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      Former Lazio teen who was forced to deny claims he lied about age leaves Italy for new league after nine years

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      A FORMER Lazio teenager who was accused of lying about his age has left Italy after nine years.Joseph Minala was caught up in a bizarre row back in 2014 after the Italian FA launched an investigation into his age.
      Minala was cleared by the Italian FA after being accused of lying about his ageCredit: Getty
      Minala was just 17 when he joined Lazio but faced accusations of being much older as fans circulated his official academy profile picture.
      The Cameroonian, now 26, has always denied the rumours and insisted he was not, as some claimed, in his 40s.
      He said at the time: “I have read the alleged statements posted on the website senego.net in which it says I confessed my real age which was different to what was stated in my [official] documents.
      “They are false statements that have been attributed to me by people who do not know.”
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      The investigation eventually cleared both the player and Lazio and confirmed his age.
      Minala has now departed Italy permanently for the first time in almost a decade.
      The midfielder has joined FK Liepaja, a Latvian football club who were only founded in 2014.
      The side play in the top division of Latvian football and finished fourth in the league last season.
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      It never quite worked out for Minala in Italy and he made only three senior appearances in his seven years at Lazio.
      He spent much of that time on loan at Italian lower league clubs including Bari and Salernitana.
      He also had a brief loan spell at Chinese side Qingdao Huanghai in 2020 before permanent switches to Serie C sides Lucchese and Olbia Calcio. More

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      Distraught Leeds fans say ‘it’s gone from bad to worse’ as Premier League icon is tipped to replace Javi Gracia

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      LEEDS fans are divided after reports of former midfielder Lee Bowyer taking over as their new manager.Head coach Javi Gracia, 53, has watched his side pick up just one point from their last five Premier League games.
      Leeds fans have started to turn on Javi GraciaCredit: Reuters
      Lee Bowyer has coached at Charlton and BirminghamCredit: Alamy
      And their 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth on Sunday took their total goals conceded in April to a startling 23.
      Leeds sit just one point above the relegation zone with four games remaining.
      And that buffer will be reduced to just goal difference on Monday evening following the clash between relegation rivals Leicester and Everton – irrespective of the result.
      Their dismal form has led to many supporters calling for Gracia to be sacked – less than three months after he was appointed as Jesse Marsch’s successor.
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      However, some fans have been left furious with reports that ex-Leeds, Newcastle and West Ham man Bowyer, 46, could be his replacement.
      According to The Mail, owner Andrea Radrizzani is considering another change of management to avoid the drop.
      And Bowyer, who has been out of work since Birmingham sacked him last summer, is one name on their radar.
      In response to the claims, one fan said: “Goes from bad to worse, my god if that is true.”
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      Another added: “OMG, from bad to worse to even worse. @andrearadri GET OUT NOW!!!!!!!! You’re killing OUR Leeds United.”
      And a third replied: “Is this a joke? I am not in the mood for this sort of thing. I loved Lee as player but his managerial record is not up to scratch. Victor please leave enough is enough.”
      But others are in support of Bowyer’s potential arrival.
      One said: “If it’s only for the last 4 games, then let’s do it.”
      And another fan responded: “Total Leeds legend, tough, uncompromising, and so much passion for the club, everything missing from nearly every player in the current side. Would have no problem with him coming in [as a] quick fix [for] four games, kick up the a**e for everybody and fire them up.”
      Bowyer, who spent seven years as a Leeds player between 1996 and 2003, began his managerial career at Charlton in 2018 and helped lead them to promotion from League One to the Championship.
      But they were relegated on the final day of the 2019/20 season by his former club Leeds.
      He resigned in March 2021 and was named Birmingham boss the following day.
      He signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Blues but was sacked last summer following a 20th place finish in the Championship.
      Bowyer played 265 times for Leeds and also received one cap for EnglandCredit: Getty More

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      Piers Morgan absolutely loving Mikel Arteta quote which proves Arsenal manager has ‘right winner’s mentality’

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      ARSENAL superfan Piers Morgan is delighted with the team’s mentality – despite their collapse in the title race.The Gunners are now second in the Premier League table having dropped NINE points from the last 12 available.
      Arsenal are a point behind Manchester City after blowing an eight-point leadCredit: GETTY
      Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has revealed the players aren’t satisfied with their seasonCredit: GETTY
      Piers Morgan was delighted with what he heardCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTD
      The North Londoners’ poor run of form has seen defending champions Manchester City – who have a game in hand – leapfrog them.
      While many Arsenal fans are lamenting the team’s collapse on and off the pitch, manager Mikel Arteta is pleased with his troops’ take on their current situation.
      The Spaniard said: “The thing I like the most is that we are in the Champions League and everyone is still unsatisfied with the situation.
      “This is what we need if we want to move forward as a club and as a team.”
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      That thrilled Emirates season ticket holder Morgan, who reshared the quote and image of the midfielder on Twitter.
      He wrote: “LOVE this new quote from @m8arteta – THIS is the right winner’s mentality.”
      Although they’re only a point behind City, many Arsenal fans have written off the club’s hopes of winning their first title in nearly 20 years.
      But Arteta insists the title race is far from over, saying ahead of Tuesday’s game against Chelsea: “You have to recognise there is still work to do.
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      “We have to be humble, recognise what our weaknesses are and work to be better.
      “But we also have many strengths and there are a lot of things we have done well over the last 10 months.
      “Now, [the title race] is not in our hands anymore.
      “What is in our hands is to try to win the games we have left, and the rest is down to City.
      Mikel Arteta insists the title race is far from overCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
      “I have not had to pick up the mood of the players, they keep the fire in the belly for tomorrow.”
      The 41-year-old added: “What we have to do is forget about what happened last week.
      “Learn from it and move on to the next game with a full tilt at home, with our people, London derby, and put things right.
      “I know what we were trying to do, what the objective was … but when I still look at it, this is not over.” More

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      Fans convinced Erling Haaland FARTED next to Leon Goretzka after hilarious interaction between pair

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      FANS have been left convinced that Erling Haaland farted next to Leon Goretska after an exchange between the pair went viral. They were facing off in the second-leg of their Champions League clash last month, with Manchester City progressing 4-1 on aggregate over Bayern Munich.
      Goretska pinches his nose as he waits for a corner during Bayern’s second-leg clash with Man City last monthCredit: Twitter – Troll Football
      Haaland rubs his stomach apologetically and fans are convinced he fartedCredit: Twitter – Troll Football
      Goretzka: Haaland has no respect for the opponent or football. He farted every time we approached him. He did it more than once!!pic.twitter.com/0Oa2DRt9uL— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) April 29, 2023

      But a short video of Goretska marking the Man City man before a corner is doing the rounds on social media.
      Haaland, who scored his 50th goal of the season against Fulham on Sunday, is known to enjoy the dark arts of football.
      And he appears to have opted for his most bizarre tactic yet.
      Goretska can be seen puffing out his cheeks and holding his nose as he waits for the corner to be swung in.
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      The midfielder pulls a disgusted face while Haaland gives his own stomach a soothing rub and grins slightly.
      Some fans believe this moment is evidence that he let one rip to put his opponent off his game and could not help but make jokes.
      One said: “Holy crap. Is that why the defences of each team he has scored [against] couldn’t handle him??”
      Another said: “This explains the goals.”
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      While another joked: “Extra propulsion for additional speed.”
      But, defending the star, one fan said: “He touched his stomach to let him know he is not doing it intentionally.
      Haaland has not been shy about using untraditional tactics to get around opposition players.
      Brentford defender Ben Mee revealed that the 22-year-old pinches defenders to throw them off their game.
      While Haaland went viral last year as he attempted to wind up Everton’s Ben Godfrey.
      Whatever the Norwegian is doing is clearly effective with the striker equalling the Premier League record for most goals in a season – and City still have six games left to play. More

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      Dean Henderson ‘faces four months out due to surgery throwing Man Utd future into doubt’

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      DEAN HENDERSON faces an uncertain future after being told he faces an additional three-months on the sidelines.The 26-year-old goalkeeper left Manchester United at the start of the season in order to join Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan.
      Dean Henderson is facing an uncertain future after a setback in his injury recoveryCredit: Getty
      The England international suffered a thigh injury back in January for the Premier League strugglers which would later rule him out of the rest of the campaign.
      Now The MEN is reporting that Henderson requires an operation on the thigh tear that is now expected to keep him out until August.
      Scans had initially revealed that he had suffered a grade two tear that would take between four and six weeks to heal.
      But he has already been out for three months and now his possible return date “may affect his chances of a departure in the summer”.
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      United are currently in a contract stand-off with No1 David De Gea over an extension.
      Henderson had previously hit out at how he was treated by ex-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer upon joining Forest after losing his place to the Spaniard.
      Erik ten Hag spoke to the stopper in January over a potential return to Old Trafford from Forest after Martin Dubravka’s loan at United ended as he headed back to Newcastle.
      However, Henderson informed him that he had no desire to play back-up to De Gea after being restricted to just three appearances last term.
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      The Red Devils then refused to give him permission to play for Forest against them in the Carabao Cup semi-finals – although he ended up being injured anyway.
      Henderson is under contract until 2025, with the option of an additional year, but United know that he is one of their current squad that has a large resale value.
      But with the prospect of missing the entire pre-season, that could put off any potential suitors keen on him.
      Henderson has been at the club since the age of 14 and made his senior debut in September 2020 and has played a total of 29 times for the first-team.
      Meanwhile, United are reportedly eyeing a move for Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic after the 28-year-old’s superb displays for Croatia at the World Cup.
      Elsewhere, the Red Devils have reportedly sent scouts to watch Portuguese stopper Diogo Costa.
      Brentford’s David Raya has also been touted with a switch after rejecting two contract offers from the Bees as the club line-up potential replacements for De Gea should no new deal be agreed. More

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      Arsenal fans say ‘this is such a shame’ with top talent set to quit club in permanent transfer after eight years

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      ARSENAL fans have been left devastated after rumours emerged that youngster Charlie Patino is set to leave the club permanently.The 19-year-old midfielder has worked his way up through the youth ranks since signing eight years ago.
      Charlie Patino wants to leave Arsenal this summerCredit: AFP
      But his time in North London will supposedly come to an end this summer as he wants to play first-team football.
      Patino has impressed out on loan at Championship side Blackpool this season.
      The Athletic claim that Arsenal don’t see him as ready to play for them just yet and would prefer to loan him out again next season.
      However, this does not suit Patino, with the club ready to help facilitate his wishes to get a transfer away.
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      There has been plenty of high hopes that the wonderkid could be the future of Arsenal’s midfield.
      And fans are left upset at the news, one said: “That is such a shame, I had great hopes for Charlie, but he cannot expect to go straight into our first-team, so it would be another loan I think.”
      More reacted: “Wow that’s bad.”
      A third added: “There will be a first option buy back I am sure.”
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      Patino made his senior debut for Arsenal in a League Cup victory over Sunderland in December 2021.
      He then made his first start in a FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest in January 2022.
      Patino has played 36 times for Blackpool in all competitions this season, scoring three goals and assisting a further four.
      He is not set to be the only academy product to leave the Gunners this summer amid rumours linking Folarin Balogun and Reiss Nelson with moves away. More

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      Watch Man Utd legend Van Nistelrooy bust out hilarious dance moves in wild dressing room celebrations after winning Cup

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      RUUD VAN NISTELROOY busted out his best dance moves in amazing dressing room scenes after PSV beat Ajax in the Dutch Cup Final. The Manchester United legend was in good spirits after winning his first major piece of silverware as a coach.
      PSV boss Ruud Van Nistelrooy broke out the moves to the delight of his playersCredit: Twitter / @PSV
      The PSV dressing room was in good spirits after a penalty shootout win against Ajax in the Dutch CupCredit: Twitter / @PSV
      The former Man United striker was coaxed into the centre by his players – and he did not let them downCredit: Twitter / @PSV
      He has been in charge since the beginning of the season and is looking to secure the Dutch club a place in the Champions League.
      But for now the 46-year-old is celebrating some silverware after leading his side to a penalty shootout win.
      Van Nistelrooy was so happy he even began cutting shapes in the PSV dressing room in footage the club have posted on their Twitter page.
      The victorious players started it off as they danced along to some music after the game.
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      They then erupt into cheers as their manager appears and starts shyly dancing in the centre of the circle.
      Van Nistelrooy then abandons his conservative arm movements and starts throwing his hands into the air as the players continue to encourage him.
      The former striker can’t keep a straight face as PSV stars, including ex-Crystal Palace left-back Patrick van Aanholt, laugh along with him.
      Fans were enjoying seeing the Dutchman let his hair down.
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      One said: “Love the connection between coach and players.”
      Another said: “Gooo onn Ruud.”
      And another fan joked that they hoped that Van Nistelrooy’s former team-mate, the famously stern Roy Keane, does not see the video.
      Ajax stars Brian Brobbey, Jurrien Timber, and Edson Alvarez missed their penalties allowing PSV’s Fabio Silva to win the spot-kicks 3-2.
      PSV also have the edge on Ajax in the league and sit three points clear of their rivals in the final Champions League spot with just four games left. More

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      Tottenham star Richarlison amazingly has more yellow cards for celebrating his goals than scoring them this season

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      RICHARLISON has bizarrely received more yellow cards for celebrating goals than he has actually scored this season.The Tottenham star came off the bench to break his Premier League duck for the club with an equaliser at Liverpool deep into additional time on Sunday.
      Richarlison celebrated a goal against Fulham by ripping his top off before it was disallowedCredit: Getty
      His shirt was off again after he broke his Spurs duck at AnfieldCredit: Alamy
      He celebrated by whipping off his shirt and racing to the delirious away end at Anfield before shushing the home crowd.
      And that resulted in the referee issuing him with a caution for removing his jersey.
      However, his joy was short-lived as Liverpool went straight up the other end to win it as Diogo Jota sealed a 4-3 triumph.
      That is not the first time this season that Richarlison has found himself in hot water after finding the net.
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      The 25-year-old forward celebrated what he thought was his first Tottenham goal in style back in September.
      The Brazil international, who joined the North London club in a £60m move from Everton last summer, was playing his first full 90 minutes for his new employers against Fulham.
      He finished from close-range and believed that he had put his team 3-1 up against Fulham – only to find out that his finish would not count.
      Richarlison proceeded to pick the ball out of the back of the net before kicking it up and into the crowd.
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      He then sprinted over to the corner flag while ripping his shirt off to celebrate with fans.
      But, while he was caught up in the moment, the goal was being reviewed by VAR.
      It was then overturned as Ryan Sessegnon was in an offside position before making his run into the box.
      Not only was Richarlison stripped of his goal, but to add further salt in the wound, he was also booked for taking his shirt off.
      Following his shirty antics at Anfield, he now has double the amount of bookings for performing that gesture than he does Premier League goals for Spurs.
      One fan reacted to that stat by saying: “He really is perfect for Spurs.”
      Another wrote: “Could only happen at Tottenham!”
      While another tweeted: “Just Tottenham things.” More