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      Man City new boy Ferran Torres reveals he wanted to STAY at Valencia but club didn’t want him as he slams his ex-captain

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      MANCHESTER CITY newbie Ferran Torres wanted to stay at his boyhood club Valencia but felt he was forced out of the Mestalla.
      The Spanish winger, 20, had been with the La Liga club since the age of seven before Pep Guardiola forked out £20.8million to sign him on a five-year deal.

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      Manchester City new boy Ferran Torres has hit out at former club Valencia and Dani ParejoCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      And while the Spaniard insisted he is “excited and happy” by the new challenge ahead of him, he remains hurt at how his time at Valencia ended.

      In an interview with Marca, Torres revealed he put forward conditions to Valencia bigwigs to stay.
      He wanted the club’s billionaire owner Peter Lim to be involved with the talks so he knew he “was important”.
      The winger also wanted to be made captain and one of the club’s highest earners – but none of the demands were met.

      Mestalla skipper Dani Parejo came in the firing line with Torres claiming he was blamed for the bitter exit of former manager Marcelino.
      The Spaniard said: “After three years I’m more mature and mentally stronger. But at 17, no. 
      “He [Parejo] is a great player but I never had a relationship with him.
      “When I joined the first team at 17, a number of weeks passed before he said a simple ‘good morning’ to me.

      “He wasn’t a good captain with me.
      “The worst of it came after Marcelino’s departure when [Lee] Kang-in and I were seen as culprits in the dressing room and they stopped talking to us for weeks.”

      Torres scored six times and added seven assists in 44 appearances for Spanish side Valencia last season.
      He claims his reputation at the La Liga outfit was tarnished by “people within the club” and “bad journalists”.
      But he hasn’t ruled out eventually returning to his boyhood side.
      When asked about the matter, he said: “I’m sure I can. I refuse to think otherwise.

      “Even if there are crooked people. A lot of them won’t be there in a few years and I’ll have shown that I deserve to return.”
      The 20-year-old is able to play on either wing and can also operate through the middle.
      Guardiola will hope the Spain youth star can fill the void left by Leroy Sane at the Etihad.

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      Bad-boy Arda Turan returns to Galatasaray after Barcelona contract expires following disastrous five-year spell 

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      ARDA TURAN has ended his disastrous five-year Barcelona spell after signing for Galatasaray.
      The Turkish international has returned home following 11 years away, which saw him make a name for himself at Atletico Madrid in LaLiga.

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      Arda Turan has left Barcelona and signed for GalatasarayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But his doomed 2015 transfer to Barcelona turned his career upside down, though he could not hold back the emotions after re-joining his boyhood club on a free.
      Turan said: “Emotions are very deep. Now is not the time to comment and talk too much. 
      “It’s time for me to get on the field and fight. I would like to thank Mr Mustafa Cengiz and members of the board of directors.
      “I hope everything will be good: the most beautiful days, successful days again both in Turkey and in Europe. 

      “I miss the fans very much. I am waiting for the day I will meet with them. I hope to see you as soon as possible.”

      Turan signed for Barca five years ago but was unable to make his debut for another six months with the Spaniards still on a transfer ban.
      He made sporadic appearances in his first two seasons but in 2018 was loaned out to Istanbul Basaksehir after falling to make a single appearance for Barca that campaign.
      But Turan’s return to Turkey was also marred with controversy.

      He was handed a 16-match ban in May 2018 after pushing an assistant referee following a dispute over a decision.

      Last Autumn he received a suspended two years and eight months prison sentence after being found guilty of intentional injury and possession of an unlicensed weapon.
      He was involved in a brawl with pop singer Berkay Sahin in October 2018, breaking his nose, before being accused of brandishing a gun after following him to the hospital.
      His loan contract was then terminated in January and Turan has not played since.

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      Turan had his Istanbul Basaksehir loan terminated in January Credit: Getty – Contributor

      Arda Turan involved in brawl as he ‘broke popstar’s nose’ and ‘brandished gun’ in shocking scenes More

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      Man City ‘rule out Sergi Roberto transfer and not planning approach for Barcelona star’ despite Guardiola being fan

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      MANCHESTER CITY have not made an approach for Sergi Roberto despite talk of a bid for the Barcelona star.
      The Spaniard’s agent Josep Maria Orobitg has denied any suggestion that his client will leave the Camp Nou.

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      Sergi Roberto is set to stay despite Barcelona planning a clear out this summerCredit: USA TODAY Sports
      After reports that Roberto will be offered to City in their move for young defender Eric Garcia, Orobitg stated the right-back’s intention to stay with the Catalans.
      Manchester Evening News quote the agent as saying: “Sergi Roberto has no plans to leave Barcelona.
      “Now there are no clubs showing interest and Barcelona have not submitted any proposals for the player to us.”
      Pep Guardiola has long been described as a big fan of Roberto, 28, having given the La Masia product his debut back in 2010.

      Capable of playing in central midfield and the right side of defence, he is arguably the last academy player to come through Barcelona’s famous youth system and establish a long-term place in the first-team.
      According to Sport, City wanted to bring Roberto to Manchester when discussing Garcia’s future with the LaLiga side at the end of the season.
      It is said that Barcelona would prefer to let fellow right-back Nelson Semedo go as they attempt to push down their mammoth wage bill over the summer.
      Guardiola stated last month his desire to keep Garcia with just one year left on the centre-back’s contract.

      He said: “We are going to try convince him to stay here for many, many, many years.”
      With Orobitg, who also represents Guardiola, denying any City link to Roberto, MEN believe the club are focusing their efforts elsewhere.
      Defenders Pau Torres, Kalidou Koulibaly and Ruben Dias are reportedly Pep’s priorities after signing Nathan Ake and Ferran Torres.

      Man City could field two new signings next season

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      How Real Madrid will line up vs Man City with no Hazard, Bale or Sergio Ramos for must-win Champions League clash

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      ZINEDINE ZIDANE must find a way to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Manchester City in the Champions League without two key players.
      Sergio Ramos, the club’s captain and second highest scorer this season, is suspended after his red card in the defeat at the Bernabeu.

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      And Eden Hazard is a major doubt after aggravating an ankle injury in June, having had surgery on the problem area during the coronavirus shutdown.
      That leaves coach Zidane with no obvious solution when setting out his attack in the last-16 second leg, with at least two goals needed thanks to the away goals rule.
      However, the Frenchman is highly unlikely to go hugely gung-ho with his XI and a 4-3-3 formation should remain his go-to setup.
      Marco Asensio, Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius are all ready to step in for Hazard, who is set to settle for a role off the bench.

      None of the three have excelled in a scoring sense this season although Spain international Asensio only returned from a long-term injury in June.
      Vinicius may be Zidane’s more trusted option to support Karim Benzema and a decisive strike in March’s El Clasico win proved his mettle for big games.
      BALED OUT
      Two men who will not be helping reverse the deficit are Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez.
      Neither outcast received the call for Real’s travelling squad to Manchester with Rodriguez reportedly heading to Atletico Madrid.

      Bale’s future is far murkier with the Welshman having little appetite to leave and Zidane refusing to play him.

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      Gareth Bale has been stuck on the bench since the restart but will not even travel to ManchesterCredit: Reuters

      Instead, the coach will be focused on fitting four into three in his midfield, with either Fede Valverde or Luka Modric likely to miss out on Friday night.
      Toni Kroos and Casemiro should start, with Isco also available.
      In defence, Eder Militao will line up alongside Raphael Varane due to Ramos’ suspension with Ferland Mendy trusted at left-back.

      Gareth Bale trolls Zinedine Zidane again with hilarious antics as he’s left on bench for Real Madrid More

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      Nicolas Anelka refused to train at Real Madrid as team-mates didn’t celebrate his goals, reveals ex-boss Del Bosque

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      NICOLAS ANELKA stopped turning up to Real Madrid training because his team-mates didn’t celebrate his goals, Vicente del Bosque has revealed.
      The French striker, often nicknamed ‘Le Sulk’ while at Arsenal, spent one season with the Spanish giants after he joined from Arsenal in 1999 for a then-record fee of £22.3million.

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      Nicolas Anelka scored seven goals in 33 games for Real MadridCredit: AP:Associated Press
      After failing to live up to expectations at the Bernabeu, Anelka left to join Paris Saint-Germain in 2000.
      Former Madrid boss Del Bosque has revealed that the 40-year-old accused the team of not being happy for his success.
      He said: “Anelka was a player that cost us a lot of money.
      “Real Madrid wasted €25m (£22.3m) on him and he was signed as a star.

      “He came into the dressing room one day and told us that we were not happy for his success, that we weren’t celebrating his goals.
      “He didn’t come to training for a day or two and the club fined him.”
      Following his spell with Madrid, Anelka claimed that he struggled in Spain because some of the squad were jealous of him.

      The Frenchman said: “My life at Real Madrid was made difficult from day one because I was an outsider and many people did not want me to sign.

      “The Spanish players at the club, particularly Hierro and Raul, are very close.
      “So when I came in as a big money signing and took Raul’s place in the team – there were problems.”

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      Vicente del Bosque revealed why Nicolas Anelka refused to train at MadridCredit: Reuters

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      Gareth Bale axed from Real Madrid’s 24-man travelling squad to Man City following Zinedine Zidane bust-ups

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      GARETH BALE will not feature in Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Manchester City after being left out the 24-man squad.
      Zinedine Zidane has selected his travelling party for the second leg of the last-16 tie, which City lead 2-1.

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      Gareth Bale’s season is over after being dropped from Real’s Champions League squad.Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Despite Los Blancos’ need to score at least twice at the Etihad, Welsh winger Bale will not make the trip.
      Neither he, nor fellow absentee James Rodriguez, are thought to be injured.
      In their place, former City youngster Brahim Diaz makes the cut having only played ten games all season.
      Castilla defender Javi Hernandez comes in with Sergio Ramos travelling to Manchester despite being banned for the second leg.

      Zidane’s decision to leave Bale out marks the end of a torrid campaign for the 31-year-old.
      Almost sold to a Chinese Super League side last summer, he was kept in the first-team even though his relationship with the coach was at breaking point during his first spell in charge.

      REAL MADRID SQUAD TO FACE MAN CITY

      GK: Thibaut Courtois, Alphonse Areola, Diego Altube.
      DEF: Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Sergio Ramos*, Raphael Varane, Nacho Fernandez, Marcelo, Ferland Mendy, Javi Hernández.*Suspended
      MID: Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Casemiro, Fede Valverde, Isco, Marco Asensio.
      ATT: Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema, Lucas Vazquez, Luka Jovic, Brahim Diaz, Vinicius, Rodrygo Goes.

      Struggling with a handful of injuries, Bale scored just three times in 20 appearances and played only once after the restart.
      While Madrid rampaged past Barcelona to scoop the league title, his biggest contributions came in his antics on the bench.

      In one game, he joked that he was asleep under his face mask before making binocular gestures to the pitch in another.
      Rumours are rife that Real will try and sell their one-time record signing with two years left on his contract.
      However, Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett says his client is happy in Spain and emphasised that it was Zidane’s decision to exile the winger.
      He told BBC Sport: “Gareth is fine. He has two years left on his contract.

      “He likes living in Madrid and he is going nowhere.
      “He is still as good as anyone else in the team. It’s up to Zinedine Zidane.
      “Of course there’s been interest but there’s hardly a club in the world which can afford him.
      “It’s a great loss that he’s not in the Real Madrid team at the moment but he will not leave.”

      Watch birthday-boy Gareth Bale’s half-hearted celebrations as Real Madrid win LaLiga title after latest Zinedine Zidane snub More

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      James Rodriguez set for sensational Atletico Madrid transfer from Real Madrid for £13.5m with no future under Zidane

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      JAMES RODRIGUEZ is set for a stunning transfer from Real Madrid to arch-rivals Atletico, according to reports.
      The Colombian, 29, looks set to leave the Bernabeu this summer because he is not part of Zinedine Zidane’s future plans.

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      James Rodriguez is closing in on a £13.5m transfer to Atletico Madrid from rivals RealCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      And according to El Golazo de Gol, Atleti could land the playmaker for as little as £13.5million.
      But Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo tried to pour cool water on the rumours by insisting he has “no idea” if a deal will get done.
      Cerezo told Radio Marca: “We have an excellent and young squad.
      “However, if the coach considers it necessary, we will do everything in our reach to bring a player in. I have no idea whether he will end up coming.”

      He then added: “I don’t think he is in Atletico Madrid’s plans.”

      Rodriguez came close to joining Atletico last summer with a deal close to being agreed.
      But after Diego Simeone’s side won a pre-season friendly 7-3, the move collapsed and the former Monaco man stayed put.
      However, this season he has played just 14 times all season, registering one goal and two assists for Real.

      Since the campaign restarted in June, Rodriguez’s only appearance came with a 78-minute cameo in the 2-1 LaLiga win over Real Sociedad.
      In his six years on the books with Real Madrid following his £63m switch after top scoring at the 2014 World Cup, he has picked up two league titles, two Champions Leagues, two Super Cups and two Club World Cups.
      He also won the Bundesliga in both seasons he was on loan at Bayern Munich.
      But with the likes of Isco, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, Eden Hazard, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric – among others – ahead of Rodriguez in the pecking order in the side, his future appears set to be elsewhere.

      Arsenal were heavily linked in January while a reunion with former boss Carlo Ancelotti at Everton was also suggested.
      As revealed by SunSport, Manchester United were also offered the Colombia international for a cut-price fee.
      And with just one year left on his current deal at the Bernabeu and an extension off the cards, Real will be keen to flog their man this summer.

      Gareth Bale ‘mad’ at Real Madrid for blocking transfer and stand-off with Zinedine Zidane ‘unsatisfying’, says Toni Kroos More

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      Camavinga urges Rennes NOT to listen to transfer offers for him this summer as he wants to force 2021 Real Madrid move

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      EDUARDO CAMAVINGA will reportedly snub all transfer offers this summer to force his dream move to Real Madrid next year.
      The French youngster, 17, is under contract at Rennes until the end of the 2021-22 season.

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      Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is a summer target for Man Utd and Real MadridCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      It is no secret that Camavinga has his heart set on a move to the Bernabeu.

      And according to Marca, the whizkid has asked Rennes bigwigs not to listen to any transfer offers from other clubs.
      Zinedine Zidane is believed to be a huge fan of his French compatriot, and has identified the midfielder as a long-term replacement for Casemiro.
      But having won LaLiga – and with the club seeing £200million cut from their value – Los Blancos are unlikely to make any big moves this summer.

      Real president Florentino Perez is reportedly happy with the squad at his disposal and therefore won’t fix what isn’t broken.
      That has alerted the attention of Bayern Munich and PSG – with the German and French champions ready to pounce on Camavinga.
      And his agent has warned him it may not be possible to wait around forever for Real.
      Rennes have qualified for the Champions League next season after the Ligue 1 season was scrapped when they were in third place.

      And the club are keen on keeping him for the competition.
      New sporting director Florian Maurice revealed they would not sell their star man for anything less than £75m.
      That has almost certainly scared off Real Madrid, who are struggling with the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic. More