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Tag: PSG

  • Transfer: Real Madrid make first offer for Mbappe

    Transfer: Real Madrid make first offer for Mbappe

    La Liga giant Real Madrid have made a first offer for Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe.

    Marca says Real president Florentino Perez has tabled a bid of €160m to lure the World Cup winner away from the Parc des Princes, and he is of the opinion that the sum offered is more than reasonable for a player whose contract expires in just one year.

    Real Madrid are hopeful that their dream of signing Mbappe will become a reality this summer, even with the transfer window only remaining open until midnight on Tuesday, August 31.

    Their feelings are boosted by Mbappe’s refusal to sign a new deal in Paris, which has put doubts into the minds of those upstairs at PSG, leading them to now consider letting the star striker move on.

    Carlo Ancelotti, despite his insistence that he only knows about ongoings in his current squad of players, is aware of the operation and he knows how positive those above him at the club feel.

  • I don’t care about what happens with Mbappe – Ancelotti

    I don’t care about what happens with Mbappe – Ancelotti

    Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti insists he’s not thinking about the prospect of PSG striker Kylian Mbappe arriving.

    Real Madrid face a trip to Levante on Sunday evening, with the club coming off the back of a rousing 4-1 win over Alaves in the opening weekend of the LaLiga Santander season.

    “I don’t care what happens [in relation to Mbappe] in the next few days,” Ancelotti told the press. “Because my squad is very strong.

    “Our viewpoint is the same, this squad can compete for everything. We have a lot of top players, and the squad is full of stars. Titles are won when those stars work for the team.

    “The atmosphere is very good in the dressing room, and I think the players are motivated and focused on their job. They aren’t involved in the transfer market and only talk about preparing well for the games.”

    Ancelotti also made clear what he demands of his players. Asked what it takes to play for the club, given the recent outgoings and possible incomings, the coach gave a detailed response.

    “You have to combine quality and a very strong character, that’s changed in the last few years and it’s very important to know how to manage it,” Ancelotti assessed.

    “If you come to Real Madrid it’s because you have technical and physical quality. After that, a great player proves himself because he has character, personality, by not being scared.

    “The capacity of having character to show quality is very important. It doesn’t always happen, there are players who can have problems with this, the mental aspect is much more important now than when I played.

    “If you don’t train and work, you can’t show the quality you have.”

  • Messi waiting patiently for PSG debut

    Messi waiting patiently for PSG debut

    Lionel Messi must wait to make his much-anticipated debut for Paris St-Germain after being left out for Friday’s Ligue 1 game at Brest.

    The six-time Ballon d’Or winner, 34, joined PSG on a free transfer last week after leaving Barcelona because of their financial difficulties.

    He has yet to play a game since winning the Copa America with Argentina – but is in full training with PSG.

    Forward Neymar and defender Sergio Ramos miss out as well.

    Boss Mauricio Pochettino said Messi had “settled in well” and there was a “good atmosphere in the squad”.

    The ex-Tottenham manager played down rumours that France forward Kylian Mbappe will join Real Madrid this summer.

    “Mbappe is our player and I want him to be here this season.” He has another year left on his contract. Even if he doesn’t renew it, he is still a PSG player.

  • La Liga president admits Messi Barca exit ‘traumatic’

    La Liga president admits Messi Barca exit ‘traumatic’

    La Liga president Javier Tebas says Lionel Messi’s departure from Barcelona was “traumatic”.

    Tebas admits Messi’s exit for PSG was a blow to the competition.

    He was talking at a press conference regarding the “historic and exceptional” LaLiga Impulso deal which was passed on Thursday, financed by the international investment fund CVC, which was voted against by Real Madrid, Barcelona and Athletic Club de Bilbao.

    “Barcelona were due to receive 275 million euros as part of this deal, but there are very intelligent people running the club, making the decisions, and this intelligence is evident from the latest decisions that they have made,” he said ironically.

    “Of course we want to have the best players playing in LaLiga. Neymar has left, Cristiano has left and now Messi has left. His departure has been slightly traumatic, because everything was seemingly on track for a month but then it all fell through in a single afternoon. It hurts that Messi has left, but we’ve worked hard to maintain the value of our rights.

    “Barcelona haven’t lost Messi due to this. I put it down to other reasons. The club has a lot of debt and made huge losses last season.”

  • ​Beckham sends message to Messi over PSG move

    ​Beckham sends message to Messi over PSG move

    England legend David Beckham has a message for Lionel Messi, after the latter’s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

    Messi sensationally signed for the Parisian club after leaving Barcelona at the expiry of his contract.

    The Argentine is reunited with former Barca teammate Neymar.

    He will play in a fearsome frontline along with Kylian Mbappe and countryman Angel Di Maria.

    Beckham, who spent the tail end of his illustrious career with PSG, commented on an Instagram post of Messi’s that announced his transfer:

    “Congratulations my friend, you have now joined the family. Very exciting times not only for everyone in Paris, but for all of France …”

  • PSG want to expand stadium after capturing Messi

    PSG want to expand stadium after capturing Messi

    Paris Saint-Germain have indicated the desire to expand their historic Parc des Princes stadium following the capture of Argentine superstar, Lionel Messi.

    “You have to expand this stadium, I love the Parc des Princes but it is important to expand this stadium for our fans and the future of our club,” PSG president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, told broadcaster Europe1 on Thursday.

    The city of Paris is backing the plans for the stadium which was last renovated in 1972.

    “Due to the attractiveness of fame of PSG, the fans deserve more places in an inviting stadium,” said Paris deputy mayor Emmanuel Gregroire on the programme.

    An expansion from 48,500 to between 55,000 and 60,000 is expected with more not possible due to the stadium’s construction.

    However, the Stade de France in Saint-Denis by Paris can hold 81,000.

    The arrival of Messi in Paris, on a free transfer from Barcelona, has further increased the global reach of the club with Gregoire calling it “amazing news, not only for Paris and French football but also sport in general.”

  • Messi meets PSG’s fans for first time after done deal

    Messi meets PSG’s fans for first time after done deal

    New signing Lionel Messi for the first time met with fans of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on Wednesday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Messi completed his deal of leaving FC Barcelona for PSG on Tuesday.

    With the deal done, Messi will stay at PSG 2023. The deal for the 34-year-old which has the option of a third year, will see him wear jersey number 30.

    Messi left Barca – the only club he has played for – as they were unable to afford a new deal under La Liga’s financial fair play rules.

    Messi has said joining PSG will give him the best chance of winning the Champions League for a fifth time.

    Despite the upheaval that followed his leaving FCB, the forward says he is now focused on bringing success to the Ligue 1 giants.

    Following his meeting with PSG’s fans, Messi said: “I start a new phase in my life and I do it with all the motivation and desire to keep learning every day.

    “We will work towards achieving the goals of the PSG – Paris Saint-Germain”.

  • Messi excited to build ‘something special’ at PSG

    Messi excited to build ‘something special’ at PSG

    Lionel Messi is determined to “build something special” at the Parc des Princes after signing for Paris Saint-Germain.

    The former Barcelona star, who scored 672 times in 778 appearances for the Blaugrana, was expected to sign a new contract at Camp Nou, but financial complications forced him out.

    Mauricio Pochettino’s men promptly swooped in to seal one of the most momentous signings in history, confirming the deal on Tuesday.

    Upon completing his move to the French giants, Messi said: “I am excited to begin a new chapter of my career at Paris Saint-Germain. Everything about the club matches my football ambitions.

    “I know how talented the squad and the coaching staff are here. I am determined to help build something special for the club and the fans.

    “ I am looking forward to stepping out onto the pitch at the Parc des Princes.”

    During his 18-year spell with Barcelona, Messi claimed four Champions League triumphs alongside 10 La Liga titles.

    The 34-year-old also collected his first international honours in July as he fired Argentina to their first Copa America success since 1993.

    The Argentina captain links up with former team-mate Neymar to create a formidable trio with Frenchman Kylian Mbappe.

    Mbappe was rumoured to be heading for the exit door with 12 months left on his current contract but Messi’s arrival will likely encourage the 22-year-old to discuss signing a new deal.

    With the addition of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum and Achraf Hakimi, the club will now look to reclaim their Ligue 1 crown, before thinking of the Champions League trophy.

  • Messi to PSG makes no difference to Ronaldo at Juve – Bonucci

    Messi to PSG makes no difference to Ronaldo at Juve – Bonucci

    Lionel Messi’s imminent switch to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has not had an impact on Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with Juventus, according to team-mate Leonardo Bonucci.

    Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is expected to complete a move to PSG this week after bringing an end to his 21-year association with FC Barcelona.

    French giants PSG have previously been linked with fellow superstar forward Ronaldo, who is now into the final 12 months of his contract with Juventus.

    With any path to the Parc des Princes now effectively being cut off by Messi’s arrival, Ronaldo looks set to stay in Turin for at least the next year.

    However, Bonucci insists the shock transfer involving Messi has had no bearing on where Ronaldo will play his football this coming season.

    “I think that Cristiano would have stayed even if Messi had not gone to PSG,” the Juve defender told Gazzetta dello Sport.

    “For us, it’s an added value and I’m sure that this year, more than in past years, he will help us reach all of our goals.”

    Since Ronaldo joined Juventus from Real Madrid in 2018, only Robert Lewandowski (103) has scored more goals in all competitions than his 73 among players in Europe’s top five leagues.

    The Portugal forward’s 83 goal involvements over this period rank fourth behind Lewandowski (121), Messi (106) and Kylian Mbappe (97).

    In spite of Ronaldo enjoying another prolific season in front of goal, Juventus finished fourth in Serie A in 2020/2021.

    And Bonucci, who played a starring role in Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph, is aiming to win back the title from Inter Milan when the new season begins.

    It will begin in a little under two weeks’ time.

    “We want to bring the Scudetto back home, there is no point in hiding that,” he said.

    “When you play for Juventus, that has to be the objective for the season, just like having a great UEFA Champions League campaign and fighting on all fronts.

    “Personally, though, my goal is to continue my form from the Euros, where I played a major role, and do that again with Juventus.”

  • Messi gets hero’s welcome in France ahead of PSG move

    Messi gets hero’s welcome in France ahead of PSG move

    Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi received a hero’s welcome after flying to France on Tuesday to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) following his shock departure from FC Barcelona.

    The agreement to sign the 34-year-old Argentine is a major coup for wealthy PSG.

    They will be adding one of the best football players of all time to an already formidable front line that includes Brazil’s Neymar and young Frenchman Kylian Mbappe.

    Wearing a T-shirt that read “This is Paris”, Messi beamed and waved at scores of fans who had come to greet him at Le Bourget airport on the outskirts of the French capital after his flight from Barcelona.

    Chanting “Messi, Messi, Messi”, the fans cheered and let off firecrackers.

    “It’s going to be mad. After all, it’s a legend who is arriving,” said Florent Chauveau, a PSG fan who has been back and forth to the airport every day since Sunday in the hope of seeing Messi arrive.

    Messi gave no details of the deal, which was reached days after FC Barcelona said it could not afford to keep the midfielder because of Spain’s La Liga’s fair play rules.

    But his father, speaking with reporters at Barcelona’s airport, confirmed reports by French newspaper L’Equipe and Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo that Messi had reached an agreement with PSG.

    The Parisian club is owned by Qatar Sports Investment.

    L’Equipe said the deal would be for two years.

    It also said Messi would have medical tests on Tuesday, and that a news conference to mark his arrival was likely on Wednesday.

    PSG did not comment on the reports but released a short video showing scenes of Paris, a plane landing and a close-up of someone putting pen to paper.

    In the background, upbeat music can heard and the words “new diamond in Paris” and “mercato update” appear.

    The video, seen on Twitter, does not show Messi but depicts an image of six Ballons d’Or — an annual award given to the player deemed the best in the world — by the Eiffel Tower.

    Many FC Barcelona fans were distraught at the end of Messi’s glittering, trophy-laden career at the club he joined as a schoolboy.

    But the arrival of FC Barcelona’s all-time record scorer with 682 goals will boost PSG’s ambitions to win the UEFA Champions League for the first time.

    Messi won four UEFA Champions League titles while at FC Barcelona, as well as 10 La Liga titles.

    Messi is the latest big-name arrival at PSG on a free transfer this summer after coach Mauricio Pochettino’s side snapped up Spanish defender Sergio Ramos after he left Real Madrid.

    Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum also joined after running down his contract with Liverpool.

    Italy’s Euro 2020-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has also joined after his contract with AC Milan ran out.

    Also, Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi joined from Inter Milan for a reported 60 million euros (70 million dollars).

    Messi’s last contract with FC Barcelona was worth a total of 555 million euros and reported to be the most lucrative in the world of sports.

    His arrival in Paris is also set to provoke a renewed new debate about UEFA’s financial fair play rules.

    The rules were first introduced in 2009 to restrict some of the worst excesses of the game, but they have been criticised by some leading figures for being ineffective.

    The arrival of Messi, who has 245 million followers on Instagram and is FC Barcelona’s most decorated player of all time, is also welcome news for France’s Ligue 1, embroiled in a crisis over TV rights.