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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

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      Watch ex-Celtic star brutally mock Chelsea transfer target Dusan Vlahovic over his huge price tag

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      FANS are convinced they saw Liam Henderson mocking Dusan Vlahovic over his crazy price tag. The former Celtic and Hibs midfielder now plays for Italian side Empoli and was up against Vlahovic’s Juventus.

      Dusan Vlahovic and Liam Henderson clashed during the game
      Vlahovic has managed 23 goals in 63 appearances since signing for Juventus
      It was an embarrassing evening on two counts for Vlahovic as Juventus were smashed 4-1 by their mid-table rivals as well as taking an earful from Henderson.
      The Serbian striker has been linked with a move away from the Italian giants this summer after a disappointing start to life in Turin.
      He joined the Old Lady last January for a fee of £58.3million from Fiorentina.
      And it seems Henderson was keen to point out that he hasn’t lived up to his billing.
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      The Scotsman can be seen shouting at Vlahovic in a clip doing the rounds on social media.
      And many fans are convinced he was savagely taunting the taunting the Juve striker.
      Henderson appears to say: “Oooooh 80 million… oooooh”
      Vlahovic has been linked with a move to Chelsea this summer after Juventus’ crisis-filled season.
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      Despite not living up to expectations, Juventus are believed to want to recoup all of the money they spent on him.
      The Blues have a shocking history of centre forward signings and fans will be hoping that Vlahovic won’t be another Gonzalo Higuain, Alvaro Morata or Romelu Lukaku. More

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      Arsenal handed huge and unlikely Champions League boost after Juventus given 10-point deduction

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      JUVENTUS have been hit by a 10-point deduction – boosting Arsenal’s Champions League hopes.The Italian giants dropped out of the Serie A top four as a result of the penalty.
      Mikel Arteta has received a Champions League boost as Arsenal prepare to return to the competitionCredit: Getty
      Juventus are set to miss out on the Champions League after their points deductionCredit: Getty
      And it means that failing to beat AC Milan on Sunday will end their hope of Champions League qualification for next season – and ensure the Gunners will be in the second seeding pot for the group stage draw in August.
      The final verdict by Italian FA Court of Appeal is the latest development in a long-running saga.
      In January, Juve were found guilty of a transfer scam over three seasons, which was orchestrated by then-sporting director Fabio Paratici, who joined Spurs in 2021.
      Juventus were judged to have inflated transfer fees in dealings with other Italian clubs to create millions of pounds in “capital gains” for tax purposes.
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      That allowed the club to spend more in the market than would have been allowed under Financial Fair Play regulations.
      The Turin outfit was initially handed a 15-point deduction, when senior club figures including ex-President Andrea Agnelli and Paratici were handed lengthy bans.
      Although the points punishment was suspended last month, pending yesterday’s hearing, Paratici resigned from his role at Tottenham after his ban was confirmed.
      Prosecutor Giuseppe Chine, on behalf of the Italian FA, demanded an 11-point penalty at the start of a three-hour virtual hearing on Monday.
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      How the Champions League pots are projected to look
      Juventus argued that the punishment should not be so severe because the breaches took place under Agnelli’s leadership of the club and that there had subsequently been a major overhaul of the board.
      But the tribunal imposed the major punishment in a verdict which the club suggested it might still appeal.
      Juventus said: “This judgment arouses great bitterness in the club and in its millions of supporters.”
      UEFA have already opened proceedings which could result in a European ban for the Italian club.
      But if Juve are not in next season’s Champions League, Arsenal will be assured of a place in the second group of seeds and avoid a potential nightmare draw in the group phase. More

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      Juventus hit with TEN-point penalty leaving club’s Champions League hopes in tatters

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      JUVENTUS have been re-hit with a points deduction.And it means they will fall down the Serie A table and out of the Champions League qualification spots.
      Juventus have had their points penalty confirmedCredit: Getty
      Juventus were initially slapped with a 15-point penalty in January after being accused of inflating transfer fees in dealings with other Italian clubs over three seasons to create millions of pounds in “capital gains” for tax purposes.
      It was stated that Juve had manipulated the system to free up their spending powers in the market.
      The punishment also saw Fabio Paratici given a worldwide football ban after his involvement in the scandal
      This then prompted his resignation from Tottenham.
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      However, the 15-point deduction was reversed in April pending a new trial with the FIGC Federal Court of Appeal.
      And the findings of the latest investigation have seen Juventus impacted again.
      Before the latest developments, Juventus were second in Serie A on 69 points, one ahead of Lazio and three clear of Inter.
      However, the club have now been docked 10 points which will see them drop to seventh place.
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      This means with two games remaining in the season, Juventus will not be able to qualify for the Champions League as they cannot catch fourth-placed Inter Milan.
      The club released the following statement: “Juventus Football Club takes note of what was decided by the FIGC Court of Appeal and reserves the right to read the reasons to evaluate a possible appeal to the Guarantee Board at CONI.
      “What was established by the fifth instance of judgment in this matter, which began more than a year ago, arouses great bitterness in the club and in its millions of supporters who, in the absence of clear rules, find themselves extremely penalised with the application of sanctions that do not seem to take into account the principle of proportionality.
      “While not ignoring the need for urgency, which Juventus has never shied away from during the proceedings, it is emphasised that these are facts that still have to be evaluated by a judge.”
      AC Milan were back in fifth and are now fourth on 64 with Atalanta moring to fifth on 61 and Roma seventh on 60.
      This also saw Roma bumped up into the Europa League Conference qualification spot.
      Jose Mourinho’s men may have thought their hopes of remaining seventh were in peril after only managing a 2-2 draw at home to Salernitana.
      But Juventus than collapsed to a 4-1 loss at Empoli to cap off one of the darkest days in the club’s history. More