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 European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Fc Barcelona Fan Thread: "més Que Un Club" by Oldboss(m): 7:28pm On Sep 07, 2020 |
Liverpool continue to be linked with
Thiago Alcantara but, if Marc-Andre Ter
Stegen had his way, the Bayern Munich
star would be heading to Barcelona
instead, in quotes reported by Goal.
Despite seemingly signing off with a
treble as Hansi Flick’s ruthless winning
machine followed up their Bundesliga and
DFB Pokal triumphs with a Champions
League final victory over Paris Saint-
Germain, Bayern’s midfield metronome is
not exactly overloaded with offers.
The likes of Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG and
even a rebuilding Barcelona have been
strangely absent from the picture thus far.
HOW JOSEP BARTOMEU RUINED FC
BARCELONA
This is despite the fact that Thiago, who
was sold by Barca as a fresh-faced
youngster back in 2013, gave his old
employers a masterclass in Cruyffianism
during that 8-2 battering in August.
Although, after watching on in awe as the
former Camp Nou starlet weaved his
magic wand and left Arturo Vidal and co
in a trance, there is one man in Catalonia
who would love to share a pitch with
Thiago on a more regular basis.
“I would like to have Thiago at Barca. His
style suits us and he has an interesting
personality,” the German goalkeeper says.
FABRIZIO ROMANO HAS POTENTIALLY
GOOD TRANSFER NEWS FOR
LIVERPOOL FANS
PLAYER JURGEN KLOPP REPORTEDLY
PUSHING LIVERPOOL TO SIGN
RESPONDS TO SPECULATION
“He is a special type of player. He would
definitely offer us something different. If
he did sign it would be great for us and
him.”
According to BleacherReport, Jurgen
Klopp is pushing Liverpool to make a
move for the £25 million-rated Thiago; a
player the Reds boss has publicly
expressed his admiration for recently.
At the age of 29, and with a history of
injuries behind him, you can understand
why some of Europe’s biggest and best
see Thiago as a risk in today’s most
uncertain of markets.
But Klopp is seemingly willing to roll the
dice for a man who, when fit and firing, is
perhaps the finest play-maker in the game
today. |
| European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Fc Barcelona Fan Thread: "més Que Un Club" by Oldboss(m): 4:03pm On Sep 04, 2020 |
(Reuters) - Lionel Messi’s future at
Barcelona remained unclear as his father
published a letter to La Liga on Friday
dismissing their claim that a 700 million
euro (625.86 million pounds)release
clause in his son’s contract still applies if
he wants to leave the club.
Six-times world player of the year Messi
insists he can leave on a free transfer
while Barcelona, backed by La Liga,
argue that the release clause must be
paid.
La Liga responded to Jorge Messi’s letter
with a statement reaffirming its support
for Barcelona’s stance that Messi’s
contract was still valid.
The 33-year-old Messi dropped a
bombshell last month that he wanted to
leave the club and that he could do so on
a free transfer.
A further twist in the story that has
gripped the sporting world came as
Argentina’s TYC Sports reported on their
website that Messi had reluctantly
agreed to stay with the Spanish club for
another year.
Jorge Messi’s letter was written directly
to La Liga president Javier Tebas and
accuses La Liga of making an error in
their interpretation of the contract.
“First, we do not know what contract
you have analysed and on what grounds
you conclude that there is a ‘release
clause’ applicable in the case of him
deciding to unilaterally end his contract
from the end of the 2019-20 season,” he
wrote in a letter published on social
media.
“Second, that doing so (reaching that
conclusion) is founded upon a clear
error on your part. As clause 8.2.3.6 of
the contract signed between the club
and the player explicitly says: “This
indemnity will not apply when the
player’s decision to unilaterally rescind
the contract is effective from the end of
the 2019-2020 season,” he added.
“It is obvious that the compensation of
700 million euros, provided for in the
previous clause... does not apply at all.”
La Liga originally issued a statement on
Sunday, hours after Messi failed to attend
a pre-season medical, saying that they
would not approve a request for Messi
to be de-registered as a player with the
Spanish football federation, unless the
amount in the release clause was met.
They underlined that stance in a further
statement on Friday, despite Jorge
Messi’s insistence that his son’s contract
was no longer valid.
It means the frenzy of speculation about
where Messi will play next season will
continue unabated.
Should he leave Barcelona, Premier
League club Manchester City are
favourites to sign him, which would
allow Messi to link up with his former
Barca coach Pep Guardiola.
Although even the Abu Dhabi-owned
club might find a 700 million-euro fee,
plus Messi’s huge salary, a deal-breaker.
Messi, who has won more than 30 major
trophies with the Spanish club and
scored more than 600 goals, earns
around one million euros per week.
Messi informed Barca last week he
wished to leave immediately, plunging
the club into new turmoil less than two
weeks after their humiliating 8-2
Champions League quarter-final defeat
by Bayern Munich.
Messi’s lawyers intend to invoke a clause
in his four-year contract, signed in 2017,
which would have allowed the forward
to leave the club for free if he had
requested it by June 10.
They will argue that that date --
nominally the end of the season -- is
now irrelevant after the coronavirus
pandemic forced an extension of the La
Liga campaign deep into August.
Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru
and Martyn Herman in London; Editing
by Toby Chopra and Toby Davis
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters
Trust Principles.
Lionel Messi's father and agent Jorge
Messi arrives at his lawyers' office in |
| European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Fc Barcelona Fan Thread: "més Que Un Club" by Oldboss(m): 4:02pm On Sep 04, 2020 |
(Reuters) - Lionel Messi’s future at
Barcelona remained unclear as his father
published a letter to La Liga on Friday
dismissing their claim that a 700 million
euro (625.86 million pounds)release
clause in his son’s contract still applies if
he wants to leave the club.
Six-times world player of the year Messi
insists he can leave on a free transfer
while Barcelona, backed by La Liga,
argue that the release clause must be
paid.
La Liga responded to Jorge Messi’s letter
with a statement reaffirming its support
for Barcelona’s stance that Messi’s
contract was still valid.
The 33-year-old Messi dropped a
bombshell last month that he wanted to
leave the club and that he could do so on
a free transfer.
A further twist in the story that has
gripped the sporting world came as
Argentina’s TYC Sports reported on their
website that Messi had reluctantly
agreed to stay with the Spanish club for
another year.
Jorge Messi’s letter was written directly
to La Liga president Javier Tebas and
accuses La Liga of making an error in
their interpretation of the contract.
“First, we do not know what contract
you have analysed and on what grounds
you conclude that there is a ‘release
clause’ applicable in the case of him
deciding to unilaterally end his contract
from the end of the 2019-20 season,” he
wrote in a letter published on social
media.
“Second, that doing so (reaching that
conclusion) is founded upon a clear
error on your part. As clause 8.2.3.6 of
the contract signed between the club
and the player explicitly says: “This
indemnity will not apply when the
player’s decision to unilaterally rescind
the contract is effective from the end of
the 2019-2020 season,” he added.
“It is obvious that the compensation of
700 million euros, provided for in the
previous clause... does not apply at all.”
La Liga originally issued a statement on
Sunday, hours after Messi failed to attend
a pre-season medical, saying that they
would not approve a request for Messi
to be de-registered as a player with the
Spanish football federation, unless the
amount in the release clause was met.
They underlined that stance in a further
statement on Friday, despite Jorge
Messi’s insistence that his son’s contract
was no longer valid.
It means the frenzy of speculation about
where Messi will play next season will
continue unabated.
Should he leave Barcelona, Premier
League club Manchester City are
favourites to sign him, which would
allow Messi to link up with his former
Barca coach Pep Guardiola.
Although even the Abu Dhabi-owned
club might find a 700 million-euro fee,
plus Messi’s huge salary, a deal-breaker.
Messi, who has won more than 30 major
trophies with the Spanish club and
scored more than 600 goals, earns
around one million euros per week.
Messi informed Barca last week he
wished to leave immediately, plunging
the club into new turmoil less than two
weeks after their humiliating 8-2
Champions League quarter-final defeat
by Bayern Munich.
Messi’s lawyers intend to invoke a clause
in his four-year contract, signed in 2017,
which would have allowed the forward
to leave the club for free if he had
requested it by June 10.
They will argue that that date --
nominally the end of the season -- is
now irrelevant after the coronavirus
pandemic forced an extension of the La
Liga campaign deep into August.
Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru
and Martyn Herman in London; Editing
by Toby Chopra and Toby Davis
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters
Trust Principles.
Lionel Messi's father and agent Jorge
Messi arrives at his lawyers' office in |
| Sports › Messi's Father Says €700M Release Clause Not Applicable by Oldboss(op): 3:54pm On Sep 04, 2020 |
LIONEL MESSI’S FATHER has written to La
Liga insisting the player is contractually
allowed to leave Barcelona for free in the
current transfer window.
The league had stated last weekend that it
believed a buy-out clause of €700 million
still applied, but Jorge Messi – who also acts
as the player’s agent – insists the player’s
contract allowed him to exercise an option
to leave at the end of the 2019-20 season.
In the letter sent today, which has been
seen by the PA news agency, Messi Senior
argues that his son’s contract does not
specify a date when the option to leave
must be exercised, simply that it must be
done at the end of the campaign.
Barca’s season ended on 14 August when
they were hammered by Bayern Munich in
the Champions League quarter-finals.
Messi’s representatives sent a fax to the
club on 25 August expressing his desire to
leave.
La Liga agreed with Barcelona that the buy-
out clause was still applicable in its
statement on the matter last Sunday, and it
is understood it will address the content of
Jorge Messi’s letter later this afternoon.
Last Sunday a league statement read: “In
compliance with the applicable regulations,
and following the corresponding procedure
in these cases, La Liga will not carry out the
prior visa process for the player to be
removed from the federation if they have
not previously paid the amount of said
clause.” Messi, who has been with the Catalan club since the age of 13, did not arrive for a scheduled club coronavirus test last Sunday morning. Since news of Messi’s desire to leave became public, a handful of the world’s richest clubs have been linked with him, including Manchester City, whose manager Pep Guardiola was his boss at Barca between 2008 and 2012. It has been reported that he is unhappy with the direction of the club under their current president Josep Bartomeu. |
| Sports › Re: "The Super Eagles Thread: The Road To AFCON 2027, 2028 And 2030 World Cup by Oldboss(m): 1:14pm On Sep 04, 2020 |
True ........................... andrewbaba44: |
| Sports › Re: "The Super Eagles Thread: The Road To AFCON 2027, 2028 And 2030 World Cup by Oldboss(m): 9:03am On Sep 04, 2020 |
andrewbaba44:it won't be easy for Yakubu to score or live up to the expectation drogba did playing for big club is not easy |
| Sports › Re: "The Super Eagles Thread: The Road To AFCON 2027, 2028 And 2030 World Cup by Oldboss(m): 2:04pm On Sep 01, 2020 |
slimthugchimee2:you are $aying the true fact |
| Sports › KSV Roeselare Midfielder Kayode Pledges International Future To Nigeria by Oldboss(op): 7:12am On Aug 31, 2020 |
KSV
Roeselare
midfielder
Olukayode Jacomo
Maria Osu has
pledged
his international future to Nigeria though
he is also eligible to represent England
and Italy.
He was born in North Surrey, England
eighteen years ago to a Nigerian father
and Italian mother, making him eligible
to represent the three nations.
Kayode's camp has made contact with
the Nigeria Football Federation and
there are plans to invite him to the
Flying Eagles when the squad begins
preparations for the U20 AFCON
qualifiers.
Aged 18, he played for AFC
Wimbledon's youth teams prior to his
move to KSV Roeselare.
On his decision to represent Nigeria,
rather than two European giants,
Kayode said : "Obviously my dad is
Nigerian and all of our family they've
grown up in Nigeria so it'll be a great
honour to represent the country that I
obviously have close ties to and I'll
make all of my family so, so proud.
"My dad is really excited for me to
hopefully get the opportunity. I have
enjoyed watching the Nigerian team
over the last few years and I feel I can
add quality to that youth team as well.
It will definitely be a great experience."
Kayode was issued a Nigerian passport
in Brussels last week ahead of a
potential call-up to the Flying Eagles |
| Sports › Ben Chilwell: Chelsea Sign Leicester Defender On Five-year Deal by Oldboss(op): 6:18pm On Aug 26, 2020 |
Chelsea have signed England left-back Ben Chilwell from Leicester on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee. Chilwell is Chelsea's third addition of the summer after the arrivals of winger Hakim Ziyech, 27, from Ajax and striker Timo Werner, 24, from RB Leipzig. The defender, 23, is a Leicester academy product who made his debut for the club in 2015, and had a contract with the Foxes until 2024. He missed the final five matches of the 2019-20 season with a foot injury. Chelsea took fourth place and a Champions League place at the expense of Leicester on the final day of the Premier League season in July. "I'm looking forward to being a part of this young, dynamic squad led by Frank Lampard as we challenge for honours next season," said Chilwell, who has 11 England caps. Timo Werner: How Chelsea move happened and how he will fit in "He [Lampard] does play the younger players if they are good enough and just from speaking to him, I'm really excited to be here. I think the way the gaffer sets his teams up suits my game perfectly." Chilwell made a total of 123 appearances for Leicester and scored four goals, three of them coming in the Premier League last season. Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia added: "We are confident Ben will adapt very quickly to being a Chelsea player and with the fixture programme for 2020-21 especially busy, he is a fantastic addition to the squad needed to challenge for honours." Analysis - Foxes' shrewd business model Ian Stringer, BBC Radio Leicester Chilwell joining fellow Foxes Danny Drinkwater and N'Golo Kante at Chelsea continues a model of selling one of their 'stars' every year since Kante left for Chelsea in 2016. Drinkwater followed him to west London in 2017, Riyad Mahrez went to Manchester City in 2018 and Harry Maguire joined Manchester United in 2019. It balances the books and allows reinvestment for Leicester - on what is not a bad return at all. Those five players cost a total £24.1m. Leicester sold them collectively for £250m over four years - and still finished above Arsenal and Tottenham last season. Shrewd. www.bbc.com/sport/football/53913585?iorg_service_id_internal=624173547714020%3BAfoIBdD3bLUUoq8i |
| European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Fc Barcelona Fan Thread: "més Que Un Club" by Oldboss(m): 9:48pm On Aug 25, 2020 |
joviegghead:we are also hoping he does a good job and the players perform |
| European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Fc Barcelona Fan Thread: "més Que Un Club" by Oldboss(m): 9:42pm On Aug 25, 2020 |
tesppidd:bro u are a joker dembele we we all know at dembele age messi has already won day ballot dor |
| European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Fc Barcelona Fan Thread: "més Que Un Club" by Oldboss(m): 9:31pm On Aug 25, 2020 |
tesppidd:apart from Messi and Ronaldo with neymer name let me hear |
| European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Fc Barcelona Fan Thread: "més Que Un Club" by Oldboss(m): 9:29pm On Aug 25, 2020 |
NegroAcheiver: |
| European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Fc Barcelona Fan Thread: "més Que Un Club" by Oldboss(m): 9:23pm On Aug 25, 2020 |
tesppidd:thank you 1 Like |
| European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Fc Barcelona Fan Thread: "més Que Un Club" by Oldboss(m): 9:21pm On Aug 25, 2020 |
tesppidd:to be sincere Griezmann could start playing that free role which we saw him perform well at ATM |
| European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Fc Barcelona Fan Thread: "més Que Un Club" by Oldboss(m): 9:18pm On Aug 25, 2020 |
fourfourfour:hw low did u expected me to go at the metion of barcelona other team still bow |
| European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Fc Barcelona Fan Thread: "més Que Un Club" by Oldboss(m): 9:05pm On Aug 25, 2020 |
NegroAcheiver:we have not find perfect replacement for Puyol, Xavi Iniesta Daniel Alves it is Messi own dat will be day worst him leaving means we will just be on the same level as Atm |
| European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Fc Barcelona Fan Thread: "més Que Un Club" by Oldboss(m): 8:51pm On Aug 25, 2020 |
NegroAcheiver:it will also be time for Griezmann Dembele to step up and show what they are capable of |
| Sports › Re: UEFA Champions League All Time Scorers (group Stage To Final) by Oldboss(m): 8:38pm On Aug 25, 2020 |
babakbb:making him better that the noise |
| Sports › Re: UEFA Champions League All Time Scorers (group Stage To Final) by Oldboss(m): 3:22pm On Aug 25, 2020 |
Beverlyjean:but he still has more ballon dor than ur penaldo since xavi left he has still won ballon dor once why ur mr chanllger since leaving benzema and modric dubia ballot dor |
| Sports › Chukwueze Deployed As A Midfielder In Villarreal Pre-season Game by Oldboss(op): 8:23pm On Aug 24, 2020 |
Samuel Chukwueze has played his first
game under new Villarreal coach Unai
Emery, who took over the reins from
Javi Calleja last month,
allnigeriasoccer.com reports.
The Yellow Submarine defeated
Segunda División side Cartagena 3-1 at
the Pinatar Arena in Murcia in their first
pre-season friendly on Sunday.
The official team sheet showed that the
Nigeria international was deployed as a
right midfielder by the Spanish football
tactician and he was joined in midfield
by former Arsenal star Coquelin, Parejo
and Ontiveros.
Chukwueze is predominantly used as a
right winger for club and country so
that he can cut inside with his stronger
left foot.
Emery fielded a different starting lineup
for the second half of the Cartagena
test which saw Chukwueze among the
eleven players replaced at half-time.
The La Liga club secured the win
thanks to goals from Fernando Nino,
Gerard Moreno and Paco Alcacer, while
Villarreal loanee Simón Morneo pulled a
goal back for the second-tier side.
Villarreal's next pre-season friendly
comes up against CD Tenerife on
Tuesday, August 25. |
| European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Fc Barcelona Fan Thread: "més Que Un Club" by Oldboss(m): 12:31pm On Aug 23, 2020 |
It could be a crucial week ahead with
regards to the future of Lionel Messi, with
the Argentinean star still said to be
seriously considering his position at
Barcelona.
The rumour mill has gone into overdrive
ever since his side's humiliating 8-2 loss to
Bayern Munich, with some reports claiming
it has convinced the six-time Ballon d'Or
winner that the time has come to seek a
new challenge after 16 glorious years at
the Nou Camp.
But while the Bayern result may have been
the straw that broke the camel's back,
Messi's unhappiness at the club appears to
have been building up over the last year or
so for a number of reasons. Barcelona-based publication Mundo Deportivo have highlighted five key factors which they believe have contributed to the star's disillusion at the Catalan giants. Firstly, the club's failure to re-sign Messi's former teammate Neymar last summer despite strong rumours the PSG forward would make a dramatic return to the Nou Camp is said to have upset him, with Messi having formed a lethal partnership with the Brazilian during his time in Barcelona. Instead, they splashed the cash on French international Antoine Griezmann in a big- money move from Atletico Madrid. Things haven't worked out for the player so far, however, and his relationship both on and off the pitch with Messi has yet to spark. Messi was also thought to be against the sacking of previous manager Ernesto Valverde in January. The team were in poor form, but Messi had a good relationship with the coach and felt convinced he would be able to turn it around. Valverde's dismissal led to sporting director Eric Abidal's criticism of the effort of the players in an interview with Sport , in which he said that 'many players weren’t satisfied or working hard' under Valverde - seemingly suggesting it was their fault that he got the sack in January. In an extraordinary move, Messi - who is not exactly known for his outspoken demeanor - took to Instagram the next day to slam Abidal for his comments, saying: "The people in the sporting directorate should also assume their responsibility and above all take ownership of the decisions they make. Valverde's successor, Quique Setien, never managed to connect with Messi in the same way as his predecessor, in yet another factor that upset him. And finally, Messi was also unhappy with the way Barcelona dealt with the coronavirus pandemic behind the scenes, and wrote an open letter on Instagram criticising the club for not acting quicker in helping the players find a solution before they eventually took a 70% pay cut. With all these incidents added together, it is perhaps unsurprising that Messi is seriously considering leaving the club that he has spent his whole career. New boss Ronald Koeman is doing all he can to try to convince him to stay, with his contract not due to expire until the end of next season. But it would not come as a huge surprise to see Messi move on this summer. The big question then would be: where does he go next? Over to you, Pep Guardiola. |
| European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Fc Barcelona Fan Thread: "més Que Un Club" by Oldboss(m): 12:02pm On Aug 23, 2020 |
barackodam:but they tried signing him last winter transfer break |
| European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: Fc Barcelona Fan Thread: "més Que Un Club" by Oldboss(m): 8:12am On Aug 23, 2020 |
Barcelona are reportedly facing paying a
huge sum if they want to seal the transfer
of Everton forward Richarlison this summer.
The Brazil international has shone in his
time in the Premier League and the Daily
Mirror note that Barcelona tried to sign him
by launching a £100million bid for his
services back in January. Richarlison is now said to be valued at as much as £143m, according to the Mirror, so it won’t be cheap for Barca if they decide to come back in for him this summer. The Catalan giants could undoubtedly do with making some changes up front after a hugely disappointing 2019/20 campaign. Quique Setien was recently sacked at the Nou Camp after the club missed out on the La Liga title, and were thrashed 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Former Everton boss Ronald Koeman is now in charge and could raid his old club for the signing of Richarlison to replace struggling attackers like Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele. Still, it remains to be seen if Barcelona can realistically afford to splash out that much money on one player at the moment. |
| Sports › Transfer LIVE - Richarlison 'price Clam' Amid Renewed Barcelona Link, by Oldboss(op): 7:58am On Aug 23, 2020 |
Hello and welcome to the Liverpool ECHO's
Sunday live blog for all your very latest
Everton news, rumours and transfer
gossip.
The ECHO will provide breaking stories,
reaction and comment to all the big talking
points from Goodison Park - as well as
keeping tabs on transfer market gossip
from around the world.
We will have reaction to yesterday's 3-3
pre-season friendly draw at Blackpool
along the latest transfer news and rumours
throughout the day.
Get involved and send your thoughts to
@LivEchoEFC.
Sign up for the ECHO's free EFC newsletter
here for all the latest transfer updates, as
well as breaking news, opinion and much
more. It's free and takes just seconds to
register.
Take our EFC transfer survey and let us
know what you think the Blues need this
summer HERE
And don't forget to subscribe to our
YouTube channel and listen to our Royal
Blue Podcast, with all your favourite ECHO
regulars including Phil Kirkbride, Adam
Jones, Dave Prentice, Gavin Buckland, Chris
Beesley, Paul Wheelock and Sam Carroll.
Further reading
In case you missed the rumours and
speculation from yesterday catch up HERE
and make sure you're signed up to our
daily Blues newsletter HERE
Everton pair in shop
window as important
transfers long overdue
Our man Phil Kirkbride provides his full
analysis as Everton fought back from three
goals down early on to fight back to draw
with Blackpool on Saturday: read HERE
Morning Blues
Hello everyone and welcome to today’s
Everton Live Blog
Everton news and transfers
LIVE - Richarlison 'price clam'
amid renewed Barcelona
link, Gabriel latest
RICHARLISON TAKES TIME OUT TO
CALL EVERTON FANS AT HOME
23:30 DAN KAY |
| Sports › Potential Barcelona Sale In Doubt As Boss Koeman Sees Star As Non-transferable by Oldboss(op): 10:58pm On Aug 21, 2020 |
According to Spanish publication AS via SER,
new boss Ronald Koeman has added a
controversial name to Barcelona’s non-
transferable list in Gerard Pique, despite
interest in the veteran defender.
President Josep Maria Bartomeu stated in a
lengthy interview recently that Lionel Messi,
Frenkie de Jong, Antoine Griezmann, Marc-
Andre ter Stegen, Ousmane Dembele, Nelson
Semedo and Ansu Fati were the only players
that won’t be allowed to leave this summer.
AS report that Koeman, a sweeping central
defender in his playing days, sees Pique as
a key part of the team, the 33-year-old
actually offered to leave after Barcelona’s
8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich.
On the other hand, it’s claimed that Koeman
doesn’t see fellow experienced stars Luis
Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba as
part of his plans.
According to Portuguese outlet Libero,
newly-promoted Fulham have launched a
bid to sign Pique, this potential sale is of
course in doubt considering Koeman’s
stance on the centre-back.
Pique has made 543 appearances across all
competitions for Barcelona, with the 6ft4
centre-back also a serious aerial threat after
netting 46 goals for the Catalan outfit.
The Catalan outfit need to reshape their
defensive ranks especially in the near
future, which certainly leaves Pique in a
tricky spot. |
| Sports › UWCL: Oshoala Provides Game-winning Assist In Barcelona's by Oldboss(op): 8:34pm On Aug 21, 2020 |
Nigeria international Asisat Oshoala
provided the game-winning assist as
Barcelona beat Atlético Madrid 1-0 at
the San Mamés Barria (Bilbao) to reach
the semifinals of the UEFA Women's
Champions League on Friday evening,
allnigeriasoccer.com reports.
The Barcelona number 20 started and
was in action for 82 minutes before
making way for Aitana Bonmati.
The Blaugranes came close to breaking
the deadlock through Martens in the
36th minute after she was picked out
by Oshoala but Tounkara cleared off
the line.
At minute 53, the Super Falcon was
presented with an opportunity of her
own as she outjumped her marker to
meet a cross from the right wing but
her header missed the target.
And the 25-year-old spurned another
chance in the 70th minute as her
outstretched legs narrowly missed a
cross.
Barcelona's winning goal finally arrived
with ten minutes left on the clock, with
Hamraoui blasting the ball home after
she was set up by Oshoala.
Oshoala and her teammates will face
Wolfsburg, who thrashed Glasgow City
9-1, in the last four on Tuesday, August
25. |
| Sports › Barcelona's Board Debate Selling Frustrated Messi - Sources by Oldboss(op): 5:35pm On Aug 21, 2020 |
Barcelona hope to convince Lionel Messi to
stay at the club, but some members of the
board have told ESPN that they wouldn't be
against selling him in the right
circumstances.
New coach Ronald Koeman has publicly said
he wants to build the team around Messi
and sources have told ESPN that the board's
stance is that they want to keep him.
...........................
However, Messi's own doubts about his
future have generated an internal debate
among the board. Some directors have told
ESPN that they would be prepared to listen
to offers that would allow Koeman to
reconstruct the team at the same time as
reducing the wage bill.
Messi has grown frustrated with events on
and off the pitch in recent seasons. He had a
public fallout with former sporting director
Eric Abidal earlier this year and criticised the
board for attempting to put pressure on the
players when they were negotiating a wage
cut due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On the pitch, Champions League exits
against Roma and Liverpool have been
followed by a first trophy-less season since
2007-08, with the humiliating 8-2 defeat to
Bayern Munich topping everything off.
RAC 1 first revealed on Thursday that Messi
has already met with Koeman and informed
him that he sees himself more out than in at
Camp Nou after the Champions League
quarterfinal defeat to Bayern.
ESPN has also been able to confirm that the
Argentina international forward transmitted
his doubts about the new sporting project
to Koeman, which includes potential exits
for Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba, among
others. On Friday, Suarez posted an
enigmatic message in his Instagram story
that said: "Never forget that you are the
architect of your own future."
The majority of sources at the Catalan club
consulted by ESPN were relaxed about the
uncertainty surrounding Messi's future
because he still has one year to go on his
contract. They also believe the Dutch coach
will be able to change his mind with further
talks planned between the two.
However, at least one high-ranking source
at the club is of the opinion that if Messi is
not happy at Barcelona anymore then they
should consider letting him go if a big offer
arrives.
For the moment, no one has dared put a
price on Messi's head, and the club continue
to point to his €700 million release clause --
although he would be allowed to leave for
free next summer if he doesn't sign new
terms before then.
President Josep Maria Bartomeu remains
determined to get Messi to stay and wants
to tie him down to a new deal until 2023
before his own mandate expires next year.
But negotiations over a two-year extension
have completely stopped for now as Barca
wait to see if Messi's anger following the
Bayern loss eases in the coming days or if,
this time, he has finally decided to abandon
the club he first joined almost 20 years ago. |
| Sports › Lionel Messi Interrupted His Vacation To Meet With Koeman by Oldboss(op): 1:38pm On Aug 20, 2020 |
Reportedly, Lionel Messi and Ronald
Koeman will meet each other this Thursday
to discuss the Dutchman’s new project.
The coach will explain what he has in
mind, and learn about Messi’s thoughts.
Messi has even interrupted his vacation to
meet with the new coach before the
weekend, at the request of President
Bartomeu.
Many rumors rose about the Argentine’s
potential departure after the 8-2 disaster
against Bayern Munich. Bartomeu told that
he spoke with Jorge, Messi’s father and
agent:
“I spoke with Jorge Messi. He told me what
we all know, that there is a strong
disappointment.”, said the Barcelona chief.
We have to wait and see whether Messi
will change his mind after hearing about
Koeman’s project, but what is known is
that the Barça icon demanded bigger
changes at the club than just the
appointment of a new coach. After
meeting with Messi, Koeman will also
speak with the other captains; Piqué,
Busquets, and Sergi Roberto.
Source: Paul David |
| Sports › Re: "The Super Eagles Thread: The Road To AFCON 2027, 2028 And 2030 World Cup by Oldboss(m): 5:24am On Aug 20, 2020 |
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