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Messi and Barca – how it all began
A look back at the early days of superstar Lionel Messi at FC Barcelona, the club the Argentine wants to leave after 20 years.
After his resignation in Barcelona, the football world is speculating where Lionel Messi will go. The French “L’Équipe” now reports on an actually unthinkable scenario. It will be exciting this Sunday.
LIonel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in one team? According to a report by “L’Équipe”, Ronaldo’s club Juventus Turin has entered the race for the world footballer from FC Barcelona who is willing to emigrate. The favorite in advertising for Messi is still Manchester City, emphasized the French specialist newspaper.
“The two men are athletic rivals, but they respect and appreciate each other. And together they would have all the weapons to win the Champions League again, ”writes the paper. Messi and Ronaldo have been considered the greatest rivals in world football for over a decade. The Argentine won the title of world footballer six times, the Portuguese is one place behind with five titles. The achievements of the other should always have been an enormous incentive for one’s own career.
Like Messi in Barcelona, Ronaldo was the face of Real Madrid for years before moving to Italy two years ago. Recently, speculation arose after the knockout in the Champions League round of 16 that the exceptional striker could leave the Serie A club early despite his contract that runs until 2022. This is not the case, Ronaldo now made clear.
Ronaldo swears allegiance to Juventus
“As I prepare for my third season as a Juventus player, my spirit and ambition are higher than ever. Aims. Victories. Dedication. Professionalism ”, wrote the 35-year-old on Instagram under a video in which scenes and goals from the past championship season can be seen. It also said: “With all my strength and with the help of my teammates and the entire Juventus staff, we are working again to conquer Italy, Europe and the world.”
Maybe together with Messi? At least the chances are bad that Juve or any other club will get the aging exceptional talent without an enormous amount of money. The well-informed Catalan journal “Mundo Deportivo” wrote that under no circumstances would Barcelona let Messi go for a free transfer or for a relatively low price.
“He’s not for sale,” headlined the paper on Saturday. In Messi’s contract, which runs until June 2021, a transfer fee of 700 million euros is anchored. The Argentine, however, allegedly insists on a one-sided clause according to which he can leave the club free of charge at his own request.
The eternal rivals of world football in one team: a thoroughly appealing performance
Source: AFP via Getty Images / AFP Contributor
There are also rumors about PSG. According to “Mundo Deportivo”, two close friends who play football at Paris Saint-Germain called Messi these days to persuade him to move to the Seine: compatriot Ángel Di María and ex-Barça star Neymar.
Will Messi show up for the medical test?
The British “The Times” meanwhile reports on a phone call between Messi and his long-time coach Pep Guardiola, who is now in charge of Manchester City. After Messi told his former sponsor of his intentions to move, Guardiola is said to have announced that he would urge his superiors to commit the 33-year-old.
According to the report, the city boss and former Barça vice president Ferran Soriano is already in the Spanish region of Catalonia to meet Messi’s father Jorge for talks next week.
Sunday is now eagerly awaited in Barcelona. Then Barça will start with medical tests in the pre-season. Will Messi even appear? Spanish media write that he will definitely come so as not to argue with the club in a possible legal battle.
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