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      Former Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink believed 2009 Champions League semi-final vs Barcelona could have been ‘fixed’

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      GUUS HIDDINK thought Chelsea’s 2009 Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona might have been fixed – even though the referee owned up to making mistakes.The Blues were denied a spot in the final after the official Tom Henning Ovrebo made a series of blunders.
      Guus Hiddink had to hold back a furious Didier Drogba after the 2009 tieCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Hiddink, manager of Chelsea at the time, branded the officiating as ‘the worst refereeing I have ever seen’.
      He told Ziggo Sport in 2020: “The referee performance surprised me, because in the past he’d had perfect performances.
      “Is it the worst refereeing I’ve ever seen? I think so.”
      The Dutchman alleged: “This is the only time I thought a match could’ve been fixed.”
      Barca went on to beat Manchester United in the final with the Blues waiting until 2012 to claim their maiden crown – a tally they doubled in 2021.
      Hiddink claims football chiefs would not have wanted a repeat of the all-English final between Chelsea and United the year before, won by the Red Devils on spot-kicks.
      But in an interview with SunSport in February 2018, Norwegian whistler Ovrebo admitted to making genuine mistakes during the match.
      Ovrebo, who works as a psychologist in Oslo now, turned down FOUR Blues’ penalty claims before Chelsea were cruelly eliminated by Andres Iniesta’s 94th-minute strike for Barca which put them through on away goals.
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      Death threats were made after the game, while straight after the match Blues striker Didier Drogba verbally attacked the ref, and later received a five-match ban.
      Ovrebo said: “I was happy with 95 per cent of my decisions. But there were some decisions that were not dealt with in the correct manner.
      “One handball earlier in the game should have been a penalty. People will always have different opinions about the game.
      “But everyone agrees the refereeing that night was not optimal. And I am the first to agree with them.”
      At the time Uefa dismissed the conspiracy theories around the game.
      Uefa general secretary David Taylor said: “If anything it’s a media conspiracy against Uefa.
      “It does make me angry. It really annoys me because it’s a load of rubbish.” More

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      Tom Cleverley reveals he received Man Utd hate mail, got Fergie rollickings and Liverpool killed his Old Trafford career

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      TOM CLEVERLEY has lifted the lid on his Manchester United career – and how losing to Liverpool was the beginning of the end of his time at Old Trafford.Watford star Cleverley, now 33, realised a dream when he played for the club he supported as a boy and helped them win a Premier League title.
      Tom Cleverley has opened up on his Manchester United career and the ruthless instincts of Sir Alex FergusonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The Championship midfielder still has vivid memories of this time with United, the good and the bad.
      And he shared them with the club’s fans in a frank article on their website in March 2019, detailing how leaving the club hit him hard mentally.
      He said: “I was looking forward to 2012-13. The whole squad had a big boost, actually. Robin.
      “For longevity, I have to say that Scholesy and Wazza are the best two players I’ve played with in my career so far, but if that Premier League winner’s medal in my trophy cabinet was owed to someone, it would have to be Robin van Persie.

      “He was unbelievable. As an individual season, you’ll struggle to find many better than him in 2012/13.
      “Games where we didn’t even play well, that were such stalemates, you could just give him the ball and he would make a goal out of nothing. Just an unbelievable finisher.
      “For me, I couldn’t have imagined his move going as well as it did. Everything he struck that season seemed to find the back of the net.
      “How 2011/12 ended. It doesn’t get much worse.

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      FERGIE’S KILLER INSTINCT
      “I wasn’t in the squad at Sunderland that day, but I was on my way down from the directors’ box at the Stadium of Light and as soon as Dzeko scored City’s equaliser, I knew. I could see it unfolding and that it was meant to be theirs.
      “It was a terrible, terrible day in my career.
      “I still can’t listen to Martin Tyler’s commentary when the clip comes on Sky Sports.
      “I’ll never forget in the dressing room after that game. The manager said to us all: ‘I told you. That’s why I wanted you to be more ruthless and really kill teams, because you can lose leagues on goal difference.’
      “And he was right. We’d gone in after beating teams 3-0 or 4-0 that season and he still hadn’t been happy with us in the dressing room.
      “That’s how much of a winner he was, how ruthless he wanted us to be.”
      HOW LIVERPOOL KILLED MY CAREER
      “When I look back on 2013/14, two games were massive in, well, my downfall, I suppose.
      “Liverpool away at the start of the season, we got beat 1-0, and it was a flat performance from myself. I’d already had a man-marking job on Hazard in our previous game against Chelsea, and that day I had the same job on Coutinho at Anfield.
      “For me to show the other side of my game, it was tough. Then you start hearing whispers.
      “It’s hard to get away from it all when you’re living in Manchester, your mates are all United fans and you’re playing for the biggest club in the world. Looking back, I probably wasn’t mentally ready for everything that was going to come my way.
      “I struggled with the mental side of things. In the mix of it all I had a couple of good games – the manager still had the faith in me to play and I played a lot that year – but then the Olympiacos away game killed me, really. I was poor that night.
      “The snowball had already started, but now it had real momentum.
      “I remember my next start, four weeks after Olympiacos, going into the City game at home when we got beat 3-0 and I’ve never, ever been lower on confidence.
      “For me, confidence is the biggest attribute a footballer can have, and that night I had none of it.”
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      “I’m not going to lie and say that I was enjoying my life at that time. Football was my life.
      “I was playing for a club that I loved, I’d worked so hard to get there and I could see it falling apart. It was devastating.
      “You get letters at the training ground. You try to respond to fan mail, but in the end it gets to a point where you’re better off not reading it.
      “Social media was just a hindrance, so I closed my accounts. Having a lot of followers on Twitter meant a lot less to me than my mental health and my football career.
      “I just got rid of it all and I’ve never gone back on since. I think that’s been good for me.” More

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      Man Utd were refunded for Chinese disaster Dong Fangzhuo after the infamous striker flopped with the Red Devils

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      MANCHESTER UNITED were given a full refund for Dong Fangzhuo after the Chinese striker flopped at Old Trafford.United infamously signed Fangzhuo from Chinese club Dalian Shide in 2004 for an initial fee of £500,000, which could have risen to £3.5million, depending on appearances.
      Man Utd were given a full refund for Dong Fangzhuo after the infamous Chinese striker flopped at Old TraffordCredit: Getty – Contributor
      But the forward only played three matches and failed to score a goal before his contract was terminated four years after moving to England.
      The Premier League giants were not out of pocket for the gamble signing, though, due to a clause inserted when they signed Fangzhuo.
      According to The Athletic, Dalian Shide agreed to refund United if they were not satisfied two years after the striker completed the move to Old Trafford.
      The flop moved back to his ex-club after leaving Manchester, and retired aged 29 after spells in Poland, Portugal and Armenia.
      Fangzhuo’s spectacular fall from grace culminated in appearing on a Chinese reality TV show undergoing plastic surgery.
      In 2015 Fangzhuo was without a club and was struggling to stay fit.
      Overweight, he appeared on a Chinese TV show where he underwent plastic surgery on his jowly face.
      Despite the cruel twist of fate in his career, his former United team-mate Darren Fletcher claimed Fangzhuo had all the attributes to be a success in England.
      Fletcher said: “Listen, it was difficult for Dong. You’re talking about a stage and a time at Manchester United where the competition for places was crazy.
      “But there was something there with Dong. He was aggressive, he was quick, he had a great shot. He had attributes. But he was still learning the game and things like that.
      manchester united news
      “Confidence is a massive part of it for any young player, especially when you struggle with the language and the cultural changes.
      “It’s difficult to say someone wasn’t good enough. It wasn’t like he was miles off it at Manchester United.
      “I didn’t see any reason why he wouldn’t have been a success elsewhere. But I think he went back to Asia and we never really saw or heard of him again.”
      United signed Fangzhuo from Dalian Shide in 2004 for an initial fee of £500,000, which could have risen to £3.5 million, depending on appearancesCredit: Getty – Contributor
      However, a spectacular fall from grace culminated in Fangzhuo appearing on a Chinese reality TV show undergoing plastic surgery More

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      Footballers who were rich before becoming famous like Vialli, Bamford and the Sultan of Brunei’s nephew

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      THERE is a lot of money to be made in football.Indeed, even middle-of-the-road stars in England’s top flight are making £50,000 each week on average.
      Gianluca Vialli sadly passed away earlier this yearCredit: Instagram @lucavialli
      However, this lot were already from wealthy backgrounds before they made it to the big league.
      Let SunSport guide you through the football stars that were already swimming in riches and didn’t need the beautiful game.GIANLUCA VIALLI
      Chelsea and Italy legend Vialli was always recognised as a gentleman of the game.
      And it’s probably got to do with his upbringing.
      He was raised by his father, a self-made millionaire, in a 60-room castle called the Castello di Belgioioso in Cremona, along with four siblings.
      The Champions League and Serie A winner also loves a posh round of golf.
      He took part in the Alfred Dunhill links championship pro-am event, which is one of the richest golf tournaments played in Europe.
      He then worked alongside manager Roberto Mancini with the Italian national team.
      But Vialli tragically passed away earlier this year after a brave battle against cancer.
      Vialli grew up in a 60-room castle called the Castello di Belgioioso in CremonaCredit: Alamy
      Dignified Vialli had a far from modest upbringingCredit: Instagram @lucavialli
      Gianluca Vialli scores for Chelsea against Nottingham Forest in 1996Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      FRANK LAMPARD
      The interim Chelsea manager didn’t have to go into football, although it was an easy step for him to make.
      Lampard came from a football family, with uncle Harry Redknapp and dad Frank Lampard Snr showing him the way at West Ham United.
      He intended the posh Brentwood School in Essex that would’ve cost a fortune in school fees.
      There, he scored 11 GCSE’s and could’ve been an accountant, according to a former teacher.
      Frank Lampard went to posh Brentwood High SchoolCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      GERARD PIQUE
      Being formerly half of a celebrity couple (his ex-missus is Colombian singer Shakira), Barcelona defender Pique has made his own fortune.
      However, growing up life was easy for the defender who had a spell in England at Manchester United as a youth.
      He lived a comfortable existence in Catalonia. Dad Joan is a successful attorney and businessman, while mum Montserrat is the director of a hospital in Barcelona.
      Even Pique’s grandfather Amador Bernabeu was minted – as a former director of the La Liga champions.
      Gerard Pique’s dad Joan is a successful attorney and businessman, while mum Montserrat is the director of a hospital in BarcelonaCredit: Alamy
      FAIQ BOLKIAH
      Formerly of Leicester City, currently playing in Thailand for Chonburi, Bolkiah is the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, who has a fortune estimated to be worth £15bn.
      His dad is Jefri Bolkiah, a brother of the oil tycoon, so that makes Faiq a member of their royal family and in line to receive a nice inheritance.
      At his 50th birthday, to impress his son, he hired Michael Jackson to play a private gig just for them.
      Faiq Bolkiah is a former Leicester City trainee and nephew of the Sultan of BruneiCredit: Instagram @fjbolkiah
      AL-SAADI GADDAFI
      The third son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Al-Saadi played for Perugia, Udinese and was on the books at Sampdoria.
      In 2011, he retired and became the commander of Libya’s Special Forces and led the army in the Libyan Civil War. In 2018, he was cleared of murder charges after he was extradited from Niger back to Libya.
      During his playing days he once employed Diego Maradona as a technical consultant, and Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson as his personal trainer.
      Al-Saadi Gaddafi was the son of Colonel GaddafiCredit: AFP – Getty
      Gaddafi played in Italy before becoming an army generalCredit: Getty – Contributor
      HUGO LLORIS
      The Spurs goalie comes from an affluent background.
      Growing up in Nice in the South of France, his mother was an attorney, while his dad was a banker.
      He took tennis lessons as a kid, and was ranked high in his age range as a youngster.
      It meant football played second fiddle in his life until the age of 13.
      Lloris famously played through the pain of losing his mum, refusing bereavement leave to play for Nice.
      Hugo Lloris could have been a tennis star instead of a footballerCredit: AFP – Getty
      ROBIN VAN PERSIE
      Wealthy and artisanal, Van Persie’s parents afforded the former Arsenal striker a comfortable life growing up in Rotterdam.
      His father Bob is a renowned artist and sculptor, while his mother Jose Ras is a painter, teacher and jewellery designer.
      Van Persie’s parents split up when he was younger, and he was a troublesome teen.
      His dad expected him to become an artist too.
      Robin Van Persie’s parents were artisticCredit: Instagram @robinvanpersie
      Mother Jose Ras is a painter, teacher and jewellery designerCredit: Instagram @robinvanpersie
      MARIO BALOTELLI
      The fiery Italian wasn’t born wealthy.
      Balotelli originally comes from Palermo and his parents were Ghanaian immigrants.
      But he was adopted by Francesco and Silvia Balotelli when his mum and dad couldn’t afford him.
      They were a wealthy pair, who lived in an affluent part of Brescia called Concesio.
      His birth and adoptive parents fought for custody, but it was decided it was in Balotelli’s best interests to stay put.
      Mario Balotelli was adopted when he was a kidCredit: Instagram @mb459
      Francesco and Silvia Balotelli lived wealthily in BresciaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      ANDREA PIRLO
      An elegant footballer and man, Pirlo learned about the finer things in life when he was a kid.
      His dad Luigi set up a steel company in Brescia in 1982, which Andrea still has a stake in.
      The former Juventus star enjoyed an upper class life, which he later put to use in his own way.
      Pirlo, who ended his career in the MLS, also owns his own vineyard, as rich people do.
      Andrea Pirlo learned about the finer things in life as a youngsterCredit: Instagram @andreapirlo21
      Today, refined Pirlo owns his own vineyardCredit: Instagram @andreapirlo21
      PATRICK BAMFORD
      He doesn’t have to play centre forward for Leeds, you know.
      Bamford isn’t your typical footballer, being a skilled violin and piano player and attended fee-paying Nottingham High School, got five A*s at GCSE and went on to study French, history and biology at A Level.
      Bamford was even offered a scholarship at Harvard in the US, who recognised his academic prowess.
      However, he’s not related to JCB founder Joseph Bamford, as was once claimed.
      Patrick Bamford went to private school and was offered a scholarship to HarvardCredit: Instagram @patrick_bamford
      Bamford is a not relative of JCB founder Joseph Bamford as was once claimedCredit: Hulton Archive – Getty
      KAKA
      Most of Brazil’s best footballers lead a life that tells a rags-to-riches tale. But former Ballon d’Or winner Kaka is different.
      He was raised by father Bosco Izecson Pereira Leite, who was an engineer, while his mother Simone dos Santos was a school teacher.
      It has been reported that Kaka lived comfortably, and wasn’t raised in poverty like many of his teammates for his country.
      Brazilian legend Kaka lived a comfortable existence growing upCredit: Instagram @kaka
      Kaka’s father Bosco Izecson Pereira Leite was an engineerCredit: Instagram @kaka More

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      Fabio Paim was dubbed ‘better than Cristiano Ronaldo’ but love of cars and disastrous loan to Chelsea ended his career

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO marked people’s cards when he first arrived at Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon.He cheekily said to those around at the time: “If you think I’m good, wait until you see Fabio Paim.”
      Fabio Paim was supposed to be a bigger star than Cristiano Ronaldo
      The attacking midfielder was at Sporting Lisbon the same time as RonaldoCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Incredibly, Paim was more highly regarded at Lisbon than either Ronaldo or now-Wolves star Joao Moutinho.
      Ronaldo has established himself as one of the greatest players in history with 198 international caps as Moutinho closes in on 150 matches for his country.
      Unfortunately for Paim, despite winning 42 international caps at youth level for Portugal’s Under-16’s all the way through to the Under-21’s, he faded completely into obscurity.
      He didn’t earn a single senior international cap, and as he admitted, he didn’t deserve to either.
      Because Paim’s story is an educational one for youth players who get bumper contracts when they’re kids and think they’ve already made it.
      He joined Sporting at the age of six, and by 14 Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United were regularly checking on his progress.
      Even the French Football Federation offered him the chance to move to France so he could represent their country.
      To warn everybody off, Sporting tied Paim down on an £18,000 per week contract.
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      He was tied down to a £18,000 per week contract at the age of 16Credit: Getty – Contributor
      But he squandered it all on fast carsCredit: Getty – Contributor
      However, little did they know they would be sowing the seeds for his eventual downfall.
      He told Globoesporte in 2017: “I spent a lot of money on cars. I love cars. I spent lavishly on the ones I wanted. All of them.
      “Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Maserati and even a Punto. Every car you could imagine.
      “When you have a lot of money, you need a support system around you. I would have done it differently, if I could.
      “I knew what I was doing. I believed I had more talent than everyone else.
      “Like everyone, I wanted to feel good, wear nice clothing, drive a nice car and behave with no humility.
      “But, it’s normal, that’s what people work for, to be satisfied. On the field, I did what I had to, in order to retreat to my place. I spent time with people I wanted to and did what I wanted.
      “At the time, no one criticised me when things were going well. But when I stopped playing, they started pointing the finger. I just wanted to be with my cars.”
      Paim was born in the luxurious surroundings of Estoril, a famed luxury entertainment destination on the Portuguese Riviera.
      Paim had a loan spell at Chelsea in 2008Credit: Chelsea FC – Getty
      Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes acted on Paim’s behalfCredit: Reuters
      However, he didn’t come from money. Paim added: “I was not used to having money. When I started playing, I didn’t even have proper boots. I wasn’t ready for it.
      “I didn’t have what young players have now which is an example to follow. You need role models. I feel proud and a little ashamed to pass along this message to them.”
      After failing to break into the Sporting Lisbon team, super agent Jorge Mendes brokered a loan deal for Paim to try his luck at Chelsea in 2008.
      Playing for the Blues’ reserve side under Brendan Rodgers, it was hoped the move would kickstart his career again.
      But, if anything, it was the final nail in the coffin, as he revealed: “It was there where I stopped training and doing my work.
      “I started drinking. I had money and I started doing a lot of things I didn’t do before. The doors were open for me to do what I felt like.”
      After a season in West London he returned to Portugal and was eventually released by Sporting in 2010.
      Paim then became a footballing journeyman, joining 12 different clubs in seven different countries, playing in countries including Angola, Qatar, Malta and even Lithuania.
      More recently, he was looking for game time with Portuguese second division side, Leixoes S.C in 2018, before moving to fourth tier side AD Sao Pedro da Cova on a free.
      In 2019, Paim was arrested for possession of narcotics, but was later acquitted as wire-tapping is not admissible in a court of law.
      While there was hope Brendan Rodgers could get the best out of Paim at the BluesCredit: Getty – Contributor
      His career is now a case of what could’ve beenCredit: Instagram / @projetofabiopaim
      But Paim knows where he went wrong and where Ronaldo went right.
      He said: “At one point, I could do more than him but I did not have what he had, which is the strength and desire to be what I wanted to be.
      “He had a great work ethic and I didn’t have that. I had the quality, at least as much as him, but I did not have the rest.
      “I would have preferred to have less quality if I had more of the other part. I would have been one of the best in the world.
      “But, no one is born perfect. I thought having talent was enough but it’s not.” More

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      Real Madrid flop Eden Hazard is keen to play for Fenerbahce before retiring, claims former chief of Turkish giants

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      EDEN HAZARD has vowed to play for Turkish giants Fenerbahce before he retires, according to former club chief Hasan Cetinkaya.The Belgium talisman, who moved to Real Madrid from Chelsea in a £150million deal in 2019, has told Cetinkaya he will play for the Turkish Super Lig side one day.
      Eden Hazard has vowed to play for Fenerbahce before his career ends, claims the club’s former chief
      Cetinkaya revealed last year: “Eden Hazard is an old friend of mine, I’ve known him since he was 15 or 16 years old and still played for Lille.
      “He had incredible sympathy for Fenerbahce and gave me his word: ‘Hasan, one day I’ll play for Fenerbahce, I just do not know when that will be.'”
      Cetinkaya, who is now vice-president of Belgian club Westerlo, revealed that Fenerbahce were interested in Hazard, 32, at the start of his career.
      He also revealed that Fenerbahce were interested in Hazard at the start of his career.
      Cetinkaya said: “He was 16 when he played for Lille, they had him, Gervinho and Sow, but we could only attract Sow to us.
      “And then Hazard reached a different dimension, he was one of the greatest talents in Europe, and I wish he had, time will tell, Eden Hazard will one day play for Fenerbahce.”
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      Hazard has endured a frustrating time at Real after being hit by countless injuries.
      He even APOLOGISED for his flop spell at the Santiago Bernabeu last year.
      And he also admitted he could seek a transfer exit next summer – which could be Fenerbahce on red alert.
      Hazard told Marca: “I’m sorry. I’m trying, but … I’m sorry.
      “I have one more year and I have to show [what I can do] but it isn’t easy. I’m not playing, I want to play more. I’m really sorry about what has happened.
      “In January it’s impossible (to leave, because I have my family and I like the city)
      “But in the summer it’s possible that I leave. I have a year left on my contract and it’s a decision for the club.
      “If the club says ‘Eden, thanks for these four years, but you have to go’ I’ll have to accept it.

      “[I’d give myself] a zero in terms of playing, because I haven’t played,” he said, when asked to grade his time at Madrid. “But a 10 in terms of how I feel in this moment with the team. I’m not playing, but being a Real Madrid player was my dream as a kid. I want to play for this club.” More

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      Man City ace Erling Haaland nicknamed “Daemon” by teammates who say he looks like the House of the Dragon character

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      FOOTBALL sensation Erling Haaland has been nicknamed “Daemon” by his Manchester City tea-mmates thanks to his striking resemblance to Daemon Targaryen from TV show House of the Dragon.The Norwegian striker has taken the Premier League by storm, scoring an incredible 32 league goals already this season and equalling Mo Salah’s record.
      Erling Haaland bears a striking resemblance to House of the Dragon character, Daemon Targaryen, according to his team-mates
      Matt Smith stars as Daemon in Game of Thrones spin-off, House of the Dragon
      Haaland has rained hell-fire on Premier League defencesCredit: GETTY
      The 22-year-old bears an uncanny resemblance to the character played by actor Matt Smith in the Game of Thrones spin off prequel series.
      Haaland scored three in just 38 minutes during City’s 6-0 demolition of Notts Forest last August – proving he’s a “Daemon” in the box.
      That was one of six hat-tricks he has mustered this season – netting 48 goals in all competitions.
      The nickname has stuck in the dressing room, with the likes of John Stones and Phil Foden blown away by Haaland’s talents.
      read more erling haaland news
      A club insider said: “A few of the players are huge fans of House of Dragon and they have mentioned to Erling how much he looks like Daemon.
      “He loves a joke and thinks it’s funny. Daemon is unpredictable and so is Erling so their personality’s fit as well.”
      Fans have embraced the lookalike doubles with One Blues fan joking on Twitter: “Didn’t know Daemon Targaryen plays for Man City with the pseudonym Haaland on the back.”
      Another said: “As well as being a great football player @ErlingHaaland is excellent as Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon.”
      Daemon is the volatile younger brother of King Viserys who is known as the Rogue Prince.
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      He is thought to be next in line to the Iron Throne, until King Viserys names Princess Rhaenyra as his heir.
      He is an experienced warrior who rides the dragon Caraxes.
      City signed Haaland last summer for £51m from Borussia Dortmund.
      And the Norweigan has been nothing but prolific since his arrival at the Etihad – with the club fighting to win the treble. More

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      Man City’s billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour ‘tried and tried’ to buy Liverpool but couldn’t deal with ‘difficult’ owners

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      GRAEME SOUNESS has claimed Sheikh Mansour tried to buy Liverpool before he invested his billions into Manchester City.Amanda Staveley, the financier behind the 2008 purchase of the Eastlands club and now Newcastle United director, is said to have confessed the bid in a Dubai restaurant.
      Liverpool fans might wonder what might have been had Sheikh Mansour taken overCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      According to Souness, the Emirati-backed bid to buy Liverpool fell apart as Tom Hicks and George Gillett blocked the sale.
      Souness, who won five league titles and three European Cups with the Reds, recalled on Sky Sports: “I went to Dubai, 12, 13 years ago.
      “I walked round the hotel with my wife and my son and went to the Nobu restaurant which was empty just after lunch.
      “On the way out someone came over and introduced themselves, then a lady came over and she introduced herself as Amanda. ‘I’m a Liverpool supporter,’ she said.
      “During the conversation she said, ‘I’m responsible for taking the Abu Dhabi family to Man City’ and I said, ‘but five minutes ago you said you were a Liverpool supporter – why did you not take them to Liverpool?’
      “She said, ‘I tried and I tried but Gillett and Hicks were so difficult to deal with, they just walked away in the end’.”
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      The American businessmen were hugely unpopular with the Anfield faithful during their three-and-a-half years in charge of the Reds.
      In January 2008, a spat with Rafa Benitez saw their approval ratings plunge even further and fans protested amid news that Middle Eastern interests were evaluating a takeover bid.
      Dubai International Capital, controlled by Sheikh Mansour’s father-in-law Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, were thought to be behind a move to buy Liverpool at that stage as well as a year earlier, before Hicks and Gillett came in.
      Liverpool were ultimately taken over by Fenway Sports Group in 2010.
      Credit: PA:Press AssociationAmanda Staveley is said to have revealed why the bid was blocked More