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Tag: Messi

  • How Mourinho almost convinced Messi to join Chelsea

    How Mourinho almost convinced Messi to join Chelsea

    Jose Mourinho almost convinced Lionel Messi to quit Barcelona for Chelsea, it has been revealed.

    Italian transfer expert Gianluca di Marzio reports the Argentine forward was willing to play under the Portuguese coach with whom he had a long private call.

    This was the first time Messi thought of leaving the Blaugrana although the deal with Chelsea didn’t go through.

    The Barcelona captain remained at the club and 16 years later, at the age of 33, decided to ask to be released.

    President Josep Maria Bartomeu did not grant his request and pointed potential suitors to Messi’s 700-million-euro release clause.

    With one year left in his contract, the Argentina international made the decision to stay at the club despite rumours linking him with a move to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

  • Messi back in scoring business in dream start for Koeman

    Messi back in scoring business in dream start for Koeman

    Lionel Messi was back in scoring business for FC Barcelona on Sunday, leading them to a resounding 4-0 win at home against Villarreal.

    It was a near-perfect La Liga opener for the Catalans under new coach Ronald Koeman.

    Teenage forward Ansu Fati was in inspirational form for Barca, combining with Jordi Alba to side-foot home first time into the net in the 15th minute.

    He then struck again four minutes later with another ice-cool finish.

    Fati, the 17-year-old in his second season in Barca’s first team after a stunning rise last year from the club’s youth set-up, then won the penalty kick.

    Team captain Messi dispatched to score the third in the 35th minute.

    Villarreal defender Pau Torres scored an own goal right at the end of the first half to heap more pain on Unai Emery’s side.

    Barca continued to dominate the game in the second half without managing to add to their hefty advantage.

    Koeman, who succeeded Quique Setien in August after the crushing 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League, could hardly have hoped for a better start.

    This was after the chaotic close season overshadowed by Messi’s attempt to leave the club.

    The Argentine had unleashed his latest attack on the club’s hierarchy only on Friday, criticising the manner in which his former strike partner Luis Suarez had been forced out of the club.

    Suarez enjoyed a superb debut at Atletico Madrid earlier on Sunday, but Barca did not seem to be missing the Uruguayan.

    They played with more pace and freedom than for many parts of last season, launching quickfire counters as well as building from the back.

    “It was a good game for us, especially in the first half. We were much better than them, we created lots of chances and scored four goals,” said Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets.

    “We dropped our intensity a bit in the second half and they made things more difficult for us. But, overall, we leave our first game with good sensations. We’re close to the team we want to be.”

    The former Barca defender Koeman handed La Liga debuts to 17-year-old Pedri, Portuguese winger Francisco Trincao and Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic in the second half.

    Ousmane Dembele also came on for his first competitive appearance for Barca since last November after returning from hamstring surgery.

  • Barca board splits over Messi stay, ‘now is the time to sell him’

    Barca board splits over Messi stay, ‘now is the time to sell him’

    Barcelona’s current board are split over the decision not to sell Lionel Messi this summer.

    Messi, after demanding a transfer earlier this month, eventually reversed his decision and withdrew his request before the start of the season.

    And while president Josep Maria Bartomeu was relieved by the U-turn, there are some inside the club whom believe selling the Argentine superstar would’ve benefited the club.

    One insider told ESPN: “Messi has so much power at the club, both from a financial point of view, but also sporting.

    “Now is the time to sell him, this is a historic opportunity to be able to change things.

    “There are players who will play better without him in the team…”

    Messi’s contract with Barca is now inside it’s final 12 months.

  • Messi renews Barca war over Saurez exit

    Messi renews Barca war over Saurez exit

    Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has fired a new barb at the board this morning over Luis Suarez’s departure.

    The striker gave his farewell media conference yesterday ahead of joining Atletico Madrid.

    In a social media post today, Messi declared: “I had already begun to imagine it but today I went into the dressing room and it truly dawned on me. It’s going to be so difficult to not continue to share every day with you both on the pitches and away from them.

    “We’re going to miss you so much. We spent many years together, many lunches and many dinners. So many things we will never forget, all the time we spent together.

    “It will be strange to see you in another shirt and much more to come up against you on the pitch. You deserved a farewell that fit with who you are: one of the most important players in the history of the club. Someone who achieved great things for the team and on an individual level.

    “You did not deserve for them to throw you out like they did. But the truth is that at this stage nothing surprises me anymore.”

  • City boss Guardiola insists no Messi regrets

    City boss Guardiola insists no Messi regrets

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists there’s no regrets missing out on Barcelona star Leo Messi.

    City were favourites to land the Argentine before he withdrew his transfer request.

    “It’s a joy to work with these players and this club,” the manager said. “We have good expectations to do good football and get the results this club deserves. We want to continue the consistency.

    “Leo explained his feelings quite well,” Guardiola added. “I don’t have anything to add. He’s a football player for Barcelona, the club I love. Nothing else to say.”

    Guardiola was also asked how new signings Nathan Ake and Ferran Torres are settling in.

    “What you have to do, all the players and staff, all the people close to them, is help them settle as soon as possible,” he said.

    “They are two nice people and they are going to help us.”

    On City’s transfer activity, Guardiola added: “Since I arrived here I’m more than satisfied with what I have in the team, and I know the club does absolutely everything.

    “Sometimes it’s the players who decide to move. But never before or in the future will I complain about this – I am a lucky person to be in this club.”

  • Messi, Ronaldo absent from Champions League awards shortlist

    Messi, Ronaldo absent from Champions League awards shortlist

    Superstar duo Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been snubbed by UEFA in the list of nominees for the 2019/2020 Champions League awards.

    The awards were introduced in 2016/17 to recognize the season’s best player in each position in Europe’s premier club competition. Both players regularly appeared on the list since its introduction until now.

    Messi alongside his football club Barcelona suffered an abysmal 2019/20 season crashing out calamitously from the UEFA champions league. They also lost the La Liga title to arch-rival, Real Madrid towards the end of the season.

    Ronaldo on the other hand crashed out of the champions league when no one expected. The forward’s team Juventus lost to Lyon in the Round of 16. However, they were crowned winners of the Seria A title which was not enough for Ronaldo to appear in the UEFA award shortlist.

    The shortlist is dominated by Champions League holders Bayern Munich who have seven players nominated.

    Players from Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, and Atlético de Madrid also featured on the list.

    The award nominees for the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League are:

    Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas (Paris Saint-Germain), Manuel Neuer (Bayern), Jan Oblak (Atlético de Madrid)

    Defenders: David Alaba (Bayern), Alphonso Davies (Bayern), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern)

    Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Thomas Müller (Bayern), Thiago Alcántara (Bayern)

    Forwards: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern), Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain)

  • Messi ban now over – AFA president

    Messi ban now over – AFA president

    Lionel Messi can play in Argentina’s opening 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier next month, Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), said on Thursday.

    Tapia said this was because the statute of limitations (barring him from playing) has run out on the ban he was given during last year’s Copa America

    Messi was banned for one game after being sent off in the Copa America third-place playoff against Chile and for levelling accusations of “corruption” at South American football chiefs.

    Messi had been expected to serve the ban by missing Argentina’s qualifier against Ecuador, which is scheduled to take place in Buenos Aires on Oct. 8.

    However, Tapia said he had consulted with South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) President Alejandro Dominguez.

    “…. he confirmed the statute of limitations had expired and that he (Messi) is able to play,” Tapia was quoted as saying by AFA on twitter.

    The FC Barcelona forward was shown the red card after clashing with Gary Medel.

    Afterwards, he alleged the tournament had been fixed in favour of hosts Brazil, who beat Argentina in a controversial semi-final on their way to claiming the title.

    Argentina, who last won the World Cup in 1986, kick off their qualifying campaign with a double-header at home to Ecuador and away to Bolivia.

  • Messi’s father’s meeting with Barcelona board ends in deadlock

    Messi’s father’s meeting with Barcelona board ends in deadlock

    Lionel Messi’s father and agent met Barcelona Club President Josep Maria Bartomeu on Wednesday to discuss the player’s wish to leave the club but the talks ended in stalemate, Spanish media reported.

    Earlier, Jorge Messi said it would be “difficult” for his son to remain with Barcelona, the only club he has ever played for professionally.

    The meeting lasted one-and-a-half hours and was held in a cordial atmosphere, according to media reports including sports dailies Marca and Mundo Deportivo.

    They said Bartomeu sees Messi as a key part of Barca’s plans to rebuild under new coach Ronald Koeman. There was no comment from the club.

    Six-times world player of the year Messi, unhappy at his team’s failure to win any silverware last season and humiliated by an 8-2 Champions League thrashing by Bayern Munich, told the club last week that he wanted to leave.

    The Argentine insists he has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave on a free transfer.

    It is a claim disputed by Barcelona and La Liga, who say he can only leave if a rival club is willing to pay a 700 million euro (830.20 million dollars) buyout clause.

    “I don’t know, I know nothing,” Messi’s father told Spanish TV channel Cuatro after flying in on a private jet.

    Pressed if it would be hard for him to remain, he said “yes”, and asked how he sees Messi’s future at Barcelona, he replied “difficult, difficult”.

    Messi missed a medical on Sunday and did not show up on Monday for the first training session of the season.

  • Messi’s father denies Man City talks

    Messi’s father denies Man City talks

    Jorge Messi – father and agent of Lionel Messi – has said it will be difficult for his son to stay at Barcelona.

    But Messi Snr denied he has held conversations with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola about a potential move to the Etihad.

    The 62-year-old agent told El Chiringuito: “A future at Barcelona? It is difficult. It would be difficult to stay.”

    Pushed on City’s interest in the 33-year-old, Jorge responded: “I haven’t talked with Pep. There is nothing yet with City.”

  • Klopp says no chance of Messi signing for Liverpool

    Klopp says no chance of Messi signing for Liverpool

    Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp says he will be interested in adding FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi to his 2019/2020 English Premier League-winning squad if the conditions are right.

    Klopp said there was no chance it would happen because of the astronomical amount of money involved.

    Messi stunned world football earlier this week when he expressed his desire to leave FC Barcelona after nearly two decades with the Catalan club.

    When asked if he would like to bring the Argentine forward to Anfield, Klopp said: “Interest? Yeah, who doesn’t want Messi in their team.

    “But the numbers are absolutely not for us. We don’t even start thinking about it. No chance! But… good player.”

    A study by French newspaper L’Equipe earlier this year said Messi earns 8.2 million euros per month from Barca.

    This is way more than Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Paris St-Germain (PSG) striker Neymar, who earn 4.5 million and 3 million euros respectively.

    Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who finished 18 points behind champions Liverpool last season, appear to be the favourites to sign the six-times world player of the year.

    The Argentine has won every major title with FC Barcelona.

    Some of Messi’s best moments on the Camp Nou pitch came under the guidance of former Barca coach Guardiola.

    “It will make it even more difficult to beat them (Manchester City), which was already very difficult,” Klopp told a news conference ahead of Saturday’s Community Shield clash with English FA Cup winners Arsenal at Wembley.

    “For the Premier League, it will be great having the best player in the world in the league. I’m not sure the Premier League needs a boost but it will be.

    “It will be interesting too because Messi has never played in another league apart from Spain. I will like to see it, but I’m not sure if I will.”

    Both sets of players (from Liverpool and Arsenal) will take a knee at Wembley in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign which has again been in the news.

    This is after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, U.S. on Sunday —- an incident that has provoked widespread protests in sports across the country.

    “I’ve followed it in the U.S., racism, Black Lives Matter, all these things, dealing with it all will stay with us for a long time,” Klopp said.

    “As long as people don’t really get or understand it, we have to mention equality.”

    Klopp confirmed centre-back Virgil van Dijk is fit to face Arsenal after recovering from a head injury sustained during Liverpool’s pre-season friendly with RB Salzburg.

    “He looks not good because he has a cut there, but apart from that it should be fine,” Klopp added.

    Jordan Henderson is also set to play, but Trent Alexander-Arnold may miss out because of injury.

    “Trent’s very close but we have to make a decision about him tomorrow (Saturday),” Klopp said.

    With the transfer window open until October, Klopp said Liverpool would “look constantly for improvement”, but he is satisfied with the size of his squad.

    “We will see how much we can and want to spend,” he said.