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      Ruben Loftus-Cheek ‘AGREES’ AC Milan transfer as they prepare £13m bid after Chelsea star waved goodbye to fans

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      RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK has reportedly agreed a move to Serie A giants AC Milan.The Chelsea star will be allowed to leave the club as new manager Mauricio Pochettino rebuilds.
      Ruben Loftus-Cheek has reportedly agreed to a move to AC MilanCredit: AFP
      Loftus-Cheek, 27, has given the green light to a switch to Italy, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
      The report claims that Milan are planning for RLC to replace Ismael Bennacer, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury which will probably keep him out of action until the end of the year.
      It is said that the clubs are in negotiations over a price for the midfielder, with Chelsea wanting £21million.
      However, Milan’s opening bid is much lower at £13m, though the San Siro giants are believed to be willing to raise their offer to £17.2m.
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      After Chelsea’s final home game of the season Loftus-Cheek appeared to wave goodbye to the club’s fans.
      His contract is set to expire at the end of next season.
      He made 25 appearances for the Blues in the recent campaign but only managed one assist and no goals.
      Loftus-Cheek was one of the many players in the squad that underperformed as they crumbled to a 12th-placed finish in the Premier League.
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      Milan are looking for reinforcements this summer after a fourth-placed Serie A finish.
      The club have already reportedly sealed deals to sign Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Daichi Kamada and Atalanta’s Marco Sportiello on free transfers.
      Loftus-Cheek came through the academy at Chelsea and has made 275 appearances for the club, scoring 19 goals and providing 29 assists.
      He won the Premier League title in 2016/17 and the Europa League in 2018/19.
      He also has a Super Cup winners medal from the Blues’ triumph in 2021. More

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      Inside Lautaro Martinez’s star-studded Lake Como wedding with Chelsea ace Enzo Fernandez and Argentina team-mates

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      LAUTARO MARTINEZ has been preparing for Inter Milan’s Champions League final against Man City in style.That’s by getting married at Italy’s famous Lake Como while surrounded by star guests including Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and other Argentina World Cup winners.
      Lautaro Martinez married partner Agustina Gandolfo at the weekendCredit: Instagram @lautaromartinez
      The Inter Milan star hopes to add a Champions League trophy to his World Cup next monthCredit: Instagram @lautaromartinez
      Argentina Prem stars Emi Martinez, Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister attendedCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs15yiLK4st/
      Martinez met partner Agustina Gandolfo shortly after joining Inter in 2018.
      The pair have a daughter together, with Nina born in February 2021.
      And they decided to tie the knot at the weekend after Martinez’s whirlwind season for club and country.
      The striker first helped Argentina land their third World Cup with victory over France in Qatar.
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      Martinez also scored 21 league goals to see Inter finish runners-up in Serie A behind runaway winners Napoli.
      He netted both Inter’s goals as they beat Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia final.
      And next will lead the line on June 10 when Inter battle Man City for their first Champions League trophy since 2010.
      But even Martinez’s growing medal collection this season could not match the glitz of his glamorous wedding.
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      The happy couple exchanged vows at an outdoor ceremony at Italy’s Lake GardaCredit: Instagram @giuli.gandolfo
      The pair were all loved up as the party moved indoorsCredit: Instagram @lautaromartinez
      Martinez and friends got wild and wacky as the fun beganCredit: Instagram @lucasesperon3
      The ace and Agustina welcomed friends and family to Lake Garda at the weekend for a stunning bash.
      They dazzled guests in their wedding finery at a decadent ceremony and after-party.
      And Martinez was joined by numerous football pals including former teammate Achraf Hakimi and Inter legend Javier Zanetti.
      But it was his Argentina friends who made up the bulk of attendees.
      Chelsea star Fernandez was joined by Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister and Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez for the luxury event.
      There were also appearances from compatriots Nico Gonzalez, Joaquin Correa and Nicolas Tagliafico.
      The stunning venue was attended by many guestsCredit: Instagram @lautaromartinez
      The pair were all smiles as they cut the wedding cakeCredit: Instagram @alessandro_pera
      Mac Allister was in good form along with Argentina star Nico GonzalezCredit: Instagram @juanitotora
      And several Inter team-mates like Danilo D’Ambrosio, Samir Handanovic and Stefan de Vrij turned up too.
      However, there was no sign of Lionel Messi, who was seen at a Coldplay concert in Barcelona on Sunday.
      Martinez’s guests enjoyed a beautiful outdoor reception before the newlyweds said their vows on a raised altar.
      The party then started indoors, with Martinez swapping his suit for a casual white T-shirt before dancing with his pals.
      Meanwhile, Agustina stunned as she ditched her wedding dress for a short skirt before cutting a cake with her hubby.
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      Guests also stayed full by enjoying a delicious menu consisting of foods like veal, lamb and tarte Tatin – a baked French pastry with caramelised fruit.
      And the festivities now behind him, Martinez is sure to be fully focused on bringing home the bacon when Inter face City in Istanbul next month.
      Augustina and Martinez share a daughter togetherCredit: Instagram @floriotero
      PSG star Achraf Hakimi was in attendanceCredit: Instagram @achrafhakimi
      Aston Villa ace Martinez showed off the surroundings alongside his wifeCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs15yiLK4st/ More

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      Arsenal’s pot for their Champions League return CONFIRMED… thanks to goal from their former star Olivier Giroud

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      OLIVIER GIROUD may have left Arsenal in 2018 but his latest goal for AC Milan helped out his former club.Giroud was on target as AC Milan beat Juventus 1-0 – a result that secured his side Champions League football next season and means Juve cannot qualify.
      Giroud’s goal for AC Milan helped his former side Arsenal outCredit: Getty
      Mikel Arteta’s side have now been confirmed in Pot two for the Champions League drawCredit: Getty
      As a result, Arsenal’s chances of having a successful return to the competition have been boosted as they will now be in Pot Two for the draw.
      Uefa use their coefficient system to determine the seedings for European competition with the Gunners sitting 23rd.
      It looked like the Gunners were going to be in Pot Three and potentially be drawn in a group of death.
      But, with Juventus failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League Mikel Arteta’s side’s place in Pot Two was confirmed.

      The Italian giants were eighth in the coefficient rankings but fortunately for Arsenal they missed out – with a 10 point deduction in Serie A playing a huge part.
      By being in Pot Two it now means that Arsenal can only face one of Europe’s big hitters in the group stage.
      As of now, Barcelona, Napoli, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica and Feyenoord could all be visiting the Emirates, as well as the winners of the Europa League out of Roma and Sevilla.
      Giroud could make a return to north London as AC Milan sit in Pot Three thanks to their win over Juventus.
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      The Frenchman joined Arsenal from French side Montpellier in 2012 and made 180 appearances for the club, scoring 73 goals in the process.
      The 36-year-old joined London rivals Chelsea where he won the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup.
      He joined Milan in 2021 and has so far scored 23 goals in 61 appearances, winning Serie A in the process.
      Arsenal have been out of the Champions League for six years and fans can now once again be excited to compete in the biggest competition in club football. More

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      I was the club GARDENER before dramatic first-team call-up led to career with Inter Milan and Argentina national team

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      FROM pruning hedges to preening international stars, this is one incredible footballing journey.One special day in 1993 saw this Argentina legend receive the most unlikely of first-team call-ups.
      This striker was part of a stunning Inter Milan team in the early 2000sCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Banfield were left shockingly short in the forward department, and the reserves just weren’t up to scratch.
      Manager Oscar Lopez decided on a real novel idea – give the local GARDENER a shot at the big time.
      The 6ft 2in forward swapped his shears for shin pads, and the rest as they say, is history.
      He went on to make 65 appearances for Banfield before making the move to Argentinian giants River Plate.
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      A goal-laden spell at Feyenoord was followed by three years at Bologna before the star REALLY hit the big time when Italian giants Inter Milan swooped in.
      They are believed to have paid around £8m for his signature.
      He went on to score 75 goals in 197 games in all competitions for the Nerazzurri between 2003-2009 before joining Lazio where he retired in 2010.
      It is of course Julio Cruz!
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      Julio Cruz became a cult hero with fans at Inter MilanCredit: Getty
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      Now 48 years old, Cruz won four Serie A titles with Inter and will go down as one of their modern heroes.
      Despite his imposing style, Cruz was versatile and often played on the wing or as an attacking midfielder.
      The Santiago del Estero-born star won 22 caps for Argentina between 1997 and 2008, scoring three goals. He played at the 1997 Copa America and the 2006 World Cup.
      Away from football, he opened a charity in his name in 2015.
      He became somewhat of a cult hero during his years at Inter – and recently revealed he was deemed “unsellable” by one ex-president.
      Cruz also won 22 caps for Argentina, scoring three goalsCredit: Getty
      Speaking to CalcioNapoli24, Cruz said: “My agent, Jorge Cysterpiller, told me many times that he wanted to take me to Napoli, but president Massimo Moratti never wanted to let me go.
      “He’s a president I cannot say anything against; he was more than a president, he invested time and money for many years, winning with a great team.
      “Luciano Spalletti also wanted me several times, at Roma and Zenit St Petersburg, but Moratti didn’t want me to leave and in those years we made history with Inter.”
      He was part of an envious striker department that included Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Adriano, Obafemi Martins, Alvaro Recoba, and Hernan Crespo.
      Speaking about his time playing with Zlatan, Cruz added: “We had fun, we won a championship playing in pairs.
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      “Everyone said we were incompatible but that year we scored a lot of goals.
      “I don’t remember why he took the No8 shirt, but he never asked me for the No9.” More

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      Luciano Spalletti to leave Napoli as owner confirms title-winning manager’s plans for next season

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      NAPOLI manager Luciano Spalletti will stand down as manager, the Serie A club’s owner has confirmed.Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed the 64-year-old asked to take a sabbatical, which he could not refuse.
      Luciano Spalletti will stand down as Napoli bossCredit: Getty
      Spalletti still has one year left on his current deal, but asked to leave at the end of the current campaign.
      De Laurentiis said he could not stand in the way of the former Inter boss after he guided Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990.
      “Spalletti told me that a cycle has come to an end and he asked me to leave because he wants a sabbatical year. I will respect his choice despite the contract,” De Laurentiis said.
      Recently, Spalletti revealed he had not received an extension to his deal that expires in 2024.
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      The decision to take a sabbatical reportedly stems from a clause in his contract that forbids him from managing anyone next season.
      Spalletti’s stock could not be higher, after landing the league with Napoli 33 years after their last triumph.
      They did it playing some of the best football in Europe, while having to make cuts to their squad last summer.
      The likes of Lorenzo Insigne, Dries Mertens and Kalidou Koulibally were all moved on as the squad was rebuilt.
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      Man Utd target Kim Min-jae and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were brought in, and proved to be pivotal in their success.
      Napoli now face a difficult task in appointing his successor.
      According to reports in Italy, they are targeting Antonio Conte, Rafa Benitez, Jurgen Klopp and Roberto De Zerbi. More

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      Thugs try to rob ex-Italy star at gunpoint for luxury watch.. but angry former Roma forward insults them and drives away

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      FORMER ITALY star Alessio Cerci reportedly fought off gun-wielding thugs who tried to rob his luxury watch.The incident took place on Wednesday just before midnight.
      Alessio Cerci, left, fended off the thugsCredit: AP:Associated Press
      The 35-year-old was walking back to his car in Portuense, Rome, when he was approached by two bandits.
      They brandished a gun and asked Cerci for his watch, but the former winger realised it was a fake, according to Corriere della Sera.
      So he continued to his car and ended up driving off – but not before launching insults at the pair.
      The former AC Milan and Roma star reportedly avoided injury and he has since provided police with descriptions of the two assailants.
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      The pair are wanted by police, and authorities believe they may have used the fake gun to scare other victims.
      Footballers in Italy have been frequent targets of crime in the last few months, including World Cup winner Angel Di Maria.
      The winger’s Turin mansion was broken into by burglars last October.
      Unconfirmed reports said neighbours had heard shots and a gun had been found near the scene.
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      Milan defender Theo Hernandez had his house burgled not long after, with thieves stealing watches, jewels and cash.
      The left-back was not at his house at the time of the incident but his wife, Zoe Cristofoli, and their six-month-old son were present during the ordeal.
      Once inside the robbers are said to have forced her to open a safe. More

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

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      THIS is the stunning ocean-view villa Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly rented for his family before he returned to Italy during the coronavirus pandemic.The Al-Nassr striker, then at Juventus, 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.
      Man Utd 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 Ronaldo reportedly hired this incredible property, yet returned to Italy within daysCredit: Airbnb
      The coronavirus lockdown didn’t hit Ronaldo too hard, judging by the living roomCredit: Airbnb
      The star currently lives in a mind-blowing Saudi mansion after his move to the Middle East at the end of last year.
      But back in 2020, a video 36-year-old 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 Ronaldo reportedly rented, including a games roomCredit: Airbnb
      Ocean views enhance the luxury of the villa Ronaldo and his family were thought to enjoy last summerCredit: Airbnb
      The kitchen facilities are hardly cramped for Ronaldo, Georgina Rodriguez and their childrenCredit: Airbnb
      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.”
      Ronaldo’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.
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      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.
      Ronaldo and David Beckham  reminisce about Real Madrid in live video instagram chat More

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      Jose Mourinho bizarrely fumes at ‘JOKE’ decision to dock rivals Juventus 10 points – but Roma boss has a good reason

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      ROMA boss Jose Mourinho lashed out at the “joke” decision to dock Serie A rivals Juventus 10 points in a bizarre rant.Juve were slapped with a 15-point penalty in January after being accused of inflating transfer fees in dealings with Italian clubs over three seasons to create millions in “capital gains” for tax purposes.
      Roma boss Jose Mourinho fumed at Juventus’ 10-point deductionCredit: Rex
      Mourinho claims Roma would have a different approach if they knew about the deductionCredit: Getty
      It was stated that the Bianconeri had manipulated the system to free up their spending powers in the market.
      However, the deduction was reversed in April pending a new trial with the Federal Court of Appeal, who ultimately imposed the latest sanctions that saw the team dropped from second to seventh on Monday night.
      As a result, Mourinho saw his team climb up to sixth place with only one point separating them from Europe League qualification and four from a Champions League spot.
      However, the former Chelsea boss is still not pleased with the development.
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      The ex-Manchester United manager claims his team’s “approach” would have been different in the run-in to the final matches of the season, had they known about the deduction.
      Mourinho told DAZN: “It’s a joke to know this with two games remaining. For us and everyone, even for Juventus. 
      “Our approach would have been different if we had known before the games with Monza and Bologna.
      “I am sorry for [Massimiliano] Allegri and his players, but at the league level, I have to say that it changes things a little.
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      “To me, yes, [the season was warped] but I no longer want to talk about this.
      “I am sorry for professionals who work like me because they pay for errors that directors and maybe the club did.”
      Mourinho opted for a weakened side against Monza and Bologna earlier this month due to their Europa League semi-finals before they advanced to the final.
      Both matches ended in a draw, as did Monday’s clash with Salernitana.
      The Special One clearly suggests he would have approached those games differently had he known of the impending point deduction that would bring his team closer to Champions League qualification.
      Juventus stated they will challenge the decision, which means there could be even more drama in the Serie A table. More