Serie A

AC MILAN legend Marco van Basten has claimed his career was not ‘worth the pain’ and that he ‘died as a player’ during his injury hell.
The former striker won the Ballon d’Or three times during his incredible career but revealed his regrets after persistent ankle injuries.

Van Basten revealed he can no longer even kick a ball due to the injuries he sufferedCredit: Reuters

Van Basten was one of the stars of his generation, playing for AC Milan here following six years with AjaxCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Regarded as one of the best players of his generation, Van Basten, 56, was a football icon during the 80s and 90s – before retiring at just 32.
Now he says that in hindsight the whole experience was more trouble than it was worth.
The Dutchman told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Euro League’s podcast: “If I had the choice again with all the knowledge I have today, it’s not worth it.
“All the pain I had, it was not worth it. My ankle created so many problems, it affected my day-to-day living. But at that time football was my whole life.

“Now I am older, I have had a life without football. You can still have a good life – there is more than football. Today I would make a different decision if I had the choice.
“I died as a player.
“Still today I can’t play football. It’s far too difficult, my ankle is fixed, I can’t shoot, I can’t do anything with my foot.
“In all my life there was not a day that I hadn’t touched a football and all of a sudden it was over. It was very hard, painful.”

Van Basten won three Ballon d’Ors and back to back European CupsCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Van Basten’s highlights include winning back-to-back European Cups with the great AC Milan team of the late 1980s.
But he suffered the low of missing two entire seasons due to his ankle.
Van Basten also revealed how it felt to become the team-mate of his late idol Johan Cruyff, who he came off the bench to replace on his debut before going on to score.
He said: “Cruyff was one of the best, he was my hero and my example.

“He was a star at the same time as George Best, fantastic to watch.
“I knew him later on, he became my trainer, my adviser, my team-mate, my opponent.
“It was easier for me to play with him than to speak to him.”

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CRISTIANO RONALDO may be a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and one of the biggest celebrities in the world – but just like the rest of us he sometimes has to wait for tables in restaurants.
The Juventus forward, 35, headed out for a pre-Christmas dinner with girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez and son Cristiano Jr in December 2018.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his family showed their humility after waiting patiently for a table at a restaurant in TurinCredit: Instagram / @georginagio

But after receiving the call and accepting the booking for three at Casa Fiore in Turin, the boss knew he was already rammed for the night.
Chef Davide Fiore offered the trio a table at 9.30pm, banking on others to leave in time – only for Ronaldo & Co to arrive 90 minutes early.
But they did not make a fuss at all as Fiore described the humble superstar as a “decent boy”.
And his excellent hospitality means Ronaldo has become a regular at the Piedmontese restaurant – which serves Italian and Mediterranean dishes – ever since.

Fiore told Tuttosport: “It is impossible to forget, it felt like being in a movie. While I was at home preparing for the evening service I get a call that I never expected.
“A person calls me to book a table of three for Cristiano Ronaldo, for 9.30pm.
“Obviously I immediately say yes, but then I think, ‘And now how do I do it?’ I knew the place was already full, but given the time I was counting on the fact that a 7.30pm reservation would finish in time for 9.30pm.
“To be safe, I borrowed a table from a nearby restaurant and set it up in a corner.

Davide Fiore, left, was full of praise for the humble five-time Ballon d’Or winner – who is now a regularCredit: Instagram / Ristorante CASA FIORE Torino

“Cristiano, Georgina and their eldest son, Cristiano Jr, arrived at 8pm. And there I said to myself, ‘What now?’
“The customers were left speechless, no one spoke anymore. And above all, no one wanted to get up anymore, they were captured by CR7.
“So I made Cristiano sit in the emergency table, but time passed and nobody got up. Cristiano did not bat an eyelid and Georgina and her son like him.
“At that juncture I realised that Ronaldo, despite being a world star and the best player in the world, is first and foremost a decent boy.
“I can assure you that I have seen people far less famous than him leave after five minutes, and with arrogance, in such situations.
“He, on the other hand, waited for his table for almost forty minutes.

“Four days later he was back with me and from that moment on he started coming on average once a week. Even with Jorge Mendes, his agent.”
Ronaldo was forced to spent more than two weeks in self-isolation in October after testing positive for coronavirus.
But after making his return for Juventus with two goals at the weekend, he will no doubt be hoping to dine out at Casa Fiore again before long.
Fiore added: “I expect a visit from them this week, maybe after the Champions League.
“Obviously it will depend on the limitations of the government. The closing in the evening made us reverse the hours, now we only have lunch.
“We have always respected the protocols, but unfortunately we pay for those who have not done so in recent months.”

Ronaldo returned to action after his self-isolation period with two goals against SpeziaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez stuns in Louis Vuitton outfit for Paris fashion show More

CRISTIANO RONALDO is ‘ignorant’ and ‘has no respect for his team-mates’, according to former Juventus ace Pasquale Bruno.
Retired defender Bruno blasted Portuguese superstar Ronaldo for his failure to learn Italian – despite having spent two years in Turin since his £99million move from Real Madrid in 2018.

Cristiano Ronaldo was blasted for being ‘ignorant’Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Retired defender Pasquale Bruno slammed Cristiano Ronaldo for not speaking ItalianCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Speaking on Italian football show Tiki Taka, the 58-year-old fumed: “He is ignorant.
“He has been in Italy for two years and has not yet learned to speak our language.
“He uses Spanish to express himself. He has no respect for his team-mates or for the Italians.”
Ronaldo, 35, has shown no signs of relenting in Serie A after firing Juventus to back-to-back titles with 52 league goals in the last two campaigns.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner returned to action – after recovering from coronavirus and spending 17 days in self-isolation – with a brace in the 4-1 win over Spezia on Sunday.
The former Red Devil turned super sub for Andrea Pirlo’s side as he found the net just 126 seconds after entering the fray in the 56th minute.
Ronaldo added a second with a cheeky panenka penalty 20 minutes after coming on and in a post-match interview exclaimed: “I’m back, that’s what’s important.”
The prolific forward had publicly raged at testing positive THREE times for the deadly virus as he labelled the PCR swab testing ‘bulls***’ in a quickly-deleted Instagram comment.

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Ronaldo showed off his new buzz cut and ripped body when he stripped down to his CR7 pants before coming off the bench.
His double strike helped haul him back into contention for the Serie A Golden Boot race as he took his tally to five in three games.
But Ronaldo lags behind another golden oldie in frontrunner Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 39, whose stunning bicycle kick for AC Milan against Udinese was his seventh goal in just four games.
Ronaldo had his humble character praised by Italian chef Davide Fiore after he waited almost 40 minutes to land a table in a restaurant in December 2018.

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CRISTIANO RONALDO may be a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and one of the biggest celebrities in the world – but just like the rest of us he sometimes has to wait for tables in restaurants.
The Juventus forward, 35, headed out for a pre-Christmas dinner with girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez and son Cristiano Jr in December 2018.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his family showed their humility after waiting patiently for a table at a restaurant in TurinCredit: Instagram / @georginagio

But after receiving the call and accepting the booking for three at Casa Fiore in Turin, the boss knew he was already rammed for the night.
Chef Davide Fiore offered the trio a table at 9.30pm, banking on others to leave in time – only for Ronaldo & Co to arrive 90 minutes early.
But they did not make a fuss at all as Fiore described the humble superstar as a “decent boy”.
And his excellent hospitality means Ronaldo has become a regular at the Piedmontese restaurant – which serves Italian and Mediterranean dishes – ever since.

Fiore told Tuttosport: “It is impossible to forget, it felt like being in a movie. While I was at home preparing for the evening service I get a call that I never expected.
“A person calls me to book a table of three for Cristiano Ronaldo, for 9.30pm.
“Obviously I immediately say yes, but then I think, ‘And now how do I do it?’ I knew the place was already full, but given the time I was counting on the fact that a 7.30pm reservation would finish in time for 9.30pm.
“To be safe, I borrowed a table from a nearby restaurant and set it up in a corner.

Davide Fiore, left, was full of praise for the humble five-time Ballon d’Or winner – who is now a regularCredit: Instagram / Ristorante CASA FIORE Torino

“Cristiano, Georgina and their eldest son, Cristiano Jr, arrived at 8pm. And there I said to myself, ‘What now?’
“The customers were left speechless, no one spoke anymore. And above all, no one wanted to get up anymore, they were captured by CR7.
“So I made Cristiano sit in the emergency table, but time passed and nobody got up. Cristiano did not bat an eyelid and Georgina and her son like him.
“At that juncture I realised that Ronaldo, despite being a world star and the best player in the world, is first and foremost a decent boy.
“I can assure you that I have seen people far less famous than him leave after five minutes, and with arrogance, in such situations.
“He, on the other hand, waited for his table for almost forty minutes.

“Four days later he was back with me and from that moment on he started coming on average once a week. Even with Jorge Mendes, his agent.”
Ronaldo was forced to spent more than two weeks in self-isolation in October after testing positive for coronavirus.
But after making his return for Juventus with two goals at the weekend, he will no doubt be hoping to dine out at Casa Fiore again before long.
Fiore added: “I expect a visit from them this week, maybe after the Champions League.
“Obviously it will depend on the limitations of the government. The closing in the evening made us reverse the hours, now we only have lunch.
“We have always respected the protocols, but unfortunately we pay for those who have not done so in recent months.”

Ronaldo returned to action after his self-isolation period with two goals against SpeziaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez stuns in Louis Vuitton outfit for Paris fashion show More

CRISTIANO RONALDO may be a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and one of the biggest celebrities in the world – but just like the rest of us he sometimes has to wait for tables in restaurants.
The Juventus forward, 35, headed out for a pre-Christmas dinner with girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez and son Cristiano Jr in December 2018.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his family showed their humility after waiting patiently for a table at a restaurant in TurinCredit: Instagram / @georginagio

But after receiving the call and accepting the booking for three at Casa Fiore in Turin, the boss knew he was already rammed for the night.
Chef Davide Fiore offered the trio a table at 9.30pm, banking on others to leave in time – only for Ronaldo & Co to arrive 90 minutes early.
But they did not make a fuss at all as Fiore described the humble superstar as a “decent boy”.
And his excellent hospitality means Ronaldo has become a regular at the Piedmontese restaurant – which serves Italian and Mediterranean dishes – ever since.

Fiore told Tuttosport: “It is impossible to forget, it felt like being in a movie. While I was at home preparing for the evening service I get a call that I never expected.
“A person calls me to book a table of three for Cristiano Ronaldo, for 9.30pm.
“Obviously I immediately say yes, but then I think, ‘And now how do I do it?’ I knew the place was already full, but given the time I was counting on the fact that a 7.30pm reservation would finish in time for 9.30pm.
“To be safe, I borrowed a table from a nearby restaurant and set it up in a corner.

Davide Fiore, left, was full of praise for the humble five-time Ballon d’Or winner – who is now a regularCredit: Instagram / Ristorante CASA FIORE Torino

“Cristiano, Georgina and their eldest son, Cristiano Jr, arrived at 8pm. And there I said to myself, ‘What now?’
“The customers were left speechless, no one spoke anymore. And above all, no one wanted to get up anymore, they were captured by CR7.
“So I made Cristiano sit in the emergency table, but time passed and nobody got up. Cristiano did not bat an eyelid and Georgina and her son like him.
“At that juncture I realised that Ronaldo, despite being a world star and the best player in the world, is first and foremost a decent boy.
“I can assure you that I have seen people far less famous than him leave after five minutes, and with arrogance, in such situations.
“He, on the other hand, waited for his table for almost forty minutes.

“Four days later he was back with me and from that moment on he started coming on average once a week. Even with Jorge Mendes, his agent.”
Ronaldo was forced to spent more than two weeks in self-isolation in October after testing positive for coronavirus.
But after making his return for Juventus with two goals at the weekend, he will no doubt be hoping to dine out at Casa Fiore again before long.
Fiore added: “I expect a visit from them this week, maybe after the Champions League.
“Obviously it will depend on the limitations of the government. The closing in the evening made us reverse the hours, now we only have lunch.
“We have always respected the protocols, but unfortunately we pay for those who have not done so in recent months.”

Ronaldo returned to action after his self-isolation period with two goals against SpeziaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Cristiano Ronaldo throws lavish party for girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez More

MAURIZIO SARRI could be set for a return to management with reports in Italy linking the ex-Chelsea boss to Fiorentina and Roma.
Juventus sacked the 61-year-old in the summer after just a year in charge.

Maurizio Sarri is linked with a quick return to management in Serie ACredit: Reuters

A Scudetto was not enough to save his job with Andrea Pirlo coming in following his failure to reach the latter rounds of the Champions League.
Sarri and Juve are still in talks over his financial settlement and that may hold up a move to another team.
But La Gazzetta dello Sport claim Fiorentina are interested in the Italian.

Viola boss Giuseppe Iachini, 56, has faced huge criticism this season and reportedly needs to avoid defeat at Parma on Saturday to save his job.

Fiorentina have won twice this season but squandered leads late on against Inter Milan and newly-promoted Spezia.
And the Tuscan club are keen to push up the table after being taken over by Italian-American billionaire Rocco Commisso.
Sarri is named on their shortlist alongside ex-Inter Milan coach Luciano Spalletti, although Fiorentina may prefer a short-term appointment to see out the season before hiring a big-name candidate.
Roma, who beat Fiorentina 2-0 on Sunday, are also reportedly keen on the veteran manager.

Roma are reportedly considering replacing Paulo FonsecaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Time is almost up for Giuseppe Iachini at 11th-placed FiorentinaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Sat eighth in the table, the Giallorossi are said to be unhappy with Paulo Fonseca and a further decline in form may put him at risk.
Italian outlet CalcioMercato claims Sarri would prefer Roma over Fiorentina, as he seeks an ambitious team that can one day win Serie A.
The Stadio Olimpico outfit were reportedly unhappy with Fonseca, 47, when he criticised the club for ‘lacking stability’.
He said last month: “I am always an optimistic person, but I also acknowledge the reality that there are teams in Serie A with greater stability and who invested far more than Roma.
“Don’t forget, Roma also didn’t have a director of sport for months, so that influenced our negotiation capability too.”

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CRISTIANO Ronaldo stripped down to his CR7 underwear on Sunday and showed off his ripped body before coming on against Spezia.
The 35-year-old Juventus star was making his return to first team action after testing negative for coronavirus, having spent 17 days in self-isolation.

Cristiano Ronaldo showed off his incredible physique as he prepared to come off from the bench against SpeziaCredit: AFP or licensors

Ronaldo’s CR7 underwear could be seen as he stripped down to get readyCredit: AFP or licensors

Ronaldo was making his first appearance for the Old Lady since scoring twice against Roma on September 27.
And he showed he was still in tip-top shape despite contracting the deadly bug thanks to his detailed fitness regime.
Commenting on his body, one fan messaged: “He killed my heart with his beauty!”
Another said: “For Cristiano, age is just a number.”

A third quipped: “Underwear merchant.”
One simply stated: “Tasty.”
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner made it five goals out of three Serie A matches as he found the back of the net twice at Stadio Dino Manuzzi.
It took him just three minutes to get himself back in the goals as he tapped home into an empty net after rounding the goalkeeper, before chipping in a penalty.

It was Ronaldo’s first match for the Old Lady since September 27 after he contracted coronavirusCredit: Reuters

Speaking after the match, a jubilant Ronaldo said: “I have been standing still for a long time despite having no symptoms and feeling fine.
“Today I went back to doing what I like, playing football.
“The Serie A is a competitive league. There is AC Milan doing a great job, Lazio, Napoli…
“We have to work hard, but we are growing.
“The controversy over the swab test? Cristiano is back. This is the important thing.”
Ronaldo – who sleeps five times a day and feasts on ‘magic’ chicken – revealed earlier this year he plans on competing until he is 40.
Quizzed on how long he can keep going by Marca, he stated: “Much will depend on what I feel, on my motivation.
“Physically it will never be a problem.

Manager Andrea Pirlo only pockets £1.6million-per-year after taking charge of the club
“I am treating myself well and I think can play safely up to 40 years.
“The most important factor, honestly, will be more psychological – that will be the one that makes the difference.
“In any case, everything has a beginning and an end. I won’t last a lifetime but I still feel strong enough to continue winning.
“I will stop if I have no incentives.”

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