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      Samuel Umtiti breaks down in tears over Lecce fans’ welcome after completing loan transfer from Barcelona

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      SAMUEL UMTITI received a hero’s welcome from Lecce fans upon his arrival in Italy on Thursday.The defender, 28, joined the newly-promoted Serie A side on a season-long loan from Barcelona this week.
      Umtiti broke down in tears upon his arrival in ItalyCredit: @matt_eoo0
      He received an overwhelming reception from Lecce fansCredit: @matt_eoo0
      And as he touched down in Salento he was mobbed by a large crowd of thrilled Lecce supporters who proceeded to greet him with a chant.
      It was clearly a moving moment for Umtiti as the Frenchman struggled to hold back the tears as he was being interviewed by media.
      He is eager to get his career back on track after spending the majority of his Barcelona spell on the sidelines.
      Umtiti, who joined the Catalan giants in 2016, was limited to just one appearance last season due to various injuries including a broken toe and numerous knee issues.
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      Barcelona officials were eager to move him on in a bid to make way for summer signing Jules Kounde, who joined from Sevilla in a £46million transfer last month.
      Umtiti had been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal at the beginning of the year, but an injury prevented the deal from being completed.
      He was also in talks with Olympiacos and Rennes over a potential transfer before agreeing to join Lecce earlier this week.
      The Italian side have endured a tough start to life in Serie A.
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      They sit 19th in the table after suffering two consecutive defeats to Sassuolo and Inter Milan respectively.
      But manager Marco Baroni believes Umtiti will help provide some much needed experience for the squad.
      And the defender is hoping to revive his career and reclaim his spot in the French national team. More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo health and fitness secrets at 37 with diet plan featuring swordfish, chicken and five naps per day

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO is in twilight years of his career – but still looks as fit as ever on and off the pitch.And Manchester United fans saw the fruits of his labours in his second spell at Old Trafford, with the superstar scoring 24 goals in 39 games across all competitions in his first season back.
      Ronaldo’s incredible diet revealed
      CR7 re-joined the Red Devils from Juventus for £12.8m last summer.
      But his second spell at Old Trafford could last just 12 months with Ronaldo hoping for a move away in search of Champions League football.
      The Red Devils finished sixth in the Premier League last term, despite CR7’s goals, and will play in Europe’s second tier competition this season.
      The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also beat Ali Daei’s international goal record scoring his 111th for Portugal and has added six more onto his milestone.
      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 37, 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 five children Cristiano Jr, twins Mateo and Eva Maria, Alana Martina and Bella Esmeralda.
      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 More

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      Samuel Umtiti to join Serie A minnows Lecce on season-long loan transfer from Barcelona with medical this week

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      BARCELONA flop Samuel Umtiti is reportedly set for a loan move to Italian minnows Lecce.The defender is out of favour at the Nou Camp after several injury-plagued seasons.
      Barcelona flop Samuel Umtiti is set for a Lecce medical ahead of a loan moveCredit: Getty – Contributor
      And Fabrizio Romano claims Umtiti is now on the verge of a move to Serie A with newly-promoted Lecce.
      Last season’s Serie B champions have endured an awful start to the new campaign.
      They were first knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Cittadella before losing league games to Inter Milan and Sassuolo.
      And club chiefs hope Umtiti will be the man to revive their fortunes as he prepares to undergo a medical this week.
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      Arsenal were linked with a deal earlier this summer.
      Newcastle also retained interest before moving for Lille’s Sven Botman.
      The 28-year-old has been at Barcelona since 2016 after leaving Lyon for £20million.
      Umtiti’s Nou Camp career started well before injuries took a grip.
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      In six years he made just 133 appearances, and featured just ONCE last term.
      World Cup winner Umtiti’s last France cap also came in 2019.
      And despite winning two titles with Barcelona, this summer saw the defender drop to sixth-choice in his position.
      It is hoped Umtiti can recapture his old form while in Italy.
      But it is highly unlikely he’ll be able to force his way into Didier Deschamps’ plans for the winter World Cup in Qatar.
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      The move can still be seen as a major coup for Lecce, who fought off competition from Olympiacos.
      Umtiti had also been close to joining Rennes, but the deal collapsed when he failed a medical. More

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      Watch Tottenham flop Tanguy Ndombele score incredible rocket goal for Napoli as 40,000 watch friendly clash

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      TANGUY NDOMBELE scored a sensational goal as he made his first appearance for Napoli this evening.Despite being two games into their Serie A season, Luciano Spalletti’s side hosted third-tier Juve Stabia as they continued to get up to speed.

      Tanguy Ndombele netted a sensational strikeCredit: Getty
      Ndombele got his first taste of action in a Napoli shirtCredit: Getty
      Around 40,000 fans flocked to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium to catch the match, and a glimpse of their new signings – including Ndombele.
      And it didn’t take long for the Tottenham loanee to make a big impression.

      The midfielder kicked off the scoring in the 57th minute with an incredible combination of grace and power.
      Ndombele, 25, plucked the ball out the air with ease, beating his marker in one swift motion.
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      He then burst towards the penalty area before unleashing an unstoppable thump towards goal.
      The ball was beyond the goalkeeper in an instant, with Napoli fans treated to an instant illustration of what their new signing can do as they went on to win 3-0.
      Ndombele joined the Serie A side on a season-long loan deal last week, the Italians agreeing to pay an £850,000 fee with a £25m option to buy.
      The France international spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon after falling out of favour at Spurs under Antonio Conte.
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      Tottenham fans couldn’t help but notice his brilliant goal, with one writing on Twitter: “Ffs ofc he scores when he leaves.”
      Another sarcastically added: “I’m glad I’ve always rated him.”
      While a third joked: “He looked knackered after that bit of effort!” More

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      Chelsea ‘told to smash club record transfer to land Rafael Leao from AC Milan due to clauses from ex-clubs’

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      CHELSEA have been warned they must splash out an astonishing £126.1million to land Rafeal Leao.The Blues are desperate for a striker after letting flop Romelu Lukaku leave for Inter Milan on loan.
      Rafael Leao helped AC Milan win Serie A title last seasonCredit: Getty
      But respected Italian sports daily La Gazzetta Dello Sport have now claimed that Milan will demand £126.1m (€150million).
      That staggering fee is in part because Leao owes his former club Sporting Lisbon £13.85m after terminating his own contract.
      Leao tore up his deal with Sporting in 2018, after fans attacked the players at the club’s training ground.
      The Portugal star then join Lille on a free transfer, before moving on to Milan in 2019.
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      But in 2020, the Portuguese Sports Arbitration Court ordered Leao to pay Sporting £13.85m and his appeal against the ruling failed.
      Striker Leao bagged 11 goals in Serie A last season as the Rossoneri charged to the title.

      But Chelsea may baulk at the fee for Leao and focus on other targets, such as as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Anthony Gordon.
      Barcelona want around £25m for the former Arsenal striker which now seems like snip compared to Leao.
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      The Blues have also boosted their offer for Everton winger Gordon to around £60m.
      But Toffees boss Frank Lampard is now pushing for Chelsea squad players Conor Gallagher or Armando Broja to form part of any deal. More

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      ‘Football can be s***’ – Mourinho blasts ‘scum’ who claimed Wijnaldum’s broken leg was caused by Roma teen Afena-Gyan

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      JOSE MOURINHO says those who started a rumour Felix Afena-Gyan is responsible for Roma team-mate Gini Wijnaldum’s broken leg are “scum”.Netherlands midfielder Wijnaldum fractured a tibia during training with the Serie A giants on Sunday.
      Roma’s teen striker Felix Afena-Gyan (centre) already has six caps for GhanaCredit: Getty

      The 31-year-old faces months out and looks unlikely to be fit for this winter’s World Cup in Qatar.
      After suggestions emerged 19-year-old striker Afena-Gyan was responsible for the training ground accident, Roma boss Mourinho took to Instagram to set the record straight.
      The Portuguese posted an image to his 2.9million followers of himself holding up a Roma shirt emblazoned with a ‘Forza Gini’ message of support for Wijnaldum.
      And he wrote: “Sometimes football can be s**t. In only 2 weeks, Gini became one of us because of his human qualities (his football qualities we already knew).
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      “Sadly, in a very unfortunate accident he had a bad injury that will keep him away from playing for a long time.
      “But it’s not just football to be s**t sometimes, people can also be…
      “Those who initiated the rumours that a top kid like Felix could be responsible for what happened are real scum.”
      Wijnaldum had only joined Roma on loan from Paris Saint-Germain 17 days before suffering the setback.
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      The ex-Newcastle and Liverpool star has 86 caps and 26 international goals and is a regular in Louis van Gaal’s talented Dutch side.
      Highly-rated Roma youth team product Afena-Gyan made his senior debut for the club in October and already has six caps for Ghana. More

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      Romelu Lukaku spoke to Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez every DAY of his Chelsea nightmare before transfer return

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      INTER MILAN star Lautaro Martinez has reavaled he spoke to Romelu Lukaku every day during his horror Chelsea stay.Lukaku, 29, was reunited with Martinez after returning to Inter on loan this summer.
      Romelu Lukaku spoke to Lautaro Martinez every day while at ChelseaCredit: Getty
      The pair built and great partnership on and off the pitch in Lukkau’s first spell with the Italian giants
      They scored a combined 41 league goals to help their side to the Serie A title in 2021.
      Martinez is delighted to be playing with the Belgian once more and spoke about keeping in contact with the striker during his spell away.
      He told Sky Italia: ‘”I am very happy he came back because he said we need to battle against everyone. He’ll give us a big hand and we will continue battling alongside him.
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      “We kept in contact and spoke every day from the moment he left. He is a great help to this team.
      “We all want to keep improving, we have four talented strikers and all bring different characteristics.”
      Martinez is focused on recreating Inter’s title success with the help of Lukaku and appears to not be distracted by speculation linking him with a transfer move.
      Chelsea were reportedly keen to sign the Argentine as part of the deal which saw Lukakau leave.
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      But Lukaku told him to stay put in his infamous interview last December because he wanted to play with him at the San Siro once more.
      Tottenham were also interested in Martinez and were said to have considered a £77million bid for the forward.
      But Inter made it clear Martinez was a key player and would not be allowed to leave. More

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      Barcelona agree to RIP UP Memphis Depay’s contract after just one year amid Juventus transfer interest

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      BARCELONA have reportedly agreed to rip up Memphis Depay’s contract.But a free transfer to Juventus is still yet to be completed as the two parties remain locked in talks.
      Barcelona are ready to terminate the contract of Juventus target Memphis DepayCredit: Alamy
      Fabrizio Romano claims Depay is no longer wanted by Barcelona.
      The Catalans need to free up funds so they can register new signings including Jules Kounde.
      And one player Xavi Hernandez is happy to sacrifice is Depay.
      The Dutch ace only joined Barca a year ago from Lyon on a free transfer.
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      His Nou Camp deals runs for one more season until 2023.
      But Barcelona want to move Depay on as soon as possible.
      Tottenham were reportedly interested in the former Manchester United winger.
      Chelsea have also been linked as they pursue teammates Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Frenkie de Jong.
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      Barcelona are now ready to terminate Depay’s contract for a clean break.
      But it’s Juventus who are in pole position as Max Allegri looks to boost his attacking options.
      It was reckoned the fallen Italian giants had already reached an agreement on terms with Depay.
      However, it’s now transpired they remain locked in talks over his salary and other details.
      Even so, the decision over Depay’s future lies with the player and Juve, as Barcelona have now given the green light to tearing apart his deal.
      Depay played 38 times for Barca last term, scoring 13 goals.
      But the arrivals of Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, plus Ousmane Dembele’s contract renewal and Ansu Fati’s return from injury, have seen him plummet down the pecking order.
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      Should he join, Depay would become Juventus’ sixth summer signing.
      Paul Pogba and Angel Di Maria joined on free transfers, while Andrea Cambiaso, Filip Kostic and Bremer were snapped up for a combined £55million. More