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      ‘Well then it’s done’ – James Rodriguez reveals brutal reason he snubbed transfer to former Premier League champions

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      JAMES RODRIGUEZ snubbed the chance to sign for both Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain in 2014.The Colombian midfielder was in-demand after winning the golden boot at the World Cup in Brazil.James Rodriguez has revealed the brutal reason he snubbed a move to Manchester CityCredit: GettyThe midfielder joined Real Madrid in 2014 after interest from City and Paris Saint-GermainCredit: GettyBoth City and PSG were keen to sign Rodriguez, who was playing for Monaco at the time.However, he would instead complete a £65million move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.A decade on, Rodriguez has now explained the reason for his transfer decision.He explained: “PSG and City wanted me [in 2014], both teams came with more important offers than what Madrid were offering.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”Florentino Perez called me and tried to convince me, ‘What do you want? Money or Glory?'”I answered him I wanted glory, and he then said, ‘well then it’s done.'”Real Madrid were fresh off winning their 10th Champions League crown, while both City and PSG had won a league title the previous season.Rodriguez went on to win LaLiga and the Club World Cup in six years in the Spanish capital.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSDuring that time, he scored 37 goals and provided 42 assists in 125 appearances.He would later make it to the Premier League in 2020 after joining Everton on a free transfer.Football stars’ weird phobiasDuring his single season in England, Rodriguez scored six goals and added five assists in 23 league matches.Four years on, the 32-year-old now plays in Brazil, having joined Sao Paulo on a two-year deal in July. More

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      Forgotten Man City star told he ‘needs to leave’ after heartbreaking video from bench in Crystal Palace clash

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      MANCHESTER CITY fans have been left heartbroken after Pep Guardiola’s brutal substitution U-turn.The champions were leading Crystal Palace 4-1 yesterday when the boss was about to turn to his bench for the third time.Sergio Gomez was ready to come on – only for Pep Guardiola to change his mindSergio Gomez has barely played this seasonCredit: ReutersGuardiola was going to bring on forgotten star Sergio Gomez, who has started just four matches in all competitions this season.The left-back was seen on the bench pulling his shirt on with a beaming smile on his face.But Odsonne Edouard then pulled one back for Palace to make it 4-2.The goal saw Guardiola change his mind and with him not in the mood for taking chances amid the title race, Gomez was told to sit back down in the dugout.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLFans felt sorry for the 23-year-old Spaniard as he again failed to make an appearance.One said: “I feel so bad for him at this point.”Another added: “He’s 23, turning 24 around the start of next season. He has to go in the summer to save his career.”A third commented: “I feel bad for him, not because he didn’t play but because Pep basically said he doesn’t trust him with a two-goal advantage. Must be the worst feeling as a player.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERMore reacted: “I feel sorry for him he’s so good. I don’t know why he’s not getting some minutes.”Some fans believe he lost Guardiola’s faith when he was sent off in the Champions League group stage game against Copenhagen last year.Every Premier League club’s most famous and also most surprising fanGomez was a youngster at Barcelona and got his breakthrough at Borussia Dortmund.He convinced Man City to sign him on a four-year deal in 2022 after impressing at Belgian side Anderlecht.Gomez has featured 13 times in all competitions this season and he was in the starting XI on just ten occasions last term as City won the Treble. More

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      Man City star Kevin De Bruyne reveals whether he’d rather win Premier League or Champions League live on TNT Sports

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      KEVIN DE BRUYNE has revealed whether he would rather win the Premier League or Champions League this season.The Manchester City captain put in a Man of the Match display as he netted two goals and added an assist in the team’s 4-2 win over Crystal Palace.Kevin De Bruyne has revealed what competition he wants to win the mostCredit: GettyHis second goal saw him hit the century mark for City to add to his list of incredible accolades for the club, which includes last season’s continental Treble of the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.However, it seems the Belgian still has a hunger to win one particular competition.Speaking to TNT Sports following the game, the 32-year-old was asked whether he would rather land a never-before-done fourth Premier League title in a row or a double or treble.He said: “It’s hard to choose.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”Maybe the Champions League. It’s hard to say. “I’ll take any.”Pundit Rio Ferdinand joked De Bruyne was “bored” of winning the league, to which he replied: “No, no I’m not bored.”If we were bored we would not push like today. We’ll see.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERElsewhere at the game today, Bernardo Silva was seen in an animated state on the bench.Meanwhile, Ederson was “done dirty” by a camera as he was shown appearing to pick his nose.Every Premier League club’s most famous and also most surprising fanCity’s win against Palace saw them go level on points with Liverpool at the top of the tree. Title challengers Arsenal are in action against Brighton in today’s late kick-off.Meanwhile, leaders Liverpool face Manchester United tomorrow.City have a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid to contend with on Tuesday and an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea on April 20. More

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      I joined Man City in £42million transfer but I wasn’t worth that much – it didn’t make sense

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      THE FORMER most-expensive defender on the planet has admitted that he WASN’T WORTH the £42million Manchester City paid for him.The eight-time capped France international Eliaquim Mangala arrived at the Etihad in 2014 from Porto.Manchester City forked out £42m for Eliaquim Mangala in 2014Credit: PA:Press AssociationThe fee made him the most-expensive player on the planet but he struggled at the EtihadCredit: PA:Empics SportManuel Pellegrini splashed out the huge fee for him but he struggled to firmly establish himself at City.Mangala did make 31 and then 33 appearances under the Chilean during his first two years there.But he was soon deemed surplus to requirements once Pep Guardiola took charge in 2016.Mangala managed to get a Premier League winners’ medal in the 2017/18 campaign, which came in between loan spells away at Valencia in LaLiga and Everton.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLHe eventually left City as a free agent in 2019 once his contract had expired and joined Valencia permanently for two seasons.He then headed to France for a stint at Saint-Etienne but now, at the age of 33, is lining-up for Portuguese side Estoril.The veteran centre-half has this week sat down with French outlet Le10 Sport to discuss his big-money move a decade ago to England.And in a refreshing twist, he claims that he was worth nowhere near the £42m fee paid for him.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERMangala said: “When I was told at the time that it was over €50m, and €50m was a lot of money… But no man is worth €50m!“When you’re part of an industry, a business, you inevitably enter into a logic that goes beyond normal life, but nobody is worth this or that price.Jack Grealish’s dog did ‘the biggest s***’ on Man City’s training pitch as England star reveals unusual habits“It doesn’t make sense.“But it was a real experience to go through that. I really enjoyed it.“I said, you’ll see in one or two years, this record will be broken, and it was.”These days City have the second most expensive defender of ALL TIME on their books.That is after they paid RB Leipzig £78m for Josko Gvardiol last summer.The Croatian is only behind Harry Maguire – who joined Manchester United for £80m in 2019.Mangala had a spell on loan at Everton before leaving on a free transferCredit: ReutersThe centre-half, pictured at Saint-Etienne, now plays for Portuguese side EstorilCredit: Getty More

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      Kalvin Phillips faces having to accept HUGE pay cut to end Man City nightmare after West Ham loan hits new low

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      KALVIN PHILLIPS would have to accept a huge pay cut to return to Leeds United, according to reports.The midfielder has suffered a difficult few years since leaving Elland Road.Kalvin Phillips would have to accept a wage reduction to re-join LeedsCredit: GettyLeeds are hopeful of signing their former star if they return to the Premier LeagueCredit: ReutersHe failed to break into the Manchester City first-team and is now struggling to recapture his form on loan at West Ham.That means he could begin a new chapter in the summer and his boyhood club Leeds are an option.Daniel Farke’s side would first need to secure promotion to land the England star, and might have to fight off interest from a number of other clubs.They would also have to persuade Phillips to take a drastic pay cut from his £150,000 weekly wage, report the Daily Star.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLLeeds’ current highest earner is Patrick Bamford on £70,000-a-week.But Phillips could be willing to leave his mega-money City contract to return to Elland Road, where he remains a cult hero.City are also said to be open to letting him leave – for around £25million.That could spark a bid from Newcastle, who hold a long-term interest in the 28-year-old.Most read in FootballPhillips’ West Ham loan is a disaster… it’s toe-curlingly difficult to watch, says Dave KiddBy Dave Kidd

      HE’S had an extraordinary career, Kalvin Phillips.
      A Treble-winner and one of only 12 living Englishmen to have started the final of a major international tournament.
      A home-town hero at Leeds, where he was the kingpin of Marcelo Bielsa’s buccaneering Championship-winning side and feted as the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’.
      England’s Player of the Year in 2021, when the Three Lions reached a final for the first time in more than half a century.
      Indeed, Phillips has featured in most of England’s best wins of the last three years — against Germany and Denmark at those Euros, home and away in qualifiers against Italy, against a Belgium side ranked No 1 in the world, the World Cup thrashing of Senegal and in last autumn’s hammering of the Scots.
      That record for Gareth Southgate’s side points to a great irony.
      If Phillips had stayed put as a Manchester City bench-warmer, he would be going to Germany this summer and quite possibly as a starter.
      The mighty man-bun man has been a fine footballer and, at 28, he might become one again.
      Phillips is also a good bloke too, much-loved in the England squad and attracting a full house from the entire Leeds staff when the club held a leaving do before his Etihad move in a £45million deal.
      But right now Phillips has become unwatchable. Toe-curling, cringeworthy, hide-behind-the-sofa-the-Daleks-are-coming levels of unwatchable.
      His loan switch to West Ham, which originally looked sensible for club and player, is an unmitigated disaster.
      And it feels as if Phillips is at the centre of a football-wide conspiracy which has deemed that anything which could go wrong, will go wrong.

      BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERPhillips’ West Ham spell has been nothing short of a disaster.He gave away a goal on debut and was sent off in just his second appearance for the club.’He’s wasting his time playing’ – Ex-Premier League referee bizarrely tears into Kalvin Phillips for getting sent off While he also conceded a penalty after coming on against Newcastle on Sunday – a game the Hammers lost despite leading 3-1 at the point Phillips came on.To make matters even worse Phillips swore at a fan as he boarded the team bus after the match.Phillips swore at a fan after the Newcastle gameCredit: X/westhamnetwork More

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      Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne DROPPED to bench for huge Man City clash days after Roy Keane’s ‘League Two’ jibe

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      MANCHESTER CITY sensationally benched star names Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne for Wednesday’s home clash with Aston Villa.That’s despite boss Pep Guardiola blasting Roy Keane for labelling Haaland a “League Two player” after Sunday’s 0-0 home draw with Arsenal.Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne have been key men but were dropped on Wednesday following questionable recent formCredit: PAThe Norwegian goal machine and Belgian playmaker De Bruyne have been below their best in recent weeks – with Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku replacing them in the City starting line-up against Villa.But it will still shock many that Guardiola has dropped the two aces often regarded as his team’s biggest threats.The third-placed champions prepared for Wednesday’s clash one point behind Arsenal and a further two points adrift of Liverpool.And Manchester United legend Keane slammed Haaland’s all-round play after the weekend stalemate with the Gunners.READ MORE TOP STORIESThe 6ft 4ins poacher completed just seven passes and did not even record a shot on target.Pundit Keane told Sky Sports: “The levels of his general play is so poor”I think laying stuff off, headers, whatever it might be. In terms of in front of goal, he’s the best in the world.”But his general play for such a player is so poor. Not just today, he has to improve.Most read in Football”He’s almost like a League Two player, that’s how I look at him. His general play, it has to improve and it will do over the next few years.”Erling Haaland reveals secret talent after childhood vid goes viralBut Guardiola insisted he still rates Haaland “the best striker in the world”.And he also appeared unhappy at Keane making such a harsh judgement on any player.The Spaniard said: “I do not agree with him. It’s like if I said he’s a manager for the second or third league. I don’t think so.” More

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      Seven clubs Kalvin Phillips could join next including Leeds and European giants as Man City eye cut-price transfer

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      KALVIN PHILLIPS’ nightmare loan spell at West Ham is going from bad to worse.The Manchester City loanee, 28, suffered a horror debut back in February as his error gifted Bournemouth the opening goal in a 1-1 draw.Kalvin Phillips has been poor since arriving at West Ham on loan in JanuaryCredit: GettyOne possible destination for Phillips could be a return to LeedsCredit: ReutersHe then made another mistake three days later, losing possession as Manchester United scored their third in a 3-0 win.He was brought on for 45 minutes in the humbling 6-0 defeat to Arsenal, before he was sent off for two yellow cards in three minutes against Nottingham Forest.And on Saturday, with West Ham leading 3-1 away at Newcastle, he gifted the hosts a way back into the game by fouling Anthony Gordon and conceding a penalty.Newcastle went on to win the game 4-3.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHis poor performances have also culminated in him being dropped from Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the recent friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.And with his form showing no sign of improvement, it leaves his future beyond the end of the season totally unclear.So where will Phillips be at the start of the 2024/25 campaign?Here are seven possible destinations for the midfielder in the summer as Man City prepare to offload him for a cut-price of £30million.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERWest HamWest Ham do not have an option-to-buy clause in Phillips’ loan deal, but could still seek to make his move permanent in the summer.That is despite him showing few signs of improving David Moyes’ side, with the Englishman currently having accumulated more red cards than goal contributions since arriving in East London.’He’s wasting his time playing’ – Ex-Premier League referee bizarrely tears into Kalvin Phillips for getting sent off LeedsPerhaps the most likely move for Phillips is a return to his boyhood club Leeds – providing they secure promotion back to the Premier League.He left Elland Road for Man City in 2022, but would undoubtedly be welcomed back with open arms to the place where he made his name.Phillips played 234 games for Leeds and was pivotal in helping them win the second tier in 2020.JuventusItalian giants Juventus were heavily linked with a move for Phillips in the January window, before they pulled out of the deal due to his financial demands.But they could yet return for him in the summer if Man City are prepared to get rid for just £30m.NewcastleNewcastle lost out to West Ham in their pursuit of Phillips at the start of the year.But with Eddie Howe set to dip into the transfer market in the summer following a dismal campaign, Phillips could yet move back to the top of the Toon’s transfer wishlist.Bayern MunichBayern Munich have already shown a desire to bring in English players from the Premier League with Harry Kane and Eric Dier both making the switch over the last 12 months.Phillips could be the next Three Lions star to join the German giants – particularly if Joshua Kimmich does not sign a new contract and is sold by the Bundesliga club.BarcelonaBarcelona were another of the huge European clubs touted with a move for Phillips in January.And they have endured a midfield injury crisis this season – with Gavi, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong all sidelined.Could Phillips be the answer to their problems?READ MORE SUN STORIESAtletico MadridLike Barcelona, Atletico Madrid were also in the frame for Phillips during the mid-season window.Manager Diego Simeone’s style of play could well fit the ex-Leeds man perfectly should he be open to a LaLiga move. More

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      Jack Grealish reveals embarrassing moment he had to tell girlfriend Sasha Attwood what their cockapoo did at training

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      JACK GREALISH revealed how his pet cockapoo lived up to its name – by doing its business on one of Manchester City’s training pitches.The England ace was bought the pooch as a birthday present from his girlfriend Sasha.Jack Grealish has opened up about his struggles to potty train his cavapooCredit: InstagramThe dog features prominently on his InstagramThey often take Skye for walks around the vast City Football Academy as there are few green spaces around their town centre apartment.And Grealish revealed: “One time I brought her on this pitch – and we’d trained on it in the day and she’d done the biggest s*** – just in the middle of the pitch.“And I said to Sash – we’ve just trained on that today – and she’s just done a big s*** in the middle of it.“Because we live in the city centre there are not many parks for her and me to just walk around. So here is perfect just to come and chill.”READ MORE ON MAN CITYGrealish told the Together: Treble Winners documentary: “I love my dog more than anything.“It’s nice when you come back after a game and the dogs are just so happy to see you. She doesn’t have a clue who I am – she just loves me.”Grealish is a hero amongst City supporters but on any away day he is jeered by opposition fans.The midfielder has now spoken out about his failure to win over the hearts of City’s rivals – and says it bothers his mum.Most read in FootballSasha bought the cavapoo for Jack as a birthday giftCredit: InstagramCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSGrealish, 28, moved to City in 2021 for £100million, making him the most expensive British player at the time.The Birmingham-born star has endured a tough season after a horrific run of injuries the last few months.Jack Grealish wears stunning £180,000 rose gold Patek Philippe worth three times more than Erling Haaland’s watchCity fans were over the moon to see him return to the pitch this weekend for the 0-0 title clash against Arsenal.He said: “I always think about it. I always wonder, ‘why do they boo me?’ – and my mum always asks me about it as well.“But I don’t actually know why it happens. At every single away ground I go to now, I get booed and I’m not entirely sure why it is – I just have to try and take it as a positive or a compliment.”And Grealish’s best way to hush his rivals is to show them his trophy cabinet.He’s won six major pieces of silverware since his move from Aston Villa and is hoping to play his part in the Blues’ attempts to win another three this season.Still, to many Grealish is seen as a hero, especially his younger sister Hollie who was born with cerebral palsy.READ MORE SUN STORIESAsked if he is Hollie’s role model, Grealish said: “I think I probably am. But she gets fed up with me as well because I’m always winding her up and stuff!“I love her to pieces, and we are so lucky to have her because when she was born, they told us she wouldn’t be able to do a lot of things like talking and walking, but luckily she can do all that now.” More