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      Liverpool pulling out of Bellingham transfer race came out of the blue.. Real Madrid will be rubbing hands with glee

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      IT was a bit strange how Liverpool have let it be known that they won’t be signing Jude Bellingham this summer.Because there is only one club Bellingham has publicly stated he wants to play for in the future — and that is Birmingham City!
      Liverpool have pulled out of the bidding war for Borussia Dortmund star Jude BellinghamCredit: Rex
      Borussia Dortmund’s Brummie star has stated he’d like to go back and finish his career with the boyhood club he started out with as a 15-year-old.
      Of course, Jude will not be heading to St Andrews next season.
      Even as club captain and a lifelong Bluenose, I am happy to admit that Real Madrid or the Manchester clubs might be more tempting options for him.
      Many people assume that Jude, who has never played in the Premier League, will fancy a return to English football, but I’m not so sure.
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      Kids of his generation grew up in the Messi-Ronaldo era and most of them know more about Real and Barcelona than any English clubs.
      There is a real lure for them in playing for either of those Spanish giants.
      Just imagine being Jude, though. He is still only 19 and he seems to have all of the world’s biggest and most glamorous clubs desperate to sign him.
      If that was me, my head would explode. It would be the same for most teenage lads.
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      But Jude is still totally at his game, aiming for the Bundesliga title with Dortmund. His head doesn’t seem to have been turned at all.
      In the summer, if he does move, he will be looking around and asking, ‘What is the best project for me?’
      And that wasn’t going to be the Reds, given that they are extremely unlikely to be playing Champions League football and they need an entire midfield overhaul.
      For me, the Santiago Bernabeu is his most likely destination.
      I watched Real against Chelsea on Wednesday and it was no more than a six or seven out of 10 performance by the ridiculously high standards of the 14-time European champions.
      But even then, players like Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior made your jaw drop at times.
      Real are regenerating their midfield – the wonderful Modric is 37 now, Toni Kroos, at 33, has openly talked about retiring this summer, and Casemiro has already moved on to Manchester United.
      Troy Deeney believes Real Madrid will benefit from Liverpool ending Bellingham interestCredit: Getty
      They have some wonderful young players, the likes of 20-year-old Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, 24, Rodrygo and of course Vinicius — both 22.
      I’m sure Jude would love to be part of that. What an opportunity for him it would be.
      And having been at Dortmund since he was 16, he is used to living and playing abroad.
      Going to Madrid will not be as daunting for him as it would be for a young English player moving straight from a  Premier League club.
      Not that anything seems to faze Jude, anyway.
      I think going to Germany at such a young age has been the making of him.
      That formative experience is what will help turn him into a genuine world great.
      I know the family, Jude’s brother Jobe is a team-mate of mine, and I know the move had some challenges for them in the early days but it was the right decision to go to the Bundesliga and it has paid off handsomely.
      Bellingham has attracted immense interest from the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
      I am convinced he will captain England and whichever teams he plays for.
      He’s already skippered Dortmund and they are a massive club with a passionate fanbase.
      It seems that Manchester City will be Real’s main rivals for Jude’s signature.
      I look at how another Brummie, Jack Grealish, has developed so brilliantly under Pep Guardiola and know that Jude could add new dimensions to his already world-class all-round game.
      But then again Real’s gaffer Carlo Ancelotti, with his four European Cups, isn’t exactly a clown, is he?
      As for Liverpool, it seems as if they are keen to sign Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher from Chelsea.
      Now, they are two decent players and a lot younger than their current midfield, which clearly needs some refreshing.
      But those two are not players who would go to Anfield and change the whole mood of the club.
      Bellingham still has a soft spot for childhood club BirminghamCredit: PA
      They are more like younger versions of what Liverpool already have.
      Jude would have been that game-changer but I’m not sure he would ever have chosen them above Real, for instance.
      And now that Jurgen Klopp’s team won’t be among the European elite next season, that is even clearer.
      It feels like Liverpool are deliberately lowering the expectations of their supporters ahead of the summer transfer market because so many of those fans seemed convinced that Jude would be the player to revitalise their team.
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      Presumably they thought Liverpool’s passionate fanbase and great history might be an irresistible lure for him.
      But as every Birmingham fan knows, there is only one club Jude gets truly emotional about! More

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      Chelsea fans in disbelief as new footage shows Wesley Fofana READING seconds before Chelsea concede against Real Madrid

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      CHELSEA fans have been left in disbelief after footage emerged appearing to show Wesley Fofana READING just before Real Madrid scored.He and a number of other players appeared to switch off and the mistake proved costly for the Blues stars as the Spanish side took a set piece quickly, and Marco Asensio was able to fire in the side’s second goal of the night.
      Is that defensive “expert” still at the club? state of defending at that corner, looks like Fofana is reading a note when ball comes in! pic.twitter.com/ygLvLvFKOt— RoyalBlueChelsea⭐⭐ (@CFCROYALBLUE) April 12, 2023

      Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana was reading a note as Real Madrid scored from a cornerCredit: twitter: @CFCROYALBLUE
      While Reece James and other defenders had also switched offCredit: twitter: @CFCROYALBLUE
      Chelsea went on to lose the first leg of the quarter-final 2-0 and it got even worse as Ben Chilwell was sent off and will miss the second leg.
      But fans are even more upset with the result as it appears the second goal could have been avoided if the players were more alert.
      In the clip posted on social media, Reece James has his back to the ball and Wesley Fofana appears to be reading a note handed to him by one of the substitutes.
      And the club’s supporters have slammed them online.
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      One Chelsea fan tweeted: “Is that defensive “expert” still at the club? state of defending at that corner, looks like Fofana is reading a note when the ball comes in!”
      A second commented: “Is nuts, half of them backs turned, pointing, yeah Cucarella does at least move, Fofana (whose legs the ball goes through ) looks like he’s reading a book ….little things make the difference…it ain’t over but so frustrating to concede soft goals.”

      A third pointed out: “They’re aren’t even focused on defending the corner. It’s almost like everyone already gave up.”
      A fourth wrote: “Only subs that could have brought that note on are either Gallagher or Mount..that’s on Lampard! Sending on a note before a set piece is defended..shocking!”
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      A fifth said: “Pls where was James going was he not supposed to mark Vini they left him free.”
      While a sixth declared: “SHAMBOLIC.”
      After the game, interim boss Frank Lampard admitted his players switched off after going down to ten men.
      He said: “The disappointing thing is you give away a set-piece and switch off for the second goal with ten men.
      “I don’t think with ten men they carved us open. That was due to the spirit.
      “And I think at that part of the game we had our chances, three pretty good chances. Joao [Felix] early, Raheem [Sterling], Mason [Mount] near the end. So there’s some good things, but the result is a reality.
      “I just said to the players, special things can happen at Stamford Bridge. They’re a good team, but we have to believe.” More

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      Man Utd icon Paul Scholes predicts Jude Bellingham’s transfer and says ‘I don’t know why, I’ve just got that feeling’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED legend Paul Scholes has made a prediction about Jude Bellingham’s future.The Borussia Dortmund and England midfielder, 19, is being heavily linked with a big-money move in the summer.
      Jude Bellingham is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund in the summerCredit: Getty
      Paul Scholes hopes Bellingham will join Man Utd but feels another club have the edgeCredit: Alamy
      A host of Europe’s top clubs are thought to be interested in signing him including Man Utd, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
      Liverpool reportedly pulled out of the race earlier this week as they do not intend to spend such a hefty fee – thought to be around £130million – on one player.
      And Scholes feels Man Utd are in the running to secure the teenage superstar’s signature.
      Speaking on BT Sport, he said: “I think they [Man Utd] are contenders [to sign him].
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      “If you went back a couple of years you’d have said no chance. Even back to the start of this season.
      “But now I think they have to be. He would look at this team and think this is up and coming for the next few years.”

      Yet despite Scholes’ hope that Bellingham will move to Old Trafford, he feels 14-time European champions Real Madrid will ultimately come out on top.
      He added: “I do think he’ll sign for Real Madrid – I don’t know why. I’ve just got that feeling.
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      “But I do hope he comes here [Old Trafford]. He could make United a proper team.”
      Bellingham has contributed 20 goals and 25 assists in 127 games for Dortmund.
      That includes a superb 17 goal contributions for the club this season.
      He has also already racked up 24 caps for his country and was one of England’s standout players at the Qatar World Cup.
      Despite a huge amount of interest in Bellingham, Dortmund are still hoping to keep hold of him for one more season.
      The club are planning to offer the midfielder a new deal that would see his annual salary increase by 150 per cent to £13million.
      It is also claimed his contract would include a £131m release clause. More

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      Real Madrid ‘step up £44m hunt for Reece James transfer but fans joke the Chelsea man ‘failed the Vinicius test’ in loss

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      REAL MADRID have reportedly stepped up their chase of Reece James.The Chelsea star could be available for just £44million this summer.
      Real Madrid believe they can land Chelsea star Reece James for just £44mCredit: Rex
      Fans joked James has already failed the Vinicius Jr testCredit: AFP
      But some fans jokingly fear James may not be up to the mark after “failing the Vinicius Jr test.”
      James, 23, has become one of Chelsea’s most important players after working his way through the academy.
      He has already won a Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup after 145 games.
      And Chelsea rewarded James’ talent by doubling his wages on a new five-year deal in September.
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      However, the Blues face a fire-sale this summer after Todd Boehly’s £600million spending spree unbalanced the books.
      Real Madrid are big fans of James as they eye a new right-back to replace Dani Carvajal.
      And Marca claims Los Blancos are ready to step up their pursuit by making a £44m bid, with Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies also on their radar.
      They believe it could be enough to secure James’ signature with Chelsea needing a quick cash injection.
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      Real got the chance to witness the defender first-hand in last night’s Champions League win over the Blues.
      But James’ attacking threat was nullified by Carlo Ancelotti’s clever tactics.
      And he also struggled to keep up with flying winger Vinicius Jr, who had a field day on the left wing.
      Indeed, some supporters jokingly fear James may not be good enough for Real after his below-par performance.
      One said: “Reece was being evaluated without knowing yesterday and it doesn’t look good.
      “He failed the Vini test.”
      Another declared: “He had a stinker this week.”
      One added: “James is finished, should not be a target at all.” More

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      Man Utd legend Gary Neville fires brutal comeback to Chelsea troll after sharing tactical insight in Real Madrid clash

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      GARY NEVILLE hit back at a troll who mocked his ‘tactical analysis’ during Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid.The Blues suffered a 2-0 defeat to the Spanish giants in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
      Karim Benzema put Chelsea to the sword once again on Thursday nightCredit: REUTERS
      Gary Neville called the Blues going a goal behind moments before Benzema struckCredit: GETTY
      Neville was mocked over his ‘tactical advice’ but hit back at the troll by pointing he guided Valencia to a 2-2 draw against RealCredit: TWITTER
      Chelsea’s goal was breached in the 21st minute by Karim Benzema, a moment Neville foresaw when he claimed the West Londoners were struggling to make the most of their possession.
      After the goal went in, he tweeted: “Too late with my tactical advice!
      “That was coming!!!”
      A troll then proceeded to mock Neville’s brief stint as Valencia manager, which lasted a mere four months.
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      The Manchester United great responded by informing the troll he got a point against Los Blancos, saying: “Drew 2-2 with Real Madrid.”
      The draw with Real was one of the few highlights of Neville’s reign at the Mestalla, which ended following a run of three wins in 16 matches.
      And Neville – who oversaw a 7-0 battering by Barcelona – admits he wasn’t ready for management when he took the gig.
      During an appearance on The Overlap, Neville said: “Roy [Keane] said before about saying no, and I did say no the first time I was asked.
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      “I didn’t want to be a manager. should have said no, it wasn’t for me and I wasn’t experienced enough.”
      He added: “Go over there thinking four or five months.
      “I didn’t think it was gonna be easy, but I just thought I had to basically steer the ship to the end of the season, literally four-five months.
      “And over there I remember looking in the mirror one morning and thinking: ‘I’m struggling.’
      “Didn’t know what to do with the players, was changing systems, all the things that I say on television now you should never do and it was too much.
      “Out of my depth. I needed to get out of there but it was something that I learned a lot from.
      “I wouldn’t do it in the future. I would never do it again.” More

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      Carlo Ancelotti’s genius tactics brutally expose Chelsea star as Real Madrid ‘eat him up’ for both goals

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      FANS claimed Chelsea full-back Reece James was “eaten alive” by Real Madrid’s tactics.Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo gave James a torrid night as Real saw off the ten-man Blues 2-0 in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg.
      Vinicius Junior leaves Reece James in his wakeCredit: Getty
      Vinicius Jr and Co gave Chelsea right-back Reece James a torrid eveningCredit: Alamy
      Real Madrid chief Carlo Ancelotti seemed to target James as a weak linkCredit: Getty
      Ex-Three Lions centre-back Rio Ferdinand insisted Vinicius showed the defender “no respect” and Glenn Hoddle blamed James for Real’s second goal at the Bernabeu.
      Fans piled in too, saying the Chelsea wideman “got no mercy” as Real swarmed onto him, both when he had possession himself and when a winger took him on.
      Bernabeu chief Carlo Ancelotti’s ruthless approach was praised, with one observer posting: “High intensity football….these guys are top top quality.”
      Another wrote: “Real Madrid players absolutely ate up Reece like a pride of lions to win back possession for the first goal.”
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      Karim Benzema’s tap-in and sub Marco Asensio’s clinical finish sunk Chelsea, either side of Ben Chilwell’s straight red card for impeding goalbound Rodrygo.
      And of Asensio’s decisive moment, ex-Chelsea manager Hoddle said: “Look at Reece James, he turns his back.
      “The ball is being played, you are down to 10 men. Someone has to switch them on and demanding they are on. They switched off. They were a man down.
      “You have one man less. You have to readjust. Someone has to move out to the edge of the box.
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      Armchair observers noted the way Real swarmed around Reece James

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      “You’ve got players turning their back, walking towards the post, turning his back on the play when the ball is played. You can’t have that.”
      And former Manchester United hero Ferdinand said: “Vinicius Junior showed no respect to Reece James tonight.
      “Whenever Vini had the ball, he went straight at James. He will do the same at the Stamford Bridge. He and Rodrygo play wide and high.”
      Vinicius’ slippery skills were also given full credit.
      One fan posted: “I love James but there’s absolutely no player Vini can’t skin 1v1 if given 90 minutes and isolated. ” More

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      Chelsea fans convinced Carlo Ancelotti would get into their starting XI after Real Madrid boss’ keepy-uppy masterclass

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      CHELSEA fans believe Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti deserves to be in their starting line-up more than some of their stars.Ancelotti led Real to an easy 2-0 victory over the Blues in their Champions League quarter-final clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.

      Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti showed some stunning skillCredit: Getty
      Fans believe Ancelotti deserves a place in Chelsea’s starting line-upCredit: Getty
      The Italian tactician watched Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio fire Los Blancos at a position of strength ahead of next week’s second-leg at Stamford Bridge.
      But fans watching from home also got to see some skill from the 63-year-old head coach, who dazzled them with a stunning keepy-uppy masterclass.
      Ancelotti got a magnificent touch as the ball flew out for a free throw with his swanky leather shoes.
      The ex-Bayern Munich boss then put together four kip-ups like they were nothing with his left hand in the pocket of his expensive suit.
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      Social media users took to Twitter and quickly pointed out that the Real boss showed more skill than all the Chelsea players, who put together hapless performance and lost Ben Chilwell to a red card.
      One fan tweeted: “Chelsea is so BAD that even Carlo Ancelotti started playing football.”
      Another posted: “Super sub appearance from Don Carlo today!”
      A third commented: “At the age of 63 Carlo Ancelotti is still a better footballer than any Chelsea player.”
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      This fan said: “Ancelotti has more swag than any Chelsea player.”
      And that one wrote: “In summer he might get signed by Chelsea as a playmaker.”
      Ancelotti coached Chelsea for two years and won the double in 2010 before his departure in 2011. More

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      Man Utd told exactly how much it’ll cost to secure Jude Bellingham transfer with Liverpool out of race for Dortmund star

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      MANCHESTER UNITED and Manchester City will have to pay as much as £130million to land Jude Bellingham.Liverpool have pulled out of the race to sign Borussia Dortmund’s 19-year-old superstar, but Real Madrid remain in the hunt.
      Man Utd and City are tipped to be the main Prem contenders for Jude Bellingham, with Liverpool baulking at the asking price for the England aceCredit: Getty
      Old Trafford chief Erik ten Hag could target major summer signings in midfield and attack for what he hopes will be a Champions League campaignCredit: EPA
      City are interested and United could also move if their takeover is completed in time for the summer window.
      Dortmund have not given up hope of keeping Bellingham for another season.
      But if he does decide to go, the Germans believe the £138m deal they did with Barcelona for Ousmane Dembele in 2017 is a yardstick for how much they should get for the young Englishman.
      French forward Dembele was just 20 — a few months older than Bellingham is now — when he moved to the Nou Camp for the enormous fee.
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      Any price in that region would smash the current British record, Chelsea’s £106m splurge on Enzo Fernandez in January.
      The numbers involved in the deal have forced Liverpool to back away, particularly as they are almost certain to miss out on the Champions League riches next term.
      What money they do have needs to be spent on several areas rather than blowing it all on one signing.
      City’s transfer funds will be focused on strengthening the midfield this summer, with Ilkay Gundogan expected to join Barcelona on a free transfer.
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      There is also a question mark over Bernardo Silva while talisman Kevin De Bruyne turns 32 this summer.
      City have shown in the past they are not afraid to break transfer records — splashing out what was then a British high of £100m on Jack Grealish in the summer of 2021.
      Their hopes of signing Bellingham have been boosted by Liverpool walking away but they are wary of Madrid.
      City do have a good working relationship with Dortmund, though, having signed Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji from them last summer. More