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      Allegri ‘told Juventus to SELL Cristiano Ronaldo before 2019 exit to allow team to grow and youngsters to get chances’

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      FORMER Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri reportedly told club chairman Andrea Agnelli to sell Cristiano Ronaldo before he left in 2019.The 53-year-old stood down as the Old Lady gaffer at the end of the 2018-19 season after guiding the Italian side to five consecutive Serie A titles.
      Massimiliano Allegri reportedly urged Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli to sell Cristiano Ronaldo in 2019Credit: Reuters
      He worked with Ronaldo, 36, for one year after he lured the Portuguese forward away from Real Madrid in 2018 in the hope he would guide them to Champions League glory.
      Ronaldo arrived to Turin having won the European Cup four times in five years, and there was expectation he could fire Juve to their first triumph since 1996.
      But Juve crashed out to Ajax in the quarter-finals in Allegri’s last year in charge, with the ex-AC Milan manager urging Agnelli to offload Ronaldo as he was stalling the growth of the club.
      According to La Repubblica via Football Italia, in Allegri’s last meeting with Agnelli, he stated that Ronaldo should also be following him out of the door.
      Allegri is claimed to have said: “Get rid of Ronaldo, he’s blocking the growth of the team and the club.”
      It has also been reported that the former Napoli midfielder was of the opinion that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was stopping young players from featuring in the first-team.
      But Agenlli rejected his plea, and while Ronaldo fired Juve to another title last year, the club haven’t advanced passed the Champions League Round of 16 stage in the last two campaigns.
      And with the Bianconeri 12 points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan, Ronaldo’s future is in doubt – despite banging in 32 goals in 37 games this term.
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      It is understood that Ronaldo and Juve will meet at the end of the season to discuss his future, with the striker’s contract to expire next year.
      He angered fans on Sunday after the 3-1 win against Genoa when he angrily tossed his shirt to the ground after he failed to get on the score sheet.
      And his frustration continued in the dressing room where La Gazzetta dello Sport declared he punched a wall.
      Wojciech Szczesny also felt his ire after he threw the ball out with a Genoa player down injured, leading to Ronaldo being quoted as yelling: “There are ten of them, we have to attack.”
      Ronaldo has subsequently been linked with a sensational return to Manchester United, with Paul Pogba to potentially move in the opposite direction.
      Paris Saint-Germain are also said to be keen on landing the Euro 2016 winner, but only if Kylian Mbappe departs France in the summer.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      Zlatan Ibrahimovic slapped with one-match ban and £4k fine for ‘disrespecting’ referee in AC Milan’s win over Parma

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      ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has been slapped with a one-match ban and £4,000 fine for ‘disrespecting’ a referee in AC Milan’s win over Parma. The striker was sent off on the hour mark with Milan 2-0 up.
      Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been slapped with a one-match banCredit: AFP
      Ibrahimovic, 39, saw red after he traded words with the match official.
      Milan coach Stefano Pioli told Sky Sport Italia: “Zlatan told me that he argued with the referee and it lasted some time.
      “He assured me that he did not disrespect him and above all he did not offend.”
      Despite protesting his innocence, the Swede will miss Milan’s next game and be forced to pay the fine.
      The club went on to win the game 3-1, but still trail rivals and league leaders Inter Milan by eight points.
      Ibrahimovic turns 40 on October 3 but shows no signs of slowing down just yet.
      He has 15 goals in 17 league appearances and is close to extending his stay in Milan for another year.
      And according to Sky in Italy, a one-year extension is on the table which he is expected to sign and stay beyond this summer.
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      The report adds Ibrahimovic should pen the deal within the next seven to ten days.
      Zlatan currently earns around £5.94million per season – or £114,000 per week.
      And those wages are on course to remain the same into the 2020-21 season.
      Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Turkish midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu are also out of contract at the end of the season and talks continue over new deals.
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      Man Utd and Chelsea on red alert over Paulo Dybala transfer but PSG in pole position for Juventus star

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      MANCHESTER UNITED and Chelsea are both interested in signing Juventus superstar Paulo Dybala, according to reports.But Paris Saint-Germain are in pole position to bag the Argentine.
      Paulo Dybala, 37, has scored three Serie A goals this seasonCredit: Getty

      Dybala, 27, will have a just year left on his £125,000-a-week deal come the end of the season.
      And while he is interested in staying in Turin, a renewal isn’t easy for Juve.
      According to Corriere dello Sport, Juventus can only afford to keep one of Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo.
      The Old Lady have struggled financially since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, with Ronaldo’s enormous salary in particular weighing down the club’s coffers.
      Tuttosport report that Paris Saint-Germain are well placed to recruit Juve’s No10, with boss Mauricio Pochettino a long-time admirer of his compatriot’s talent.
      Pochettino, 49, tried to recruit Dybala while manager of Spurs in the summer of 2019, only for the deal to fall through at the last moment.
      But, with PSG’s considerable financial clout behind him this time, he may finally get his man – although fans of Man United or Chelsea may hope that their team can pip PSG to the post.
      Dybala could end up staying, however, if Juventus allow Ronaldo, 36, to leave instead.
      Mauricio Pochettino is a big fan of Paulo DybalaCredit: Getty
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      Other reports in Italy have sensationally claimed that CR7 could head back to Old Trafford – with in-form Paul Pogba potentially moving the other way.
      According to Calciomercato, United want to mark their likely Champions League qualification with an ‘important’ signing.
      And Cristiano Ronaldo would certainly fit the bill.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Cristiano Ronaldo could leave Juventus this summerCredit: AFP
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      Inter Milan players should demand board SACK ‘boring’ Antonio Conte despite club storming to Serie A title, says Cassano

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      ANTONIO CASSANO reckons Antonio Conte should be SACKED as Inter Milan boss despite being top of Serie A.Ex-Chelsea boss Conte has Inter on course for a first title since 2010 with an 11-point lead at the top of the table.
      Antonio Cassano hit out at Antonio Conte’s ‘boring’ style of playCredit: Alamy
      Ex-Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has Inter on course for a first title since 2010Credit: Rex
      But former Italian striker Cassano called Inter’s play style boring and ‘horrifying’.
      He told Bobo TV: “Inter will win the Scudetto, because the only way to lose it now would be throwing it out the window, but I have to say this with a heavy heart: they play bad football.
      “As for the talk about getting new players in, who would that be? Conte doesn’t want real champions.
      “Ajax played with a three-man defence under Louis van Gaal too, but Conte plays 5-3-2, with everyone behind the ball, sitting there to defend the goal. Park the bus and you do not pass.
      “This kind of football gives me the shivers, it’s horrifying. If I had a coach like this, I’d go to the President and beg him to fire the boss.”
      Conte has been in charge since 2019 after leaving Chelsea the summer before.
      Inter are set to end Juventus’ nine-year Serie A dominance with just eight games left in the campaign.
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      Inter are 11 points clear at the top of Serie ACredit: Rex

      Only Atalanta, with 71, have scored more than Inter’s 69 goals in the Italian league this season while Conte’s men have the joint best defence with 27 conceded.
      Cassano, who played 39 times for Italy, spent just one season at Inter.
      He was better known for his Roma playing days which earned him a move to Real Madrid in 2006.
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      Man Utd ‘to splash Champions League cash on Cristiano Ronaldo transfer with Paul Pogba heading to Juventus in swap deal’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED want to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus this summer, according to reports in Italy.And in order to get a deal done, they could let Paul Pogba return to his former club in part-exchange.
      Cristiano Ronaldo could leave Juventus this summer, according to sensational reports in ItalyCredit: AFP
      Paul Pogba produced a stunning performance against Spurs on SundayCredit: EPA
      The Red Devils are set to be feeling flush at the end of the season, with another shot at Champions League football in sight.
      And this could lead them to making a massive move.
      According to Calciomercato, United want to mark Champions League qualification with an ‘important’ signing.
      And Cristiano Ronaldo fits the bill.
      They claim that the Portuguese hasn’t ruled out a return to Old Trafford one day.
      With his wages reportedly crippling Juventus’ finances, the Old Lady may want to cash in with a year remaining on his contract.
      Ronaldo is 36, and has not featured in a single Champions League semi-final during his time in Turin – with Juve also looking likely to surrender their Serie A title for the first time since 2011.
      Ronaldo, 36, played with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old TraffordCredit: AFP
      Pogba, 28, made his name in TurinCredit: Getty – Contributor
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      They also claim that Pogba, 28, could return to Juventus as part of the process.
      Like Ronaldo, the Frenchman will also have just a year remaining on his contract come the summer, with Mino Raiola having infuriated Ole Gunnar Solskjaer by admitting his client wants to leave United just 24 hours before a huge clash with RB Leipzig.
      Pogba’s form has recovered since then, however, and he delivered a scintillating performance against Tottenham on Sunday as United ran out 3-1 winners in North London.
      While Man United will want to keep Pogba in his current form, the Italian report reckons that they are set for an ‘important’ chat with Juventus over the futures of the two star players.

      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      World’s most valuable football clubs revealed with £3.5bn Barcelona top, Man Utd up to 4th and Chelsea slipping to 7th

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      BARCELONA are the most valuable football club in the world for the first time – worth a whopping £3.46billion. The Nou Camp giants pipped arch-rivals Real Madrid (£3.45bn) into top spot after five successive second-place finishes.

      Barcelona lost El Clasico on Saturday but were eventually crowned the most valuable club in the worldCredit: Getty
      Both clubs recorded 2020 revenues of £576m and debt values at six per cent.
      European kings Bayern Munich (£3.07bn) move up one place to third from last year’s rankings while there is also a jump for Manchester United.
      The Red Devils, worth £2.77bn in 2020, leap from sixth to fourth and are now worth £3.06bn, according to Forbes’ latest figures.
      In the previous 16 years, Real Madrid and United had dominated the title as the world’s most valuable club with 11 and five years in first place respectively.
      United lead a quintet of English clubs between fourth and eighth in the table – and nine overall in 2021’s top 20.
      Liverpool are worth £2.98bn which sees them sneak above Manchester City (£2.91bn) – who announced £126m losses last week – after wrestling the Premier League title from them last year.
      The Anfield giants were valued £1.59bn in the June 2020 edition, meaning the club’s assets have almost doubled in the past ten months.
      Chelsea, third overall last time, claim the London bragging rights at £2.33bn, £290m ahead of Arsenal and £660m clear of Spurs.
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      The White Hart Lane club are tenth on the list, with Champions League runners-up Paris Saint-Germain breaking up the Premier League ‘Big Six’ in ninth at £1.82bn.
      European heavyweights Juventus (£1.42bn) and Borussia Dortmund (£1.38bn) are the last teams to break the £1bn barrier.
      Atletico Madrid come in next, a fair way back at £728m, to ensure the top 13 clubs on the list remain the same from 2020.
      Everton (£479m) are sandwiched between the two Milan clubs – Inter are worth £541m while San Siro rivals AC sit back on £407m with fellow Italians Roma next at £399m.
      West Ham pip Leicester for the second time in as many days following Sunday’s 3-2 win at the London Stadium – the Hammers weigh in at £370m, £39m ahead of Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes who also ranked in 19th in 2018.
      Ajax (£300m) complete the top 20 as just the fourth team in the list owned by club members, alongside podium-sitters Barca, Real and Bayern.
      Roma have the highest debt value at a massive 56 per cent with Tottenham next on 39 per cent – the Serie A side also had the worst operating income with -£79m while United topped that category at £121m.
      Real Madrid boast the most lucrative shirt sponsorship deal with their five-year, £300m agreement with Emirates worth £50 per season.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Manchester United jumped from sixth to fourth to claim the highest English placingCredit: Getty
      West Ham got the better of Leicester by one place – after beating the Foxes 3-2 on SundayCredit: EPA

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      Man Utd dealt Paulo Dybala transfer blow with Juventus boss Pirlo claiming he WILL sign new contract and stay at club

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      ANDREA PIRLO has warned Manchester United off Paulo Dybala by claiming the superstar WILL be at Juventus next season.Dybala, 27, has been linked with a big-money move this summer as he approaches the final year of his Bianconeri deal.
      Andrea Pirlo is adamant Man Utd target Paulo Dybala will be at Juventus next seasonCredit: Getty

      Juventus are also thought to be in dire financial straits due to the coronavirus crisis.
      And reports in Italy claim they need to raise around £85million this summer alone to balance the books.
      Dybala, regarded by many as one of Europe’s top attacking playmakers, is thought to be valued around that figure.
      It’s led to reported interest from Manchester United, who have long been fans of the mercurial Argentina ace.
      However, Turin tactician Pirlo insists Dybala will not be going anywhere this summer.
      And he hopes one of his most ‘important’ players will eventually commit his future on a new long-term deal.
      Pirlo declared: “I’ve always said Dybala is an important player and unfortunately I haven’t had him at my disposal very much this season.
      “Let’s look at the present, because that is more important than the future.
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      “He still has a year left on his contract, so we will have him here next season.
      “Dybala is a player who makes the difference. I hope hope to be able to use Cristiano Ronaldo, Alvaro Morata and Dybala together at some point.
      “With Dybala, it’s the club who are in charge of making the decisions. I’m fortunate to coach winners like him.
      “The final decisions are made by the directors.”

      Dybala joined Juve in 2015 from Palermo for around £30m and has gone to score 99 goals in 245 games.
      He also has five Serie A titles to his name, but looks set to miss out on this season’s trophy with Inter Milan top of the pile.
      Some may attribute Juve’s league failings to Dybala’s injury problems, which have limited him to just 12 appearances this term.
      And Pirlo will have to be wary of rushing him back into action too soon, with Juve also already out of the Champions League.
      But Dybala will be hoping to play a part in May’s Coppa Italia final against Atalanta, with league games against Inter and AC Milan also still to come.
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      Man Utd’s Jesse Lingard ‘wanted by Real Madrid, PSG and Inter Milan’ after reviving career on loan transfer at West Ham

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      JESSE LINGARD’S remarkable resurgence could earn the midfielder a move to Real Madrid, according to reports.The LaLiga giants are named as one of several clubs keeping an eye on the England international’s stunning form for West Ham.
      Jesse Lingard is catching the eye of Europe’s biggest clubs at West HamCredit: AFP
      Since joining the Hammers on loan in January, he has tallied eight goals and four assists – losing just one of his nine games.
      That has elevated him to the radars of Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, as reported by ESPN.
      Champions League football is said to be Lingard’s desire for next season.
      United surprised many when extending his contract until June 2022 in December.
      But it means the club will hold sway over a potentially lucrative sale this summer, or award the academy product a fresh run in the side.
      A permanent move to West Ham is also an option, but the 28-year-old reportedly has no interest in being used as a makeweight in a deal for skipper Declan Rice.
      The Hammers are hoping to offer Champions League football next season having returned to the top-four and beaten third-placed Leicester in the past week.
      Talks over a transfer are yet to take place with SunSport revealing Arsenal are also among those keen on the England international.
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      Lingard has earned huge praise for his form while Manchester United contemplate their next move.
      Gary Neville believes it is a win-win scenario for the club and former Red, Andy Cole, reckons cashing in is the right move.
      Ex-defender Neville told his Sky Sports podcast: “We know he’s a good player.
      “United have a big decision to make. Do they cash in and get good money for him, and then replenish the squad in an area they want to, and bring in extra quality?
      “Or do they think he’s part of a good 23-man squad? He can’t lose with the decision, [Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer.
      “Lingard’s value has gone up, Jesse is enjoying himself, so he either comes back to United and plays a big part in a title challenge, or he gets a good move, United get the money for him, and they can use that money to spend elsewhere.
      What I give Jesse credit for is he’s turned up without much football at United.Roy Keane
      “I don’t think United or Lingard can lose, it’s a win-win for both parties.”
      While Cole told talkSPORT: “I think if I was Manchester United, I would move him on.
      “And if I was Jesse I would want to go and play games. Definitely.”
      Roy Keane credited Lingard with staying in top condition despite a lack of playing time at Old Trafford.

      The Irishman said on the weekend: “He’s been outstanding.
      “What I give Jesse credit for is he’s turned up without much football at United.
      “He obviously kept himself in good shape which is the sign of a good pro. He maybe took his eye off the ball off the field, but he always had that talent and it’s great to see it.”
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