TheNewsGuru

Tag: Messi

  • Lionel Messi out of PSG Champions League squad

    Lionel Messi out of PSG Champions League squad

    Lionel Messi has been left out of Paris Saint-Germain’s squad to face RB Leipzig due to a couple of fresh injury complaints.

    Messi has not been named in Mauricio Pochettino’s 21-man squad for Wednesday’s Champions League group-stage clash, having come off early in their last Ligue 1 outing against Lille.

    Pochettino explained that the Argentine superstar had picked up a knock after the 2-1 victory, and PSG have now confirmed that he is struggling with two separate issues that have made him unavailable for selection.

    A statement on PSG’s official website reads: “Leo Messi has hamstring discomfort in his left leg and knee pain following a contusion.”

  • Lionel Messi reveals post-retirement Barca plans

    Lionel Messi reveals post-retirement Barca plans

    Lionel Messi said he will return to live in Barcelona with his family when his time at Paris St Germain was over.

    He said he would like to help the LaLiga club in the role of a technical director.

    Messi ended a two-decade stay at FC Barcelona, where he was their record scorer with 672 goals, in the off-season he joined PSG on a free transfer on a two-year deal.

    “What is almost confirmed … is that we are going to live in Barcelona again and that our life will be there,” the 34-year-old Argentine said in an interview with Spanish outlet Sport.

    “It’s what my wife wants and what I want. I don’t know when my contract with PSG ends, but we’ll go back to Barcelona to live.

    “I always said that I would love to be able to help the club … I would love to be a technical director at some point. I don’t know if it will be at FC Barcelona or not.

    “If there is a possibility, I would like to contribute again because it’s the club that I love and I would love for it to continue doing well, to continue being one of the best in the world.”

    Barca, who are ninth in LaLiga, sacked coach Ronald Koeman last week.

    Messi limped off injured in PSG’s 2-1 win over champions, Lille, on Friday, but coach Mauricio Pochettino is hopeful he will be available for this week’s Champions League game at RB Leipzig.

  • Pope Francis receives PSG jersey from Messi

    Pope Francis receives PSG jersey from Messi

    Pope Francis has thanked Argentina football star Lionel Messi for sending him a Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) club jersey.

    “Lionel Messi, dear brother, thank you for the jersey and the dedication,” the pontiff said in a video published on Friday by Argentina’s Telam news agency.

    “Thank you for staying grounded. Stay like this. God bless you, you can always count on me.”

    French Prime Minister Jean Castex had given the Pope the jersey during a visit to the Vatican.

    PSG’s new forward had written: “For Francis, with much love.”

    During his time at FC Barcelona, Messi already sent the leader of the Catholic Church several jerseys from the Catalan club.

    Pope Francis is considered a big football fan.

    The Argentinian’s favourite club is San Lorenzo of Buenos Aires.

  • We tried to sign Messi at Atletico Madrid – Simeone

    We tried to sign Messi at Atletico Madrid – Simeone

    Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has admitted they tried signing Leo Messi as he left Barcelona for PSG in August.

    It was always going to be a long shot, but El Cholo had to find out if a dream collaboration with his compatriot might be a possibility. Los Colchoneros’ middle-man in the short-lived operation was none other than Luis Suarez, a close friend of Messi’s.

    “I’ll tell you something, when all that happened at Barcelona, we called Luis [Suarez] with nothing but respect,” Simeone told Ole magazine.

    “I didn’t call Leo [Messi], but I did call Luis and I asked him about how [Messi] was, what he was thinking if there was the slightest, hypothetical chance that he might come to Atletico Madrid.

    “But that lasted all of three hours. Paris Saint-Germain were clearly obsessed with bringing him in.”

  • Messi joining PSG a monumental Barca error – Laurent Blanc

    Messi joining PSG a monumental Barca error – Laurent Blanc

    Former Barcelona defender Laurent Blanc says losing Leo Messi is a huge blow for the club.

    Blanc stated that, while Lionel Messi’s arrival at Paris Saint-Germain is excellent news for Ligue 1, it is the opposite situation for Barcelona.

    “For French football it’s incredible to have [Lionel] Messi, Neymar and [Kylian] Mbappe in the same league,” he said in an interview with Panenka.

    “PSG are on another planet, yes, but it is good for Ligue 1 to see these players week after week.

    “If I look at it from Barcelona’s perspective, I believe that they have committed monumental errors. Monumental.

    “Not only in relation to Messi, but looking at the last four or five years.

    “They have lost incredible players, which a club like Barcelona cannot allow.

    “You can’t lose Neymar or Messi, because it is very difficult to replace them.”

    The Frenchman also revealed just how close he came to being appointed as Barcelona coach in 2017.

    “I spoke two or three times with Eric Abidal,” Blanc said.

    “Obviously it was a dream to coach a club like Barcelona, but it didn’t happen for various reasons.

    “It wasn’t the right time or someone believed that I wasn’t ready for it. That’s life.”

  • Messi reveals Ballon d’Or votes, says not favourite to win

    Messi reveals Ballon d’Or votes, says not favourite to win

    Record Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has opened up about the nominees he would likely vote for in this year’s award.

    In an interview with France Football, Messi said he does not think he is the favourite to win the award although, it would be incredible to win another being the first and only player to have won six so far.

    He said, “I don’t think I’m the favourite, and I’ve never liked talking about it until the result is in. It would be great to win another one, it’s already amazing to be the only player to have won six.

    “A seventh would be incredible. This past summer I won a trophy that was missing in the Copa America and that was the pinnacle for me. If I go on to win another Ballon d’Or, I’ll be very happy and very grateful, but I’m not thinking about it.”

    TheNewsGuru recalls that in the summer, Messi joined French Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain ending his 21-year relationship with Barcelona, a move that was both shocking and unexpected.

    The 34-year-old also noted that there are two players from his team whom he would cast his vote for and two from other teams who had a great season.

    “In my team, there are at least two players for whom I’ll vote in Kylian and Ney. Then [Robert] Lewandowski, who has had a great year. But there’s also [Karim] Benzema.

    “We know that trophies are important now. The Champions League, the European Championship and the Copa America always weigh heavily in the vote,” he added.

     

  • EPL: Salah not up to Messi standard – Andros Townsend

    EPL: Salah not up to Messi standard – Andros Townsend

    Everton attacker Andros Townsend says it’s wrong to liken Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah to Leo Messi.

    Jamie Carragher has claimed that the Egyptian international was currently the best player in Europe.

    Jamie O’Hara later claimed that Salah was the closest thing the English game had to Lionel Messi, but Townsend was having none of that when speaking to talkSPORT on Monday morning.

    When asked about Carragher’s comments, the Everton winger responded: “He’s [Salah] definitely up there, that’s for sure!

    I don’t agree with Mr Clickbait saying he’s the closest thing we’ve got to Messi. I don’t agree with that!”

  • Weird facing Barca without Messi – Suarez

    Weird facing Barca without Messi – Suarez

    Atletico Madrid striker Luis Suarez admits he’ll find it “weird” facing Barcelona without Lionel Messi.

    Suarez faces his old club this weekend.

    He said, “Weird to face Barca without Messi?

    “Yes, at the moment, yes. Last year it was strange for me to go back to Camp Nou and have him there, because of what we talked about. Now it will be strange not to see him in the FC Barcelona shirt.

    “But things happen for a reason and today he is in Paris and I am at Atlético, and a year ago we were together in Barcelona.”

  • Messi scores first PSG goal in Man City win

    Messi scores first PSG goal in Man City win

    Lionel Messi scored his first Paris St-Germain goal in stunning fashion as they beat Manchester City in an enthralling Champions League group game.

    Messi, making his fourth appearance for PSG since leaving Barcelona, ran from the halfway line before playing a one-two with Kylian Mbappe and leaving Ederson rooted to the spot with a lovely 20-yard shot.

    The roar from the Parc des Princes crowd was deafening as the Argentine, on his return from injury, added one PSG goal to the 672 he managed for Barca.

    Idrissa Gueye had given last season’s French runners-up an early lead with an excellent drive into the top corner.

    City had plenty of chances to score in between those goals with Raheem Sterling’s header hitting the bar and Bernardo Silva striking the woodwork from the rebound with an empty net in front of him.

    They also had seven shots on target but could not beat Champions League debutant Gianluigi Donnarumma in PSG’s goal.

  • Messi has to serve Mbappe at PSG – Anelka

    Messi has to serve Mbappe at PSG – Anelka

    Former France international, Nicolas Anelka, has said Paris Saint-Germain’s attack should be led by Kylian Mbappe.

    According to Anelka, Messi “has to serve” Mbappe.

    Mbappe has been a talismanic figure at PSG since he joined from Monaco in 2017.

    The 22-year-old boasts of 136 goals from his first 180 games for the club.

    However, since the arrival of Messi this summer, Mbappe is having to share the spotlight with him and Neymar.

    It has been suggested that Mauricio Pochettino will need to build his team around Messi in order to deliver the Ligue 1 title and Champions League, but Anelka thinks Mbappe deserves to be the main man in the PSG squad.

    Anelka told Le Parisien: “Mbappe has to lead the attack because he’s No.1.

    “Messi was at Barcelona, but now he has to serve Mbappe. He’s been at the club for five years and Messi has to respect him.”