Borussia Dortmund

MANCHESTER UNITED are one of multiple Premier League clubs interested in Jobe Bellingham, younger brother of Real Madrid star Jude.

Bellingham, 20, followed in his brother’s footsteps when he left newly-promoted Sunderland to join German giants Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

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But now, according to reports from German outlet Bild, the midfielder’s next move could bring him back to the UK.

The highly-rated prospect has struggled to find minutes under manager Niko Kovac after starting in the opening two games of the season.

He has played just 74 minutes in the four league games since those games, and could grow frustrated at the lack of opportunities at the club, having been the main man at Sunderland last season.

These frustrations didn’t take long to boil over, with Jobe’s father Mark Bellingham reportedly storming to the dressing room to confront club officials after the youngster was substituted at half-time in their season opener against St Pauli.

The fallout from the scene saw the families of all players banned from the dressing room at Signal Iduna Park.

And it was not the only distraction affecting the youngster off the field, following news emerging on Monday that Mark and Jobe’s mother Denise Bellingham have appeared to separate after more than twenty years together.

United would pose an interesting option for the Stourbridge native to rekindle his meteoric rise, with their midfield struggles being one of their biggest issues under Ruben Amorim this season.

There is a sense that despite having much left to prove on the biggest stages, Bellingham could make an instant impact at Old Trafford.

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However, if game time is the deal-breaker in Dortmund, then tales such as that of the consistently snubbed teenager Kobbie Mainoo could be a warning sign to steer clear.

Bellingham joined the Germans in summer for a fee of £27million, and it is hard to picture the Red Devils getting him for anything less than that.

Another club interested in the England youth international’s services is reportedly Crystal Palace, who were also interested in him while he was with the Black Cats.

Palace have been excellent this season, sitting four places above United in sixth, despite having European football to contend with.

He could partner Eagles starlet Adam Wharton, or potentially open the door for an exit for the 21-year-old, who United are also interested in.

FORMER MANCHESTER CITY goalkeeper Eike Immel has been sentenced to two years and two months in prison in relation to 107 cases of fraud.

According to reports from Bild, the majority of the cases centred around the 64-year-old borrowing money and not returning it.

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The total value of the money in question is reported to be £29,775.

Immel also sold tickets to a European Championship game, keeping the money but failing to deliver the tickets.

The German was found guilty in all cases before being sentenced by the district court in Marburg on Thursday.

The former Euros-winning goalkeeper’s defence brought up his financial issues as a reason for his failure to repay the money.

Bild report that a statement given by Immel’s defence attorney read: “Mr. Immel is deeply ashamed of what is being discussed here in the courtroom today.

“He lives hand to mouth. This fact has been publicly known for years.

“[He is] not a professional fraudster, but a failed former footballer.”

Immel declared bankruptcy in 2008, and has since spoken to the media about his money troubles, last year claiming to be living off of benefits.

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The stopper made 43 appearances for Manchester City between 1995-97, but is best remembered for his tenure in the Bundesliga.

He played almost 550 league games between spells at Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart.

His domestic performances earned him 19 international caps with West Germany.

Among these appearances, he won the 1980 European Championship and was part of runner-up campaigns at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.

RAPHINHA has been slammed on social media after a “shameless” act in the Champions League.

The Brazilian netted Barcelona‘s opening goal in the Catalans’ 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.

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Robert Lewandowski haunted his former side once again with a brace, before teenage sensation Lamine Yamal completed the rout on 77 minutes.

But Raphinha, the former Leeds United winger, was the big talking point as he was slated for perceived selfishness during Barca’s win.

The anger comes after he bundled home to break the deadlock in the 25th minute at the Estadi OIympic Lluis Companys, Barca’s temporary home while the Nou Camp gets renovated.

The Brazilian earned bucketload of backlash online for “stealing” a goal from Pau Cubarsi, the teenage centre-back who’s never scored in the Champions League.

Curbasi, the 18-year-old Spanish defender, turned an Inigo Martinez knockdown from Fermin Lopez‘s free kick goalbound, with the ball trickling towards the far corner.

However, Raphinha, ghosting in unmarked at the back post, made sure that the ball went in by getting the last touch just before it crossed the line.

The incident sparkled a frenzy on social media, with one fan taking to X to comment: “Raphinha having no shame in stealing what would’ve been an 18 year old’s first ever Champions League goal”, while another tweeted: “That was shameless from Raphinha”.

Raphinha’s 12th goal in Europe this season really upset one fan, who tweeted: “That’s the sort of stupidity that shouldn’t be rewarded”.

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Others expressed their dismay at Raphinha’s selfishness, saying: “Goal robbed” and “I would be so mad if I was Curbasi…”.

Another claimed that Raphinha had “snatched Cubarsi’s goal to boost his Ballon D’Or chances”, but perhaps the most brutal comment was that Raphinha is “a crook” and there was “no way you try stat pad when it was already going in ffs… this Ballon D’or s*** got guys acting outta character.”

The result leaves Hansi Flick‘s side with one foot in the last four of Europe’s premier competition, and Barca will face the winners of Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, assuming they avoid a sensational comeback in Dortmund next week.

Barca are having a strong season, going under the radar of many in Flick’s first term in the hotseat, and the German has them top of LaLiga by four points, en route to taking back the league title that they lost to Real Madrid in the last campaign.

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CHELSEA can still opt out of their obligation-to-buy loan deal for Manchester United flop Jadon Sancho.

The Blues signed United outcast Sancho, 24, last summer following a specific agreement with their Premier League foes.

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The winger moved to Stamford Bridge on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy for up to £25million this coming June.

The England international started strong by registering an assist in each of his first three Premier League matches with the West Londoners.

However, Sancho‘s form has since dipped and he currently counts a mere total of two goals and six assists in 28 appearances with Enzo Maresca’s side.

Therefore, Chelsea may not be too keen to splash the cash for the ex-Borussia Dortmund star this summer.

According to The Athletic, however, there may be a way out for Chelsea after all – but it comes with a catch… and extra cash.

The Premier League giants will have to pay Man Utd £5m if they do not complete the signing of Sancho permanently.

That means the forward may return to Old Trafford after all amid reports suggesting United manager Ruben Amorim is planning a mass summer clearout.

And the Red Devils don’t seem too keen to welcome the ex-Manchester City youngster back.

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That is after Man Utd minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s damning assessment of Sancho and four other players who never lived up to expectations.

Ratcliffe recently said: “If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony.

“We’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying [Andre] Onana, we’re buying [Rasmus] Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho.

“These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.

“For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17million to buy him in the summer.”

And United fans didn’t seem too pleased with that new piece of information following Sancho’s struggles in Manchester.

One supporter tweeted: “This is so unfair. So obligatory loans are essentially useless. This is not a significant penalty.”

Another commented: “Since when did they change the definition of obligation?”

A third wrote: “What a joke. So it basically wasn’t an obligation. It was essentially a straight loan with a fee, and not even a high fee at that. That’s us stuck with him next season then.”

This fan said: “Whoever negotiated this kind of deal should be top of Manchester United’s sack list if not sacked already.”

And that one wondered: “What’s the point of an obligation to buy if they don’t buy?”

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ATLETICO MADRID star Antoine Griezmann went viral after two stunning dribbles on Real Madrid and England superstar Jude Bellingham in the Champions League.

The Madrid rivals faced off on Wednesday in the second leg of their Last-16 encounter at the Metropolitano Stadium with Griezmann and Bellingham starting for each side.

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And the France international left fans in awe with five seconds of absolute genius against the star midfielder.

First, the playmaker unloaded the ball immediately before the ex-Birmingham star came for him with a sliding challenge down the attacking third.

Griezmann got the ball back on the right flank and the England international returned for more.

And that was when the Atletico star appeared to have nutmegged Bellingham.

Griezmann left fans absolutely stunned as they stormed social media.

One fan tweeted: “Griezmann just ended Bellingham‘s career.”

Another commented: “Griezmann just bodied Bellingham.”

A third asked: “Griezmann what did you just do to Bellingham?”

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This fan said: “Griezmann pocketing Bellingham.”

And that one stated: “What has Griezman just done to Bellingham?”

Bellingham, though, had the last laugh despite Atletico tying the aggregate with a 1-0 victory thanks to Conor Gallagher‘s opener in the first few seconds after a 2-1 loss last week at Santiago Bernabeu.

Real won 4-2 on penalties with the ex-Borussia Dortmund star scoring from the spot, while Griezmann came off in the dying minutes of the second half as he was replaced by Alexander Sorloth.

By Martin Lipton

MARCUS RASHFORD is at a crossroads.

But now the England star has to make the biggest choice he has ever faced – does he care about cash, or about his career?

Rashford’s shock admission that he is “ready for a new challenge” after some two decades under the Manchester United umbrella has altered the dynamic around his future.

That Rashford might not fit the blueprint of Ruben Amorim – who has now responded to Rashford’s comments – was not exactly a surprise.

The Portuguese coach prefers a 3-4-3 formation but appears to have settled on Rasmus Hojlund as his starting central striker and wants two “narrow” inside forwards, with the width coming from the wing-backs.

Rashford has always wanted to play through the middle but is often at his best exploiting spaces out wide – and that skillset does not necessarily suit the way Amorim wants to play.

Even so, going public with his evident dissatisfaction at being bombed entirely from the squad for the Manchester derby was a major move, even if he vowed there would be “no hard feelings” if he does leave his boyhood club.

In truth, Rashford has been leaving United almost from the moment he signed that new £325,000 per week contract in 2023.

Something was broken in his connection to the club. His form dropped, his threat dissipated, his issues with the hierarchy deepened.

When Erik ten Hag dropped him for hosting a birthday party after a derby defeat, and he later pulled a sickie to miss the FA Cup game with Newport, it felt even then that the writing was on the wall.

The facts suggest the love affair has ended. After scoring 30 in all competitions to earn that new deal, he has scored just 15 in the 18 months since it was signed.

Amorim’s arrival seems merely to have accelerated what was increasingly inevitable.

Now, though, it is up to Rashford to determine what his future will bring.

If it is only about the money, then his options might be somewhat limited.

It is hard to see a Prem rival coughing up the same £16.9m annual salary – although Rashford’s comments have probably knocked £20m-plus off any transfer fee.

But Real Madrid have their fill of big-money strikers and Barcelona’s budget remains restricted by LaLiga financial controls.

In Europe, then, that probably leaves PSG – but a move to a one-club league.

Or, in the wider world, he could follow the likes of Ivan Toney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roberto Firmino and Co and head to the Saudi desert.

Lucrative, yep. Certainly a different environment – and that may be exactly what Rashford both wants and needs. But the football? Not in a million years.

What Rashford needs, above all, is to be able to play for trophies and showcase his talents.

There is no better stage than the Premier League – which has far more global eyeballs on it than any other domestic competition.

And in that Premier League there is one club crying out for a goalscoring No 9, especially if he can also play down the left channel to balance out the side and widen its threat.

Rashford has always been more Longsight than London.

Yet Arsenal, and Mikel Arteta, might be the perfect fit.

The Gunners’ lack of a proper scorer is one of the major factors many fans feel has hurt their title challenge this year.

Gabriel Jesus has never been a natural finisher, while Kai Havertz is still a converted midfielder.

And while the link-up between Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka makes their right flank deadly, faith in Gabriel Martinelli on the left is waning.

There have not been too many who succeeded at Arsenal after leaving United – although Danny Welbeck was not a flop.

Rashford has all the attributes to change that history, if he can reproduce what everybody knows is inside him.

And by breaking free, giving himself the chance to start all over, Rashford can make a point to Amorim that will resonate for a very long time.

JACK GREALISH is being tracked by two of Europe’s biggest clubs – with his future at Manchester City increasingly uncertain.

The England ace has hardly featured for the Champions this season, and Pep Guardiola has raised concerns over his fitness.

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It led to reports that the ex-Aston Villa ace could be interested in moving away from the Etihad over the Summer to resurrect his career.

His former side, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle are all reportedly interested in the midfielder.

But SunSport can reveal Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund are now closely monitoring developments.

Grealish could well be interested in a move to Europe as he eyes a fresh start.

And a switch to either of those sides would make him an instant fans favourite and allow him to resurrect his faltering England career.

Grealish has struggled for Guardiola’s side this season, starting 11 of his 20 games across all competitions, scoring one goal, and providing four assists in his 1036 minutes of action.

The winger’s one goal, a penalty in City’s 8-0 FA Cup win over League Two Salford earlier in January, was his first in over a calendar year.

Guardiola says he will work with Grealish to help him regain the form that made him a key player two seasons ago when City lifted the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

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He was asked if Savinho could be an ‘example’ for the forward to win back his place.

The City boss replied: “Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack, and that’s why I played Savinho [against West Ham].

“Do I want the Jack that won the Treble? Yeah I want it, but I try to be honest with myself for that.

“They have to fight. You can say it’s unfair.

“Ok, if you think that, then it’s fine, but you have to prove [to me], ‘ok, I’m going to fight with Savinho, to deserve to play in that position’, every single day, every single week and every single month.”

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CHELSEA ace Renato Veiga has agreed to join Borussia Dortmund during the January transfer window.

Veiga, 21, joined the Blues in July from Basel but has only managed 18 appearances across all competitions – a mere seven of which were in the Premier League.

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The versatile defender put pen to paper on a contract until 2031 with an option to extend for a further year upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge last summer.

According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, however, the Portugal international is pushing for a new challenge just six months after his move to West London as he agreed personal terms with Dortmund.

Nevertheless, Chelsea have yet to give the green light for Veiga to leave after receiving a loan offer from BVB.

According to Sky reporter Patrick Berger, the Portuguese ace wants to move because he prefers to play at centre-back and the Bundesliga giants are willing to give him that opportunity.

The ex-Sporting Lisbon player has mainly played at full-back under Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.

That is because Maresca appears to prefer the centre-back duo of Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill this season.

And the Italian tactician’s choices have paid off as the Blues have enjoyed a lot of success so far this season at both domestic and European competitions.

The West Londoners are fourth in the Premier League table with only four points separating them from third and second place.

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The Prem giants have amassed a total of 10 wins and four losses in 20 matches.

Chelsea are also top of the Conference League standings having won all of their six games.

Veiga has started in all of those European fixtures for his new club.

FOOTIE fans have admitted to soaking themselves in alcohol and smashing up their devices – but what type of football fan are you?

From how many matches you watch – live or on the TV – to how often you take part in fantasy football leagues, discover what category you fall under in this quiz.

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Answer these questions and discover if you really are a diehard fan, or merely a spectator.

It comes as research found a third of football fans are so passionate about the sport they have soaked themselves in beer, ripped clothing – and even smashed their phones.

With 36 per cent admitting they have encountered a football fail when celebrating a goal being scored.

The study was commissioned by tech brand, HONOR, which wrapped an entire bar in the centre of Barcelona in bubble wrap for fans watching Barca take on Bayern Munich – to ensure no mishaps happen.

A spokesperson for the brand said: “Football fans are arguably the heart and soul of the game.

“Their passion, dedication, and unwavering support can create an atmosphere unlike any other, both in the stadium and beyond.

“Whether cheering from the stands or watching from home, fans fuel the excitement, making every match a spectacle of unity, pride, and love for the sport.

“However, our research shows that this passion can sometimes lead to all sorts of funny mishaps – often involving personal belongings.”

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The poll of more than 1,000 supporters of the beautiful game also found pouring an entire drink over themselves (12 per cent), ripping a favourite item of clothing (eight per cent), and smashing their phone screen (seven per cent) were among the top mishaps.

More than four in 10 (41 per cent) admit to often getting carried away with the excitement during a football match.

But 64 per cent say these fails were totally worth it, just to see the goal being scored.

The study also found 14 per cent of fans are less concerned about their belongings when celebrating during a match.

Although 12 per cent say they are more susceptible to damaging their personal things when watching their football team.

Items which have been victims of these celebrations include drinks (19 per cent), food (13 per cent), and keys (10 per cent).

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And one in 10 have thrown their phone in the air, according to the OnePoll.com data.

The spokesperson for Honor added: “Despite these football fails, it seems fans think it’s all worth it in the end to see their favourite team score a goal.

“Nothing can beat the roar of the crowd and the thrill of seeing the ball hit the back of the net.

“It’s a surge of adrenaline and pride that stays with you long after the match ends and is what makes football the beautiful game that it is.”

Who are these famous footballers?