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      Ex-Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri hints at retirement with sad statement after Lazio’s win over Celtic

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      MAURIZIO SARRI has hinted at retirement with a sad statement after Lazio’s 2-1 win against Celtic on Wednesday night.The ex-Chelsea boss has considered packing it all in as football is “no longer” the game he loves.
      Maurizio Sarri has hinted at retirement as football is ‘no longer’ the game he lovesCredit: EPA
      It has been Lazio’s worst start to a season in 16 years and a stark contrast to where they were in June – runners-up to Napoli.
      The Italian giants have lost four of their first seven Serie A games.
      And Lazio thought they had faced defeat again on Wednesday night in Glasgow with 10 minutes to go as Honduran winger Luis Palma thought he had given Celtic the lead.
      But with the goal disallowed Pedro was quick to claim the winner for Sarri’s side.
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      Their victory should have been able to give hope and lift the squad back up.
      However, the 64-year-old boss was not convinced and has insisted football has lost a place in his heart.
      He told Athletic reporter James Horncastle: “This is no longer the game I love.”
      Sarri left Napoli five years ago to manage Chelsea and then Juventus.
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      He then joined Serie A giants Lazio in 2021, and while his contract does not expire until 2025, it does not look likely he will be taking over another club.
      Sarri admitted football is getting harder to keep up with and struggles at times to remember who he is playing next.
      He added: “I wake up in the morning and can’t even remember who we’re playing against.” More

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      Italy legend Andrea Pirlo facing sack from new job after just NINE games as furious fans launch protests

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      ITALY legend Andrea Pirlo is reportedly on the verge of being sacked by Sampdoria.The former Serie A champions went down to Serie B last season and they are now in danger of back-to-back relegations.
      Andrea Pirlo is on the verge of being sacked as Sampdoria managerCredit: Getty
      Ex-Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani became part of a consortium that bought the club back in May, but the new bosses have failed to turn things around.
      Pirlo was appointed as manager in June, but he has since led Sampdoria to just one league win.
      And Sampdoria now sit 19th in the Serie B table.
      According to Calciomercato, Pirlo is on the verge of being sacked as a result.
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      However, the club plan to stick with him at least until their next match against Ascoli this weekend.
      Sampdoria fans started to protest during the club’s loss to Catanzaro on Sunday.
      And after the defeat, Pirlo said: “It’s difficult to comment on these types of defeats after every game. We had taken the lead, then they managed to equalise with a half cross, with defensive indecision.
      “Everything becomes more difficult, but we must not look for alibis, we know that this is the moment.
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      “We must not let our guard down, we must be more concentrated and try to get out of this situation together. We had the opportunities, but in football whoever scores goals wins and we were unable to do so.
      “The situation at the moment is this, we must try to stay united and try to get out of it quickly. We must try to be positive and not get caught up in this fear that we see and feel when we play. At the moment we are fragile and cannot win.”
      Before becoming a manager, Pirlo played for Brescia, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus before retiring at New York City FC.
      He also made 116 appearances for the Italian national team. More

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      Victor Osimhen releases emotional statement as he finally breaks silence after being mocked by Napoli’s official TikTok

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      VICTOR OSIMHEN has broken his silence after being the subject of mockery from Napoli’s TikTok account.He was derided for missing a penalty before being labelled a “coconut” – widely viewed as a racial slur.
      Victor Osimhen called for unity after the TikTok sagaCredit: Getty
      His agent threatened to sue the club – Napoli responded by stating no offence was intended.
      Osimhen has now spoken out by calling for unity while thanking fans for the love and kindness they have shown him.
      A statement read: “Coming to the city of Naples in 2020 was a wonderful decision for me. The people of Napoli have shown me so much love and kindness, and I will not allow anyone to come between us”.
      “The passion of the people of Naples fuels my fire to always play with my heart and soul, and the love for the badge is unwavering as I wear it with pride”.
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      “The accusations against people of Naples are untrue. I have a lot of friends that are Napolitans and have become part of my family and everyday life. I appreciate Nigerians and everyone for leading their voices to support and reach out to me”.
      “I’m forever grateful. Let’s support unity, respect and understanding. FORZA NAPOLI SEMPRE ⚪️🔵”
      Osimhen, 24, initially reacted by deleting all but one reference to Napoli on his social media account.
      He also refused to take a penalty against Udinese in mid-week and was benched against Lecce on Saturday.
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      But it appears he has agreed with the club to put the saga behind them, with Napoli social media executive Alessio Fortino departing the club for his role in the controversy. More

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      Napoli social media executive QUITS after Victor Osimhen mocked in two separate TikTok videos

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      NAPOLI’S social media executive has quit after Victor Osimhen was mocked in two separate club TikTok videos.The striker was ridiculed for missing a penalty against Bologna before being called a “coconut” – widely viewed as a racial slur.
      Victor Osimhen was the subject of mockery from the Napoli’s TikTok accountCredit: Reuters
      Napoli added the caption “Gimme penalty please” to his spot-kick miss, plus a whining voice-over appearing to make fun of the ex-Lille star.
      Osimhen’s agent responded by threatening to sue the club, while the Nigerian refused to take a penalty against Udinese in mid-week.
      Napoli responded by stating no offence was intended but social media executive Alessio Fortino has now left the club.
      Fortino announced the news on Instagram, writing in a short statement: “Today, after 805 days, my professional adventure with Napoli ends.
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      “For many this job would be comparable to a dream, for me it was simple daily reality: a reality built on commitment and fueled by the constant desire to learn and play.
      “I cannot help but express my deepest gratitude to all the colleagues, collaborators, partners and supporters I’ve met along this long journey for making this experience so special.
      “Leaving the company with a baggage of great memories and an excitement for the new adventures that lie ahead.
      “Thanks again for everything and see you soon! Alessio’.”
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      Osimhen was benched against Lecce on Saturday but scored in a substitute appearance.
      Napoli boss Rudi Garcia claimed he was rested, rather than dropped, but the TikTok controversy has sparked speculation Osimhen could leave the club.
      Osimhen has since released a statement – breaking his silence on the matter. More

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      Reason why Chelsea transfer bid for top striker collapsed revealed by Juventus with Blues even offering Lukaku in swap

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      THE reason behind Chelsea’s failed attempt to buy Dusan Vlahovic has been revealed. The Blues submitted a bid to Juventus to try and land Vlahovic in the summer.
      Chelsea saw an offer for Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic rejected in the summerCredit: EPA
      The Blues have spent more than £1billion on transfers since Todd Boehly bought the clubCredit: Rex
      It even saw them offer Romelu Lukaku as a part exchange.
      However, the deal fell through with Lukaku eventually joining Roma on loan and Vlahovic remaining in Italy.
      The reason for the failed bid has now been revealed by Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli.
      Speaking to La Repubblica, he said: “There was an offer from Chelsea for Vlahovic.
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      “We didn’t want to sell Dusan, but given certain numbers we would have accepted.
      “Chelsea never reached that figure, and the exchange [with Lukaku] never took place.”
      Mauricio Pochettino’s side have been plagued by a lack of clinical finishing this season.
      They have scored just five Premier League goals, three of which came against newly-promoted Luton.
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      Meanwhile, Vlahovic has scored four goals in the Serie A.
      Having already spent more than £1billion on transfers under Todd Boehly, Chelsea have been linked with moves for both Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen in the January transfer window. More

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      Napoli striker Victor Osimhen BENCHED for Serie A clash amid TikTok mocking storm… but comes on to score in Lecce win

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      NAPOLI benched Victor Osimhen against Lecce amid the controversial TikTok mocking of the striker.But he came off the bench to score with the Serie A champions winning 4-0 away from home.
      Victor Osimhen scored after coming off the benchCredit: Reuters
      Osimhen was subject to mockery from his own club as Napoli’s social media team called him a “coconut” in a TikTok video – widely seen as a racial slur.
      They taunted the Nigerian after he missed a penalty against Bologna – leading his agent to threaten legal action against the club.
      Osimhen then refused to take a penalty against Udinese and did not celebrate after scoring in the clash.
      Napoli boss Rudi Garcia decided to drop the forward against Lecce but insisted it was not because of the ongoing controversy.
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      He told DAZN: “There has to be squad rotation, it is almost a third of the team that changed since the game with Udinese, so it’s natural to look to everyone, including those who come off the bench.
      “The extra-sport issue is not important, I prefer to talk about what happens on the field and Osimhen has scored four goals in six games. The rest will take care of itself.”
      Napoli responded to the threats of legal action by stating “no offence was intended” and the bizarre clips were meant to be “light-hearted”.
      A statement read: “Calcio Napoli, wishing to avoid any exploitation of the issue, point out that we never wanted to offend or mock Victor Osimhen, who is a treasure of this club.
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      “As proof of that, during the summer training retreat, the Club firmly rebuffed every offer that was received for the striker’s transfer abroad.
      “Social media, in particular TikTok, has always used an expressive form of language with a light heart and creativity, without wanting to, as in the case with Osimhen as protagonist, have any intention of insult or derision.
      “In any case, if Victor perceived any offence towards him, this was not what the club intended.” More

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      Jose Mourinho turned down ‘biggest, most important & craziest offer in history’ as he says: I’m not the problem at Roma

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      JOSE MOURINHO has hit back at suggestions he is the cause of Roma’s shaky start to the season and revealed he turned down the “craziest offer in the history of football”.The former Manchester United and Chelsea manager has endured a tough start to the season with Roma.
      Jose Mourinho has had a difficult start to the season with RomaCredit: Getty
      Mourinho said ‘I’m not a problem’ amid Roma’s troublesCredit: Getty
      Their last match saw them fall to a 4-1 defeat away at Genoa. The game before that saw them draw 1-1 with Torino.
      A remarkable 7-0 win against Empoli remains Roma’s only win of the Serie A season ahead of Sunday’s clash against Frosinone.
      This poor run sees them languishing down in 16th in the table, already eight points behind the top four.
      However, Mourinho was in a defiant mood in his pre-match press conference and reaffirmed his commitment to the Giallorossi by referencing job offers he got from Saudi Arabia in the summer.
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      He said: “Would I renew now? It’s a hypothetical situation, I can’t answer.
      “What I can say is that three months ago there was almost a drama to think that I could leave.
      “In Budapest on the pitch I told the players that I would stay, after Spezia I reiterated it to the fans, two-three days later I gave my word to Mr. Friedkin.
      “In the summer I had the biggest, most important and craziest job offer a coach has ever had in the history of football: I turned it down because of my word.
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      “Now it seems that I am a problem, I do not accept it. I don’t accept it because it’s not true, I’m not a problem.”
      Mourinho revealed in August he had received offers from Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli, but turned down both because he wanted to remain at Roma.
      The Portuguese boss has remained incensed about Roma’s defeat in the Europa League final last season – and Mourinho’s first-ever European final defeat.
      After the match he waited in the car park for referee Anthony Taylor before calling him a “f***ing disgrace”. More

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      Man Utd ‘already lining up stunning £52m transfer for top winger to replace for Jadon Sancho in January’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are lining up Juventus star Federico Chiesa as a replacement for Jadon Sancho, according to reports.The Red Devils are on the hunt for a winger in January with boss Erik ten Hag having exiled Sancho.
      Federico Chiesa is reportedly on Man United’s wishlistCredit: Rex
      The Red Devils are seeking a replacement for Jadon SanchoCredit: Getty
      Chiesa, 25, could fit the bill and his contract is set to expire in 2025.
      According to Calciomercato, United want to agree a deal for Chiesa in January to bolster their wide options.
      Juve are expected to demand a fee in excess of £52million for the Italian international.
      Chiesa currently earns around £80,000 a week in Turin.
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      His club are hoping to agree a one-year extension on similar money in upcoming weeks, before sitting down for more long-term talks.
      The Euro 2020 winner struggled to recapture his best form after returning from a serious knee injury last season.
      But he has looked more himself this term, scoring four goals and laying on an assist in his first six appearances.
      Meetings are set to take place between Juventus chiefs and Chiesa’s agent Fali Ramadani in the coming weeks.
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      Sancho, meanwhile, doesn’t look likely to return to contention at Old Trafford any time soon.
      He has not featured since August, having been initially dropped for his side’s trip to Arsenal on September 3 for what Ten Hag claimed were poor performances in training.

      The 23-year-old subsequently refuted his manager’s claim, and said that he was being made a “scapegoat”.
      Sancho has since reportedly been banned from all first team facilities, including the canteen.
      Ten Hag, 53, will not entertain the idea of re-integrating the former Borussia Dortmund star until he apologises.
      Dortmund are among the teams interested in signing Sancho in January.
      While Serie A strugglers Roma are also believed to be keen.
      Sancho, 23, has been banished from Man United’s first team squadCredit: Getty More