The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lionel Messi

  • Messi sends emotional goodbye to Neymar

    Messi sends emotional goodbye to Neymar

     

    Lionel Messi has penned an emotional goodbye to his friend and Barcelona team-mate Neymar ahead of the Brazilian’s impending world-record move to PSG.

    Neymar spent 43 minutes at Barcelona’s training ground on Wednesday bidding farewell to his team-mates, and he will soon complete a £198million move to Ligue 1.

    Posting a video to Instagram on Wednesday afternoon, Messi wrote: ‘It was an enormous pleasure to have shared all these years with you friend @neymarjr I wish you luck in this new stage of your life. See you. I love you.’

    Within minutes, Neymar had replied to the video on Instagram, writing: ‘Thanks brother. I will miss you uncle.’

    Neymar joined Messi at Barcelona in 2013, and the pair have since played hundreds of games together, under the stewardship of Gerardo Martino and Luis Enrique.

    Together, the South American pair won everything there is to win, with La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey successes along the way.

    Wednesday saw Neymar effectively end his Barcelona career as he prepares to join Paris Saint-Germain for a mind-boggling fee this summer.

    He had a meeting alongside his father, his representatives and club officials, in which he expressed his desire to leave the Nou Camp.

    It is now expected that Neymar will head to Paris to continue negotiations, ahead of completing his money-spinning move to Ligue 1.

    He had only arrived back in Spain on Tuesday evening following a trip to the Middle East, and after a short rest was on his way to the training ground.

    He arrived at the club’s Joan Gamper facilities at 9am local time with two friends, wearing sunglasses in his blue Audi sports car.

    Neymar’s arrival came half an hour before a scheduled training session, but the forward did not take part.

  • Messi family jets back for pre-season

    Messi family jets back for pre-season

    Lionel Messi has returned home to Barcelona following his Antigua honeymoon with wife Antonella and will now turn his attention to pre-season training.

    The Argentine posted an Instagram snap from his plane journey back from the Caribbean, showing his wife and two young boys Thiago and Mateo.

    Messi married long-term girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo in their native Rosario in Argentina on June 30 before jetting off to the exclusive Jumby Bay resort in Antigua.

    The resort, owned by the Rosewood Hotels group, boasts that their £5,000-a-night luxury villas ‘provide incredible views of Henzell Point looking across the Caribbean Sea to Antigua.’

    The 4,150 square-foot villa where the Messi family stayed features three bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, indoor/outdoor dining area, beach access, private 50′ by 20′ swimming pool and a jacuzzi. Each one comes with a golf cart for easy access.

    They were joined for the final few days of their holiday by Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez, with the two players practising their skills with a game of head tennis in the pool.

    Both Messi and Suarez are expected back at Barcelona on Friday for pre-season training

    But they’ll soon have to snap out of the holiday mood, with new Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde expecting his squad back for the start of pre-season training on Friday.

    Barcelona are due to fly out to the Unied States for the bulk of their pre-season preparations, where they’ll play Juventus, Manchester United and Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup.

    Before the beginning of the season, they’ll play two more fixtures against their rivals Real in the Spanish Super Cup, played over two legs.

    It was a disappointing season for Messi and Barca – they claimed the Copa del Rey but had to watch as Real sealed the La Liga title and also their third Champions League success in four seasons.

    Barcelona pre-season schedule

    July 22 Juventus (International Champions Cup; MetLife Stadium, New Jersey) 11.05pm UK time

    July 27 Manchester United (International Champions Cup; FedExField, Washington) 12.30am

    July 30 Real Madrid (International Champions Cup; Hard Rock Stadium, Miami) 1.05am

    August 7 Chapecoense (Joan Gamper Trophy; Nou Camp) 7.30pm

    August 12 Real Madrid (Spanish Super Cup, first leg; Nou Camp) TBC

    August 15 Real Madrid (Spanish Super Cup, second leg; Santiago Bernabeu)

  • Messi donates leftover wedding food to charity

    Messi donates leftover wedding food to charity

     

     

    Barcelona star Lionel Messi ensured nothing went to waste after his wedding as he donated leftover food and drinks to charity, according to Rosario Food Bank director Pablo Algrain.

    The who’s who of football descended on Rosario last week as Messi tied the knot with long-term partner Antonella Roccuzzo in their home town.

    Barcelona team-mates Neymar, Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique, and Dani Alves, Sergio Aguero, Cesc Fabregas, Angel Di Maria, Xavi and Carles Puyol were among the stars to celebrate the marriage – dubbed the “Wedding of the Century” by local media – long into the night in Argentina on Friday.

    There was plenty of food and drink left over, though it did not go to waste thanks to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner and his wife.

    “It all arrived to the store and we’re controlling it,” Algrain told Efe. “We don’t yet know quite how much there is.”

    Algrain continued: “We explained to the wedding organisers that we can accept soft drinks and snacks, but that we’d have to change alcoholic drinks for money because we cannot accept them.”

  • Honeymooning Messi agrees new Barca contract

    Honeymooning Messi agrees new Barca contract

     

    Lionel Messi has agreed a new contract with Barcelona, tying him to the club until 2021.

    The forward’s previous deal was due to expire in 2018, with the three-year extension ensuring he is contracted at Camp Nou for at least the next four years.

    Formal signing of the contract is expected to take place after the Argentina international, currently on honeymoon after his wedding to Antonella Roccuzzo, has returned for pre-season training.

    Messi, who turned 30 last month, has spent his entire senior career with Barcelona and made his debut in 2004.

    In an astonishing career, he has won LaLiga eight times and the Champions League on four occasions, among a total of 29 club trophies.

    He has scored a record 507 goals for Barcelona and netted 54 times in 52 appearances last season.

    Messi has won the Ballon d’Or five times, although just one of those awards have come in the last four years, with Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo expected to win again in 2017.

    The Argentina international will turn 34 as this new contract reaches its conclusion

    The new contract will see Messi enjoy £500,000-a-week deal with  £264m buy-out clause

    A club statement read: ‘FC Barcelona and Leo Messi have agreed on a contract renewal that will keep the Argentinian at the club until June 30th, 2021.

    ‘The deal will be signed in the coming weeks, when Messi returns to the team for pre-season training.

    ‘The club is very happy with both the renewal and the commitment of Messi, the best player in history, who has played his full professional career at Barca and has led the team to an era of extraordinary success, the likes of which has never been seen in world football.’

  • Messi throws ‘wedding of the century’

    Messi throws ‘wedding of the century’

    ARGENTINE football star Lionel Messi has married his childhood sweetheart in his hometown in what has been called the “wedding of the century”.

    A civil ceremony for Messi, 30, and Antonela Roccuzzo, 29, was held at a luxury hotel in the city of Rosario. Football stars and celebrities were among the 260 guests, with hundreds of police deployed for the event.

    Messi, the Argentina and Barcelona forward, met Roccuzzo as a child before he moved to Spain aged just 13.

    Argentina’s Clarín newspaper has variously called the wedding “the wedding of the year” and “the wedding of the century”. About 150 journalists received accreditation to enter a special press area, but were not given full access to the venue, organisers said.

    Messi and Roccuzzo confiscated guests, phones but it appears one WAG may have taken a few sneaky snaps. Messi met Roccuzzo when he was just five years old. She is the cousin of his best friend, Lucas Scaglia, who also became a professional football player.

    Among the guests at Friday’s wedding were Messi’s Barcelona teammates Luis Suárez, Neymar, Gerard Piqué and his wife, Colombia’s pop star Shakira, Samuel Eto’o and wife, Xavi and wife, Puyol and wife and Fabregas and wife. A number of guests flew into Rosario on private jets.

  • Messi denies spending £33,000 on restaurant bill

    Messi denies spending £33,000 on restaurant bill

     

    Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has responded online to speculation that he spent almost £35,000 on food and drink at a restaurant in Ibiza.

    The Argentinian has been away on the Balearic island with his fiancee Antonella Roccuzzo, Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez, as well as their respective partners Daniella Semaan and Sofia Balbi.

    While Messi and Co posted pictures of their night out at Lío Ibiza, Club Restaurant Cabaret on Instagram, another post circulating on social media claiming to show an image of the group’s receipt was going viral.

    The receipt in question showed a grand total of €37,330 spent, including €24,600 on 41 bottles of Dom Perignon at €600 a pop, as well as 27 pizzas and four portions of caviar.

    However, now Messi has seemingly moved to dismiss the story by commenting on the image after it was shared by an Instagram account.

    His comment read: ‘Jajajajajajajaja que manera de hablar al pedo. Como inventan. lo mas lindo es que la gente se lo cree.’

    That translates to: ‘Hahahahahahaha, what a way to talk s***. How they invent. The most cute thing is that people believe it.’

    Aside from seemingly fake huge restaurant bills, the group have been enjoying an extended break in the sun over the past week.

    They’ve been spotted soaking up some rays on a yacht off the coast ahead of Messi’s wedding to Miss Roccuzzo later this summer.

  • Ronaldo may leave Real Madrid after tax fraud accusation

    Ronaldo may leave Real Madrid after tax fraud accusation

    Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is not happy at being accused of tax fraud and wants to leave the club, a source close to the player said on Friday.

    Spanish prosecutors have accused the 32-year-old Ronaldo of defrauding the authorities of millions of euros in tax.

    Though he has since denied any wrongdoing, but the source who wanted anonymity said the accusation has upset the Portugal captain.

    “He feels he’s honest, has good character and did everything OK,” added the source.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ronaldo’s Real Madrid contract has a 1 billion euro (about £874.88 million, or N450 billion) release clause.

    “He’s very sad and really upset. He doesn’t want to stay in Spain. At this moment, he wants to leave,’’ the source added.

    Ronaldo, who joined Real Madrid from English side Manchester United for £80 million (about N40 billion) in 2009, signed a five-year deal with the European champions in November 2016.

    China would be one potential destination but the Portuguese forward’s advisers would prefer he stayed in Europe, most likely either moving to Paris St-Germain or returning to the Premier League.

    Ronaldo, who has helped Real win the Champions League three times and La Liga twice, is accused of evading tax to the value of 14.7m euros (£13m; $16m) between 2011 and 2014.

    Already, Real Madrid have released a statement saying they had “full confidence” in their player, and they were convinced he would prove his innocence.

    In the 2016/2017 season, Ronaldo helped Real win the Spanish title for the first time since 2012 as well as retain the UEFA Champions League.

    Ronaldo, who also won the Champions League with Manchester United in 2008, has scored a record 105 goals in the competition, 11 more than FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, his nearest challenger.

  • Ronaldo : I’ll dump Madrid if convicted on £13m tax allegation

    Ronaldo : I’ll dump Madrid if convicted on £13m tax allegation

     

    Cristiano Ronaldo has been left seething by the accusation he has ‘defrauded’ €15million (£13m) from the Spanish taxman and has told Real Madrid he could leave Spain for good if he is convicted.

    The A Bola front page on Friday says Ronaldo has declared his intentions and when he claimed his decision is ‘irreversible’, it did not take the Spanish club by surprise.

    They had already been made aware of his fury earlier in the week when Madrid’s regional state prosecutor publicly accused him of failing to pay the correct amount of tax over a four-year period from 2011 to 2014.

    Ronaldo’s rage comes not so much from the investigation into his tax affairs as the way he feels he is being treated like a criminal despite the fact he voluntarily made attempts to put his affairs in order three years ago.

    In 2014, he made an extra payment of €6m (£5m) and now feels that the prosecution’s accusation is a result of a difference of interpretation of Spain’s complicated tax laws on image rights and should not therefore result in criminal proceedings.

    A Madrid judge will decide over the next fortnight if the case goes to court and Ronaldo will have 30 days to decide if he is to plead guilty and pay a fine or fight the case and risk a stronger punishment.

    Lionel Messi was given a 21-month suspended sentence last year for having defrauded the national purse of €4.1m (£3.6m) of undeclared image-rights earnings.

    Sources close to Ronaldo say despite the millions he has earned during his career, he remains proud of his humble beginnings in Funchal, the capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira, and fiercely defensive over the idea that now he does not pay his way or that his gains have been in any way ill-gotten.

  • How Messi, Fabrigas are Spending Their Holiday Together

    How Messi, Fabrigas are Spending Their Holiday Together

    It’s been three seasons now since they were last team-mates, but that hasn’t stopped Cesc Fabregas and Lionel Messi’s friendship from blossoming.

    With their respective football seasons over, the pair are currently enjoying their summer holidays before pre-season begins next month.

    And Barcelona superstar Messi and Chelsea midfielder Fabregas have decided to spend some of that together in Spain’s Balaeric islands.

    Cesc Fabregas (centre) and Lionel Messi (right) are currently enjoying a holiday together

    Cesc Fabregas (centre) and Lionel Messi (right) are currently enjoying a holiday together
    Fabregas and Messi brace themselves for the temperature of the sea as they get off a boat

    Messi prepares to dip his toes into the water

    Fabregas and Messi brace themselves for the temperature of the sea as they get off a boat

    The duo help their long-term partners Daniella Semaan (left) and Antonella Roccuzzo

    The duo help their long-term partners Daniella Semaan (left) and Antonella Roccuzzo

    Messi was the essence of a family man alongside Roccuzzo and their eldest son Thiago

    Accompanied by their families, the pair were seen basking in the Spanish sun on Thursday in Formentera.

    Messi, his long-term partner Antonella Roccuzzo and their eldest son Thiago dipped their toes in the sea before walking along the beach.

    The trio were closely followed by Fabregas, his long-term partner Daniella Semaan and their eldest daughter Lia.

    Fabregas and Messi were Barcelona team-mates for three seasons between 2011 and 2014 where they won four major honours together – including La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

    Fabregas subsequently joined Chelsea in the summer of 2014 while Messi remains at Barcelona.

    Fabregas holds his daughter Lia's hand as they walk during their holiday in Formentera

    Fabregas holds his daughter Lia’s hand as they walk during their holiday in Formentera

    Like Messi, Fabregas is enjoying his vacations after a long footballing campaign

    Like Messi, Fabregas is enjoying his vacations after a long footballing campaign

    Fabregas and Messi were Barcelona team-mates for three seasons between 2011 and 2014

    Fabregas and Messi were Barcelona team-mates for three seasons between 2011 and 2014

    Speculation over the latter’s future has been questioned due to an ongoing contract dispute; but one person who knows Messi well believes he will remain at the Nou Camp for the remainder of his glittering career.

    The 29-year-old is yet to sign a new contract extension with the club, despite him about to enter the final year of his deal.

    However, Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has no doubt Messi will remain a Barcelona player in the near future and played down his chances of coming to the Etihad.

    He told Chinese news agency Xinhua when asked about Messi joining City: ‘No. I don’t think so. I know Messi very well. He and his family are my good friends.

    Argentine star Messi has said he wants to end his playing career with Barcelona

    Argentine star Messi has said he wants to end his playing career with Barcelona

    Messi has spent his entire career at the Nou Camp but his contract is due to end next year

    Messi has spent his entire career at the Nou Camp but his contract is due to end next year

    ‘I think he has settled in Barcelona, and he has been in Barcelona all his life. Naturally we think he will finish his playing career in Barcelona.

    ‘At least next year, maybe he can finish that career. After that he can go to China or US, but now I think he will stay in Barcelona.’

    Soriano worked for Barcelona between 2003 and 2008, during which time Messi emerged as one of the world’s best players.

    Messi has long been linked with a move to England, ever since City became one of the world’s wealthiest clubs.

    Manchester City's CEO Ferran Soriano played down their chances of signing Messi

     Manchester City’s CEO Ferran Soriano played down their chances of signing Messi
  • Messi theme park to open in Beijing

    Messi theme park to open in Beijing

     

    Chinese fans will be able to celebrate the achievements of Barcelona great Lionel Messi at a new theme park to be built in Beijing.

    The Messi Experience Park, which is being launched by the five time Ballon d’Or winner in collaboration with Chinese broadcaster Phoenix Group and Spanish media company Mediapro, is set to open in 2019.

    The theme park will have 20 indoor and outdoor attractions in a 42,000 square metre space which will ‘immerse visitors in Messi’s universe,’ a statement from the player’s Leo Messi Management group said

    ‘I hope to provide them with an experience they have never had before and encourage people to play football from an early age,’ he told reporters.

    David Xirau, director of Mediapro Exhibitions said the theme park will ‘use the most advanced technology’ to combine attractions with spaces to play the world’s most popular sport.

    Companies from China have invested heavily in foreign clubs in recent years as President Xi Jinping has called for the country to develop a world-class soccer industry.

    Chinese ambitions for soccer have also extended to spicing up the domestic league with a clutch of high-profile signings.

    Messi is Barcelona’s highest paid player, earning an estimated £35million per year, which is set to increase this summer as he is expected to sign a bumper new long-term contract with Barca, where his current deal runs until 2018.

    Messi’s image rights have come under the spotlight since he was charged with avoiding £4m of tax on his commercial earnings between 2009 and 2011.

    He was found guilty of tax fraud along with his father Jorge last year, and handed a prison sentence of 21 months and a fine of £1.7m.

    His appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court last month although he is unlikely to go to prison.