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      Neymar has chance to jump out of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow as PSG face Bayern, claims Owen Hargreaves

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      TONIGHT is the night for Neymar to emerge at last from the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
      That is the verdict of former Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who would naturally prefer his old club to see off Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon.

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      Neymar will lead the line for PSG against Bayern Munich
      But Hargreaves reckons the Brazilian has a real opportunity in the Champions League final to prove he can succeed Ronaldo and Messi as the best player in the world.
      The BT pundit said: “He’s probably the most talented player on the pitch. I don’t think anybody disputes that.
      “In pure talent, not many can touch Neymar. There’s only really Messi and Ronaldo.
      “That is what has maybe at times, not frustrated people . . . but because he is so gifted, you expect him to produce it all the time.

      “He has the talent to be the best player in the world.
      “I think that is probably what the idea was in going to PSG — the show was going to be his. Then Mbappe came out of nowhere and almost got ahead of him.
      “It’s a huge stage for him. This is what he has dreamed of.”

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      Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated European football in the last decade
      Thirtysomethings Messi and Ronaldo, for all their brilliance, were not able to make up for the shortcomings of Barcelona and Juventus when it came to the crunch in the Champions League.

      But during the Lisbon mini- tournament, Neymar has shown signs that he has the maturity and the work ethic to help turn underachieving PSG into winners at last.
      Hargreaves says the stars could be finally aligning for the striker, now 28, to put his and the French giants’ mark on a big occasion.
      Former Manchester United ace Hargreaves said: “The one thing you could say about Cristiano and Messi is, as good as they were and still are, their application to work and improve and be consistent is off the charts.
      “Neymar, on his day, is probably the best player in the world — but sometimes it’s not there. You don’t really get that with Ronaldo.
      “Even when Juventus went out — what is he, 35? — he was still head and shoulders their best player.
      “Maybe it takes time. If you want to be the best player in the world, a lot of people are going to have an opinion on that.

      Neymar, on his day, is probably the best player in the world — but sometimes it’s not there. You don’t really get that with Ronaldo.
      Owen Hargreaves

      “Maybe it takes being 27 for you to realise ‘I’m running out of time’ and a coach to come in at the right time, in Thomas Tuchel, to say, ‘Look, this is it, this is the blueprint’.
      “You look at Liverpool, it’s not a coincidence they win the Champions League and then the Premier League.

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      Owen Hargreaves backed Neymar to jump out of Messi and Ronaldo’s shadow
      “You never saw Mo Salah as a pressing machine when he played at Roma. Klopp has made all the boys buy in.
      “I think for Neymar, the penny has dropped. For the first time, I’ve seen him actually pressing, working back, not floating. You’ve got to credit Tuchel for that.”
      But for PSG to complete an unprecedented quadruple of all three domestic trophies and the Champions League, Tuchel will have to overcome the Bayern Munich juggernaut steered by fellow German Hansi Flick.
      Hargreaves makes his old club favourites but says Neymar and Mbappe, within Tuchel’s team framework, can hit Bayern where it hurts.

      Ex-England star Hargreaves said: “Normally Neymar does something outrageous and special. But if he can be a team player and work hard, then Bayern give everybody a chance.
      “Paris Saint-Germain will get chances. I think Neymar just needs to be sensible and work hard and be part of that team.
      “If they can win it 30 yards from goal, he can work his magic. He’s more than capable, he takes your breath away with what he can do.”

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      John Stones will stay and fight for Man City future even if it puts England Euros dream at risk

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      JOHN STONES is prepared to fight for his Manchester City future — even if it means putting his Euros dream on the line.
      The centre-back has fallen down the Etihad rankings and was tipped to move this summer.

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      John Stones is prepared to fight for his Manchester City futureCredit: Rex Features
      But the England international does not want to be shoved out and insists he can force his way back into Pep Guardiola’s plans.
      Boss Pep has already brought in Nathan Ake from Bournemouth for £40million, while Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly is a potential £65m buy as well.
      And Stones knows by staying he risks his place in the Three Lions starting XI for the delayed Euro 2020 finals next summer.
      Stones is in the final two years of his £130,000-a-week contract and has so far been kept waiting on an extension.

      Former club Everton — who sold him to City for £47.5million four years ago — West Ham, Arsenal and Chelsea have shown an interest in the 26-year-old.
      Despite his lack of starts, Stones is happy at City but knows things must come to a head soon as Guardiola will not want to risk losing him for  nothing.

      Stones was left on the bench for last week’s Champions League quarter-final defeat to Lyon, with Guardiola starting Barcelona target Eric Garcia, who has turned down a new deal.
      Yet Stones plans to fight on, especially now he is clear of the injuries which dogged him last term.

      He knows Garcia’s likely departure could reopen the door to the first team and is willing to take the gamble to become a City regular once more.

      John Stones set for £20m reunion with David Moyes as West Ham leapfrog Arsenal in race for Man City defender More

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      Fulham and Crystal Palace in £15m transfer battle over QPR starlet Eberechi Eze

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      FULHAM boss Scott Parker is ready to bid £15 million for QPR star Eberechi Eze – and kick off a transfer scramble.
      Parker has been given money to strengthen the Premier League new boys and he wants talented Eze to join his side to add his skills for their crack at the top flight.

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      Scott Parker is ready to bid £15 million for QPR star Eberechi Eze

      Rangers will sell Eze for the right price and boss Mark Warburton may also be in favour of the deal if Parker throws a player or two into an exchange.
      Fulham saw Eze at first hand in the Championship last season and think he can make the step up with them and they have cash to back up their ambitious swoop.
      The Parker move – one of a handful he plans – could see a reaction from main signing rivals Crystal Palace who have only been willing to offer £12 million so far.
      Palace have other targets just now but may have to switch to Eze once the bidding gets serious.

      West Ham and Leeds also like him but the cost is too much for them.
      Meanwhile Palace are putting French forward Jean-Phillipe Mateta on their striker standby list.
      Palace are working overtime on landing a top number nine but they are also keeping their interest in Mateta going at German club Mainz.
      Mateta has had a prolific time in the Bundesliga and could be available for around £15 million.

      Palace would swoop for Mateta if they lose Christian Benteke or may sign him as an extra option for Roy Hodgson’s squad.
      Mateta could be available after a couple of off field issues that have angered Mainz.
      He crashed his car, lost his licence and was axed from their squad in a pre season friendly.

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

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      Phil Foden set for first England call-up and he’s angling to be the new Gazza

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      IT IS hard to think of a bigger challenge than being asked to replace David Silva at Manchester City and revive memories of Gazza for England.
      But Phil Foden has earned the right to have a go.

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      Italia 90 reruns have helped recall fond memories of Paul Gascoigne in the England midfield

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      Like Gazza, England prodigy Phil Foden is a keen fisherman
      The 20-year-old City star will be named in a senior England squad for the first time on Tuesday.
      He is likely to be joined by uncapped Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish with Manchester United starlet Mason Greenwood, 18, also in line for a debut call-up by manager Gareth Southgate.
      Southgate revealed in June how important he thought Foden could be in providing the invention and guile that has been missing from the England midfield.
      While live football was suspended, the Three Lions boss had joined the nation in watching reruns of Italia 90 and Euro 96, when Paul Gascoigne was at the heart of England’s progress to the semi-finals.

      Asked about Foden, Southgate said: “Phil is definitely a different sort of player, with attributes that are rare in our game.
      “When you look through midfield players throughout the world, you go back to those two tournaments.

      If he can break into Manchester City’s team he will clearly be playing at a very high level and he will be in our squad.
      Gareth Southgate

      “Gascoigne was so different to anything else we had and, in fairness, in a different way Steve McManaman was, albeit coming from wide.
      “So it’s great that we are developing these players but the obvious thing is he’s got to play.

      “If he can break into Manchester City’s team he will clearly be playing at a very high level and he will be in our squad, without a doubt.”
      Comparisons to players of the level of Gazza are clearly not new.
      Foden has been seen as the replacement for Silva at City for some time and been tipped for the top for years.
      Incidentally, the Stockport lad also loves to fish — famously one of Gazza’s favourite hobbies — and has spent time off recently angling in the UK.
      Events in Mykonos involving 2018 World Cup hero Harry Maguire will overshadow the announcement of the first England party for almost ten months. And Southgate already had enough to worry about before the Maguire issue.
      The usual headaches of being an international manager will be intensified to migraine level by the Covid-19 pandemic and its repercussions.

      Bringing together players from different teams, with different styles, will be all the more difficult with the added protocols around training, travel and matchdays.
      Club-versus-country conflicts and the ups and downs of form and fitness will only be more extreme in the most congested season in history.
      But Foden is the prime example of the kind of “problem” any manager loves — a young player ready to take his chance to prove he is ready to compete for a place against established stars.
      And the upcoming Nations League matches in Iceland and Denmark should be that chance.
      Foden started seven of City’s 14 games after football resumed in June, scoring five goals and performing for the most part like someone who was ready to fulfil at least some of the predictions about him.
      City won every game he started.
      In their two most disappointing defeats, the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal and Champions League quarter-final with Lyon, he was a substitute — and an unused one on that numbing night in Lisbon last Saturday.
      By Southgate’s own criteria, Foden has earned a first senior call-up and, you would think, some game time. And if it is midfield creativity the England boss craves, then this also looks like a good time to take a look at Grealish.

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      Jack Grealish is set to be handed his first senior England call-upCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The Aston Villa captain, 24, was in line to be picked for the March friendlies that were cancelled. Then Grealish was among the Premier League’s Covidiots who failed to follow lockdown rules.
      Southgate said one transgression would not be enough to KO a player from his plans — but warned he and his backroom team would take a dim view of repeated misbehaviour.
      On the pitch, Grealish is surely in credit after leading Villa to a great escape from relegation.
      It would be a surprise if Southgate did not call him up at last, almost five years since he declared for England after previous appearances for the Republic of Ireland at youth level.
      A number of the team which started England’s World Cup semi- final against Croatia on July 11, 2018, are no longer certain of a place in the squad, let alone the starting XI. Kyle Walker was already out of favour before his lockdown antics.
      City team-mate John Stones may need to find a new club where he can play regularly if he is to stay in the England reckoning. The same applies to Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard.

      He is now lower in the pecking order for club and country than Greenwood, whose rapid development may well be rewarded on Tuesday.
      And what about Dele Alli? Like Walker, he was left out of Southgate’s last squad, for November’s Euro 2020 qualifiers and few would claim he has done much since to justify a recall.
      The Tottenham star may sneak into the squad on this occasion, given Southgate is set to name a few more players than the usual 25 or 26.
      But regaining his place in the team is another matter… especially with Foden’s star on the rise.

      Manchester City players İlkay Gündoğan and Phil Foden open up about their own mental health   More

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      Harry Maguire may be left out of England squad as Gareth Southgate aims to let Mykonos drama blow over

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      GARETH SOUTHGATE will consider leaving Harry Maguire out of the England squad in order to let his Mykonos drama blow over.
      Maguire yesterday flew home to face the football fallout from the boozy brawl that landed him in court.

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      Harry Maguire pictured outside on court on the Greek island of Mykonos

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      Gareth Southgate must make a decision over the Manchester United skipper’s place in his squad
      His legal case could be wrapped up as soon as Tuesday — the day Southgate is due to name his party for the Uefa Nations League trips to Iceland and Denmark.
      But the Three Lions boss may well decide to take the Manchester United captain out of the firing line and prevent all the focus being on how he performed in the wake of the Greek incident.
      United’s involvement in the Europa League semi-finals means Maguire would have limited time to regain match fitness for next month’s games in any case.
      Omitting the 2018 World Cup star from the first England squad for ten months would still be a big call for Southgate, but it looks like the best solution for all sides.

      United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has plenty of time before the new season to decide whether Maguire, 27, deserves to keep the armband.
      But Southgate has to make a call much sooner.

      The England boss will not want to pre-judge the legal case, in which the defender has denied all charges.

      And the fact Maguire has been allowed to leave Greece supports claims his alleged crimes are misdemeanours rather than felonies.
      But at the same time, Southgate must weigh up how far Maguire has broken the unwritten rules he expects England players to follow.
      The Three Lions boss dropped Raheem Sterling from a Euro 2020 qualifier last November following an altercation with Joe Gomez while on international duty.
      On the face of it, that was a more minor incident than what is alleged to have happened on Mykonos in the early hours of last Friday.
      When asked in June about how he would treat stars like Jack Grealish for breaking lockdown rules, the England boss said he would not judge anyone on one incident.

      Harry Maguire played more minutes than any other footballer in the world in 2019-20

      But Southgate stressed: “It is clear the character of your senior players and the influential players and the drive within the team is critical.
      “All of our players have to recognise that  with England there’s a further level of profile as well.
      “And they’ll be held more accountable than just a player that plays club football. They have to be conscious of that.”

      Harry Maguire leaves court after ‘brawl with Brits and police’ in Mykonos More

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      Aston Villa plot £30m transfer bid for Celtic hotshot Odsonne Edouard to bolster attack

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      ASTON VILLA are to test Celtic with a £30million bid for French goal machine Odsonne Edouard.
      Villa plan to spend big and have several targets but the forward, 22, is their priority.

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      Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard is being eyed up by Aston VillaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Boss Dean Smith is also keen on Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma from his old club Brentford.
      But he first wants to find out if Edouard can be snatched from the Scottish champions after bagging 28 goals last season.
      Arsenal may drop out of the race to leave the door open for the Midlanders.
      Crystal Palace and Leicester are also in the hunt.

      Edouard has not shown any sign of being interested in a move to a ‘lesser’ English club but Villa have cash to tempt him with a major contract.

      Their financial power is also giving them a chance in the Watkins and Benrahma races.
      Meanwhile Blackburn are snapping up young Hoops striker Connor McBride.
      Scotland youth cap McBride, 19, thinks he will have a better chance of progress in England.

      Celtic duo Odsonne Edouard and Olivier Ntcham take on Damien Duff and Jimmy Bullard in Soccer AM’s ‘You Know The Drill’ More

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      Man Utd’s Mason Greenwood and Dean Henderson among six rising stars who could crash Euros with England

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      GARETH SOUTHGATE’S first England squad since last November will be announced on Tuesday – sparking a frenzy of interest over the next generation of stars.
      Manchester City’s future playmaker-in-chief Phil Foden and Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish are uncapped midfielders battling to make the squad for next month’s UEFA Nations League games in Iceland and Denmark.

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      Former England U21 keeper Dean Henderson is back at Man Utd after shining on loan for Sheffield United but has been linked with ChelseaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Man Utd striker Mason Greenwood hit 17 goals in all competitions during an astonishing breakthrough seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But apart from those, SunSport has identified six other players who have shot into the Three Lions’ reckoning in the longer term for the delayed Euros next summer.
      Here’s our guide to the hopeful half-dozen – including a real wildcard from the Championship.
      MASON GREENWOOD (18), Man Utd
      If he carries on where he left off, it would almost be a surprise if he DIDN’T make the squad for next year’s Euros.
      Greenwood’s main challenge is competition for places up front — and if Jadon Sancho moves to Old Trafford, his first-team chances will reduce.Nothing has stopped him so far, though.

      DEAN HENDERSON (23), Man Utd
      Like Greenwood, much will depend on how often he plays for United — or someone else — this term.
      Won an England call-up because of injuries last November.
      His form on loan at Sheffield United was good enough to be at least England’s No 3 or arguably No 2 behind Burnley’s Nick Pope.
      And should be ahead of Everton’s Jordan Pickford.

      BUKAYO SAKA (18), Arsenal

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      Pacy, versatile Arsenal starlet Bukayo Saka celebrated FA Cup final glory over ChelseaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Saka’s England chances appear better as a left- back than as a winger.
      So much will depend on where manager Mikel Arteta uses him at Arsenal.Three Lions chief Gareth Southgate will have noted how mature he was during tough times for the Gunners last season.
      But Saka could play for Nigeria, where his parents are from.
      BEN WHITE (22), Brighton

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      Ben White was outstanding on loan as Leeds won promotion, meaning parent club Brighton are now fighting off top clubs to keep himCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The summer’s most in-demand English defender is also the best player most people have never seen play.
      Southgate will want to watch how he takes to top-flight football for the Seagulls (or one of his suitors) before giving him an opportunity.
      England undeniably need more competition at centre-back and he has also impressed in midfield.
      EBERECHI EZE (22), QPR

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      QPR’s exciting Eberechi Eze has been linked with several Premier League clubs, including Fulham, Spurs and LeedsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      A wildcard but if a move to the Premier League happens in this window, then who knows?
      Like Greenwood, the attacking midfielder has a lot of established stars standing in his way, and like Saka, he could still choose to play for Nigeria at senior level.
      But QPR director of football Les Ferdinand is not alone in rating him a future England player.

      KALVIN PHILLIPS (24), Leeds

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      Kalvin Phillips was the driving force behind Leeds winning the ChampionshipCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The midfielder’s form in Leeds’ promotion campaign led to him being touted for an England cap last season.
      If he can produce more of the same in the Premier League, he will pose a threat to players like Declan Rice, Harry Winks and even Jordan Henderson.
      His ability to play centre-back as well won’t hurt him.

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      Harry Maguire & pals racked up £63k bill in 5 hours on three-day Mykonos bender before brawl arrest

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      BOOZY Harry Maguire’s night of shame came after a three-day bender on Mykonos.
      The Manchester United defender flew to the Greek party island with fiancée Fern Hawkins after his side’s Europa League exit.

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      Harry Maguire’s Mykonos brawl came after a three-day bender on the islandCredit: EPA

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      Footage obtained by The Sun on Sunday shows three men jeering and gesticulating towards Maguire
      Along with several pals and his brothers, he hit bars and clubs on the hotspot, which has become this summer’s go-to destination for Premier League stars.
      But he also attracted attention from rival fans, who hurled sick insults at him before Thursday night’s fateful brawl.
      On Tuesday it is claimed the England star, 27, and others racked up a £63,000 bar tab in a five-hour session.
      He downed expensive booze and scoffed ­lobster with footballers including Chelsea’s Ross Barkley, 26, and Manchester United team-mate Brandon Williams, 19.

      They were also joined by Love Island star Chris Hughes, 27, snooker ace Judd Trump, 31, and Harry’s brother Joe, who plays for Accrington Stanley.
      A source said: “Harry has been drinking like crazy since he arrived on Mykonos.
      “He’s been spending a fortune on booze and just doesn’t seem to stop. He seemed upset about something. It was non-stop.’’

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      Maguire looked frustrated as he was taunted by a group of rival supporters

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      Witnesses claim the men teased Maguire on Wednesday night at the Cosi Bar before the fracas on Thursday
      Maguire and his entourage sank bottles of vintage champagne, ­firework-decorated cocktails and spirits at the exclusive SantAnna beach bar.

      Their huge spending included an £18,000 bottle of Dom Perignon Brut 2002 bubbly.
      They also splashed out on a £17,000 bottle of Armand de ­Brignac Champagne, plus £750 on three bottles of Jack Daniel’s.
      The stars lined their stomachs with £1,200 of lobster, seven ­ribeye steaks costing £820 as well as Greek meze platters and Wagyu beef rolls.
      Maguire paid a fraction of the total bill and mainly drinks beer.
      The players got boozed up in the VIP area while dancing by private sunbeds, which cost more than £2,000 to hire out.
      The following evening, things took a nastier turn when Maguire and his party went to the Cosi Bar in Mykonos.

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      Maguire appears to move away as the group begins to chant
      There Maguire was taunted by a group of rival supporters who chanted “f*** United’’ and made disparaging remarks about the 6ft 4in defender’s ability.
      Witnesses also claimed they made sickening references to the devastating 1958 Munich air disaster.
      Footage obtained by The Sun on Sunday shows three men ­jeering and gesticulating towards Maguire who is visibly uncomfortable and appears tense.
      He is seen walking away and looking at his phone while the grinning tourists sing and point at him.
      However, things did not turn ­violent. Later Maguire and his group are said to have gone to a party at a swanky private villa hired out by a Greek businessman.
      Cops were eventually called to break it up at 4.15am.
      A partygoer claimed: “Harry was there, but he managed to get out when the police came. Harry was enjoying himself with his friends. He wasn’t misbehaving.’’
      The following day Maguire and his group returned to SantAnna.

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      Maguire, pictured back row top left, was seen leaving court in Syros with his group yesterdayCredit: EPA

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      Harry is said to have mistaken police for attackers and lashed out at themCredit: EPA
      However on Thursday evening, sources claimed Maguire again bumped into the fans who had taunted him the evening before, this time with fateful consequences.
      A witness said: “These guys were trying to wind him up.
      “It was OK on the Wednesday night but by Thursday night they had stepped it up. They clearly wanted to have a fight with him.’’
      A local called Kafatos, said: “Another group of British men started abusing them, saying he was a rubbish footballer and played for a rubbish team.
      “They were also calling him a fridge and I didn’t really understand what they meant by that.’’
      Brit tourist Sam Moore added: “This group of British lads were out for trouble and were being really abusive towards Maguire and his club.
      “I could hear them singing about the Munich air disaster and saying other vile things.

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      Harry was holidaying with fiancee FernCredit: Instagram

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      Rival fans allegedly jeered at the Manchester United captain during his drinking sessionCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “You could tell that they wanted to have a punch-up with Maguire.
      “I don’t know what football team they supported but they didn’t like Manchester United — that much was obvious.’’
      Maguire and two pals were accused of brawling with rival fans and cops outside a nightclub.
      Police said they continued scrapping at the station before allegedly offering officers bribes to drop the case.
      A spokesperson for the Greek police said: “Patrolling police officers in the area of Mykonos intervened to settle a dispute between a group.
      “However, three foreigners involved in the incident turned against them, insulting and hitting a police officer with fists.

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      Maguire’s sister Daisy is said to have suffered a ‘stab wound’ to her arm – and her brother jumped to her defence

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      “The three foreigners were taken to the Mykonos Police Station, where upon their arrival they strongly resisted, pushing and beating three police officers.
      “Then one of the detainees tried to offer money so the process against them would not be completed.’’
      Maguire was bought from Leicester City for £85million last summer, a world record sum for a defender.

      He flew to Mykonos after Man United lost to Sevilla in the Europa League semi-final last Sunday.
      It was his side’s third semi-final loss this season after exiting the FA and Carabao Cups at the same stage.
      Maguire said afterwards: “It means a lot to us, the boys are devastated. Losing isn’t acceptable.”

      Harry Maguire leaves court after ‘brawl with Brits and police’ in Mykonos
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