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Four players quit Man City in summer exodus as £550k freed up and £116m transfer agreed
Manchester City are poised to cut more than half a million pounds from their weekly wage bill as four players officially depart the club today. Former first-team mainstays John Stones and Bernardo Silva lead the exits, with the experienced pair leaving the Etihad Stadium on July 1 following the expiry of their contracts. Both players confirmed their departures before the season's end, giving City fans the chance to deliver an emotional send-off after the final Premier League match of the 2025-26 campaign against Aston Villa . Stones joined from Everton in 2016 in a £47.5million deal, making him the second-most expensive defender in football history at the time. FOLLOW OUR MAN CITY FB PAGE! Follow our Manchester City Mirror Football Facebook page The elegant centre-half went on to more than vindicate that outlay, racking up 295 appearances under Pep Guardiola during a medal-filled decade that brought six Premier League titles, the Champions League , Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, two FA Cups and five Carabao Cups. Silva followed him to Manchester 12 months later and swiftly won over supporters, netting 76 goals in 460 outings as he became integral to the most glorious period in City's history. Both players are currently representing their nations at the FIFA World Cup in North America – though their club futures look set to diverge dramatically. Silva has already put pen to paper on a two-year deal with Real Madrid and officially joins the Spanish giants today. Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now! Stones' next destination remains far less clear, with the 32-year-old opting to keep his focus firmly on England's World Cup campaign before turning his attention to his career's next chapter. The other two players leaving City today are academy products Ashton Muir and Ezra Carrington, whose development was hampered by a succession of injury setbacks. Between them, the four players are thought to have been pocketing around £550,000 per week, freeing up considerable funds for City to spend in the summer transfer window. According to The Athletic, Stones' contract at City was worth £250,000 per week before tax (£13m per year), while other reports have indicated that Silva was earning £300,000 per week at the Etihad Stadium. Those savings look set to be reinvested almost straight away, with the imminent arrival of Elliot Anderson, who has been City's primary target to fill the void left by the departing Silva for some time. The Nottingham Forest midfielder, currently lining up alongside Stones at the World Cup, underwent a medical at England's training base in Dallas on Sunday, ahead of a club-record deal worth in the region of £116m. The 23-year-old is set to be officially announced as a City player later this week, following England's Round of 32 clash against DR Congo on Wednesday afternoon. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

How much Everton record signings would be worth now - including £104m transfer
A leading football finance expert is calculating the present-day values of historic Premier League signings

Senegal World Cup star delivers verdict on Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye's Everton futures
Senegal legend Henri Camara has delivered his verdict on the futures of Everton pair Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye. After losing 3-1 to France last Tuesday in their opening World Cup fixture at the MetLife Stadium, Senegal remain at the New Jersey venue – which will stage next month’s final – for their second Group I encounter against Norway which kicks off at 1am UK time on Tuesday. Gueye, Senegal’s most-capped player started the game against Didier Deschamps’ side for what was his 133rd international appearance before making way for Pathe Ciss in the 88th minute while Ndiaye entered the fray as a substitute for Pape Gueye in the 83rd minute for what was his 41st outing. An article in The Athletic on June 2 stated that Everton want to hand Ndiaye a new deal on improved wages as a reward for his form since his £15million move from Olympique Marseille in July 2024. But despite having been in talks since the start of the year his camp have rejected “multiple” contract offers for the star, who is “likely” to have a projected transfer value of around the £70million mark. Since then, Joe Thomas has reported in the ECHO that Ndiaye is among Manchester United’s shortlist of potential summer targets with the Daily Mail claiming that both Arsenal and Manchester City are also among his admirers. However, given the player is under contract until 2029, Everton – who, like manager David Moyes , do not want this transfer to happen – are under no obligation to entertain interest. Meanwhile, Ndiaye has given at least a couple of interviews talking about his future. In the latest one, with SPORTbible , published last Tuesday, he outlined his aspirations to play Champions League football and when assessing Everton’s season, remarked: “You can speak individually, but when the whole team is not working, you can’t really say this player is fatigued or not doing well.” Now 49, Camara, had spells in the UK himself with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Celtic, Southampton, Wigan Athletic, West Ham United, Stoke City and Sheffield United. Winning 99 caps for Senegal and netting 29 times, he was part of their side that reached the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals on their tournament debut. Although he did not feature in the shock 1-0 victory over holders France in the opening game, he went on to play in all their subsequent matches, bagging a brace against Sweden when he netted a golden goal winner 14 minutes into extra time of their last 16 clash. In terms of how big a talent Ndiaye is, Camara, speaking courtesy of Parimatch UK Sportsbook , told the ECHO: “He’s technical, he’s fast. I think he’s done good things at Everton again this season. “It’s true he doesn’t score many goals, but he’s extremely strong on the ball technically. I think he’s one of the best players at Everton. “If he keeps going like this, he can go far and play for an even bigger club, he has incredible talent. Every time I watch him play, it makes me happy.” So, given those thoughts and Ndiaye’s recent comments, does Camara think Evertonians should be concerned about a possible departure? He said: “Football is like that. If a big club needs him, he shouldn’t hesitate, he should leave. “If you play for a team that isn’t winning trophies, it’s difficult. One day he dreams of winning trophies, so if a big club comes for him, he has to leave to go and win things.” Despite that, Camara reckons that Ndiaye – who current deal runs until 2029 – remains settled with the Blues, where he is a big fan favourite, scoring their last goal at Goodison Park and first at Hill Dickinson Stadium. He said: “It’s complicated. “I think he’s happy where he is, so he can play out those three years there. We’ll see.” While speculation continues over Ndiaye, Gueye’s Everton’s status is up in the air. His current deal expires at the end of this month and on June 10 the club announced they were continuing to liaise with his representatives. Although he turns 37 in September, the midfielder started every Blues match he was eligible for last season until the 3-3 draw with Manchester City on May 4, after which he did not feature again due to injury. Camara said: “You know, as you get older you can’t play every match. “There will be games where you need to stay on the bench to manage your body. On top of that, the Premier League is very demanding. “But he’s a professional, and he looks after himself, he knows how to manage his body. I think he can still give it another two years in England.” FOLLOW OUR EVERTON FC FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest EFC news and analysis from via the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated FB page

World Cup: Jamie Carragher picks his England eleven to face Croatia
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Jamie Carragher responds to Trent Alexander-Arnold update - 'This just proves it'
Jamie Carragher says he isn't surprised to see former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold snubbed by England again as Thomas Tuchel prioritises 'squad harmony over quality'. The former Reds full-back was a notable absentee from the German's squad as they look to tackle the World Cup across North America this summer. The 27-year-old's omission from the squad marked the latest disappointment in his career after leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid. Alexander-Arnold's last appearance for the Three Lions came 12 months ago when he featured as a substitute in the 1-0 win over Andorra during their World Cup qualifying campaign. Having initially struggled with acclimatising to the La Liga giants and injury problems, the Champions League and two-time Premier League , Alexander-Arnold played his part in trying to salvage Los Blancos season as they were forced to finish behind rivals Barcelona. His showings for Real Madrid wasn't enough to convince Tuchel to reserve a seat on the plane. And as a result of Tino Livramento being forced to withdraw from the team due to a calf injury on Tuesday, Alexander-Arnold was overlooked again with Chelsea centre-back Trevoh Chalobah receiving the nod. Carragher felt that some of the 27-year-old's shortcomings played a part in Tuchel's thinking and the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich head coach has opted for squad harmony over quality but overall, he wasn't surprised by the decision. He told Sky Sports: "We know Thomas Tuchel’s stance regarding Trent. When you look at some of the players in the squad it looks as though he’s picking centre-backs who can do a job at right-back rather than out and out right-backs. "We know there’s the special qualities that Alexander-Arnold has. That’s why Real Madrid wanted him. "The reason why Liverpool supporters were so upset to lose him. The qualities Trent has, and maybe the deficiencies is maybe why Tuchel hasn’t picked him. "He’s looking at the negatives instead of the positives. The way he wants to set his team up, maybe the strengths don’t get amplified as much in a Tuchel team as they do a Jurgen Klopp team. I wouldn’t say I’m overly surprised that he hasn’t gone for Trent. "I said a few weeks ago that he’s picking team harmony, togetherness and spirit over quality and talent. I think this is another decision that just proves that.” FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page Alexander-Arnold's club teammate Jude Bellingham will be representing the Three Lions but he too has faced scrutiny over his place. The Real Madrid star is the topic of debate regarding whether he will receive a starting berth. But Manchester United defender Harry Maguire claimed that the decision to snub Alexander-Arnold was more to dismiss the possibility of creating unnecessary headlines on the eve of their group opener. Speaking on the Rest is Football, he said: "When someone drops out like that, I do believe (with) the squad, you want to call up somebody with a minimum of fuss, no real media attention or disruption to the camp. "So I do believe when someone did get injured, I don't think Trent would've ever been called up because the questions and everything will be about him, if it's a big game, it's about Croatia. "If he called me up, it (the questions) would be about me, Luke Shaw the same, we've been to tournaments and play for big clubs, that's what you want when you bring someone up on standby. Congratulations to Trevoh, I hope he has an impact on the squad."

‘The night before I dreamt about my ACL’: Everton’s Aurora Galli on the long way back from injury | Moving the Goalposts
“It was accepting that I couldn’t play football because it was my life. It was everything that I knew.” For Everton’s Aurora Galli, the past 20 months have been anything but straightforward. Her return from a serious knee injury has been difficult, one beset with obstacles before, ultimately, a long-awaited comeback. It was September 2024, 83 minutes and three seconds into the first game of the Women’s Super League season to be exact, when Galli went down in agony. Everton were losing 4-0 to Brighton and, in her eagerness to salvage something for her team, the midfielder attempted to challenge for the ball when her standing leg buckled. As expected, it was confirmed that she had ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament. Sitting at Finch Farm, Everton’s training ground, almost two years on, the rawness of that day clearly lingers. “The night before, I couldn’t sleep very well but I dreamt about my ACL,” she remembers. “I discovered that my sister also had a feeling that something would happen. During the game, I was not thinking about it. But the feeling of the knee that went down, it was like I broke my leg completely. I remember screaming and the doctor was like: ‘Do you want oxygen?’ I said: ‘No. I’m going to walk out of the pitch alone. I don’t want anything,’ because I’m very stubborn … I remember every single thing from that day. I don’t know why.” The reality soon hit. Galli is a vivacious character but even with her natural exuberance the severity of her injury was difficult to process. “The first day, I was not myself,” she says ruefully. “I’m not a crying person but I was crying so much when everyone couldn’t see me. Football was why I wake up in the morning. All the frustration that you have, I couldn’t just put it away because I didn’t have football. Then you feel your body and your head are not working. It’s really hard.” The 29-year-old continues: “It’s very mental. Every single step that you do on the pitch, it’s like: ‘Is there any problem?’ Or even if someone just goes down, I feel so worried. You don’t want to think about it but it’s just something that will never go away.” For Galli, the motivation to return was immediate, with far more than a lost domestic campaign at stake. Italy had cruised through qualifying to book their place at the 2025 European Championship and the idea of missing out was not one she could countenance. “I had a Euros to go to,” she says. “I was like: ‘In six months, I need to be back playing.’ I think it was actually like seven and a half. I pushed it. I had so many meetings with the physio and doctors to explain my point of view … if I have a goal, I will arrive there no matter what.” Under the guidance of medical staff, she pushed her recovery and, despite one small setback, made her return on the final day of the 2024-25 season. It was just a four-minute cameo against Tottenham but it was enough to bring her back into the national team conversation. Ultimately, she was not named in Andrea Soncin’s final squad but was there with the group as they reached a historic semi-final. “I was not in the team but I was part of it, so it was half of the goal,” she says. “I’m very proud of them because they did amazing things. It was nice to be back after such a long time, to see my friends and just enjoy football again.” In hindsight, however, she had “pushed [her recovery] maybe a little bit too much”. When she returned to Liverpool for pre-season, the cartilage in her knee swelled to the point where she was unable to complete sessions and she was forced to sit things out until January, eventually making a comeback against Manchester City. “It was a balance I couldn’t handle and the staff had to stop me,” she points to her knee with a smile. “That is what I learned for the second time [needing to take care of her body] because maybe the first was not enough. It gave me more awareness of my body; how I feel it and how it answers me.” Her return coincided with Everton’s upturn in form after an inauspicious start. After the dismissal of Brian Sørensen in February, the team secured an eighth-place finish under their interim manager, Scott Phelan, with Galli making five starts as she built up her minutes. For the Italian, Everton have become a family, a home away from home for the past five years. She joined the club at 24, becoming the first Italian to play in the WSL, and quickly became a mainstay of the group. A hard-working, technical and versatile central midfielder, her intense drive to succeed is partnered with her infectious nature, helping her to lead by example. “I know how to help people to just push them to be the best version of themselves,” she says. “If that means being a leader, yeah. If it’s not, I’m not. I’m just really focusing on what I’m doing because I love it. And if the people that are around me love it like I do, we can work together; otherwise, we can fight with each other and see who wins.” A timely summer break awaits, one that involves Swedish mid-summer, attending a friend’s wedding and a much-needed holiday with her partner, Chelsea’s Nathalie Björn. With a World Cup on the horizon, the goals are clear and it is a further opportunity to rediscover her best within the new parameters that her body will allow. “I would say that I still don’t feel myself and I don’t think that I will feel it again like before,” she admits. “I think that an injury, especially the ACL, changes your body. It changes the way you are thinking so it’s more [about] growing and accepting the change.” Get in touch If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email [email protected]. This is an extract from our free email about women’s football, Moving the Goalposts. To get the full edition, visit this page and follow the instructions. Moving the Goalposts will be sent out once a week, on Wednesdays, in the close season but will be back on Tuesdays and Thursdays from September.

‘He’s one of us’: Liverpool fans say goodbye to Andy Robertson
Kevin Sampson, novelist It was a bit of a surprise when we signed Andy Robertson from Hull – not because he wasn’t a household name, but because all the focus had been on his teammate Harry Maguire. But, pound for pound, the £8m we paid for Robbo in the summer of 2017 has got to be one of the best value transfer deals in Liverpool’s history. Those peak Jürgen Klopp-years, when him and Trent Alexander-Arnold supplied cross after cross, assist after assist … it was an absolute joy to be there. All of those great memories will be cherished by Reds far and wide, but the moment that best illustrates and celebrates the player and the character was his destiny-changing last-gasp equaliser at Villa Park in 2019. It wasn’t just the goal itself, it was Andy Robertson grabbing the ball and legging it back to the centre circle, eager to restart the game, knowing Manchester City were breathing down our neck, knowing there was still time to win it. And win it we did, with an unbelievable late, late leap from Sadio Mané, preserving an unbeaten start to the season and setting up a title showdown – in November – with City. In those crazy days of Klopp v Pep, you could barely afford to drop a point. Robbo knew that. He fought for every ball, every minute, every point. We’re going to miss the mad, brilliant bastard. David Usher, editor of The Liverpool Way “Sadio, I’ll get him, don’t worry”. Andy Robertson, coming off the field at half-time of the final of the 2019 Club World Cup after Mané had been booked for an altercation with Flamengo’s Rafinha. That’s one of the first things that comes to mind when I think of Robbo. He had his team-mates’ backs. What else comes to mind? Roughing up Lionel Messi, laughing at Jordan Pickford, running all over Manchester City, the ‘wingmen’ videos with Trent and judging biscuits with James Milner. I also think about José Mourinho saying: “I am tired just from looking at Robertson. Absolutely incredible.” Yep, he was. Robertson is the best left-back I’ve seen at Liverpool. He won everything with the Reds and soon he’ll be Scotland’s most-capped player. The relentless energy, ultra competitiveness and terrific delivery from wide areas also made him the best left-back in the Premier League for most of his time at Anfield. But it’s his wicked sense of humour and larger-than-life personality that makes him so beloved by fans and team-mates alike. Footballers are generally not relatable anymore, but Robbo bucks that trend. He’s normal. He’s never acted like a star even though he very much is one. I challenge anyone to think of him without smiling. They just don’t make them like Andy Robertson any more. Chris Smith, author of Always Liverpool The remnants of how it felt to support Liverpool during Jürgen Klopp’s tenure are leaving with Andy Robertson – one of the few remaining “mentality monsters” and the one who best exemplified the tenet. Robbo left so much on the field; Anfield’s entire left touchline could be named after him. He set standards and lifted the collective in a way few have. His exit hurts so much because it tears away at a tapestry that’s impossible to restitch. It means letting go of that era or being mired in endless yearning for it. Neither option is attractive. He’s a top-five Liverpool player for me. My mum’s favourite ever. In March, we attended the FA Cup tie at Wolves together. Andy’s brilliant opening goal was as happy as I’d ever seen her at the match. I asked why she’d so taken him into her heart. “He gets stuck in, runs at the opposition and keeps hold of the ball in a tackle. He enjoys every minute, he’s always trying his best and supports all the other players. He’s pure joy,” she said, adding: “He’s got a lovely smile and more charisma than the new players we’ve spent millions on. We are going to miss him for his personality as much as his skill, bless him.” Andy Robertson leaves as the exemplification of everything we could ask for from a Liverpool player. And he’s my mum’s favourite. There’s no replacing this favourite son. Mark Stevenson, screenwriter “No kid grows up wanting to be a full-back,” Jamie Carragher once joked. But as a lifelong Red living in Glasgow, I know for a fact that’s not true when it comes to Andy Robertson. I’ve seen countless youngsters here wanting to be him. That’s because, alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, Robertson redefined the modern full-back, producing assists like a world-class playmaker, season after season. In an era when many elite footballers seem utterly detached from reality, Robbo has always has carried himself like someone who understands exactly what it means to wear the shirt, and just how fortunate he is to do so. Nothing about his career was handed to him. Released by Celtic as a teenager for being too small, he fought his way through the lower leagues before reaching the top. Even the famous tweet from his Queen’s Park days about having no money and life being rubbish reflects the honesty fans connect with. Robertson represents persistence more than perfection. I was recently debating Liverpool’s greatest left-back with my brother, who leans towards Alan Kennedy. It’s close, but Robertson gets my vote. I’m gutted he’s leaving and I still think those legs have a couple more years left in them at the top level. But, nonetheless, I’ll be on the Kop on Sunday belting out: “Oh Andy, Andy …” because if I was still a kid, I’d absolutely want to be Andy Robertson. Kev Reilly, contributor to The Anfield Wrap As a Scotsman living in Liverpool, Andy Robertson’s career has always felt that wee bit more personal. The city has long embraced Scottish grit and character, from the old dockers that settled here through to the historic legends who have graced the pitches and dugouts of Anfield and Goodison Park. In that sense, I can understand why Liverpool supporters took to Robbo so quickly. There was a familiarity to him. Scotland is a small country, but time and again we produce athletes who punch above our weight as a nation. Andy Murray’s Wimbledon triumphs, Chris Hoy powering to Olympic glory and Katie Archibald becoming one of the finest cyclists of her generation. Andy Robertson belongs in that company. From his #needajob tweet during his time at Queen’s Park, to his breakthrough season at Dundee United and his Premier League debut with Hull, before arriving at Liverpool, his rise was built entirely on hard work and determination. As he moves on to a new chapter, he leaves as Liverpool’s greatest left-back and as another Scot who wrote his name into the history of this great football club. Robbo has given me a small glimpse of what it must feel like to be scouse and support Liverpool. I feel lucky to have watched someone from a place not so far from where I grew up achieve things most people only dream about. Abigail Rudkin, artist In November, Scotland qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998, two years before I was born. A few days later, Andy Robertson’s wife, Rachel, contacted me to ask for a piece commemorating the achievement, as a Christmas gift for him. I’ve never felt so honoured. The pressure was on to get the piece right. When I dropped it off, I was lucky enough to meet Andy. He was so kind, funny and welcoming. He gave me the time of day even though he had no idea who I was or why I was there. He was exactly who I expected him to be; a down-to-earth, kind human. He even made the effort to message me on Boxing Day to say how much he loved the piece. I was bouncing around the kitchen when the message came through. I’m so grateful to Rachel for giving me that opportunity with my work and to Andy for being so kind. They’ll be greatly missed in Liverpool. The connection to Andy goes beyond his ability. I’m sure I speak for the majority of Liverpool fans when I say he truly understands the club, our values and the city more than most modern footballers ever could. He even understood the importance of the derby like a true scouser. In this golden era for Liverpool, Andy Robbo stands out as one of my very favourite players. Dan Clubbe, content manager at Redmen TV Robbo is up there as one of my favourites footballers to wear Liverpool red. Fiercely committed, he embodies everything I adore in a footballer, everything that makes us, us. From that press against Manchester City, to the Aston Villa goal and every laugh at Everton in between, Robbo left everything on the pitch for the badge – and that’ll do for me. While many of the tributes to Robertson will centre around the determination – I have certainly been guilty of this – we mustn’t forget that he was at one stage truly world-class. The heartbeat from left-back, he combined boundless energy with unbelievable quality, lifting the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Club World Cup, Super Cup, Community Shield and, perhaps most importantly, the spirits of every one of us. The word legend has rarely been more fitting. Andy Robertson did not simply play for Liverpool, he represented the club’s values week after week. A leader on and off the pitch, his name is firmly etched into Anfield folklore. All that is left to do now is show our gratitude to a true modern-day, working-class hero. Sachin Nakrani, deputy football editor at the Guardian A little under seven years ago, I was repeatedly sworn at by my favourite Liverpool player when I was a child. It was a horrible experience and proved to me that the old adage is right: never meet your heroes. Saying that, I’d love to meet Andy Robertson, because Andy Robertson is definitely sound. Or maybe he’s not. But that’s not the point. The point is that he always came across as sound when playing for Liverpool and, because of that, forged a unique relationship with the fans. He was brilliant, and he won the lot, but he was also Robbo, the lad from Glasgow who sent that tweet about life being rubbish and rose to the top through hard work, humble dedication and a good dose of humour, traits that he never abandoned, traits that made him hugely relatable, traits that proved he was – is – one of us. Liverpool have lost a lot of games this season and, more devastating, lost some of their soul. It’s hard to see how that gets any better after Robertson goes, because he more than anyone during the past nine years has represented what the club is about: winning with a collective, defiant spirit. I’d like to meet Andy Robertson so I could tell him that, and tell him how, over time, he became my new favourite Liverpool player, my hero. Thanks Robbo, for all of it.

‘He’s one of us’: Liverpool fans say goodbye to Andy Robertson
Kevin Sampson, novelist It was a bit of a surprise when we signed Andy Robertson from Hull – not because he wasn’t a household name, but because all the focus had been on his teammate Harry Maguire. But, pound for pound, the £8m we paid for Robbo in the summer of 2017 has got to be one of the best value transfer deals in Liverpool’s history. Those peak Jürgen Klopp-years, when him and Trent Alexander-Arnold supplied cross after cross, assist after assist … it was an absolute joy to be there. All of those great memories will be cherished by Reds far and wide, but the moment that best illustrates and celebrates the player and the character was his destiny-changing last-gasp equaliser at Villa Park in 2019. It wasn’t just the goal itself, it was Andy Robertson grabbing the ball and legging it back to the centre circle, eager to restart the game, knowing Manchester City were breathing down our neck, knowing there was still time to win it. And win it we did, with an unbelievable late, late leap from Sadio Mané, preserving an unbeaten start to the season and setting up a title showdown – in November – with City. In those crazy days of Klopp v Pep, you could barely afford to drop a point. Robbo knew that. He fought for every ball, every minute, every point. We’re going to miss the mad, brilliant bastard. David Usher, editor of The Liverpool Way “Sadio, I’ll get him, don’t worry”. Andy Robertson, coming off the field at half-time of the final of the 2019 Club World Cup after Mané had been booked for an altercation with Flamengo’s Rafinha. That’s one of the first things that comes to mind when I think of Robbo. He had his team-mates’ backs. What else comes to mind? Roughing up Lionel Messi, laughing at Jordan Pickford, running all over Manchester City, the ‘wingmen’ videos with Trent and judging biscuits with James Milner. I also think about José Mourinho saying: “I am tired just from looking at Robertson. Absolutely incredible.” Yep, he was. Robertson is the best left-back I’ve seen at Liverpool. He won everything with the Reds and soon he’ll be Scotland’s most-capped player. The relentless energy, ultra competitiveness and terrific delivery from wide areas also made him the best left-back in the Premier League for most of his time at Anfield. But it’s his wicked sense of humour and larger-than-life personality that makes him so beloved by fans and team-mates alike. Footballers are generally not relatable anymore, but Robbo bucks that trend. He’s normal. He’s never acted like a star even though he very much is one. I challenge anyone to think of him without smiling. They just don’t make them like Andy Robertson any more. Chris Smith, author of Always Liverpool The remnants of how it felt to support Liverpool during Jürgen Klopp’s tenure are leaving with Andy Robertson – one of the few remaining “mentality monsters” and the one who best exemplified the tenet. Robbo left so much on the field; Anfield’s entire left touchline could be named after him. He set standards and lifted the collective in a way few have. His exit hurts so much because it tears away at a tapestry that’s impossible to restitch. It means letting go of that era or being mired in endless yearning for it. Neither option is attractive. He’s a top-five Liverpool player for me. My mum’s favourite ever. In March, we attended the FA Cup tie at Wolves together. Andy’s brilliant opening goal was as happy as I’d ever seen her at the match. I asked why she’d so taken him into her heart. “He gets stuck in, runs at the opposition and keeps hold of the ball in a tackle. He enjoys every minute, he’s always trying his best and supports all the other players. He’s pure joy,” she said, adding: “He’s got a lovely smile and more charisma than the new players we’ve spent millions on. We are going to miss him for his personality as much as his skill, bless him.” Andy Robertson leaves as the exemplification of everything we could ask for from a Liverpool player. And he’s my mum’s favourite. There’s no replacing this favourite son. Mark Stevenson, screenwriter “No kid grows up wanting to be a full-back,” Jamie Carragher once joked. But as a lifelong Red living in Glasgow, I know for a fact that’s not true when it comes to Andy Robertson. I’ve seen countless youngsters here wanting to be him. That’s because, alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, Robertson redefined the modern full-back, producing assists like a world-class playmaker, season after season. In an era when many elite footballers seem utterly detached from reality, Robbo has always has carried himself like someone who understands exactly what it means to wear the shirt, and just how fortunate he is to do so. Nothing about his career was handed to him. Released by Celtic as a teenager for being too small, he fought his way through the lower leagues before reaching the top. Even the famous tweet from his Queen’s Park days about having no money and life being rubbish reflects the honesty fans connect with. Robertson represents persistence more than perfection. I was recently debating Liverpool’s greatest left-back with my brother, who leans towards Alan Kennedy. It’s close, but Robertson gets my vote. I’m gutted he’s leaving and I still think those legs have a couple more years left in them at the top level. But, nonetheless, I’ll be on the Kop on Sunday belting out: “Oh Andy, Andy …” because if I was still a kid, I’d absolutely want to be Andy Robertson. Kev Reilly, contributor to The Anfield Wrap As a Scotsman living in Liverpool, Andy Robertson’s career has always felt that wee bit more personal. The city has long embraced Scottish grit and character, from the old dockers that settled here through to the historic legends who have graced the pitches and dugouts of Anfield and Goodison Park. In that sense, I can understand why Liverpool supporters took to Robbo so quickly. There was a familiarity to him. Scotland is a small country, but time and again we produce athletes who punch above our weight as a nation. Andy Murray’s Wimbledon triumphs, Chris Hoy powering to Olympic glory and Katie Archibald becoming one of the finest cyclists of her generation. Andy Robertson belongs in that company. From his #needajob tweet during his time at Queen’s Park, to his breakthrough season at Dundee United and his Premier League debut with Hull, before arriving at Liverpool, his rise was built entirely on hard work and determination. As he moves on to a new chapter, he leaves as Liverpool’s greatest left-back and as another Scot who wrote his name into the history of this great football club. Robbo has given me a small glimpse of what it must feel like to be scouse and support Liverpool. I feel lucky to have watched someone from a place not so far from where I grew up achieve things most people only dream about. Abigail Rudkin, artist In November, Scotland qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998, two years before I was born. A few days later, Andy Robertson’s wife, Rachel, contacted me to ask for a piece commemorating the achievement, as a Christmas gift for him. I’ve never felt so honoured. The pressure was on to get the piece right. When I dropped it off, I was lucky enough to meet Andy. He was so kind, funny and welcoming. He gave me the time of day even though he had no idea who I was or why I was there. He was exactly who I expected him to be; a down-to-earth, kind human. He even made the effort to message me on Boxing Day to say how much he loved the piece. I was bouncing around the kitchen when the message came through. I’m so grateful to Rachel for giving me that opportunity with my work and to Andy for being so kind. They’ll be greatly missed in Liverpool. The connection to Andy goes beyond his ability. I’m sure I speak for the majority of Liverpool fans when I say he truly understands the club, our values and the city more than most modern footballers ever could. He even understood the importance of the derby like a true scouser. In this golden era for Liverpool, Andy Robbo stands out as one of my very favourite players. Dan Clubbe, content manager at Redmen TV Robbo is up there as one of my favourites footballers to wear Liverpool red. Fiercely committed, he embodies everything I adore in a footballer, everything that makes us, us. From that press against Manchester City, to the Aston Villa goal and every laugh at Everton in between, Robbo left everything on the pitch for the badge – and that’ll do for me. While many of the tributes to Robertson will centre around the determination – I have certainly been guilty of this – we mustn’t forget that he was at one stage truly world-class. The heartbeat from left-back, he combined boundless energy with unbelievable quality, lifting the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Club World Cup, Super Cup, Community Shield and, perhaps most importantly, the spirits of every one of us. The word legend has rarely been more fitting. Andy Robertson did not simply play for Liverpool, he represented the club’s values week after week. A leader on and off the pitch, his name is firmly etched into Anfield folklore. All that is left to do now is show our gratitude to a true modern-day, working-class hero. Sachin Nakrani, deputy football editor at the Guardian A little under seven years ago, I was repeatedly sworn at by my favourite Liverpool player when I was a child. It was a horrible experience and proved to me that the old adage is right: never meet your heroes. Saying that, I’d love to meet Andy Robertson, because Andy Robertson is definitely sound. Or maybe he’s not. But that’s not the point. The point is that he always came across as sound when playing for Liverpool and, because of that, forged a unique relationship with the fans. He was brilliant, and he won the lot, but he was also Robbo, the lad from Glasgow who sent that tweet about life being rubbish and rose to the top through hard work, humble dedication and a good dose of humour, traits that he never abandoned, traits that made him hugely relatable, traits that proved he was – is – one of us. Liverpool have lost a lot of games this season and, more devastating, lost some of their soul. It’s hard to see how that gets any better after Robertson goes, because he more than anyone during the past nine years has represented what the club is about: winning with a collective, defiant spirit. I’d like to meet Andy Robertson so I could tell him that, and tell him how, over time, he became my new favourite Liverpool player, my hero. Thanks Robbo, for all of it.

‘He’s one of us’: Liverpool fans say goodbye to Andy Robertson
Kevin Sampson, novelist It was a bit of a surprise when we signed Andy Robertson from Hull – not because he wasn’t a household name, but because all the focus had been on his teammate Harry Maguire. But, pound for pound, the £8m we paid for Robbo in the summer of 2017 has got to be one of the best value transfer deals in Liverpool’s history. Those peak Jürgen Klopp-years, when him and Trent Alexander-Arnold supplied cross after cross, assist after assist … it was an absolute joy to be there. All of those great memories will be cherished by Reds far and wide, but the moment that best illustrates and celebrates the player and the character was his destiny-changing last-gasp equaliser at Villa Park in 2019. It wasn’t just the goal itself, it was Andy Robertson grabbing the ball and legging it back to the centre circle, eager to restart the game, knowing Manchester City were breathing down our neck, knowing there was still time to win it. And win it we did, with an unbelievable late, late leap from Sadio Mané, preserving an unbeaten start to the season and setting up a title showdown – in November – with City. In those crazy days of Klopp v Pep, you could barely afford to drop a point. Robbo knew that. He fought for every ball, every minute, every point. We’re going to miss the mad, brilliant bastard. David Usher, editor of The Liverpool Way “Sadio, I’ll get him, don’t worry”. Andy Robertson, coming off the field at half-time of the final of the 2019 Club World Cup after Mané had been booked for an altercation with Flamengo’s Rafinha. That’s one of the first things that comes to mind when I think of Robbo. He had his team-mates’ backs. What else comes to mind? Roughing up Lionel Messi, laughing at Jordan Pickford, running all over Manchester City, the ‘wingmen’ videos with Trent and judging biscuits with James Milner. I also think about José Mourinho saying: “I am tired just from looking at Robertson. Absolutely incredible.” Yep, he was. Robertson is the best left-back I’ve seen at Liverpool. He won everything with the Reds and soon he’ll be Scotland’s most-capped player. The relentless energy, ultra competitiveness and terrific delivery from wide areas also made him the best left-back in the Premier League for most of his time at Anfield. But it’s his wicked sense of humour and larger-than-life personality that makes him so beloved by fans and team-mates alike. Footballers are generally not relatable anymore, but Robbo bucks that trend. He’s normal. He’s never acted like a star even though he very much is one. I challenge anyone to think of him without smiling. They just don’t make them like Andy Robertson any more. Chris Smith, author of Always Liverpool The remnants of how it felt to support Liverpool during Jürgen Klopp’s tenure are leaving with Andy Robertson – one of the few remaining “mentality monsters” and the one who best exemplified the tenet. Robbo left so much on the field; Anfield’s entire left touchline could be named after him. He set standards and lifted the collective in a way few have. His exit hurts so much because it tears away at a tapestry that’s impossible to restitch. It means letting go of that era or being mired in endless yearning for it. Neither option is attractive. He’s a top-five Liverpool player for me. My mum’s favourite ever. In March, we attended the FA Cup tie at Wolves together. Andy’s brilliant opening goal was as happy as I’d ever seen her at the match. I asked why she’d so taken him into her heart. “He gets stuck in, runs at the opposition and keeps hold of the ball in a tackle. He enjoys every minute, he’s always trying his best and supports all the other players. He’s pure joy,” she said, adding: “He’s got a lovely smile and more charisma than the new players we’ve spent millions on. We are going to miss him for his personality as much as his skill, bless him.” Andy Robertson leaves as the exemplification of everything we could ask for from a Liverpool player. And he’s my mum’s favourite. There’s no replacing this favourite son. Mark Stevenson, screenwriter “No kid grows up wanting to be a full-back,” Jamie Carragher once joked. But as a lifelong Red living in Glasgow, I know for a fact that’s not true when it comes to Andy Robertson. I’ve seen countless youngsters here wanting to be him. That’s because, alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, Robertson redefined the modern full-back, producing assists like a world-class playmaker, season after season. In an era when many elite footballers seem utterly detached from reality, Robbo has always has carried himself like someone who understands exactly what it means to wear the shirt, and just how fortunate he is to do so. Nothing about his career was handed to him. Released by Celtic as a teenager for being too small, he fought his way through the lower leagues before reaching the top. Even the famous tweet from his Queen’s Park days about having no money and life being rubbish reflects the honesty fans connect with. Robertson represents persistence more than perfection. I was recently debating Liverpool’s greatest left-back with my brother, who leans towards Alan Kennedy. It’s close, but Robertson gets my vote. I’m gutted he’s leaving and I still think those legs have a couple more years left in them at the top level. But, nonetheless, I’ll be on the Kop on Sunday belting out: “Oh Andy, Andy …” because if I was still a kid, I’d absolutely want to be Andy Robertson. Kev Reilly, contributor to The Anfield Wrap As a Scotsman living in Liverpool, Andy Robertson’s career has always felt that wee bit more personal. The city has long embraced Scottish grit and character, from the old dockers that settled here through to the historic legends who have graced the pitches and dugouts of Anfield and Goodison Park. In that sense, I can understand why Liverpool supporters took to Robbo so quickly. There was a familiarity to him. Scotland is a small country, but time and again we produce athletes who punch above our weight as a nation. Andy Murray’s Wimbledon triumphs, Chris Hoy powering to Olympic glory and Katie Archibald becoming one of the finest cyclists of her generation. Andy Robertson belongs in that company. From his #needajob tweet during his time at Queen’s Park, to his breakthrough season at Dundee United and his Premier League debut with Hull, before arriving at Liverpool, his rise was built entirely on hard work and determination. As he moves on to a new chapter, he leaves as Liverpool’s greatest left-back and as another Scot who wrote his name into the history of this great football club. Robbo has given me a small glimpse of what it must feel like to be scouse and support Liverpool. I feel lucky to have watched someone from a place not so far from where I grew up achieve things most people only dream about. Abigail Rudkin, artist In November, Scotland qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998, two years before I was born. A few days later, Andy Robertson’s wife, Rachel, contacted me to ask for a piece commemorating the achievement, as a Christmas gift for him. I’ve never felt so honoured. The pressure was on to get the piece right. When I dropped it off, I was lucky enough to meet Andy. He was so kind, funny and welcoming. He gave me the time of day even though he had no idea who I was or why I was there. He was exactly who I expected him to be; a down-to-earth, kind human. He even made the effort to message me on Boxing Day to say how much he loved the piece. I was bouncing around the kitchen when the message came through. I’m so grateful to Rachel for giving me that opportunity with my work and to Andy for being so kind. They’ll be greatly missed in Liverpool. The connection to Andy goes beyond his ability. I’m sure I speak for the majority of Liverpool fans when I say he truly understands the club, our values and the city more than most modern footballers ever could. He even understood the importance of the derby like a true scouser. In this golden era for Liverpool, Andy Robbo stands out as one of my very favourite players. Dan Clubbe, content manager at Redmen TV Robbo is up there as one of my favourites footballers to wear Liverpool red. Fiercely committed, he embodies everything I adore in a footballer, everything that makes us, us. From that press against Manchester City, to the Aston Villa goal and every laugh at Everton in between, Robbo left everything on the pitch for the badge – and that’ll do for me. While many of the tributes to Robertson will centre around the determination – I have certainly been guilty of this – we mustn’t forget that he was at one stage truly world-class. The heartbeat from left-back, he combined boundless energy with unbelievable quality, lifting the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Club World Cup, Super Cup, Community Shield and, perhaps most importantly, the spirits of every one of us. The word legend has rarely been more fitting. Andy Robertson did not simply play for Liverpool, he represented the club’s values week after week. A leader on and off the pitch, his name is firmly etched into Anfield folklore. All that is left to do now is show our gratitude to a true modern-day, working-class hero. Sachin Nakrani, deputy football editor at the Guardian A little under seven years ago, I was repeatedly sworn at by my favourite Liverpool player when I was a child. It was a horrible experience and proved to me that the old adage is right: never meet your heroes. Saying that, I’d love to meet Andy Robertson, because Andy Robertson is definitely sound. Or maybe he’s not. But that’s not the point. The point is that he always came across as sound when playing for Liverpool and, because of that, forged a unique relationship with the fans. He was brilliant, and he won the lot, but he was also Robbo, the lad from Glasgow who sent that tweet about life being rubbish and rose to the top through hard work, humble dedication and a good dose of humour, traits that he never abandoned, traits that made him hugely relatable, traits that proved he was – is – one of us. Liverpool have lost a lot of games this season and, more devastating, lost some of their soul. It’s hard to see how that gets any better after Robertson goes, because he more than anyone during the past nine years has represented what the club is about: winning with a collective, defiant spirit. I’d like to meet Andy Robertson so I could tell him that, and tell him how, over time, he became my new favourite Liverpool player, my hero. Thanks Robbo, for all of it.

‘He’s one of us’: Liverpool fans say goodbye to Andy Robertson
Kevin Sampson, novelist It was a bit of a surprise when we signed Andy Robertson from Hull – not because he wasn’t a household name, but because all the focus had been on his teammate Harry Maguire. But, pound for pound, the £8m we paid for Robbo in the summer of 2017 has got to be one of the best value transfer deals in Liverpool’s history. Those peak Jürgen Klopp-years, when him and Trent Alexander-Arnold supplied cross after cross, assist after assist … it was an absolute joy to be there. All of those great memories will be cherished by Reds far and wide, but the moment that best illustrates and celebrates the player and the character was his destiny-changing last-gasp equaliser at Villa Park in 2019. It wasn’t just the goal itself, it was Andy Robertson grabbing the ball and legging it back to the centre circle, eager to restart the game, knowing Manchester City were breathing down our neck, knowing there was still time to win it. And win it we did, with an unbelievable late, late leap from Sadio Mané, preserving an unbeaten start to the season and setting up a title showdown – in November – with City. In those crazy days of Klopp v Pep, you could barely afford to drop a point. Robbo knew that. He fought for every ball, every minute, every point. We’re going to miss the mad, brilliant bastard. David Usher, editor of The Liverpool Way “Sadio, I’ll get him, don’t worry”. Andy Robertson, coming off the field at half-time of the final of the 2019 Club World Cup after Mané had been booked for an altercation with Flamengo’s Rafinha. That’s one of the first things that comes to mind when I think of Robbo. He had his team-mates’ backs. What else comes to mind? Roughing up Lionel Messi, laughing at Jordan Pickford, running all over Manchester City, the ‘wingmen’ videos with Trent and judging biscuits with James Milner. I also think about José Mourinho saying: “I am tired just from looking at Robertson. Absolutely incredible.” Yep, he was. Robertson is the best left-back I’ve seen at Liverpool. He won everything with the Reds and soon he’ll be Scotland’s most-capped player. The relentless energy, ultra competitiveness and terrific delivery from wide areas also made him the best left-back in the Premier League for most of his time at Anfield. But it’s his wicked sense of humour and larger-than-life personality that makes him so beloved by fans and team-mates alike. Footballers are generally not relatable anymore, but Robbo bucks that trend. He’s normal. He’s never acted like a star even though he very much is one. I challenge anyone to think of him without smiling. They just don’t make them like Andy Robertson any more. Chris Smith, author of Always Liverpool The remnants of how it felt to support Liverpool during Jürgen Klopp’s tenure are leaving with Andy Robertson – one of the few remaining “mentality monsters” and the one who best exemplified the tenet. Robbo left so much on the field; Anfield’s entire left touchline could be named after him. He set standards and lifted the collective in a way few have. His exit hurts so much because it tears away at a tapestry that’s impossible to restitch. It means letting go of that era or being mired in endless yearning for it. Neither option is attractive. He’s a top-five Liverpool player for me. My mum’s favourite ever. In March, we attended the FA Cup tie at Wolves together. Andy’s brilliant opening goal was as happy as I’d ever seen her at the match. I asked why she’d so taken him into her heart. “He gets stuck in, runs at the opposition and keeps hold of the ball in a tackle. He enjoys every minute, he’s always trying his best and supports all the other players. He’s pure joy,” she said, adding: “He’s got a lovely smile and more charisma than the new players we’ve spent millions on. We are going to miss him for his personality as much as his skill, bless him.” Andy Robertson leaves as the exemplification of everything we could ask for from a Liverpool player. And he’s my mum’s favourite. There’s no replacing this favourite son. Mark Stevenson, screenwriter “No kid grows up wanting to be a full-back,” Jamie Carragher once joked. But as a lifelong Red living in Glasgow, I know for a fact that’s not true when it comes to Andy Robertson. I’ve seen countless youngsters here wanting to be him. That’s because, alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, Robertson redefined the modern full-back, producing assists like a world-class playmaker, season after season. In an era when many elite footballers seem utterly detached from reality, Robbo has always has carried himself like someone who understands exactly what it means to wear the shirt, and just how fortunate he is to do so. Nothing about his career was handed to him. Released by Celtic as a teenager for being too small, he fought his way through the lower leagues before reaching the top. Even the famous tweet from his Queen’s Park days about having no money and life being rubbish reflects the honesty fans connect with. Robertson represents persistence more than perfection. I was recently debating Liverpool’s greatest left-back with my brother, who leans towards Alan Kennedy. It’s close, but Robertson gets my vote. I’m gutted he’s leaving and I still think those legs have a couple more years left in them at the top level. But, nonetheless, I’ll be on the Kop on Sunday belting out: “Oh Andy, Andy …” because if I was still a kid, I’d absolutely want to be Andy Robertson. Kev Reilly, contributor to The Anfield Wrap As a Scotsman living in Liverpool, Andy Robertson’s career has always felt that wee bit more personal. The city has long embraced Scottish grit and character, from the old dockers that settled here through to the historic legends who have graced the pitches and dugouts of Anfield and Goodison Park. In that sense, I can understand why Liverpool supporters took to Robbo so quickly. There was a familiarity to him. Scotland is a small country, but time and again we produce athletes who punch above our weight as a nation. Andy Murray’s Wimbledon triumphs, Chris Hoy powering to Olympic glory and Katie Archibald becoming one of the finest cyclists of her generation. Andy Robertson belongs in that company. From his #needajob tweet during his time at Queen’s Park, to his breakthrough season at Dundee United and his Premier League debut with Hull, before arriving at Liverpool, his rise was built entirely on hard work and determination. As he moves on to a new chapter, he leaves as Liverpool’s greatest left-back and as another Scot who wrote his name into the history of this great football club. Robbo has given me a small glimpse of what it must feel like to be scouse and support Liverpool. I feel lucky to have watched someone from a place not so far from where I grew up achieve things most people only dream about. Abigail Rudkin, artist In November, Scotland qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998, two years before I was born. A few days later, Andy Robertson’s wife, Rachel, contacted me to ask for a piece commemorating the achievement, as a Christmas gift for him. I’ve never felt so honoured. The pressure was on to get the piece right. When I dropped it off, I was lucky enough to meet Andy. He was so kind, funny and welcoming. He gave me the time of day even though he had no idea who I was or why I was there. He was exactly who I expected him to be; a down-to-earth, kind human. He even made the effort to message me on Boxing Day to say how much he loved the piece. I was bouncing around the kitchen when the message came through. I’m so grateful to Rachel for giving me that opportunity with my work and to Andy for being so kind. They’ll be greatly missed in Liverpool. The connection to Andy goes beyond his ability. I’m sure I speak for the majority of Liverpool fans when I say he truly understands the club, our values and the city more than most modern footballers ever could. He even understood the importance of the derby like a true scouser. In this golden era for Liverpool, Andy Robbo stands out as one of my very favourite players. Dan Clubbe, content manager at Redmen TV Robbo is up there as one of my favourites footballers to wear Liverpool red. Fiercely committed, he embodies everything I adore in a footballer, everything that makes us, us. From that press against Manchester City, to the Aston Villa goal and every laugh at Everton in between, Robbo left everything on the pitch for the badge – and that’ll do for me. While many of the tributes to Robertson will centre around the determination – I have certainly been guilty of this – we mustn’t forget that he was at one stage truly world-class. The heartbeat from left-back, he combined boundless energy with unbelievable quality, lifting the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Club World Cup, Super Cup, Community Shield and, perhaps most importantly, the spirits of every one of us. The word legend has rarely been more fitting. Andy Robertson did not simply play for Liverpool, he represented the club’s values week after week. A leader on and off the pitch, his name is firmly etched into Anfield folklore. All that is left to do now is show our gratitude to a true modern-day, working-class hero. Sachin Nakrani, deputy football editor at the Guardian A little under seven years ago, I was repeatedly sworn at by my favourite Liverpool player when I was a child. It was a horrible experience and proved to me that the old adage is right: never meet your heroes. Saying that, I’d love to meet Andy Robertson, because Andy Robertson is definitely sound. Or maybe he’s not. But that’s not the point. The point is that he always came across as sound when playing for Liverpool and, because of that, forged a unique relationship with the fans. He was brilliant, and he won the lot, but he was also Robbo, the lad from Glasgow who sent that tweet about life being rubbish and rose to the top through hard work, humble dedication and a good dose of humour, traits that he never abandoned, traits that made him hugely relatable, traits that proved he was – is – one of us. Liverpool have lost a lot of games this season and, more devastating, lost some of their soul. It’s hard to see how that gets any better after Robertson goes, because he more than anyone during the past nine years has represented what the club is about: winning with a collective, defiant spirit. I’d like to meet Andy Robertson so I could tell him that, and tell him how, over time, he became my new favourite Liverpool player, my hero. Thanks Robbo, for all of it.
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