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      Man Utd tried to get Ronaldo to go to Barcelona instead of Real Madrid in 2009 – and he could’ve played with Messi

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      MANCHESTER UNITED almost managed to get Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to link-up… for Barcelona.Portuguese superstar Ronaldo shattered football’s transfer record in 2009 when he left Old Trafford to join Real Madrid for £80million.

      Los Blancos had already splashed out on Karim Benzema, Xabi Alonso and Ballon d’Or winner Kaka in response to Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering debut season as Nou Camp chief the year before.
      But they were almost denied the jewel in returning president’s Florentino Perez’s masterplan if Sir Alex Ferguson had got his way.
      The legendary Scot was desperate to avoid losing Ronaldo to Real once he’d accepted that the former Sporting Lisbon winger was set to leave.
      Fergie had even said back in 2008 that he wouldn’t sell Madrid a ‘virus’ let alone his best player.
      And according to Spanish newspaper AS, the United boss realised at the time that Barcelona were the only other club who could afford Ronaldo.
      Fergie apparently contacted the Catalans to encourage a bid but the Portugal captain had already set his mind on a move to the Bernabeu.
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      Guardiola’s most notable signing that summer involved an infamous swap deal with Inter Milan involving Samuel Eto’o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
      But the acquisition of Ronaldo would have not only ushered in an era of pure dominance for Barcelona, but also have cancelled out his famed rivalry with Messi.
      Whether Manchester City chief Pep could have managed to get the two to play together is up for debate, as he boasted an embarrassment of attacking riches while in charge of Barca.
      While Arsenal legend Thierry Henry flourished for Barca on the left wing, Ronaldo could have occupied the opposite flank to leave Messi in the hole behind Ibra.
      Yaya Toure and Sergio Busquets may have had to share a spot on the substitutes bench, with Spanish duo Xavi and Iniesta holding down the two spots in the middle.
      Messi was asked by Mundo Deportivo last year whether he would pass to Ronaldo if the two were on the same team.
      The Argentine joked: “I guess so, in the end, yes.”
      Cristiano Ronaldo sealed a then-world record transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009Credit: PA:Empics Sport
      The Portuguese superstar was also offered to Barcelona which would have made him teammates with Lionel MessiCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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      Barcelona ‘agree to sell Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid for £17.5m’.. just half of bizarre transfer clause

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      BARCELONA are reportedly set to sell Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid for £17.5million – just HALF of the strange transfer clause agreed between the two clubs.The French forward, 31, returned to Atletico for a second spell last season as he secured a two-year loan move.
      Griezmann is set to seal a permanent return to Atletico MadridCredit: Getty
      Within the finer details of the deal was a clause which stated Atletico would have to buy Griezmann permanently for £35m if he played 30 minutes or more in over half their matches.
      And as he played significantly more than that last season, Atletico have been trying to minimise his playing time so far this term to ensure they do not have to pay the fee.
      Griezmann has started just two of 10 matches for Diego Simeone’s side since the summer.
      He has frequently been brought on just after the 60th minute in a clear affront to the clause in the contract.
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      According to Marca, the stand-off has forced Barcelona to come to a compromise.
      That is for Atletico to pay Barcelona half of the £35m fee to complete the Griezmann transfer.
      The World Cup winner scored 133 goals in 257 appearances during his first spell at Atletico.
      He then hit the back of the net 35 times in 102 games for Barcelona, but ultimately failed to live up to his £107m price tag.
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      A subsequent return to the Spanish capital saw him score eight times last season.
      And despite starting just once for the club in September, he still won their Player of the Month award.
      He contributed a goal and an assist across all competitions, including a last-gasp Champions League winner over Porto.
      Manchester United and Juventus were both said to be interested in Griezmann, but Atletico now finally look set to complete a deal. More

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      Nottingham Forest considering replacing under-fire Steve Cooper with New York Red Bulls boss Gerhard Struber

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      NEW YORK Red Bulls head coach Gerhard Struber is one of the candidates being considered by Nottingham Forest.Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is contemplating sacking boss Steve Cooper with the club bottom of the Premier League after five straight losses.
      Pressure is mounting on Steve Cooper at Nottingham ForestCredit: Rex
      Gerhard Struber is one of the coaches being considered to replace himCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The latest result was an embarrassing 4-0 defeat away to rivals Leicester on Monday night.
      Despite guiding the Midlands club back to the top flight for the first time in 23 years last season, Cooper, 42, is on the brink – with reports that a new contract offer has been withdrawn.
      Marinakis believes the team should be performing to a higher standard after splashing out around £150m on 23 new players this summer.
      And SunSport understands that should the Welshman get the axe, Austrian coach Struber is in the frame to take over at the City Ground.
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      Struber, 45, worked as a coach at the Red Bull Salzburg academy before impressing at Barnsley in the 2019/20 campaign during an 11-month stint that saw him help them to Championship survival.
      He has been in charge of MLS outfit NY Red Bulls since October 2020.
      And he is also highly-rated by former Manchester United interim Ralf Rangnick.
      Struber turned down the chance to be an assistant under Rangnick at Old Trafford back in December in favour of staying in the United States.
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      But Struber remains a huge fan of English football and is determined to work there again in the near future.
      Alongside Struber, ex-Liverpool, Newcastle and Everton manager Rafa Benitez is in the frame to get the job should it become available.
      Forest’s recruitment team, who oversaw the huge summer overhaul, are also facing the chop, including CEO Dane Murphy and recruitment chiefs George Syrianos and Andy Scott. More

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      Erling Haaland ‘has Real Madrid transfer clause in contract but Man City are already in talks to renegotiate deal’

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      ERLING HAALAND reportedly has a clause in his contract that will allow him to LEAVE Manchester City for Real Madrid in 2024.The red hot striker, 22, scored a third consecutive home hat-trick in his side’s 6-3 thrashing of local rivals United on Sunday.
      Reports in Spain claim that Real Madrid will have priority to meet a release clause for Haaland in 2024Credit: Rex
      It took his goal tally to a mouthwatering 17 from ten games since his summer arrival from Borussia Dortmund.
      He signed a a five-year contract until 2027, after arriving for £51million in June.
      They faced stiff competition from the likes of Real and Barcelona for his signature, but the prospect of working under Pep Guardiola in the Prem was too good for Haaland to turn down.
      But SunSport reported that within a week of him signing, City were trying to negotiate a stronger deal.
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      Previous reports have suggested that Man City are expecting him to move to Spain in future.
      And Fernando Sanz, a former Real player and former president of LaLiga club Malaga, claims Los Blancos will have the upper hand in 2024.
      He told MundoDeportivo: “The information I have is that there is an exit clause for Haaland in the second year, and the curious thing is that with very beneficial conditions compared to the rest for a club, which is Real Madrid.
      “Haaland puts in a clause that allows him to leave after two years but with priority for Real Madrid.
      “Madrid puts up whatever money it takes and takes Haaland without talking to City.”
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      Sanz insists that the Bernabeu side will have priority to take Haaland for the release clause.
      And Alfie Haaland, who also starred for City, suggested that his son may not be set for a long stay in England.
      Alfie said: “He [Erling] could have 2½ years in Germany, 2½ in England, and then in Spain, Italy, France, right?”
      “We do not know if it will be like that, but I think he would like to test his abilities in the big leagues.” More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo wants transfer from Man Utd in January and Ten Hag ‘will not stand in his way’ after benching legend

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO reportedly wants to leave Manchester United in January and Erik ten Hag “will not stand in his way”.The Portuguese legend was left on the bench for Sunday’s dismal 6-3 thrashing at Manchester City – something the boss says he did “out of respect for his big career”.
      Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly wants to leave Man Utd in JanuaryCredit: Rex
      Boss Erik ten Hag will allegedly not stand in his way once the window opensCredit: Rex
      Ronaldo looked a frustrated figure as he watched from the dug-out and The Telegraph now claims that he is “hoping to get a move in January” after his failed attempt to leave over the summer.
      Ten Hag wanted to keep the 37-year-old Portuguese forward at Old Trafford upon his arrival.
      However, this report now states that he is “open to letting” him go if an acceptable offer comes in.
      The veteran has been largely consigned to the substitutes bench this season following his controversial summer.

      After failing to secure his exit, Ronaldo returned late to pre-season training.
      That led to him being benched for the opening day defeat to Brighton.
      He was back in the starting XI the following week, but he and his team-mates were left humiliated as they were thrashed 4-0 at Brentford.
      Ronaldo was then pushed back to the bench, and that coincided with United going on a four-game winning run in the top-flight.
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      He did, however, get another opportunity in the Europa League but he drew a blank as the Red Devils were beaten at home by Real Sociedad.
      But a week later the superstar was celebrating as he finally got off the mark for the season by scoring a penalty in the 2-0 win at Sheriff in the same competition on September 15 – which was his last outing for the club.
      Now his chances of getting more regular action appear to be even more slim after Anthony Martial, who came on instead of him, returned from injury to score twice against City. More

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      Liverpool ‘send scout who recommended Luis Diaz to follow Chicago Fire wonderkid Jhon Duran amid £10m transfer interest’

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      LIVERPOOL have reportedly sent the same scout who discovered Luis Diaz to watch Chicago Fire’s teenage sensation Jhon Duran.SunSport exclusively revealed on Saturday that the Reds were lining up a move for the 18-year-old Colombian wonderkid.
      Liverpool have sent a scout to watch Chicago Fire ace Jhon DuranCredit: Getty
      The Reds have sent the same person who recommended Luis DiazCredit: Getty
      And now reports suggest the Reds have had someone keeping a keen eye on Duran.
      Colombian journalist Pipe Sierra claims Liverpool have sent the same scout who followed Diaz when he was at Porto to go and watch Duran.
      The scout in question clearly has good judgement, with Diaz turning out to be a brilliant buy for the Reds.
      The forward hit the ground running as soon as he arrived at Anfield earlier this year in a deal worth up to £50m.
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      Meanwhile Duran, who plays up front, has scored eight goals and provided six assists in 27 games for Chicago Fire after signing from Colombian side Envigado in January.
      But the MLS outfit could be willing to let Duran move on already for the right money.
      A fee of around £10million plus extras may be enough to seal a deal, while Sierra claims £8.5m could even be enough for his signature.
      Fire sold keeper Gabriel Slonina, also 18, to Chelsea for a similar price over the summer.
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      The Blues are also keeping tabs on Duran, as are clubs all over Europe.
      French outfit Lille, German side Eintracht Frankfurt, and Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven are all reported to be keen.
      Duran made his senior Colombia debut last week, featuring alongside Anfield star Diaz in the friendly wins over Guatemala and Mexico. More

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      Chelsea ‘ahead of everyone’ in Rafael Leao transfer race, but AC Milan ace ‘will not be sold for less than £87m’

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      CHELSEA are leading the race to sign AC Milan star Rafael Leao, according to reports.Leao is being monitored by a number of top clubs as he enjoys yet another fantastic season in Serie A.
      Chelsea may have to break the bank to sign Rafael Leao but are winning the race for himCredit: Splash
      Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera report that Chelsea are “ahead of everyone” in the battle for the winger’s signature.
      But the 23-year-old won’t come cheap with AC Milan not willing to accept any bid under £87million.
      The Portuguese international’s contract expires in 2024 with the Italian giants keen to tie him down to a new long-term contract.
      Reports suggest that there was plenty of bids for Leao in the summer, with at least one from Chelsea, but a deal didn’t materialise.
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      He has been on fire for the Rossoneri this season scoring four times and assisting a further seven in nine Serie A and Champions League matches.
      This continues his excellent form from last season where he helped Stefano Pioli’s side win the Serie A title with 11 goals and ten assists in the league.
      Leao will have the chance to impress his potential new club this week as AC Milan travel to Stamford Bridge for a Champions League group stage game.
      The tie is a must win match for the West Londoners claims Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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      Chelsea seem to already have a deal wrapped up for RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku as Todd Boehly appears ready to splash the cash yet again.
      Manager Graham Potter is reportedly set to overhaul the squad with the Blues rumoured to be keen on Gabriel Martinelli and Dusan Vlahovic too.
      There are doubts over the futures of wingers Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech potentially opening up room for the signing of Leao. More

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      Liverpool ‘join Arsenal in Youri Tielemans transfer race’ with Leicester midfielder’s contract expiring in summer

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      LIVERPOOL want to sign Youri Tielemans in the next transfer window, according to sources. Arsenal will be joined by the Merseyside team as they race to land the 25-year-old, according to calciomercato,
      Liverpool are reportedly eyeing up a winter swoop for TielemansCredit: Getty
      The Belgian international’s contract expires in the summer of 2023 and Leicester may look to cash in before he leaves on a free.
      Tielemans looks unlikely to pen an extension so he will be free to negotiate free agency with any clubs outside of England from January 1.
      Juventus and Real Madrid are said to be looking forward to that date.
      But it’s Prem rivals Arsenal and Manchester United who are expected to be Liverpool’s biggest competition to secure a January cut-price deal.
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      The Gunners have reportedly been working on a deal for Tielemans over the past year, but no official offer has been made yet.
      Mikel Arteta may be tempted to pull the trigger on a bid if the Belgian is available for a cut-price fee.
      He has previously indicated that he wants to leave Leicester for a team competing in the Champions League.
      However, one report claimed that Youri Tielemans is the “chosen one” for Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag.
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      Meanwhile the 2015-16 Prem champions lost Wesley Fofana to Chelsea last month, while stalwart Kasper Schmeichel left for Nice.
      Brendan Rodgers’ side sit bottom of the Premier League after picking up just one point from their opening seven games.
      They face Nottingham Forest on Monday night. More