welsh superstar rolled back the years as he helped Tottenham batter Burnley 4-0 on Sunday.

      Gareth Bale’s upturn in form could convince Tottenham to extend his loan spell in North LondonCredit: Tom Jenkins/ The Guardian

      It was undoubtedly his best display since he returned on a season-long loan from Real Madrid in September.
      The Spanish giants hope it will persuade Tottenham to extend Bale’s stay for the final year of his contract next term.
      And the good news for them is the North Londoners will look at taking him on loan again for next season if he continues to impress between now and the summer.
      That will have Bernabeu bosses jumping for joy as they are desperate to get the £650,000-a-week Welshman, 31, off their wage bill.

      So desperate, in fact, that they agreed to let him rejoin Spurs in a ridiculously cut-price deal that involved no loan fee and the Premier League club paying just £230,000 a week of his wages.
      Real hoped this deal would lead to Tottenham taking it up again next season, though the execs based at Lilywhite House were always eager to point out there was never any agreement in writing.
      Especially when Bale — after nearly two years left out in the cold by Zinedine Zidane — was blowing out of his backside and struggling to get into a Jose Mourinho side that was hardly pulling up trees.
      That frustrated Bernabeu bean counters who, with bridges to China burned by the collapse of his megabucks move to Jiangsu Suning last February, faced the prospect of their highly-paid and underplayed employee spending another 12 months getting his golf handicap down on local courses on their time.

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      Worse still, from a football point of view, it seemed the career of one of the modern greats, and undoubtedly the greatest British export of all time, was fizzling out with hardly a whimper.
      But, less than a month after even his own agent appeared to admit his client was coming to the end of his career, Bale hit back with a bang to cast a new light over his Tottenham future — and, indeed, his own.
      After encouraging cameos in both legs of Spurs’ Europa League last-32 romp over Wolfsberger and as a sub in their 2-1 Prem defeat by West Ham, the four-time Champions League winner reminded us there is still plenty of life in the old Dragon yet on Sunday.
      After his brace and assist, boss Mourinho said: “Now he is better than ever. It’s not just the two goals, it’s about his physical performance. Now he’s not flat.”
      It was welcomed even more by his Real paymasters, who now believe if Tottenham do not want him this summer, there is at least a chance another club will.
      Yet the Spaniards may not have to worry about that now, as Bale’s form will undoubtedly force Spurs into a rethink over what they do with him at the end of the season.

      We always thought it could turn into a two-year loan
      Spurs insider

      Europa League shake-up

      UEFA have confirmed Spurs’ Europa League tie with Dinamo Zagreb has been switched so they lose home advantage for the second leg.
      Tottenham and Arsenal, who play Olympiakos, were originally drawn to play away first.
      But Europa League regulations do not allow two matches in the same city on the same date.
      Arsenal, as last season’s FA Cup winners, have a higher precedence than Spurs, so it is Mourinho’s side that must swap fixtures.
      Now Jose Mourinho’s Spurs play at home next week while Arsenal face a long flight to Athens just three days before the North London derby at the Emirates.

      A club insider insisted: “We were always going to make our decision then and always thought it could turn into a two-year loan.”
      Yeah, right. That is not the message club officials were relaying when Bale was playing badly or not playing at all.
      But, suddenly, Spurs are keen on keeping him, especially on the same bargain terms. Or even less, knowing chairman Daniel Levy.
      And why not? It would be a deal to sort all parties.
      Tottenham have sold many stars down the years to their benefit financially — but detriment in a football sense.
      To let Bale slip through their fingers if he continues to improve at this rate, and having spent months nursing him back to peak condition, would be an absolute crime.
      But so very Spursy.

      Real Madrid are desperate to get Bale’s £650,000-a-week pay off their own wage billCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Tottenham demolish Burnley 4 nil as Gareth Bale is back to his best More

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      Barcelona loanee Jean-Clair Todibo begs parent club to SELL him to Nice and admits he doesn’t follow Lionel Messi and Co

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      BARCELONA defender Jean-Clair Todibo has sensationally begged the Spaniards to sell him to loan side Nice.
      And the Frenchman also claims he does not follow Barca’s results, claiming their misfortunes on and off the field are ‘not my problem’.

      Jean-Clair Todibo has begged Barcelona to sell him to loan side NiceCredit: Icon Sport – Getty

      Ronald Koeman’s side have been far from impressive this season, potentially going eight points behind LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid while also facing a Champions League last-16 exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.
      The club was also today hit by a police raid on their offices, with ex-president Josep Maria Bartomeu arrested amid a corruption investigation.
      And things aren’t getting any better with highly-rated prospect Todibo demanding he is allowed to join Nice on a permanent deal this summer.
      The 21-year-old centre-back has played just five times for Barca since his 2019 move from Toulouse.

      In that time he’s also had unsuccessful loan spells at Schalke and Benfica.
      But since joining Nice in January, Todibo is starting to rediscover his old form.
      And the France U21s ace hopes he can join the Ligue 1 club on a long-term deal in the summer.
      Todibo told a press conference on Monday: “I don’t know if it is sorted (for next season), but it is an ambition of mine. So I strongly hope it happens. 

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      “My individual performances will determine if I stay here or not. Nothing is done.”
      Todibo added that he also does not follow Barca while away from the club, and is uninterested in a potential turnaround against PSG in their second-leg tie.
      He said: “Without lying to you, I am not strongly interested in what’s going on. I watch from time to time matches when my French colleagues play like Ousmane Dembele, Clément Lenglet or Samuel Umtiti. 
      “I watch just because I consider them to be friends. But aside from that I am not necessarily following them. 
      “I am focused on OGC Nice, that is most important for me. What good does it do to dream of the Barcelona defence when at the weekend I play vs Rennes or Nimes. 
      “The most important thing is to focus on those matches. They are matches that will bring points for Nice. Today I am a Nice player, I am not a Barcelona player.
      “[Champions League comeback?] Honestly that doesn’t interest me at all. I hope for them that they will do it. They either do it, or they don’t. That is not my problem if you know what I mean.”

      Lionel Messi stuns Elche goalkeeper Edgar Badia by asking for his shirt after Barcelona’s 3-0 LaLiga win More

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      Real Madrid want Mo Salah but cannot afford transfer for Liverpool superstar, confirms club’s ex-president

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      MOHAMED SALAH is too expensive for Real Madrid, former Blancos president Roman Calderon has asserted.
      The Spanish side are one of a few linked to the Liverpool winger in recent weeks amid the Anfield club’s ailing title defence.

      Mohamed Salah continues to be a star for Liverpool, leading to interest from elsewhereCredit: EPA

      But a worthy bid will not arrive from the Bernabeu, according to 69-year-old Calderon.
      He told Egypt’s ONTime Sports: “[Salah] is a great player and a goalscorer.
      “He helped Liverpool by giving his best, but I don’t think they will let him go.
      “It is expected that, if they were to think about it, they would only let him go for a lot of money.

      “Salah is wanted, of course, by Real Madrid.
      “But Liverpool would ask for a lot of money and, if that deal were to be completed, it would be crucial.
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      Liverpool boast the most-valuable squad in the Premier League
      “Salah is a great player with fantastic potential, and any club wishes to acquire such talents, but for Real Madrid I do not think they have the financial means to sign Salah.”

      Calderon led Los Blancos to two LaLiga titles in his three years in charge, striking the deal to sign Cristiano Ronaldo before resigning in January 2009.
      Real Madrid did not spend a penny in either of the last two transfer windows amid the coronavirus pandemic’s financial crash.
      Squad pay cuts have been negotiated and a new deal for club captain Sergio Ramos is yet to be agreed, much to fans’ dismay.
      In any case, Liverpool will remain determined to hold on to 28-year-old Salah, who boasts a tally of 24 goals in 36 appearances this season.
      Speaking ahead of the Reds’ win at Sheffield United, Jurgen Klopp said: “It is not often that I have to praise my own players, which of course I always like to do.

      Mo is a very, very important player for us. And hopefully he will be that for a very long time, of course.
      Jurgen Klopp

      “But in Mo’s case the numbers just speak for themselves.
      “Mo is not only a goalscorer. He has developed football-wise as well – and is a very, very important player for us.
      “And hopefully he will be that for a very long time, of course.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Seven stars who quit Chelsea and became world class including Kevin De Bruyne, Mo Salah and Tiago More

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      Man Utd could land Griezmann for just £50m as cheaper Jadon Sancho transfer alternative with Barcelona ‘ready to sell’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED could try and land Antoine Griezmann in a £50million deal if Jadon Sancho is too expensive, according to reports.
      The 20-year-old Dortmund star would set the Red Devils back over £100m this summer.

      Antoine Griezmann could be a cheaper option than Jadon Sancho for Manchester UnitedCredit: Rex Features

      Jadon Sancho could cost Manchester United over £100m this summerCredit: Reuters

      And Spanish reports claim that Griezmann could be available for half that fee.
      OK Diario say that Barcelona are looking to recoup about £50m for the 30-year-old having signed him for £104million two years ago.
      That price might tempt Manchester United into a summer swoop as they look for more quality up front.
      The World Cup winner has scored just 15 LaLiga goals for Barcelona in two seasons and the Catalans are facing a financial crisis.

      They’re also looking to rebuild a squad that look set to miss out on the Spanish title again and are 4-1 down to PSG in the Champions League last 16.
      Dortmund, meanwhile, are reportedly open to selling Sancho this summer.
      And having failed to lure the player to Old Trafford last campaign, the Red Devils are understood to have retained their interest in the England international.
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has also let it be known that he is keeping tabs on Sancho’s Dortmund team-mate Erling Haaland.

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      Man Utd’s biggest transfers ever, both in and out, including Ronaldo
      But according to Bild, the Bundesliga outfit are desperate to keep hold of the Norwegian striker beyond this year.
      That is despite the Norwegian striker being available for just £65m in 2022 due to a clause in his contract.
      Instead of cashing in on the ex-Red Bull Salzburg marksman, the German news outlet states Dortmund would rather sell Sancho at the end of the season instead of Haaland.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      They state that they are willing to part ways with the former Manchester City youth star if they receive a fee in the region of £104m.
      It was claimed last week that Sancho’s exit from Signal Iduna Park was ‘set in stone’.
      He could be one of eight players that could be offloaded by Dortmund as they look to recoup their losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

      Barcelona hoping to seal Neymar transfer by offering Griezmann and £54m with Paris Saint-Germain star seen as only player to save club More