Serie A

CRISTIANO RONALDO almost joined AC Milan before the deal hit the rocks, according to former sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli.
The Portuguese forward, who recently rejected millions from a sponsorship deal in Saudi Arabia over their human rights record, made the most high profile move of 2018 when he swapped Real Madrid for Italian champions Juventus in a £100million deal.

Cristiano Ronaldo had an agreement to join AC Milan before JuventusCredit: MASSIMO PINCA

Massimiliano Mirabelli revealed how AC Milan almost signed RonaldoCredit: Getty – Contributor

But the 35-year-old’s future could have panned out differently if previous Milan owner Li Yonghong hadn’t pulled the plug on the move.
Mirabelli admitted that the move wasn’t financially feasible but he would be playing in a Milan shirt now had the current owners been at the helm.
Speaking to TV channel Sportitalia, he said: “It was something we talked about with Jorge Mendes.
“We knew there could be problems with Real and Ronaldo. We did everything, but then the Chinese owners blocked the deal because it was not sustainable.

“With the current owners CR7 would have been a Milan player.”
AC Milan were taken over by American hedge fund Elliot Management in July 2018 to end Li’s one-year spell at the club.
Mirabelli also revealed how they attempted to appoint former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte as manager – who is now at rivals Inter.
He added: “I was proud to have made this choice [when appointing Gattuso] because of his professionalism, his seriousness and the love he and his staff put into their work.

“The Chinese owners did not agree because they thought from the outside it would look like a backward step, but I explained that for me Rino was the coach of the future.
“He has worked in Greece, Serie C and B and for me this is a positive.
“We listened to [Conte], we talked directly. It was a chat that didn’t result in anything.”

Former owner Li Yonghong pulled the plug on the deal over financial concernsCredit: Reuters

Ronaldo moved to Juve from Real Madrid for £100m in the summer of 2018Credit: AFP or licensors

Cristiano Ronaldo rejects £5.3million-a-year to be face of Saudi Arabian tourism with fears over human rights record More

CHELSEA loanee Fikayo Tomori has revealed how a conversation with legendary defender Paolo Maldini convinced him to join AC Milan.
Maldini, who is the technical director at the Italian side, played more than 900 times for the European giant before retiring and joining the backroom staff.

Tomori has only featured four times for Chelsea so far this seasonCredit: Sportphoto24/Marco Canoniero

And Tomori, who has been out of favour for much of Frank Lampard’s reign at Stamford Bridge, has now confirmed it was club legend Maldini who was key in persuading him to join Milan.
He told the club’s website: “I chose to come here to AC Milan because it’s a club with a great history, with great players and obviously the club is in a good moment right now.
“It’s an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down. It’s a huge honour for me to be here.
“When I first got the call, I was a bit… I wouldn’t say confused, but I was surprised! I spoke to Paolo Maldini. The best defender to ever play football was talking to me and asking me to come, so from there I knew that this is where I wanted to come and play football and to learn from him as well. I’m very happy to be here now.

“Paolo Maldini, the best defender that ever played! When I was young and I was [playing as] a striker or a midfielder, Kaka was someone that I really enjoyed watching, [Clarence] Seedorf as well.
“To be able to put on the shirt that they wore is a huge honour and if I have half the success that they had, I’ll have a good time here.”
“I’m 23 years old so I thought I’d choose No. 23. Michael Jordan [is someone] I look up to a lot and he wore No. 23, so I think it made a lot of sense for me to choose it. Hopefully I can be successful in it.
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Maldini is widely regarded as one of the best defenders of all-timeCredit: Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc.
“Off the pitch, I’m very relaxed, very chilled. I like to spend time with family and friends and be quite focused.”
AC Milan are currently top of the Serie A table, two points clear of city rivals Inter.
However, they were thumped 3-0 at home by Atalanta on Saturday, only their second league defeat of the campaign.

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JUVENTUS ace Paulo Dybala’s girlfriend has revealed that she is bisexual – and may even prefer women.
Argentine playmaker Dybala has been in a relationship with Oriana Sabatini, 24, for several years and she still plans to marry him.

Paulo Dybala’s girlfriend Oriana Sabatini has come out as bisexualCredit: https://www.instagram.com/orianasabatini/

But the model still plans to marry the Juve starCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The brunette beauty is a singer, actress and model – and the niece of former tennis star Gabriela Sabatini.
SunSport revealed in 2019 how Oriana shared intimate moments with another woman in a pop video.
And the Buenos Aires-born WAG has now lifted the lid on her bedroom preferences.
Taking part in a Q&A session on Instagram, she was asked: “Are you bisexual?”

Oriana replied: “Really? If I have to put a label on myself, I believe that yes, I am.”
She went further when discussing her private life on an Argentine radio show.
Oriana told Agarrate Catalina: “There is nothing more beautiful in life than to feel free.
“I don’t know if I am a lesbian and I like women, or if I am bisexual, but I won’t hold any prejudices about it.”

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Sabatini often posts glamorous snaps onlineCredit: Refer to Caption

Oriana and Dybala were both diagnosed with coronavirus last March.
And in an interview soon after, Sabatini revealed she wants to get married.
She said: “I would like to get married and Paulo knows it.
“Before becoming a mother, I would like to get married. I believe in the order of steps: courtship, cohabitation, marriage and motherhood.
“Although we will never have guarantees, I am aware that this last decision is the only one that cannot be turned back and that it should be made with someone who makes us feel safe.
“In short, with whom we are ready to do anything.”
Dybala, 27, was left embarrassed by the Argentine FA in November – when they revealed he had been dropped from the national squad with ‘genito-urinary symptoms’.
Former Manchester United target, Dybala has won five Serie A titles since joining Juventus from Palermo in 2015.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates 760th career goal helping Juventus to Supercoppa win over Napoli More

JUVENTUS ace Paulo Dybala’s girlfriend has revealed she is bisexual – and may even prefer women.
Argentine playmaker Dybala has been in a relationship with Oriana Sabatini, 24, for several years and she still plans to marry him.

Paulo Dybala’s girlfriend Oriana Sabatini has come out as bisexualCredit: https://www.instagram.com/orianasabatini/

But the model still plans to marry the Juve starCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The brunette beauty is a singer, actress and model – and the niece of former tennis star Gabriela Sabatini.
SunSport revealed in 2019 how Oriana shared intimate moments with another woman in a pop video.
And the Buenos Aires-born WAG has now lifted the lid on her bedroom preferences.
Taking part in a Q&A session on Instagram, she was asked: “Are you bisexual?”

Oriana replied: “Really? If I have to put a label on myself, I believe that yes, I am.”
She went further when discussing her private life on an Argentine radio show.
Oriana told Agarrate Catalina: “There is nothing more beautiful in life than to feel free.
“I don’t know if I am a lesbian and I like women, or if I am bisexual, but I won’t hold any prejudices about it.”

CASINO DEALS: BEST SIGN UP OFFERS TO CLAIM OVER £700

Sabatini often posts glamorous snaps onlineCredit: Refer to Caption

Oriana and Dybala were both diagnosed with coronavirus last March.
And in an interview soon after, Sabatini revealed she wants to get married.
She said: “I would like to get married and Paulo knows it.
“Before becoming a mother, I would like to get married. I believe in the order of steps: courtship, cohabitation, marriage and motherhood.
“Although we will never have guarantees, I am aware that this last decision is the only one that cannot be turned back and that it should be made with someone who makes us feel safe.
“In short, with whom we are ready to do anything.”
Dybala, 27, was left embarrassed by the Argentine FA in November – when they revealed he had been dropped from the national squad with ‘genito-urinary symptoms’.
Former Manchester United target, Dybala has won five Serie A titles since joining Juventus from Palermo in 2015.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates 760th career goal helping Juventus to Supercoppa win over Napoli More

THE oldies are the goldies, as Zlatan ‘The Man’ has been proving at AC Milan.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in the form of his life, having bagged 12 goals in his last eight Serie A games, prompting him to pronounce “The older I get . . . the better I get!” 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 39, is spear-heading AC Milan’s title chargeCredit: AFP or licensors

He’s also a black belt in Taekwondo, so I wouldn’t argue with him.
Liverpool legend Alan Hansen famously stated that “you never win anything with kids,” before Manchester United’s young Class of ’92 helped dominate the Premier League for many years.
But whether you do, or you don’t, the fact is that former United star Zlatan is showing there is life in his old hips yet, despite turning 40 later this year.
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Us ladies don’t have to reveal our ages but Ibra’s run of form, with goals in each of his last nine starts, suggests there is no substitute for experience.
Ibrahimovic, a free transfer two years ago, could lead Milan to the title in Italy as they are three points clear. And he has already indicated he plans to play on next season.
Not bad for a lad who first started scoring in 1999.
Pop star Shakira sang that your ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ and isn’t that the truth.

But as long as you keep the WD40 handy, you can carry on in your thirty-something years, even in the Premier League. At 39 years of age Chelsea keeper Willy Caballero is the oldest player in the top flight, while former England defender Phil Jagielka is going strong at Sheffield United at 38. 

At 39, Chelsea’s Willy Caballero is the oldest player in the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
In the last few seasons Wes Morgan, Glenn Murray and Ben Foster, all 37, have all played their part while Joao Moutinho, 34, at Wolves remains a regular.
America’s new president Joe Biden looks pretty sprightly, despite at 78 being the oldest ever incumbent in the White House. 
But just behind him, aged 73, is the Premier League’s managerial record breaker, Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace. He shows no sign of stopping and why should he?
Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Robson and Neil Warnock all managed in the Prem into their 70s and the latter is doing a sterling job at Middlesbrough.

In Japan, they have a 53-year-old who still plays in the top league. Step forward Kazuyoshi Miura, or ‘Kazu’ as he is known.
The Japanese legend does the so-called ‘Kazu dance’ whenever he scores, which I hope for his sakes isn’t break-dancing on his head.
I can’t see Roy doing that at Selhurst Park next time Wilf Zaha nets a 30-yard screamer — but I am pretty sure he could if he wanted to!

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JUVENTUS star Paulo Dybala’s girlfriend has revealed she is bisexual – and may even prefer women.
Argentine playmaker Dybala has been in a relationship with Oriana Sabatini, 24, for several years and she still plans to marry him.

Paulo Dybala’s girlfriend Oriana Sabatini has come out as bisexualCredit: https://www.instagram.com/orianasabatini/

But the model still plans to marry the Juve starCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The brunette beauty is a singer, actress and model – and the niece of former tennis star Gabriela Sabatini.
SunSport revealed in 2019 how Oriana shared intimate moments with another woman in a pop video.
And the Buenos Aires-born WAG has now lifted the lid on her bedroom preferences.
Taking part in a Q&A session on Instagram, she was asked: “Are you bisexual?”

Oriana replied: “Really? If I have to put a label on myself, I believe that yes, I am.”
She went further when discussing her private life on an Argentine radio show.
Oriana told Agarrate Catalina: “There is nothing more beautiful in life than to feel free.
“I don’t know if I am a lesbian and I like women, or if I am bisexual, but I won’t hold any prejudices about it.”

CASINO DEALS: BEST SIGN UP OFFERS TO CLAIM OVER £700

Sabatini often posts glamorous snaps onlineCredit: Refer to Caption

Oriana and Dybala were both diagnosed with coronavirus last March.
And in an interview soon after, Sabatini revealed she wants to get married.
She said: “I would like to get married and Paulo knows it.
“Before becoming a mother, I would like to get married. I believe in the order of steps: courtship, cohabitation, marriage and motherhood.
“Although we will never have guarantees, I am aware that this last decision is the only one that cannot be turned back and that it should be made with someone who makes us feel safe.
“In short, with whom we are ready to do anything.”
Dybala, 27, was left embarrassed by the Argentine FA in November – when they revealed he had been dropped from the national squad with ‘genito-urinary symptoms’.
Former Manchester United target, Dybala has won five Serie A titles since joining Juventus from Palermo in 2015.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates 760th career goal helping Juventus to Supercoppa win over Napoli More