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      Benfica XI of former stars would fight for Champions League after selling £600m worth of talent in the last decade

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      BENFICA’S business model of buy low, sell high has delivered domestic success but the £600million-plus worth of talent leaving the club could have deprived them of greater glory.A stunning array of star players have passed through the Lisbon club’s doors over the past decade, showcasing their eye for a gem.

      Enzo Fernandez joined Chelsea for a staggering £107mCredit: Reuters
      An impressive XI can be constructed from former Benfica men – with plenty left spare.
      The 2019 summer deal for Joao Felix, with Atletico Madrid paying Benfica £115m, remains their biggest sale but a mega 15 players left for between £20m and £35m in the past decade.
      Then comes the British transfer record fee of £107m paid by Chelsea on deadline day in January 2023 to trigger Enzo Fernandez’s release clause after a long drawn-out saga.
      The loss of Darwin Nunez back in June 2022 comes in as the next most expensive exit, as Liverpool could end up forking out up to £85m for the striker.
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      Jurgen Klopp’s side paid £64m up front for his services, but they could be required to stump up the extra £21m in future to meet projected value.
      Manchester City’s defensive stalwart Ruben Dias is next after arriving in a £64m deal to shatter David Luiz’s £22m effort.
      His team-mate goalkeeper Ederson follows with a defence of Nelson Semedo, Victor Lindelof and Fabio Coentrao banking Benfica £87m combined.
      A pairing of Axel Witsel and Renato Sanches join Fernandez in central midfielders with all three sold early on in their careers for huge profits.
      And with £30m Angel Di Maria joining Felix and Nunez in attack and completing the £587m starting XI, there isn’t even space for £27m Goncalo Guedes or Nemanja Matic.
      The Serb bruiser left for Chelsea in 2014 for a ‘measly’ £21m, meaning he misses the cut for this line-up along with £13m playmaker Bernardo Silva.
      The exit fees for Lazar Markovic, Nico Gaitan and Enzo Perez also exceeded £20m – and yet aren’t enough for our XI.
      Nuno Tavares swapped Benfica for Arsenal in the summer of 2021 but fails to make our XI as his bargain £7m fee is no match for the £27m banked when Coentrao joined Real Madrid back in 2011.
      Up front, Felix partners Nunez to oust Wolves’ £30million buy Raul Jimenez.
      Had all these players stayed, it isn’t hard to imagine Benfica reaching the latter stages of the Champions League and even threatening to win the competition.
      Add in the likes of Jan Oblak, Joao Cancelo and Luka Jovic and suddenly the team looks nigh-on imperious.
      Sure enough, the Portuguese giants do have two European Cups to their name but a decade that saw them reach just two Champions League quarter-finals and lose a pair of Europa League finals could have been very different.
      Benfica sold Joao Felix to Atletico Madrid for an eye-watering £115mCredit: Reuters
      Darwin Nunez’s move to Liverpool could rise to £85mCredit: Getty
      Ezequiel Garay and Nemanja Matic left for big fees yet are nowhere near the top of the rankingsCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd More

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      Ex-Arsenal star Hector Bellerin close to leaving Barcelona… but transfer could be scuppered by Spurs at last minute

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      BARCELONA right-back Hector Bellerin could reportedly have a loan transfer to Sporting Lisbon scuppered by his old club Arsenal’s rivals, Tottenham.Bellerin, 27, joined Barcelona on a free transfer from Arsenal last summer, but he has been limited to just seven appearances so far this season.
      Hector Bellerin’s loan move to Sporting has been scuppered after Tottenham failed to sign Pedro PorroCredit: Getty
      He has less than six months remaining on his contract, but the LaLiga giants are open to offloading him before the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
      The Athletic reported that Bellerin was on his way to Portugal.
      Sporting were close to signing the Spaniard on loan until the end of the season.
      Bellerin was supposed to act as a replacement for Pedro Porro, who before Monday was on the verge of joining Tottenham in a £40million transfer.
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      But Sporting moved the goalposts and the deal is now OFF.
      The Portuguese club tried to change the terms of the deal at the last minute leaving Porro devastated, according to The Athletic.
      That could see Bellerin’s transfer scuppered by old rivals Spurs, leaving him stranded at the Camp Nou.
      Sporting had originally planned to sign Tariq Lamptey on loan, however Brighton were unwilling to let him leave on a temporary basis.
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      Bellerin spent 10 years at Arsenal before joining Barcelona last year.
      He fell out of favour at the Emirates Stadium in 2021 and consequently joined Real Betis on loan.
      The Gunners then decided to terminate his contract so he swapped North London for the Nou Camp.
      Barcelona sit at the top of the LaLiga table, six points clear of rivals Real Madrid. More

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      Man Utd legend Paul Scholes names Papa Bouba Diop as one his three toughest opponents alongside Vieira and Savage

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      PAUL SCHOLES named Papa Bouba Diop as one of the toughest opponents he came up against.The former Fulham, Portsmouth and Senegal international sadly passed away at the age of 42 in November 2020.
      Paul Scholes in action against Papa Bouba Diop back in 2008Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Diop died after a long illness, with his former clubs paying tribute to the 2008 FA Cup winner.
      The ex-Lens ace was also part of the Senegal side that shocked world champions France in the opening game of the 2002 World Cup.
      Manchester United legend Scholes, 48, came up against the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Zinedine Zidane during his career.
      In fact, over his 718 appearances for the Red Devils, Scholes faced virtually every great player of his generation.
      But he has revealed it was former Fulham man Bouba Diop – who was nicknamed The Wardrobe – along with Patrick Vieira and Robbie Savage that caused him the most problems.
      The ex-England star told Savage Social: “When I played central midfield I like to go into games thinking ‘I just want to have all the time in the world here, just nobody around me, just find a little bit of space and pass the ball around’.
      “Then you play against people like you (Robbie Savage).
      “An absolute nuisance, trying to close you down dead quick. I don’t want that, I just want it nice and relaxed.
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      “The way I played I didn’t really have to beat people or be stronger, quicker than the other person.
      “I suppose Patrick Vieira, you play against him he is so long, he is so big.
      “You think you’ve got the ball, and the next minute he nicks it over your head.
      “He was a clever player as well. There’s one more that people won’t think of. We used to play against Portsmouth.
      “Do you remember Papa Bouba Diop? Big, massive. They used to call him The Wardrobe!
      “You get involved physically with him and you’re wasting your time.
      “I always found him awkward to play against. He wasn’t a Vieira, of course he wasn’t, but he still had talent.”
      Portsmouth icon Papa Bouba Diop tragically passed away at the age of 42
      The Red Devils legend did not enjoy playing against Patrick VieiraCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Robbie Savage caused Paul Scholes problems on the pitchCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd More

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      Reading striker Andy Carroll reveals he regretted West Brom transfer ‘from the second day I was there’

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      ANDY CARROLL recently admitted he regretted his move to West Brom from his “second day there”.The Reading forward, 34, ditched the Royals last January for the Baggies – only to return this season.
      Andy Carroll has played 18 times for Reading this season, scoring four goalsCredit: Rex
      Carroll was recruited by ex-West Brom boss Valerien Ismael after an injury to striker Daryl Dike.
      Just one game later, however, Ismael was sacked – forcing the former England striker into a reunion with old Newcastle manager Steve Bruce.
      Speaking to Berkshire Live last month about his time at the Hawthorns, Carroll admitted: “To be honest, the second day I was there I regretted being there.”
      Carroll left West Brom after scoring three goals in 15 games, being released at the end of his short-term deal.
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      He was a free agent until September, when he penned a deal to return to Reading.
      Carroll then signed an extension earlier this month that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2024.
      The former England striker is now preparing for an FA Cup meeting against Manchester United, with a place in the fifth round at stake.
      But back in October, following Bruce’s West Brom sacking and ahead of their clash with the Baggies later that month, Carroll made a stunning dig at his old boss.
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      He said: “It’s always sad to see people get the sack.
      “Especially when we were guaranteed three points at the weekend. It is a shame but that’s football.
      “You don’t get the results, it’s a business at the end of the day.
      “That’s why you have to keep the lads together and work hard as a manager and get the lads working hard for you.”
      Carroll has played 18 times for the Royals this term, scoring four goals.
      Carroll, 34, played under Steve Bruce at Newcastle and West BromCredit: Getty – Contributor More

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      Man Utd icon Roy Keane admits he never warmed to Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand and had a bust-up over watching X Factor

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      ROY KEANE revealed he never warmed to Wayne Rooney or Rio Ferdinand in the Manchester United dressing room.The former hardman said he did not get the England striker or team-mate Ferdinand’s banter – and did not miss them after he left Old Trafford.
      Manchester United legend Roy Keane claimed he never warmed to Wayne Rooney or Rio Ferdinand
      Keane, 51, reckoned he was not on the same wavelength as Roo, who is 14 years his junior.
      And that was highlighted during their playing days on a trip to Newcastle where the night before in the hotel Keane was watching rugby league on the TV before Rooney changed the channel to watch the X Factor and hid the remote control.
      Roo – who retired from playing to become permanent Derby manager two years ago – claimed later it led to an argument between the pair and Keane respected him for standing up to him.
      But Keane, speaking on Sky Sports’ The Football Show said: “We certainly didn’t have an argument, let me tell you.
      “I like my rugby league and yeah, someone did change the channel and I wasn’t happy.
      “But we didn’t have an argument about it. I came down for breakfast the next day and Wayne said ‘Did you find the control?’
      “So I told him where to go. If that’s an argument, God help us. I certainly didn’t respect Wayne because he stood up to me and wanted to watch the X Factor.
      “I had a lot of respect for Wayne because I thought he was a brilliant player.
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      “I wouldn’t say I warmed to the guy, I certainly didn’t dislike him. But the lad’s on a different wavelength, different banter and if hiding the control was his type of banter then… not for me.”
      Keane made 480 appearances for United in 12 years, but he said: “Near the end, I remember thinking I don’t get some of the boys.
      “I don’t get their banter or humour. I rarely had a conversation with anyone.
      “When I left there were a lot of players I didn’t miss. The game was changing and maybe I was a bit grumpy, a bit old school.
      “I didn’t get Wayne or Rio, I didn’t get their banter or what they stood for sometimes. It was probably a personal thing.
      “The game was changing and I had changed with it but towards the end at United with the players coming through I didn’t always get them.
      “Personality-wise they were not for me.
      “Obviously, they were very good players and I was delighted to play with them but in terms of banter or having a cup of coffee with them? No forget it.”
      Keane played with Rooney at Old Trafford between 2004-2005Credit: PA:Empics Sport
      Roy Keane reveals he once had a fight with Peter Schmeichel in a hotel – leaving Sir Alex Ferguson fuming More

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      Man Utd record holder looks like a new man with bushy beard and grey hair – but can you guess who it is?

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      A MANCHESTER United record holder looks like a new man as he embraces a bushy beard with long grey hair. The 90s Red Devils star, who played alongside the likes of Roy Keane, David Beckham and Gary Neville, has ditched the clean shaven look.
      This 90s United star looks quite different these daysCredit: @BanditBus
      He is rocking a bushy grey beard with long hairCredit: T&C EVENTS
      The ex-Man Utd man is a four-time Premier League winnerCredit: INSTAGRAM: CHOCCY.13
      The unrecognisable look gained mixed reactions from fans who remembered him during his heyday.
      The former forward enjoyed 11 trophy-laden years at Man Utd between 1987 and 1998.
      The ex-Scotland international won three FA Cups, four Premier League titles, the League Cup, the Uefa European Cup Winners Cup and the Super Cup.
      He has also scored more League Cup goals for Man Utd than any other player in the club’s history.
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      The man in question, Brian McClair, netted a remarkable 19 times in the competition, including the winner against Nottingham Forest in the 1992 final.
      The closest United player to that record is Mark Hughes with 16.
      Marcus Rashford and Ryan Giggs are tied in third on 12 each.
      McClair also enjoyed a spell at Aston Villa, where he started his career.
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      McClair was a popular figure at Old TraffordCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS
      The Scot won nine trophies at Man UtdCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS
      The 58-year-old also played for Motherwell and Celtic, winning a league title and the Scottish Cup.
      McClair speaks highly of former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
      The Scot describes Ferguson as “hard, but fair”.
      Speaking to World Football Index, he said: “I wasn’t the most expensive signing in England but I was the most expensive for a player moving from a Scottish club to an English one which was a big thing at the time!
      “It has always been humbling that Alex Ferguson and Archie Knox wanted me to be one of their first signings for Manchester United.

      “Ferguson and Knox made me a much better player. Sir Alex was always hard, but fair with me, both as a player and a coach.
      “I have nothing but great memories of Manchester United and working with him. Those were great days.” More

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      Loan moves and the wrong mentality destroyed my form at Man Utd, but I rebuilt my career, says Federico Macheda

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      FEDERICO MACHEDA has admitted that loan moves and the wrong mentality prevented him from becoming a Manchester United star.Few have burst on to the scene like the Italian, who struck two winners in his first two games for the club.
      Federico Macheda struck a stunning winner past Aston Villa on his debutCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Sir Alex Ferguson rang the Italian in 2020 to check up on his progress
      A stunning injury-time effort against Aston Villa in April 2009 was followed up by a sharp finish at Sunderland a week later.
      Alas, the Italian failed to live up to his early promise and has opened up on his rise, fall, and rise again.
      After almost two years in the United set-up, he was sent on loan to Sampdoria for a spell that hammered his confidence.
      Macheda, 31, told the Mail: “Those six months marred my career because they tried to kill me as a footballer.
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      “I started to doubt myself a little bit.
      “We were fighting relegation and being attacked by people.
      “They thought because I was from Manchester United I was going to save them, but I wasn’t ready.
      “I was still a young guy. It wasn’t working and I wasn’t the one to make it work.”
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      The striker spent time at Queens Park Rangers, Stuttgart, Doncaster and Birmingham before leaving for Cardiff in 2014.
      A quiet stint in South Wales was followed by two years back in Italy before finding his feet with Panathinaikos.
      A record of 40 goals in 116 games for the Greek outfit was a very respectable return and Macheda acknowledged how tough it was to hit form again.
      He has since moved to Turkish Süper Lig club Ankaragücü, but is yet to score this season.
      He said: “It hasn’t been as good as I had hoped but I’ve learned a lot.
      “I’ve overcome a lot of things in my career.
      “Of course, I wish it could have gone another way, with the way it started and the way it was going.
      If I could go back, I wouldn’t swap. I wouldn’t change that moment… maybe it came too soonFederico Macheda
      “I was very down and I managed to turn things around and that isn’t easy in football, especially after the path I’ve had.
      “But if I could go back, I wouldn’t swap. I wouldn’t change that moment. Maybe it came too soon, but it’s something that every United fan will remember.”
      Nowadays, the shirt and a photo of his debut winner hang in the family home in Italy and Sir Alex Ferguson even called him up in 2020 to check on his former prodigy.
      Macheda has admitted that he perhaps was not well equipped to deal with the demanding life of a professional footballer.
      That Villa goal came at the tender age of 17 and he would fail to ‘understand’ what was needed when the going got tough.
      He said: “I think I could have done more.
      “I was working in an amazing team and I feel I let myself down. The whole picture, not just one thing.
      “The way of playing, looking after my body, my life.
      “The way of thinking, because when you don’t play you have to fight and I was finding excuses.
      “I had the wrong reaction and I wasn’t working as hard as I should have done.
      “When you’re young, you don’t understand many things. If I had the mentality I have now, things could have been much different for me.”
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      Macheda struck a second winner a week after the Villa win, this time at SunderlandCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The striker rebuilt his career at Greek club PanathinaikosCredit: Reuters
      However, after four years in Greece, he then moved to the Turkish side Ankaragucu.
      He failed to impress during his time there and was loaned to Cypriot outfit Apoel, the 12th different club in his career. More

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      Inside Gareth Bale’s stunning garden golf course based on legendary holes as he enters tournament days after retiring

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      GARETH BALE will be able to get plenty of practice in ahead of his PGA Tour debut – as he has a selection of iconic holes in his garden.The former footballer announced his retirement in January 2023 and 15 days later revealed he would be teeing off in a pro-am golf tournament.
      Gareth Bale is a keen golfer and has a brilliant set-up in his gardenCredit: Dugout
      Former Wales ace Bale often had golf on his mind during his careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The 33-year-old signed up to join 156 amateurs and professionals, including Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and Patrick Cantlay, at Pebble Beach, California in early February.
      And he has the perfect set-up at home to get his eye in.
      The ex-Real Madrid ace’s stunning Welsh estate has a mini golf course, which he has been carefully sculpting over recent years.
      His chosen three holes were the 12th at Augusta, Royal Troon’s Postage Stamp and the tricky par-three 17th at Sawgrass.
      The 17th at Sawgrass is immediately recognisableCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Gareth Bale’s estate in Wales has a mini course on redeveloped landCredit: Dugout
      Bale said: “As I moved here I had a lovely bit of land here and I had something I really wanted to do with it and decided that I would love to make a dream come true and build a mini golf course in my house.”From a plain piece of land to build what we have now it was a lot of hard work and a lot of craftsmanship.
      “It’s a lot better than I ever thought it could be and I’m just so happy I’ve got it here now and so happy that I chose Southwest Greens.”
      In 2015, keen golfer Bale helped Wales beat England, Ireland and Scotland in the Celebrity Cup at Celtic Manor.
      Bale revealed he would take part in a PGA Tour pro-am just weeks after retiring from footballCredit: Instagram @garethbale11
      The Welshman adores the game and gets in a round at every opportunityCredit: Getty – Contributor
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      He added: “I try to play as much golf as possible. In fact, I’m obsessed with it.
      “I’ve not really thought about what I’ll be doing in 20 years when I’m retired from football, but, hopefully, I will be playing golf.”
      Bale was frequently mocked during his time at the Bernabeu for prioritising Wales and golf over the famous Los Blancos.
      So much so that he even joined in holding up a famous banner declaring his passions were in that order.
      And at the World Cup in 2022, the Dragons captain had to ban himself from using the hotel golf simulator in case he got injured.
      But with his football boots now hung up after a brief stint in the MLS with Los Angeles, he can dedicate even more time to his beloved golf.
      Gareth Bale modelled his course on famous holesCredit: Dugout
      The world’s best golfers will be taking on the 12th hole at AugustaCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Gareth Bale has his own version in WalesCredit: Dugout
      The Postage Stamp is a tricky green to hitCredit: Alamy
      Bale has painstakingly recreated the famous holeCredit: Dugout More