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      Ex-Man Utd star Angel Di Maria ‘withdraws from squad in suspicious circumstances’ after being left out of starting XI

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      ANGEL DI MARIA allegedly withdrew from the Juventus squad against Bologna after being told he was only going to be named on the bench.The 35-year-old Argentine hit the headlines last night as his club were held to a 1-1 draw in the Serie A clash.
      Mystery reportedly surrounds Angel Di Maria’s absence for Juventus last nightCredit: Getty
      The World Cup winner was left out of Massimiliano Allegri’s 23-man squad for the trip with the Italian side claiming that it was due to an ankle injury.
      However, Tuttosport is reporting that Di Maria has reportedly clashed with Allegri before the game after being told that he was due to start as substitute.
      He then pulled out of the squad in “suspicious circumstances”.
      Di Maria allegedly informed the Juventus boss he was suffering from the problem before withdrawing from the squad.
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      The former Real Madrid and Manchester United winger has endured a difficult campaign with the Bianconeri.
      He penned a one-year deal with the Turin giants after leaving Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent.
      Di Maria struggled to impress before the World Cup in November but his form has improved since the tournament in Qatar.

      He has scored eight goals and provided seven assists in 32 appearances this season for Juventus.
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      However, over recent weeks, his displays have come under criticism again from supporters.
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      And he has not contributed to a goal in his last nine outings for the club.
      Juventus are currently third in the top-flight and battling for a top four finish.
      They are three points ahead of fifth-placed Milan in the chase to secure Champions League football. More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo hits major new milestone after joining Saudi side Al-Nassr

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      CRISTIANO Ronaldo has gained almost 170 million social media followers in a year, figures reveal.It cemented the former Man United ace’s position as the most followed footballer in the world.
      Ronaldo has gained almost 170 million social media followers in a year, figures revealCredit: Getty
      Ronaldo, 38, now with Saudi side Al-Nassr, has 855 million followers across all his accounts.
      Argentinian World Cup winner Lionel Messi, 35, has the next biggest presence, gaining 147 million users in a year to take his total to 579 million.
      Brazil star Neymar is third with 403 million followers, then France’s Kylian Mbappé with 132.5 million.
      Brazilian Vinícius Jr is fifth on 62.6 million, according to data website Football Benchmark.
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      A spokesman for SafeBettingSites.com, which collated the data, said of Portuguese Ronaldo: “His dwindling football career hasn’t impacted his social media popularity.”
      Meanwhile, former Manchester United midfielder Gordon Strachan recently revealed that his teammates gave Ronaldo a blunt warning when he arrived at Old Trafford.
      And he was brutally told: “We are not here to see you play.”
      Ronaldo joined the Red Devils for the first time in 2003.
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      “When Ronaldo arrived at Manchester United for the first time, there were people in the team who told him the truth,” Strachan said.
      “Sorry, we don’t want you dancing around with the ball when you can cross earlier.
      “Use your skills in areas where you can produce something useful.
      “We’re not here to see you play.” More

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      England ace Raheem Sterling says he ‘beat himself up’ over £300k burglary at his new home

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      ENGLAND ace Raheem Sterling says he “beat himself up” over a £300,000 burglary at his new home.The star, 28, flew home from the World Cup in Qatar after thieves broke in last December.
      England ace Raheem Sterling says he ‘beat himself up’ over a £300,000 burglary at his new homeCredit: Rex
      He said he had only just moved in and “was in the process of getting security” at the property in Oxshott, Surrey.
      Sterling, who joined Chelsea last July from Man City, said: “I beat myself up that I didn’t keep my family secure.
      “It’s one thing I said I would always do, so it wasn’t a nice feeling.”
      The dad of three added: “I couldn’t live with myself if anything had come to pass from it.”
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      “It was something I meant to do before going to the World Cup and I didn’t so I was beating myself up about it.
      “It’s the most scary thing to know with the age of the people living in my house. It’s not a nice feeling.”
      Nobody was home.
      Two men were arrested but no charges brought.
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      England hero Bobby Moore’s missing 1966 World Cup final jersey ‘may be a FAKE’

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      AN ENGLAND shirt said to be Bobby Moore’s missing 1966 World Cup final jersey may be a fake, it was claimed last night.Bobby was wearing the iconic red shirt when he hoisted the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley.
      England legend Bobby Moore was wearing the iconic red shirt when he lifted the 1966 World Cup trophyCredit: Gerry Cranham
      Ex-wife Tina believed it was safe in the attic of the home she shared with the Three Lions skipper in Chigwell, Essex.
      She was stunned when it seemingly resurfaced in the hands of an anonymous private buyer who was putting it up for sale.
      Now an expert says it might have been a spare — which would send its value plunging from around £10million to £10,000.
      The collector, who does not want to be named, told The Sun: “The Bobby Moore 1966 shirt is the Holy Grail.
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      “The mystery shirt’s badge differs slightly to close-up pictures I analysed of Bobby’s shirt.
      “From an enlarged photograph you can see that the white border at the top of the badge is clearly uneven, because the visible stitching is not straight.
      “In pictures released of the shirt up for auction, the white border at the top is even.
      “It’s a tiny detail but, in my opinion, very clear and very definitive.
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      “And in my opinion the shirt being auctioned is definitely not the shirt worn by Bobby in the ’66 final.
      “It is most likely another spare.”
      Tina, 79, and West Ham defender Bobby divorced in 1986 and Bobby remarried.
      He died in 1992.
      There is no suggestion of wrong­doing by the would-be seller, but the family want to know how they got the shirt.   More

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      Emi Martinez admits he ‘creates chaos’ and reveals he got into Bruno Fernandes’ head with brutal Cristiano Ronaldo joke

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      EMI MARTINEZ has opened up on what makes him so successful at saving penalties. The Aston Villa goalkeeper, 30, has developed a reputation for doing whatever it takes to ensure he comes out on top in shoot-outs after helping Argentina beat France in the World Cup final.
      Martinez has developed a reputation as a penalty specialistCredit: tictock
      Martinez revealed how he got inside Bruno Fernandes’s head before a penalty in 2021Credit: tic tock
      The 30-year-old also starred in the quarter final penalty win against The Netherlands with saves from Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis.
      And he saved three out of five penalties in Argentina’s Copa America semi final shoot-out win over Colombia en route to lifting the trophy in 2021.
      Later that year Martinez was playing for Villa against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
      Having gone ahead in the 88th minute they conceded an injury time spot kick.
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      The World Cup winner admitted that he was surprised Bruno Fernandes and not Cristiano Ronaldo was taking the spot kick and he used this this to his advantage.
      Speaking to Ian Wright and Oriana Sabatini on Behind The Game he said: “I saw Ronaldo disappointed for not taking it, and I thought there is tension here.
      “I said ‘Come on, you take it now. He (Ronaldo) doesn’t want to shoot’. I said to Cavani ‘Why is Ronaldo not shooting?’ ”
      The shot-stopper’s antics caused a delay to the penalty being taken and he was accused of trash-talking Fernandes.
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      The former Arsenal man denied this and explained he just wanted to put doubt in Fernandes’s mind.
      Martinez was also seen jumping up and down on his line and swaying side to side, which was a tip international team-mate Lionel Messi had given him.
      He said: “It’s not even trash-talk. I create chaos. It was the 92nd minute of the game, I have to distract him in some way because they’ve got everything to win.
      “Bruno, he didn’t miss a pen for 25 pens or something. I asked Messi and he said when you move all around the place like that, they don’t like it. 
      “I was dancing not because I want to dance. I never practised that. I don’t know how to do it now, that just came out in the moment. 
      “The strikers they said ‘We pick a spot’, and the quality they’ve got they can put the ball in the spot.
      “So if you’re moving around so you create chaos, actually we see different spots.”
      Fans flooded to social media to give their thoughts on the explanation.
      One replied: “That was a pretty cool explanation of Bruno’s pen, goalkeepers are always at a disadvantage in pens so it’s kinda cool to hear all the little tactics each keeper employs to level the field.”
      A second said: “Even as a United fan I respect it. Especially because time has passed a bit since.
      “The s*** housery is elite and I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t appreciate that.”
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      A third added: “It’s just mind games and it’s part of taking a penalty. Someone who can do that to an opponent consistently deserves to be admired.”
      Maritnez and Aston Villa are flying high in fifth place in the Premier League and will continue their quest to secure European football away at Manchester United on Sunday. More

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      What Alejandro Garnacho told Erik ten Hag with Man Utd set to lose winger to Under-20 World Cup at worst time

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      ALEJANDRO GARNACHO has reportedly handed Erik ten Hag a major blow concerning Manchester United’s bid for a cup double.The Argentina winger, 18, became an integral part of the Red Devils first-team this term before picking up an injury in the 0-0 draw with Southampton on March 12.
      Alejandro Garnacho has delivered a blow to Erik ten Hag and Man UtdCredit: Getty
      He has made 29 appearances and scored four goals so far this term and is now nearing a return to full fitness ahead of the run-in.
      Garnacho’s comeback would provide a huge boost to Ten Hag’s United depleted squad as they look to tie up a top four finish and then lift the FA Cup to go along with their Carabao Cup triumph.
      However, the teen could miss that Wembley showdown with Man City on June 3 at his OWN REQUEST.
      According to Argentinian outlet Doble Amarilla, the starlet has asked Ten Hag to grant him leave in order to represent his country at the Under-20 World Cup.
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      The tournament starts in May in his home country and runs until June 11.
      Garnacho has already been selected in the preliminary squad named by boss Javier Mascherano, who played for both Liverpool and Barcelona.
      And that would rule him out of playing in the FA Cup derby clash.
      The publication claims that Garnacho, who has never been capped at senior level despite several call-ups, has told Ten Hag: “I need to write my story with the Argentine shirt.
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      “I ask you please to let me go.”
      Neither Argentina or United have made any public comment yet on whether the attacker, who is still recovering from his ankle knock, will participate at the showpiece. More

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      Voice of football revealed as fans vote for greatest commentator – is it your favourite?

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      JOHN Motson has been voted the greatest football commentator of all time in a poll of fans.The late sheepskin-loving soccer encyclopedia beat Brian Moore, David Coleman and Clive Tyldesley to top spot.
      Late sheepskin-loving soccer encyclopedia John Motson has been voted the greatest football commentator of all timeCredit: Getty
      Motty’s line, “The Crazy Gang has beaten the Culture Club”, as Wimbledon beat Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup Final was named the fifth most iconic.
      But the top piece of commentary was Kenneth Wolstenholme’s “Some people are on the pitch, they think it’s all over — it is now” as England won the 1966 World Cup.
      The survey for CopyBet.com found 33 per cent of fans want commentators to have great player knowledge.
      Meanwhile, 26 per cent look for impartiality.
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      24 per cent of fans want an engaging narrative.
      Knowledge was the top asset for a pundit.
      Alan Shearer and Ian Wright were joint favourites.
      A spokesperson for the site said: “We’ve been blessed with some amazing commentators over the years and sadly we’ve lost some of the greats in recent years.
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      “For many of us, our memories of particular moments are likely entwined with the lines of commentary.
      “It’s hard not to think of that winning goal from Aguero and not hear the words of Martin Tyler or England winning the World Cup and not hear ‘they think it’s all over…’” More

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      Man Utd handed huge FA Cup final blow as Alejandro Garnacho ‘chooses to miss City clash for Argentina U20 World Cup’

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      ALEJANDRO GARNACHO could miss Manchester United’s FA Cup final to play in the Under-20 World Cup for Argentina.Reports in Garnacho’s homeland claim the teen star, 18, has decided to turn out for his country ahead of the derby blockbuster at Wembley.
      Alejandro Garnacho could reportedly miss the FA Cup finalCredit: AFP
      The winger has reportedly decided to play in the Under-20 World Cup – which kicks off on May 20Credit: GETTY
      United face neighbours City at Wembley on June 3.
      And that could clash with the knock-out stages of the youth tournament which will kicks off in Argentina on May 20.
      Argentina journalist Damian Villagra tweeted: “Alejandro Garnacho’s decision is to come and play the World Cup for the Argentina National Team.”
      Garnacho has been on the sidelines with an ankle injury sustained in March.
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      He has scored four goals for Erik ten Hag’s side this season – including the third goal in the FA Cup fifth round 3-1 win over West Ham at Old Trafford.
      Garnacho’s decision to play in the tournament has yet to be confirmed by United or Argentina.
      But that hasn’t stopped some of the Old Trafford faithful from panicking.
      One United fan said: “Garnacho going to the World Cup when we'[re] in a Dawg Fight.”
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      Garnacho hasn’t played since picking up ankle ligament damage in last month’s 0-0 draw with SouthamptonCredit: REX
      And another said: “So he won’t be available for the FA Cup final.”
      One questioned: “Alejandro, bro?”
      While one supporter, referencing United’s injury woes, chimed in: “Garnacho, [Raphael] Varane, [Lisandro] Martinez and now Bruno [Fernandes]. We don’t deserve this.”
      Garnacho has been on the sidelines since March after suffering ankle ligament damage in the Red Devils’ 0-0 draw with relegation battlers Southampton.
      But he seemingly handed Ten Hag a boost last Saturday by ditching the supports outside Cibo Restaurant in Hale Village.
      He left Old Trafford on crutches and was seen using them again six days later.
      Ten Hag was optimistic earlier this month about Garnacho’s chances of returning to the starting XI before the end of the season.
      The Dutchman said: “We have something in our heads.
      “But I don’t want – he will definitely be back before the end of the season. 
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      “I think he will be in the final stages, but I don’t want to bring so much pressure on the medical and Garnacho to set a date when to be back.”
      United will be back in action on Thursday, travelling to North London to take on top-four rivals Tottenham. More