Author: Jamal Carter
Former Real Madrid hero Hugo Sanchez (62) has said “bad advice” from Lionel Messi’s father Jorge Messi is the reason behind the Barcelona legend’s shock-U-turn to stay at the club. Messi felt he was entitled to walk away on a free transfer according to his contract but the Barcelona hierarchy prevailed insisting there was a €700m release clause. With the prospect of a court case looming after La Liga supported Barcelona in their position, Messi made a U-turn and said he would stay for the last year of his contract. Sanchez however believes a better agent rather than his own…
Barcelona legend Lionel Messi says he is staying at the club because it is “impossible” for any team to pay his release clause and he does not want to face “the club I love” in court. Speaking to Goal, Messi said “I thought and was sure that I was free to leave.” “The president always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I stayed or not. “And this is the reason why I am going to continue in the club. Now I am going to continue in the club because the president told me that…
Despite strong links to English Premier League side Man City, Lionel Messi may yet still stay at Barcelona, with his father Jorge giving the clearest indication that his son might stay stick with the Catalan giants beyond the current transfer saga. According to Argentina’s TyC Sports, the 33-year-old is ‘90 per cent likely to stay’ with Barcelona beyond the close of the transfer window. Messi triggered a storm in the world of football last week after he stated his desire to leave Barcelona, a club where he has spent the entirety of his decorated senior career. According to reports, Man…
Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey is eager to move to the Emirates but Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta needs to raise funds by getting rid of some fringe players if the Gunners are to land what is thought to be their main transfer target this window. Arteta has committed to rebuilding an Arsenal squad which fared poorly in the league last season before saving face with a FA Cup triumph over Chelsea. The London side has already been active in the transfer market, signing Chelsea’s Brazilian attacker Willian and defender Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille. Atletico Madrid have however, made it clear that…
Former West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic admits he behaved unprofessionally when he moved to the Chinese Super League, eating unhealthy food and drinking fizzy drinks as he thought the cash flush league would be a breeze. The Austrian left the Hammers for Shanghai SIPG in a move believed to have boosted his salary from around £130,000 per week to a staggering salary worth over £10 million a year for Shanghai, with his contract running until December 2022. The former West Ham striker scored in his CSL debut against Chongqing, but then struggled to find his fitness and had a five-match…
Kai Havertz appears to be on the brink of making a much anticipated lucrative switch to Chelsea after missing the pre-season weigh-in at current club Bayer Leverkusen. A deal between Chelsea and the German club, worth £90m was reportedly struck last week. Havertz is also reportedly set to become one of the league’s top earners, getting as much as £300 000 per week. Havertz joins five other stars that Chelsea have purchased, as the London side looks set to have one of its most fruitful windows in recent memory. Attackers Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner were captured before the transfer…
Barcelona might not be losers should they strike a deal with Manchester City for the sale of Lionel Messi, with the Manchester side reportedly eager to use Bernardo Silva, Gabriel Jesus and Eric Garcia as bargaining chips in addition to a hefty payout of £89.5m. Messi became the story of this summer’s transfer window after signaling his intention to leave the Catalan giants. The Argentinian maestro was rumoured to be unsure of his future at Barca after his side’s 8-2 drubbing at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League. A meeting with new boss Ronald Koeman is said…
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire says he feared for his life during the incident that led to his conviction for repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult after arrest in the Greek city of Mykonos. The 27-year-old, who says he thought he was being kidnapped, admits he he tried to run away – with one handcuff on – because he had no idea who the men arresting him were. “I thought we were getting kidnapped. “We got down on our knees, we put our hands in the air, they just started hitting us,” the 27-year-old said.…
Argentinian ace Lionel Messi decided to announce his decision to depart from the Catalan giants after the new boss at the Nou Camp, Ronald Koeman, told him his privileges in the Barca dressing room would be revoked. According to reports, Messi’s future had already up in the air after Barcelona’s humiliating defeat at the hands of eventual Champions League winners Barcelona in the quarter-finals of Europe’s most prestigious club competition. “Your privileges in the squad are over, you have to do everything for the team. I’m going to be inflexible, you have to think about the team,” the Dutch coach…
Manchester City were dumped out of the Champions League after manager Pep Guardiola paid the price for tinkering too much with his team selection against Lyon in the quarter-final in Lisbon. Although City started as firm favourites in the contest, they somehow came out second best against a fiercely determined Lyon in a game that swung on controversy and uncharacteristic errors. Lyon went ahead in the 24th minute with Maxwel Cornet’s smart finish. There was brief respite for City after Raheem Sterling’s pass was slotted into the net by Kevin de Bruyne after 69 minutes. Former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele,…