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      Inside the incredible story of shock LaLiga leaders who train on rented GOLF COURSE and have ex-Man Utd ace in midfield

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      IT has been nearly 20 years since a team other than Real Madrid, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid won LaLiga.The three giants have dominated Spanish football ever since Valencia’s league triumph in the 2003/04 season.
      Minnows Girona are flying at the top of LaLiga… despite training at a rented golf courseCredit: Getty
      Girona were only promoted last year but are ahead of Real Madrid and BarcelonaCredit: Getty
      Atletico have two titles to their name, with Real Madrid winning six and Barcelona landing ELEVEN.
      But their stranglehold on LaLiga could finally be coming to an end.
      That’s because there’s an unlikely club at the top of the table this season.
      Catalan minnows Girona have won nine of their 11 matches so far, losing just once to Real Madrid.
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      The club are owned by the City Football Group, who include Treble winners Man City among their list of 12 teams.
      They are even run by Pep Guardiola’s chairman brother Pere.
      And Girona are blowing their rivals away this season despite only gaining promotion to LaLiga last year.
      Manager Michel, a former Rayo Vallecano and Spain U20 midfielder, has worked wonders since his appointment in 2021.
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      Girona hope to move into a new £22million training complexCredit: Getty
      Manager Michel has helped his side win nine of their 11 matches, suffering just one defeatCredit: AFP
      Having led Rayo and Huesca out of the second tier, he guided Girona to Segunda Division glory on his first go.
      The minnows have not looked back since, finishing a respectable tenth last term ahead of big names like Sevilla and Valencia.
      But it’s this season that has fans and pundits taking real notice.
      Girona, who play at the 14,000-seater Estadi Montilivi, are top of LaLiga and two points clear of nearest challengers Real.
      They have scored more goals than anyone else this season, hitting the back of the net 31 times.
      And they have the fifth-best defence too after shipping just 16 goals.
      Girona’s current stadium holds around 14,000 fansCredit: Getty
      Ex-Man Utd defender Daley Blind is currently starring for the Spanish sideCredit: Alamy
      Indeed, the strikes are coming from all over the pitch, with Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk leading the way with seven goals and four assists.
      Winger Savio has four goals and four assists so far, while ex-Man City midfielder Yangel Herrera has netted four times too.
      And despite being 37 years old, veteran Uruguay forward Cristhian Stuani has found a new lease of life with four goal involvements.
      Former Manchester United defender Daley Blind is also enjoying his time after a summer move, with ex-Premier League stars like Eric Garcia and Paulo Gazzaniga impressing too.
      It’s seen Girona record impressive wins over the likes of Villarreal, Sevilla and Getafe.
      Yet what makes their run even more impressive is the fact they train at a rented GOLF course.
      Yangel Herrera and Cristhian Stuani have been key for Girona this seasonCredit: Getty
      Fans are starting to dream of an incredible season in the top flightCredit: Rex
      Girona has leased two pitches for its first team at La Vinya sports complex, owned by PGA Golf de Caldas, with their other sides training at nearby Palau Towers.
      The quirky arrangement has clearly not had a negative effect on Girona’s players and coaching staff.
      And things could get even better for the club once work on a new mega training ground has been completed.
      The £22million complex in the municipality of Vilablareix will play host to all of Girona’s teams, including the men’s and women’s first teams plus the academy.
      Once finished, it will boast seven pitches and a further seven artificial fields.
      A 16th century farmhouse located on the 22 hectares of land will become Girona’s new headquarters too.
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      And the club will look to involve the local community as they make incredible inroads in the Spanish game.
      But with construction currently being delayed by agricultural issues, Girona will continue to plan their stunning LaLiga title challenge from the putting green. More

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      Man Utd and Liverpool handed major Kylian Mbappe transfer boost with Real Madrid move ‘at risk due to financial issues’

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      REAL MADRID have sparked a double red alert with claims they can’t afford to sign Kylian Mbappe.Manchester United and Liverpool have been monitoring the PSG striker’s situation as his contract expires next summer.
      Speculation over Kylian Mbappe is hotting up as his contract ends next summerCredit: Getty
      The Telegraph suggest “financial issues” have dented Real’s chances of recruiting their long-time top target.
      Now Premier League giants, including Chelsea, might ponder launching a staggering offer for the France star in January.
      Mbappe, 24, has already rejected a reported offer from Saudi club Al-Hilal worth around 1billion euros (£787m) in wages and a transfer fee close to 300m euros (£262m).
      Back in July the pacy 73-cap hero was given two weeks to extend his current PSG deal – or be sold.
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      But he never signed – and instead was retained.
      The French champions will hate risking losing Mbappe for free at the end of the season.
      But Luis Enrique’s Ligue 1 leaders are also determined to mount a serious challenge for the Champions League.
      And assuming they squeeze into the group stages, selling their star player in the January transfer window would put a huge dent in those ambitions.
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      Real have also denied holding talks with PSG over the ex-Monaco man.
      In a dream world the Spanish giants would love to field Mbappe behind their £115m England midfielder Jude Bellingham.
      But the club said in a statement: “Given information in the media about negotiations between the player Kylian Mbappe and our club, Real Madrid state that this information is categorically false.
      “Negotiations have not taken place with a player who belongs to PSG.” More

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      Former international star and LaLiga footballer Raphael Dwamena dies aged 28 after heart attack on pitch

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      FORMER international football Raphael Dwamena has died at the age of 28.The Ghanaian forward was playing in the Albanian Super League for KF Egnatia when he collapsed on the pitch on Saturday.
      Raphael Dwamena has sadly passed awayCredit: Getty
      Dwamena enjoyed a career in Spain with Levante and Real Zaragoza (pictured)Credit: Getty
      His club announced on social media that the player had passed away, despite the medical team’s best efforts on the pitch.
      The incident happened in the 23rd minute in a clash between Egnatia and Partizani Tirana.
      Understandably, the match was called off with the score at 1-1.
      Reports said that the player was quickly rushed to the nearest hospital in Kavaja.
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      However, he was pronounced dead shortly after suffering another heart attack as he was being treated.
      Dwamena was capped nine times for his country, and scored two goals.
      In 2017, it was discovered he had a heart defect and he suffered numerous heart-related issues.
      In 2021, he had a implantable cardioverter-defibrillator fitted after collapsing in an Austrian Cup match.
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      Dwamena played for Levante in LaLiga. After learning of his sad death, the club released a statement.
      They wrote on social media: “On behalf of #LevanteUD, we would like to express our sincere condolences for the passing of our former player, Raphael Dwamena. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time. His legacy at our club will always endure. RIP.”
      The Ghana football association also released a statement.
      It read: “Our thoughts are with the family of Raphael Dwamena at this difficult time. Raphael represented Ghana wholeheartedly and paid his dues to the country until his unfortunate passing. We will forever miss him for his dedication to the National Coarse.” More

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      Jude Bellingham ‘ruled out for two weeks with shoulder injury and will MISS England Euro qualifiers’

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM has been ruled out of England’s upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers due to a shoulder injury, according to reports.The Real Madrid midfielder, 20, missed the Spanish giants’ 3-0 win over Braga in the Champions League on Wednesday.
      Jude Bellingham is set to miss England’s matches this month due to a shoulder injuryCredit: Rex
      He will not feature for Real Madrid against Valencia on SaturdayCredit: Rex
      It is now being reported he will play no part in their clash with Valencia on Saturday evening.
      And he is set to be sidelined for two weeks – meaning he will be unavailable for England’s upcoming matches against Malta and North Macedonia.
      According to Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid have released a statement saying: “After the tests conducted today on our player Jude Bellingham, he was diagnosed with instability in his left shoulder, as a result of a recent dislocation.”
      Bellingham’s injury is the latest in a series of problems for Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.
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      Tottenham’s James Maddison has already withdrawn with an ankle issue that is set to keep him out until the new year.
      Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka limped off during the Gunners’ win over Sevilla in the Champions League.

      Newcastle striker Callum Wilson picked up a hamstring injury against Borussia Dortmund in midweek.
      And Brighton captain Lewis Dunk was another England star that picked up a knock in European competition as he was replaced at half-time during their 2-0 victory over Ajax.
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      Bellingham’s injury is a blow to Real Madrid as he has instantly become their talisman since arriving in the summer.
      The ex-Birmingham man has enjoyed a remarkable start to life at the Bernabeu, scoring 13 goals and providing three assists in 14 games.
      He has also already racked up 27 caps for England, scoring two goals. More

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      I’m a double Premier League title winner but now I’m branching out into new sport after injury hell

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      THIBAUT Courtois has revved up his off-field career – by founding a motorsports team.The former Chelsea keeper, now with Real Madrid, has set up TC Racing.
      Thibaut Courtois has founded his own racing teamCredit: AP
      The team received its licence on Thursday from the Spanish Automobile Federation and will compete in Formula 4 next year.
      Courtois, 31, has hired ex-Formula 1 driver Roberto Merhi as team principal.
      The Spaniard, 32, took part in 13 Grand Prix races for Marussia in 2015.
      Belgium international Courtois posted a promotional film for the team on Instagram, announcing: “Here we are.”
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      He has yet to nominate TC Racing’s drivers for the 2024 season.
      F4 recruits young drivers from the world of go-karting among others, and trains them towards an F1 career.
      The Spanish F4 championship includes five races on home soil, plus further events in Belgium and Portugal.
      Courtois won two Premier League titles with Chelsea, in 2015 and 2017.
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      He also helped the Blues lift an FA Cup and a League Cup.
      Signed from Genk in 2011, he spent three successful seasons on loan to Atletico Madrid before making his name at Stamford Bridge.
      Real Madrid paid £35million for the 6ft 6ins keeper five years ago.
      Courtois has since won eight major trophies with Los Blancos, including the Champions League and two La Liga titles.
      He is currently sidelined following a knee operation in August. More

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      Real Madrid line up summer transfer for Man City’s Erling Haaland as agent heads to Bernabeu and release clause emerges

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      ERLING HAALAND could be the subject of a transfer tug-of-war in the summer after his agent was reportedly spotted at Real Madrid’s stadium.The Manchester City ace, who has already scored 15 goals this season, has remained in the Spanish giants’ background plans since emerging as one of European football’s most lethal forwards.
      Erling Haaland’s agent was reportedly spotted attending Real Madrid’s match vs BragaCredit: Getty
      Real Madrid are said to be eyeing a move for the Man City ace when his release clause becomes activeCredit: Getty
      Haaland’s agent Rafaela Pimenta has said she always seeks to gives clients ‘options’Credit: INSTAGRAM/Rafaela Pimenta
      Speculation has been rife that Madrid could launch a bid to try and prise the 23-year-old away from Pep Guardiola’s side.
      And this has showed no sign of cooling after Haaland’s agent Rafaela Pimenta was spotted at the Bernabeu to watch Real Madrid’s win over Braga in the Champions League on Wednesday, according to AS.
      That is despite Pimenta not representing any men’s players from either club.
      The report adds that Haaland’s long-term future could be thrown into doubt thanks to a release clause which activates in the summer.
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      That being said, Madrid would need a cough up £175million to match the clause.
      Pimenta, the successor to the late Mino Raiola’s agency empire, has previously insisted on always giving clients options for the future.
      She previously told AS: “I am in favor of freedom. It’s my battle. 
      “One of my priorities as an agent is to offer the player what I call ‘the key to the door’. 
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      “When the player goes to a club I do everything to create the conditions so that the key to the door is in his hands.”
      However, the report suggests there are currently no negotiations ongoing between the parties over a move for Haaland, with such discussions being saved til the summer.
      The Norwegian finished runner-up in this year’s Ballon d’Or behind Lionel Messi, but did claim the Gerd Muller prize for deadliest striker as a consolation.
      Madrid have reportedly had a tough time making a choice between signing Haaland or Kylian Mbappe.
      A report from Italy had suggested they had picked Mbappe over Haaland to combine with new superstar Jude Bellingham.
      This was followed up by reports in Spain saying they had chosen not to sign Mbappe and would instead pick the ex-Borussia Dortmund star. More

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      Barcelona ‘lining up shock free transfer’ raid on the Championship with boss Xavi keen on Leicester star

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      BARCELONA are lining up a shock swoop for Wilfred Ndidi, according to reports. The 26-year-old currently plays for Leicester in the Championship.
      Wilfred Ndidi is being eyed by a number of top European sidesCredit: Getty
      Barcelona boss Xavi is said to be keen on a cheap deal for the midfielderCredit: Getty
      The midfielder’s contract with the Foxes expires next summer.
      And this could prompt financially-troubled Barcelona into making a move either in January or in the free agency market in the summer.
      According to Sport, the Spanish giants interest is not new either.
      In previous years there is said to have been an approach to sign the Nigerian with a price of £61million being quoted.
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      Ndidi was unable to secure a move away from England’s second tier over the summer, with Leicester reportedly wanting £20m to sell.
      That being said, the LaLiga outfit are not the only club interested in signing him, with Bayern Munich, Juventus and Atletico Madrid also in the running.
      He joined from Belgian side Genk in January 2017 for a reported fee of £15m.
      Ndidi was a member of Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes team who won the FA Cup in 2021, playing the full duration of the 1-0 win over Chelsea.
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      He also featured four times in Leicester’s Champions League campaign the season after they won the title.
      After a drop in form and injury issues during Leicester’s drop down the Premier League table before their eventual relegation, Ndidi has been a key component of Enzo Maresca’s side that sit top of the Championship.
      Ndidi has been sidelined since last month after picking up a muscle injury over the international break.
      Maresca has utilised him in a new role this season, though the manager has admitted he is unsure whether Ndidi is happy with this role.

      He said last month: “I don’t know if he’s more or less happy but the only thing I can say is that he’s very happy.
      “He’s enjoying it, and he’s open-minded. He’s trying to learn something new and he’s making the effort to try to understand it and learn.
      “He’s doing very well at arriving in the box. He’s doing not so good at staying in position and moving in the right way in the pocket.
      “Most of the time he’s higher, close to the opposition central defender and sometimes he has to drop a little bit more.
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      “But as I said, it’s new for him and it’s not easy. But for sure he’s always in the box.”
      In all, Ndidi has made 252 appearances for Leicester, scoring 14 goals and adding 16 assists. More

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      Jude Bellingham denied favourite Real Madrid shirt number due to unwritten rule, suggests Zinedine Zidane

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM may have been denied his favourite number 22 by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, claims Zinedine Zidane.The England star had become synonymous with the number after being assigned it by Birmingham academy staff who felt Bellingham could play as a no4, no8 and a no10.
      Jude Bellingham switched to number five after joining Real MadridCredit: Getty
      Bellingham was inspired to pick the number by Zinedine ZidaneCredit: AFP
      Blues even retired the number when Bellingham left to join Borussia Dortmund in 2020.
      The midfielder stuck with 22 in Germany but ditched it following his £115million move to Real.
      Bellingham, 20, picked number five at the Bernabeu – stating he was inspired by Zidane who also wore that number at Real Madrid.
      But the Frenchman believes Perez may have prevented him from picking his favoured number 22.
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      In a discussion with Lionel Messi, Zidane said: “I liked the number five, I liked everything about it, but what matters in the end is what you do on the field.”
      “It was kind of weird to see someone else with the number five, seeing a central midfielder with the number five was weird.
      “But do you know how that happened? Florentino, the president, didn’t like players wearing high numbers like 25, 30, 35, he was from the old school.
      “The number one for the goalkeeper and then up to number 11, that’s it.”
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      Bellingham has hit the ground running in Spain with 13 goals in 14 games and his shirt has the most sales of any player in Europe.
      He has won an incredible 11 man of the match awards for club and country and was crowned winner of the Kopa Trophy – the prize for best young player in the world. More