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      Luis Suarez reveals Arsenal ‘had Karim Benzema transfer all done’, before his bite on Chiellini changed everything

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      LUIS SUAREZ has claimed his infamous bite on Giorgio Chiellini caused Arsenal to lose out on signing Karim Benzema. The year was 2014 and Suarez was looking to leave Liverpool with both Real Madrid and Barcelona interested.
      Luis Suarez infamously bit Giorgio Chiellini in the 2014 World CupCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Karim Benzema was close to joining ArsenalCredit: Rex
      And Madrid already had Benzema on the way out and Suarez lined up for a replacement during the World Cup.
      But after the Uruguayan was caught biting Chiellini, he claimed Madrid lost interest.
      He instead decided to join Barca, meaning Madrid kept Benzema and Arsenal were left empty handed.
      He told La Mesa: “Before the 2014 World Cup, Real Madrid wanted to sign me and everything was on track.
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      “They were planning to sell Benzema to Arsenal, it was all done. “When the World Cup started, Barca joined the race, and obviously I preferred Barca.
      “With the bite situation, Madrid lowered their interest, and Barca became more interested.
      “In the end I had both options and I chose Barcelona because it was my dream.”
      Suarez was caught on camera biting into Chiellini’s arm during a group stage match between Uruguay and Italy.
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      It came just a year after he did the same to Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.
      Suarez was banned for nine international games by Fifa but his move to Barca still went through.
      Watch moment star gets booked for throwing Luis Suarez’s boot off the pitch as former Liverpool star rolls around
      He would go onto win four league titles and lift the Champions League during his time at the Nou Camp.
      And now Suarez is back with team-mates Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami.
      But Suarez did reveal plans to retire, saying: “Yes, I cannot be more sincere and the family already knows. The date is not yet set, but this is the last step.
      “I am prepared for this last challenge but it is also exhausting and I have to think about having a quality of life afterwards.
      Suarez opened up on retirement after signing for Inter MiamiCredit: Reuters More

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      Real Madrid star Dani Carvajal sent off after moment of madness as defender gets two yellow cards within two minutes

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      DANI CARVAJAL was sent off for two yellow cards in just two minutes.The Real Madrid star saw red in the LaLiga clash against Rayo Vallecano.

      Dani Carvajal was sent off for Real Madrid
      Los Blancos raced into the lead in the match as former Newcastle and Stoke City flop Joselu netted the opener inside four minutes.
      However, the hosts fired themselves level as Raul de Tomas converted from the spot in the 27th minute.
      Carvajal, 32, was sent on as a substitute in the 76th minute to replace Lucas Vazquez as manager Carlo Ancelotti freshened up his team.
      The defender did not have the desired impact as he received his marching orders in the 95th minute.
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      The Spaniard was first booked in the 93rd minute before he then lashed out.
      While trying to win the ball back from Kike, the defender threw his elbow backwards catching his opponent.
      Referee Alejandro Muniz Ruiz was left with no choice but to give Carvajal his marching orders.
      The game ended in a 1-1 draw as Madrid dropped two points in the title race.
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      Madrid are six points clear of 2nd placed Girona and eight clear of Barcelona.
      Girona can cut the gap to just three should they win their game in hand.
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      Carvajal will now miss Madrid’s clash against Sevilla along with Eduardo Camavinga who has also been suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
      After the game, Ancelotti claimed that his team got “nervous” after conceding the penalty in the first half.
      He said: “We’re not happy after this draw. We were good until the penalty, our game changed after it and we got nervous.
      “Playing here is always difficult. There were a lot of duels and fights. Rayo were good.
      “We got a point, we’re not satisfied. But maybe in the future this could be a good point.” More

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      Kylian Mbappe set to take legend’s shirt at Real Madrid and be forced to give up No7 jersey because of Vinicius Jr

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      KYLIAN MBAPPE will be handed Real Madrid’s legendary No10 jersey if he completes a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.Mbappe, 25, has informed Paris Saint-Germain he won’t trigger an option to extend his contract by another year and will thus leave in June as a free agent.
      Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe will get Real Madrid’s No10 shirtCredit: Rex
      Vinicius Jr currently occupies Mbappe’s signature No7 shirt at Real MadridCredit: Rex
      Mbappe will take Luka Modric’s shirt number at Real MadridCredit: Rex
      Europe’s elite has taken notice with Premier League giants, such as Arsenal and Liverpool, monitoring the situation but the star striker is reportedly “leaning towards” Real.
      According to Mundo Deportivo, Los Blancos are trying to sweeten the deal by offering him the same shirt number wore by past legends, such as Ferenc Puskas, Luis Figo and Clarence Seedorf.
      That means the France international will have to give up his signature No7 shirt, which he currently wears at PSG.
      That is because Vinicius Jr has proven he can wear it with the same class as legendary predecessors, like Raul, Emilio Butragueno and of course Cristiano Ronaldo.
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      Luka Modric currently occupies the No10 shirt but is expected to put an end to his glittering 12-year career in Madrid once his contract expires in the summer.
      The same report claims Real are planning to officially announce Mbappe’s arrival before he links up with France for Euro 2024.
      However, there are still several formalities that need to be ironed out before the ex-Monaco star puts pen to paper.
      One major issue that stands in the way is the Frenchman’s staggering wages.
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      However, reports suggest Mbappe is willing to accept a huge pay cut to finally move to Real.
      The La Liga giants are hoping to pay the forward less than his £42.8million – around £827,000 a week – starting point.
      ‘We have to be in the conversation’, says Mikel Arteta as Arsenal boss has his say on Kylian Mbappe transfer saga
      However, he is still expected to become the club’s highest-paid player, surpassing England star Jude Bellingham by a significant margin. More

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      Barcelona make Premier League manager top choice to replace Xavi but cash-strapped side may be put off by release clause

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      BRIGHTON boss Roberto De Zerbi is Barcelona’s top choice to be their new manager.But De Zerbi’s Seagulls release clause – said to be worth up to £10m – could prove a sticking point for the cash-strapped Catalan club.
      Xavi has already announced he will quit Barcelona at the end of the seasonCredit: EPA
      Roberto De Zerbi is wanted by BarcelonaCredit: Rex
      Reports in Spain claim De Zerbi has the support of key Barca figures to replace Xavi when the playing legend leaves the dugout at the end of this season.
      President Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco, the former Chelsea and Barcelona star, both want the fiery Italian.
      They love the Seagulls’ style of football under De Zerbi, his commitment to youth, and his personality.
      De Zerbi’s agents, Edmundo Kabchi and Edoardo Cnajr, met Deco in Barcelona last Wednesday.
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      Although the talks were originally scheduled in order to discuss a contract renewal for another of their clients, defender Ronald Araujo, it is believed there were discussions about De Zerbi’s availability.
      When he replaced Graham Potter at the Amex in October 2022, he signed a four-year deal.
      Brighton and their head coach have been in talks for a couple of months about an extension which might well include a larger release clause.
      But even the current amount would be a problem for Barca as the club continues to juggle its fragile finances.
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      Xavi himself spent millions buying himself out of his contract at Qatari club Al Sadd in order to take over at the Camp Nou.
      De Zerbi could attempt something similar if he were desperate to force a move to Barcelona.
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      But if the issue cannot be resolved, former Bayern Munich and Germany boss Hansi Flick is the Italian’s biggest rival for the job.
      Flick is now represented by super-agent Pini Zahavi, who has good connections with Barcelona and most recently managed to take Robert Lewandowski there from Bayern Munich. More

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      Kylian Mbappe set to FORFEIT more than Jude Bellingham’s eye-watering wages to seal Real Madrid transfer

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      KYLIAN MBAPPE will accept a huge pay cut to join Real Madrid, according to reports.The Frenchman is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires at the end of the season.
      Kylian Mbappe is set to leave PSG at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty
      Mbappe has set his wage demands highCredit: Getty
      Several clubs have already expressed an interest in signing him on a free transfer, including Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool.
      However, Mbappe is reportedly “leaning towards” joining Real Madrid.
      Los Blancos have been pushing to sign the 25-year-old since his Monaco days.
      Mbappe came close to making the move in 2022, but shocked the football world by announcing a two-year extension with PSG instead.
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      He caused a stir among the PSG camp last summer after refusing to sign a new contract.
      The Parisians subsequently accepted a huge £259million offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for him, but Mbappe rejected the move.
      He was axed from the squad for a brief period and sent to train with PSG’s “undesirables” – a group of players not wanted by the club.
      However, he made a return at the start of the Ligue 1 campaign and has since scored 31 goals in 30 appearances across all competitions.
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      Mbappe has scored 20 goals in 19 Ligue 1 games this season
      Real Madrid have already proposed a deal to Mbappe ahead of the summer, but his representatives have reportedly been left unimpressed.
      The Frenchman is set to receive a total of £62m plus bonuses from PSG for the 2023-24 campaign, but Real Madrid are unable to match that.
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      According to Spanish outlet AS, the La Liga giants are hoping to pay Mbappe less than his £42.8m – around £827,000-a-week – starting point.
      However, he is still set to become the club’s highest-paid player, surpassing Jude Bellingham by a significant margin.
      The England international currently rakes in around £220,000-a-week – £11.4m-a-year – at the Santiago Bernabeu, much less that what Mbappe is demanding.
      In fact, the difference between the two players’ weekly wages would be around £358,000, roughly £138,000 MORE than Bellingham’s standard weekly earnings.
      Mbappe reportedly also wants several bonuses added into his contract.
      The World Cup winner joined PSG in a £154m transfer from Monaco in 2018 and has since scored 243 goals and provided 105 assists in 290 appearances.
      Jude Bellingham joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund last summer and has since scored 20 goals in 29 appearancesCredit: Getty More

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      Inside Champions League giants’ stunning new ‘sports city’ complete with mini-stadium, artificial beach & climbing wall

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      ATLETICO MADRID have unveiled plans for a stunning new “sports city” boasting a mini-stadium, an artificial beach and even a climbing wall.The Spanish giants are ready to take the next step in their evolution after winning LaLiga twice in the past decade.
      Atletico Madrid have unveiled plans for a £220million ‘sports city’
      The complex will measure one million square feet and will be based by the Wanda Metropolitano stadium
      Atletico plan on building a new training complex, finally moving them into the city
      Diego Simeone’s men have already moved into the state-of-the-art Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
      And Atletico now want to surround the 70,000 arena with a sprawling complex boasting an array of buildings.
      The entire project is expected to cost an eye-watering £220million.
      And it will span a whopping one MILLION square meters in space.
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      Atletico firstly want to build a new training ground, which includes six football fields, a gym and a medical centre.
      It means they will finally be located in Madrid itself, with Atleti currently based in Majadohonda – 20km from their stadium.
      The complex will also boast a new 6,000-seater stadium for Atletico’s women’s team and youth teams, as well as public pitches.
      But the Spanish giants are not only looking to invest in football-related matters.
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      They plan on developing an athletics stadium, as well as four indoor multi-sports courts.
      There will even be an artificial beach for volleyball, complete with artificial waves for surfing.
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      A new 6,000 arena will be made for the women’s team and youth teams
      Atletico plan on creating an artificial beach and wave pool, as well as a climbing wall
      And plans are also afoot for a golf course and a climbing wall.
      Atletico want to capitalise on public use of their facilities, and will build a hotel and car park too.
      Oscar Mayo, their general director of business and operations, said: “This is a very ambitious project that the club had for years.
      “With a vision from the CEO, Miguel Angel, to build the entire sports city and entertainment complex around the stadium.
      “Without a doubt it will energise the city and will be transformative for the club, as well as its neighbours.”
      The Spaniards are also focusing on indoor sports
      The public will be able to access many areas of the grounds More

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      Man Utd and Chelsea transfer boost as ‘Barcelona OPEN to offers for star man as relationship with chiefs deteriorates’

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      BARCELONA are open to offers for defender Jules Kounde this summer as they continue in their struggle to balance the books, according to reports. Last year’s LaLiga champions are not having a good season as they flounder in third place, 10 points behind leaders Real Madrid.
      Jules Kounde is not the only player heading out the Nou Camp door this summerCredit: Rex
      Kounde previously been linked to Manchester United and ChelseaCredit: Rex
      Things escalated when manager Xavi Hernandez announced he would quit Barcathis summer, declaring the club had gone past “the point of no return.”.
      Another allegedly joining the mass exodus from Nou Camp this summer is Frankie de Jong, whose potential exit has sent Chelsea and Manchester United into a transfer war.
      According to Deportivo Mundo, Kounde, 25, is not happy with the way things are going at Barca.
      The centre-back is repeatedly forced to play at right-back, a position he has privately and publicly stated he does not like.
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      Kounde has not been at his usual standard on the right and has to compete with Ronald Araujo, Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi and Andreas Christensen for his desired position.
      Despite assurances that he would return to centre back with the arrival of Joao Cancelo last summer, Kounde continues to find himself in the full-back role.
      But Hernandez’s ‘overbooking’ of centre-backs means they are in a good position to release one at the end of the season.
      The Frenchman, who only joined Sevilla in 2022, allegedly will be the first to go.
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      Manchester United and Chelsea are both in the running to take advantage of Barca’s predicament.
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      The Red Devils were linked with the defender when he was at Sevilla and apparently their interest has been re-ignited as Ten Hag looks to revamp his defensive ranks.
      The Blues have also shown interest in Kounde over the years, but lost out in 2022 when the defender chose Camp Nou over Stamford Bridge.
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      Kounde was even on the cusp of a deal with Chelsea the previous year, with the London team harbouring a strong belief that the move was inevitable once the Todd Boehly takeover was complete.
      Chelsea have also renewed their interest in Nou Camp teammate Pau Cubarsi, 17.
      With his staggeringly low release clause, the wonderkid has also attracted the interest of Premier League giants Manchester City. More

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      Mason Greenwood’s Getafe ‘broke unwritten rule’ over Jude Bellingham’s alleged slur with England star facing 10-game ban

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      GETAFE’S written complaint over Jude Bellingham’s alleged taunt at Mason Greenwood has surprised Spanish football chiefs, according to reports.The LaLiga side accused the England star of calling Greenwood a “rapist” during a match between Getafe and Real Madrid earlier this month.
      Jude Bellingham took on Mason Greenwood earlier this monthCredit: Getty
      Getafe complained to LaLiga after the matchCredit: Getty
      Their complaint was subsequently passed on to the Spanish football federation (RFEF) for further review.
      The competition committee will now appoint a judge to investigate the claim, with Bellingham facing a potential ban of between four and ten games if found guilty.
      Real Madrid and Getafe will have 10 days to appeal the eventual decision, which is expected to come within the next fortnight.
      According to Spanish paper Marca, LaLiga and Real Madrid were both taken aback by Getafe’s decision to appeal.
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      Bellingham’s alleged comment was missed by on the on-field official, although Getafe chiefs tried to get it included in the referee’s report after the game regardless.
      In Spain, clubs have an “unwritten rule” that they do not chase matters that have not been included in the referee’s report.
      Some insiders feel that Getafe’s decision to do so this time around could set a new precedent.
      Real Madrid are even claimed to hold concerns that this case could lead to “several complaints”.
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      After the alleged incident, Getafe manager Jose Bordalas said: “I know the same thing that you know. It’s not up to me, it’s the club, LaLiga and the Federation that have to make an assessment about it.
      “The only thing that I can say is that I ask for respect for Mason Greenwood because he is a great guy.
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      “He is a man who respects everyone and has exemplary behaviour.”
      Greenwood, 22, joined Getafe on loan from Manchester United in September, seven months after charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control were dropped. More