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Diego Simeone has claimed that people at Atletico Madrid "don't like" Joao Felix, while also insisting he wants him to succeed at Barcelona.

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Felix told he is not liked at Atletico MadridSimeone will be glad if Felix succeeds at BarcelonaJoined Barcelona on loan from AtleticoGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Simeone has made it clear that people at Atletico Madrid are not fond of Felix, as according to him the Portuguese never really got accustomed to the way of life at the club. However, he also suggested that Atletico will be glad if the forward succeeds at Barcelona, where he is currently on loan.

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The 24-year-old also spent the second half of last season out on loan at Chelsea. After an unsuccessful stay in London, he returned to Atletico before once again moving out and joining the Catalan giants on another loan spell during the summer transfer window. He has got off to a flying start at Barcelona, scoring three goals and providing four assists in 14 games for Xavi's side.

WHAT DID DIEGO SIMEONE SAY?

Speaking to , the Atletico boss said of Felix's struggles at Wanda Metropolitano: "They are opinions or personal gestures. It is a question for him. The people at Atlético don't like it. We have another idiosyncrasy and when you don't understand it, it is difficult to be there. If I am Argentine and I am in Spain, I have to live like in Spain. Everything good that happens to him is extraordinary for us. If he stays in Barcelona there will be an important income and if he returns, we are here for three years so that he can come back to what he has improved elsewhere.

Simeone added on the suggestion Felix never gave his all for Atletico: "It's unfair, he couldn't give everything he would have wanted, I don't think that's it. He couldn't. He gave what he could give. Today we see him well, with a more reactive intention to the loss of the ball, more active in attack, he was always talented, it is difficult for him to run meters back. Anything that happens well for Joao we will be happy at Atlético because it will be better for the club."

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The Barca star could be next seen in action for Portugal as they take on Liechtenstein in a Euro 2024 qualifying game on November 16.

New USWNT boss Emma Hayes has played down a salary increase, noting that her role as a manager has never been influenced by her wage.

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Hayes plays down salary increase with USWNTAdmits to making "£6,000 a year" at Chelsea at one pointBlues boss set to join U.S. at end of WSL campaignWHAT HAPPENED?

In a press conference on Friday, the Blues boss responded to a question regarding her wage with the USWNT against what she currently makes as Chelsea head coach, denouncing any rumors that she's leaving due to the money.

Hayes added that "money has never been a motivator" for her, and that anyone thinking so doesn't understand her passion for the game or why she manages.

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The decorated Chelsea coach explained: “I worked in this job for £6,000 a year at one point, money has never been a motivator, I think focusing on that would be… I’ve made it clear where I am in my life and I don’t think there’s more to say.”

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Hayes' role with the USWNT is set to make her the single-highest paid women's coach in soccer, with a $2 million (£1.6m) salary. The Blues boss is set to make over four-times the salary of former U.S. boss Vlatko Andonovski, who made a reported total of $446,495 per year.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR HAYES AND THE USWNT?

USWNT caretaker Twila Kilgore will be at the helm until the end of Chelsea's and Hayes' WSL season, with a pair of friendlies against China PR on the table for early December.

For the Blues and the future USWNT boss, though, a battle against Liverpool in WSL action is on the cards for this Saturday.

Man City starlet Rico Lewis is set to be handed his senior international debut when England face North Macedonia on Monday night.

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Lewis drafted into squad amid injuriesSet to start against North MacedoniaGame completes Euro 2024 qualifying campaignWHAT HAPPENED?

A day before his 19th birthday, the versatile teenager is expected to be handed a start in England's final Euro 2024 qualifier by manager Gareth Southgate, according to . The rising Man City star has shown maturity beyond his years in a number of appearances under Pep Guardiola since making his first-team breakthrough in 2022 and may be deployed at left-back amid something of a shortage in that position.

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Most of Lewis' minutes so far this season have come in the Champions League, where he has laid on two assists and contributed to four wins out of four so far in Group G. He was drafted into Southgate's senior England squad alongside Chelsea star and fellow Man City product Cole Palmer, amid a raft of injuries.

WHAT LEWIS SAID

Lewis, who is capable of playing at full-back or in defensive midfield, has recently said that he is relishing the opportunity to make an impression for England. “Anywhere I played, I would relish it,” he said. “Whether it is right-back, midfield, left-back — I am not really bothered. I just love playing football and at the moment it is going really well. Any opportunity I get, I will do my best to take it.”

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WHAT NEXT FOR LEWIS AND ENGLAND?

England wrap up their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign on Monday night in Skopje having already secured top spot in their group. Lewis will be hoping to make an impression to earn a place in Southgate's next squad, with the Three Lions facing Brazil in March.

Former Al-Nassr sporting director Goran Vucevic has revealed that the Saudi Pro League club was in negotiations with Luka Modric last summer.

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Al-Nassr tried to sign Madrid starModric told club that they were his second choiceMet twice with Modric, ownershipWHAT HAPPENED?

Al-Nassr made a strong push for the Croatia captain last summer, hoping to pair him with former Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo. And although Modric stayed in the Spanish capital, it has since been revealed that he strongly considered the offer to play in the Saudi Pro League – regarding Ronaldo's side as his preferred destination if Madrid didn't present him with a contract extension.

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Vucevic revealed all on Al-Nassr's meetings with the Madrid star, telling Croatian radio show : "Luka was our great wish, we spoke with him on several occasions with all due respect to Real Madrid, which was always his first option. We had a good relationship, we met in Riyadh before the World Cup in Qatar and in Madrid. The owners of the club, Modric and I were in the meetings. Luka told us that he was not considering any other options than Real Madrid and Al Nassr. He said that his first option was Madrid and if he didn't stay, he would come."

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Modric rejected an offer from an unnamed Pro League club last summer, who offered a reported £120 million ($149.5m) per season. He has been linked with a move away from Madrid at the end of this season, upon the expiry of his contract.

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The Croatia captain is reportedly considering a Saudi Pro League move next summer. With Jude Bellingham starring in his preferred attacking midfield role, there is no obvious path to playing time for the former Ballon d'Or winner.

An updated version of 'Pep's City', a book charting Guardiola's spell in Manchester, has revealed the iconic coach's most devastating City loss.

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Book updated to chart Champions League gloryRevealing interview with club exec addedLyon loss described as "turning point"Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The match in question isn't necessarily an obvious one. Despite high-profile defeats in the Champions League to clubs including Tottenham in 2019 and Real Madrid in 2022, as well as difficult clashes with Liverpool, Manchester United and Spurs in the Premier League, the book claims that the most impactful loss for Pep was a quarter-final defeat to Lyon in 2020.

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In a revised edition of 'Pep's City: The Making of a Superteam' by Pol Ballus and Lu Martin, the inside scoop of the side's defeat by the Ligue 1 outfit is laid out in detail. According to the book, the pain of an "agonising loss" in Lisbon's Jose Alvalade Stadium on August 15, 2020 endured "more than Monaco in 2017, more than Liverpool in 2018, more than Tottenham in 2019."

According to a senior executive at the club, "It was one of those make-or-break moments. Pep blamed himself and I think he might have offered to resign if [chairman] Khaldoon hadn't intervened. He came down to the dressing room immediately after the game… and said three things: 'It's been a tough night, but we'll come back from this. This isn't our year but our time will come as long as we don't let it knock us sideways. Right now, we need to believe in ourselves more than ever.' Pep was stunned."

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Of course, the rest is history. City bounced back from that bizarre and unique Covid-impacted season to win three consecutive Premier League titles and top it off with their first ever Champions League trophy in 2023/24. Pep may have been at his lowest following that shock Lyon defeat, but it's been an unstoppable upward trajectory for the club ever since.

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DID YOU KNOW?

According to Ballus and Martin, Pep considers the Lyon loss to be "one of the turning points in the modern history of Manchester City. He knew he approached that match with the same attention to detail as ever. But, on the night, his 3-5-2 had been powerless against the French onslaught."

An RB Leipzig fan tragically passed away during the club's Bundesliga clash against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.

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Supporter passed away in stands during Bundesliga clashA Monchengladbach fan also died a day before gameLeipzig beat Monchengladbach 2-0TRAGEDY IN GERMANY

Tragedy struck during a Bundesliga game between RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday at Red Bull Arena as a home fan, unfortunately, passed away in the stands while the match was taking place. After a sudden medical emergency attempts were made to resuscitate the fan but sadly were unsuccessful.

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RB Leipzig issued a statement on the club's official website: "A heartbreaking night.

"There was a medical emergency in the home area today before the game between RB Leipzig and Borussia Mönchengladbach and the person unfortunately died in the stadium. 

"On the same day, a member of the Borussia Mönchengladbach fan scene died in a traffic accident on the way to Leipzig.

"We are deeply saddened and all our thoughts are with the fans' families and relatives, to whom we express our deep condolences and sympathy.

"Rest in peace."

MONCHENGLADBACH OFFER CONDOLENCES

Monchengladbach also sent out a message that read: "Our deepest consolences go to the families and friends of both fans who passed away today."

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SAD NIGHT FOR BOTH CLUBS

On a sad night for both clubs, Red Bulls went on to win 2-0 thanks to goals from Xavi Simons and Lois Openda. The result leaves the team one point off Dortmund in fourth, while Gladbach are down in 14th place.

Neymar reportedly aided former Barcelona team-mate Dani Alves in his sexual assault case by sending him €150,000 (£129,000/$164,000) for court fees.

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Dani Alves involved in sexual assault caseFound guilty and sentenced to four yearsNeymar helped to pay courts fineWHAT HAPPENED?

According to Brazilian outlet , the ex-defender turned to his former international and club team-mate due to being stranded in Barcelona. Neymar reportedly transferred €150,000 to the Spanish courts back on August 9 in a payment for "mitigating compensation for damage caused". It is thought that this payment had a serious impact on the length of the sentence imposed; he was handed the minimum sentence allowed on Thursday, of four years. Spanish courts can punish those found guilty of sexual offences to 12 years as a maximum.

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The former Brazil international is accused of sexually assaulting a 23-year-old woman in a Barcelona nightclub in December 2021, an act which he claims was consensual. notes that Neymar's intervention was needed as Alves' assets have been frozen following his divorce from ex-wife Dinorah Santana. She is now suing the former right-back for non-payment of alimony.

DID YOU KNOW?

The connection with Neymar wasn't just limited to monetary payments. Around the same time as the transfer, on June 28, reports that Alves appointed Gustavo Xisto, one the oldest representatives of Neymar's father's companies, as his attorney-in-fact. The same day as Xisto's appointment, the report notes, Alves removed Santana from managing his assets.

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Alves is facing up to four years in prison after being found guilty. Neymar, of course, is currently playing football in Saudi Arabia but is injured at the time of writing.

Former France international Emmanuel Petit has warned Real Madrid that signing Kylian Mbappe could prove to be problematic for them.

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Petit warns Real Madrid against signing Mbappe'Could be a problem' for Real MadridSet to join Los Blancos in the summerWHAT HAPPENED?

Mbappe formally communicated his decision to leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season to his team-mates last week and there are reports in Spain that suggest that the Frenchman is heading to Real Madrid in the summer.

World Cup-winning French star Petit, though, remains unsure about Mbappe's next move, as he claimed he is tired of a transfer saga that has been going on since 2021. The former midfielder even warned Real Madrid that signing the 25-year-old "could be a problem" for them.

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Speaking to , the ex-Arsenal star said: "I have no idea what is going to happen and to be honest, we are 67 million French people who have no idea of what Mbappe will decide at the end of the season. Mbappe said two weeks ago that he will give his answer soon before the end of the season. So, I have no idea if he’s going to stay in Paris, there is so much speculation, so much talk, agreements, things like that. So when you talk about Mbappe it’s always that you open the door and you never know what’s going on. Maybe he will go to Madrid, maybe he will stay in Paris, maybe he will go somewhere else.

"If Mbappe goes to Madrid that could be a problem. Not just in terms of wages in the dressing room, but in terms of leadership as well. Bellingham has been amazing just like Vinicius Jr, and if he goes to Madrid, he will have to play as a striker, just like what he did recently for PSG. But we all know that this is not his best position. There are so many questions and no answers."

He added: "We are all tired in France. Every single six months, it’s always the same story on the table. Yeah. Is he going? Is he going to leave? Is he going to stay? Is he going to leave? Did he have a nice breakfast this morning? Did he have a nice poo poo? We are so tired of it as well in France. I can understand that players are also getting annoyed about this situation because all the attention is focused on Mbappe all the time. We are not talking about PSG, we’re always talking about Mbappe. So it could be a problem for some players to manage this situation. And that’s why I said I’m so tired of speaking about it every three weeks."

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Los Blancos reportedly got in touch with the France captain in January to check if he was still keen on joining the Spanish club next season. After they got verbal approval, the club formally approached the player, and his mother and agent Fayza Lamari, to discuss the details of his contract. Mbappe is likely to become the club's highest-paid player as he is set to sign a five-year deal that will see him earn €15m (£13m/$16m) to €20m (£17m/$22m) per annum, with bonuses on top based on performances.

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The PSG winger remains focused on Les Parisiens for now, and will be next seen in action for Luis Enrique's side against Rennes in a Ligue 1 clash on Sunday.

Georgina Rodriguez paid a strange tribute to her partner, Cristiano Ronaldo, as she wore a 'Ronaldo 7' dress on the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week.

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Georgina wears Ronaldo 7 dressRonaldo signs shirt for VetementsAl-Nassr face Al-AinWHAT HAPPENED?

The model walked down the catwalk at the Vetements show wearing the bizarre red dress that was seemingly styled on a Manchester United home kit, adorned with the Ronaldo's name and iconic shirt number. The dress was also signed by Ronaldo to Vetements, as though the Portuguese superstar was doing the brand a favour.

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It's not yet clear whose idea it was for Georgina to take to the catwalk wearing a tribute to her partner Ronaldo, although it is likely it was a publicity stunt by luxury Swiss fashion house Vetements. It is sure to cause a mixed reaction in fashion circles.

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Perhaps with one eye on the fashion world as a post-career venture, Ronaldo will switch his focus back to football as Al-Nassr face Al Ain in the AFC Champions League on Monday. The Portuguese forward returns to the pitch after serving a one match ban for an obscene gesture in his side's victory over Al-Shabab.

Everton are reportedly battling Liverpool, among a number of other clubs in the Premier League, to sign Eddie Nketiah on a free transfer in the summer.

The Lowdown: Final day heartbreak?

Interestingly, the 22-year-old is set to line up against the Toffees for Arsenal on the final day of the season next week.

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Frank Lampard’s team may still need points in order to guarantee safety, but would ideally not want to come up against a man who has four goals in his last five games in the top flight (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Everton interest in Nketiah

Taking to Twitter, transfer expert Toby Cudworth – who contributes for the Talking Transfers podcast – has revealed that Everton are now battling fierce rivals Liverpool to sign Nketiah, among a host of other clubs in the Premier League.

The 90min reporter outlined: “It’s increasingly unlikely Eddie Nketiah will stay at Arsenal – #WHUFC, #NUFC, #EFC and #CPFC all chasing. Liverpool and Chelsea also monitoring situation – 22 y/o could provide attractive squad depth option.”

The Verdict: Sign him

Nketiah is currently rated at £9m by Transfermarkt, so to get him on a free transfer would represent a great piece of business for Everton.

Described as a player with an ‘incredible work-rate’, ‘pace’ and a ‘smell for goals’ by his manager Mikel Arteta (Sportskeeda), the Arsenal marksman possesses all of the necessary attributes needed for a striker to succeed in the top flight.

He is only 22 years of age and will surely only get even better if he is nurtured by a Premier League and England legend in Lampard.

In other news, find out who could return for Everton against Brentford today