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    Cristiano Ronaldo wants Real Madrid return and negotiations ‘opened’ with Juventus superstar available for just £25m

    CRISTIANO RONALDO wants to make a sensational return to Real Madrid, according to reports.
    And Los Blancos have already started negotiations, it is claimed.

    Cristiano Ronaldo could leave Juventus this summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    CR7 won four Champions Leagues with Real MadridCredit: AFP – Getty

    The Portuguese icon left the Spanish capital three years ago, joining Juventus for £85million.
    Ronaldo, 36, was recruited by the Old Lady with the aim of taking them over the line in the Champions League after a series of near misses.
    But things haven’t worked out for Juventus in Europe, having failed to go beyond the quarter-finals since Ronaldo’s arrival.
    Following their latest exit at the hands of Porto, their second at the round of 16 stage in a row, club chiefs are reportedly eager to offload CR7 for just £25m – in order to rid themselves of his enormous salary.

    It’s claimed that Ronaldo earns around £1.1m-a-WEEK gross – which accounts for around a fifth of Juventus’ entire wage budget.
    Come the summer, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will still have a year left on his contract.
    But according to Diario AS, he wants to make a remarkable return to Santiago Bernabeu.
    After joining Madrid for a then-world record fee of £80m from Manchester United in 2009, Ronaldo broke all kinds of records with Los Blancos.

    Ronaldo, 36, netted an astonishing 450 goals for MadridCredit: AP:Associated Press
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    He scored 450 goals in 438 games for Madrid, while winning two league titles and four Champions Leagues.
    Ronaldo reportedly left Santiago Bernabeu because he no longer felt ‘indispensable’ in the eyes of president Florentino Perez.
    But it would appear all may be forgiven and forgotten, with a potential reunion on the cards in the coming months.
    Ronaldo has bagged 92 goals in 121 appearances for Juventus, adding two Serie A titles to his overflowing trophy cabinet.

    CR7 has won two Serie A titles with JuventusCredit: AFP or licensors
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    Inter Milan put Arturo Vidal on ‘transfer list’ with Flamengo interested in midfielder after falling down pecking order

    ARTURO VIDAL has been up for sale by Inter Milan, according to reports.
    And Brazilian side Flamengo are ‘dreaming’ of recruiting the eight-time league title winner.

    Arturo Vidal has underwhelmed at InterCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    Antonio Conte was eager to be reunited with the Chilean last summer, grabbing him from Barcelona for just £900,000.
    But the 33-year-old former former Juventus ace’s return to Serie A could be a brief one, having so far underwhelmed at Inter.
    According to Calcio Mercato, Vidal is now ‘no use’ to Conte’s side – with Christian Eriksen the more likely to stay.
    Vidal may be tricky to shift come the summer, however, as he’ll still have a year remaining on his £100,000-a-week deal signed in September.

    According to the midfielder’s former Bayern Munich team-mate Rafinha, however, Vidal is already enamoured with Flamengo.
    The 35-year-old, who won the Copa Libertadores with the Brazilian giants in 2019, said: “Vidal has a great desire to play for Flamengo. A lot.
    “When he saw us win the Libertadores in 2019, he went crazy.
    “He told me ‘Rafa, I have to play for Flamengo.’

    The Chilean has largely had to be content with a place on the bench of lateCredit: AFP or licensors
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    “He really likes Flamengo. He wears the shirt even now that he is in Europe.”
    Vidal has made 30 appearances for Inter this season, initially a regular starter for Conte.
    But he has largely been a substitute in recent weeks, following Eriksen’s renaissance.
    He was granted another chance in the starting XI for Monday night’s clash with Atalanta.
    But he was hooked after just 52 minutes following a performance ‘full of errors’.

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    Cristiano Ronaldo shared £3.5k-a-week fishing village home with Georgina Rodriguez and kids during coronavirus pandemic

     
    THIS is the stunning ocean-view villa Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly renting for his family before he returns to Italy last summer during the coronavirus pandemic.

    The Juventus striker, 36, picked the £3,500-a-week six-bed property in a remote spot near the fishing village of Canical after tiring of his luxury apartment in the Madeira capital Funchal during the first lockdown.

    Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was said to have switched to this amazing home near the sea in Carnical from his luxury apartment in Madeira last summerCredit: Airbnb

    Portugal hero Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly hired this incredible property, yet returned to Italy within daysCredit: Airbnb

    The coronavirus lockdown didn’t hit Critiano Ronaldo too hard, judging by the living roomCredit: Airbnb
    A video Ronaldo posted on Instagram showed him doing sprints up a ramp with girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez, next to a red-roofed house with a large garden – very different to the urban seven-storey apartment he bought in 2019 and had been staying at during the coronavirus lockdown.
    ‘IDEAL HOLIDAY HOME’
    Ronaldo’s rented villa, which can sleep six, is in a gated estate and has a huge pool set in a landscaped garden with palm trees, stunning views of the Atlantic, and direct access to the beach below.
    It also has a games room with a snooker table, and an outside BBQ.

    It is described on local property website Madeira-legacy.com as “very private” and the “ideal holiday home for a family or group of friends.”
    Cristiano and Georgina were believed to have relaxed there with children Ronaldinho Jr and twins Eva and Matteo.

    There is no shortage of entertainment on offer in the property Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly rented, including a games roomCredit: Airbnb

    Ocean views enhance the luxury of the villa Cristiano Ronaldo and his family were thought to enjoy last summerCredit: Airbnb

    The kitchen facilities are hardly cramped for Cristiano Ronaldo, Georgina Rodriguez and their childrenCredit: Airbnb

    Cristiano Ronaldo returned to his native Portugal after the lockdownCredit: AFP or licensors
    Correio da Manha’s magazine Vidas quoted a source saying: “He felt he needed space, that he was getting a bit stifled inside four walls.
    “This new place has a big garden and more privacy of course. Cristiano is very used to having a quiet life.”

    Cristiano’s mum Dolores Aveiro, who suffered a stroke last year, and his older brother Hugo are understood to have stayed on in Funchal.
    They live on lower floors of the seven-storey apartment block the footballer bought in 2019 so he could enjoy the top two floors and its rooftop swimming pool when he was in town.

    The lack of privacy Cristiano had by being in Funchal meant that when he went out for a quick walk with his family, they were approached by fans and pictures of them were taken which went round the world.
    Georgina was also photographed shopping days earlier.

    Canical, a half-hour drive east of Funchal, is home to around 6,000 people. It was the centre of the whaling industry until the early eighties and has a whale museum.
    Emanuel Santos, the sculptor behind a bizarre statue of Cristiano which was mocked all over the world after it was unveiled at Madeira’s airport in March 2017, comes from Canical.
    One of the sculptures he had crafted before the Ronaldo bust was unveiled, of two fishermen sat in a small fishing boat, is on a roundabout at the entrance to the village.

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    Man Utd and Chelsea set for summer transfer battle for Roma’s Gianluca Mancini with defender’s price tag cut to £27m

    MANCHESTER UNITED will go head to head with Chelsea in a summer transfer battle for Roma’s Gianluca Mancini, according to reports.
    The Roma centre-back, 24, is set to be available for a cut-price fee of £27million when the market reopens due to the financial impact of coronavirus.

    Manchester United and Chelsea have both been linked with Roma defender Gianluca ManciniCredit: AP:Associated Press

    And according to the Express, that could tempt the Premier League giants to fight it out for his signature.
    Mancini – no relation to former Manchester City boss Roberto – joined Roma on a permanent deal for £11m last summer following a successful loan spell from Atalanta.
    The four-cap Italy international has missed just three Serie A games this term, keeping seven clean sheets and helping Roma to fifth.
    And the commanding defender continues to prove a threat in the opposition box, too, with four goals and two assists in his 23 league appearances.

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to add another centre-half to his Manchester United squad this summer and find a long-term partner for Harry Maguire.
    Fiorentina ace Nikola Milenkovic and Sevilla’s Jules Kounde have been linked while Eric Bailly could be in store for a new contract at Old Trafford.
    Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel wants another leader in defence and Mancini could fit the bill.
    Jose Gimenez, Niklas Sule and Ibrahima Konate are also on the Stamford Bridge shortlist – but David Alaba is unlikely to join.

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    The German already has Antonio Rudiger, Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Andreas Christensen and Kurt Zouma at his disposal to play in his back three – and used all five since his arrival, shipping just two goals in 11 matches.
    Plus Fikayo Tomori, Ethan Ampadu, Malang Sarr and highly-rated Marc Guehi remain out on loan for the campaign and could force their way into contention by impressing in pre-season.
    However, Mancini’s versatility to be able to play in a back three or back four as well as at right-back and holding midfield if required could see him favoured over other transfer targets.

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    Cristiano Ronaldo ‘can leave Juventus for just £25MILLION’ as Italians look to cut losses after Champions League failure

    CRISTIANO RONALDO can leave Juventus for just £25million, according to reports.
    The Italians are reeling financially and their premature Champions League exit has only exacerbated those troubles.

    Juventus could sell Cristiano Ronaldo for just £25million this summer to cut their lossesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    And according to Corriere dello Sport via Football Italia, the Old Lady would be willing to sell the five-time Ballon d’Or winner this summer for just a quarter of the price they paid for him in 2018.
    That would enable the club to avoid a capital loss, the report adds.
    Ronaldo’s contract expires in 2022 but getting his reported £540,000-a-week salary off the wage bill would save £28m next season.
    There were suggestions he was hoping to get a 12-month extension on his current deal but the club appear unwilling to grant that request.

    Juventus CEO Fabio Patratici said this week: “Fortunately, there is still a year on Ronaldo’s contract, so we have time to talk to him. That’s not a priority right now.”
    Reports in Spain suggest Ronaldo’s super-agent Jorge Mendes is in discussions with Real Madrid over a stunning return while Le Parisien thinks Paris Saint-Germain are monitoring the situation closely.
    In the event that Kylian Mbappe does leave, club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi will be desperate to land either Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.
    The Le Parisien report also claims Mendes and Al-Khelaifi are in close contact and have a good relationship, regularly texting or video calling each other. 

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    Ronaldo, 36, was brought in for £99m with one of the primary targets to help lead the club back to the top of European football.
    Juve have not won the Champions League since 1996 – although they were beaten finalists in 1997, 1998, 2003, 2015 and 2017.
    And since Ronaldo’s arrival in Turin, their knockout record does not make pretty reading.
    A hat-trick in the second leg of their 2018-19 last-16 clash against Atletico Madrid inspired their only knockout tie victory.
    Ajax dumped them out in the very next round that year before shock exits at the hands of Lyon and now Porto.
    Domestically, Ronaldo has won two Serie A crowns but no Coppa Italias – and Andrea Pirlo’s side currently sit third in the table, ten points adrift of leaders Inter Milan.

    Manager Andrea Pirlo only pockets £1.6million-per-year after taking charge of the club

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    Romelu Lukaku’s incredible Mediterranean diet which has made him Inter Milan superstar including two plates of gnocchi

    ROMELU LUKAKAU has shared his Mediterranean diet of salad, fish, chicken and pasta that has turned him into an Inter Milan superstar.
    The 27-year-old admitted he was overweight while at Manchester United due to a digestive problem that has since been corrected in Italy.

    The Belgian loads up on salads, chicken breast and Shirataki pasta

    Romelu Lukaku has shared the diet that has turned him into an Inter Milan superstarCredit: AP:Associated Press

    The Belgian dropped over a stone upon his arrival in Serie A following a strict diet carefully selected by the Nerazzurri’s medical staff.
    Lukaku has already scored 18 league goals this season to spearhead Inter’s title charge and he has put his success down to his new physique.
    Speaking in a podcast with Matteo Pincella, the club’s chief nutritionist, the striker revealed that he’s never felt better.
    As reported by Sky Sport Italia, via the Mail, he said: “Since I joined Inter I have changed my diet and I can say that I have never felt so strong.

    “My diet consists of salads for lunch, a lot of chicken breast, Shirataki pasta.

    Since I joined Inter I have changed my diet and I can say that I have never felt so strong
    Romelu Lukaku

    “I don’t change my way of eating much, for how we play we must have a very strong physique, we run a lot: since I have followed this lifestyle I feel better on the pitch, I feel more reactive and faster.
    “I love carbohydrates and I love potatoes, sweet potatoes and black rice, but I don’t eat a lot of pasta.
    “I’ve always been an explosive player with muscles but Italy took me to another level. I have never felt so strong. I have reached another level, physically and mentally.”

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    Lukaku then revealed that he loads up on carbs after games to help him recover with Italian gnocchi being his preferred choice.
    He added: “I consume a lot of carbohydrates after games. Most of the time I eat two packs of gnocchi, it depends on what the chef has prepared. They go into circulation quickly and they help me a lot.”
    He continued: “After the matches I also eat two plates of gnocchi!”

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    Cristiano Ronaldo ‘WILL be allowed to quit Juventus in summer transfer if he wants to go’ after Champions League exit

    CRISTIANO RONALDO will reportedly be allowed to leave Juventus this summer.
    Fabrizio Romano claims the Italians will not stand in his way if Ronnie, 36, decides to call it quits following Tuesday’s Champions League exit to Porto.

    Juventus will not stand in Cristiano Ronaldo’s way if he wants to leave this summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    Ronaldo’s dreams of a sixth European title were dashed again when the 10-men Portuguese side beat Juve in extra time of their last-16 clash.
    The Turin outfit also look set to have their nine-season Serie A title run ended by Inter Milan.
    And Romano claims Juve are ready to let Ronaldo go if he doesn’t want to stay past the end of the season.
    Romano said: “Juventus doesn’t keep players who want to leave the club. If Cristiano decided to leave, they’ll let him leave. 

    “He hasn’t said anything to the club and at the moment they are happy and planning with him.”
    Meanwhile, Juve boss Andrea Pirlo has bemoaned the Porto free-kick that condemned Juve to another early Champions League elimination.
    He said: “We choose the players to go in the wall. It had never happened before that they’d turn around. Maybe they felt it was so far out that they didn’t sense the danger.
    “It was a mistake, it usually doesn’t happen, the players didn’t feel it was a dangerous situation and conceded a goal.

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    “When you make four big errors over two legs in the Champions League Round of 16, you can get eliminated.
    “We didn’t get it wrong when Porto were down to 10, as all we could do was try to spread them out by moving the ball side to side and packing the penalty area with bodies. That is how the goals arrived.
    “It will take a few days to cancel this game from our minds, but then we must face every game with the right attitude, realise we’re still only in March and have time to climb the Serie A table.”

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    Paul Gascoigne sends Lazio inspirational message in Italian before heading to Caribbean for Italian I’m A Celeb camp

    PAUL GASCOIGNE sent a message to Lazio fans in Italian before heading to a Caribbean island for Italy’s version of I’m A Celebrity.
    Daft as a brush Gazza, 53, was at the Rome club for three years in the early 90s and became an idol for the notorious Curva Nord ultras at the Olympic Stadium.

    Paul Gascoigne sent his former side Lazio a message of support in Italian before heading into I’m A Celeb

    When he arrived in the Italian capital from Tottenham in 1992 for £5.5million – £11.5m in today’s money – more than 10,000 fans were there to greet him.
    And fans quickly took him to their hearts after he scored a last-gasp equaliser against fierce local rivals Roma in the Derby della Capitale.
    Speaking on Lazio’s Twitter page, Gascoigne – who has been taking lessons in Italian – said: “Hi guys. It’s Gascoigne.
    “I want to send my regards to all of you and to top striker Ciro Immobile.

    “Let’s get Lazio back to the top of Europe, the place where they should be.
    ”A big kiss and good luck to you for the future.”
    Dressed in a grey hoodie, the former Spurs and Newcastle star looked fit and well.
    He has been in training ready for two months on an island off Honduras where he will be up against 15 other competitors in the survival reality TV show which starts on Italian TV next Monday.

    Gazza spent three years with the Italian side before joining Rangers in 1995Credit: Rex Features
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    Gazza left Lazio for Rangers in 1995 but regularly returns to Rome where he is presented to adoring fans.
    On his last trip, one banner said, ”Welcome back Gazza. Lionheart, headstrong, pure talent, real man: still our hero’, which left the loveable Geordie in tears.
    Within minutes of the video being posted, it had been viewed thousands of times with one fan commenting: “Gascoigne – what a hero! I loved how this madman played.”
    While another said: “Gazza… poetry with his feet… only you mad, quick tempered and a phenomenon.”
    Gazza was well known for his pranks on Lazio team-mates including one where a young Roberto Di Matteo got the shock of his life after the England star slipped a snake in the pocket of his jacket and then asked him if he had any change.
    While last month in a podcast the 57-cap Three Lions hero revealed how then-Lazio boss Dino Zoff gave him a rollicking after he fooled him and team-mates into thinking he had been involved in a serious moped accident.
    He lay sprawled on the ground covered in tomato ketchup as blood and when concerned colleagues rushed to his help he jumped up and started licking himself.
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