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      Real Madrid fear Gareth Bale will be forced to return and wreck transfer plans after failing to shine at Tottenham

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      GARETH BALE’s inconsistent form at Tottenham could scupper Real Madrid’s summer transfer plans, according to reports.
      Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are just two of the names linked to the Spanish giants as they formulate a mega spending spree.

      Gareth Bale’s form and fitness issues could put off a buyer in the summer marketCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Having gone the entire window without making a signing last summer, Zinedine Zidane is ready to splash the cash once more at the end of the campaign.
      But a number of factors are said to be crucial to allowing such a splurge.
      One important point on Real’s to-do list is cutting down the club’s large wage bill.
      Among the highest-earners is Bale, whose £650,000-a-week wages are being largely subsidised by Madrid during his Tottenham loan.

      Allowing the 31-year-old to head back to North London was thought to be the best way of him recovering form and earning a permanent move in the upcoming windows.
      However, his inconsistent displays and injury problems have left Real worried that he will return in the summer without a buyer, according to Spanish outlet AS.

      Such an event would once again leave Los Blancos lumbered with Bale and his huge contract that does not expire until 2022.
      Much like his recent seasons in Madrid, the Welshman has been unable to put a regular run of games together.

      Having started each of Tottenham’s Europa League group stage games, he has made just four appearances in the Premier League.
      A knee problem kept Bale out of action in the early weeks of his loan stay before he was forced off in the win at Stoke with a calf issue.
      The winger’s header in that Carabao Cup tie was just the third goal he has scored since rejoining the North London club.
      Jose Mourinho said after the match: “It was his decision – something he felt.

      “He told me immediately when walking to the dressing room [at half-time].”
      The Spurs boss had noted earlier in the month that Bale ‘needs to get his confidence back’ when it comes to playing multiple games a week.
      Should Real successfully shift the forward ahead of the summer, a wealth of stars including David Alaba and Phil Foden could be on their radar.
      One report earlier in the year even suggested the French trio of Mbappe, Dayot Upamecano and Eduardo Camavinga would be targeted as a new wave of Galacticos.

      Jose Mourinho says he will use Bale in the right way More

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      Budweiser celebrate Lionel Messi’s goal record by sending special edition beers to every goalkeeper he’s scored against

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      BUDWEISER have cheekily handed out beers to all the goalkeepers Lionel Messi has scored against throughout his incredible career.
      Barcelona’s iconic forward broke Pele’s record of 643 goals for a single club with a strike against Real Valladolid on Tuesday to take him to 644.

      Budweiser have sent beers to all goalkeepers Lionel Messi has scored against, including Juventus’ Gianluigi BuffonCredit: Instagram

      Messi broke Pele’s record of goals for a single club with his 644th Barcelona strike on TuesdayCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS

      And Budweiser marked the occasion by gifting bottles to the goalies who had failed to keep Messi at bay.
      Among those who received a special selection were Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak and Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon.
      Chelsea’s world-record £71million stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga also received some bottles, looking pleased with himself as he posed for photos. 
      Messi’s 644th goal came in a much-needed 3-0 victory over lowly Valladolid.

      With his side already leading 2-0, thanks to first-half efforts from Clement Lenglet and Martin Braithwaite, Messi received a smart backheel from Pedri in the 65th minute.
      The 33-year-old took it perfectly into his stride, before slotting an unstoppable left-footed effort beyond the helpless goalkeeper.
      Messi achieved the feat in his 749th outing for the Blaugrana.
      Pele, however, may privately refute the achievement – having claimed to have scored 1,283 goals during his illustrious career.

      Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga received a few bottlesCredit: Instagram @kepaarrizabalaga

      The world-record £71m signing looked pleased with his beersCredit: Instagram

      But the official records show that only 643 came in ‘official’ matches – although it took just 656 of them for Santos to reach the tally.
      On Saturday, when his record was equalled, the Brazilian, 80, posted a heartwarming congratulations to Messi.
      He wrote: “When your heart overflows with love, it is difficult to change your path.
      “Like you, I know what it’s like to love wearing the same shirt every day. Like you, I know that there is nothing better than the place we feel at home.
      “Congratulations on your historic record, Lionel. But above all, congratulations on your beautiful career at Barcelona.
      “Stories like ours, of loving the same club for so long, unfortunately will be increasingly rare in football. I admire you very much.”

      Atletico Madrid ace Jan Oblak also got a special bottle or twoCredit: Instagram

      Barcelona legend Lionel Messi collects record 7th Pichichi Award More

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      Lionel Messi reveals he still has a WhatsApp group chat with former Barcelona team-mates Neymar and Luis Suarez

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      LIONEL MESSI revealed he still has a WhatsApp group chat with former Barcelona team-mates Neymar and Luis Suarez.
      The trio of forwards – dubbed MSN – enjoyed massive success while they led the line together at the Nou Camp from 2014 to 2017.

      Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi – or MSN – pictured at Barcelona Credit: Reuters

      Neymar left to join PSG in 2017 while Suarez moved to Atletico Madrid this summer after being axed by Barca.
      But Messi admitted the three are still in contact and communicate in a chat.
      He told Spanish TV station La Sexta: “Neymar should be asked why he said we were going to play together.
      “We have a WhatsApp group with him and Luis Suarez.”

      Messi’s comments come after Neymar said he was desperate to play with the Argentine legend again.
      Both the superstars have uncertain futures, with Neymar linked to a move back to Barca and Messi having tried to leave in the summer.
      But the Nou Camp icon insisted they have not discussed transfers together – only their Champions League last 16 clash in February.
      Messi, 33, said: “The last message with Neymar was about the Champions League draw. I did not want to face him now.”

      Neymar, 28, joined PSG in a record £198million deal, but Barca have already tried to prize him back to LaLiga.
      However, with the club in £443m debut, even Messi is doubting how they could land the Brazilian.
      He said: “It is not easy either because there is no money and you have to sign players to achieve great titles.
      “It will be a very difficult situation for the new president.”
      Another transfer Messi is scratching his head over is Suarez, after Barca let his best friend leave for nothing just to get him out of the club.
      He said: “What they did seemed crazy to me, because of how he left.
      “He left for free, paying him his contract and a team that fights for the same thing as us.”

      Lionel Messi arrives home in Argentina for the holidays ahead of transfer speculation More

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      Lionel Messi admits he still ‘doesn’t know’ if he will leave Barcelona but will do ‘what is best’ for himself and club

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      LIONEL MESSI admitted he “doesn’t know” whether he will leave Barcelona but will do “what is best” for himself and the club.
      The Catalan giants’ skipper could depart at the end of the season when his contract expires, after initially expressing his desire to quit the Nou Camp last summer before making a dramatic U-turn.

      Lionel Messi revealed his future at Barcelona is still unclear

      Messi said he will make the best call for himself and the club where he has spent his entire careerCredit: AFP or licensors

      Speaking to Spanish journalist Jordi Evole in a wide-ranging interview with Spanish TV station La Sexta, Messi – who can start talking to other clubs from January 1 – said: “I don’t have anything clear until the end of the year.
      “Now I am only thinking about finishing the season and winning titles.
      “I know there are a lot of people at Barca who still love me, but I’m going to do what is best for the club and for myself.
      “Besides, I want to live in Barcelona and be involved in the club in some way when I retire.

      “I don’t know if I’m going to leave, but if I do, I would like to leave in the best way possible and be able to return to the club in the future.
      “Barcelona are much bigger than any player. I hope that every time the club have to, they will do good things to lift important titles.”
      When pushed on “very bad” Barcelona’s slow start to the season under new boss Ronald Koeman, Messi confessed it will be “difficult” for them to return to their best but he will “fight for everything”.
      He added: “I’m excited even though the club is going through difficult times. These are difficult times, as for everyone.

      “The club is really bad, very bad, it will be difficult to get back to where we were.”

      Messi revealed he does not regret filing his transfer request in the summer and explained what was going through his head.
      He said: “It was far from easy for me to say I wanted to leave the club and the city… the family wanted to stay here, this is their home but I genuinely felt it was time to go.
      “Yes [I would send the transfer request again] it was a manner of making a point and expressing my feelings. It was me telling the club that I wanted to leave.
      “Luis Suarez’s departure had nothing to do with the decision but I felt it was crazy the way his exit was handled and that Barcelona let him go to a direct rival.”
      Messi confirmed he is still in daily contact with close pal Suarez – who moved to Atletico Madrid – and that they share a WhatsApp group with old team-mate Neymar.
      He said: “Yes [We have a WhatsApp group], we speak a great deal and I speak to Luis every day.
      “Last time I spoke to Neymar was after the Champions League last 16 draw. [when his PSG side drew Barcelona].”

      Barcelona legend Lionel Messi collects record 7th Pichichi Award More

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      Messi admits it’ll be ‘difficult’ for ‘very bad’ Barcelona to return to best – but he’s ready to ‘fight for everything’

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      LIONEL MESSI admitted it will be difficult to turn around Barcelona’s “very bad” run – but he is willing to “fight for everything”.
      The Argentine – who tried so hard to leave his boyhood club this summer – appeared to confirm his focus remains on turning around Barca’s fortunes.

      Lionel Messi admitted it will be difficult to turn around Barcelona’s ‘very bad’ form

      But he is aware the club are in a “very bad” situation as they face an uphill battle to re-find their former dominance.
      Messi, 33, told Spanish TV station La Sexta: “Today I am fine. It is true that I had a very bad time during the summer and before, because of how the season ended.
      “Then came the burofax [transfer request]. But now I feel good and wanting to fight for everything we have ahead.
      “I’m excited even though the club is going through difficult times. These are difficult times, as for everyone.

      “The club is really bad, very bad, it will be difficult to get back to where we were.”
      Messi handed in a transfer request in August and tried to leave for free due to a stipulation in his contract.
      But Barca argued the clause – which stated the forward could chose to leave at the end of any season – expired in the June.
      To avoid dragging the club through the courts, Messi decided to stay but his contract is due to expire at the end of the current campaign.

      Messi admitted it will be ‘difficult’ for Barca to return to their bestCredit: PA:Press Association

      Opening up about the transfer sage, he said: “I will always be eternally grateful to the club.
      “Everything the club gave me I earned and I deserved it for what I did.
      “Then the moment came when I thought I had completed a cycle, that I deserved a change, that I needed to get out of all this.
      “I knew that this was going to be a year of transition, with young people, but I wanted to continue fighting for more titles, for the Champions League, for the league.
      “Then all that trouble started, with the president who started to filter things to make me look like the bad guy in the movie, but that was what I felt.
      “It was a very difficult decision to make, because I wanted to leave the club of my life.
      “My family didn’t want to move either, my children told me not to leave, but it was what I felt at that time.”

      Lionel Messi arrives home in Argentina for the holidays ahead of transfer speculation More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo wins player of century at Dubai Globe Soccer awards as Georgina Rodriguez stuns in sparkly red dress

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO was named Player of the Century at a glamorous bash in Dubai.
      The Juventus superstar walked the red carpet with fiancee Georgina Rodriguez before he was awarded the top gong at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards.

      Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez arrived at Dubai Globe Soccer AwardsCredit: Reuters

      Ronaldo won the Player of the Century award Credit: Reuters

      Ian Rush pictured with his Irish singer and model fiancee Carol AnthonyCredit: Reuters

      The ceremony was held at the iconic Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.
      Ronaldo wore a dapper grey suit with a red tie, matching his partner’s sparkly red dress.
      The Juventus forward was joined by fellow football stars of the past and present.
      Liverpool legend Ian Rush, 59, was pictured with his Irish singer and model fiancee Carol Anthony, 43.

      Gerard Pique, 33, and Robert Lewandowski, 32, were all smiles as they arrived at the ceremony.
      Even former boxing world champion Amir Khan, 34, was a guest alongside his wife Faryal Makhdoom, 29.
      Bayern Munich forward Lewandowski won the Player of the Year award – despite the vote initially going to Ronaldo.
      Voting is open to the public and such is Ronaldo’s popularity, he topped the poll.

      Amir Khan alongside his wife Faryal MakhdoomCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But according to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, the 35-year-old and his agent Jorge Mendes admitted the decision was unfair.
      And they are said to have instead insisted that Lewandowski be handed the award.
      But Ronaldo did pip long-time rival Lionel Messi, 33, and Barcelona legend Ronaldinho as the Player of the Century.
      After winning the award, he said: “For 20 consecutive years I have played and scored as a professional, I didn’t know there was another record to beat.
      “It’s a pleasure to hear about the records, I have achieved all this but without my team-mates, without a great team, I would not have achieved these records.”

      Globe Soccer Awards

      Player of the Year – Robert Lewandowski
      Club of the Year – Bayern Munich
      Coach of the Year – Hans-Dieter Flick
      Player of the Century – Cristiano Ronaldo
      Club of the Century – Real Madrid
      Coach of the Century – Pep Guardiola
      Agent of the Century – Jorge Mendes
      Player Career Award – Gerard Pique, Iker Casillas

      Ronaldo, who wants to play at the highest level until he is 40, revealed he has no plans of slowing down.
      He said: “It is an exceptional achievement. It gives me the motivation to move forward.
      “To be named the best is a great honour, I hope that this situation is over next year and that we can have more fun, thank you very much.
      “I hope to still be able to play for more years. ”

      Barcelona defender Gerard Pique at the award Credit: Reuters

      Robert Lewandowski won the Player of the Year award Credit: Reuters More

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      Luka Modric ‘agrees new Real Madrid contract until 2022’ dashing Tottenham’s transfer hopes of re-signing former star

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      LUKA MODRIC looks set to sign a new deal at Real Madrid, according to reports.
      The 35-year-old’s current contract in the Spanish capital expires in June, meaning he is free to discuss pre-contract terms with other clubs next month.

      Luka Modric looks set to sign a new contract at Real Madrid

      But Marca reports Modric has agreed a deal in principle to stay at Real until 2022 – dashing Tottenham’s hopes of re-signing their former midfielder.
      Jose Mourinho was reportedly interested in bringing Modric back to north London on a free transfer in the summer.
      The Spurs boss has already successfully brought one Real Madrid player back to the Premier League with the loan signing of Gareth Bale.
      Mourinho previously managed Modric during his final season in charge of Real in 2012-13.

      However, the Croatian’s recent form for Zinedine Zidane’s side has persuaded the Real hierarchy to offer him an extension.
      He is expected to turn down lucrative offers from Qatar and the MLS to remain with the Spanish giants.
      It was previously reported the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner was willing to take a pay cut to stay with Los Blancos beyond next summer, and last month stated he wanted to end his career at the club.
      As a result, it is expected his new deal will see him earn less than his previous terms.

      His new contract will see him complete a decade as a Real Madrid player, having left Spurs for £30million in 2012.
      In eight and a half years with Real, Modric has won 16 trophies, including four Champions League wins and two La Liga titles.
      One player facing an uncertain future at the Bernabeu is captain Sergio Ramos.
      The defender’s current deal also expires in June and he has yet to agree an extension with Real.

      Luka Modric shows off his unique approach to working out More

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      Real Madrid plan shock transfer move for Phil Foden as England midfield star lacks first-team opportunities at Man City

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      REAL MADRID are being linked with a shock move for Manchester City’s England midfielder Phil Foden.
      The Spanish champions’ interest in Foden is reportedly soaring as the 20-year-old has started just one Premier League game since October.

      Phil Foden was again just a late sub in Man City’s 2-0 Boxing Day defeat of Newcastle, as Real Madrid reportedly grow in belief they could sign himCredit: EPA

      Real boss Zinedine Zidane aims to build a new generation of Galacticos, with Man City’s England playmaker Phil Foden rated as a candidate Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Etihad chief Pep Guardiola has long predicted Foden would become a “really special” lynchpin of City’s team for the next decade.
      But The Mirror claim Real now believe they have a genuine chance of luring the playmaker away if he fails to become a regular soon.
      Foden was only used as a stoppage-time substitute as City went fifth in the Prem with Saturday night’s 2-0 home win over Newcastle.

      And although he shone in City’s Champions League group games this season, he has yet to make the progress domestically that Guardiola promised he would.

      Foden was seen as the natural heir to Etihad legend David Silva, who won 125 Spain caps before joining Real Sociedad over the summer.
      Guardiola revealed at the time: “When David said it was his last year I told the board we have Phil, so we don’t have to invest.”
      And when Foden missed four England matches for breaking coronavirus rules in September, Guardiola was just as supportive.
      Foden and Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood were sent back to the UK in disgrace after inviting two girls to the team hotel in Iceland and meeting them there.

      Both players apologised and Guardiola said of Foden’s response for City: “I think he has shown incredible maturity.
      “His approach in every training session and match has been right.
      “He was from the beginning so mature, he handled the good and bad things and put aside the good and bad moments, and just thinks about the next thing.”

      Guardiola has also added: “We love this guy. he has everything to be really special.
      “I want the best for him and if he has the desire to do it, then he will get there for sure.”
      But now it is claimed Real are starting to think Foden could be tempted away – rather than wait and wait for the key City role he was feted for.

      Pep Guardiola reacts to Man City’s victory over Newcastle More