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      Newcastle cult hero Hatem Ben Arfa joins NINTH club aged 33 after sealing free transfer to Bordeaux

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      NEWCASTLE UNITED icon Hatem Ben Arfa has sealed a move to the NINTH club of his 16-year career. 
      The former Magpies hero returned home to France after completing a free transfer to Bordeaux on Wednesday.

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      Bordeaux have become the ninth team to sign former Newcastle United ace Hatem Ben Arfa Credit: AFP or licensors

      And the club’s website confirmed he will wear the No8 shirt for the Ligue One outfit, who finished 12th last season.
      Ben Arfa, 33, left Real Valladolid as a free agent this summer following a January move to the Spanish side battling to avoid relegation.
      And the Frenchman played for 158 minutes in just five appearances for the LaLiga strugglers. 

      Ben Arfa, who netted 14 times for Newcastle, has previously played for eight Ligue One and Prem sides including Hull City under former boss Steve Bruce . 
      The former France international joined Newcastle on loan under Alan Pardew in August 2010, before completing a permanent move in January 2011 and scoring some wonderful individual goals. 

      BEN ARFA’S CLUB CAREER

      The Frenchman has had nine clubs

      Lyon (July 2004 – July 2008)
      Marseille (July 2008 – July 2011)
      Newcastle United (January 2011 – January 2015)
      Hull City (September to December 2014 – loan spell)
      Nice (July 2015 – July 2016)
      Paris St Germain (July 2016 – July 2018)
      Rennes (September 2018 – July 2019)
      Real Valladolid (January – August 2020)
      Bordeaux (October 2020)

      Ben Arfa delighted and baffled the Toon Army in equal measure during his 86 appearances for Newcastle. 
      That was despite his St James’ Park career being put on hold for a year by a horror Nigel de Jong tackle.

      However, his relationship with Pardew turned hostile and he left for Nice in 2015 before stints at Rennes, PSG and Valladolid.

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      Ben Arfa, who left Newcastle in 2015, is regarded as a hero by many Magpies fansCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Former Magpies top scout Graham Carr revealed he had to persuade club owner Mike Ashley to sanction a move for Ben Arfa.
      Carr told the Daily Mail: “We started talking about Ben Arfa. 
      “Mike had this thing with a 4-4-2, first-team players on £40k a week and understudies on £20k.

      “He couldn’t understand why we’d want Hatem and Jonas Gutierrez, two left-wingers, on £40k. 
      “I knew Hatem could be brilliant, so I cut in, ‘He’s a No 10, actually, and he can cut in from the right’. That was it, done.”
      Ben Arfa has an option to extend his Bordeaux contract into next season should he have a successful term with the Ligue 1 side.

      Paul McCarthy agrees with Newcastle’s Steve Bruce and hits out at handball rule More

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      Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles was wanted by Barcelona in shock transfer but Mikel Arteta blocked deal

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      ARSENAL star Ainsley Maitland-Niles was wanted by Barcelona in a shock deal – but Mikel Arteta blocked the move, according to reports.
      The Spanish giants developed an interest in the versatile Gunner during the summer.

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      The unassuming Arsenal man found himself subject to surprise interest from BarcelonaCredit: Rex Features

      But reports say his manager was instrumental in keeping Maitland-Niles at the Emirates.
      Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano said Barca had identified AMN as a potential right-back target, a position he has played often before for Arsenal.
      But boss Arteta blocked the move, believing the 23-year-old to be key to Arsenal’s future.

      Barcelona gave up on their pursuit when the Gunners manager’s position became clear.
      They instead signed American full-back Sergino Dest from Ajax.
      Maitland-Niles has also been linked with a move to Wolves, but reports say the move fell-apart after his call-up the England squad in August.
      Newcastle were also said to be in for the player – who Arsenal reportedly slapped a £25m price tag on.

      Arteta is believed to have grown to see the AMN as important having initially been more willing to let him go.
      Maitland-Niles has become a regular fixture of Arsenal’s squad in the last three years, coming through under Arsene Wenger but also featuring regularly under his successors.
      The England international has become known for his versatility, and has appeared in either full-back role, wing-back and midfield.

      Ainsley Maitland-Niles nets gorgeous winner vs Germany U19 for England U19 More

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      Chelsea almost signed Lionel Messi in sensational transfer after ‘private phone call with Jose Mourinho’ in 2004

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      LIONEL MESSI came incredibly close to joining Chelsea after a long phone call with Jose Mourinho, according to reports. 
      The Barcelona superstar had a heart-to-heart chat over the phone with The Special One over a potential Stamford Bridge move in 2004. 

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      Lionel Messi came close becoming a Chelsea player under Mourinho in 2004Credit: AFP OR LICENSORS

      Sky Italia claim the conversation followed Mourinho’s incredible final season in charge of Porto ahead of his appointment as boss of the Blues.
      Mourinho, then a rising managerial star, led the Portuguese giants to the 2004 Champions League final. 
      In May that year, they beat Didier Deschamps’ Monaco to claim the biggest prize in club football. 

      A month later Mourinho, 57, now at Tottenham, went on to become the new boss of Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea. 

      And Sky Italia claim Messi, who turned 17 a month into the former Porto manager’s reign at Stamford Bridge, made his first attempt to try and leave Barcelona.
      But a move never came to fruition and the Argentina playmaker went on to become one of the world’s greatest players, winning dozens of trophies under Pep Guardiola including four Champions League titles. 
      Over the summer the Argentina skipper, 33, made a very public attempt to leave the club a second time following Barcelona’s calamitous 2019-20 season. 
      Two managers – Ernesto Valverde and Quique Setien – were sacked last term and the Nou Camp giants knocked out of the Champions League quarters following a humiliating 8-2 thumping from Bayern Munich.

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      Lionel Messi was heavy linked with a move to Manchester City this summerCredit: Reuters

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      Jose Mourinho reportedly had a lengthy chat with Messi in a bid to lure him to Stamford Bridge in 2004Credit: AFP or licensors

      However, Messi, who was strongly linked with a move to Guardiola’s  Manchester City, decided to stay put with Ronald Koeman in place as his boss at Barca. 
      And his Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni insists he is happy the player opted to remain in Spain. 
      Scaloni said: “I spoke to Leo when everything was resolved and I saw him calm. He’s now well in his club.
      “For us, it’s positive that he stayed because he was able to play immediately, he knows the club, but in terms of decisions, we don’t get involved in that, we don’t step in the player’s territory.”
      Meanwhile, Mourinho won three Premier League titles at Chelsea before going on to lead Inter Milan and Barcelona’s bitter rivals Real Madrid from 2008 to 2013.
      The Special One endured a troubled spell in charge at Manchester United followed by a move to Tottenham, who thumped his old side 6-1 in their third league game this term.

      Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez reunited for first time since striker’s Barcelona axe as they arrive at airport together More

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      Karim Benzema claims he is finally ‘free’ without Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid – and stats prove it

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      KARIM BENZEMA claims he is finally ‘free’ at Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo.
      The pair spent nine years together before Ronaldo, 35, quit for Juventus in 2018 as the club’s all-time top scorer with 451 goals in 438 games.

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      Karim Benzema set Cristiano Ronaldo up 47 times in nine seasons at Real MadridCredit: AFP

      Benzema assisted the Portugal superstar 47 times – more than any other player.
      The French striker, 32, insists he became more selfless to help his old pal.
      Benzema said: “In Lyon I played in another way.
      “Now I’m free on the pitch, I like to touch the ball.

      “With Cristiano I changed my style, I played for him.
      “I had someone who did double or triple my goals and I had to adapt.
      “I thought it wouldn’t cost me anything, I just had to change my way of playing and pass it on to him more.
      “I put my goal scoring aside.”

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      Benzema scored just five LaLiga goals in Ronaldo’s final season in Madrid.
      But his tally has soared and he finished the following two seasons with 21 league goals each.
      Only Lionel Messi (25) scored more than the Real star last campaign.

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      Karim Benzema scores in Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Levante on SundayCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS

      Watch Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema’s disallowed cheeky penalty routine More

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      Skint Barcelona in talks for all first-team players including Lionel Messi and backroom staff to take pay cuts

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      BARCELONA have reportedly started negotiations as they look to make all staff, including Lionel Messi, take pay cuts.
      Marca reports the Blaugrana are seeking to lower the wages of EVERYONE on their payroll after reporting debts of £433m.

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      Lionel Messi and Co are in line for pay cutsCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS

      Barca are looking to modify the terms of employment of all their employees, including players and backroom staff, so they can drive down costs.
      The report states the club opened a 15-day window on Wednesday for each internal department to elect a representative to front discussions.
      The negotiation period is set to last a month meaning that in around 6 weeks, with the agreement of lawyers, wages could be slashed.
      However, the club’s stars may REJECT the process and request an unprecedented release from their contracts in line with the Workers’ Statute.

      In this scenario, Barca could end up forking out 20 days’ salary per year of service.
      If highly paid long-term servants like Argentine superstar Messi, who collects £500,000 a week, opted to walk away the club would be left with a huge bill.
      Some players could choose to look for a move away in January.
      But Barca could ensure none leave for free by choosing not to enforce the measures on playing staff or by holding individual talks with players.

      In the summer, Messi made public his desire to leave after falling out with president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
      But the 33-year-old made a U-turn in September and announced he would stay for at least this season after revealing it would be too hard to take his beloved side to court to force an exit.
      Bartomeu is under fire and faces an emergency vote of no confidence after 16,000 fuming fans signed a motion against him.
      Bartomeu’s popularity has decreased so much that restless supporters are not prepared to wait for the presidential elections in March – with Bartomeu unable to stand for another term – to oust him.
      The Catalan giants have been hit hard in the pocket by the coronavirus pandemic.
      The club reported post-tax losses of £88million for the 2019-20 season.
      And despite previously slashing wages during the Covid crisis, Barca still confirmed staggering debts of £433m.

      Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez reunited for first time since striker’s Barcelona axe as they arrive at airport together More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo ‘hasn’t spoken to Sergio Ramos since Real Madrid exit and is upset about Ballon d’Or snub for Modric’

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO and Sergio Ramos have not spoken to each other for two years, according to reports.
      The Portuguese star, 35, left Real Madrid in 2018 and joined Juventus for £99million.

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      Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly not spoken to Sergio Ramos for two yearsCredit: EPA

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      Ramos and Ronaldo enjoyed plenty of success together on the pitch during their time together at the BernabeuCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And Marca reckon the former team-mates have not spoken to each other since – with Ronaldo left ‘upset’ by Ramos’ Ballon d’Or snub, when he backed Luka Modric instead.
      Ronaldo won two LaLiga titles, two Copa del Rey crowns and four Champions Leagues in nine years at Madrid.
      Since then, he has picked up back-to-back Serie As with Juventus – while Real won the league title last season.
      Despite leaving on good terms and well respected, he reportedly felt shunned when Ramos backed his Real team-mate Modric for the 2018 Ballon d’Or.

      The Croatian World Cup runner-up won a landslide victory with 753 voting points as Ronaldo came second way back on 476, pipping Antoine Griezmann.
      Ronaldo, who won his fifth and last crown in 2017, then did not attend the awards ceremony last year when Modric handed over the trophy to Lionel Messi.
      It is thought his relationships with many of his Real pals has broken down – with the exception of full-back Marcelo.
      However, Marca suggest Ronaldo continues to have a special bond with the Real Madrid board including president Florentino Perez.

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      The pair will go head to head once again when Spain take on Portugal in an international friendlyCredit: Getty – Contributor

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      Ronaldo was reportedly left unhappy that Ramos backed team-mate Luka Modric for the 2018 Ballon d’OrCredit: Reuters

      Ronaldo did attend the last El Clasico played at the Bernabeu but arrived just before kick-off, left before the end and was unable to go down to the changing rooms.
      The ex-pals are both in the squads tonight as Portugal host Spain in an international friendly.

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      Darren Fletcher says Cristiano Ronaldo became the player he is thanks to former Man Utd No2 Walter Smith More

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      Memphis Depay disappointed with Barcelona over failed transfer but will do all he can to join in January, confirm Lyon

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      Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed Memphis Depay is disappointed his dream move to Barcelona fell through on deadline day.
      The clubs had agreed a £22million fee plus add-ons for the ex-Manchester United forward, but the cash-strapped LaLiga giants were unable to raise the necessary funds to make the transfer happen on Monday.

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      Memphis Depay saw a transfer to Barcelona fall through on deadline day

      Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Aulas reflected on the transfer saga and believes Depay, who has a year left on his Lyon contract, will push for a move to Barca when the window reopens in January.
      Aulas said: “Since the beginning I have been clear with Memphis.
      “I spoke with President Bartomeu at Barcelona twice, he told me he couldn’t see how things could happen.
      “I know that Koeman made him continue to hope and that Memphis was ready to make sacrifices.

      “Today, he is disappointed, but not towards Lyon, more towards Barcelona.
      “He is going to do everything he can to find himself in a position where he moves there in January.
      “Rudi Garcia, he fought with everything he had for Memphis to stay.
      “I have not abandoned the idea of extending [Depay’s] contract, but as he has always said no, it looks difficult to do.”

      Barca scrambled on deadline day to push through a deal for Depay, but Ousmane Dembele’s decision to stay at the club instead of joining Man United on loan ultimately closed the door on a move for the Dutchman.
      The Catalans were able to offload Rafinha to Paris Saint-Germain and defender Jean-Clair Todibo to Benfica but it was too little too late.
      It remains to be seen whether Barcelona will return for Depay in January as Aulas says but there could be a new man in charge at the Nou Camp by then, with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu facing a vote of no confidence.

      Ousmane Dembele ‘agrees to join Man Utd as Red Devils thrashes out personal terms and transfer agreement with Barcelona’ More

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      Modric reveals Hazard is ‘not in a comfortable situation’ as injuries ravage ex-Chelsea star’s dream Real Madrid career

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      LUKA Modric has revealed Eden Hazard is ‘not in a comfortable situation’ as injuries continue to ravage the ex-Chelsea star’s dream Real Madrid career.
      The 29-year-old has endured a nightmarish spell since leaving England in 2019 for £130m.

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      Eden Hazard has cut a forlorn figure while sat in the stands with injuryCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Luka Modric predicted his teammate would get back to his bestCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Persistent injuries have repeatedly interrupted his run in the team and he event went so far as to call last season – when Real Madrid won La Liga – the “worst of his career”.
      Former Tottenham midfielder Modric recognises the Belgian’s difficulties but backs him to charge back into form this year.
      He told As.com: “It is not a comfortable situation.
      “He has come to show that he is one of the best and he will show it this year.

      “When he was well he showed that he was going to be important, but the injuries stopped him.
      “We need him and he will show why Madrid has paid so much for him.”
      Hazard could only make 16 appearances due to injury and hit only one goal.
      That was against Granada in a 4-2 La Liga win on October 5, meaning it has been over a year since he registered a league goal.

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      Hazard dreamt of playing under his idol Zinedine Zidane, but it is yet to work out. Credit: AFP
      This is a marked difference from the blistering form he managed at Chelsea, when in his final year he became only the 4th Premier League player to score and assist 15 times each in a single season.
      Last month, the star was struck by another injury that could keep him out for around four weeks.
      His latest knock looks set to sideline him out of El Clasico on October 25.

      The attacker is yet to appear this season as he was still recovery from a muscular injury in his right leg.
      In Hazard’s career, the winger has played 687 games, missing just 66 due to injury.
      But since joining the Bernabeu ranks, Hazard has missed 32 matches – accounting for nearly HALF of his total career knocks in just over a season.

      Eden Hazard suffers yet ANOTHER injury setback as Real Madrid confirm star faces a month out and could miss El Clasico More