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CRISTIANO RONALDO’S agents have rubbished rumours linking the Juventus superstar with a shock move to Barcelona or PSG. The 35-year-old, revered as an icon at Barca’s rivals Real Madrid, reportedly intends to remain with the Serie A champions. Earlier this week it was reported that the forward has been offered the chance to conquer France alongside […] More
GEORGINA RODRIGUEZ has once again stolen the limelight from her superstar partner as she wowed in a black bikini. Cristiano Ronaldo’s 26-year-old girlfriend showed off her incredible figure in Saint-Tropez on the couple’s £5.5million yacht. Rodriguez and Ronaldo were in a joyous mood as they basked in the sunshine in the Mediterranean Sea. RON THE […] More
ISCO is reportedly ready to stay with Real Madrid amid speculation he is wanted by Juventus.
Andrea Pirlo, who took over as manager of the Italian champions, was said to be eyeing a move for Isco.
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Isco is reportedly ready to stay with Real Madrid amid speculation he is wanted by Juventus
It would see the Spaniard, 28, reunite with Cristiano Ronaldo, 35, with whom he won four Champions League trophies.
According to AS, Isco was initially open to listening to offers away from Madrid.
But it is understood after a holiday he has decided to commit to the LaLiga champions for another season.
His contract expires in 2022 and Bernabeu bosses are yet to enter talks to extend the deal.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, transfer fees are facing a plummet.
And Isco is said to believe his price tag would significantly drop this summer.
He has been linked with a move away from the Spanish capital for several seasons now, despite 30 appearances in Madrid’s title winning campaign this term.
It is believed Pirlo identified Isco as the perfect man to get the best out of Ronaldo.
And with Madrid igniting reported interest in Paulo Dybala, the Spaniard’s future could even be out of his hands.
According to SportMediaset, Madrid could offer Isco or Toni Kroos to Juve in exchange for the Argentine.
In addition to offering one of the midfielders, it has been said they are also prepared to hand over £89.9million – despite the Italian kings wanting to extend Dybala’s deal.
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DAVID SILVA will be welcomed with “open arms” at Lazio.
The Manchester City legend will leave the Etihad once their quest for Champions League glory comes to a conclusion this month.
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David Silva will be welcomed to Lazio with ‘open arms’Credit: Getty Images
The midfield maestro is set to join the Italian giants in the “next weeks” – and his new team-mates cannot wait to have the 34-year-old on board.
That is according to Serie A’s top goalscorer and Lazio star Ciro Immobile.
He said: “Great player and great experience, we are waiting for him with open arms.
“I can’t wait for him to arrive, before Lazio players we are Lazio fans.”
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Lazio star Ciro Immobile cannot wait to have the Spaniard alongside himCredit: Alamy Live News
Lazio have offered the Spaniard a deal worth £52,000 a week.
They have also thrown in some luxury selling points for that includes his own private jet and a luxury pad in the heart of Rome.
Silva has won 11 major pieces of silverware during his time in England but the Champions League has bypassed him so far.
The veteran believes he still has five years left in the tank at the top level and Lazio’s length of contract on the table convinced him to join.
Silva posted an emotional message to Man City fans last month when announcing his departure from the club.
It read: “They have shown me so much respect – and respect is the most important thing for me.
“They have shown me and my family respect wherever we go and then on the pitch too.
“I am very grateful for all of this.
“I just want to say thank you to all the supporters, to the club, to the workers here at the club because they have made my life much easier and I am grateful for that. I will be Blue – Blue forever.”
David Silva offered £52k a week, private jet and ‘elegant house’ by Lazio as Man City legend weighs up transfer More
CRISTIANO RONALDO and Lionel Messi could finally join forces next season.
The Juventus star has reportedly been offered a shock move to Barcelona this summer.
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Here’s how Barcelona could line-up for the 2020/21 campaign
Ronaldo has allegedly been left considering his future after a disappointing end to the season.
The 35-year-old has reportedly been offered the chance to play for Paris Saint-Germain.
And more surprisingly, Ronaldo has been tipped to team up with his Ballon d’Or rival at the Nou Camp.
The two stars – who are the richest footballers on the planet – have never played together.
Instead, they have competed with each other tirelessly throughout their careers to determine who is the best player.
Messi is leading the race after winning six Ballon d’Or titles – compared to Ronaldo’s five.
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Lionel Messi has spent his entire career with BarcelonaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
In 2016, Ronaldo admitted he would like to play alongside his Argentine rival.
He told France Football: “It would be interesting to see us both in the same team.
“I think great players should play together.
“So if we were in the same team, I think I would have more than him, but he wouldn’t be far off.”
Ronaldo and Messi – who have a combined age of 68 – could lead the line for Barca next term.
The former Real Madrid star has 638 career goals and 223 assists under his belt.
And the Barcelona talisman has found the net 634 times and made 285 assists.
Luis Suarez, 33, could form the final part of their formidable front three.
Barcelona’s midfield could also feature some new faces next season.
Matteo Guendouzi has been linked with a move to the Nou Camp – but Arsenal are demanding £40million for him.
The LaLiga giants have also set their sights on signing Bernardo Silva from Manchester City.
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Cristiano Ronaldo earns a whopping £28million per year at JuventusCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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CRISTIANO RONALDO and partner Georgina Rodriguez were pictured together on a yacht enjoying their summer holiday.
It comes after Ronaldo, 34, celebrated his second consecutive Serie A title with Juventus, the club he signed for in 2018.
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Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez were pictured together on a yacht enjoying their summer holiday
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Ronaldo and Rodriguez have regularly been getting away on their luxury yacht off the coast
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Georgina uploaded a picture of herself enjoying the sun
The forward was spotted holidaying in San Marino recently around the time his manager changed.
Maurizio Sarri was sacked and replaced with former Juve midfielder Andrea Pirlo.
Sarri clashed with Ronaldo on several occasions, leading to recent reports the former Real Madrid forward was lining up a sensational move to PSG.
But it now looks as though the French champions will focus their efforts on tying down Neymar and Kylian Mbappe to new contracts.
And Ronaldo now has a new boss to instead work under.
Sarri’s sacking came after the Italian kings were knocked out of the Champions League by Lyon.
The European departure allowed the Juve squad to take a well earned summer vacation.
Despite the respite, Ronaldo showed off his impeccable physique, already prepared for next season.
With the coronavirus pandemic still showing few signs of going anywhere, the Portugal skipper and Rodriguez have regularly been getting away from it all by escaping to their luxury yacht off the coast.
The loved-up pair appear to be having a whale of a time – regularly showing off their happy faces as they post to their millions of followers on social media.
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Juventus’ Champions League exit allowed the squad to take a well earned summer vacation
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Georgina steps out of a ride as the yacht awaits
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MARCO MATERAZZI has revealed that he handed out “a good beating” to then Inter Milan team-mate Mario Balotelli after the Champions League semi-final in 2010.
The pair were playing under current Spurs boss Jose Mourinho and had just beaten Barcelona 3-1 in the first leg of the tie at the San Siro.
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Fiery Italian and Inter Milan duo Mario Balotelli (left) and Marco Materazzi had it out in 2010 after the former’s Champions League antics
However, the game is often remembered for Balotelli’s petulance at the full-time whistle after his lacklustre display off the bench.
Balotelli, only 19 at the time, threw down his shirt at the end of the 90 minutes causing uproar among the Inter faithful and much to the displeasure of no-nonsense Italian defender Materazzi.
On Instagram live, Materazzi recalled: “I gave him a good beating, it’s true. I love Mario, but he really deserved it that day.
“We’ve become friends again now, practically brothers, but he did something that day that he really should not have done.
“Throwing his shirt to the ground after the final whistle wasn’t even the worst of it.
“Before the game, on the team bus, he told us: ‘Today I’m going to play badly,’ so I promised to make him pay if he did.
“When he came off the bench, he tried a shot from midfield rather than go on the counter. Diego Milito wanted to kill him.
“We believed in Mario, he scored many goals and contributed to the victory, but a week after that, I asked Mourinho to put me against Balotelli in the training ground games between ranks.
“After a few seconds, I’d sent him back to the dressing room.”
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Inter Milan’s striker Mario Balotelli chucked his shirt to the floor on his way off the pitch against Barcelona
The unorthodox relationship between team-mates clearly did no damage to Inter as they went on to win the treble that season, including a 2-0 Champions League final triumph over Bayern Munich in Madrid.
Materazzi’s disciplining of Balotelli may have made him seem like a father figure for the precocious young talent.
But the defensive ace – infamous for being on the receiving end of Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt during Italy’s 2006 World Cup final victory – reserved special praise for Balotelli’s own father.
He said: “I really loved his father, as after a game with Rubin Kazan he told Mario: ‘I didn’t like your performance, you have to play more for your team-mates. And stop going around with girls!’ What an idol.”
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Former Inter boss Mourinho will hope to replicate his trophy-laden spell in Italy at new club Tottenham and Materazzi would like to see his old mentor return to winning ways.
He added: “Nobody can match Mourinho when it comes to creating that empathic connection with players. Plus he’s a smartass.
“He has struggled to win recently, because he was successful at Manchester United. Tottenham have a young and strong squad, so I hope he can get back to winning ways.”
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ANDREA PIRLO once snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo in favour of Lionel Messi in a dream XI – and always picked Barcelona on the PlayStation.
The legendary Italian may have an awkward conversation in pre-season, though, after taking over as Juventus boss.
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Andrea Pirlo picked his dream XI in 2015 and there was no space for Cristiano Ronaldo, who he will now manage at JuventusCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Pirlo, 41, replaced Maurizio Sarri at the Allianz Stadium and his first job may be to make peace with superstar Ronaldo – especially after describing Messi as “the best”.
He played against both Messi and Ronaldo during his illustrious playing career but was certain when asked who the toughest he faced was, choosing the Barcelona skipper.
And then in an Instagram post sharing a picture with the Argentine in 2015, Pirlo wrote: “A great meeting with the best…”
He even admitted whenever playing video-game football with Alessandro Nesta during their days at AC Milan, he always chose the Nou Camp club.
Pirlo said: “After the wheel, the best invention is the PlayStation.
“Me against Nesta was a clasico of our time at Milanello. We’d get in early, have breakfast at 9 then close ourselves off in our room to challenge each other, train, have lunch and then it was back in our room again until 4 in the afternoon.
“Our battles were pure adrenaline. I chose Barcelona, Sandrino did too. Barca against Barca.”
But asked to fulfil his dream XI from players to have played in the Champions League, there was no spot in the side for Ronaldo.
Admittedly this was five years ago and since then the Portuguese hero has won another three European titles and broke numerous goalscoring records, now sitting proudly at the top of the all-time chart with 130 goals.
But with no Ronaldo, here is two-time winner Pirlo’s Champions League dream team from 2015…
Gianluigi Buffon
Now his boss at Juventus, Pirlo played alongside and against one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time – his only blot is not winning the Champions League.
Pirlo said: “He has been at the top for so long. He makes saves that no other goalkeeper in the world can make. He knows how to command the defence and give confidence to them.”
Cafu
The Brazilian full-back redefined the position with his threat going forward as well as in defence and led his country to World Cup glory in 2002.
Pirlo’s assesment: “Trend-setting in being one of the first truly great attacking full backs. Excellent at getting forward, but very strong defensively as well.”
Paolo Maldini
Another AC Milan hero, another iconic figure in Italian – and world football – winning five European Cups and reaching a further three finals.
Pirlo commented: “A defender who could read the game like nobody else, so intelligent and always so calm on the ball. One of the true greats, for both Italy and Milan.”
Fabio Cannavaro
Will forever be remembered for lifting the World Cup in 2006 and another of the Azzurri clan who just loved defending.
Pirlo said: “A true leader that didn’t need to ask for respect, but naturally got it. Without doubt one of the best central defenders to have ever played.”
Philipp Lahm
Lahm was one of the most solid, consistent performers in his 517 Bayern Munich and 113 Germany appearances, again topped off by lifting the World Cup.
Pirlo said: “One of those players who never makes mistakes, always so reliable for Germany and Bayern. Probably doesn’t always get the credit, because it’s just so normal for him to be playing at such a high level now.”
Gennaro Gattuso
The tough-tackling, no-nonsense midfielder was perfect foil for Pirlo, allowing the pass maestro to strut his stuff and pull the strings.
Pirlo’s review: “Rino is the opposition’s nightmare. Even in a training game, he plays like it is the World Cup final. The style of his game allows his team-mates time on the ball. Every team needs a Gattuso.”
Xavi
Everyone knows all about Xavi’s quality, as the metronome in a Barcelona side that ticked better than most.
Pirlo added: “Another intelligent midfield player. Didn’t need to spend the whole time running but would control so many games for Barcelona and Spain with his intelligence and range of passing.”
Paul Scholes
Played out on the left for England, Scholes was at his best pinging the ball around from the middle of the park – and hitting the odd wondergoal.
Pirlo’s verdict: “The truly great English midfield player of the generation. Didn’t just play the game, he thought about the game. You could see every pass, every decision, was based on his intelligence and understanding.”
Kaka
AC Milan won the 2007 Champions League – and a large part of that was down to the Brazilian’s excellence.
Pirlo said: “I remember how badly we took it as a team when Kaka left Milan. For two or three years he was the best player in the world. There was a point when teams just had no idea how to stop him.”
Lionel Messi
The winner of four Champions Leagues, six Ballons d’Or and countless other honours and awards, Messi is regarded as the greatest of all time by many, including Pirlo.
Pirlo gushed: “Has achieved so much, but still I am sure will achieve so much more. I don’t need to talk in detail about what he is capable of. Everybody knows he is one of the greatest ever already.”
Fillipo Inzaghi
A lethal finisher inside the box, Inzaghi is one of the best strikers Italy have produced over the years.
Pirlo lauded: “Just the perfect goal scorer. We had this most incredible understanding. We did not even have to look for each other. He knew what pass I would make and I knew where he would be. You gave him a chance and he would take it.”
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Lionel Messi is regarded by many as the greatest footballer ever – including by PirloCredit: AP:Associated Press
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Pirlo hailed Kaka for his instrumental performances as AC Milan won. the Champions League in 2007Credit: Getty Images – Getty
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