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      Tottenham flop Roberto Soldado announces retirement aged 38 in TWO-WORD statement after three months unemployed

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      TOTTENHAM flop Roberto Soldado has announced his retirement from football on Instagram with a two-word message.The former Spain man sat down in front of the camera to recount his career and captioned the post “Hasta Siempre” which translates as “Good bye, until later”.
      Soldado sat down at his home to say goodbye to the gameCredit: instagram – @r9soldado
      He endured a miserable time at Tottenham – but became somewhat of a cult heroCredit: Getty
      The emotional Instagram post was accompanied by Soldado’s goals throughout his career – which saw him play for the likes of Real Madrid, Valencia, Spurs and Fenerbache among others.
      His time in England will be remembered for his miserable stint at Tottenham Hotspur.
      Soldado arrived as part of Tottenham’s ‘magnificent seven’ – the seven players signed by Andre Villas Boas to replace Gareth Bale when he left for Real Madrid.
      He was seen as the jewel in the seven’s crown after scoring an impressive 24 goals in 35 games for Valencia in the 2012-13 season.
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      The forward cost the club a then record fee of £26million in 2013.
      But he struggled to settle in North London and managed just 16 goals in 76 appearances for the Lilywhites.
      His effort, and sometimes desperation for a goal, saw him become a cult hero of sorts, becoming affectionately known as “Bobby Soldier” in the White Hart Lane stands.
      He was eventually usurped in the starting XI by a young Harry Kane and was sold to Villareal in 2015.
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      Kane has been heavily linked with a move to Bayern Munich this summer – which could force Spurs to sign their first big-money number nine since Soldado’s arrival in 2013.
      After leaving Tottenham for Villareal, Soldado went on to play for Fenerbache and Granada before ending his career at second division side Levante.
      He spent the last three months of his career without a club after Levante did not renew his contract this summer.
      Fans paid tribute to Soldado’s career online, with a Spurs fan writing: “If anyone deserved to succeed here it was Soldado. He loved Spurs so much.”
      The Europa Conference League also posted well wishes to Soldado, tweeting a picture of him in a Fenerbache shirt.
      The caption read: “Enjoy your retirement, Roberto Soldado.”
      And Turkish fans from his time in Istanbul added their well wishes.
      One fan wrote: “Underrated gunner, ugly fighter you’ll be the one I won’t forget.”
      Another added: “I can’t forget the goal he scored against Besiktas in the cup.” More

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      Ex-Arsenal star Matteo Guendouzi has house ROBBED with terrified wife inside while he was playing as £200k Rolex stolen

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      EX-Arsenal star Matteo Guendouzi has had his home ransacked by burglars while he was playing a match.The French defender has been with Marseille since 2021. They paid the Gunners £9million for him last year after a successful spell on loan.
      Guendouzi’s home was targeted in a burglary while he was playing a matchCredit: Getty
      Guendouzi’s wife, Mae, was in the house at the timeCredit: Instagram @rfskmae
      But Guendouzi had a £200,000 Rolex watch stolen during a Wednesday night raid on his house.
      Robbers broke in while the 24-year-old was playing in Marseille’s 2-1 friendly win over Bayer Leverkusen at Stade Velodrome.
      They reportedly smashed their way in through a bedroom window.
      The noise alerted Guendouzi’s wife Mae, who was at home at the time and called police.
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      The couple live at Cassis, a scenic Mediterranean resort just along the coast from Marseille.
      Several of Guendouzi’s clubmates live in the same town.  Local police have opened an inquiry.
      Sead Kolasinac, who played for Arsenal alongside Guendouzi, had his own house at Cassis burgled in January.
      The Bosnia & Herzegovina defender, 30, left Ligue 1 Marseille for Italians Atalanta last month.
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      Growing numbers of France-based players have had their homes raided in recent years.
      Paris Saint-Germain keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and his wife were tied up in a terrifying ordeal in July.
      And France’s criminal intelligence service Sirasco revealed that 22 different footballers had been targeted by robbers in 2021.
      Guendouzi made 82 Arsenal appearances, scoring once, following his arrival from Lorient.
      He has since hit ten goals in 99 games for Marseille. More

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      James Maddison begs Harry Kane to stay at Tottenham as he’s ‘best in the world’ amid Bayern Munich transfer saga

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      JAMES MADDISON has issued a rallying cry for teammate Harry Kane to remain at Tottenham.Spurs face the possibility of losing all-time record scorer Harry Kane this summer with the club locked in talks over a transfer to Bayern Munich.
      England teammates Kane and Maddison were reunited when the latter joined Tottenham for £40m this summerCredit: EPA
      The German champions are set to smash their transfer record with an £85m bid for Kane.
      But England teammate Maddison is desperate for his close friend to reject the move.
      The former Leicester star told TNT Sports: “We were friends before I joined Tottenham from the England squad.
      “We have similar interests and get on well anyway away from football.

      “I would love Harry Kane to stay, he’s the best No 9 in the world in my opinion.
      “But what will be, will be and Harry is super professional”.
      Pundits have speculated how the two could link up next season, as Tottenham’s new playmaker Maddison holds the required creativity to improve Spurs’ attack.
      But whether Maddison will be supplying Harry Kane next term remains to be seen.
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      Spurs chairman Daniel Levy reportedly met with Bayern officials in London on Monday to discuss the move.
      Kane is open to a move to Germany and while Levy wants at least £100m for his star striker, it is believed an offer in the region of £90m would tempt him.
      Manchester United had previously been linked with the 30-year-old, who would be available for free in a year’s time.
      The England skipper has contributed 280 goals and 64 assists in 435 games for the North London outfit.
      But he is poised to join Bayern in an attempt to win trophies having failed to secure any silverware at Spurs.
      Maddison himself was left untarnished after Leicester’s relegation last season.
      The attacking midfielder – who scored 10 goals and provided 9 assists last term – completed his £40m move to Spurs this summer.
      Maddison,26, completed his £40m move to Tottenham from relegated Leicester, signing a five-year contract in north London.Credit: Rex More

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      Dream Team 2023/24: Tottenham’s best players, bargain options and potential flops

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      DREAM TEAM managers are counting down the days until the new campaign gets underway.And to provide a helping hand, The Sun have taken a closer look at each of last season’s top teams in detail.
      Today we’re checking in on Tottenham’s crop of talent, hoping to find which players will thrive under attack-minded Ange Postecoglou – as well as who might struggle.

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      James Maddison could deliver huge returns this seasonCredit: GETTY
      BEST PLAYERS
      You certainly don’t need us to explain the benefits of drafting Harry Kane (£7m) into your squad.
      The England captain has been one of the most consistent players of the Premier League era, scoring 213 goals and providing 50 assists in 320 appearances.
      He bagged a colossal 30 goals in 38 league fixtures last season, which amounted to just over 40% of his sides total.
      The 29-year-old is gearing up for his first campaign under Postecoglou, who wants Spurs to return to attacking, attractive football, and has the creativity of James Maddison (£4m) behind him – reducing his need to drop deep.
      To recap: He’s rotation proof, consistent as gravity and takes penalties.
      Unfortunately, there’s an elephant in the room and it’s wearing a Bayern Munich shirt – but for now Kane is a great pick.
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      Regardless of who plays ahead of him, the aforementioned Maddison looks primed for a big season after completing his £40million move from Leicester.
      The Foxes suffered a shock relegation from the top flight but their No10 would have produced over 234 points in the new scoring system last season — that’s only a few short of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (£6m)!
      Maddison’s play style is perfectly suited to Dream Team – he’s constantly seeking goals and assists.
      Son Heung-min (£5m) could be back with a bang in 2023/24.
      And his potential could be even higher if Kane departs and he’s tasked with being the team’s primary goal threat.
      Despite what many would call an underwhelming campaign for the South Korean, Son would have returned 291 points last term had teh new scoring system been applied.
      A fresh start and a full pre-season should make for the perfect remedy for Son, who shared the Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah (£7m) in the 2021/22 season having netted 23 league goals.
      POTENTIAL BARGAINS
      Is Pedro Porro flying under the radar?Credit: GETTY
      A breakthrough season for Pedro Porro (£2.5m)?
      It’s certainly not beyond the realms of possibility; the 23-year-old managed three goals and three assists in 17 appearances for Spurs despite following his January arrival.
      The attacking Spain international is available at a rock-bottom £2.5m – £3.5m cheaper than Trent Alexander-Arnold (£6m).
      However, there are risks attached.
      14 of his career goals and 23 assists were when playing right midfield, and it looks more than likely that he’ll be deployed at right-back in a flat back four under Ange Postecoglou.
      Dejan Kulusevski (£3m) could potentially be one of the biggest winners from Postecoglou’s arrival.
      A return to form could be on the cards with many believing that the Swedish winger be nailed-on in the new regime, something that could revive his 2021/22 form.
      POTENTIAL FLOPS
      Guglielmo Vicario has his doubtersCredit: GETTY
      Attacking talents, plenty. Defensive reliability, not so much.
      Many are expecting Spurs to fight fire with fire this season, and that could mean their defensive assets suffer.
      They conceded 63 Premier League goals last season and are yet to add to their centre-back options.
      That could be bad news for new goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario (£3m).
      The Italian goalkeeper joined from Empoli and recently broke into the Italy senior squad, but adapting to a new league with a fragile defence could prove tricky – he’s hardly an oasis of composure.

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      Luton can be the new Crazy Gang – no one’s giving them a chance but they can stun the Premier League

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      IN eight days Luton will become the 51st team to play Premier League football and they have already been written off before a ball has even been kicked.Odds-on favourites for relegation, absolutely no one outside of Kenilworth Road gives them a prayer of lasting more than a year in the top flight.
      Luton secured promotion via the play-offs last seasonCredit: Getty
      Can Luton bring shocks like Wimbledon’s Crazy GangCredit: Getty
      Because clubs like the Hatters are not supposed to dine at English football’s top table.
      Direct, up and at ’em footballers in a crappy, dilapidated stadium earning the kind of money most big-time pros would not get out of bed for.
      A football throwback the likes of which we haven’t seen since Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang were upsetting the established order all those years ago.
      Which is why we should all be relishing this forthcoming flight of fancy.
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      For Luton have already defied all logic by hauling themselves back from the blink of oblivion after five years in the National League.
      Their entire wage bill last season was £7.5million. To put that into some kind of context, that’s what Kevin De Bruyne gets every four months from Manchester City.
      Their manager was sacked by Watford after 11 games in charge and their 10,356-capacity stadium will be the smallest ground ever to host Premier League football.
      They have spent as much this summer on updating facilities to accommodate the Sky cameras as they have on new players.
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      And they are also the only club overseeing the development of two grounds at the same time as they plough on with plans to move to a new home.
      When you put all that together, it’s no wonder everyone has concluded that they don’t stand a chance against the Chelseas of this world.
      But that doesn’t take into account the incredible fighting spirit of a club which refused to die when they were hit with a record 30-point deduction for transfer irregularities and going into administration in 2009.
      For the past ten years they have made a habit of defying the odds and that’s why it would be madness to dismiss their chances this season.
      No one gave Bournemouth a hope when they were first promoted to the top flight in 2015 and who would ever have predicted that Brentford would be pushing for Europe within two years of debuting in the Premier League?
      None of the three promoted teams were relegated last season so maybe the gap between the top divisions isn’t quite as big as we all thought.
      What is certain is that no visiting team will relish the spartan facilities and hostile crowd breathing down their necks at Kenilworth Road.
      Of course the history of the Premier League is littered with tales of one-season wonders like Swindon, Barnsley and Blackpool.
      But even if Luton do only last a year, they will still secure the kind of money that they could only dream of not so very long ago to help finance their new stadium.
      So whatever happens in the coming months, it’s going to be an experience that their players and supporters will cherish for all time.
      And after what they’ve been through to get to this point, no one can begrudge them this walk on the wild side.
      Kenilworth Road will host Prem football this seasonCredit: PA
      ZE KING OF DIGS
      ONE of the great pleasures of the summer is watching Brighton’s constant trolling of Chelsea over their Moises Caicedo pursuit.
      No one has perfected the art better than boss Roberto De Zerbi when he said: “If Moises leaves we have to replace him with a great player as this year we play in the Europa League . . . unlike Chelsea.”
      Brighton rejected a £70million bid for Caicedo from Arsenal in January, since then he has signed a new contract to 2027.
      Yet Chelsea still came in with an opening offer of £60m and got the hump when it was rebuffed.
      This is the club, don’t forget, who paid £106m for Enzo Fernandez and £88m for Mykhailo Mudryk.
      Everyone in football knows Seagulls chairman Tony Bloom does not do haggling — and always holds out for the full asking price.
      So if Chelsea want Caicedo as much as it appears, they are going  to have to stop messing about and cough up.
      FAKIN’ IT TO MAX!
      ROUGH-ARSED Geordies were apparently moved to tears by Allan Saint-Maximin’s departing love letter to Newcastle.
      The Brazilian winger poured out his heart and declared: “Once a Geordie, always a Geordie. This story never stops.”
      Except it very much does stop. The minute he completed his impending move to Saudi Arabia.
      If he loved the place even half as much as he claims, he’d stay  and fight for his place in the team.
      Allan Saint-Maximin will join Al-AhliCredit: AFP
      BOWLED FOGEYS
      IS the Moral Victory Cup going to be as good as it gets for Bazball?
      Everyone outside Oz agrees that  England were the better team during the drawn Ashes series.
      But with Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali now retired, Jimmy Anderson on his last legs, Mark Wood and Ben Stokes hobbling like a couple of pensioners and Jofra Archer a crock, the bowling department is looking a bit threadbare.
      OFFENSIVE ACT
      RED faces all round in Milan at the World Fencing Championships when Olga Kharlan of Ukraine defeated Russia’s Anna Smirnova.
      According to the rules of fencing, the fight is not considered to be over until the opponents shake hands with each other.
      And because Kharlan was not going to extend the hand of friendship to anyone who was representing her nation’s invaders, she was disqualified.
      Yet that hasn’t prevented Russia from trying to get round their Olympic ban by staging an alternative ‘World Friendship Games’ next year.
      And they are even planning to invite Ukraine to participate in the event.
      Well, good luck  with that one, Vladimir. 
      BENN IN DOUBT
      CONOR BENN is free to box again in Britain after being cleared over two positive drug tests by the UK Anti-Doping agency.
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      Yet there has still been no explanation for what happened when traces of the banned substance clomiphene were detected in his system.
      And until that mystery is cleared up, Benn will always be fighting under a cloud of suspicion.
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      Jack Grealish heads to training in personalised £210,000 Lamborghini wrapped in Man City colours

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      MANCHESTER City star Jack Grealish is pictured for the first time at the wheel of his new £210,000 Lamborghini.The 27-year-old midfielder arrived for training yesterday in the blue Performante Urus he bought after his side won the Treble in June.
      Jack Grealish was seen for the first time driving his new £210,000 LamborghiniCredit: Cavendish
      Grealish lifted the Champions League last seasonCredit: Getty
      It was wrapped by celebrity car customiser Yianni Charalambous, who previously showed it off on Instagram, adding: “So there it is guys, it is completed, Lamborghini Performante, tiffany blue.
      “This car belongs to Jack Grealish, the Man City Premier League winner.
      “Yes, he took it away from Arsenal, however he wanted his car wrapped.
      “I think it works perfectly, especially as he plays for Man City, and there it is in all its glory. An incredible looking car.
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      “Nice choice of colour. It’s going to look great on the training ground.”
      Grealish lifted the Prem, Champions League, and the FA Cup last season.

      Charalambous, who runs Yiannimize, has customised several footballers’ cars in the past, including Sergio Aguero, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Didier Drogba.
      He claims to be best friends with former Arsenal and City defender Bacary Sagna, and has also been seen on TV as the star of Dave TV’s Yianni: Supercar Customiser.
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      The 27-year-old midfielder also celebrated the Prem winCredit: Getty More

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      Man Utd ‘still want Leon Goretzka transfer with Bayern Munich outcast frozen out under ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are still interested in Leon Goretzka who is no longer Thomas Tuchel’s plans, according to reports. The Red Devils have been keen on the Bayern Munich outcast with Erik ten Hag keeping a close eye on him all summer.
      Man Utd are still interested to sign Bayern Munich Leon GoretzkaCredit: Getty
      According to Florian Plettenberg, Man Utd “never lost their focus on Goretzka” who is “on the Premier League club’s list”.
      The 28-year-old has insisted he wants to remain at the Bundesliga champs despite interest from United and also West Ham.
      Goreztka told Sky Germany: ” I have no intention to leave Bayern. I love the club, I love the city, I love the fans.”
      But ex-Chelsea boss Tuchel is said to prefer Joshua Kimmich and Konrad Laimer.
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      And Ten Hag hopes that could change the Germany international’s mind.
      Sky Sports in Germany say Tuchel will happily sell Goretzka for around £43m, as they bid to fund their pursuit of Harry Kane.
      United have already recruited a midfielder Mason Mount this summer from Chelsea for £60milllion.
      Goretzka’s contract for the German club is set to run out in 2026 after signing a long-term contract back in 2021.
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      The midfielder joined Bayern back in 2019 and has since notched 34 goals and 35 assists across 179 appearances in all competitions for Bayern. 
      After undergoing surgery for a knee injury, he started in 22 Bundesliga matches last season.
      But with the arrival of Laimer from RB Leipzig this summer and with emerging star Ryan Gravenberch pushing for a spot, Goretzka is no longer the main man in Tuchels starting XI. 
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      Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel will not have Goretzka starting for himCredit: Getty More

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      Premier League club could face legal action with ‘millions owed in unpaid bonuses to players and agents’

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      NOTTINGHAM FOREST could be in legal trouble as they allegedly owe players and agents millions in unpaid bonuses, according to reports.Manager Steve Cooper guided the club to Premier League safety last season, sealing 16th place in the table.
      Nottingham Forest allegedly owe players and agents bonusesCredit: Getty
      And Forest fans will be hoping they can build on that success in the 2023/24 campaign – just their second top-flight season since 1999.
      But, according to The Mail, players who left the club this summer – of which there have been six – have not been paid bonuses due at the end of July.
      These include payments for surviving in the Premier League.
      A number of agents are also allegedly owed millions in commission payments on transfers – and they are reportedly considering legal action to get them.
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      This could potentially lead to winding up petitions being issued to the club.
      Forest’s agents bill is thought to be a huge one given they brought in 30 PLAYERS last season following their promotion from the Championship.
      Those who remain in the squad are due to be paid their bonuses at the end of August.
      This is when the departed stars are also expected to receive their delayed payments.
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      Meanwhile, Forest have brought three players in during the transfer window.
      Anthony Elanga has arrived from Manchester United, Chris Wood has come in from Newcastle, and full-back Ola Aina has also joined on a free.
      But their preparation ahead of the new season have been less than ideal – with defeats to Leeds, PSV and Rennes all in the last week.
      Cooper’s side begin their Premier League campaign away at Arsenal on August 12.
      SunSport has approached Forest for comment. More