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      I’m an ex-Premier League star who played under Pep Guardiola – he bans you from training if you don’t follow simple rule

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      FORMER Manchester City star Gael Clichy has lifted the lid on Pep Guardiola’s tough Etihad regime — which includes being banned from training for not following one simple rule.Clichy, 38, spent six seasons starring for City between 2011 and 2017.
      Pep Guardiola keeps his Man City players on point with one strict ruleCredit: PA
      Gael Clichy spent six years at the Etihad, winning two titlesCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      A Premier League and FA Cup winner with Arsenal, he added two more titles to his trophy cabinet after netting three goals in 203 games.
      Clichy spent most of his time playing under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini.
      But he was around for the first season of Guardiola’s incredible City reign.
      And Clichy has revealed the no-nonsense approach taken by the Spaniard to keep standards high.
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      Guardiola arrived at City after winning six league titles and two Champions Leagues with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
      The tactician, who has since won five titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League at City, quickly imposed his authority.
      And one rule for stunned players was that if they were two kilos over their target weight, they were not allowed to train.
      Clichy told Marca: “If you weighed two kilos more than what he considered your maximum weight, you didn’t train.
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      “In football, you always hear coaches say ‘if you’re overweight, you don’t train’.
      “In the end, if it’s an important player, the norm is swept under the rug because they need that player.
      “With Pep, if you were two kilos above the weight you should have after finishing the hard work and proper nutrition of the pre-season, you did not train.
      “I saw players who did not train during two weeks.”
      Reflecting on his short time with Guardiola, Clichy added: “My last year at City was Pep’s first.
      “I player more games with him in one season than with any other coach. But I have opposite feelings about that year.
      “I am grateful for what I learned under his direction but I would have liked it to have been more than one season.”
      After leaving City in 2017, Clichy went on to play for Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir and Swiss outfit Sevette before retiring in October to become France U21 assistant boss.
      Clichy worked with Guardiola for one season before leaving CityCredit: PA:Empics Sport More

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      Ex-Premier League Wag and ‘world’s sexiest woman’ looks sensational in tiny bikini as fans say she is ‘poetry in motion’

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      VIKTORIA VARGA has been called “poetry in motion” after stunning in a tiny white bikini.The former Premier League Wag looked sensational as she flaunted her physique in an Instagram post.
      Viktoria Varga showed off her physique in a tiny bikiniCredit: Instagram @vamaswim
      She modelled her own range of swimwear in her latest Instagram postCredit: Instagram @vamaswim

      She smiled whilst posing for the camera in the skimpy bikini, which was designed by her swimwear brand Vama Swim.
      Hungarian-born model Viktoria, who is married to ex-Southampton striker Graziano Pelle, has previously been dubbed the “world’s sexiest woman”.
      Her fans were once again left in awe with her latest upload, with one hailing her: “The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
      Another added: “Could look at you forever.”
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      A third follower also wrote: “Stunning.”
      Meanwhile, one more commented: “Poetry in motion.”
      Viktoria has 608,000 followers on Instagram, with her fans regularly treated to glamorous pictures and bikini snaps.
      She also often shares loved up posts with her footballer husband Pelle.
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      The former Premier League Wag was called ‘poetry in motion’ by her fansCredit: Instagram @vamaswim
      Viktoria has previously been dubbed the ‘world’s sexiest woman’Credit: Instagram @vamaswim
      The couple have been together for over a decade and tied the knot in July 2022.
      Former Italy international Pelle previously spent two years in England with Southampton, scoring 23 goals in 68 Premier League appearances.
      However, he currently finds himself without a club after leaving Parma back in 2021.
      She shared the video with her 608,000 Instagram followersCredit: Instagram @vamaswim
      Viktoria is married to former Southampton striker Graziano PelleCredit: Instagram @vamaswim More

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      Ange Postecoglou rules out £180k-a-week star ever playing for Tottenham again

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      ANGE POSTECOGLOU has ruled out Ivan Perisic playing again for Tottenham.The Croatian, who turns 35 next month, made a bright start under Postecoglou at the start of the season but then damaged his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in September.
      Ange Postecoglou has ruled out Ivan Perisic playing again for TottenhamCredit: Alamy
      Spurs feared at the time it would curtail his campaign despite the veteran vowing to return ahead of the Euros this summer.
      But his manager has now confirmed the wideman will not feature again this term, meaning he has played his last game for the club with his expensive contract expiring in the summer.
      Asked if he expected Perisic to play again this season, Postecoglou replied: “No. He’s working hard, to be fair to Ivan.
      “He’s obviously got some national team commitments he wants to get back to as soon as possible. He’s been a significant loss for us.
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      “I thought this year he was going to be a really significant contributor because of his experience and we saw that in the first few games because of the way he impacted games.
      “But yeah, he won’t…he’s unlikely to play for us again.”
      Perisic was signed by Postecoglou’s predecessor Antonio Conte in the summer of 2022 on a two-year deal, believed to be worth £180,000 a week.
      He has made 50 appearances for the North Londoners, with his only goal for the club being the final one of Conte’s reign in March’s 3-3 draw at Southampton.
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      Reports have linked Perisic with a move back to Croatia with Hajduk Split ready to pounce.
      The move is in place as Spurs built a good relationship with the Croatian giants after snatching dream-signing 16-year-old Luka Vuskovic.
      Perisic is a lifelong supporter of the side and played in the youth ranks for the club from 2000-2006.
      Ivan Perisic looks to have played his last Spurs gameCredit: Getty More

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      Crystal Palace, Wolves and Brentford in transfer fight for non-league teen star Ben Krauhaus

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      CRYSTAL PALACE, Wolves and Brentford are eyeing Bromley midfielder Ben Krauhaus.SunSport understands the Premier League trio were among ten clubs who ran the rule over the 19-year-old in last Saturday’s 5-1 win over Ebbsfleet.
      Crystal Palace have a track record of developing talent such as Michael OliseCredit: Getty
      Krauhaus has been an impressive performer for Bromley, who lie second in the National League
      But Palace, Wolves and Brentford face competition for the non-league whizkid.
      Championship quartet Leicester, Norwich, Cardiff and Hull, as well as League One Oxford, all sent scouts to watch Krauhaus score twice.
      Academy graduate Krauhaus has caught the eye with his performances this in recent months.
      He helped non-league Bromley into second in the National League behind leaders Chesterfield last term.
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      With spies galore visiting Hayes Lane, the Kent club are braced for bids in the current transfer window for the central midfielder.
      Bromley also produced Kellen Fisher, who joined Norwich last summer following impressive displays for the Ravens.
      Fisher has made nine appearances, with six in the Championship, during the campaign. 
      Krauhaus has been a key performer for Andy Woodman’s side this term.
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      He has scored five goals in 26 National League matches.
      But now he could be catapulted straight from non-league to the Premier League with at least three chasing his signature. More

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      How Arsenal star Declan Rice was on verge of joining Celtic in shock transfer before sliding doors moment

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      BRENDAN RODGERS has revealed Declan Rice came close to signing for Celtic. The England international was subject to heavy transfer interest over the last few years with Chelsea, Manchester United and City all linked.
      Brendan Rodgers revealed Declan Rice came close to signing for CelticCredit: Rex
      Eventually, Arsenal won the race last summer after prising Rice over to North London in a £105million deal.
      But it could have been so different.
      Because Celtic boss Rodgers revealed in his first spell with the club – which ran from 2016-2019 – Rice was set for a move to Scotland.
      He said: “The club will do absolutely everything we can to support what we need and what the team needs.
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      “There is lots of work going on in the background, and I’m pretty sure that in this early period of the month, we can have some joy and get one or two in.
      “Ideally you’d want to get them in (early). Deals can be complicated and things that might have been there for three or four months can fall away.
      “That’s always the challenge – it only takes one injury to a player who was lined up to come in.
      “I remember when I was here the first time, we spent about three months looking for Declan Rice to come in.
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      “Declan was all set to come in and then all of a sudden they (West Ham) had an injury, he stayed and got in the team and the rest is history.
      “That’s not the club’s fault – it’s just the way it goes.”
      Rice made his senior West Ham debut in May of 2017 aged just 18.
      The following season, he made 31 appearances and established himself as a regular in the first team squad.
      Rice, 24, would later captain the Hammers and played 245 times, scoring 15 times.
      He led West Ham to the Europa Conference League trophy before bowing out to join Arsenal. More

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      PSG ‘make Bruno Guimaraes No1 transfer target’ as Newcastle boss Eddie Howe gives defiant response

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      PSG have reportedly made Bruno Guimaraes their No1 transfer target – but Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is in defiant mood about his midfield general’s future. Guimaraes, signed from Lyon for £43million in January of 2022, has emerged as one of the Premier League’s brightest talents.
      Bruno Guimaraes has been linked with a move to PSGCredit: Reuters
      And his form has attracted attention from across Europe with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool among those linked with the Brazilian.
      According to ESPN, PSG are in the market for a new midfielder and Guimaraes is at the top of their list.
      His agent Giuliano Bertulucci has a good relationship with the Ligue 1 champions.
      He helped secure the transfers of Lucas Beraldo and midfielder Gabriel Moscardo to the French capital.
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      But Guimaraes would not come cheap having signed a new five-year deal in October which is said to have included a £100million release clause.
      Howe was probed on PSG’s reported interest and vowed to keep hold of his star man.
      He said: “When you are talking about your best players you want to keep them at the football club as long as possible so that is certainly our aim.”
      The winter window has now opened and Howe refused to rule out incoming signing to strengthen his depth.
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      He said: “Short term there would be a need to bring people in given the numbers.
      “But, we’ll assess as the month goes on as by the end of January we hope to have some big players back.
      “It’s something we’re working on behind the scenes. There’s a lot of work that’s gone on, that’ll never stop regardless of how active you are in the market.”
      Eddie Howe has vowed to keep hold of GuimaraesCredit: Getty More

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      Premier League clubs on red alert as Paulo Dybala’s tiny transfer release clause is revealed

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      PAULO DYBALA’S tiny release clause has Premier League clubs on alert this month.The Roma forward is reportedly available for as little as £10.35million due to the clause in his contract.
      Paulo Dybala’s tiny release clause has Premier League clubs on alertCredit: Rex
      Dybala has long been linked with a move to the Premier League after starring in Italy.
      The 30-year-old, who won five consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus, will be out of contract at Roma in 2025.
      According to Fabrizio Romano, his £10.35million release clause is active until January 15.
      He adds that the clause, which is only available to clubs outside Italy, will also be active in July for a month.
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      Dybala was most recently linked with a move to Chelsea last summer, with Thiago Silva even revealing he had begged the Argentine to join.
      Manchester United were reportedly also one of a number of clubs to be targeting a move once his release clause became active.
      Those clubs including several Premier League sides, including Newcastle.
      Dybala has spent the majority of his career in Italy, scoring 114 goals in 308 Serie A appearances for Juventus, Palermo and Roma.
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      That tally includes four strikes in 12 matches for Jose Mourinho’s side so far this term.
      He won 12 major trophies during his time with Juventus, including the five straight Scudettos between 2016 and 2020.
      At international level, Dybala has three goals in 38 caps for Argentina and was part of their World Cup-winning squad in 2022. More

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      Inside Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ‘liberating’ speech to Man Utd staff as he gives blunt appraisal of post-Ferguson decline

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      SIR JIM RATCLIFFE reportedly delivered an inspiring speech about his plans to resurrect Manchester United after meeting club staff at Old Trafford.The Ineos chief has been busy getting to know key figures at United since his 25 per cent stake in the club was confirmed on Christmas Eve.
      Sir Jim Ratcliffe met Erik ten Hag at Carrington this weekCredit: Getty
      The pair held a meeting together alongside Sir Dave BrailsfordCredit: Getty
      The pair met striker Rasmus HojlundCredit: Getty
      Ratcliffe and his right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford met with non-playing employees at a meeting on Thursday.
      And the British billionaire is said to have made a big impression thanks to his blunt appraisal of the club’s decline post-Sir Alex Ferguson.
      Ratcliffe, 71, did praise the commercial success of the club and the resilience shown during the pandemic, but said he invested in the club to win trophies, not to make money from his £1.3bn stake.
      To accomplish his goals Ratcliffe wants to build an elite enviornment at the club, with Brailsford addressing the need to overcome United’s “performance challenge” – with Erik ten Hag’s side having lost 14 matches this season.
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      Ratcliffe’s speech was described as “honest” compared to previous statements about United’s supposed progress by the club’s hierarchy, and his presence is understood to have “reinvigorated” workers, a source told The Athletic.
      Staff are also said to have found his focus on delivering silverware “liberating” and are impressed by Ratcliffe’s level of ambition.
      Ratcliffe has promised further investment on top of his initial £1.3bn, including £300million to be spent on improving Old Trafford and Carrington.
      Former Team Sky and British Cycling chief Brailsford, who is Ineos Director of Sport, is also believed to have made a good impression during the meeting.
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      The Ineos chief met Manchester United Women stars Katie Zelem and Leah GaltonCredit: Getty
      Aoife Mannion also met the new United chiefsCredit: Getty
      United staff are said to have been impressed by Ratcliffe
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      Brailsford has been spotted at matches since the takeover and is conducting an audit of the club’s structure and personnel.
      He is reported to be planning on recruiting a world class sporting director and recruitment specialist – but will have to wait until the Premier League ratify Ineos’ 25 per cent stake before he gets underway.
      Ratcliffe and Brailsford, 59, have met with players and staff at Carrington over the last few days and held a meeting with Ten Hag, which the United manager described as “very positive”.
      Brailsford assured them that he and Ratcliffe will have hands-on role at the club along with incoming CEO Jean-Claude Blanc and Rob Nevin, Chairman of Ineos Sports – a marked change from the Glazers who spend most of their time in the US. More