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    Real Madrid president Perez rules out Cristiano Ronaldo transfer return and casts doubt on Sergio Ramos’ new deal

    CRISTIANO RONALDO will not be returning to Real Madrid, according to disgraced Los Blancos president Florentino Perez. The Real chief also cast doubt over Sergio Ramos’ future with the defender out of contract at the end of the season.
    Cristiano Ronaldo will not be returning to Real Madrid and Sergio Ramos may not be given a new contractCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    That is according to disgraced Real Madrid president Florentino PerezCredit: AP
    Ronaldo has been heavily linked with a Real return having cemented himself as one of the greatest players in history at the Bernabeu between 2009 and 2018.
    It is suggested Juve will sell him this summer to balance the books and recent reports claimed Los Blancos were planning an emotional reunion.
    But during a farcical interview in which Perez, 74, tried to defend the money-grabbing European Super League, he was asked whether the Portuguese would be re-signed.
    Perez replied: “They are very good players. Lionel Messi and Cristiano. It’s a historical thing.
    “Cristiano’s return? No. He has a contract with Juventus. But it doesn’t make sense for him to come back. I love him a lot, he has given us a lot.”
    Perez was also asked about Ronaldo’s fellow Real legend Ramos’ future.
    The Spain centre-back is out of the contract at the end of the season and is yet to agree a new deal.
    He has been linked with a sensational move to the Premier League, with Manchester United the frontrunners to sign him.
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    And Ramos recently told Perez ‘DO IT!’ when the president said they may have to plan for next season without him.
    And asked about Ramos, Perez admitted negotiations are proving difficult.
    He said: “I also love him very much, but we are in a very bad situation. We have to be realistic.
    “I did not say that Ramos is not going to continue. We are thinking about finishing this season, then we will see what happens.
    “A lot of things can happen. First we are going to finish this season. We are talking to many players and many are voluntarily lowering their salary.
    “Some have already lowered it, specifically the two who have left, Luka Jovic and Martin Odegaard. Last year Ramos accepted. This year he is in a different situation.”
    Ronaldo has also been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
    The French side are one of few clubs in the world who could afford his wages.
    And they are said to be planning a swap deal involving Moise Kean and Mauro Icardi.
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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    Juventus interested in outgoing Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick but could face competition from Premier League clubs

    JUVENTUS are considering a move for departing Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick, according to reports.The Old Lady are said to be in the market for a new manager after a disappointing campaign under Andrea Pirlo but could face competition for Flick from Premier League clubs.
    Juventus are interested in Bayern Munich boss Hansi FlickCredit: Reuters
    Flick announced he wants to leave the Bavarian giants at the end of the campaign.
    The 56-year-old won the treble last season and is well set to deliver another Bundesliga crown this term.
    But rumours of discontent behind the scenes have persisted and Juve are ready to pounce, according to Sport Bild.
    Having won Serie A nine years in a row, the Old Lady sit fourth – 13 points behind league leaders Inter.
    Club legend Pirlo was said to have one game to save his job before they beat Champions League rivals Napoli on April 7.
    They have since beat Genoa 3-1 but lost to third-placed Atalanta last time out.
    And the pressure is mounting – with the club said to have drawn up a three-man shortlist of replacements.
    Flick’s name was not included but recent developments in his situation mean Juve are keeping tabs.
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    Manager Andrea Pirlo only pockets £1.6million-per-year after taking charge of the club

    However they could face competition from Premier League sides with Arsenal and Tottenham the most likely to be on the lookout for a new boss.
    Spurs have already sacked Jose Mourinho and put Ryan Mason in temporary charge until the end of the season.
    And Mikel Arteta has struggled to deliver on his early promise with his team floundering in ninth.
    German Flick has also been heavily linked with the Germany national team job with Joachim Low leaving after this summer’s Euros.
    Flick told Sky Sports in Germany: “I would like to exit my contract at the end of the season – that is a fact.
    “It was just important to me that the team found out about this from me. I’m absolutely thrilled with them.”
    The decision was taken after ‘careful consideration’, Flick added, with the reasons for his exit remaining ‘internal’ for now.
    Despite Bayern’s domestic dominance, the coach’s relationship with sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has soured throughout the season, coming to a head with the holders’ exit from the Champions League to Paris Saint-Germain.

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    Flick was appointed assistant to former boss Niko Kovac before taking over on an initial interim basis in November 2019.
    The club handed him the reins full-time the following month and the Uefa Men’s Coach of the Year is under contract to 2023.
    His comments came after their recent 3-2 win over Wolfsburg, which kept Munich seven points clear at the top the table.
    And Flick confirmed a return to the German FA (DFB) was ‘an option’ ahead of Low’s departure.
    He continued: “The future is not at all clear.
    “There has been no discussion about [the Germany role]. Of course, the DFB is an option that every coach has to consider.
    “But I have to digest everything now, the last few weeks have not been easy for me either.
    “That’s why the process of telling the club and team was extremely important today.”
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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    Furious fans flock to Man Utd, Chelsea and Prem Big Six stadiums for second day of protests over European Super League

    PLANS to create a new European Super League involving only the game’s richest clubs led to a second day of furious fan protests.Premier League teams involved in the proposals have faced a huge backlash from their own faithful.
    Thierry Henry’s statue held a card asking for ‘our Arsenal back’ on TuesdayCredit: EPA
    Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium was adorned with a ‘Shame on you’ placardCredit: Getty
    On Tuesday, a number of supporters turned up on their club’s doorstep to demand they backtrack from the controversial plot.
    Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool have signed up to the ESL alongside three Spanish and three Italian teams.
    The proposals will take clubs out of the Champions League and into a new closed-shop setup, where teams qualify regardless of their performance.
    Uefa, Fifa, the UK Government and the Premier League are among the bodies to threaten the plotters with significant punishment, including throwing them out of this year’s competitions.
    While European football’s governing body and 14 other top-flight English clubs met on Tuesday, protests continued.
    Outside Liverpool’s home of Anfield, banners reading ‘FSG OUT’ and ‘SUPER GREED’ were hung up to condemn the club’s owners.
    A bouquet of flowers was left at Anfield with the message ‘RIP LFC’Credit: Reuters
    A banner at Liverpool called for owners FSG to leave the clubCredit: PA
    A Manchester United fan turned up at Old Trafford with an ‘RIP The Working Class’ messageCredit: PA
    Another supporter appeared at Chelsea to condemn his club’s plan to join the ESLCredit: Rex
    The Reds’ home will no longer feature fan banners across the empty seats after supporters’ groups demanded they be removed.
    Blues fans are set to appear en masse outside their home to demonstrate before Tuesday’s clash with Brighton, echoing Monday’s display before Leeds’ draw with Liverpool.
    Due to the coronavirus pandemic, supporters have been largely unable to make their feelings known in person with games played behind closed doors.
    The statue of Thierry Henry at Emirates Stadium was handed a cardboard message that read: “Give us our Arsenal back.”
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    Another banner put up at Old Trafford condemned the projectCredit: PA
    Another Anfield flag declared ‘RIP’ for the clubCredit: PA
    One Liverpool banner attacked the club’s American ownersCredit: Getty
    On Monday, fans turned up at Leeds’ draw with Liverpool to slate the ESLCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    At Old Trafford, Manchester United fans put up a banner stating: “We adored you and you sold our souls. RIP MUFC 1878-2021.”
    One placard attached to the gates at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium simply read ‘Shame on you’ alongside two club scarves.
    The protests were not limited to England with a message from Barcelona fans posted onto the Camp Nou.
    Their statement read: “FCB is our life, not your toy. Super League, NO.”
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    Atalanta 1 Juventus 0: Cristiano Ronaldo on sidelines as defeat leaves Old Lady in battle for Champions League spot

    JUVENTUS’ Champions League qualification hopes were dashed by a late Atalanta winner as they felt the full force of Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence.Andrea Pirlo’s side struggled without the injured Ronaldo and were beaten courtesy of Ruslan Malinovskiy’s 87th minute strike.
    Juventus and Andrea Pirlo are at serious risk of missing out on a Champions League spot in Serie A after a 1-0 loss to AtalantaCredit: Reuters
    Ronaldo sat out the game with a thigh injuryCredit: Rex
    It looked as though Juve had done enough to hold on for a point, but sub Malinovskiy snatched a fifth successive league win for Atalanta, sparking wild scenes of celebration.
    Atalanta leapfrogged their opponents into third place and moved on to 64 points, two ahead of Juventus, with both having played 31 games.
    The Bianconeri are set to see their decade of dominance in the Italian league ended after nine consecutive Scudetto wins.
    Their hopes of a tenth successive Serie A title are all but over as they trail leaders Inter Milan, who play Napoli later on Sunday, by 12 points. 
    And now the Turin side could even miss out on qualifying for Europe’s premier competition.
    Like the Premier League, the top four sides qualify for next season’s Champions League.
    Although Juve sit in fourth, they are just three and four points ahead of Napoli and Lazio.
    Both the sides breathing down their neck have a game in hand on the reigning champs with the pressure ramping up ahead of a tight finish.
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    Manager Andrea Pirlo only pockets £1.6million-per-year after taking charge of the club

    Lazio pushed their case with a thumping 5-3 victory over Benevento earlier on Sunday.
    Last season’s Golden Boot winner Ciro Immobile bagged a double in Rome.
    Ronaldo missed the game with a thigh injury after being unable to fully partake in training.
    The 36-year-old Portuguese superstar wasn’t risked but could feature against Parma on Wednesday.
    Juventus have now lost all FOUR games they have played without the talismanic forward.
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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    Cristiano Ronaldo shows off ripped abs aged 36 as Juventus star relaxes topless after being slammed for attitude

    CRISTIANO RONALDO is still ripped to shreds at 36 – and wanted to remind his 276million Instagram followers.The Juventus superstar proved age is just a number once again with his latest social media selfie.
    Cristiano Ronaldo took to Instagram to flash his abs once again for all 276m followersCredit: Instagram @cristiano
    Relaxing topless in what appears to be a sauna, the forward posed for the selfie with his eyes closed and bulging muscles on show for all to see.
    Ronaldo simply wrote “Kaizen” on the photo – which means ‘improvement’ in Japanese.
    But while no doubt plenty of his followers were loving the photo, one footballing icon was slamming the Juve man for taking off his shirt earlier in the week.
    Luca Toni hit out at Ronaldo for throwing his jersey away at the end of the game with Genoa on Sunday.
    Andrea Pirlo’s side won the game 3-1 to take another step towards Champions League qualification.
    But Ronaldo failed to get in on the act with a rare blank in front of goal, hitting the post in the first half.
    He took off his top and threw it aside – with a ball boy the lucky recipient.
    The ex-Manchester United man’s frustrations boiled over in the dressing room when he reportedly punched a wall.
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    Ex-Italy frontman Toni slammed Ronaldo’s attitude.
    He told Tuttosport: “He is a very important player for Juventus, he is the top scorer in the league, he is scoring a lot.
    “But some of his attitudes towards the group drive me crazy.
    “I think back to when I was playing: I was very selfish and if I didn’t score I would still remain on the pitch to cheer. I bore the disappointment and kept it inside me.
    “Because regardless of whether it was a coincidence or not, you don’t throw the shirt, you deliver it.
    “Sometimes a great champion has to lead by example.”
    RONAL-GO?
    Ronaldo’s future remains unclear ahead of the summer transfer window.
    Juventus’ flop season has seen them crash out of the Champions League early once again and they look set to relinquish their grasp of the Serie A title after nine years.
    A sensational return to Real Madrid or even Manchester United could be on the cards – with Paul Pogba possibly going back the other way.
    However, French giants Paris Saint-Germain are also considering a mega swoop for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner should they lose Kylian Mbappe.
    Ronaldo threw away his shirt after the full-time whistle on SundayCredit: Getty

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    Alex Sandro ‘keen’ on Chelsea swap transfer to link up with Thomas Tuchel with Emerson Palmieri joining Juventus

    CHELSEA target Alex Sandro is reportedly ‘keen’ on a move to Stamford Bridge to play under Thomas Tuchel.The Blues are eyeing a swap deal with Juventus involving their outcast left-back Emerson Palmieri and Brazilian Sandro is said to like the idea.
    Juventus left-back Alex Sandro is ‘keen’ on a move to ChelseaCredit: Getty
    The Blues are eyeing a swap deal involving outcast left-back EmersonCredit: AP

    Chelsea have long chased Sandro dating back to Antonio Conte’s time with the club.
    A deal has so far eluded them, but changing circumstances at Juve and Tuchel’s January appointment at the Blues could help them get it over the line.
    The German wanted to sign Sandro, 30, when he was in charge at Paris Saint-Germain.
    And the prospect of playing under Tuchel appeals to Sandro, according to Corriere Torino.
    In fact, the potential swap deal is said to appeal to all parties – both players and both clubs.
    Juventus are aiming to cut costs this summer, as they feel the pinch of the coronavirus pandemic.
    And according to Calciomercato, getting Sandro’s salary off the wage bill would be beneficial.
    The 30-year-old reportedly earns around £100,000-a-week at Juventus. And club chiefs believe that they could sign Emerson, 26, on around half of that figure.
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    Massimiliano Allegri was interested in the Italian international during his spell in charge.
    But Emerson, then of AS Roma, decided to move to the Premier League with Chelsea.
    However, under both Frank Lampard and now Tuchel he has found opportunities difficult to come by.
    Emerson has made only 14 appearances this season, scoring once – during a brief cameo against Atletico Madrid last month.
    Only two of these outings have come in the Premier League, having started against West Ham in December, and made an eight minute appearance against Newcastle.
    He will have one year remaining on his contract, come the summer.
    Sandro, meanwhile, has missed games this season with a hamstring injury – as well as after testing positive for Covid-19 in January.
    He has played 26 times in all competitions – including 18 outings in Serie A.
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    Chelsea ‘considering player-swap transfer for Alex Sandro with Emerson Palmieri with Juventus in summer deal’

    CHELSEA could swap out-of-favour star Emerson Palmieri for Juventus ace Alex Sandro, according to reports.The Blues have long chased the Brazilian, dating back to Antonio Conte’s time with the club.
    Emerson Palmieri, 26, has played 14 times for Chelsea this seasonCredit: Getty
    Alex Sandro, 30, has suffered from Covid-19 and a hamstring injury this seasonCredit: Getty
    A deal has so far eluded them, but changing circumstances at Juve could help them.
    The Old Lady are aiming to cut costs this summer, as they feel the pinch of the coronavirus pandemic.
    And according to Calciomercato, getting Sandro’s salary off the wage bill would be beneficial.
    The 30-year-old reportedly earns around £100,000-a-week at Juventus.
    And club chiefs believe that they could sign Emerson, 26, on around half of that figure.
    Massimiliano Allegri was interested in the Italian international during his spell in charge.
    But Emerson, then of AS Roma, decided to move to the Premier League with Chelsea.
    Under both Frank Lampard and now Thomas Tuchel, however, he has found opportunities difficult to come by.
    Emerson recently scored against Atletico Madrid during a rare outingCredit: AP
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    Emerson has made only 14 appearances this season, scoring once – during a brief cameo against Atletico Madrid last month.
    Only two of these outings have come in the Premier League, having started against West Ham in December, and made an eight minute appearance against Newcastle.
    He will have one year remaining on his contract, come the summer.
    Sandro, meanwhile, has missed games this season with a hamstring injury – as well as after testing positive for Covid-19 in January.
    He has played 26 times in all competitions – including 18 outings in Serie A.

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    Fed-up Man Utd star Eric Bailly offered transfer lifeline with clubs in Spain and Italy keen on out-of-favour defender

    FED-UP Eric Bailly has been offered transfer lifelines from Spain and Italy, according to reports.As revealed by SunSport, the Manchester United defender is growing increasingly frustrated due to a lack of minutes under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford.
    Eric Bailly could be handed an escape route out of Old Trafford by clubs in Spain and ItalyCredit: Getty
    The Ivorian, 27, plans set to snub a 12-month contract extension.
    But according to ESPN, clubs from LaLiga and Serie A are considering offering him the chance to resurrect his career on the continent.
    Bailly’s current deal expires in 2022 so the chance to offload the 37-cap international this summer for a fee rather than for nothing next year could be appealing for United.
    Tranfermarkt currently value him at £13.5m.
    Bailly arrived at Old Trafford from Spain having been picked up by the Espanyol academy then joining Villarreal a year before Jose Mourinho made him his first signing as boss.
    The club spent £30million on the defender five years ago.
    But he still has just 100 appearances for the Red Devils with much of his time in England disrupted by injuries.
    This season, the defender has played 15 out of 50 matches as Solskjaer has tended to partner Harry Maguire with Victor Lindelof.
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    Bailly most recently featured in the 1-1 draw with AC Milan before contracting coronavirus while away on international duty.
    The injury-prone ace could return to the side on Thursday when United host Granada in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
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    The injury-prone Ivorian has made just 12 Premier League appearances in the last two seasonsCredit: Guardian News & Media / Free to use by all titles in perpetuity under NMC agreement

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