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      Man Utd target Victor Osimhen at centre of investigation into Napoli after joining in bizarre swap transfer

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      NAPLES hosts its first senior Italy international for ten years when England visit for a Euro 2024 qualifier on Thursday.But Estadio Diego Armando Maradona’s atmosphere will be nothing compared to a few weeks’ time if Napoli win a first Serie A title since 1990.
      Victor Osimhen has been Napoli’s main man this seasonCredit: REX
      But their acquisition of the Nigeria international is set to be investigatedCredit: REX
      Napoli are 19 points clear but there are nerves off the pitch over star Victor Osimhen .
      It is no surprise that both Chelsea and Manchester United want to sign the Nigerian, 24, who has 25 goals this term.
      There is concern the move which brought Osimhen from Lille in a £70.1million deal in 2020 could give the club a major problem.
      Juventus suffered a 15-point penalty for false accounting to inflate player transfer values and falsify FFP.
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      It looks as though Napoli may have done something similar. The Naples Public Prosecutor’s Office has asked for a six-month extension to an investigation into the transfer and will make a decision in the summer.
      And it is because £17.5m of that Osimhen transfer was made up of four players who went the other way to Lille.
      These were keeper Orestis Karnezis and three youth-team players, Luigi Liguori, Claudio Manzi and Ciro Palmieri.
      None of those four players, including Karnezis, who was 35 at the time, ever played for Lille. 
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      Some of them have never been to the French city as their deals were soon cancelled and the younger players are in non-league.
      It seems obvious that the actual deal was about Osimhen and a way of spending money on young players which are not included in FFP rules.
      Napoli could be in trouble. But by the time they are dealt with, Osimhen may be in the Premier League.
      The Nigerian recently aid of his future at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium: “When you are doing so well, top clubs around the world are watching, mostly in the top five leagues.
      “And to be able to be attract interest from these top clubs shows that I am doing great and it gives me the motivation to do even more for myself and my team.
      “But I am focused on Napoli right now and they have the final say. I just want to help my team to win matches and win trophies.
      “At the end of the season, we will see what is going to happen, but that is not up to me. It is for the club to decide.”

      CELTIC are known for their incredible support when playing in friendlies south of the border.
      But even by their own high standards, Celtic’s away following at Anfield on Saturday is ridiculous.
      The Hoops sold out their 3,000 allocation and another 2,000 are expected for a charity legends match between Liverpool and Celtic in aid of the LFC Foundation. It’s £27 a ticket, which gets you an executive box at some Scottish grounds…

      TOTTENHAM’S superb training-ground complex is now the official London home of the England senior team.
      While the squad met up at St George’s Park for tomorrow’s game against Italy, they will return to London to train — and also sleep — at Spurs’ practice facilities in Enfield.
      England first used Spurs’ complex in 2017 as Arsenal, the previous hosts, were revamping their pitches at London Colney.
      Gareth Southgate and his players still stayed at the Grove Hotel, near Watford, and commuted to Hotspur Way.
      But these days the FA are hiring both the training pitches and the hotel accommodation.

      COMO against Parma in Serie B at the weekend was a golden one for us oldies.
      Skippering Como to a 2-0 win was 35-year-old Cesc Fabregas — while his opposing captain was Gianluigi Buffon, 45.
      The keeper made his first Parma debut 28 years ago.
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      ROY HODGSON has returned to Crystal Palace aged 75 — although there was a 68-year-old who wanted the job.
      Sam Allardyce loved his spell at Selhurst Park in the 2016-17 season but his reappointment would have really given Palace’s supporters something to moan about. More

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      Lazio star Romagnoli ‘brawls with Roma’s NAKED Mancini’ after celebrating feisty derby win outside rivals’ dressing room

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      ROMA star Gianluca Mancini reportedly brawled NAKED with Lazio rival Alessio Romagnoli.The Rome derby was typically feisty on and off the pitch as Lazio ran out 1-0 winners at their shared Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.
      Lazio star Alessio Romagnoli took great delight in beating RomaCredit: Getty
      Gianluca Mancini lost his cool after the Rome derby defeatCredit: AP
      That result gave Lazio a major boost in their chase for Champions League qualification – and simultaneously dealt their arch-enemies a mighty blow.
      Roma were reduced to nine men while Adam Marusic was sent off for the winners in an ill-tempered clash.
      But the drama continued behind the scenes.
      Corriere dello Sport report Romagnoli, 28, deliberately took a different route to the Lazio dressing room.
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      It is alleged he instead went out of his way to celebrate right outside the Roma changing room.
      And then opposition defender Mancini, 26, emerged to confront him… completely in the nude.
      It is suggested the pair tussled and exchanged expletive insults as emotions continued to run high.
      However, that was not the end of the tension between the two clubs.
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      Roma manager Jose Mourinho apparently got involved in a furious X-rated row in the tunnel with Lazio’s owner Claudio Lotiti.
      Mourinho allegedly asked Lotito: “What the f*** are you looking at?”
      And the Lazio chief replied: “I am the president of Lazio and you are a guest.
      “This is my home and I go wherever I like. And you can’t be here.” More

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      Man Utd target Victor Osimhen bizarrely compared to Spider-Man as shocking stats come to light

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      NAPOLI striker Victor Osimhen has been compared to Spider-Man as a result of his improvement since wearing a mask.The Nigerian forward, 24, has established himself as one of the most prolific goalscorers in European football as the Italian side fly high at the top of Serie A.
      Victor Osimhen had strong numbers before being forced to wear a mask due to injuryCredit: Getty
      His goals and assists have increased significantly since he put on the maskCredit: Rex
      Osimhen has been compared to Spider-ManCredit: Handout
      His sensational form has seen him linked with a blockbuster summer move to Manchester United.
      And Italian outlet Pazzi Di Fanta have now likened him to superhero Spider-Man following his stellar run.
      Osimhen broke his cheekbone in November 2021 following a head clash with Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar.
      Up to that point, he had registered 19 goals and five assists in 46 games for Napoli following his arrival in the summer of 2020.
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      How Osimhen compares with and without a mask
      He was ruled out for 12 matches, but returned an improved striker.
      Wearing a mask to protect his face, he has racked up 34 goals and nine assists in 45 appearances.
      It means his goal contributions per game have increased from 0.52 to 0.96 since he put on the mask.
      And he has been compared to Spider-Man when he gained superhero status following what turned out to be a fortuitous spider bite.
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      Osimhen has racked up a total of 53 goals and 14 assists in 91 games for Napoli.
      And his sensational 2022/23 campaign has seen Luciano Spaletti’s side run away with the league as they extended their lead to 19 points over the weekend.
      They are also into the quarter-finals of the Champions League where they will face Italian rivals AC Milan.
      But it could still be Osimhen’s final season in Serie A as Man Utd and Chelsea line up big bids. More

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      Ex-Juventus star sent off for PEEING on pitch moments before he’s subbed on – but coach says ‘he didn’t offend anyone’

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      A FORMER Juventus star was sent off for PEEING on the pitch… moments before he was subbed on.But his coach insists the player “did NOT offend anyone” in the process and should not have seen red.
      Cristian Bunino saw red for peeing on the pitch before coming on as a subCredit: Getty
      Cristian Bunino, 26, spent three years with Juventus after initially being tipped as a potential star.
      He now plies his trade in Italy’s third tier with Lecco after joining the Serie C side in January.
      However, Bunino did not make the impact he hoped for in yesterday’s 0-0 draw at Piancenza.
      The striker was summoned from the bench with around 20 minutes left to break the deadlock.
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      But nature called as Bunino prepared to make his entrance.
      And he decided to save time by urinating straight on the side of the pitch.
      Buninio attempted to hide his antics from officials, but was thwarted by the assistant referee.
      It resulted in a straight red card just moments after he made it onto the field of play.
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      And the decision infuriated boss Luciano Foschi, who believed it should have merited just a yellow as Bunino “didn’t offend anyone.”
      Foschi raged: “It’s the rules and they must be applied, but I hope the officials would use common sense because he didn’t offend anyone, no-one saw it.
      “I was hoping for a yellow card but the ref didn’t make a mistake. And Bunino? In my opinion, he didn’t even know what was going to happen.”
      It’s not the first time urine has taken centre stage in a match.
      Salford City’s goalie was sent off in 2017 for having a pee during a game against Bradford.
      And in September another stopper decided to let loose in a hedge during an FA Cup tie.
      Elsewhere, a non-league star was sent off for squirting pee from a water bottle at a supporter.
      And ex-Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri claimed he had bags of urine thrown at him by Feyenoord fans during Lazio’s Europa League clash. More

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      ‘This is MY home, not yours’ – Roma boss Jose Mourinho in X-rated row with Lazio chief after hot-tempered derby

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      ROMA manager Jose Mourinho got into a heated bust-up with Lazio owner Claudio Lotito after an intense derby.Mourinho lost the Derby della Capitale to the Giallorossi’s fiercest rivals, who won 1-0 on Sunday at the Olimpico.
      Roma and Lazio had a high-termpered derby at the OlimpicoCredit: Rex
      Roma manager Jose Mourinho had an intense row with Lazio owner Claudio LotitoCredit: Getty
      Lazio owner Claudio Lotito told Jose Mourinho he was in “his house”Credit: Rex
      Mattia Zaccagni scored the winner for Maurizio Sarri’s side on 65 minutes in an intense clash that saw the referee dish out three red cards.
      Roma lost Roger Ibanez after 32 minutes following a second yellow card as well as Bryan Cristane who was shown a red card alongside Lazio’s Adam Marusic at full-time.
      According to Il Messaggero, however, the drama didn’t end on the pitch as Mourinho and Lotito locked horns in an X-rated row in the tunnel.
      In fact, the Lazio owner told the ex-Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss that he was in “his home”.
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      Mourinho told Lotito backstage: “What the f**k are you looking at?”
      The Lazio president responded: “I am the president of Lazio and you are a guest.
      “This is my home and I go wherever I like. And you can’t be here.”
      However, the Olimpico has belonged to both Lazio and Roma for years.
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      The same source also suggests there was further tension in the dressing room as Roma’s Gianluca Mancini called Lazio’s Alessio Romagnoli a “piece of s**t”.
      Mourinho has been dealing with a raft of intense matches in the Serie A lately.
      In fact, the Portuguese tactician has seen referees dish out six red cards in Roma’s last five meetings – half of which were handed to his players. More

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      Aston Villa considering shock Romelu Lukaku transfer swoop this summer when Chelsea stars loan finishes at Inter Milan

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      ROMELU LUKAKU is a shock transfer target for Aston Villa, according to reports.The Chelsea striker, 29, was shipped out on loan to Inter Milan for this season despite his £97million transfer in 2021.
      Romelu Lukaku could be on his way to Aston Villa this summerCredit: Getty
      But with that deal ending in the summer, he looks set to be on the move again as the Stamford Bridge club are said to want to sell him.
      And Todo Fichajes claim Aston Villa are surprise admirers and considering launching a bid.
      Unai Emery’s side sold Danny Ings to West Ham in January, leaving Ollie Watkins as the main striker.
      Villa also have Bertrand Traore and Wesley on their books.
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      But signing Lukaku would add plenty of experience and extra talent into the attack.
      Lukaku has 121 goals in 278 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, West Brom, Everton and Manchester United.
      The Belgian, though, has expressed his desire to stay put at Inter, where he spent two years from 2019 to 2021, winning Serie A, reaching the Europa League final and scoring 64 goals in 95 games.
      He has struggled to hit his top form this term, though, with just five goals in 19 games – including three in the league.
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      But as with Villa’s pursuit, attempts by Inter to sign Lukaku permanently could be thwarted by finances.
      Ths San Siro giants and Villa Park side may be unable to offer the money both Chelsea and Lukaku the money they want for a transfer.
      The Blues will certainly have to take a hit on the £97m outlay two years earlier.
      But Lukaku’s current contract in West London sees him earn a whopping £325,000 per week.

      Chelsea have no genuine strikers available for the Champions League knockout stages, dumping Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang while Armando Broja is injured.
      Kai Havertz, Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling can all play in a central role, though. More

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      Riot police whack fans with truncheons as flares thrown before fierce derby clash between Lazio and Roma

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      DISTRESSING footage circulating this afternoon appears to show Roma fans being beaten with truncheons by riot police.Jose Mourinho’s side take on Lazio this afternoon in a crucial Rome derby.

      Police confronted fans on the streets of RomeCredit: EPA
      Cops wielded truncheons as they patrolled the streetsCredit: AP
      Prior to the match, clips emerged on social media of confrontations between Roma supporters and police.
      Some videos show fans being whacked by cops, while flares were also thrown,
      One Ultras account tweeted a video while recounting their impression of what happened.
      They wrote: “Tensions between #ultras of #Roma and the Police, before the match.
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      “An injured policeman in Piazza Mancini.
      “At the obelisk, a group #CurvaNord #Lazio attempted to make contact with the #romanisti , after leaving the Ponte Milvio. Police action.”
      Italian football has already been hit with ugly confrontations between fans and police this week.
      Napoli’s Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt saw cars set alight and cops reportedly attacked.
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      Flares were thrown by fansCredit: AP
      It was claimed that travelling Frankfurt fans were responsible for causing the chaos.
      The scenes saw 800 cops deployed on the streets, with a reported 300 fans causing mayhem and resorting to violence.
      This afternoon’s Rome derby could have a huge say on determining where both teams finish in the Serie A table.
      Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio go into the match third – two points above their fifth-placed fierce rivals.
      Cops attempted to gain control outside the Stadio OlimpicoCredit: EPA More

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      Former Man Utd striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic breaks ANOTHER record in AC Milan’s shock Serie A defeat to Udinese

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      ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC added another record to his impressive CV after scoring for AC Milan at Udinese last night.The Swede had a penalty saved on the stroke of half time but had his blushes spared as the referee ordered it to be retaken.
      Zlatan Ibrahimovic made history with his goal for AC Milan on SaturdayCredit: Getty
      This time the legendary striker made no mistake as he slotted home his first goal since his return from a long-term injury.
      That made Ibrahimovic the oldest ever scorer in Serie A history at the age of 41 years and 166 days, beating Alessandro Costacurta’s previous record of 41 years and 25 days.
      Unfortunately for him his equaliser would be in vain as Milan went on to suffer a 3-1 defeat.
      The defeat left them sitting fourth, while Udinese moved up to eighth.
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      Ibrahimovic returned to action in February and had appeared three times off the bench before being made skipper yesterday, becoming Milan’s oldest captain.
      He equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s record in January 2022 when he found the net against Venezia.
      That was the 80th team he has scored against in Europe’s top five leagues.
      The feat meant he pulled level with Ronaldo – who netted against his 80th different side in Man Utd’s 3-1 win over Burnley in December 2021.
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      Ibra also broke a Champions League record during his time at United.
      The iconic Swede became the first and only player to represent seven different sides in Europe’s elite club competition.
      During his career, Ibrahimovic has played for Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus and Ajax, as well as United. More