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      Jose Mourinho confirms TWO Saudi clubs have approached him to take over as manager

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      ROMA boss Jose Mourinho has revealed he turned down TWO offers from Saudi Arabia.The big-spending Saudis have tempted a host of big names in European football to move to the Middle East this summer.
      Jose Mourinho has turned down offers from two Saudi teamsCredit: Getty
      But the Special One, currently in charge of Italian side Roma, insists his head was not turned despite a pair of approaches.
      Mourinho told Corriere dello Sport: “I’ve received two proposals: Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli.
      “I decided to turn both down as I want to stay at Roma.”
      The ex-Tottenham boss joined the Italian side back in 2021 and immediately led them to Conference League glory, before losing last season’s Europa League final to Sevilla.
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      Mourinho became the only manager to win all three current major European competitions and the first to win a major European final with four different clubs.
      His success with Chelsea, Manchester United, Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid has made him a key target in Saudi Arabia.
      However, Mourinho was quick to shut down the offer and is set to continue his success in Europe.
      Saudi Arabia has already poached managers from Europe including ex-England star Steven Gerrard, who has signed a two-year deal at Al-Ettifaq.
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      While the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have all signed lucrative playing deals.
      Mourinho also confirmed that the release clause in Paulo Dybala’s contract has expired.
      He added: “Paulo Dybala’s release clause has expired on August 1… so I can finally sleep well and more relaxed.”
      Dybala also received interest from Saudi Arabia alongside Mourinho’s ex-teams Chelsea and Inter Milan.
      Meanwhile, the Argentine forward showed no signs of leaving the club and continues to be focused on his time at the capital club.
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      I bought an iconic Champions League club for just £30million at auction – now it’s worth 17 TIMES that amount

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      AURELIO DE LAURENTIIS has written his fair share of incredible scripts as a hugely successful film director.But even the drama surrounding his ownership of one of Italy’s most historic football clubs might even be a little far-fetched for the big screen.
      Aurelio De Laurentiis is the film director who bought Napoli at an auctionCredit: Getty
      Napoli won the Serie A title in style last seasonCredit: AFP
      Napoli were originally founded in 1926 but enjoyed their greatest years when Argentine legend Diego Maradona joined in 1984 for a world-record £6.9million thanks to a local politician securing a generous bank loan.
      The maverick superstar spearheaded the club to their first two Serie A titles – in 1987 and then again in 1990.
      But following his departure the following year and big spending, Napoli collapsed into financial disarray.
      Relegations in 1998 and again in 2001 sent them into Serie B and, despite finishing 13th in 2004, were declared bankrupt with £46m in debts.
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      A new Italian football rule allowed bankrupt clubs to reform in a lower league.
      And that is when De Laurentiis, on holiday in Capri, decided to step in to save the club.
      He won an auction in September 2004 to purchase Napoli for just shy of £30m, determined to keep a major football club in his family’s hometown of Naples despite not even knowing the rules of the game.
      The club were plunged into the regional Serie C1 and forced to change their name for a year, with the Rome-born new owner opting for Napoli Soccer.
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      De Laurentiis said at the time: “A new era is beginning, and I hope fans have the patience and the respect for this club that it requires.”
      Roared on by 50,000-plus fans for every home game, they missed out on going up in 2004-05 but back-to-back promotions followed to get Napoli into Serie A by 2007.
      And after a few mid-table finishes, the likes of Marek Hamsik, Edinson Cavani and Gonzalo Higuain helped power Napoli back into Europe.
      They came second in four Serie A seasons between 2012-13 and 2018-19.
      But last season, they ended their 33-year wait to be crowned champions of Italy with a simply staggering campaign led by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Kim Min-jae and Victor Osimhen as well as coach Luciano Spalletti.
      And De Laurentiis has overseen the whole journey from the depths of Serie C1 all the way to Scudetto heroes – on top of a Champions League quarter-final.
      When I bought Napoli… I didn’t know the rules of soccerAurelio De Laurentiis
      Napoli are now worth a reported £484m, nearly 17 TIMES the amount the owner bought them for 19 years ago.
      And the fiery, sometimes controversial, 74-year-old National Italian American Foundation director – whose own personal value stands at around £40m – told the Financial Times after the Serie A glory: “When I bought Napoli, for me, it was completely a new domain.
      “But, for me, it was important to mix movies and sport, to furnish content for what was in the past TV, and now platforms.
      “We were successful because I started to apply what I learned from the movie business in many years to the football world. I didn’t know the rules of soccer.
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      “I was asked what is your goal this year because you have let go the most important players and signed unknown people.
      “When I told them, my goal is to win the Scudetto, it seemed as if I was blaspheming. But we won.”
      De Laurentiis is worth around £40m and is a legend in the film industryCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Diego Maradona was a key part of Napoli’s success including the Uefa Cup in 1989Credit: Getty More

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      Juventus KICKED OUT of Europe by Uefa and handed huge fine for financial rule breaches

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      UEFA have BOOTED Juventus out of Europe after breaching financial rules.It means the Italian side will no longer be able to compete in the upcoming season’s Europa Conference League.
      Juventus have been booted out of Europe by UefaCredit: Getty
      The club have been slapped with a £17.15m fineCredit: Getty
      In addition to the ban, they have also been handed a hefty fine by Europe’s governing football body.
      Uefa handed them a fine worth £17.15million, though half of this sum is conditional.
      In a statement, Uefa stated the additional £8.6m would only come into play if Juventus’ financial statements for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 do not comply with accounting requirements listed in the body’s Licensing and Financial sustainability rules.
      The breaches relate to player registration rights between 2019 and 2021, with an official investigation being opened by Uefa in December.
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      The ban means Juventus will likely be replaced by Fiorentina in next season’s competition.
      It also sees Aston Villa elevated from the unseeded to the seeded pot for August’s two-legged play-offs.
      In response to the decision, Juventus president Gianluca Ferrero said: “We regret the decision of the Uefa Club Financial Control Body.
      “We do not share the interpretation that has been given of our defence, and we remain firmly convinced of the legitimacy of our actions and the validity of our arguments.”
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      The club’s statement added they have decided not to appeal the decision.
      Juventus were handed a ten-point deduction in May by the Italian FA after being found guilty of inflating transfer fees to create millions of pounds worth of “capital gains” for tax purposes.
      The initial punishment had seen them hit with a 15-point deduction before this was revoked pending a new investigation, which concluded with the Bianconeri being hit with a ten-point penalty.
      The Serie A giants were not the only club to be handed a fine by Uefa, with Chelsea also being handed an £8.6m fine for FFP breaches during their time under previous owner Roman Abramovich.
      This related to a seven-year period from 2012 to 2019. More

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      Man Utd make ‘improved Rasmus Hojlund bid worth over £51m with star very clear on wanting Old Trafford transfer’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have improved their bid for Atalanta star Rasmus Hojlund, according to reports.United have been desperate to land a striker ever since Cristiano Ronaldo had his contract ripped up following a tell-all interview that saw him slam the club from top to bottom in November.
      Manchester United have improved their bid for Atalanta star Rasmus HojlundCredit: Getty
      And Hojlund has been the Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag’s top target during the summer transfer window.
      And according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, the Manchester giants have upped their offer after “direct talks”.
      United have now tabled €60million (£51m) and negotiations are still ongoing with the Serie A outfit.
      Ten Hag’s side wants to close the deal for the Denmark international as soon as possible.
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      That is because the Red Devils want to focus on other positions as the Dutch tactician wants his team to be completely ready in time for the Premier League curtain-raiser next month.
      Hojlund has been wanting to move to Old Trafford throughout the summer and has now made that feeling “very clear”.

      Atalanta, however, have previously demanded a whopping £86m for the 20-year-old.
      United have insisted they won’t go over £60m for the centre-forward.
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      The Premier League giants have been targeting Hojlund ever since Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy slapped a staggering £100m price tag on Harry Kane.
      This comes after reports suggesting Paris Saint-Germain tried to hijack a deal with a £43m bid.
      But that is unlikely to be accepted with United offering more, while PSG are prepared to walk away if they get turned down. More

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      Fulham ‘to hijack Lazio’s Callum Hudson-Odoi transfer’ but fans can’t believe the fee for Chelsea star once valued £70m

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      FULHAM have made a “verbal proposal” to sign Chelsea forward Callum Hudson-Odoi, according to reports.The 22-year-old, who received three England caps in 2019, has stalled at Stamford Bridge in recent years.
      Callum Hudson-Odoi is being linked with a move away from Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
      He spent last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, but registered just one goal in 21 games.
      As a result, his stock has fallen considerably – and with it his price tag.
      Back in 2020, Chelsea rejected a loan offer from Bayern Munich which included a £70MILLION option to buy.
      Now Fabrizio Romano is reporting Fulham have offered £4m for the attacker.
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      It comes amid interest elsewhere from Italian side Lazio and Saudi Arabia.
      Chelsea are not thought to be happy with the bid from their West London rivals.
      However, they are only believed to be holding out for £8m.
      And Fulham are said to be confident of securing a deal in the “next days”, with negotiations at an “advanced” stage.
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      But fans are in disbelief at just how much Hudson-Odoi’s value has fallen over three years.
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      Reacting on social media, one person said: “Mad to think Chelsea rejected a £70m from Bayern Munich just a few seasons ago.”
      Another added: “Can someone tell me what happen to Hudson-Odoi?😭😭😭”
      A third replied: “Four million is approximately free to me. Funny how Hudson-Odoi used to be Chelsea’s saviour some seasons ago.”
      And a fourth responded: “£8m for Hudson-Odoi?! That’s a bargain and a half. But the disrespect from Chelsea.”
      Hudson-Odoi, who joined the Blues as a young boy in 2007, has racked up 126 appearances and 16 goals for the first team, winning the Champions League, Europa League, Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup.
      Meanwhile, Chelsea are in the middle of a mass exodus this summer.
      They have already axed high-profile stars such as N’Golo Kante, Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Christian Pulisic, Edouard Mendy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Cesar Azpilicueta and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
      The likes of Conor Gallagher, Hakim Ziyech and Romelu Lukaku are also being linked with moves. More

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      New Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario on his ‘angry’ nickname, his journey from Serie D and hosting Ukrainian refugees

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      IF Tottenham felt the venomous outbursts would end with Antonio Conte’s exit, they were wrong.Because new goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is known for having quite the temper himself.
      Guglielmo Vicario with team-mate Destiny Udogie as they take part in a kids’ training session with the Telethon Charity in Perth on Tottenham’s tour
      So much so that back in his homeland of Italy, he was dubbed ‘Venom’, after the furious comic superhero character played by Tom Hardy.
      Vicario, who joined Spurs from Serie A side Empoli for £16million last month, explained: “It was made by two guys from (broadcaster) DAZN in Italy.
      “They told me: ‘When you play on the pitch sometimes you get angry, you feel angry, so you feel like Venom’. Also Venom starts with V, Vicario starts with V.”
      Asked how his supposed anger manifests itself on the pitch, the 26-year-old elaborated: “I shout, maybe. My facial expression can change in some critical moments of the game.
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      “I hope to do this not many times, because I think we have a big squad, so I trust in my lads.”
      Spurs fans had plenty to fume about last season as their side finished eighth, outside Europe, with Conte sealing an acrimonious exit in March.
      Everything seems calmer now the more diplomatic Ange Postecoglou is in charge.
      The Australian, 57, took the long road to the top, managing in his home country, Japan and Scotland before finally reaching the Premier League with Spurs.
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      Vicario has travelled a similarly scenic route to England’s top flight, working his way up the divisions in Italy.
      Back in the 2014-15 campaign, when Harry Kane hit 21 Premier League goals to become the star of Mauricio Pochettino’s first season as Spurs boss, Vicario was on loan in Serie D with minnows Fontanafredda.
      The Udine-born stopper, whose childhood hero was Gianluigi Buffon, said: “Serie D to Tottenham is like a dream for me. I’m inside of my dream, I want to live my dream. 
      “(The manager and I) started from the bottom to reach the top and for us I think it’s a big success of courage. A big mentality. 
      “Coming up from the bottom is not so easy. It’s a big challenge with myself and himself and I think we have to be happy for our process.”
      Vicario, 26, spoke in flawless English as he took part in a kids’ coaching session while on Spurs’ pre-season tour to Perth, Australia.
      It is a far cry from the more local warm-up friendlies he experienced at the likes of Venezia, Cagliari, Perugia and Empoli.
      He added: “I need to adapt because Spurs is a big club. We have many, many fans so it’s different. It’s the first time in my life. 
      “When I was in Serie D it was impossible to see it like this.”
      Vicario, who has been called up to Italy in recent months but is yet to receive a cap, may show his wrathful side on the pitch.
      But off it there is evidence of his kind-hearted nature by the fact that he and his family have taken in a Ukrainian refugee mother and child who have fled their war-torn homeland.
      Vicario has struck up a particularly close relationship with the 11-year-old son, named Milan.
      The stopper added: “He is my little brother.
      “When I come back to Udine to see my family, I spend some time with him. He is good. He is going to school, he learns Italian. 
      “I hope he feels good because in Ukraine now the situation is not so good with the war. 
      “So we try to give a smile to these people and I hope they don’t [have to] think to the situation of their country.
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      “When I go to the pitch, thinking about them is important. It’s like a strength it can give.”
      Vicario was speaking at a Tottenham Hotspur Global Football Development session with beneficiaries from Telethon, one of the largest charities in WA that raises funds to deliver programmes for sick, vulnerable, and disadvantaged children. The participants were also invited to the team’s open training session in Perth from which all proceeds will be donated to Telethon. More

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      Newcastle ‘launch club-record £82m transfer bid for Napoli ace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’ as they look to raid Serie A again

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      NEWCASTLE have launched a club-record bid for Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, according to reports.Eddie Howe is determined to bolster his squad this summer ahead of Newcastle’s long-awaited return to the Champions League.
      Newcastle have launched a bid for KvaratskheliaCredit: AFP
      The Magpies have already signed defensive midfielder Sandro Tonali in a £55million transfer from AC Milan.
      But now Howe wants to add another attacker to his ranks.
      And Kvaratskhelia has emerged as a top transfer target.
      According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Newcastle have made an opening offer worth £82m for the winger – a club-record fee.
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      Napoli are yet to respond to the bid, but they are said to be reluctant to sell Kvaratskhelia this summer.
      The Georgia international joined the Italian giants in a £10m transfer from Dinamo Batumi last summer.
      He scored 14 goals and assisted 17 in 43 appearances across all competitions last summer and played a crucial role in helping Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years.
      Kvaratskhelia’s impressive form attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
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      Newcastle have also expressed an interest in signing Leicester winger Harvey Barnes.
      The Foxes reportedly want £50m for the 25-year-old, but they could accept a lower fee. More

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      Long-term Man Utd & Arsenal target completes shock transfer to join Koulibaly and Neves at Saudi side Al-Hilal

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      LONG-TERM Manchester United target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has finally waved goodbye to Lazio – moving to the Saudi Pro League.The Serbian became a cult-hero at Lazio due to his loyalty – having been linked with a move away virtually every summer.
      Sergej Milinkovic-Savic heads to Saudi Arabia in a deal worth £34 millionCredit: Getty
      Man United never managed to get a deal over the line, despite persistent links.
      Milinkovic-Savic, 28, has finally left Lazio – signing for Al-Hilal in a £34million deal.
      The midfielder joins the likes of Ruben Neves and Kalidou Koulibaly in heading to the four-time Asian Champions League winners.
      Neves moved to Al-Hilal in a £47m move from Wolves earlier this summer.
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      While Chelsea flop Koulibaly left the Blues for Al-Hilal in a £17m deal.
      Milinkovic-Savic grabbed more league goals and assists last season than United star Bruno Fernandes.
      Since his move to Italy in 2015, he had been consistently linked with Europe’s biggest clubs – including Real Madrid, Man United and PSG.
      He scored 57 goals and laid on 49 assists in 267 Serie A matches in total.
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      Milinkovic-Savic has finally left the Italian capital in a move that is set to see him pocket around £325k a week.
      He becomes the latest big name star to sign for a Saudi side – following the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante.
      The former Serie A star will play under ex-Benfica boss Jorge Jesus, after the Portuguese boss agreed to take over at Al-Hilal.
      Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr after leaving Manchester United More