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      Man Utd shares plummet after Sheikh Jassim pulls out of takeover bid with hated owners the Glazers set to stay

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      MANCHESTER UNITED share prices have plummeted after Sheikh Jassim pulled out of the running to buy the club.Sir Jim Ratcliffe is poised to purchase a 25 per cent stake for £1.4billion, leaving the Glazers with majority control.
      The Glazers will retain majority control of Manchester UnitedCredit: AFP
      Sheikh Jassim has withdrawn his takeover bid
      Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to buy a 25 per cent stake in the clubCredit: Getty
      United’s share price has dropped significantly since Sheikh Jassim pulled out
      That news has had a negative impact on United’s stock price, which fell by 22 per cent overnight.
      A share in the club is now valued at £13.98 – the lowest level since the Glazers announced they were putting the club up for sale last November.
      The price of shares soared upon that announcement as the Qataris emerged as the frontrunners to buy the club.
      Since then the cost of stocks has fluctuated amid the ongoing uncertainty of the takeover process, with Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe both submitting bids worth £5billion earlier this year.
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      The price dipped significantly in August following the news that the Glazers intended to only sell a minority stake in the club.
      Last month shares fell by a whopping 21 per cent after the news broke that the Glazers may not sell, with reports claiming the Americans wanted £10bn to sell the club outright.
      It is believed the Glazers will look to re-list United for sale in 2025 when they anticipate that “environmental and financial factors may attract more bidders”.
      That is bad news for many Red Devils fans who have been calling on the owners to leave the club.
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      United fans have already staged multiple protests demanding the Glazers leave – so news of them staying is set to trigger more outrage, leading the club to step up security measures for the Champions League clash with Copenhagen.
      United are also at home in the derby with Manchester City the Saturday afterwards and there has been talk among supporter groups of a walkout or potential boycott. More

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      Man City ready to treble wages of wonderkid who they rate so highly they were happy to sell Cole Palmer to Chelsea

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      MANCHESTER CITY are set to treble promising academy graduate Oscar Bobb’s salary.According to The Mirror, Bobb will put pen to paper on a new long-term deal that will tie him up to the Etihad until 2029.
      Manchester City academy graduate Oscar Bobb is set to treble his wagesCredit: Getty
      Bobb was one of the reasons why Man City agreed to sell Cole Palmer to ChelseaCredit: Rex
      The 20-year-old has three years left on his £12,000-a-week contract with City.
      But his salary will rise to £36,000 per week following his promotion into Pep Guardiola’s first team.
      Guardiola rates the winger very highly and is confident he can follow in the footsteps of other academy successes, such as Phil Foden and Rico Lewis.
      In fact, the Norway international’s development convinced the Spanish tactician he can afford to offload Cole Palmer to Chelsea in the summer.
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      Bobb has already made five appearances for the Treble winners this season.
      One of them saw the Norwegian starting against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup.
      And despite City’s early exit, Guardiola sang Bobb’s praises after his first ever start for the team.
      He said: “Oscar was more than brilliant in all parts, offence and defence.
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      “He’s played as a number 10, as a striker, as a winger. We know in the pockets in the middle he moves really well.
      “His intensity is good, he works without the ball.”
      Bobb also made his senior international debut with Norway this month as he played in the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Cyprus and Spain. More

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      Gareth Bale builds his perfect player but stuns fans by picking keeper who’s played 6 Premier League games in 3 years

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      GARETH BALE has surprised fans with his decisions when picking the ‘perfect player’ out of players he’s played with.Bale was tasked by Sky Sports with choosing from the attributes of his former team-mates’ vision, body, left foot, right foot, ability to shoot and ability to tackle.
      Gareth Bale played with the world’s best at Real MadridCredit: AP
      Modric and Ronaldo unsurprisingly comprised parts of Gareth Bale’s perfect playerCredit: AFP
      Given the former Spurs star spent nine years at Real Madrid, winning five Champions Leagues during that time, many assumed that the perfect player would be full of his Madrid team-mates.
      Well, it sort of was, apart from a surprise Wales star inclusion.
      Bale of course opted for Real Madrid maestro and 2018 Ballon D’or winner Luka Modric as the player with the best vision out of anyone he’s played with.
      The two played together at Spurs from 2008 until Modric left for Madrid in 2012 and were reunited when Bale joined his former team-mate in Spain’s capital a year later.
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      Unsurprisingly, Bale picked Cristiano Ronaldo as the player with the best shot he’s played with, with Ronaldo scoring 450 goals in 438 games for Los Blancos.
      Casemiro took the accolade for best tackling and Toni Kroos’s long shots and crisp passing saw him awarded with the best right boot of them all.
      Meanwhile Isco, who’s form could be described as mixed at Madrid picked up the nod for best control.
      Bale gave himself the accolade of best left foot (and who can blame him given his repertoire of great goals?) but it was the selection of best keeper that took many by surprise.
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      Isco was another slightly surprising inclusion, the midfielder has undergone a renaissance at Celta Vigo, howeverCredit: Getty
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      But veteran keeper Wayne Hennessey was his surprise pick as the best keeper he has played withCredit: PA
      Rather than opt for the likes of Iker Casillas, Keylor Navas or Thibaut Courtois, Bale chose Wales team-mate Wayne Hennessey as his perfect keeper.
      Hennessey has made just six Premier League appearances over the past three seasons where he has spent time as a back-up keeper at Crystal Palace, Burnley and now Nottingham Forest.
      The Welshman was keeper during Wales’ rung to the Euro 2016 semi-finals in France and that was clearly enough for him to get the nod from his fellow Welshman.
      His record for Wales was excellent in fairness, conceding just four goals over 10 games when qualifying for the Euros.
      Hennessey would go on to surpass Neville Southall in holding the record for the most clean sheets in a Wales shirt.
      His final outing as Wales’ no1 keeper would come at the Qatar 2022 World Cup where he became the only player in the tournament to receive a straight red card in a 2-0 defeat to Iran during the group stage.
      The keeper, 36, has not formerly retired from the national team but his lack of game time at Forest has seen him drop down the pecking order and he is now out of Rob Page’s squad.
      For now, Danny Ward is the country’s no1, despite losing his place in Leicester’s starting XI to Danish stopper Mads Hermansen. More

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      I’m Mo Salah’s personal bodyguard and I have to scan every present he’s given in case it could KILL HIM

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      MO SALAH’S bodyguard has to scan every present the footballer is sent – to make sure it cannot KILL him.Salah, 31, is now one of the best footballers in the world and is especially popular in the Middle Eastern Arabic region.
      Karim Abdou is Mo Salah’s personal security bodyguardCredit: Instagram @kikoousa
      The Egyptian footballer is constantly bombarded with attention, especially in his homelandCredit: Instagram @kikoousa
      But his mind-boggling fame – earning him 62.5million Instagram followers – means plenty of fans want to demonstrate their support with gifts.
      However, before Salah can rip open any wrapping paper, his personal security man Karim Abdou gets there first to confirm what’s inside is safe.
      Abdou said: “All gifts have to be scanned.
      “We don’t accept gifts, but sometimes if I take them from people they have to be scanned.
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      “You never know what is in the gift.
      “It could make him sick or kill him, you don’t know.”
      Abdou has provided protection for some huge names in football including Roberto Carlos, Alessandro Del Piero and Angel Di Maria.
      However, as the former head of security for the Egyptian national team, he now works with compatriot Salah.
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      The pair have known each other for nearly a decade, with Abdou even going to Italy to look after the forward during his time at Roma.
      But as the greatest Arab player of all time and after leading Egypt to their first World Cup in 28 years in 2018, Salah is a national icon in his homeland and instantly recognisable.
      So whenever he heads back to Egypt, Abdou has to try and make his client invisible to the public so that he is not spotted.
      The sport safety expert recalled on the 5ASide Podcast: “He’s a ghost, he cannot be seen.
      “One time, he went to pray in a mosque.
      “Nobody knew where he lived and somebody followed him and put in a WhatsApp group, ‘Mo Salah lives in that address’.
      “There was like 20,000 people who showed up to his house after five minutes.”
      But the most attention came after Salah had helped Liverpool become European champions for a sixth time in 2019.
      ‘COULDN’T ESCAPE’
      Abdou continued: “He was supposed to go and pray in the street with everybody and he just won the Champions League so everyone wants to take pictures with him.
      “Every single Egyptian media, TV, newspaper, it was like the final of the World Cup.
      “They were lining up in front of his house.
      “He was inside and could not even open the door. They tried to escape him out the back door, but they couldn’t.”
      Abdou also revealed fans regularly write to Salah in the hope that he can help in times of crisis – especially because they know about his generosity to support those in need.
      Abdou concluded: “People write on a paper and give it to him because people think he’s going to solve all their problems.
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      “He’s paid millions and millions for sick people. He buys ambulances for the city.
      “He helped people who are short of money to get married, pay their bills or to have surgery.”
      Abdou also worked as a safety expert for Roberto CarlosCredit: Instagram @kikoousa
      The Egyptian spends a lot of time around the Liverpool team due to SalahCredit: Instagram @kikoousa
      Abdou poses for a photo with Inter Miami owner David BeckhamCredit: Instagram @kikoousa More

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      Romelu Lukaku reveals he is ready to break silence on Chelsea transfer exit after Roma star ‘read so much bulls***’

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      ROMELU LUKAKU has promised to break his silence on his move to Roma as he wants to dispel myths about his exit from Chelsea.The striker joined Roma on loan in the summer and has scored seven goals in eight games under Jose Mourinho.
      Romelu Lukaku has promised to open up about his Chelsea transfer exitCredit: Getty
      Lukaku, 30, was heavily linked with a return to Inter Milan, where he spent last season on loan.
      Some reports suggested Lukaku only wanted to join Inter but the Belgian has now dismissed such speculation as it “did not make sense”.
      He revealed he will share the truth about his Chelsea transfer exit when the time is right, claiming many will be shocked when he does.
      Lukaku said: “I have to wait for the right moment. You all know me. When I speak, I don’t go around the pot. Then I don’t do politics.
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      “I know what has been going on behind the scenes, but when I tell my story, I want everyone to listen to my point of view for once and nothing is taken out of context.
      “The time is not yet right for that. We are in a good groove. At Roma, we won the last three matches and I left with good vibes. For the national team, it is also an important week. But I read so much bulls***.’
      “I had supposedly told myself I was going to a certain club [Inter Milan], but that didn’t make sense.
      “There were also a few clubs I wouldn’t go to. At one point, I was about to explode. When 90 per cent of what is said about you is not true, it is hard to keep your mouth shut.
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      “Five years ago, I would definitely have exploded, but now I didn’t put my energy into it. Not now, either. If I really told the truth here at this moment, many would be shocked.
      “I just want to make an example of NBA player LeBron James, even though I’m not like LeBron. Bam, bam, bam — that one took a lot of criticism but handled it unflinchingly. I want to adopt that mentality.”
      Lukaku scored just eight goals in 26 Premier League games following his £100million return to Chelsea in 2021.
      He jeopardised his Blues career just a few months after he signed as he revealed he wanted to return to Inter in a bombshell interview.
      Chelsea let him join the Serie A giants on loan the following summer and he has not played for the club since. More

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      Chelsea fans divided as academy product ‘too good to stay on the bench’ set for January transfer exit

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      CHELSEA fans are divided over the decision to offload Trevoh Chalobah in the January window.The centre-back has supposedly been deemed surplus to requirements after failing to secure a transfer away over the summer.
      Trevoh Chalobah faces an uncertain future at ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Chalobah is currently out injured with a hamstring issue and is unlikely to feature much when he returns to fitness.
      Chelsea already have Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Thiago Silva and Levi Colwill as other centre-back options.
      He would become the fifth Chelsea youth team product to leave the club, with Mason Mount, Lewis Hall, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all departing.
      Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports the Blues are set to renew the collapsed discussions with Bayern Munich.
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      The German giants could reportedly go back in with another loan offer in January.
      And Chelsea fans are split on the news.
      One fan said: “He’s too good to stay on the bench.”
      A second wrote: “He’s a good player, sad to watch him leave but who wants to be plan B anyways.”
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      But another wrote: ” I feel bad for him to be honest. Terrible decision.”
      One more added: “This is sad to see. Chalobah is promising youngster.”
      Bayern were initially put off by the £50m price tag in the summer window, but are open to re-enter negotiations.
      Ex-Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is in charge of the Bundesliga champions and is a huge fan of Chalobah, having handed him his debut at his boyhood club. More

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      Arsenal cult hero Bacary Sagna predicts Premier League title race with Tottenham set to ‘collapse as usual’

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      ARSENAL cult hero Bacary Sagna has raised eyebrows with some very bold comments regarding the title race.The former defender reckons that Tottenham are NOT contenders and will inevitably “collapse, as usual”.
      Bacary Sagna believes Spurs are not true contendersCredit: Getty
      Spurs currently lead the Premier League table during the international break.
      But Sagna insists Ange Postecoglou’s side have no chance in lifting the title.
      The Frenchman believes the North London outfit do not possess the talent necessary to challenge Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola.
      He told Paddy Power: “The title race will be between Arsenal and Manchester City as Spurs will collapse, as usual.
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      “And that’s not just me speaking as an Arsenal fan. I don’t see them being consistent enough all season.
      “Apart from Heung-Min Son, I don’t see anyone in that team that can lead the team or play a vital role in Spurs’ title race.”
      However, he expects Tottenham to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
      Tottenham have often been criticised for falling short in key moments and the former Arsenal defender expects them to come up short once again.
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      Fans of the Lilywhites have had to face the brunt of their ‘Spursy’ tag over the years after coming so close, yet so far to winning silverware.
      Only last week, a Sky Bet survey found that Tottenham have thrown away the most points from winning positions in Premier League history.
      Sagna trusts that Arsenal’s title fighting experience will give them the edge to challenge City – who have already lost twice – this season.
      Sagna added: “The Gunners showed that they’ve learned their lesson from recent years as they were patient, composed and focused and the whole team defended very well.”
      Arsenal recently beat Man City 1-0 at the Emirates, after Gabriel Martinelli’s deflected winner. More

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      Erik ten Hag’s ‘dream Man Utd transfer plan’ to bring in three world-class stars KO’d by takeover setback

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      MANCHESTER UNITED manager Erik ten Hag has been denied a sensational triple transfer plan after the club’s latest takeover twist.United’s unpopular owners the Glazers have snubbed Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani’s sixth offer worth more than £6billion in total.
      Sheikh Jassim’s withdrawal from Man Utd’s takeover has affected manager Erik ten HagCredit: Alamy
      Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani was planning to sign Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian MbappeCredit: Getty
      Sheikh Jassim was also determined to land Bayern Munich star Kingsley ComanCredit: Getty
      Man Utd would have rekindled their interest in Real Madrid ace Eduardo CamavingaCredit: Getty
      Sheikh Jassim’s offer would have included cash to redevelop the facilities, fund an Old Trafford rebuild and clear the existing debt.
      This clears the way for Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is set to buy a 25 per cent stake in the club for £1.4bn with the Glazer family still at the helm after the Qatari bid formally pulled out on Saturday.
      Sheikh Jassim accused United’s owners of demanding an “outlandish” price to sell the club.
      The Red Devils’ chiefs are set to sign off on Ratcliffe’s investment at a board meeting this coming week and the INEOS founder will have control over the football side of things.
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      According to Bild, that will cost Ten Hag some major transfer reinforcement.
      That is because Sheikh Jassim was planning to bring Kylian Mbappe, Kingsley Coman and Eduardo Camavinga to Old Trafford.
      Paris Saint-Germain superstar Mbappe will become a free agent in June and looks set to join Real Madrid.
      However, the Qatari banker was planning to put his billions to good use and steal Mbappe from under Real’s nose.
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      The Sheikh was determined to do the same with the star striker’s France team-mates.
      Coman and Camavinga have a contract with Bayern Munich and Real respectively until 2027.
      Camavinga was previously targeted by United when he still played for Rennes.
      And it now seems like the midfielder will play a key role in Los Blancos’ future with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric stepping aside due to their advanced age. More