Lionel Messi
Barcelona presidential candidate hits out at Paris Saint-Germain over Lionel Messi
Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has hit out at Paris Saint-Germain amid their pursuit of superstar Lionel Messi. Messi has been strongly linked with a move away from Barcelona in the coming months, with his contract set to expire in the summer. His transfer request last summer is still fresh in the memory, and Barcelona’s financial situation makes a player of his fame more difficult to keep hold of. Messi could be on his way out of Barcelona soon PSG, along with Manchester City, have been the club most heavily linked with the six-time Ballon d’Or winner. Sporting director Leonardo Araujo recently confirmed that his side were keeping an eye on Messi’s situation, while unconfirmed reports that the player was learning French added fuel to the fire. Barcelona presidential candida...
Joan Laporta: PSG have been disrespectful in Leo Messi pursuit
Paris Saint-Germain have been “disrespectful” in their pursuit of Lionel Messi, according to Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta, who has threatened to report the Ligue 1 champions to FIFA. PSG have been strongly linked with Messi ever since his decision to hand in a transfer request at Camp Nou at the end of the 2019-20 campaign. The 33-year-old ultimately decided to see out the final year of his current contract with Barca after opposition from club officials and La Liga, but his long-term future remains up in the air. Parc des Princes has been mooted as the most likely next destination for Messi, and PSG sporting director Leonardo publicly sounded out the six-time Ballon d’Or winner earlier this month. “Great players like Messi will always be on PSG’s list,” said the Brazilian...
Report: Barcelona star Lionel Messi learning French alongside his family
Barcelona star Lionel Messi is understood to be taking French lessons alongside his family, as per Canal + journalist Geoffroy Garétier, speaking to El Mundo Deportivo. The Argentine’s future has been a regular topic of speculation since the summer and he currently has less than six months remaining on his Blaugrana deal. So far, the club have been unable to negotiate a renewal with the six-time Ballon d’Or winner and it is reported that he and his family are learning French. The 33-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City last summer and it has been claimed that they could sign him on a free transfer later this year. However, Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in Messi and Garétier has hinted that the Argentine, who is learning French, could be on his way ...
Cash-strapped Barcelona wants Sergio Aguero, David Alaba for free
Barcelona are hoping they can land Sergio Aguero and David Alaba on free transfers this summer after their contracts expire at Manchester City and Bayern Munich respectively. Aguero is expected to depart the Etihad Stadium after 10 years which have seen him become the club’s all-time top goal scorer with 256 goals and lift four Premier League titles in a glittering career. However, injuries have since caught up with the 32-year-old and he has now gone a full year without scoring a Premier League goal at the Etihad. According to Mundo Deportivo, Barca see the striker as the ideal No 9 replacement for Luis Suarez, who departed for Atletico Madrid in the summer, in providing a big name signing for supporters. Barca are in desperate financial struggles following the coronavirus outbreak, and t...
Ronald Koeman defends Lionel Messi after late red card
Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has come to the defence of club captain Lionel Messi after the Argentine received a late red card in the Supercopa de Espana defeat against Athletic Bilbao. Messi was given his marching orders right at the death following a VAR check. Replays showed that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner had struck Bilbao forward Asier Villalibre in the back of the head off the ball. Messi exits after a moment of frustration The superstar is now set to serve a suspension, which could range from two to four games depending on how the authorities view the incident. He will miss Thursday’s Copa del Rey fixture against Cornella and Sunday’s trip to Elche at the very least, with the following meetings against Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis also in jeopardy. Barcelona currently sit in ...
World-class striker snubs Real Madrid to wait for Messi at Paris Saint-Germain
It seemed like Kylian Mbappe would be announced as a Real Madrid signing in the summer of 2021 after the French forward had reportedly asked the Paris Saint-Germain board to let him leave at the end of the season. However, since then, a lot has changed for Mbappe, PSG, and Real Madrid. Diaro GOL reports that Mbappe has considered not to make a move next summer to the Santiago Bernabeu as the 22-year-old forward wants to see out his contract at the Parc des Princes. Another reason is that the former AS Monaco star wants to experience a season with Lionel Messi who has been tipped to sign for Paris Saint-Germain next summer. With Thomas Tuchel being sacked a few days ago, former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has been tipped to take over the role. Pochettino reportedly wants L...
Lionel Messi demands drastic overhaul at Barcelona to stay past 2021
Barcelona must do all they can to keep hold of Lionel Messi and the latest lists of demands he has made make absolute sense in regard to the situation. Barcelona captain Lionel Messi is reaching the end of his contract at the Camp Nou and with every passing day, he is closer to being a free agent. As a matter of fact, he can discuss and agree to join a club based out of Spain from January 1 but that looks unlikely considering that his latest comments suggest he may end up prolonging his stay at Barca. While the Argentinian sees the Camp Nou as his home and wants to call it a day on his career there itself, it is of no surprise that he wants to be part of a world-class squad in his final years at the top level. Unfortunately, the current Barcelona roster has a lot of gaping holes that need ...
Mutiu Adepoju: It is wrong to call young players next Lionel Messi or Austin Okocha
AOIFOOTBALL.COM Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, says it is wrong to call young players the next Lionel Messi or Austine Jay Jay Okocha since it puts them under lots of pressure. Adepoju, who is also nicknamed the “headmaster” in his playing days disclosed this when he spoke with BBC Sport. According to him, local media and fans must stop as it is not good for the growth of the players. He said: “I believe calling young players in the youth teams as the next Messi or Jay-Jay Okocha is unfair and unnecessary. “Indulging in this comparison is setting them up for failure because the weight of expectations will definitely affect these players mentally. “It’s the main reason some players refused to work hard and be themselves because they easily get carried away by what the press ...
Manchester City prepare an enormous bid to sign Erling Haaland
Manchester City have not been firing all cylinders this season in the Premier League, partly due to Sergio Aguero’s injury issues. Although the Sky Blues have managed to sort out their defence with the arrival of Ruben Dias from Benfica and the revival of John Stones. However, their lack of goals upfront remains an issue and relying on just Raheem Sterling to consistently find the net for the rest of the season could be a serious issue. Having said that, reports from GOAL now state that Manchester City are plotting a move that could absolutely revolutionize their attacking front three. The report states that the Sky Blues are considering signing Erling Haaland next summer. Haaland would be the ideal signing given the fact that Aguero has already regressed this season with injuries and his ...
Where Next For Barcelona’s Superstars?
The last 18 months at Barcelona have been turbulent to say the very least. A rare trophyless season, humiliation in the Champions League for the third year running, Lionel Messi’s transfer request, mass protests against the club president, three different managers. And, at the end of it all, a worrying financial situation. Last summer, several of the club’s biggest names departed, including Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez. The upcoming transfer windows are expected to be no different, with a number of players rumoured to be nearing the exit door. Of course, the question remains: where will they go? Let’s have a look. Lionel Messi Messi almost left the Camp Nou last summer Lionel Messi dropped a bombshell on the world of football last summer by announcing that he wanted to leave Barcelona. Ho...
FIFPro Announce 2020 World XI Nominees
The shortlist for the 2020 FIFPro World XI has been announced. Every professional footballer around the world was invited to vote for the best player in each position. The ones with the most votes made it into the 55-man shortlist. The goalkeeper with the most votes, as well as the top three defenders, midfielders, and forwards, will be inducted into the FIFPro World XI. The remaining spot will go to the outfield player with the most votes. Bayern Munich are the most represented team in the shortlist, boasting 11 players. Title winners Real Madrid and Liverpool come in joint-second with eight players each. Bayern completed the treble with a win over PSG in August Despite going trophyless last year, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur both make it into the top five, with six and five candidates...
Neymar wants Messi reunion, but will it be in Paris?
Neymar dropped a huge hint surrounding his future after his side’s win at Old Trafford, revealing that he wants a reunion with former teammate Lionel Messi. Neymar joined Paris Saint Germain in 2017 for a world record transfer fee of approximately £198m. Since then, he has scored 76 goals in 95 appearances in all competitions, winning seven domestic trophies and reaching the final of last year’s Champions League. Neymar arrived at PSG for a world record fee On Wednesday evening, the Brazilian bagged a brace as PSG saw off Manchester United 3-1 at Old Trafford to put the French champions in control in Group H. And, after the game, the 28-year-old admitted that he would love to play with six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi again, as early as next year. Speaking after the victory (via BT...
