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Ex-Liverpool winger Albert Riera has been sacked by Italian club Udinese ... after going AWOL to play poker.

The Spain international, an £8million Kop buy from Espanyol in 2008, spent two seasons at the Reds. He has also had loan spells with Manchester City and Watford.

Riera, 32, joined Udinese earlier this year after a spell with Galatasaray of Turkey.

But the Serie A club’s bosses deemed him a busted flush after he skipped their recent clash with Chievo to play in a poker tournament in Slovenia - where he won £3,000 for a second-place finish.

And the Spaniard’s career truly hit the deck after he sent a tweet claiming Udinese were “the worst club I’ve ever played for”.

The Italians have now agreed that one-time ace Riera cannot hold’em to ransom any more - and cancelled his contract.