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    Real Madrid’s former Tottenham star Luka Modric offered shock new job if cult hero decides to retire at end of season

    LUKA MODRIC has reportedly been offered a job on the Real Madrid coaching staff should he retire at the end of the season.The former Tottenham star’s contract at the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season.
    Real Madrid have reportedly offered Luka Modrid a coaching roleCredit: Getty
    Modric joined Real Madrid from Tottenham in 2012Credit: AFP or licensors
    Modric, 38, has featured 20 times for Los Blancos in LaLiga this season, scoring once and assisting four more.
    The Athletic has claimed that the midfielder was offered the chance to join Carlo Ancelotti’s backroom staff two months ago.
    The report’s source says that the Croatian rejected the chance, although he was “grateful” for the opportunity.
    It goes on to add that Modric’s rejection was not “definitive” and that he could still consider the role.
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    The outlet continues to suggest that Modric is “still hungry” and is prioritising continuing his playing career.
    Modric was expected to quit Real Madrid at the end of the season with a renewal of his deal “not likely.”
    The midfielder was since linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, with multiple clubs in the Middle East interested in his signature.
    This includes an offer from Al-Nassr last summer, but he rejected the move and signed a one-year extension with Real.
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    Modric is currently focusing on his immediate future, which includes winning the LaLiga title for a fourth time.
    The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner is also aiming to take part in Euro 2024 with Croatia.
    Luka Modric ‘will play on into his 40s’ says Chelsea star Mateo Kovacic ahead of Real Madrid Champions League clash
    Ancelotti has previously spoken about the midfielder’s future and insisted that he will make his own decision.
    He said: “As I have already said (on other occasions), Luka is a legend of football, of Real Madrid.
    “The decisions for next season have to be taken by him.” More

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    Real Madrid’s plan for Jude Bellingham unveiled with England star set for position change to fit in Kylian Mbappe

    JUDE BELLINGHAM is set for a position change to accommodate Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid.The French superstar has reportedly agreed a five-year deal at the Bernabeu and will join on a free transfer once his PSG contract expires in the summer.
    Kylian Mbappe is set to join PSG in a blockbuster transfer this summerCredit: Reuters
    His arrival means Jude Bellingham will likely see his position tweakedCredit: Alamy
    Mbappe, 25, told PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi of his decision to leave last Tuesday.
    And although no paperwork has been formally signed just yet, Real Madrid are well underway with making preparations for Mbappe’s arrival.
    That includes working out how to fit the World Cup winner into Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded side.
    As reported by Guillem Balague for the BBC, Mbappe will expect to play in his favoured position, in the forward line ideally slightly on the left rather than as an out-and-out solo No9.
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    That role is currently occupied by Vinicius Junior, who could be pushed further out into more of a left-winger role.
    And that would also see Bellingham drop deeper.
    The Englishman, 20, has been playing in an advanced No10 position this season, even at times as a false No9 with Vinicius and Rodrygo either side of him.
    And he has been reaping the rewards with a stunning return of 20 goals and eight assists in 29 games for Los Blancos.
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    However, the ex-Birmingham and Borussia Dortmund ace will undoubtedly adapt to his more natural, midfield position with ease – and relish the chance to link up with Mbappe.
    Mbappe also heads to Madrid as a goalscorer determined to win the biggest trophies on offer.
    Jude Bellingham tips Phil Foden for stunning position change with England stars at centre of midfield selection dilemma
    He has racked up a staggering 244 goals in 291 PSG matches to become the club’s record scorer.
    But the glaring omission on his CV remains the Champions League and he will surely be confident of getting his hands on the famous trophy in the iconic all-white kit of Real.

    Another issue that needs resolving is what number Mbappe takes at the Bernabeu.
    He wears the No7 at PSG but Vinicius has that while his France No10 shirt is currently occupied by Luka Modric.
    However, the Croatian may leave this summer which would free it up – otherwise Mbappe would surely settle for the No9.
    The former Monaco sensation came close to joining Real Madrid in 2022 but ended up signing a two-year contract extension at the Parc des Princes.
    He rejected a world-record transfer to Saudi Arabia last summer but will not exercise the option to trigger an extra 12 months on his PSG deal.
    And that means he can sign for Real as a free agent.
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    Mbappe is expected to put pen to paper on an eye-watering contract worth around £250,000 per week plus a £128million signing-on bonus spread across the five years.
    Incredibly, that is a significant pay cut compared to his astronomical wages in Ligue 1. More

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    Kylian Mbappe ‘SIGNS Real Madrid contract as he takes pay cut that will cost him millions’ with star leaving PSG

    KYLIAN MBAPPE has signed a five-year contract with Real Madrid, according to reports in Spain.The 25-year-old will leave Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the season.
    Kylian Mbappe has ‘already signed’ a contract with Real MadridCredit: Getty
    Arsenal and Liverpool have both been linked with a summer swoop for him, but Marca claim Real Madrid won the transfer race two weeks ago.
    Mbappe allegedly put pen to paper on a contract earlier this month, making a “firm commitment” to Los Blancos.
    The Frenchman has signed a five-year deal, keeping him at the Santiago Bernabeu until June 2029.
    Real Madrid are set to hand him a £85.5million signing-on fee upon his arrival.
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    Mbappe will become the club’s highest earner, surpassing Jude Bellingham.
    That’s despite taking a pay-cut and accepting a lower wage.
    He reportedly demanded a minimum of £42.8m-a-season – around £827,000-a-week – during negotiations.
    However, Real Madrid officials wanted to bring that figure down.
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    Mbappe has been in amazing form for PSG this season
    Los Blancos have been pushing to sign the forward since his Monaco days.
    Mbappe came close to making the move in 2022, but announced a two-year extension with PSG instead.
    PSG take training to the next level with ROBOT WALL as fans joke ‘all this to convince Mbappe to stay’
    He caused a stir among the PSG camp last summer after refusing to sign a new contract.
    The Ligue 1 giants subsequently accepted a huge £259million offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for him, but Mbappe rejected the move.
    He was briefly axed from the squad and sent to train with PSG’s “undesirables” – a group of players not wanted by the club.
    However, he made a return at the start of the Ligue 1 campaign and has since scored 32 goals in 31 appearances across all competitions. More

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    Luis Suarez reveals Arsenal ‘had Karim Benzema transfer all done’, before his bite on Chiellini changed everything

    LUIS SUAREZ has claimed his infamous bite on Giorgio Chiellini caused Arsenal to lose out on signing Karim Benzema. The year was 2014 and Suarez was looking to leave Liverpool with both Real Madrid and Barcelona interested.
    Luis Suarez infamously bit Giorgio Chiellini in the 2014 World CupCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Karim Benzema was close to joining ArsenalCredit: Rex
    And Madrid already had Benzema on the way out and Suarez lined up for a replacement during the World Cup.
    But after the Uruguayan was caught biting Chiellini, he claimed Madrid lost interest.
    He instead decided to join Barca, meaning Madrid kept Benzema and Arsenal were left empty handed.
    He told La Mesa: “Before the 2014 World Cup, Real Madrid wanted to sign me and everything was on track.
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    “They were planning to sell Benzema to Arsenal, it was all done. “When the World Cup started, Barca joined the race, and obviously I preferred Barca.
    “With the bite situation, Madrid lowered their interest, and Barca became more interested.
    “In the end I had both options and I chose Barcelona because it was my dream.”
    Suarez was caught on camera biting into Chiellini’s arm during a group stage match between Uruguay and Italy.
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    It came just a year after he did the same to Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.
    Suarez was banned for nine international games by Fifa but his move to Barca still went through.
    Watch moment star gets booked for throwing Luis Suarez’s boot off the pitch as former Liverpool star rolls around
    He would go onto win four league titles and lift the Champions League during his time at the Nou Camp.
    And now Suarez is back with team-mates Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami.
    But Suarez did reveal plans to retire, saying: “Yes, I cannot be more sincere and the family already knows. The date is not yet set, but this is the last step.
    “I am prepared for this last challenge but it is also exhausting and I have to think about having a quality of life afterwards.
    Suarez opened up on retirement after signing for Inter MiamiCredit: Reuters More

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    Kylian Mbappe set to take legend’s shirt at Real Madrid and be forced to give up No7 jersey because of Vinicius Jr

    KYLIAN MBAPPE will be handed Real Madrid’s legendary No10 jersey if he completes a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.Mbappe, 25, has informed Paris Saint-Germain he won’t trigger an option to extend his contract by another year and will thus leave in June as a free agent.
    Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe will get Real Madrid’s No10 shirtCredit: Rex
    Vinicius Jr currently occupies Mbappe’s signature No7 shirt at Real MadridCredit: Rex
    Mbappe will take Luka Modric’s shirt number at Real MadridCredit: Rex
    Europe’s elite has taken notice with Premier League giants, such as Arsenal and Liverpool, monitoring the situation but the star striker is reportedly “leaning towards” Real.
    According to Mundo Deportivo, Los Blancos are trying to sweeten the deal by offering him the same shirt number wore by past legends, such as Ferenc Puskas, Luis Figo and Clarence Seedorf.
    That means the France international will have to give up his signature No7 shirt, which he currently wears at PSG.
    That is because Vinicius Jr has proven he can wear it with the same class as legendary predecessors, like Raul, Emilio Butragueno and of course Cristiano Ronaldo.
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    Luka Modric currently occupies the No10 shirt but is expected to put an end to his glittering 12-year career in Madrid once his contract expires in the summer.
    The same report claims Real are planning to officially announce Mbappe’s arrival before he links up with France for Euro 2024.
    However, there are still several formalities that need to be ironed out before the ex-Monaco star puts pen to paper.
    One major issue that stands in the way is the Frenchman’s staggering wages.
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    However, reports suggest Mbappe is willing to accept a huge pay cut to finally move to Real.
    The La Liga giants are hoping to pay the forward less than his £42.8million – around £827,000 a week – starting point.
    ‘We have to be in the conversation’, says Mikel Arteta as Arsenal boss has his say on Kylian Mbappe transfer saga
    However, he is still expected to become the club’s highest-paid player, surpassing England star Jude Bellingham by a significant margin. More

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    Kylian Mbappe set to FORFEIT more than Jude Bellingham’s eye-watering wages to seal Real Madrid transfer

    KYLIAN MBAPPE will accept a huge pay cut to join Real Madrid, according to reports.The Frenchman is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires at the end of the season.
    Kylian Mbappe is set to leave PSG at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty
    Mbappe has set his wage demands highCredit: Getty
    Several clubs have already expressed an interest in signing him on a free transfer, including Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool.
    However, Mbappe is reportedly “leaning towards” joining Real Madrid.
    Los Blancos have been pushing to sign the 25-year-old since his Monaco days.
    Mbappe came close to making the move in 2022, but shocked the football world by announcing a two-year extension with PSG instead.
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    He caused a stir among the PSG camp last summer after refusing to sign a new contract.
    The Parisians subsequently accepted a huge £259million offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for him, but Mbappe rejected the move.
    He was axed from the squad for a brief period and sent to train with PSG’s “undesirables” – a group of players not wanted by the club.
    However, he made a return at the start of the Ligue 1 campaign and has since scored 31 goals in 30 appearances across all competitions.
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    Mbappe has scored 20 goals in 19 Ligue 1 games this season
    Real Madrid have already proposed a deal to Mbappe ahead of the summer, but his representatives have reportedly been left unimpressed.
    The Frenchman is set to receive a total of £62m plus bonuses from PSG for the 2023-24 campaign, but Real Madrid are unable to match that.
    ‘Can we buy Mbappe?’ – Sir Dave Brailsford gives cheeky response after young Man Utd fan’s transfer plea
    According to Spanish outlet AS, the La Liga giants are hoping to pay Mbappe less than his £42.8m – around £827,000-a-week – starting point.
    However, he is still set to become the club’s highest-paid player, surpassing Jude Bellingham by a significant margin.
    The England international currently rakes in around £220,000-a-week – £11.4m-a-year – at the Santiago Bernabeu, much less that what Mbappe is demanding.
    In fact, the difference between the two players’ weekly wages would be around £358,000, roughly £138,000 MORE than Bellingham’s standard weekly earnings.
    Mbappe reportedly also wants several bonuses added into his contract.
    The World Cup winner joined PSG in a £154m transfer from Monaco in 2018 and has since scored 243 goals and provided 105 assists in 290 appearances.
    Jude Bellingham joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund last summer and has since scored 20 goals in 29 appearancesCredit: Getty More

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    Thierry Henry reveals how Kylian Mbappe is making his job harder with PSG star tipped for huge Real Madrid transfer

    THIERRY HENRY has revealed how tough Kylian Mbappe has made his role as France’s football coach for the Paris Summer Olympics 2024.But the Arsenal legend refused to be drawn on where the PSG star could end up this summer – amid rumours the striker will sign for Real Madrid.
    Thierry Henry revealed how hard Kylian Mbappe is making his job as France’s coach for the Paris Olympics 2024Credit: X @CBSSportsGolazo
    Mbappe has been linked yet again with a move to Real Madrid in the summerCredit: Rex
    Thierry Henry breaks down what Kylian Mbappe’s summer could look like and how it complicates his job as the French U23 manager 👀 pic.twitter.com/ldpawF8kBU— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 14, 2024

    Mbappe, 25, was the centre of discussion with Henry on Wednesday night’s Champions League show on CBS Sports Golazo.
    The current France U23 coach is preparing for the summer Olympics in Paris and is keen to have French sensation Mbappe in the squad.
    And Henry revealed the PSG skipper is open to playing but it will not be up to Mbappe but rather the team who is playing to let him go.
    Henry said on CBS Sports Golazo: “I didn’t speak to him yet directly about the Olympic situation.
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    “I have been calling players, as you know, but I will keep that to myself obviously.
    “But Mbappe went on TV the other day and said he would like to play them. But it will depend on the team he picks this summer.
    “It’s not a matter of wanting him. It’s a matter of, can he? Would he have the approval of his team to come?”
    There has been intense transfer speculation with Mbappe who is entering the final year of his contract at the Parc des Princes.
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    Long-term admirers Real Madrid are the front-runner to land the World Cup 2018 winner’s signature.
    But Henry did not want to reveal his thoughts of where his fellow Frenchman will go.
    PSG take training to the next level with ROBOT WALL as fans joke ‘all this to convince Mbappe to stay’
    He added: “Where he is going to go, no one knows, everyone thinks it is going to be one place.”
    It is understood Mbappe currently has an offer from Los Blancos on the table who he came very close to signing back in the summer of 2022.
    The LaLiga giants have tried to sign the ex-Monaco star on many occasions and their latest offer is the one that’s set to finally lead him to the Bernabeu.
    But it has been reported that Mbappe may want to follow in the footsteps of Henry’s success at Arsenal as The Independent is stating that the Gunners are a club that Mbappe would “willingly join”.
    Premier League leaders Liverpool are also interested in the forward but will not break their wage structure to sign the star who is currently on a contract worth more than £500million at PSG. More

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    Kylian Mbappe ‘hands Real Madrid 3 transfer demands’ as he’s ALREADY dubbed ‘most insufferable player in their history’

    KYLIAN MBAPPE has allegedly handed Real Madrid three transfer demands after ALREADY being dubbed the “most insufferable player in their history”.The 25-year-old Mbappe is out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain this summer and reports have emerged that he has decided to join Real on a sensational free transfer.
    Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe has reportedly issued Real Madrid three transfer demandsCredit: AFP
    The World Cup winner, who has 29 goals so far this campaign, could soon be lining-up in a star-studded attack with Brazilian Vinicius Jr and England star Jude Bellingham.
    But despite technically being a free, Mbappe’s signing will not come cheap for Real with experts claiming he is set to earn MORE than Jude Bellingham’s entire £114m transfer fee with his signing-on bonus.
    Now Cadena SER have claimed that the forward has made three staggering financial demands in order to complete the move.
    The first starts with his eye-watering £42.6m per year salary – which is almost double the likes of what Vinicius and Bellingham earn.
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    Mbappe also allegedly wants a signing on bonus that is worth an incredible £106m.
    This report states that the huge fee would be split between the star and his mother and agent, Fayza Lamari.
    And the third demand he is said to have made is that he retains a significant percentage of his image rights.
    The LaLiga giants usually prefer to retain the full rights of players.
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    However, this update claims that Real would be willing to cede 60 per cent of them in order to finally get their man after a two-year chase.
    While speculation continues over his future, Mbappe is adamant that he is fully committed to PSG – at least for now.
    PSG and Real Madrid set for summer battle for Kylian Mbappe, with Frenchman wanting huge money to join Los Blancos
    However, some Madrid fans are already sick of the striker before he has even signed.
    After Mbappe’s previous Madrid rejections and now the high demands he is allegedly making, Spanish journalist Tomas Roncero said: “Whatever he does, he is already the most insufferable player in Real Madrid’s history. It’s really tedious.
    “The debt that he owes to Real Madrid is almost impossible to pay. He must own up to his error and know that money is not the most important thing.” More