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      in Boxing

      Four opponents Anthony Joshua must fight before he retires, including Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Dillian Whyte

      by

      ANTHONY JOSHUA’s legacy will be defined by the fights he takes, and wins, in the next five years.The former unified heavyweight champion of the world revealed he intends to hang up his gloves before he hits the wrong side of 40.
      Anthony Joshua celebrates his KO over Kubrat PulevCredit: AP
      Anthony Joshua plans to retire from boxing well before he hits 40Credit: PA
      Two years ago, the 33-year-old told Sky Sports: “Five years left and that’s basically an Olympic cycle.
      “I’ve got an Olympic cycle and a little bit more left, so when you see the next Olympics happen is when I’ll be coming to the end of my career and the next generation will be coming through.”
      For Joshua to be seen as a true heavyweight great, he must first see off all the remaining challengers in the division.
      And there are five men, in particular, AJ has to trade leather with before it’s all said and done.

      Tyson Fury
      A fight with Tyson Fury is one British boxing fans have been itching to see for years. And it was in the works until Deontay Wilder won a legal case for a trilogy fight.
      But talks were made, so technically all that remained was for a venue and date to be finalised for a potential £500million showpiece.
      However, Joshua’s defeat to Oleksandr Usyk scuppered those plans.
      Deontay Wilder
      There’s simply been too much trash talk between Joshua and Wilder for this fight not to come to fruition.
      The pair were at loggerheads long before Fury returned to the fray, although Wilder hasn’t mentioned his fellow Olympian for some time now.
      Stylistically, Joshua vs Fury is a fascinating match-up that has all the ingredients to be an absolute fire fight.
      And despite Wilder’s emphatic dethroning at the hands of Fury, there’s still some fan interest in the match-up.
      Andy Ruiz Jr
      Like it or not, Joshua still has a score to settle with Andy Ruiz Jr – the man responsible for handing him his first professional loss.
      There was no doubting he was the better man in their rematch in Saudi Arabia in December 2019.
      But with the score level at one win apiece, can he truly say he’s better than Mexico’s first heavyweight champion without sharing the ring with him again?
      And let’s not forget the condition Ruiz Jr – who had clearly been enjoying the high life after his stunning upset win – came in for his second showdown with AJ.
      Despite the dominant nature of his Saudi revenge job, Joshua has to run this one back again.
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      Anthony Joshua put on a clinic in his rematch with Andy Ruiz JrCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      @font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:500;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-stretch:semi-condensed;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:normal;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:condensed;font-display:swap;}.css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-zkaekv{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-zkaekv::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -1px);}.css-zkaekv::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most read in Boxing.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
      Dillian Whyte
      While we’re on the topic of trilogy fights, Joshua still needs to settle the score with fellow Brit Dillian Whyte.
      If you count their amateur meeting in 2009, the series between Joshua and Whyte is level.
      One could argue there’s no cause for a third fight as Joshua brutally knocked out The Bodysnatcher in their 2015 showdown.
      But given the improvements Whyte has made since that setback, with the exception of his loss to Alexander Povetkin, a third fight with AJ is still marketable.
      And I’m sure there’s few things Joshua would love more than to silence his domestic rival once and for all.
      Anthony Joshua knocked out Dillian Whyte in December 2015Credit: Getty
      Anthony Joshua ‘locked in’ as he trains for potential Tyson Fury blockbuster in weighted vest and chains More

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      in Soccer

      Mario Balotelli ‘pays bar owner £1,800 to drive moped into sea wearing only underwear’

      by

      MARIO BALOTELLI once paid a bar owner £1,800 to drive a moped into the sea.What’s more, the trundling racer was only wearing his pants as he drove into the drink.
      The man shot off the edge after a short burst of acceleration
      And the moped slowly sank after making a splash
      While most players were busy souping up their fitness levels or sorting out their futures over the summer, the Italian showed why he’s one of a kind.
      Balotelli, 31, is said to have paid the man £1,800 back in 2019 to drive his moped over the edge of a marina in Naples.
      And the current Newcastle transfer target published the footage on Instagram, showing the crowd that had gathered to watch the daring stunt.
      Later on, the striker posted a clip of attempting to start up the rescued moped.
      Incredibly, after a few splutters, the engine kicked into gear and it was working once more.
      In the seaside town of Mergellina, to the west of Naples city centre, Balotelli was reportedly seen making a bet with the bar owner before the stunt.
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      And he was later spotted taking the cash he had earned.
      As quoted by Football Italia, the man later joked to reporters: “My moped was only worth £540 anyway.”
      Police were said to have pressed charges against Balotelli for ‘criminal solicitation and gambling’.
      Since the incident, the Italian has had spells with Brescia, Monza and now Adana Demirspor.
      And he has now been recalled to the Italy squad and will hope to fire them to World Cup qualification.
      Balotelli wrote “Philosophers… here is the ‘polluting’ Vespa fished out” once the moped was restarted More

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      in Soccer

      Cristiano Ronaldo health and fitness secrets at 36 with diet plan featuring swordfish, chicken and five naps per day

      by

      CRISTIANO RONALDO is entering the twilight years of his career – but still looks as fit as ever on and off the pitch.And Manchester United fans are already seeing the fruits of his labours in his second spell at Old Trafford, with the superstar scoring 14 goals in 22 games so far.
      Ronaldo’s incredible diet revealed
      CR7 joined the Red Devils from Juventus for £12.8m last summer.
      After a tricky start to his Italian venture, the superstar scored 31 goals in 47 games in all competitions in his debut season.
      He also beat Ali Daei’s international goal record scoring his 111th for Portugal last year.
      But behind the scenes it takes a lot of hard work.
      From his diet, to exercise routine to sleep and rest, Ronaldo leads the most disciplined of lifestyles.
      He can eat up to SIX meals a day, with fish a big part of his diet.
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      Fish and salad form an integral part of Cristiano Ronaldo’s dietCredit: Instagram
      Ronaldo describes chicken as his ‘magic food’
      Swordfish, tuna and braised cod are particular favourites.
      He regards chicken as ‘magical’ due to its high protein and low fat content.
      For breakfast Ronaldo will eat ham and cheese and low-fat yoghurt.
      If he doesn’t have it for brekkie, the Manchester United star will wolf down avocado toast for snacks during the day.
      Lunch No1 could consist of chicken and salad, while No2 might be fish – maybe tuna with salad, eggs and olives.
      Dinner will see the football legend fill his boots with meat or fish, maybe breaking them up in two separate sittings.
      The Man Utd striker concentrates on his core fitness that gives him a body of a 20-something year oldCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      The legendary footballer is a big fan of swimming, which he will often do with his son Cristiano JrCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      FIVE NAPS PER DAY
      Steak, swordfish or the Lisbon speciality of Bacalao a la Brasa – a mixture of braised cod, onions, thinly sliced potatoes and scrambled eggs should see him through till bedtime.
      Once tucked up, Ronaldo will ensure he has eight hours of sleep each night.
      That’s in addition to FIVE naps he will take during the day.
      Speaking about rest, the Portuguese superstar said: “Proper sleep is really important for getting the most out of training.
      “I go to bed early and get up early, especially before matches. Sleep helps muscles recover which is really important.”
      Clearly the gym and intense exercise is a huge part of Ronaldo’s life – as shown by his incredible muscle definition and speedy recovery from injury.
      The forward follows a Pilates-based routine that focuses on resistance work to strengthen his core.
      Ronaldo insists rest and sleep are essential for leading the healthiest life possibleCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      The Portuguese international may be 36, but is still in the shape of his lifeCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      LOVES SWIMMING
      He is also a big fan of swimming, often taking to the pool with son Cristiano Jr.
      For all his niggles and knocks sustained on the football pitch, Ronaldo invested in a £50,000 Cryotherapy chamber.
      Standing in the chamber for around three minutes, liquid nitrogen freezes Ronaldo to between minus 160 and minus 200 degrees Celsius.
      Cryotherapy beats muscle soreness and reduces swelling, inflammation or sprains.
      But Ronaldo puts mental health alongside physical health as being key to being happy on the pitch as well as off it.
      This involves spending quality time with his family – partner Georgina Rodriguez and his four children Cristiano Jr, twins Mateo and Eva Maria and Alana Martina.
      The superstar said: “Mental strength is just as important as physical strength.
      “Training and physical sessions are most important, but living a relaxed lifestyle helps you to be the best you can be, physically and mentally.
      “I spend my free time with family and friends, which keeps me relaxed and in a positive mindset.”
      And the final secret behind Ronaldo’s supreme physical condition – no alcohol.
      He has been teetotal since at least 2005 – not only because of the adverse affects on his diet, but also because his father’s death when Ronaldo was 20 was alcohol related.
      The Manchester United man leads the most disciplined of life off the pitchCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      Cristiano Ronaldo say’s he’s so happy to be home in first interview since dream return to Man Utd More

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      in Soccer

      Barcelona’s biggest flops XI of 21st century named by Spanish media, including Ibrahimovic and two ex-Arsenal stars

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      ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC and Philippe Coutinho have been named in Barcelona’s “Flop XI” for the 21st Century by the Spanish media.Despite enjoying huge success across the rest of Europe, the pair struggled at the Nou Camp.
      The Barcelona ‘Flop XI’ of the 21st Century, according to Marca
      Two former Arsenal stars also make the XI – but who else makes the flop XI, put together by Marca?DEFENCE
      Richard Dutruel, Martin Caceres, Dmytro Chygrysnkiy, Yerry Mina, Thomas Vermaelen
      FRENCH goalkeeper Dutruel excelled at Celta Vigo, to catch the eye of Barca in 2000 – but he sat behind a young Pepe Reina in the pecking order.
      He left two years later with just 15 LaLiga appearances under his belt.
      In defence, there are two former Premier League stars – with Marca naming four centre-backs, including Everton’s Mina and former Gunners ace Vermaelen.
      Mina lasted just six months at the Nou Camp before heading to Goodison Park, playing a mere two games.
      Incredibly, the Spanish side managed to make a £20million profit on the flop.
      @font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:500;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-stretch:semi-condensed;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:normal;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:condensed;font-display:swap;}.css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-zkaekv{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-zkaekv::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -1px);}.css-zkaekv::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most read in football.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
      Vermaelen on the other hand was hampered by injuries during his five-year star in Barcelona.
      He played just 34 times and was loaned out to Roma before heading to Japan to join Andres Iniesta at Vissel Kobe.
      Chygrysnkiy was brought to the Nou Camp after seven solid years at Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal worth over £20m.
      But he lasted just one season before heading back to Ukraine after struggling for form.
      Meanwhile, Caceres arrived a hot prospect, but injuries and inconsistent form ensured he never lived up to his potential.
      MIDFIELD
      Alex Song, Andre Gomes
      PREMIER LEAGUE fans will be all-too familiar with this pair.
      Song had all the promise in the world but was hindered by injuries throughout his career.
      Despite struggling to stay fit at Arsenal – and after a loan spell at Charlton – Barcelona took a chance on him in 2012.
      Vermaelen joined Barcelona from Arsenal in 2014 but struggled mightilyCredit: Reuters
      Alex Song failed to make an impact at Barcelona following his move from ArsenalCredit: EFE
      In four years, he managed fewer than 40 LaLiga games having been shipped off to West Ham between 2014 and 2015 and eventually joined Rubin Kazan in 2016.
      Song’s best-remembered moment at Barcelona had nothing to do with football either.
      The midfielder infamously thought Carles Puyol was handing him the LaLiga trophy to celebrate with… but it was, of course, being given to Eric Abidal. Awkward.
      Everton star Gomes joined after enjoying a superb debut LaLiga season with Valencia.
      The classy Portugal midfielder made fewer than 50 appearances across three years and was ultimately sold to Everton after a loan spell at Goodison Park.
      After his first season at the club, he suffered the ignominy of being voted the worst signing in the whole league that year.
      ATTACK
      Ricardo Quaresma, Juan Roman Riquelme, Philippe Coutinho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
      Despite enjoying a superb career spanning 20 years and counting, Quaresma did not have much success at Barcelona.
      The winger was at the Nou Camp for just one season, after joining as a hot prospect aged 19, playing just 22 times – leaving after a rift with boss Frank Rijkaard.
      Riquelme was known as one of the most skilful and classy players in the world, but then-boss Louis van Gaal was not a fan.
      He lasted just three years before moving to Villarreal, where he enjoyed real success.
      Coutinho is the only current player in the team – and has been a real let-down after his mega-money £145m move from Liverpool.
      He headed to Bayern Munich on loan in 2019-20, scoring twice in the 8-2 thumping of Barca on his way to lifting Ol’ Big Ears.
      An odd selection on the list, Ibrahimovic cost Barcelona around £60m in 2009.
      But a row with then-manager Pep Guardiola meant Zlatan was shipped off to AC Milan after just one season.
      Ibrahimovic lasted just one season at Barcelona despite his hot form
      Barcelona star Lionel Messi makes the ‘Stay at home challenge’ look easy after completing 20 kick-ups with toilet paper More

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      in Soccer

      Roman Abramovich refused to have any transfer dealings with Tottenham as Carlton Cole reveals how he blocked move

      by

      ROMAN ABRAMOVICH refused to sell any of his Chelsea stars to rivals Tottenham – and even blocked Carlton Cole’s switch.The former Blues striker revealed the Russian oligarch – who bought the West Londoners in 2003 – would not sanction any deal with Spurs.
      Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich refuses to do business with SpursCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Carlton Cole, second left, in his Chelsea heyday, had agreed a move to Spurs but Blues owner Roman Abramovich rejected itCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Cole, speaking on talkSPORT, said: “I almost joined Spurs. I went and did my medical and everything.
      “Roman Abramovich found out and he said ‘you’ve got to come back, you’re not joining them’.
      “He said ‘you can’t go to Spurs, I don’t do business with them’.”
      The only Chelsea player in the Abramovich era to join Tottenham is Carlo Cudicini, with the reserve keeper allowed to leave on a free transfer in 2009.
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      Cole revealed that Abramovich tried to get him to move to Russia instead.
      Cole continued: “‘I’ve got an alternative for you’ [said Abramovich]. I drive back to Stamford Bridge with my uncle and my dad.
      “He had his interpreter with him. Roman Abramovich was there, we were talking. I was saying ‘where am I going?’
      “He said, ‘I will give you a new contract but you’ve got to go to CSKA Moscow. His other team.

      Cole left Chelsea in 2006 to join West Ham, where he scored 68 goals in 293 gamesCredit: Getty
      “I was trying to get into the England team. Those days you could not go abroad. If you go abroad you don’t get in the England team.
      “So I said to him, ‘I ain’t going to CSKA Moscow, pal.”
      Spurs and Chelsea have had a bitter rivalry on and off the pitch.
      Feelings escalated on the pitch, resulting in the Battle of the Bridge in 2016 when several players from both sides clashed.
      Abramovich was close to buying Spurs before he took over at the Blues.
      He was thought to have picked Chelsea only when they qualified for the Champions League in the 2002-03 season under Claudio Ranieri.
      It started an obsession with the English Premier League which nearly two decades later has resulted in multiple top-flight crowns and two Champions League titles.

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      Cole, who came through the ranks at Stamford Bridge, eventually left the club in 2006 to join West Ham.
      He has previously revealed he left after a lack of first-team opportunities at Chelsea.
      The ex-Celtic centre-forward retired in 2018, with Cole now working as a technical academy coach at West Ham.
      Mauro Icardi’s model wife Wanda looks amazing as she takes part in some seriously sexy shoots More

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      in Soccer

      Marina Granovskaia is the most powerful woman in football and runs Chelsea for absent owner Roman Abramovich

      by

      WHEN Frank Lampard inked his three-year deal with Chelsea in July 2019, the presence of Marina Granovskaia alongside him at his unveiling was fitting.After all, she has become the most powerful woman in football and the figure who Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich relies upon to get things done at the club.
      Marina Granovskaia welcomed Frank Lampard to Chelsea last July on a three-year dealCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Lampard met Abramovich on his yacht in St Tropez the month before his appointment – but it was Granovskaia who rubber-stamped a £5.5m-per-year deal for the Chelsea legend to compete his fairytale return to West London.
      And it was Granovskaia who realised the importance of Lampard to the Chelsea fans, as well as his potential ability in management.
      Over the years, she’s been centre stage at every contract renewal or new signing unveiling. Her importance in the Blues hierarchy can never be underestimated.
      ROMAN’S MILLIONS
      It’s with Roman’s money where Granovskaia is trusted the most.
      From Kevin De Bruyne to Mohamed Salah, the Chelsea owner rarely came off best when it came to selling his players, getting pitiful amounts for players that went on to become superstars.
      That was until the Russian deputised to the woman who makes all the big decisions at the club, now.
      Her sale of star-man Eden Hazard to Real Madrid was so incredible she was hailed by the Stamford Bridge faithful.
      The LaLiga giants will end up paying £143million for the Belgium international who had just one year left on his Blues’ deal.
      On top of that, she received plenty of support for recouping a tidy £175m by shipping out a variety of flops from David Luiz to Alvaro Morata to Oscar.
      Just like Abramovich, Marina Granovskaia opts for privacy over publicity.
      Her only projection is through the heavily-restricted portal of the Chelsea club website.
      But Granovskaia has been a key part of Abramovich’s real inner circle for the best part of two decades, through his entire Chelsea reign.
      Marina Granovskaia is the deal-maker who negotiated Eden Hazard’s sale to Real MadridCredit: Getty – Contributor
      THE MOUSE WHO ROARED
      Initially as an assistant at Sibneft, the oil conglomerate which helped turned Abramovich into an oligarch and one of the world’s wealthiest men.
      Then, following the 2003 purchase of Chelsea, as the head of his London office, although initially unconnected to the club.
      But over time, that changed.
      The schoolgirl “grey mouse”, as described by a former teacher, has made herself one of the big beasts of the footballing jungle.
      Granovskaia, now 47 and who has both Russian and Canadian nationality, might have come to London as a fixer for Abramovich, looking after the owner and his guests.
      Her ability to network, though, was clear.
      Owner Roman Abramovich has not been seen at Chelsea since April last yearCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Abramovich has trusted Granovskaia to tell him the truth
      SHE WENT BACK FOR MOURINHO
      Her opinion began to count, too.
      Granovskaia might not have had a football background, but Abramovich trusted her to tell him the truth and backed her judgement.
      So it was that Granovskaia persuaded Abramovich not to ditch Didier Drogba after he blew a gasket during the 2009 Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona, when many in the club felt they had to get rid of the Ivorian.
      To go all-in to land Fernando Torres from Liverpool two years later, smashing the British record with a £50m fee.
      And to leave the past in the past and rehire Jose Mourinho, six years after the relationship between the club hierarchy and the “Special One” had broken down.
      CHELSEA DITCH ‘SOFT TOUCH’ TAG
      By then, Granovskaia had been elevated to a place in the club’s elite, a member of both the Chelsea plc and football club boards, with special responsibility for transfers, contracts, loans and the academy.
      That appointment brought a change in club strategy, a marked one from the early days of Abramovich’s reign when an asking price for a player seemed nothing more than a number, with Chelsea viewed by their rivals as something of an easy touch.
      Michael Emenalo’s 2017 departure saw Granovskaia absorb his role as wellCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Instead, Granovskaia brought in the same financial approach that Abramovich would have demanded from his other businesses.
      Soft touch no more. Instead, utterly determined to pay the right price, or simply walk away from the table.
      Now, as far as Chelsea is concerned, with Abramovich an absentee landlord and even more so since the departure of sporting director Michael Emenalo in 2017, she is the power, and the glory.SHE STILL SWEARS IN RUSSIAN
      The woman who runs the club. The most powerful woman in world football.
      And, considering her role and responsibilities, almost anonymous. A face, frequently in the background, not a voice. At least in public.
      It is different behind the scenes, where it matters.
      Granovskaia was a foreign languages graduate from Moscow State UniversityCredit: AFP or licensors
      The foreign languages graduate from Moscow State University has become fluent in the lingo that counts in football – cash and cachet.
      No key decisions take place at the club without her consent.
      Yet very little is known about her.
      Yes, she is fluent in English and other languages, although it is claimed that, if she loses her temper, she chooses to swear in her native tongue.
      Apparently, too, her favourite restaurant is Knightsbridge eaterie Sumosan Twiga, the brand founded by former Benetton [later Renault F1] Formula One team principal Flavio Briatore.
      Granovskaia’s favourite eaterie is Knightsbridge’s Sumosan Twiga
      Sumosan Twiga supply Chelsea’s VIP executive boxes with food and head chef Bubker Belhit described her as an “amazing person”, adding: “She’s on top of any small things to the biggest thing.”
      Even so, Granovskaia prefers to stay in the background.
      BUT SHE RARELY SPEAKS IN PRIVATE
      In October 2018, when Chelsea launched their campaign against anti-Semitism at the Westminster apartment of then-Commons Speaker John Bercow, Granovskaia let Bruce Buck take the lead for the club and did not speak publicly.
      Instead, she smiled and greeted the invited guests, but made nothing more than polite small-talk.
      It is the way that Chelsea’s true elite have done business since 2003.
      They only talk, seriously, to the people they want to talk to.
      Granovskaia has shown that by adopting a hardline approach to negotiations.
      And that goes for her employees, too.
      CONTE MADE THE FALL-GUY
      When Antonio Conte began to use his press conferences to publicly absolve himself of responsibility for the club’s decline in his second season, it was Granovskaia who made it clear to the Italian he would be the fall-guy.
      Chelsea’s summer of equivocation over who would replace Conte was a rare occasion when it seemed Granovskaia was less than sure-footed.
      But Maurizo Sarri knew he was being judged by her the moment he arrived at the Bridge.
      And who would be his executioner if his head was required. Marina, now, is the one who wields the knife.
      And in the end, she negotiated another excellent deal on Chelsea’s behalf as Sarri joined Juventus.
      Initially, Granovskaia wanted the Italian giants to pay around £5.3m for their manager’s services.
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      That then dropped to £4m, before finally all parties agreed on a deal somewhere lower than that.
      Surely that saved Chelsea millions in compensation should they have sacked Sarri, a man who fans wanted out, in the close season? Miraculously, Granovskaia made money instead.
      Abramovich might be the money behind the operation, but Granovskaia is certainly the business brains.
      Granovskaia convinced Abramovich to forget the past when rehiring Jose MourinhoCredit: EPA
      Granovskaia greets Mourinho at the 2018 FA Cup finalCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Chelsea in Eden Hazard transfer funds boost with Marina Granovskaia brokering better deal worth £143m with Real Madrid More

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      Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech ‘would have run’ to join Roma and only completed transfer after Serie A club refused to pay up

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      CHELSEA star Hakim Ziyech was keen to move to Roma before sealing his Stamford Bridge switch last summer, it has been revealed.Morocco team-mate Medhi Benatia claimed that the attacker ‘would have run’ to the Italian capital when a move was discussed in 2019.
      Hakim Ziyech may never have ended up at Chelsea if Roma had coughed up the cash for himCredit: AFP
      At the time, Ziyech was off the back of a stunning run to the Champions League semi-finals with an Ajax team being poached by Europe’s biggest clubs.
      He ended up remaining in Amsterdam for another 12 months before a £36.5million move to Chelsea.
      The 28-year-old star made 62 appearances since signing for the West London side, finding the 11 times.
      Although things could have worked out very different had then-Roma president James Pallotta agreed to fork out for the playmaker, according to Benatia.
      The former Roma defender, now with Al-Duhail, told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I had tried to get him to come to Roma, and he would have run to join this club.
      “I spoke to Francesco Totti and Edin Dzeko, telling them that this is the man they want.
      “As a director, Francesco did everything he could to get the deal concluded, but Pallotta said it would be ‘an excessive expense’ and nothing ever came of it.”
      Club legend Totti would famously quit the Stadio Olimpico later in the same summer, citing a lack of influence on transfers.

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      He famously complained upon leaving: “They knew of my desire to offer a lot to this squad but they never wanted it.
      “They kept me out of everything. It’s a day that I hoped never would have come.”
      Unpopular owner Pallotta eventually sold up to fellow American businessman Dan Friedkin last year after almost a decade in charge of Roma.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Ex-Roma defender Medhi Benatia says he recommended his international colleague to the GiallorossiCredit: Getty
      New Chelsea signing Hakim Ziyech says he idolised current manager Frank Lampard growing up in first interview since transfer from Ajax More