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      How Lionel Messi’s life would compare in London, Manchester, Paris and Milan as he prepares to move from Barcelona

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      LIONEL MESSI is set to leave Barcelona with a host of Europe’s top clubs looking to secure his signing.
      Premier League giants Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are all said to be possible suitors for the Argentinian ace.

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      Lionel Messi’s next choice of club will have more to do with the lifestyle he leads than money
      While Champions League runners-up PSG and AC Milan are also said to be interested in adding the mercurial forward to their ranks.
      But for Messi, already worth around £320million, a move from the Camp Nou is not money-orientated – not that the Barça legend has ever cared about that either.
      Instead, his decision could be dictated by the lifestyle he and his wife Antonella Roccuzzo and their three children want to live.
      Here’s what each city could offer.

      FASHION
      Although London boasts Bond Street and Paris has fashion week, it’s Milan that’s known as the shopping capital of the world.
      The biggest designers from Gucci to Prada and Armani to Dolce & Gabbana have their boutiques filled with the latest high-end clobber.
      And they can all be found in the stunning setting of Via Montenapoleone – THE shopping street of Milan.
      In 2018, it was called Europe’s most expensive street.

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      Milan’s famous for its world class shopping

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      Designer stores like Versace can be found in the stunning Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

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      Milan is called the fashion capital of the world
      Milan’s finest are often seen shopping there.
      WINNER: MILAN
      PROPERTY
      Messi loves to live privately, away from the hustle and bustle of a big city.
      In Barcelona, his £5.5million luxury mansion sits in the exclusive suburb of Castelldefels – some 12 miles away from the Nou Camp.
      And should he move to Stamford Bridge, like many of Chelsea’s stars he would head towards Surrey and shun the shiny King’s Road.
      With the club’s training ground being on the outskirts of Cobham in the Elmbridge borough, he would most certainly look at property in Oxshott.
      The average price of a mansion there is around £4.5million, well within Messi’s budget.
      Houses on the Crown Estate are said to be the most desirable for Chelsea’s millionaires.
      WINNER: LONDON

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      Oxshott homes are the most desired by Chelsea’s millionaires

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      Chelsea’s stars are often seen parked on Oxshott high street

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      Oxshott offers lush, green surroundings and privacy

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      Properties found in the exclusive and private Crown Estate are the most valuable and prestigious

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      Messi and his family currently life in a mansion in the private Barcelona suburb of Castelldefels
      FOOD
      For Messi, food is key to performance.
      After all, to get to the top he modified a diet of pizza and slabs of beef and fine-tuned it to fish, chicken and vegetables to get the best out of his body.
      But every now and again, should he want to treat Antonella to a date night, Paris offers the best and most romantic restaurants in the world.
      The hottest table in the French capital is Septime – rated as the 15th best restaurant in the world.
      Their special, Duck filet with Guéthary anchovies and laurel-infused jus, is a must.
      WINNER: PARIS

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      The hottest table for dining in Paris can be found at the Septime restaurant

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      Septime is rated as the 15th best restaurant in the world

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      Messi’s strict diet will fit in line with French cuisine
      FRIENDS
      If it’s to be close to his pals, Manchester would be Messi’s ideal destination.
      But it would have to be with the blue half, with Argies not faring so well at United – think Juan Sebastian Veron and Angel Di Maria.
      And at City he would find bestie Sergio Aguero, who will happily be his guide to the city.
      International team-mate Nicolas Otamendi should also be on hand to advise the gifted NO10.
      While he would also be back working under mentor Pep Guardiola.
      WINNER: MANCHESTER

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      Messi and Man City striker Sergio Aguero are close mates

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      Aguero would be able to offer advice about life in Manchester

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      A move to Man City could see Messi reunited with his mentor Pep Guardiola
      CULTURE
      In fairness, you can find culture in all these cities.
      But Paris is, essentially, the culture capital of the world thanks to its landmarks, architecture, and brilliant art museums.
      There’s the world-famous Louvre – so good they built a second one in Abu Dhabi under the instruction of UAE crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed.
      At the Paris Louvre, he could see the world famous Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
      The sight of the Eiffel Tower is still one to behold in the flesh too.
      And the Palais Garnier, a 1,979-seat opera house, sees some of the best opera performers tread its boards.
      WINNER: PARIS

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      The Louvre is one of the most famous museums of all-time

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      The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci hangs in the Louvre

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      The Eiffel Tower is a wondrous architectural structure

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      The Palais Garnier sees some of the best opera performers tread its boards
      WEATHER
      Manchester certainly won’t win here, unless he doesn’t mind a bit of rain.
      But, if it’s a warmer climate and one similar to Barcelona, Messi should opt for Milan.
      In July and August, the temperatures average 29 and 30 degrees respectively.
      And with only five days of rain in both those months, he will certainly be able to keep dry.

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      In the summer months Milan averages temperatures of 29 and 30 degrees

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      Milano Marittima is a resort favoured by the Milanese jet-set.

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      Antonella Roccuzzo will have a big say on where Messi moves

      Of course, there’s no beach in Milan.
      His best bet would be Milano Marittima – a three-hour drive from the city and a resort favoured by the Italian jet-set.
      WINNER: MILAN More

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      Chelsea signing Sarr supports poverty-stricken hometown in Nice with charity work and has a street park named after him

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      NOT many make something of their lives outside Les Moulins, a rough suburb to avoid in the picturesque city of Nice.
      But Malang Sarr is an example that anything is possible.

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      Chelsea signing Malang Sarr comes from an impoverished suburb of NiceCredit: AFP or licensors

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      A local hero, Sarr has a street park named after him in Les MoulinsCredit: Twitter / @ognice
      The highly coveted 21-year-old defender has hit the big time with a move to the Premier League.
      Joining Frank Lampard’s Chelsea on a free transfer after his contract expired, Sarr has signed a five-year deal with the Blues and is expected to be sent out on loan to gain valuable game time.
      It’s a transfer that he could only have dreamed of growing up on an estate in a disadvantaged neighbourhood in the French Riviera.
      However, despite his rapid rise through the ranks at Nice – Sarr has never forgotten his roots.

      DOING HIS BIT FOR CHARITY
      Sarr understands what he achieved was against the norm for kids from Les Moulins.
      That’s why he became an ambassador for the Adam Association.
      Formed in 1977, the charity works with children and young adults from the poor area and gives them opportunities they may not get.
      Educational support for kids is high on their agenda, as well as social and professional integration for young adults.

      Sarr turned to the Adam Association himself, when it came to needing help with his school work, so he understands exactly what they represent.

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      Sarr is a role model for the people of Les Moulins to aspire to beCredit: Twitter / @ognice

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      When Sarr was a boy he relied on local charity Adam Association to help him with his studiesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      At the turn of the year, Sarr made an appearance at one of their meetings to hand out certificates for 23 graduates of a security training course.
      He told his audience: “Knowing that we all come from Les Moulins and seek to follow the path of those who have achieved great things in the neighbourhood is the only thing you should have in mind.
      “You should not put up any barriers because luck is made, in sport and in all other professions.”
      IN HIS HONOUR
      Last year, Sarr’s remarkable rise was recognised in Les Moulins.
      At only 20, he was immortalised with his very own park named after him in the district.
      The street park features a mural of the local’s hero painted on a wall, while naturally there are goals for kids to practice with and aspire to be the ‘next Sarr’.
      Sarr understands he’s a role model for the people who have supported him and his epic ascension from Nice youth product to potential Premier League star.
      “To be able to give back to the neighbourhood, to give back to the city, all I could have is the least of things,” Sarr revealed.
      “It’s a neighbourhood where life is good, everyone is pleasant, where everyone loves each other and is generous.

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      Sarr’s street park features a mural of the new Chelsea star

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      Malang Sarr Street Park opened last yearCredit: Twitter / @ognice
      “I try to be the best person I can to give a good image and to set an example.”
      A BORN LEADER
      Sarr joined Nice when he was six, spending 12 years developing with the club’s academy.
      He made his debut in 2016 – scoring and becoming the second youngest goalscorer in Ligue 1 history in the process.
      And under Nice manager Patrick Vieira he became a mainstay of the first team, filling in at left-back as well as playing in central defence.

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      Patrick Vieira has called Sarr a leader among menCredit: Icon Sport – Getty

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      Chelsea have snapped Sarr up on a five-year dealCredit: Instagram / @fedepastorello

      The former Gunners legend also sees something of him in the talented Sarr.
      “He has the personality of a leader,” Vieira told Sport365 in 2019. “He answers simply and clearly.”
      Clearly, Sarr is a leader on and off the pitch.

      Chelsea confirm £50m Ben Chilwell transfer from Leicester City as he becomes Frank Lampard’s third addition to squad More

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      Arsenal starlet Mark McGuinness has been promoted by Arteta to the first team and scored in the 4-1 defeat of MK Dons

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      THEY’RE shopping for central defenders, but the answer to Arsenal’s problems might be closer to home than they think.
      Back in April, highly-rated centre back Mark McGuinness, 19, signed professional terms with the club under the watchful gaze of former Gunners skipper Per Mertesacker.

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      Towering Arsenal youth defender Mark McGuinness has a big future in the gameCredit: Getty – Contributor

      In the months since, the 6ft 4in Republic of Ireland Under-19 international has been training with Mikel Arteta’s first team.
      This week, McGuinness announced himself with a thumping header in the 4-1 preseason friendly win over MK Dons.
      And if he continues to develop, he could save the Spanish boss a fortune in transfer fees.
      ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS
      London-born McGuinness has been with Arsenal since he was 10.

      He progressed through the youth teams to help Arsenal’s U18 team win the southern title in 2019 – impressing with his ability to read the game.
      Alongside Harry Clarke, he formed a formidable pairing in defence where the Gunners had previously struggled at that age group.
      The centre-back was rewarded for his fine form with a promotion to the U23s, where it is likely he will be partnering the recent surprise signing from Tottenham, Jonathan Dinzeyi.
      Similar in mould to Mertesacker, McGuinness is comfortable in possession and a threat from set-pieces.

      And he’s translated his form to the international stage.

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      McGuinness has risen through the ranks and is now training with the first teamCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Standing at 6ft 4in McGuinness is a fine passer of the ballCredit: Instagram markmcguinness5
      EURO SUCCESS
      2019 was a massively successful year for McGuinness.
      Not only was he a standout performer for the Gunners’ youth sides, he also starred for the Republic of Ireland’s U19 team at the 2019 European Championships.
      Unlucky to miss out on a place in the team of the tournament, McGuinness was a wall alongside Newcastle United’s Oisin McEntee.
      He helped the Irish reach the semi-finals, where they lost to Portugal.
      There was no doubt his stock rose further with his displays on the international scene.
      GOALSCORER
      A relative unknown to Arsenal fans, McGuinness appeared in Arteta’s first team in a preseason friendly against MK Dons this week – their only game before they face Liverpool in the Charity Shield on Saturday.
      Coming on as a second half substitute, he marshalled the defence and kept a clean sheet for the time he was on the pitch.

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      McGuinness celebrates finding the net against MK DonsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      The future looks bright for McGuinness at ArsenalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Better still, he felt the ecstasy of scoring – netting a thumping header and the third goal in a 4-1 win.
      With Zech Medley out on loan, McGuinness could find himself knocking on the first team door more often.
      And he may just cure Arsenal’s centre half blues.

      Rob Holding scores diving header own-goal for Arsenal against MK Dons More

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      Inside Lionel Messi’s amazing Barcelona lifestyle with a modern £5.5m mansion, £26m hotel and stunning car collection

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      THE unthinkable could be about to happen.
      Dismayed by life at Barcelona, Lionel Messi’s days at the Camp Nou appear to be numbered.

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      Messi has built an incredible lifestyle in Barcelona
      The Argentinian ace, 33, has handed in a transfer request and wants to leave the La Liga giants, after spending his entire career with the Catalans.
      Both Manchester clubs and PSG are watching with interest, and the forward has reportedly contacted former mentor Pep Guardiola asking to join him in the Premier League.
      But what will Messi be leaving behind? Here’s a glimpse into his amazing life in Catalonia.
      HIS HOME
      Boasting sea views and being in a no-fly zone, Messi’s abode – valued at £5.5milion – in Barcelona offers a tranquil experience.

      Located in the exclusive suburb of Castelldefels, it’s the perfect spot for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner to reside.
      And he bought himself privacy by splashing out on his neighbour’s home, according to team-mate Ivan Rakitic.
      Just 12 miles away from the Camp Nou, Messi’s home has a small football pitch, a swimming pool, an indoor gym and a playground for his three children.
      There’s also the incredible sight of the Balearic Sea to wake up to every day – you won’t get that in Manchester, Paris or London.

      Luiz Suarez and Philippe Coutinho live nearby, should a team debriefing be needed.

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      The Messis live in a stunning mansion in the exclusive suburb of CastelldefelsCredit: Instagram @antoroccuzzo88

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      The home boasts a stunning and spacious loungeCredit: Instagram @antoroccuzzo88

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      Messi has a room dedicated to a collection of shirts in his home

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      Football is always on the TV and the family can keep warm by the fireCredit: Instagram @antoroccuzzo88

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      Messi often plays football in his garden with his Dogue de Bordeaux called HulkCredit: Instagram @leomessi

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      The Messi family regularly congregate in the kitchenCredit: Instagram @leomessi

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      Family comes first for MessiCredit: Instagram @antoroccuzzo88
      HOTEL
      With tourism being a huge trade in Barcelona, Messi has invested his money shrewdly.
      Like his footballing rival Cristiano Ronaldo, he has become a hotelier and bought a £26million hotel in the coastal town of Sitges – some 26 miles from the city.
      The four-star Hotel MiM Sitges is just 100m from the sea, has 77 bedrooms, including five junior suites and one suite, and costs around £105-per-night during high season to stay in a standard room.
      On top of that, there’s the rooftop Sky Bar that boasts panoramic views of the town and Mediterranean Sea, as well as a pool.
      If you’re looking unwind even further, there’s a top-of-the-range spa that features a sauna, Turkish bath, sensory showers, a recreational pool, a cold plunge tub and a saltwater pool.

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      Messi owns the Hotel MiM Sitges

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      Sitges is a stunning coastal town just 26 miles from the city

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      The hotel cost Messi around £26millionCARS
      With a reported wealth of £310million, Messi could probably afford to send his car collection over with him wherever he goes.
      The pick of his motors, said to be worth around £3million, is a £1.5million Pagani Zonda.
      He also has a penchant for Maserati, with a £100,000 GranTurismo S and a GranTurismo MC Stradale in his garage.
      Messi has also been seen driving a Ferrari F43 Spider worth £173,000.
      Although with Barcelona’s deal with Audi ending last year, there were no more freebies from the German car giants.

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      Messi boasts a car collection reportedly worth £3millionCredit: Getty – Contributor

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      A rare Pagani Zonda worth £1.5million is the jewel of his car collectionCredit: Handout

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      Messi seen behind the wheel of a Range RoverCredit: Getty – Contributor

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      Messi loves Maseratis and has two different GranTurismosCredit: Xposure

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      Barcelona’s sponsorship deal with Audi has since expiredCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      THE TRAINING GROUND
      Every day Messi hones his skills at the state-of-the-art Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.
      Since 2009, Barcelona have made this their training ground. It also acts as a multi-sport pavilion for the other sports teams at the club, including basketball, futsal, and handball.
      After training, Messi and Co can use the gym, sauna, and a full-sized pool – all aiding their recuperation.
      Costing roughly around £65million, there are also living quarters where future Barcelona prospects border.
      It was named in honour of Joan Gamper, the founder of the Spanish club.

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      Messi trains at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan GamperCredit: FC Barcelona

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      The Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper boasts state-of-the-art facilitiesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      The facility boasts several training pitchesCredit: FC Barcelona

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      Barcelona’s professional basketball team is also based hereCredit: FC Barcelona

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      Barcelona’s stars are put through their pacesCredit: Rex Features
      LOVE OF HIS LIFE
      Barcelona shares a special place in the heart of Messi and his wife Antonella Roccuzzo.
      Although they were childhood friends in Rosario, Argentina, Messi and Roccuzzo’s love blossomed in the Spanish city in 2009.
      They’ve set up camp, not only with a beautiful home and life, but three sons too – Thiago, Mateo and Ciro all Spanish-born.

      There’s no doubt the pair would return to Argentina.
      After all, they shared their nuptials in their homeland in Rosario in a glitzy ceremony attended by Barcelona legends Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol and Samuel Eto’o.
      Would you turn your back on this lifestyle for a rainy day at Stoke?

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      Antonella Roccuzzo is Messi’s love of his lifeCredit: Instagram, @antoroccuzzo88

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      The stunning Wag was a childhood friend of Messi’s from RosarioCredit: Splash News

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      The Messi family have settled in SpainCredit: Instagram @antonelaroccuzzo

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      Will the Messi family move from Barcelona?Credit: Splash News More

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      Neymar crumbled when PSG needed him against Bayern Munich, and when it mattered most his game went to pieces

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      AFTER Paris Saint Germain had lost to Bayern Munich in Sunday’s Champions League final, Neymar went to social media to make the point that the team had given its all and that losing was a part of sport.
      It was a classic example of one of the defining features of social media – that what you represent is not necessarily what you are.

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      Neymar was reduced to tears after PSG’s loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League finalCredit: EPA
      Because the Neymar we had all seen on the Lisbon pitch did not appear to behave at all as if he thought that losing was a part of sport.
      He greeted defeat with a river of tears, and had to be coaxed out of his seat to join his team-mates and collect his medal.
      True, those in sport can never be happy to lose. But the real problem here was not how Neymar behaved after the final whistle had blown – it was the way that the prospect of defeat had a negative effect on his performance during the game.
      There have been many times when Neymar has been criticised unjustly.

      His petulant excesses mean that many are reluctant to praise him, and quick to blame him for things that are not his fault.
      It is unfair to pin Brazil’s disastrous 2014 World Cup on his slender shoulders – he was injured in the quarter finals.
      And his displays in Russia two years ago were pretty good bearing in mind that he was making his way back from an extended injury absence.
      And before this season he had been forced out of almost all the knock out games that PSG had played in the Champions League over the past two years.

      There is also clearly much more to him than the appearance – that he can often give on the field – of being a spoiled eternal adolescent. He is usually popular with his team-mates.
      But too much of that adolescent remains – and that, for his many fans, is the most disappointing lesson of the 2020 Champions League final.

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      When PSG needed him most Neymar crumbled under the pressureCredit: Manu Fernandez

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      Neymar failed to lift his PSG team-mates when they went 1-0 downCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      It is undeniable that he is under enormous pressure. Brazil have many excellent players.
      But Neymar is the stand out talent, the man expected to live up to the legacy of Pele and Garrincha.
      And when he left Barcelona, moving out of the shadow of Lionel Messi, he was making a conscious choice to accept the pressures of carrying PSG to greatness.
      On Sunday it all looked too much. Not because he played badly. He did some fine things in the first half. His acceleration and balance were both on show with the left footed shot that was well blocked by Manuel Neuer.
      The problem was that once Bayern took the lead – at the moment that PSG most needed their star man to step up – he crumbled.
      The real test of a team, and of a player, is the response to going behind. Neymar failed this one badly.
      For a 20 minute spell after the goal, he could do nothing right. His every touch was an error.
      All players go through bad spells. They can get themselves back in rhythm by keeping it simple, retaining possession and rediscovering their touch.
      Neymar seemed unable to do this. He was so emotionally affected by the proximity of defeat that, when it mattered most, his game went to pieces.
      In competitive matches for Brazil Neymar has only been on the losing side twice – not counting a penalty shoot out defeat back in 2011.

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      Neymar seemed to lose his touch and belief in the second half Credit: EPA

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      Neymar was left ruing what could’ve been at the final whistleCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      There was the quarter final loss to Belgium in Russia 2018, which he confessed was a huge blow.
      And there was a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Copa America of 2015, when he was superbly marked by Carlos Sanchez – and became so frustrated that he lashed out at the referee after the game and picked up a long suspension.

      He has not been prepared to lose – a fault not just in him but in those who have developed him. And until he can cope better with the prospect of defeat, the great triumphs will be much more difficult to achieve.
      Going into Sunday’s big game, many in Brazil were trusting that their big star was now ‘Ney Adult.’
      He may be closer to 29 than 28, but under the harsh spotlight of the global glare, Neymar showed that there is still work to be done on his emotional development for that tag to be true.

      Distraught Neymar has to be persuaded to receive runners-up medal as Ferdinand slams PSG star for lack of respect More

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      Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips was told to forget a career in football by school, but now has been picked for England

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      IT’S been a remarkable year for Leeds United midfield lynchpin Kalvin Phillips.
      The 24-year-old, nicknamed the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’, was instrumental in leading Marcelo Bielsa’s side to promotion, following a 16-year absence from the Premier League.

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      Leeds United midfield lynchpin Kalvin Phillips has been called-up to the England squadCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Phillips was instrumental in ending Leeds United’s 16-year Premier League exileCredit: Reuters
      Better still, Gareth Southgate has rewarded Phillips for his fine form with his first ever call-up to the England squad for the Nations League games against Iceland and Denmark – just weeks after he was contacted to play international football for Jamaica.
      However, when he was a kid his former teachers believed he should forget about football and concentrate on his education.
      Phillips was a late-bloomer, and didn’t join the Leeds academy at Thorp Arch until he was 14.
      Before that he was starring at Wortley Juniors, and then Farsley for a season until Leeds scouts spotted his potential.

      However, his Sliding Doors moment came when his mother wrote to his school asking if her son could be excused from class.
      The school’s response wasn’t so positive.
      “My mum got a letter from school,” he recalled to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
      “It said they hoped I realised that not many people make it as a professional footballer.

      “There was me and a friend, in the same age group, and they were threatening not to let us go.
      “But they did and when I look back now I think…”
      LEEDS IN HIS BLOOD

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      Phillips’s mum was told by his secondary school to forget a career in footballCredit: Instagram / @kalvinphillips

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      Phillips, pictured with his late grandfather, grew up Leeds mad in Armley, near Elland RoadCredit: Instagram / @kalvinphillips
      Phillips grew up in Armley, a district west of Leeds – with the club very much in his family’s blood.
      A triplet, he was raised by his mother in a large family. But sadness hit the Phillips clan hard when he lost one of his sisters to illness at a young age.

      He took to football, playing in the streets with his brother until it got dark and idolised Alan Smith – the last Leeds player to play for the Three Lions.

      “I remember getting my first Leeds shirt, me and my brother.

      “It was the yellow one with Strongbow on the front. I had Alan Smith on the back.
      “We’d play outside whenever we got the chance, from 10 in the morning until six at night when my mum shouted us in for tea.
      “You’re just a kid and you enjoy running about. I never got tired.”

      SCOUTED AT 14
      Leeds picked up Phillips when he was midway through secondary school.
      It was by sheer fluke. He was there to watch his mates play in a tournament, ended up filling in because of lack of numbers, and caught the eye of Walter ‘Sonny’ Sweeney – a legend of Don Revie’s 1960s Leeds side.

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      At 14 Phillips, flanked by mum, left, and grandma, right, was scouted by LeedsCredit: Instagram / @kalvinphillips

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      In Leeds’ youth teams Phillips excelled at the Thorp Arch academyCredit: Instagram / @kalvinphillips

      “I was at Wortley Juniors until I was about 12 and then left for a season at Farsley,” he said.

      “I’d gone to watch Wortley play in their home tournament but they didn’t have enough players so I played for them. I got scouted by a guy called Sonny Sweeney and went to Leeds City Boys.

      “After that, he came and watched me again and got me on a six-week trial at Leeds. It all went from there.”
      LEEDS’ GAIN WAS HUDDERSFIELD’S LOSS
      It could’ve been a completely different Yorkshire club that Phillips might’ve made his name at.
      Before Sweeney spotted his talents, he trialled with Huddersfield Town and they must be kicking themselves now that it didn’t work out with the Terriers.
      “As soon as I went there, I thought ‘I don’t like it. It’s not for me’,” he said.
      “I was growing up around Leeds and I idolised Leeds. I went to Huddersfield and thought it was a good chance but I got there and felt like I didn’t really fancy it.
      “A couple of weeks later I went to Leeds and I haven’t looked back.”
      GLAMOUR JOB

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      Tough Phillips is renowned for his no-nonsense approach to the gameCredit: Rex Features

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      Phillips is thankful he was a late bloomer because he believes it made him a better playerCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Phillips is aware he is one of the lucky ones and paid fantastic money to do a job he loves.
      He has a special bond with his twin sister, who teases him about his easy life. She works in the prison service in London.
      “She tells me that every time she sees me,” he joked.
      “But she’s proud of me as much as I’m proud of her. I don’t think she realises how proud of her I am.”
      Phillips holds no grudges when it comes to having made it late.
      In fact, the tough-tackler believes it made him the player he is today.
      “I knew I’d joined late but in a way it was better because I got to enjoy my football more when I was younger,” he said.
      “There wasn’t as much pressure. Me coming here late probably made me a better player.”

      Leeds making shock £10m move for Rangers star Ryan Kent with Marcelo Bielsa huge fan of ex-Liverpool winger More

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      Chelsea transfer target Thiago Silva almost died from tuberculosis aged 21 and his wife saved his career

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      Thiago Silva became one of the best defenders of his generation, but over a decade ago the Brazilian was weeks away from death after catching tuberculosis.
      The PSG centre back, who is wanted by Chelsea to sure up the West Londoner’s defence, was diagnosed with the bacterial infection while at Dynamo Moscow in 2005.

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      Thiago Silva has been targeted by Premier League giants ChelseaCredit: Handout – Getty

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      In 2005 while playing for Dynamo Moscow Silva was diagnosed with tuberculosisCredit: Dynamo Moscow
      At just 21 years old, Silva was hospitalised for six months while Russian doctors treated him for the condition he contracted six months before the illness was detected.
      The tuberculosis was so advanced, docs even considered removing part of his lungs to ensure his survival.
      But his mother, Angela, and wife, Isabelle stepped in advising against surgery that would’ve put pay to Silva’s football dreams before it had even started.
      “That would have ended my career, I needed guardian angels to take me away,” Silva told AP.

      DEFENSIVE DYNAMO
      Silva, now, 35, was signed by Dynamo from Porto in January, 2005 for a fee of around £3.5m.
      Despite not playing a single game for the Portuguese giants, other than a smattering of matches in the reserves in the second division, Dynamo took a punt on the unknown entity.
      The Russian club’s President, Alexei Fedorychev had big plans for Dynamo that year, bringing in seven players from Portugal that January.
      He even appointed experienced Brazilian manager Ivo Wortmann to ensure the language barrier wasn’t a problem for the new signings and his team could challenge for the Premier League.

      But club doctors were surprised that Silva was getting tired so quickly.

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      Silva goes toe-to-toe with Robert Lewandowski in the recent Champions League finalCredit: Manu Fernandez
      They also were shocked that most of their new recruits were bought without proper medical checks.
      Silva became very ill, suffering with symptoms including a high temperature, coughing fits and severe sweating.
      Clearly it wasn’t a case of the flu, he was sent to hospital where doctors conducted a series of tests to determine what was wrong.
      ‘TWO WEEKS FROM DEATH’
      They were stunned to learn he was suffering from tuberculosis, and had been for six months prior to their discovery.
      Simply put, doctors told him he was two weeks away from death and was extremely lucky the disease was caught when it was.
      “In 2005 I was sent out on loan to Dynamo Moscow, but the city was horrible, I was cold and got ill,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport magazine Sport Week back in 2011.
      “I was in hospital for six months. I was 10kg overweight and, despite everyone else in the hospital being so skinny and not wanting to eat, I was always hungry.

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      Doctors said Silva was two weeks away from death if he remained untreatedCredit: AFP or licensors
      “My mother said I didn’t look ill, but I couldn’t move.
      “The doctors would tell me to get up and go for a walk, but I couldn’t do it. This disease is also contagious, so I was put in isolation, only able to play computer games and go on the internet.
      “Every now and then a doctor would come in and give me an injection, three or four times a day, plus 10-15 pills.
      “I eventually found out that I’d had tuberculosis for six months. The doctors said if another two weeks had passed, I might not have been able to recover.
      “I almost died. This is why, whenever I play, I think back to those moments in Russia.”
      THREAT TO HIS CAREER
      During his treatment, medical staff advised the central defender he needed to have a part of his right lung cut out to survive the ordeal.
      Effectively, that would’ve meant he would have to quit football.

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      Thiago Silva’s wife Isabelle went against doctors’ advice of surgery to remove some of his lungCredit: Instagram @thiagosilva_33

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      Brazilian star Thiago Silva’s mum Angela convinced her son to carry on playingCredit: Bruno Henrique/ Divulgação
      “I told them no one would open my husband up and end his dream,” wife Isabelle told AP.
      “I am not a doctor, but no one believed he should go through surgery.
      “To see him wearing the Brazil shirt is a victory for us all, especially those that know him from those days.”
      During that dark time, Silva thought about retiring, despite being given a clean bill of health. It was the second time in his life he considered quitting the game.
      “I had thought of quitting football altogether,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport magazine Sport Week.
      “There was another occasion when I went to Flamengo for a trial and after two sessions they said I could go, as I was no better than any of the players they already had.
      “I told my mother I didn’t want to play football anymore, as nobody wanted me.
      “However, she said in that case I’d have to go work for my brother, so I immediately changed my mind and looked for another club!”
      SECOND COMING
      Silva’s adventure/nightmare in Russia ended in 2006 when he returned back to his homeland with Fluminense.

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      Ivo Wortmann gave Thiago Silva a second chance at FluminenseCredit: Coritiba

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      At Fluminense, Thiago Silva managed to rebuild his careerCredit: AFP – Getty

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      Thiago Silva earned a move to AC Milan in 2009 and has since become one of the world’s best defendersCredit: Getty – Contributor
      His redemption came from a familiar face too. Wortmann, a man responsible for bringing him to Dynamo in the first place, had moved back to Brazil too.

      Believing in Silva’s talent, he told Fluminense he’d be their coach if they bought his protege too.
      They did, and the rest, as they say, is history. Silva showed his promise, earning moves to AC Milan and then PSG.
      Chelsea could be next for this courageous man and footballer.

      talkSPORT set out minimum expectations for Chelsea next season amid busy transfer window More

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      in Soccer

      Fulham and Crystal Palace target Eberechi Eze was rejected by Arsenal and Millwall and considered taking a job at Tesco

      by

      EBERECHI Eze is a wanted man, rated by many as the most exciting player in the Championship.
      The QPR No10, who scored 14 times for the Hoops and provided eight assists last season, has been linked with a £20million move to Premier League sides Fulham and Crystal Palace.

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      Eberechi Eze is one of the most exciting players outside the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But at one time it didn’t look like the 22-year-old fans’ favourite was going to make it in the game.
      Released by Arsenal and Millwall, the attacking midfielder could have been forgiven that a life in professional football wasn’t for him.
      And at his lowest, he considered taking a job working part-time at supermarket chain Tesco.
      While it all began for Eze on a council estate in a rough part of Greenwich, where he developed his close control and quick feet playing cage football.

      GUN WRONG
      At QPR, Eze has had the opportunity to flourish, playing for a team that lets him showcase his skills.
      But it wasn’t always that easy, and rejection was a big part of his early teens.
      He began at boyhood club Arsenal – who he has expressed his dream to play for one day.
      However, in 2011 the Gunners released Eze on the count of him being “too small”. It left the then 13-year-old distraught.

      “It started at Arsenal. I was 13 [when I was released]. That was the worst one,” he told the Independent.

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      £15m-rated Eze is being linked with a move to the Premier LeagueCredit: Rex Features
      “I remember crying in my room for a solid week, my mum telling me that it’s going to be OK but not being able to get over it.”
      TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS
      A stint at Fulham, followed by four months at Reading and Eze still couldn’t find any takers.
      In 2014, he joined Millwall, but wasn’t suited to their brand of route one football that left little room for a creative playmaker.
      Surprisingly, to Eze at least, he was called into the office of former manager Neil Harris, who told the youngster he wasn’t needed two years later.
      “When I got released by Millwall, I understood the decision. I get why Neil made that call,” he told TalkSPORT.
      “You could see in training and in matches that I wasn’t their typical type of player.
      “I didn’t think I would get released at the time I did though – that came as a big shock to me.
      “I thought I’d probably get another year there, even though it didn’t look like there was much chance of me getting near the first team.
      “It took me by surprise, but ultimately it was a blessing in disguise.”

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      Eze was released by Arsenal and Millwall and feared for his football careerCredit: Instagram ebere_10

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      Eze considered a job at Tesco before signing a deal with QPR in 2016Credit: Instagram ebere_10
      STACKING SHELVES
      With a career in football looking unlikely, Eze had to think about a making a life in something else.
      He enrolled at a college, and was on the verge of accepting a job part-time at a local Tesco.
      “When I initially got released [by Millwall] I wasn’t too down, as there were plenty of clubs interested in me,” he said.
      “But after being turned down by a few of them that’s when it really started hitting me. I was getting a bit worried – all I’ve ever wanted to do is to be a professional footballer.”
      He told the Independent: “I honestly have no idea what I would have done.
      “I didn’t like anything at school. Even P.E was a drag. When my agent told me I had a trial at QPR I just thought: ‘I have to get in’. There was no other option.”
      His saving grace was QPR’s technical director Chris Ramsey, who not only invited him for a trial but saw his potential.

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      In 2019 Eze showcased his skills for England’s U20 teamCredit: Rex Features
      Eze signed a contract with the West London side in 2016, and has since become one of the most talked about players outside the Premier League.
      CAGE FOOTBALL
      Eze’s unique set of ball skills, able to dribble himself out of tight spots, was developed playing a brand of cage football – like ‘ballers’ Jadon Sancho and Reiss Nelson.
      He grew up in the flats opposite Greenwich Hospital, where football was his escape.
      “There are the nice parts [of Greenwich] and the not so nice parts,” he revealed.
      “I grew up in a not so nice part. It wasn’t the easiest life and you don’t have as much as other kids around you.

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      Eze was raised in Greenwich and honed his skills playing cage footballCredit: Instagram ebere_10

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      Midfielder Eze has risen to the top despite setbacks in his careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      “The first place we’d go after school is to the cage. We’d stay there till our parents called us in, not eating, playing all day and night.
      “There wasn’t really anything else to do. But that’s where the love comes from. [At the time], you don’t realise it’s actually how you’re learning your trade.”
      A trade that could see Eze finally appearing in the Premier League, where many didn’t believe he belonged.

      Chelsea defender Ethan Ampadu ‘close’ to joining Fulham on loan despite transfer interest from Norwich More