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      Arsenal and Chelsea in Hakan Calhanoglu free transfer race as Man Utd target’s contract runs down at AC Milan

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      ARSENAL and Chelsea are in the transfer race for Hakan Calhanoglu, according to reports.The AC Milan midfielder, 27, is out of contract at the end of the season so will become a free agent this summer.
      Hakan Calhanoglu is a free transfer target for both Arsenal and Chelsea this summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      And according to Sky Sport Italia, the Premier League pair are battling it out to land the Turkish international with both making offers.
      But they face competition from Serie A giants Juventus.
      The Old Lady are in pole position to secure Calhanoglu and will table a better deal as soon as they are officially allowed.
      AC Milan tried to get Calhanoglu to extend his four-year stay at the San Siro.
      But while they offered a new deal worth £66,000 per week, the former Bayer Leverkusen man wants in excess of £82,500 per week.
      Calhanoglu is yet to decide where he wants to play his football next season.
      Last season, Turkish paper Fanatik quoted the playmaker saying: “God willing, I will be a Chelsea player next season.”
      But he denied the comments and insisted he had not discussed Chelsea talks with the press.
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      Calhanoglu – once a Manchester United target – is in his prime aged 27 and has racked up 163 appearances for Milan.
      This season, the 55-cap international has seven goals and 11 assists in 34 games.
      Transfermarkt value the soon-to-be free agent – who can play in the No10 or wide on the left – at £31.5million.
      Once dubbed as the ‘new Mesut Ozil’, Calhanoglu could fill the playmaker spot under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates vacated by the German.
      Martin Odegaard arrived in January on loan from Real Madrid and the Gunners hope to make a permanent deal in the summer – but Calhanoglu is another option.
      But the Turk would face stronger competition for a place under Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea with the likes of Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz all vying to play behind the central striker.
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      Zinedine Zidane drops sensational Juventus hint as Real Madrid boss says Serie A giants ‘always important to me’

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      ZINEDINE ZIDANE dropped a huge hint he wants to manage Juventus. The Real Madrid boss confessed the Italian giants will ‘always be important to me’.
      Zidane Zidane hinted he may hope to manage Juventus one dayCredit: EPA
      Zidane, 48, spent five seasons as a player with the Old Lady between 1996 and 2001.
      And asked whether he missed Italy and would return there as a manager, he certainly did not rule it out.
      The Frenchman said: “Italy is always in the heart. Juve has always been important to me.
      “I don’t know (laughs). For now I’m here. Let’s see.”
      Current Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo is fighting for his job with the reigning Serie A champions fourth in the table, 12 points adrift of leaders Inter, and dumped out of the Champions League by Porto.
      Zidane hung up his boots in 2006 before returning to Real Madrid in an advisory role.
      He then became sporting director in 2011 and two years later, assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti.
      After 18 months in charge of the Real Madrid Castilla, Zidane took on the role of first-team head coach in January 2016 and famously won a hat-trick of Champions Leagues.
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      The 1998 Ballon d’Or winner quit in May 2018 but was back in the Bernabeu dugout within ten months and boasts an impressive overall record of 166 wins in 251 matches.
      He made the comments on Tuesday night following the first leg of Real’s Champions League quarter-final with Liverpool.
      Two goals from Vinicius Junior and a Marco Asensio strike saw Los Blancos to a 3-1 win in Madrid.
      And unsurprisingly Zidane was full of praise for his team, especially the goalscorers.
      He added to Sky Italia: “We can be happy with the game we played but there is a return and we have to finish the job.
      “But, I repeat, we can be happy with tonight’s race because we ran a complete race.
      “I’m happy for Vinicius because he has missed the goal a bit. He scored two tonight and it’s big to score in the Champions League. I’m happy for him and for the team.
      “Asensio has scored four games [in a row]. For us it is very important to create for scoring chances and to score. Tonight we did it. We could have scored even more goals.”
      Zidane spent five years as a player in Turin, winning the Ballon d’Or in 1998Credit: EPA

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      Matthijs de Ligt available for £130m next summer as Juventus release clause kicks in for Man Utd transfer target

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      MATTHIJS DE LIGT will be available for £130million next summer, according to reports.The Juventus defender, 21, is thought to have a release clause in his contract.
      Matthijs de Ligt could be bought for £130million next summer when his release clause kicks inCredit: Rex
      But according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, it does not kick in until July 2022.
      And that could have the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona on red alert to make a major swoop at the end of next season.
      De Ligt joined Juventus from Ajax for £67.5m in 2019 and is seen as a key player at the Allianz Stadium.
      He has made 64 appearances for the Serie A club since penning the five-year contract and settling quickly in Turin.
      The Dutch star is seen as a leader in the heart of the defence and could see the Juve back line built around him for the next decade.
      But the crippling financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic has hit the Old Lady hard.
      Sales are expected this summer with Paulo Dybala and even Cristiano Ronaldo potentially axed to raise cash.
      And should Juve’s accounts fail to recover and no new contract sorted to take the release clause out, they may be forced to let 2018 Golden Boy De Ligt go.
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      Matthijs de Ligt has a release clause into his contract with Juventus [around €150m]. But it’s gonna be valid only starting from July 2022, as Erling Haaland clause with Borussia Dortmund. Juventus want to keep de Ligt this summer, he’s considered as key player. 🔴🇳🇱 #Juventus— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 5, 2021

      Spanish outlet Todofichajes claimed in March United have made signing the centre-half their ‘top priority’.
      It’s said the Old Trafford brass have opted to pursue De Ligt’s signature after deciding against moves for Real Madrid duo Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane.
      But they would have to smash their own world-record fee paid for a defender after splashing out £85m on Harry Maguire in 2019.
      Barcelona were heavily linked with De Ligt before he joined Juventus.
      The Catalan giants signed his close pal and Ajax team-mate Frenkie de Jong in the same summer and Ronald Koeman would be desperate to reunite them at the Nou Camp.
      Manager Andrea Pirlo only pockets £1.6million-per-year after taking charge of the club

      Juventus De Ligt says he is young but willing to learn from new team-mates More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo ‘fighting for Juventus future as squad and backroom staff placed on trial and face transfer exits’

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      JUVENTUS are reportedly considering a huge top-to-bottom overhaul if they fail to reach next season’s Champions League.Cristiano Ronaldo, Andrea Pirlo and several other key figures could depart if the Old Lady’s financial situation worsens.
      Cristiano Ronaldo and Andrea Pirlo are both fighting for their future at JuventusCredit: Reuters
      Talks over a fresh wage deferral are underway, according to Corriere dello Sport, to minimise the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
      The measure would see at least a portion of the squad’s pay for the period from March to June postponed to later in the year, saving up to £76million.
      Such an agreement was necessary last year when Giorgio Chiellini and Gianluigi Buffon were said to have played a key role in dressing room talks.
      But fresh deferrals may not be enough if Juve finish outside the top four.
      A 2-2 draw with Torino on the weekend left Pirlo’s side fourth in Serie A, level on points with Napoli ahead of their showdown on Wednesday.
      After winning nine Scudetti in a row, such a failure would further erode the club’s finances.
      News emerged last week that a hefty £14.3m was still owed to Maurizio Sarri this season following his summer sacking.
      And the situation in the dugout is said to be causing great frustration for club president Andrea Agnelli.
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      Managing director Fabio Paratici hired both Sarri and Pirlo and, as reported by the Mail, his job is under serious threat.
      Rumours are circulating that midfield legend Pirlo could also be fired if Juventus lose to Napoli.
      The Bianconeri have publicly backed the 41-year-old amid criticism of his players.
      After Ronaldo’s haul of 24 league goals from 23 starts, the next-best tally of seven, held by Alvaro Morata and Federico Chiesa, is some way behind.
      Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot, both Paratici signings, have failed to make a serious impact and could leave in the summer.
      Paulo Dybala is also strongly linked with an exit while high-earning defender Matthijs de Ligt is named as another potential sale if Champions League football cannot be secured.
      Fabio Paratici could be sacked after overseeing the appointments of Maurizio Sarri and PirloCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot could be moved on in an overhaulCredit: AFP
      Missing out on the top four could herald the departure of Ronaldo, 36, who is set for talks over his future in the summer with just over a year left on his contract.
      The upheaval may also guarantee Juve favourites Chiellini and Buffon being moved on, as well as first-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
      But it is the future of coach Pirlo, 41, that is most up for debate ahead of the run-in.
      Some 12 points off leaders Inter Milan and out of Europe, the ex-playmaker has nevertheless been defended by Fabio Cannavaro.
      The Italian, 47, has called on the club to show faith having been fully aware of Pirlo’s inexperience when appointing the rookie.
      He told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “When Juve chose Andrea, they knew very well that he had no experience.
      If Juve don’t give Pirlo a chance, why did they hire him? The club would have been wrong twice if they were to sack him now.Fabio Cannavaro

      “And it is logical that he should need time to mature, even his relationship with the team. There are still 30 points at stake so it is right to leave the judgement pending.
      “He has done good things, bringing through young players and managing a difficult dressing room of players who have won a lot. Of course, some things don’t work. He is human.
      “After all, if Juve don’t give him a chance, why did they choose him last summer? The club would have been wrong twice if they were to sack him now.”
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      Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to play into his 40s as AC Milan prepare new one-year deal after ageless Swede’s heroics

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      ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC is set to sign a new contract that will take him into his 40s.The Swede, 39, has defied his age with his heroics for AC Milan this season.
      Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to sign a new one-year contract at AC MilanCredit: Getty
      Ibrahimovic turns 40 on October 3 but shows no signs of slowing down just yet.
      He has 15 goals in 16 league appearances, firing the Rossoneri to second in the Serie A table, behind rivals Inter.
      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.
      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.
      Ibrahimovic returned to AC Milan in 2020 after a spell in the MLS with LA Galaxy following his exit from Manchester United.
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      He joined the San Siro club on loan from Barcelona in 2010-11, a year after leaving Inter Milan, and then made the switch permanent in 2012.
      But after just one season – scoring 35 times – the 6ft 5ins striker signed for Paris Saint-Germain and enjoyed four years in Ligue 1.
      On the international stage, Zlatan made a dramatic return for the Sweden team in the March break.
      And now he is hoping to lead the line for his country at Euro 2020 this summer.

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      Romelu Lukaku surpasses Brazil icon Ronaldo’s Inter Milan goal record in 13 FEWER games after scoring winner vs Bologna

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      ROMELU LUKAKU surpassed Ronaldo’s Inter Milan goal record – with 13 games to spare.The former Manchester United striker, 27, swapped Old Trafford for the San Siro in 2019 for £73million.
      Romelu Lukaku scored the winner against Bologna on Saturday to take his Inter goal tally past Ronaldo’sCredit: AFP
      And since then he has been in red-hot form.
      In 86 appearances for Inter, Lukaku has a staggering 60 goals.
      He managed 34 in 51 last term and his winning goal at Bologna on Saturday took his tally this season to 26 in 35.
      And that means the Belgian hitman is more prolific than the Brazilian icon.
      The ‘original’ Ronaldo – nicknamed the Phenomenon – moved to Inter in 1997 after one staggering season with Barcelona where he scored 47 goals.
      R9 managed 59 goals for the Serie A giants – but did so in 99 matches across five injury-hit years.
      Lukaku also has more assists than Ronaldo for Inter, with 13 to 12.
      And the former Chelsea hitman’s impact looks set to propel both him and Inter to a first league title since 2010.
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      Lukaku vs Ronaldo Inter records
      RONALDO (1997-2002)
      1997-98 Games: 47 Goals: 34
      1998-99 Games: 28 Goals: 15
      1999-00 Games: 8 Goals: 3
      2000-01 Games: 0 Goals: 0
      2001-02 Games: 16 Goals 7
      Total Games: 99 Goals 59
      ROMELU LUKAKU (2019- )
      2019-20 Games: 51 Goals: 34
      2020-21 Games: 35 Goals: 26
      Total Games: 86 Goals: 60

      Lukaku won the Belgian Pro League with Anderlecht in 2009-10, the same year Jose Mourinho led the Italian side to the treble.
      Inter currently sit eight points clear at the top of Serie A with ten matches to go.
      And Antonio Conte’s men have a game in hand on second-placed rivals AC Milan.
      The Nerazzurri have won their last nine in the league.
      But Lukaku’s form means they may need to fight hard to keep him beyond the summer.
      With some of the European superpowers looking for new No9s when the transfer market reopens, Lukaku was linked with mega moves to Manchester City, Chelsea and Barcelona if they miss out on Erling Haaland.
      However, reports in March suggested Inter are trying to tie their forward down to an improved deal with talks over a new contract expected to begin later in the year.
      The Brazilian striker scored 59 goals for the club in 99 appearances across five seasonsCredit: Getty

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      Cristiano Ronaldo stats show Juventus are ultimate one-man team with more than FOUR TIMES team-mates’ goals

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO has bagged more than FOUR TIMES as many goals in Serie A than any of his Juventus team-mates since he joined.The Portuguese superstar, 36, has also scored more goals than any other player in the Italian league since signing from Real Madrid for £99million in 2018.
      Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more than four times the amount of goals of his next best performing team-mateCredit: AP
      Ronaldo has netted 76 times in 89 league games for the Bianconeri and also laid on 17 assists.
      No other Juventus player has scored more than 18 goals in the same period.
      The former Manchester United hero became the fastest player ever to notch a half century with his 50 goals taking just 61 league appearances.
      Despite his relentless goalscoring, not everyone is convinced Ronaldo has been a good addition for the Old Lady.
      The side are struggling under Andrea Pirlo and look set to have their decade of domestic dominance ended this season.
      Fourth-place Juventus are ten points behind leaders Inter Milan with only ten games left in the Serie A season.
      And former Italy international Antonio Cassano believes Ronaldo has in fact made the Turin side WORSE since he rocked up.
      Cassano also explained away his phenomenal goals tally by suggesting he plays in a selfish way and only cares about scoring and picking up more individual records.

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      He told Bobo TV: “He’s a brake on [Andrea] Pirlo. Cristiano only thinks about his goals and records.
      “If you’re president and you want to start a new cycle, you cannot give a rookie coach the responsibility of coaching someone like Ronaldo.”
      And the former striker previously raged to Corriere dello Sport, saying: “Juventus signed him to win the Champions League, but they’ve done worse with him than they’ve done before.
      “They’d also won the Scudetto [Serie A title] without him. I think he’s been a failure.
      I think Cristiano has done terribly over the last three years.”Antonio Cassano
      “They’ve tried to improve their style of play rather than win. Cristiano just doesn’t work in the same way as Andrea.
      “Pirlo wants to build the play, pressure the opposition and play between the lines, and this means Cristiano doesn’t participate much.
      “I think Cristiano has done terribly over the last three years.”
      Ronaldo has been linked with a move away from his cash-strapped employers and could even return to the Bernabeu with reports suggesting he may be available for as little as £21.5m.
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