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SERGIO AGUERO could make a shock move to Leeds in summer, according to reports.Meanwhile Kylian Mbappe has reportedly told PSG he will turn down a new contract and wants to join Real Madrid.
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‘HAVE TO STAND FOR SOMETHING’
Reading captain Liam Moore has vowed to quit Twitter after receiving disgusting racist abuse.
The centre-back was the subject of a vile social media poll and declared his intention to deactivate his account as a result.
The poll from a now deleted account called Veljko Paunovic talks Reading FC asked: “Should a n***** be captain of Reading FC?” And the available listed answers read: ‘No’, ‘Not him’ and ‘N***** is a name’.
Moore, 28, saw the horrendous post and hit out at Twitter for letting it happen. He wrote: “2021 and I’m not f****** surprised in the slightest. Twitter you’re as much to blame for making it so easy to abuse people.”
And in a separate post, the Jamaican international wrote: “I have enjoyed engaging with many of you on here over the years but tonight was just another example of Twitter being toxic. You have to stand for something and for that reason I am deactivating my account. Thanks for your support.”
Moore has more than 87,000 followers and hundreds of them commented messages of support.

IT’S THE KNEE FOR DEENEY – EXCLUSIVE
Troy Deeney says footballers should continue taking the knee next season.
Watford captain and SunSport columnist Deeney is part of a Premier League advisory group discussing the issue. Players have taken the knee to highlight the need for racial equality since football came out of lockdown last June.
And, as black players continue to be targeted on social media, Deeney urged his fellow pros to continue the practice. He said: “It’s my personal belief that taking a knee has made a real difference — that it has highlighted the issue and provoked conversation.
“I think taking the knee in front of full houses will have even more of an impact. There need to be further talks about what happens if some supporters boo or show dissent in other ways.
“But in my view that would only add to the difficult and necessary conversations on racism continuing. A lot more discussions are needed between players, clubs and the leagues.
“I would like unity on this and I’d like us to continue reinforcing the key message of civil rights and equality. People of colour simply want the same rights as everyone else. We’re not asking for reparation for what has happened in the past — just equality going forward.”

TO BE FRANK
Frank Lampard revealed he has received some ‘flattering’ offers to return to management – but ‘they were not quite right’ for the Blues legend.
But 18 months later and he was forced to clear out his locker as Chelsea’s form suffered, leading to his firing.
Lampard, who was replaced by German Thomas Tuchel, has now spoken out for the first time since being sacked by Blues owner Roman Abramovich.
Speaking at a Q&A hosted by the London Football Awards in aid of the Willow Foundation, he said: “Football has consumed my life firstly as a player and then as a manager.
“Nobody wants to lose their job. But when you go into this career, it can happen, no matter how good you think you are.
“It’s given me a lot more time to be at home. It’s been great to be around the family. I’ve had some opportunities that have come up in the last six weeks, two months, that have been flattering, but not the right thing. They were not quite right.”

PEP TALK
Pep Guardiola will have no problem if Sergio Aguero decides to stay in the Premier League this summer.
SunSport revealed last month that the legendary Manchester City forward, 32, is keen to remain in England when he leaves the Etihad in May.
Chelsea are tipped to make a move while Tottenham, Manchester United and even today’s opponents Leeds have also been linked.
And City boss Guardiola said he wants the Argentine to be happy and is not worried about him coming back to haunt his club.
The Spaniard said: “I want the best for him, all of us do. Find the best for Sergio for the last years in his career, for sure.
“We’ll be delighted with the decision he takes, the best for him and his family and career. My preference is his preference. His preference is my preference. The best for him is the best for all of us.”

MOUR JIBE
Jose Mourinho told Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that Sir Alex Ferguson would never have stood for his claim that trophies are for egos.
Tottenham boss Mourinho took a dig at his Manchester United successor ahead of their Prem clash this weekend.
Solskjaer — potless since he took over from the Portuguese in December 2018 — said before United’s FA Cup quarter-final exit at Leicester that cups are an “ego thing”.
He also argued how a league finish is the true barometer of progress. But Mourinho hit back: “It’s his opinion. But I’m pretty sure his big boss Sir Alex had a different opinion about it.
“But I respect what Solskjaer thinks. I think different. It’s not a problem, he’s not being disrespectful.
“But, I repeat, I believe that his big boss, and the biggest in Premier League history, has a different view in relation to that.”

LONG ROAD AB-HEAD
Thomas Tuchel has told Tammy Abraham there is no easy way back into the Chelsea team.
Tuchel, who replaced Frank Lampard on January 26, said: “I don’t think he’s the top scorer since I arrived. So I can only judge what I see and what we have together from the first minute when I arrived.
“I have seen a bright young man in front of me. A guy who is self-confident, who has a lot of talent. But it cannot be that in a period of such good results that suddenly the guys who don’t play are the winners.
“This cannot be. Because first of all, you need to be in the squad and if you are in a winning squad, you have your part in this winning squad.
“And it cannot be that sometimes the people who don’t make it to the squad are in the end the winners, although the team is winning many games. This is not logical to me. We are aware that he scored, we are aware that he scored a lot in the cup.
“We had some tactical changes he had to accept. We accept that he was injured. OK, so now it’s a difficult time to try things out because while he is injured the engine keeps on running.”

PARTEY STARTER
Mikel Arteta has urged Thomas Partey to step up and show just why Arsenal put so much effort into signing him.
The Ghanaian midfielder was supposed to be a game changer when he was poached from Atletico Madrid for £45million last summer. But that is not quite how things have worked out so far for the 27-year-old.
Arteta said: “Hopefully we will see the best version of Thomas at Sheffield United on Sunday and against Slavia Prague next week. Now that he has got a sequence of two or three games I think we’ll see him finishing the season in a really strong way.
“It’s very difficult to make a proper assessment of Thomas’ performances so far because he has missed six months and that is a long time. He is still adapting to our way of playing, which is different to what he did at Atletico, but he we can all see what he brings to the team.
“It’s about him finding the level of consistency that we need from him because he has the capacity that we can build a team that can play around him. The biggest difficulty he has had so far is that he has not been fit. Then every time he recovered, he missed the next game.
“He has not had time to prepare himself physically to play at the highest level and that has obviously had an impact because the Premier League demands real fitness.”

KARREN BRADY COLUMN
The negotiations around Erling Braut Haaland resemble those before the marriage of a prince in years gone by.
Monarchs depended on the knowledge of ambassadors and the bargaining power of favourite relations for securing a bride with a huge dowry, lands, a title of her own and, with luck, beauty. These negotiators travelled far and wide and were often well rewarded.
Should this remind readers of agent Mino Raiola and Alf-Inge Haaland, it is no coincidence — the couple have been on a tour of Europe inspecting possible match-ups for young Erling.
The fee for the 20-year-old blond giant and serial goalscorer is said to be £100-£150million — a sum only affordable to the wealthier aristocracy among clubs. The two envoys have so far talked to hard-up Barcelona and Real Madrid and include the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea among their targets.
Erling may have liked to join Leeds, where he was born and where his father played for three years, but I don’t think they are in the running.And, make no mistake about it, money is the critical factor.
Daddy Haaland and his Italian mate are looking for, it is reported, £25m each in agent fees. Should this or the transfer fee prove beyond the reach of clubs, then Erling will remain at Borussia Dortmund for a season more.

LIONS NEED TRENT – TROY DEENEY COLUMN
As debate rages over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s England axing, one thing is certain in my mind — Harry Kane will want the Liverpool man at the Euros.
Any centre-forward in the world would relish the trademark delivery Alexander-Arnold produced in Liverpool’s 3-0 win at Arsenal last weekend.
Southgate has a wealth of options at right-back but there is no other full-back in England — and few in the world ­— who could make that cross.
Of course there are also doubts about Trent’s defensive abilities and he did make a poor error on Tuesday, leading to Real Madrid’s second goal in the Champions League quarter-final.
There are pros and cons about all of England’s right-backs.
Although Southgate has suggested he will name only two right-backs in his Euros squad, I’d take Walker, Alexander-Arnold and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 23, which would be very harsh on both Kieran Trippier and Reece James.
Credit: PA
WHAT THE EL – EXCLUSIVE
Barcelona can afford to LOSE El Clasico with Ronald Koeman busy rebuilding the club, says old pal Albert Ferrer.
Ahead of his co-commentary for Saturday’s game on LaLigaTV, former Barca and Chelsea defender Ferrer explained: “Nobody likes to lose El Clasico. But for the circumstances of this season at Barcelona, the project is working so well that despite not winning this game of this type or winning the trophies, it should be enough.
“What Ronald Koeman has achieved, I don’t know if they will win any titles, but in this season I think it shouldn’t be the most important thing.
“It is always important at Barca to win but the job Koeman has done, to give importance to the young players and create a project and thinking in the mid-term, it is very exciting.
“You never know in football. If they don’t win the league and they lose the final of the Spanish Cup, you cannot call it a good season. Will that be enough for them? I don’t know.
“But I see clearly this is the right project and it should have continuity. He is a very talented manager and a team like Barcelona cannot forget what a hero of the club he is.”
Credit: Rex Features
DANNY HIGGINBOTHAM – EXCLUSIVE COLUMN
When I look at West Ham I see a team who collectively feel they have a point to prove.
In previous seasons, it seemed some players felt the club should be privileged that they were there.
But now they have a squad and a manager who feel proud to be at a club instead of using it as a stepping stone.
You have got Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma trying to prove their worth in the Premier League, as well as Craig Dawson trying to show he can still cut it. Then Jesse Lingard who is showing his class after being given the opportunity after joining from Manchester United on loan.
On top of all that you have David Moyes managing them. Who after a great career at Everton, was suffering from his experience of trying to succeed Alex Ferguson at United.
There is a mentality at the club which is shining through every game.And Moyes has got them playing to their strengths.

ROUGH RIDE FOR REDS
Manchester United’s Under-23s threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at home to West Ham tonight.
Former Red Devils Ademipo Odubeko scored a hat-trick for the Hammers as the Londoners took a win back down south.
⌚ FT — #MUAcademy U23s: #MUFC 2 West Ham 3A disappointing night for our young Reds, who fell to three goals from Ademipo Odubeko, after leading 2-0.The focus turns to the Manchester derby next week for Neil Wood’s side 🔴 pic.twitter.com/xEzbb5cp6M— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 9, 2021

SMASH AND GRAB!
Fulham 0 – 1 Wolves
Adama Traore broke Fulham’s hearts with a 92nd minute winner at Craven Cottage.
The Cottagers looked set to hold on for a vital point in their relegation battle.
But the winger hit them on the break in the dying stages and smashed one beyond Areola at the near post to move Nuno Espirito Santo’s side into 12th in the table.
Scott Parker looked distraught and Mario Lemina was in tears walking off the pitch as the West Londoners have just six games left to save themselves from the drop.
Fulham are 18th having played 32 games and are still three points behind Newcastle who have played just 30.

Playing Spanish giants in the semi-final
Few will forget Fernando Torres’ stunning breakaway goal against Barcelona in the Nou Camp that secured Chelsea’s final berth and got Gary Neville very excited.
The Blues had won the first leg 1-0 at home thanks to Didier Drogba’s strike before the stunning 2-2 draw against their El Clasico opponents.
John Terry’s sending off couldn’t stop Di Matteo’s men with Ramires’ wonderful dink and Torres’ late strike cancelling out Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta’s first-half goals that had given the Catalan giants a 2-0 lead on the night.
History could repeat itself with Tuchel’s side in line to play another Spanish giant in Real Madrid in the last four this year.
Los Blancos have a 3-1 first-leg lead over reigning Prem champs Liverpool and if both Zinedine Zidane’s men and Chelsea capitalise on their early advantage they will meet in the semi, mirroring the events of 2012.
Beating a Portuguese team in the quarter-finals
Under Di Matteo, Chelsea cruised past Benfica in the quarters in 2012.
Salamon Kalou scored the crucial away goal at the Estadio Da Luz to take a 1-0 lead back to the Bridge.
And a Lampard penalty and stoppage-time Raul Meireles goal ensured Chelsea went through 3-1 on aggregate despite Javi Garcia’s 85th minute goal in West London.
This year, of course, the job is only half done but Tuchel and Co will surely be expecting to get through in the second game against Porto with two away goals in the bag.
Losing to West Brom
Thomas Tuchel’s side were smashed 5-2 at Stamford Bridge by West Brom last week.
The Baggies demolished the German’s team to unceremoniously end his 12-game unbeaten run.
The result caused quite a stir but Tuchel’s men bounced back in style against Porto in midweek.
Similarly, a 1-0 defeat to West Brom proved to be the final straw for Villas-Boas back in 2012 as he was sacked with the defeat leaving the side three points off fourth spot.
Sacking a young manager
Former Chelsea star Roberto Di Matteo was the caretaker manager who finally landed the one trophy that had eluded Roman Abramovich’s grasp.
But the 1997 FA Cup final goalscorer was only in place because the Blues sacked Portuguese boss Andre Villas-Boas on March 4, 2012.
The then 34-year-old was axed after a poor run of results, including the 3-1 defeat away to Napoli in the last 16 first leg.
This season, club icon and another young manager Frank Lampard, 42, was dismissed with Chelsea languishing down in ninth in the Premier League.
MEANT TO BE
Four omens suggest Chelsea could repeat their miraculous Champions League win from 2012 and lift the coveted trophy this year.
An injury and suspension-hit Blues somehow went all the way to be crowned European champions nine years ago, beating Bayern Munich on penalties in the final in their own Allianz Arena.
Chelsea made the quarter-finals for the first time since that historic year with victory over LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid in this season’s Last 16.
And the Blues now have one foot in the last four of the competition after an inspired 2-0 win over Porto in the ‘away’ first leg of their quarter-final tie on Wednesday night.
SunSport looks at the four spooky similarities between this campaign and 2012 that could indicate Chelsea fans will soon be celebrating again…

HALF-TIME!
Fulham 0 – 0 Wolves
It is all square at the break at Craven Cottage.
A point is no good for either team – particularly Fulham – but with no shots on target in the first half, that could be all that’s on offer.
The second-half kicks off imminently.

KANE YOU BELIEVE IT
It would cost between £120million and £150m to prise Harry Kane away from Tottenham, according to ESPN.
The England striker has three years left on his contract and has been heavily linked with a move away from Tottenham as their season threatens to collapse into mediocrity once again.
And ESPN report: “Tottenham are adamant Kane is going nowhere and although they occupy a strong negotiating position, the situation is more complicated.
“Kane has a genuine affection for Tottenham and ideally wants to win silverware with them. But if they end up trophy-less again, how much longer can he wait?
“The forward cannot instigate a move – he also isn’t the type of character to rock the boat – but he is also fiercely ambitious and has previously hinted at his frustration that there hasn’t been more of a tangible return for the progress Spurs have made.
“A concrete, competitive bid of between £120m-£150m would have to be taken seriously by a team that invested £1bn in a stadium to maximise income from live events just before crowds were banned for a year.”

EFL ON PRINCE PHILIP’S DEATH
There will be a two-minute silence before every EFL game this weekend after the death of Prince Philip.
An EFL statement read: “Following the sad passing of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the EFL can confirm that there will be a two-minute silence ahead of all EFL fixtures taking place tonight and across the weekend (9-10 April).
“Players, coaches, and match officials will also be wearing armbands as a mark of respect to the late Duke.”
Rick Parry, EFL Chair said: “The EFL is truly saddened to learn of the passing of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the age of 99.
“As a patron of over 800 organisations, his high regard for the encouragement of sport and welfare of young people was unequivocal, and his loss will undoubtedly be felt not only here in the UK but across the world.
“Our collective thoughts are with Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family at this difficult time.”

SAN STORM
Barcelona could be interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur defender Davinson Sanchez, according to reports.
New club president Joan Laporta is hoping to remould Ronald Koeman’s squad this summer. Top of the agenda is keeping Lionel Messi, while strikers Erling Haaland and Sergio Aguero have been heavily linked.
But Laporta, 58, is also chasing a new defender. Eric Garcia is believed to have signed a pre-contract agreement from Manchester City, although there has been no official announcement.
While fellow upcoming free agent David Alaba has also been heavily linked.
According to El Desmarque, however, Barca should be keeping an eye on alternatives. Sanchez arrived at Spurs in 2017 as the club’s record signing for around £42million.
But following a disappointing season, the Lilywhites could offload the Colombian – especially if Jose Mourinho manages to cling on to his job. Sanchez, 24, may be on Barca’s radar, and could revitalise his career alongside Messi and Co.

TOP MARCS
Marcus Rashford will ‘dominate the future’ alongside Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
That is the view from former Manchester United star Dimitar Berbatov, who hailed the England international as the main man at Old Trafford.
He told Betfair: “I hope he can continue improving because his pace, his agility and technique is all there, when he is on form United are dangerous.
“Rashford is still a very young player and he is a superstar in world football, he been leading United’s attack for a while now too, I think he is getting the credit he deserves and hopefully he is only just getting started.
“Mbappe, Haaland and Rashford are the players I am looking at to dominate the future.
“Although he’s only 23, he’s already got lots of experience, he’s going into his fifth year of being a senior player and a big part of the team.”

RON THE WAY OUT
Juventus will ‘almost certainly’ have to sell Cristiano Ronaldo if they fail to qualify for the Champions League, according to reports.
The Old Lady are third – just three points ahead of fifth placed Napoli having beaten their rivals 2-1 on Wednesday.
And ESPN claim the Italian giants will be forced to offload the Portuguese superstar in order to balance the books if they don’t make it into next season’s Champions League.

EDS TURNED
Manchester United star Edinson Cavani is said to be closer than ever to sealing a move to Boca Juniors.
The Uruguayan, 34, appears to be heading for the Old Trafford exit door in the summer with his contract coming to an end.
ESPN claim Boca’s vice president, Juan Roman Riquelme, is personally handling the negotiations to ensure the striker’s arrival.
Cavani is believed to be unsettled in England but United big wigs are said to have met with him in a bid to convince him to stay for another season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has even publicly admitted plans to keep the veteran forward but declared the decision was down to the player.
Yet SunSport previously reported how Boca chief Riquelme has been in ‘direct contact’ with the ex-Paris Saint-Germain star.

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TRANSFER news and gossip is intensifying ahead of a massive summer window.Erling Haaland is the man on most clubs’ lips but Arsenal are reportedly set to reignite their interest in Wilfried Zaha and Sergio Aguero is attracting admiring glances from Tottenham and Chelsea.
Meanwhile Kylian Mbappe has reportedly told PSG he will turn down a new contract and wants to join Real Madrid.
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MARK OF RESPECT
British sport will stand in silence for the Duke of Edinburgh tomorrow but all fixtures and events will go on as planned.
Prem clubs joined the League and FA in paying their condolences after Prince Philip’s death was announced at the age of 99. The League said it was ‘deeply saddened’ by the news.
All Prem players will wear black armbands and there will be a minute’s silence before kick-off of all 10 fixtures this weekend, starting with Fulham’s clash with Wolves last night “as a mark of respect”.
The EFL swiftly followed suit by implementing the same policy across the 72 clubs. And while the Prince Philip’s grandson, the Duke of Cambridge, is FA President, Wembley chiefs said that, after ‘seeking guidance from the Royal Household and the Government’, it was approving matches.
The FA, which is ‘recommending’ 60-second silences and black armbands, said: “We can confirm all football fixtures this weekend can continue at the discretion of the competition organisers.
“As a mark of respect, all flags at Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park will fly at half-mast and the Wembley arch will also be lit.”

SOV THE PROBLEM
The linesman who asked Erling Haaland to sign yellow and red cards at Manchester City has been banned from officiating in Romania’s top tier.
Uefa blasted Octavian Sovre’s “unacceptable” action in getting the Dortmund striker’s autograph after City’s 2-1 Champions League win.
Cameras spotted Tuesday’s controversial tunnel exchange, which ended with City transfer target Haaland putting his arm around Romanian Sovre.
It has since been reported that Sovre has collected star players’ autographs over the past five years for an autism charity to auction off.
But that cause has not helped the assistant referee from a tough sanction in his home country and an indirect blasting from Europe’s football chiefs. Sport.ro say the Romanian Referee’s Committee have temporarily suspended him from officiating in top-flight matches.
Sovre will now miss this weekend’s final round of matches in Liga 1. It follows UEFA’s chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti response of telling refereeing teams not to ask players for autographs.

TOUCH N’GO
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel will need to reshuffle the pack against Crystal Palace following Thiago Silva’s suspension.
The Blues chief will be without the veteran Brazilian for the trip to Selhurst Park after he was red carded in the 5-2 defeat to West Brom.
The Baggies loss was the first under Tuchel whose side returned to winning ways in the Champions League first-leg win over Porto.
Other than that, Chelsea have a fully-fit squad to choose from but Olivier Giroud is expected to start ahead of Timo Werner. N’Golo Kante was fit enough to come off the bench in midweek and could replace Jorginho in midfield.
Meanwhile, Ben Chilwell is set to be rotated out once again in favour of Marcos Alonso with Callum Hudson-Odoi an option on the flank.
Tammy Abraham is also available but Tuchel claimed the England striker faces a tough ask to break back into his side.

‘SHE’S OVER THE MOON’
Jesse Lingard has revealed his mum is loving his stunning performances for West Ham.
The Man Utd loanee has been in scintillating form since his January switch to the East Londoners and he is widely believed to want to make the move permanent in the summer.
And the England star has also revealed his outstanding form has been wonderful for his mum to see.
Lingard has spoken in the past of her struggles with depression and is delighted his mum is now getting the help she needs.
Jesse Lingard’s bringing joy to many but especially his “proud” Mum. “She’s over the moon!” The famous quote ‘You never know what someone is going through’ hit us all when we discovered Jesse’s Mum was ill. Now Jesse’s urging anyone struggling to “Speak up! It’s a relief.”#beINPL pic.twitter.com/N0irouctLd— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) April 9, 2021

GAARD DOWN
Arsenal have been dealt a blow with Martin Odegaard set to miss the trip to Sheffield United on Sunday.
The Norwegian missed Thursday’s draw with Slavia Prague in the Europa League after picking up an ankle problem on international duty.
The issue is now set to keep Odegaard out of this weekend’s clash against the Blades while he may also miss the return leg in the Czech Republic.
When asked about the Real Madrid loanee’s availability, Arteta said: “We don’t know.
“He wasn’t able to play today and he will be out, I think, for the next game or two. But we don’t know yet.”
How Arsenal could line up against Sheffield United
NO BAN FOR BOWEN
West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen has escaped with a warning for a teenage N-word tweet.
Bowen was just 15 at the time and on the books of Hereford Town when he posted the comment in 2012.
FA disciplinary beaks were alerted to the social media posting last month and contacted Bowen.
But while previous historic messages have led to fines and bans for players, it was anticipated the fact that he was so young at the time would save him from a suspension.
Disciplinary beaks investigated the incident but agreed that the necessary action was to warn Bowen about his future conduct and order him to complete an FA education course.
SERGE OF LOVE
Leeds are shock contenders for Chelsea and Arsenal target Sergio Aguero, reports say.
Elland Road boss Marcelo Bielsa hopes his fellow Argentine is swayed by the passion of Leeds’ fans when he exits Manchester City this summer – rather than join a more glamorous suitor like Barcelona.
That’s the claim from 90min.com after City and Aguero himself both confirmed that the Etihad record scorer is leaving on a free transfer.
West Ham have also been linked with hitman Aguero, 32. But the suggestion is Leeds could offer more first-team action than European giants, plus the famous fervour of their supporters.
Leeds’ Spain striker Rodrigo, 32, has netted just three times in 18 Premier League games since his £27million arrival from Valencia last summer.
And Bielsa wants a proven top-flight goal-getter for next term, despite his side being the seventh-highest Prem scorers with 47 strikes in 30 matches. A move to Leeds would also mean former Atletico Madrid star Aguero would not have to relocate from the north west.

RASH DECISION
Manchester United have been handed a boost with Marcus Rashford set to be fit to start this weekend’s clash against Tottenham.
The England star was on target in the 2-0 Europa League win over Granada but was withdrawn during the game due to a lingering ankle issue. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted pre-match that Rashford was not 100 per cent fit after he was also forced off in the win over Brighton.
But the Norwegian played down any fears that the 23-year-old’s injury problems had worsened meaning he is likely to start on Sunday.
He said: “I don’t think you need to be concerned about his fitness, no, of course barring any injury. His fitness is really good, he’s an athletic boy, he’s a fit boy, a strong boy. You see tonight when he goes into headers and challenges, he can look after himself.
“At one point of course you hope to get to a postion where he doesn’t have to play every game, every minute and at the moment we have to take him off because his foot’s a little bit sore.
“Hopefully that’ll improve as the season goes on because I think he was better tonight than he was on Sunday.”

NUDE AWAKENING
When Olmo Garcia revealed himself to the world during Manchester United’s Europa League game on Thursday, the people of Granada could be forgiven for having seen it all before.
A famous night for the LaLiga club had only reached the sixth minute when the game was interrupted by a streaker. The man raced across the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes pitch before taking a tumble and being arrested by police.
But it would not have taken long for the authorities to identify the perpetrator, who has reportedly been arrested 15 TIMES in the last few months alone.
Garcia, 37, is something of a local celebrity in Granada and is often seen baring all on his walks around the city. In the summer of 2016, he was inspired to live life in the buff during a trip across the Americas.
And this way of life culminated in Thursday’s demonstration that took some time to prepare.
According to Granada newspaper Ideal, he snuck into the ground at 9am on the day of the game and hid under a tarpaulin for 14 HOURS before emerging once the game had kicked off.

MOURINHO ON SPURS V MAN UTD
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has reflected upon his side’s 6-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford earlier this season, insisting it has no bearing on the reverse fixture this weekend.
He said: “I believe that 6-1 doesn’t reflect the reality. It can happen. Of course it can happen, between two great, the results they can happen in an isolated way.
“I go much more in the direction of the other two previous matches between us and United.
“We lost 2-1 at Old Trafford, with the penalty, and we draw 1-1 at home last season, also with a penalty. I think this is more the reality. We are not far from each other so I think it is going to be a difficult match for both.
“If Solksjaer is going to use that result I don’t know. If it was the opposite. If it was my team losing 6-1 to them I would just say to my guys that it happened once and it’s not going to happen twice. This doesn’t reflect the reality.
“The game is going to be tight and we can win, but I don’t know, maybe Solksjaer has different things.”
Credit: Reuters
BALLBOY ANTICS
Meanwhile in Ajax v Roma last night, this happened…

BLUE BARRAGE
Here is who we believe are the top five strikers most likely to go to Chelsea’s this summer:

Erling Haaland
Sergio Aguero
Romelu Lukaku
Andre Silva
Andrea Belotti

Credit: Getty
WORLD CLAS
El Clasico is a favourite fixture of Lionel Messi’s to showcase his iconic abilities – but it hasn’t been quite the same since Cristiano Ronaldo left.
A record of 26 goals and 14 assists against Real Madrid, in 44 encounters, means the Barcelona talisman has eight more derby goals than his rival.
A brace in the stunning 6-2 victory of 2009, a hat-trick in the seven-goal LaLiga thriller five years later, and that last-ditch winner in 2017 are just some of his famous Bernabeu moments.
But Messi, 33, goes into Saturday’s clash in the capital goalless in his last six Clasico matches.
The dry spell has coincided with Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid for Juventus in the summer of 2018 – something Marca have dubbed a ‘curse’.
Will the Argentine end that run tomorrow evening?

MAN UTD BACK CORONAVIRUS PASSPORT
Manchester United have officially declared their support for the Premier League’s decision to write to Boris Johnson in a bid to back vaccine passports to pack out stadiums this summer.
The footy body and other major sports groups including the England and Wales Cricket Board, Wimbledon and the RFU told the PM and other party leaders ‘Covid certificates’ are needed to ditch social distancing in stadiums.
And the Red Devils have now released their own statement on the matter.
Collette Roche, Manchester United Chief Operating Officer, said: “Manchester United fully endorses the open letter signed by a range of sports governing bodies, including the Premier League.
“We support the ongoing work of the Premier League and DCMS to deliver a timetable and a framework for the safe return of our fans.
“We have worked closely with the Premier League as they negotiate the challenges, consult with medical experts and review the different options open to them.”
Credit: Getty – Contributor
SAN STORM
Barcelona could be interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur defender Davinson Sanchez, according to reports.
New club president Joan Laporta is hoping to re-mould Ronald Koeman’s squad this summer.
Top of the agenda is keeping Lionel Messi, while strikers Erling Haaland and Sergio Aguero have been heavily linked.
But Laporta, 58, is also chasing a new defender.
Eric Garcia is believed to have signed a pre-contract agreement from Manchester City, although there has been no official announcement. While fellow upcoming free agent David Alaba has also been heavily linked.
According to El Desmarque, however, Barca should be keeping an eye on alternatives.
Sanchez arrived at Spurs in 2017 as the club’s record signing for around £42million.

SMOKING GUN
Arsenal fans finally have something to cheer about with teenage striker Folarin Balogun reportedly set to sign a new deal.
SunSport reported in February that Arsenal were not giving up hope of trying to tie the England youth international down to a new deal.
It had been claimed that Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart and Rennes were just three clubs that were monitoring the forward’s situation in North London.
But according to the Daily Mail, Balogun – who has scored twice for the first-team in the Europa League this term – is close to committing his future to the FA Cup holders.
They state that he is closing in on signing a long-term deal after being convinced to stay at the club by Mikel Arteta.

‘I DO WORRY FOR SPURS ABOUT KANE’S FUTURE’
Paul Merson has given his verdict on whether Harry Kane will leave Tottenham at the end of the season.
He told Sky Sports: “I do worry for the club. Will Kane stay at the club next season? I don’t know, what do you want in football? What do you want out of it?
“Do you want to get to Wembley, play in a cup final against Man City and sit with 10 men behind the ball for 90-odd minutes? Let’s be honest, that’s what is going to happen. It’s the most predictable thing we are going to see in a cup final.
“Sometimes you look at a cup final and think a team may have a go and take the game to the opposition, but we know full well that this game will see Spurs sit back, Man City will have 70 per cent possession, at least, of the ball and it will just be what time.
“Do you want to play your career like that? You are going to be playing in a big cup final and you will just be working on scraps.
“It will be interesting to see what he wants to do. Does he want to win trophies or does he just want to win golden boots? Golden boots are an individual thing, not a team thing.”
Credit: Getty
ITALIAN JOB
Inter Milan could have changed the course of football’s history if they had landed Lionel Messi in 2006 for a staggering £225million.
The Serie A giants were unsuccessful with an audacious bid to wrestle the Argentine maestro away from Barcelona aged just 19.
The Italian side offered nearly FIVE times more than the world record transfer fee at the time to try and add Messi to their star-studded line-up.
The £46.6m Real Madrid paid for Zinedine Zidane was still leading the way 15 years ago.
Messi could have slotted into an Inter side coached by former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini.

‘LUCKY BRUNO’
Paul Scholes feels Bruno Fernandes was ‘lucky’ to win a penalty for Manchester United in their 2-0 win over Granada last night.
He told BT Sport: “[Fernandes] makes a meal of it I think he’s lucky to get the penalty. Lucky to score it as well as the goalkeeper should do better.
“You know when it’s given and it goes to VAR [that] they’re going to give it because it’s not a clear and obvious error and he has touched him, so there’s no way they were going to overturn it.
“Fernandes does very well to get the penalty, they’ll be very disappointed.
“He was just feeling where his player is and the ball’s nowhere near him anyway.
“It was always [Edinson] Cavani going to get the header. Fernandes was very clever and he’s fooled the referee and he’s fell for it.”

RAPH JUSTICE
Manchester United legend Gary Neville said Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane should be the club’s No1 transfer target this summer.
Neville was asked: “If you could bring one player from a rival this summer to Manchester United, who would it be?”
And the 46-year-old replied: “Varane.”
Credit: Getty
ANG-RI
Riyad Mahrez has revealed his frustration at being denied a move from Leicester City to ‘top team’ Arsenal in 2016.
He told France Football: “After the title, if I’d left for a top team, it wouldn’t have been the same story.
“For me, it’s clear that I lost two years at the highest level. I lost two years! Because instead of arriving at City at 27, I could have been there at 24, 25.
“Leicester blocked me. They told me: ‘You’re not leaving, you’re not leaving’.
“My agent had spoken to [Arsene] Wenger who really wanted me. It was nearly all done with Arsenal in 2016. I was really frustrated.
“It wasn’t easy to go from being the best player in the Premier League to being a part of a team fighting against relegation.
“It’s not the same job. Everyone is waiting for you around the corner.”

AND IN OTHER ARSENAL NEWS…
Ex-Gunners man Martin Keown says the players deserve a slap in the face following their 1-1 draw with Slavia Prague last night.
He told BT Sport: “For me it was about Arsenal tonight, and about the way they played and imposed themselves on the opposition.
“And by sitting off early in the encounter, I thought they had chosen the wrong tactics, and there was an opportunity to do that tonight.
“You’re the home team, so you take the initiative, and you ask them the question, can you play? Can you pass out from the back? We’ll see how good you are.
“But they were allowed to settle, to build, to be confident and then become more dominant.
“And in that first half it was quite tricky for Arsenal, and it became nervy and they weren’t the team that we’ve seen two or three weeks ago for instance, the West Ham performance, second half.
“It seems like Arsenal… they’re not proactive in games. They need somebody to slap them in the face almost, or punch them in the face, before they wake up and start to play.
“He did it today in the second half with the substitutions, he made that happen, but they couldn’t see it through.”

WIL-ING TO PAY UP
A story that has gathered a lot of pace since it was first reported yesterday is speculation around Wilfried Zaha going to Arsenal.
The Gunners were linked with a £40million transfer in 2019 before bringing in his Ivory Coast team-mate Nicolas Pepe instead.
But according to 90min.com, the North Londoners are plotting a fresh bid.
However, in order to finance a swoop, Arsenal would need to sell – and the report adds Alexandre Lacazette could be axed to raise funds.

CODE RED
Chelsea legend John Terry “never got on with” Rafa Benitez – and had to ban him from talking about Liverpool.
The former Newcastle boss didn’t see eye to eye with the Blues skipper during his six-month spell at Stamford Bridge in the 2012-13 season.
Terry said: “We just didn’t get on from day one personally, to be honest.
“Every meeting we had it was, ‘Oh we used to do this at Liverpool and we done this’.
“You laugh but that’s what he used to be like, ‘Just move a yard here’,
“I actually had to have a few conversations and say, ‘Gaffer, you have to forget Liverpool, you can’t keep saying ‘we’, you’re at Chelsea now, it’s not going down well with the lads’.”

VIN BUSINESS
Real Madrid could offer Vinicius Jr in part-exchange for Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, according to reports.
Mbappe’s future ‘hangs in the balance’ in the French capital.
And should PSG show even a slight inclination to sell, Madrid are favourites to land his signature.
According to The Telegraph, there is a ’50-50 chance’ of Mbappe staying at PSG.
But with his contract set to expire in 15 months, and with both parties having made little progress in a year of negotiations, Mbappe could leave this summer.

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TRANSFER news and gossip is intensifying ahead of a massive summer window.Erling Haaland is the man on most clubs’ lips but there’s also interesting news from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona.
Meanwhile Kylian Mbappe has reportedly told PSG he will turn down a new contract and wants to join Real Madrid.
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Stay up to date with all the latest football news in our rolling blog…
ANTONI-WOE
Michail Antonio could miss most of West Ham’s Champions League charge in another injury blow to the club.
The Irons’ only main striker has undergone a scan on his latest hamstring strain and there are fears it could mean a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Antonio was forced off after half an hour of Monday’s thrilling 3-2 win at Wolves which lifted West Ham into the top four with eight games to go.
Boss David Moyes is already contemplating the next month without key midfielder Declan Rice because of a knee problem.
Now it looks like both will be out for a time – with a crunch clash at home to fifth placed Chelsea on April 24 looming on the horizon.
Antonio has already missed a chunk of the season due to hamstring problems and West Ham do not have a back up centre forward.
PASS-SPORT
The Premier League has written to Boris Johnson to back vaccine passports to pack out stadiums this summer.
The footy body and other major sports groups including the England and Wales Cricket Board, Wimbledon and the RFU told the PM and other party leaders ‘Covid certificates’ are needed to ditch social distancing in stadiums.
The letter says all the sports “can see the benefit that a Covid certification process offers” in order to fill out stands.
But they warn: “The final approach must not be discriminatory, should protect privacy, and have clear exit criteria.”
The letter was sent to the PM, Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer and the Westminster leaders of all the other parties.
It said that if certificates fail and attendance are capped for the foreseeable it will “be insufficient to end sport’s Covid financial crisis.”
ART ATTACK
Mikel Arteta has commented on Arsenal’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Slavia Prague.
He told BT Sport: “The game was under control. We got the goal we wanted but we missed some big chances as well.
“We played two or three balls we shouldn’t do and we put ourselves on the back foot and conceded the corner. They put bodies in there and it can happen. It changes the feeling after the game.
“We know that we had the possibility to change things with five substitutes. We thought it was the right time for the set-up we had.
“It was the right moment and they had a big impact. We know the subs have a lot to say in this competition. Unfortunately we didn’t capitalise on it.”
‘RESET’
Trent Alexander-Arnold must ‘reset and go back to basics’ after a tricky 2020-21, according to Rio Ferdinand.
Ferdinand told BT Sport: “Trent Alexander-Arnold, he’s going to be seeing things now.
“He had a great run, he’s under a bit of pressure now… it’s about learning.
“I’ve been in the position when you make mistakes and you look back.
“These are elementary, fundamentals, that you should have locked down in your game.
“You’re playing at that level but sometimes you have to reset.”
FULL-TIME
It’s a disastrous night for Arsenal as Slavia Prague equalised in the 93rd minute after Nicolas Pepe broke the deadlock in the 86th minute.
Mikel Arteta’s men should once again be ashamed of their performance, and the Spaniard will be sweating over his job at the Emirates.
As for Man Utd, they are all but through after easing to a 2-0 win away at Granada.
Bruno Fernandes doubled the visitors’ lead with a penalty at the death to make it a comfortable night for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Elsewhere, Roma came back from behind to beat Ajax 2-1, while Villarreal beat Dinamo Zagreb 1-0.
RUD AWAKENING
Antonio Rudiger has called Kepa Arrizabalaga his ‘brother’ after finally breaking his silence following their training ground bust-up.
The two Chelsea stars had to be pulled apart during a tempestuous Easter Sunday session.
Boss Thomas Tuchel described the fight as being ‘serious’.
But Rudiger has moved to play down the row by calling Kepa ‘mi hermano’ – which translates to ‘my brother’ in the goalkeeper’s native Spanish.
In a post to his Instagram Story, the German defender shared a picture of the pair hugging during a game, with the caption sprawled across it.
Antonio Rudiger played down his scrap with Chelsea team-mate Kepa – calling the Spaniard his ‘brother’ in a post on Instagram
HAA LA LAND
Juventus can beat Chelsea, Manchester City and United to Erling Haaland.
Tony Cascarino told talkSPORT: “A very likely possible move will be Juventus because they bought Ronaldo at 33 for £99m.
“You’re starting to see the spending, like they did in the 80s where they are prepared to pay big wages and big sign-on fees.
“If you’re prepared to go and sign Ronaldo at 33 at £99m, you could easily go and sign Haaland.
“They’re going to be a team challenging [for the Champions League] in the next five years. 
“Juve would definitely go for Haaland because Ronaldo is 36, but you’d still want to get him to the football club.”
BIT OF ALRIGHT
Southampton have the option to be paid bonuses in Bitcoin after landing their biggest-ever sponsorship deal.
The South Coast club announced a three-year extension of their partnership with the Coingaming Group on Thursday.
Fresh terms are believed to be worth more than £7.5million a year.
And it will see the cryptocurrency company’s gambling arm Sportsbet.io continue as that club’s shirt sponsors.
That fee will be paid in sterling cash but Southampton can choose payment for certain performance-based bonuses – such as if they qualify for Europe – to be in Bitcoin at the end of each season.
A club statement read: “Southamptonis pleased to announce it has agreed to extend its partnership with the Coingaming Group as Main Club Partner for a further three years in a deal that will see their brand, Sportsbet.io continue as the club’s front-of-shirt sponsor.
“The deal is the biggest sponsorship agreement in the club’s history and also includes the option for the club to be paid certain performance-based bonuses in Bitcoin at the end of each season…
“[That allows’ the club the opportunity to take advantage of the new, high-growth currency if it feels it will bring significant future benefits.”This partnership will allow Sportsbet.io to continue to build on the strong relationship it has built with the club and its supporters in the last year.”
HALF-TIME
Man Utd go into the break with a 1-0 aggregate after Marcus Rashford opened the scoring in the 31st minute.
Elsewhere Arsenal are drawing 0-0, with Mikel Arteta’s side spurning a host of opportunities.
Meanwhile Villarreal are beating Dinamo Zagreb 1-0, with Ajax 1-0 up against Roma.
NO JE-MOANING CHARGE
Chelsea and Arsenal target Jerome Boateng is a step nearer a Premier League move after Bayern Munich confirmed their ex-Germany centre-back will leave this summer.
The Blues are also keen on Boateng’s outgoing club-mate David Alaba, who would be the Prem’s top earner if his reported pay demands of £400,000 a week were met.
And Bayern say Boateng, 32, who has missed the last two games, will not have his contract renewed, so will depart for free.
The Bundesliga champs’ sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic told Sky: “That was a joint decision of the club’s management and the coach was also involved in it.
“I explained it to Jerome and he was very understanding.”
Berliner Boateng has played 354 games for Bayern, with 10 goals and 25 assists, since joining from Manchester City ten years ago.
WEMBLEY AYE
Scotland could have 4,000 fans at their Euro 2020 showdown with England at Wembley.
The FA have confirmed to Uefa they anticipate opening 25 per cent of Wembley’s tournament capacity for the initial group stage round of games.
That will see 22,500 underneath the Arch, with FA chiefs looking at a minimum of 45,000 fans for the semi-finals and final of the Euros.
But with Scotland being part of the UK, Uefa has agreed the visiting team on June 18 should be handed the planned 16 per cent allocation.
That will mean 3,600 seats being made available for the Tartan Army when ticket sales open next month.
And with some English-based Scottish fans believed to have already bought tickets for the game, the Three Lions may be confronted by 4,000 bellowing Scots in the most authentic atmosphere of the tournament.
KICK-OFF
Manchester United and Arsenal’s Europa League clashes are underway.
And you can keep up to date with both matches with the SunSport LIVE blogs.
Click HERE to follow the Red Devils’ encouner.
And click HERE to follow the Gunners’ match.
BLACK AND BLUE
Failing to make the grade at Old Trafford might have bruised his ego – but Ravel Morrison is now getting battered for real after starting MMA.
The ex-Red Devils wonderkid is without a football club and showed off a huge bruise on his arm after beginning sessions in the octagon with UFC star Lerone Murphy.
Morrison cancelled his contract with Dutch side ADO Den Haag in January.
And the 28-year-old has not been holding back in training, as he keeps fit with close pal and featherweight fighter Murphy.
The midfielder is on the look-out for his 12th club since leaving Manchester United in 2012, having been tipped for greatness after making his debut aged 17.
Ravel Morrison showed off his war wounds from MMA training
HOUSE PROUD
Zinedine Zidane hit back at Jurgen Klopp’s training ground jibe by insisting Real Madrid are ‘proud’ of their home.
The LaLiga giants have been playing games at their training ground in Valdebebas since the coronavirus outbreak as they refurbish the Bernabeu.
Klopp told reporters during his post-match press conference: “This was strange tonight because it was really difficult with the stadium but Anfield is at least a proper stadium and it will be good for us.
“It must be a really tricky task for Real Madrid at Anfield.”
Commenting’s on Klopp’s remarks, Zidane said: “I don’t have an opinion about what Jurgen says, we are proud to play in this stadium.
“Liverpool is the opponent and we know they are going to leave all they have on the pitch, I have no question about that.
“We just need to be ready and it is going to be a very good second leg match. We will need to do the same thing in the second leg.”
TEAM NEWS
Here is how Manchester United and Arsenal line-up for their Europa League quarter-final first legs.
The Red Devils face Granada in Spain, while the Gunners face Slavia Prague.

SWAP-PORTUNITY KNOCKS
Man Utd are reportedly exploring a swap deal involving Declan Rice and Jesse Lingard after ‘talks on England duty’.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has long been a fan of the Hammers star, 22, who has continued his meteoric rise to become the Three Lions’ top defensive midfielder.
Chelsea are among a host of European giants keen to sign former Blues academy product Rice.
And David Moyes has warned it would take bids in excess of £100MILLION to sign him.
Even then, Moyes wants to keep Rice at the London Stadium – particularly if West Ham manage to keep their place in the top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League.
But according to The Athletic, Man Utd are keen to discuss a swap deal involving Lingard in order to tempt the Hammers into selling their star man.
KYL-ER BLOW
Kylian Mbappe has dealt PSG a blow by reportedly stating his intentions to leave.
According to Spanish broadcasters Cuatro and Cadena SER, the French striker has told the French side he wishes to depart.
Mbappe is out of contract in 2022 and is claimed to have no desire to pen a new deal at Parc des Princes.
The 22-year-old is known to be willing to join Real Madrid, with Zinedine Zidane a huge fan of the player.
NOU’S THE DADDY
Antoine Griezmann is celebrating a unique hat-trick – as his new baby arrived with the same birthday as his first two children at odds of 133,000-1.
The Barcelona striker welcomed second daughter Alba on Thursday – joining Mia, five, and son Amaro, two.
Alba is Griezmann’s first Nou baby – as the French World Cup winner only completed his £107million move to Barca from Atletico Madrid in July 2019.
The 30-year-old announced the birth of his latest child on social media: “Alba Griezmann April 8, 2021 at 10:24 a.m” – followed by a heart emoticon.
Barcelona tweeted their congratulations, while Griezmann’s Spanish wife Erika Choperena posted birthday wishes to the couple’s other two kids.
🍼 Alba Griezmann 8 avril 2021 à 10h24. ❤️— Antoine Griezmann (@AntoGriezmann) April 8, 2021

ITALY BLUES
Chelsea star Jorginho has revealed his love for Naples and left the door open for a Serie A return.
The Blues midfielder spent four memorable years with Napoli before joining Chelsea in 2018 under Maurizio Sarri.
He told Sky Italy: “When you live in Naples you can never forget. I had a wonderful experience and I am very fond of the city and the fans.
“Now, honestly I’m not thinking about it because my concentration is all on Chelsea, but if there is the possibility, one day, to return, of course I’d like it.”
Speaking to Italian TV network Canale 21, Jorginho said: “There are no words to describe how much I miss Naples.
“‘Who wouldn’t miss Naples? It’s so cold in London, they don’t even know what the sun is.”
Jorginho has left the door open for a Napoli return ‘one day’
TIER WE GO
Charlie Adam reckons Real Madrid and Manchester City should be fighting over Kieran Tierney this summer – and the bidding could start at £50million.
The Arsenal defender, 23, has been ruled out for up to six weeks after suffering a knee injury against Liverpool on Saturday.
Tierney still should be fit to play for Scotland at the Euros after being a pivotal player in last month’s three World Cup qualifiers.
But ex-Liverpool and Stoke midfielder Adam – now at Dundee – thinks the bigger clubs will be circling.
Adam said: “Would it surprise me if a Real Madrid, a Man City or any of the clubs in the top echelons come in for him in the summer?
“I think he’s ready now. He’s 23, he signed for Arsenal injured and was out for a spell with groin and shoulders problems.
“But he’s come back and has matured into a top player. I believe he can go to the next level again. You’re starting at £50m too.”
BOLT FROM THE BLUE
Usain Bolt has picked Cristiano Ronaldo as the football GOAT over Lionel Messi.
The fastest man on Earth sided with the Juventus star despite being a fan of Messi’s national side Argentina.
For well over a decade, fans, players and pundits have argued over whether Messi or Ronaldo is the greatest of all time.
The Jamaican speedster revealed his allegiances to club side Manchester United swung the debate in favour of Ronaldo after the Portuguese superstar made his name at Old Trafford.
Bolt, 34, told Gazetta dello Sport: “It is difficult for me to choose because I support Argentina, but I am a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I admire Ronaldo since he played for Manchester United and I support the Red Devils.
“I think he has something more than Messi because he has proven himself in many leagues. That’s why I choose Ronaldo.”
RACISM PROTECTION
Instagram have shockingly ruled a social media post calling an England Women’s star a n**** does NOT flout their guidelines.
Liverpool and Lioness winger Rinsola Babajide revealed she had been abused by someone on Instagram in a post which left her feeling sick.
The 22-year-old was stunned to see someone post a reply on her timeline from an account in the name of azliz1 which said: “Football is only for men you n****”.
But after other users reported what they thought was clear racist abuse, they were stunned when Instagram replied: “We’ve reviewed azliz1’s account and found that it doesn’t go against our Community Guidelines.”
The social media giant, owned by Facebook, told SunSport discrimination had no place on its platforms and claimed they “want to hold people who share it accountable”.
After we made them aware of the alarming review on Babajide’s abuse, they vowed to investigate.
NO FERGIE TIME
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he could no longer dish out his infamous “hairdryer” blasts in the modern-day game because snowflake footballers have been known to cry.
The ex-Manchester United boss became renowned for his many close-up screaming and spitting outbursts.
But Fergie now bemoans the fact that current football managers are restricted from using his fearsome motivational weapon because society has changed and players have become too sensitive.
Speaking to The Athletic, he said: “Jim Smith told me one of his players started crying when he got criticised.
“I thought, ‘What is the game like now? Where are we going?’
“Obviously you have to be tactful nowadays about the criticism you give them.”
SAINTS ROW
Ralph Hasenhuttl says he is certain Theo Walcott will be a Southampton player next season – even though a deal still has to be thrashed out with the former England star.
Hasenhuttl believes Walcott’s loan move from Everton has been a big success despite a recent injury and claims he needs professionals like him at the club.
Walcott, 32, is a free agent in the summer and the Saints boss said: “We are in negotiations with his agent and with him and I’m sure not only this player but we will have next season a very balanced and mentally strong side for sure.
“It’s no secret that I was very happy with him, because I think he did a fantastic job. We missed him definitely when he was injured.
“I like a lot of things of this player, not only his workload but also his mentality, his attitude, his professionalism. This is something every team needs to have. It’s a player, every manager likes to work with.
“He is positive, always very open minded for new things and in the end, never wanted never stop getting better.”
ROYAL FLUSH
Arsenal are reportedly planning a takeover bid for Belgian top-flight club Royal Excel Mouscron.
The Pro League strugglers have recently failed to pay their players on time due to financial concerns.
Mouscron officials have been seeking outside investment amid fears the Belgian FA will strip away the club’s licence to operate.
Reports in Brussels now claim Arsenal aim to take a sizeable stake in the southern outfit in order to use them as a nursery club.
According to La Derniere Heure, the Gunners would employ their former defender Pascal Cygan, 46, to manage Mouscron.
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