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      ‘They are sick to the teeth of him’ – Chelsea handed HUGE transfer boost in signing Joao Felix on permanent deal

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      THERE is no way back for Joao Felix at Atletico Madrid, reports claim.And the news comes as a boost to Chelsea’s hopes of signing the 23-year-old on a permanent deal.
      Joao Felix joined Chelsea on loan in JanuaryCredit: Rex
      Felix joined the Blues on loan in January from the LaLiga giants.
      The forward has impressed in his short time at the club, scoring in the 1-1 draw at West Ham last month.
      Felix himself recently hinted that he wants to stay at Stamford Bridge when his loan deal expires at the end of the campaign.
      And his chances of joining Chelsea have been boosted following reports that Felix’s Atletico team-mates are “sick to the teeth of him”.
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      It’s claimed Felix, who signed for Atletico from Benfica in 2019 for £111million, only remains in contact with two players at the club.
      Journalist Miguel Martin Talavera told AS TV, via Football Espana: “What is clear is that Joao Felix is going one way and Atletico Madrid are going the other.”
      Talavera added: “Right now, Joao Felix is still in contact with two players at Atletico Madrid. After four years, Reinildo, who arrived just over a year ago, and Sergio Reguilon, are the ones who he is closest with. With the rest, there is nothing, no friendship.”
      Talavera continued: “The reason is, they are sick to the teeth of him. They think he only looks out for himself, for his objectives.
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      “The things he did harmed the team and harmed the group.”
      After being sent off on his Chelsea debut, Felix scored on his return at West Ham.
      Fans were then left making the same joke after realising Felix’s strike at London Stadium was the Blues’ only goal in February.
      Chelsea have just two wins in 15 Premier League games, leaving boss Graham Potter fighting to save his job. More

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      Raheem Sterling makes decision on Chelsea future amid Arsenal transfer rumours following £47.5m move from Man City

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      RAHEEM STERLING has made a decision on his Chelsea future, according to reports.The Blues winger, 28, only joined the club on a five-year deal last summer in a £47.5million shock move from Manchester City.
      Raheem Sterling only arrived at Chelsea from Manchester City last summerCredit: Getty
      However, he has struggled to make his mark at Stamford Bridge before more big-money signings arrived in January.
      That led to speculation linking him with a surprise transfer to Arsenal.
      However, talkSPORT report Sterling will reject any possible interest from Arsenal.
      Instead, the England international is determined to stay put in West London and fight for his place in the team.
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      Sterling has made 25 appearances for Chelsea since leaving City following a fourth Premier League title win.
      His return of six goals and three assists across all competitions is down on what he would have wanted – and recent injury struggles have not helped – although it makes him Chelsea’s joint-top scorer.
      The 82-cap star’s place in the side was further threatened when Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke joined for a combined £123m – plus Joao Felix on loan.
      Should Sterling join Arsenal, he would be reunited with Mikel Arteta.
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      The pair worked together at the Etihad when Arteta was Pep Guardiola’s No2.
      The Spaniard brought in Leandro Trossard to bolster his attack during the January transfer window amid their Premier League title charge. More

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      I saw people die when I was a 15-year-old ambulance driver before going on to become a Newcastle cult hero

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      NEWCASTLE cult hero Papiss Cisse has revealed that he saw people die as a 15-year-old ambulance driver in Senegal.Cisse starred for Newcastle between 2012 and 2016 after joining from German side Freiburg for £9.3million.
      Papiss Cisse was an ambulance driver in Senegal aged 15Credit: PA:Press Association
      The striker went on to score 44 times in 131 games for the Magpies before leaving for China.
      After spending two years in Asia, Cisse played for three Turkish clubs across a four-year spell before ending up back in France, where he plays for Ligue 2 side Amiens.
      Cisse also carved out a stellar international career, scoring 17 times for his country.
      But before his football career took off, he lived a very different life.
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      The 37-year-old has revealed that before he became a Toon army icon, he was an ambulance driver aged 15 and even saw people die.
      Speaking to BBC’s Late Kick Off in 2013, Cisse said: “I saw people die in the past when I was 15 and driving the ambulance.
      “I was only 15, which is very young, and that was why I stopped going to school because I had this job.
      “Some times I had a little money which I gave to my parents.
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      “It was hard for me, it was very difficult for me because I was so young.
      “My first time in the job I saw someone die and I cried but I became strong.”
      Cisse continued: “Senegal is my country and my city is Sedhiou but the city is small and the people don’t have money and the hospital is not good. My aim is to buy an ambulance.
      “This is my first job to drive an ambulance so I think to buy an ambulance for my city is very important for me.
      “It is my city, it is my brother, my sister, my friend, my family.”
      Cisse also went into detail later on in an interview with the Mirror, recalling as traumatic experience that saw a pregnant woman pass away.
      He said: “It left you desolate, seeing what happened to them. One day, we were taking a pregnant woman to hospital.
      “She became ill and passed away in front of us when we were on the road.
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      “It was very, very moving. I used to help take care of some very ill people on the journeys.
      “The worst was when you were evacuating a kid, but you could not save them. Terrible.” More

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      4 players who could bank mountains of points this March – including a widely-criticised defender

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      MARCH’S transfers will be available from Friday and Dream Team gaffers will therefore be debating which players are well placed to bank loads of points this month.Having trawled through the fixtures as they stand currently, we’ve identified four players we think could enjoy a fruitful few Game Weeks.
      We’ve deliberately overlooked assets who fall under the category of blindingly obvious: Erling Haaland (£8.9m), Marcus Rashford (£6.5m), etc.
      Gabriel (£3.6m)
      An omnipresent figure for ArsenalCredit: GETTY
      William Saliba (£2.7m) may be the most-popular Arsenal defender but the Frenchman’s centre-back partner is the top performer in his position among the squad.
      Gabriel has 106 points to Saliba’s 71 and is an ever-present for Mikel Arteta in the league this season.
      The Gunners host Bournemouth and Crystal Palace this month, two teams unlikely to cause the league leaders many problems on current form.
      A trip to Craven Cottage isn’t a straightforward task given Fulham’s lofty position upon their return to the top flight but two legs against Sporting CP in the Europa League ensures Arsenal will be one of the busier teams in the coming weeks, something Dream Team bosses should always note.
      Premier League glory remains the primary goal and so it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see some rotation against the Portuguese outfit but given that Gabriel is seen as the leader of the back four he may well feature in every available fixture in March.
      It should go without saying that Bukayo Saka (£4.8m) is a great option this month for similar reasons – the Emirates’ resident ‘starboy’ is already super popular.
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      Solly March (£3.4m)
      Suggesting March in March? A bit on the nose…Credit: GETTY
      A kind FA Cup quarter-final draw would give Brighton a very favourable month indeed.
      The Seagulls face West Ham, Leeds and Crystal Palace in the league, two teams threatened by relegation and one mid-table outfit without a win since December.
      In terms of Dream Team points, it’s all about Roberto De Zerbi’s attack-minded midfielders and, truth be told, there’s a cigarette paper between March and Kaoru Mitoma (£3.5m), who are separated by just one point.
      Without wanting to bore you with spreadsheets, the underlying numbers suggest the Englishman has been the marginally more threatening option in recent outings.
      This possibility would increase in viability if Brighton were handed lower-league opposition in the FA Cup last eight.
      Emerson Royal (£4m)
      Hear us out
      Okay, so this is a deliberately rogue selection.
      Naturally, if you want back Tottenham this month then Harry Kane (£8m) is your man.
      However, it may surprise you to learn that the club’s widely-criticised right-back has plundered 30 points in his last two games thanks to back-to-back Star Man awards.
      And if that’s too small a sample size for you then how does 66 points in his last ten outings sound?
      The arrival of Pedro Porro (£2.3m) seems to have given Royal a boot up the backside.
      Looking ahead, Spurs face Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Southampton (all in the bottom half) around a Champions League round of 16 second leg against Milan.
      Bruno Fernandes (6.1m)
      160 points richCredit: GETTY
      Possibly too obvious a proposition here but we need something to balance out Emerson Royal, don’t we?
      Manchester United’s No8 has amassed 79 points in the last seven Game Weeks (with a game still to play this evening) which is a massive influx, one cruelly overshadowed by Rashford’s rampant form.
      If the Red Devils edge out West Ham tonight then they’ll have five fixtures to fulfil in March: Liverpool, Real Betis (x2), Southampton, FA Cup quarter-final (TBC).
      Fernandes and company will be licking their lips at the thought of a visit to Anfield this Sunday given the up-and-down results of Jurgen Klopp’s mob this term and Saints look destined for the drop.
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      The Portugal international is back to his best under Erik ten Hag as evidenced by his healthy tally of 16 goal involvements.
      For what it’s worth, Man United have racked up more points collectively than any other team at the time of writing. More

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      Premier League launches investigation after being accused of racism by former member of diversity and inclusion team

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      PREMIER LEAGUE chiefs have launched an investigation after being accused of racism by a former member of their diversity and inclusion team.Kay Badu made the claims after working with the Prem on a consultancy basis last year.
      The Premier League have launched an independent investigationCredit: Getty
      Badu is said to have made senior staff members at the league aware of internal racial discrimination.
      The Premier League have responded by hiring an independent barrister to investigate the matter.
      In a statement published by the Mail, the Prem said: “Discrimination and prejudice have no place at the Premier League, or anywhere in football, and it is our priority to promote and protect equality, diversity and inclusion.
      “After being made aware of certain recent allegations in the workplace, the Premier League launched an independent investigation into a number of the issues raised.
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      “This process, which is already underway, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister, whose findings will be provided to the Premier League Board.
      “The Premier League takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible.
      “The Premier League continues to make progress as part of the League’s No Room for Racism Action Plan and will act against all forms of discrimination to ensure football is inclusive and welcoming for all.”
      England’s top flight have appointed a barrister from law firm Blackstone Chambers.
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      Badu has recently posted about the Premier League on a number of occasions on his LinkedIn account.
      He posted a poll on his account, asking if the statement “well I’m going to the clean part of Africa” is racist.
      Badu also wrote: “They’re angry that I exposed the internal PL [Premier League] race problem.”
      And he also posted: “It’s going to take a serious PR guru to try and spin this one, especially as you have a public facing campaign entitled No Room For Racism.
      “To be clear, I and others have been subjected to racism at the Premier League. This is institutional racism not ignorance.
      “This ordeal has taken a toll on my mental well-being. Racism slowly breaks you down. Racism takes away your dignity and your will to live.” More

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      Man Utd legend Gary Neville says Casemiro was ‘NOT a smart transfer’ in incredible claim despite huge success

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      GARY NEVILLE has claimed that Casemiro was “not a smart signing” despite the Brazilian’s huge impact on Manchester United. The Red Devils are enjoying their most impressive season in years and claimed their first piece of silverware under Erik ten Hag on Sunday.
      Casemiro has almost immediately become a fan favouriteCredit: Rex
      Gary Neville believes United’s transfer policy will change away from Casemiro-style signingsCredit: Getty
      Casemiro, 31, is widely seen as one of the club’s star performers and has excelled in United’s midfield despite a mixed reaction to his signing last summer.
      Despite admitting Casemiro’s impact has been “devastating”, Neville believes his signing was an outlier in United’s transfer strategy and will not replicated next season.
      He said on the Overlap podcast: “I feel like Ten Hag is not going to sign [expensive, high-profile players]. If new owners come in they’re going to want to make a statement, they’ll want to blow the transfer market open. I don’t think that will suit him.
      “I think that’s the type of player he’ll want to add to this squad rather than saying, ‘Oh, Kylian Mbappe’s available or so-and-so is available’.
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      “But Casemiro, there’s no doubt – we all said it by the way – £60m? £70m? And £20m-a-year [contract] for five years is a £170m investment. That is a massive investment. 
      “It’s not a smart or shrewd signing when you look at it from a [big picture] point of view. None of us thought that.
      “I think he’ll want those younger, hungrier ones that have still got that growth rather than the finished article.”
      But Neville fully accepts that the transfer has been a huge success for his former club.
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      Casemiro has enjoyed an outstanding season for Manchester United so far
      The Sky Sports pundit adds: “The impact he’s having in the short term and what Manchester United need now, he’s devastating for the club in unbelievable ways.”
      Casemiro scored the opener in the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle as United grabbed their first trophy since 2017.
      It was his latest contribution in a season which has seen the star add plenty of bite and power to United’s midfield.
      He has appeared in 17 of United’s 24 league games, missing a handful due to suspension.
      Casemiro has contributed two goals and three assists and fans have raved about his winning mentality. More

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      Man Utd icon Gary Neville reveals SEVEN reasons Arsenal will not win Premier League as he backs experienced champs City

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      GARY NEVILLE has given SEVEN reasons why Manchester City will beat Arsenal to the Premier League title.The Gunners hold a two-point lead over the defending champions and can move five points clear with a win in their game in hand at home to Everton on Wednesday evening.
      Arsenal have a two-point lead over Manchester City and a game in handCredit: Reuters
      Gary Neville has consistently predicted Man City to win the titleCredit: Getty
      But Neville has repeatedly insisted Man City will eventually overhaul Mikel Arteta’s team.
      And he reiterated that belief by listing a host of reasons for Pep Guardiola’s side being his favourites.
      They include Arsenal finishing seasons poorly, playing in the Europa League, a lack of experience in title races, and the emotion they showed after the win over Aston Villa.
      Neville also cited panic, anxiety and pressure as three other factors that are likely to thwart Arsenal’s title challenge.

      Speaking on The Overlap, he said: “Arsenal have struggled in latter parts of seasons, with last season the most recent example of this.
      “This is why Manchester City will win the Premier League, because when it gets to the last 10 games, Arsenal will start to panic a little bit, the anxiety will kick in, pressure builds.
      “Playing in the Europa League, potentially travelling away from home on a Thursday and playing a league game on the Sunday, with everyone looking at you – at this point, Arsenal will wilt because they haven’t proven to anybody yet that they can go the distance.
      “If Arsenal do it and win the league it will be an unbelievable achievement, but they haven’t been around the block like Manchester City.
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      “When it gets to the final 10 games and it really kicks in – De Bruyne, Haaland, Dias, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Kyle Walker – these guys who have been there before, they’ll push on.
      “But there are teams who get over the line for the first time and this could be the year for Arsenal.”
      He then went on to add: “It’s too much emotion, too early for Arsenal. To be that desperate and to celebrate that much with half the race still to go, it’s not a good thing.
      “After the Aston Villa game, I can understand how big of a moment it was, but that level of celebration was quite desperate, quite early.
      “There was a lot of celebrations at the end of the game. The emotions are something that’s a negative, it’s not a positive for me in a title race.”
      Arsenal are seeking a first Premier League title in 19 years.
      By contrast, Man City have won four titles in the last five seasons.
      Anything but a win for the Gunners against Everton would hand Man City the opportunity to move above them with victory over Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime.
      Arsenal then host Bournemouth later that same day.
      Man City’s players have experience of winning Premier League titlesCredit: EPA More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo told me quitting Liverpool for Bayern Munich was a ‘great step’, says Sadio Mane

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      SADIO MANE has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo told him that leaving Liverpool for Bayern Munich last summer was a “great step”.The Senegal superstar, 30, quit Anfield after six years in 2022 having helped the club win the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Super Cup and Club World Cup.
      Sadio Mane has revealed what Cristiano Ronaldo told him after he completed a summer transfer to Bayern MunichCredit: Getty
      Ronaldo saw Mane in Mallorca and described the transfer as a ‘great step’Credit: Getty
      He joined German champions Bayern in a £35million transfer, which he says ex-Manchester United star Ronaldo described as a “great step”.
      Mane came across Ronaldo, 38, in Mallorca before this season started.
      Speaking to BILDSport, Mane said: “That says everything about the Bundesliga and underlines what I’ve already said: I think you underestimate the Bundesliga here.
      “The recent performances in the Champions League prove that.
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      “I met Cristiano Ronaldo in Mallorca before this season after my move was completed. 
      “He congratulated me and told me: ‘A great club. This is a great step for you.'”
      Mane has had a good start to life at Bayern, scoring 11 goals in 24 appearances.
      The attacker made his return to action in the 3-0 win over title rivals Union Berlin at the weekend.
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      Mane missed last November-December’s World Cup and had missed Bayern’s last nine games due to a leg injury.
      Ronaldo meanwhile, made another career move.
      The five-time Champions League and Ballon d’Or winner left Man Utd before the World Cup after having his contract ripped up.
      Ronaldo then joined Saudi side Al Nassr, where he has scored eight goals in five games.
      The Portugal captain was also named Saudi League’s February Player of the Month. More