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      Inter Miami ‘set to offer Lionel Messi part-ownership stake in club to snub Barcelona and complete shock free transfer’

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      INTER MIAMI are reportedly set to offer Lionel Messi a stake in the club to try and lure him from Paris Saint-Germain.The Argentine is out of contract in the summer and his future at the club is in doubt.
      Inter Miami are trying to persuade Lionel Messi to join the clubCredit: Getty
      He has several options to choose from but is believed to be keen on playing one more season in Europe.
      But David Beckham’s Inter Miami want to convince Messi to play in MLS and are prepared to offer him an equity stake in the club, according to The Independent.
      The club has spoken to Messi and his representatives about a possible move over the last few months.
      His father Jorge has also spoken to MLS about a potential switch and their plan to make him a key a figure for the league.
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      But Messi, who already has a dream £7m apartment in Miami, could snub their advances as he reportedly wants to stay in Europe for another year.
      He has the option of triggering a one-year extension at PSG but wants reassurances about the direction the club is heading in, including who the manager will be next season.
      Barcelona is another option for Messi, who wants one more crack at winning the Champions League.
      They could make the superstar their highest-paid player alongside Robert Lewandowski, with vice president Rafa Yuste claiming contact has already been made with Messi’s representatives.
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      He said: “We’ve been in contact with Leo Messi’s camp. Leo knows how much we appreciate him and I’d love for him to come back.
      “For sure Messi loves Barça and the city, so we hope to find the right conditions to continue his history here.”
      His return would be hugely popular amongst Barca fans, who chanted Messi’s name in the tenth minute of their clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday. More

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      Barcelona 0 Real Madrid 4 (1-4 agg): Benzema scores hat-trick as Ancelotti’s men run riot to reach Copa del Rey final

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      KARIM Benzema struck a hat-trick as Real Madrid thrashed arch-rivals and league leaders Barcelona 4-0 to reach the Copa del Rey final in stunning fashion on Wednesday.Barca, who were looking for a fourth successive Clasico victory this season, looked set for the final having edged a 1-0 win in the first leg of the semi-final in Madrid last month.
      Karim Benzema bagged a hat-trick at the Nou CampCredit: Getty
      Vinicius Junior also got on the scoresheet for Real MadridCredit: Getty
      But after dominating the early stages of the second leg they fell apart in unlikely fashion to lose 4-1 on aggregate.
      It came after the Barcelona faithful were heard chanting Lionel Messi’s name in the 10th minute amid speculation over his potential return.
      Vinicius Jr gave Real the lead in first-half stoppage time following a lightning counter-attack.
      And the semi-final was turned on its head when Benzema stroked a shot into the corner five minutes into the second half from a Luka Modric pass.
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      Vinicius was booked after reacting to a bad challenge on himCredit: Getty
      He squared up to Barcelona midfielder GaviCredit: Getty
      Eight minutes later Vinicius was fouled in the area and Benzema thumped his penalty past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
      With jeers echoing around the Nou Camp, Barcelona tried to respond but it was Real Madrid who looked the more likely to add to their tally with Benzema unstoppable.
      In the 80th minute he was again set up by Vinicius to complete his second hat-trick in a matter of days.
      The Frenchman also hit a treble in the 6-0 destruction of Real Valladolid on Sunday.
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      The pair came to blows but only received cautionsCredit: Getty
      Xavi was booked for remonstrating with the refereeCredit: AFP
      The game then became fiery as it drew to a close as Barcelona began to target Vinicius, chopping him down on several occasions.
      It came after Barca boss Xavi had been booked earlier in the game for remonstrating with the referee.
      And the toxic atmosphere saw the Barca fans jeer their own players as they trudged off the pitch at the end of the game.
      Real will fancy their chances of winning the trophy for a 20th time when they face Osasuna.
      Osasuna reached the final after they beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 on aggregate on Tuesday.
      Real Madrid still have the opportunity to win two trophies this season as they are also in the quarter-finals of the Champions League where they will face Chelsea.
      But Barcelona look nailed on for the league as they hold a 12-point lead over Real with just 11 games remaining.
      Karim Benzema has now scored 25 goals this seasonCredit: EPA More

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      Barcelona fans all chant Lionel Messi’s name just days after he is BOOED by PSG supporters amid transfer interest

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      BARCELONA fans chanted Lionel Messi’s name in the 10th minute of their El Clasico clash with Real Madrid.Messi, 35, is being heavily linked with a return to the Spanish giants in the summer as his Paris Saint-Germain future remains up in the air.
      Lionel Messi is being linked with a return to Barcelona this summerCredit: Rex
      The Barcelona fans chanted Messi’s name during Wednesday night’s El ClasicoCredit: Reuters
      It was reported last week that Barcelona have “made contact” with Messi in a bid to bring the club legend home.
      And fans of the club made their feelings known at the Nou Camp on Wednesday evening.
      They could be heard singing “Messi, Messi,” in the 10th minute of their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against fierce rivals Real Madrid.
      Messi, who scored 672 goals in 778 games for Barcelona, wore the No10 shirt for 13 years until he left in emotional circumstances in 2021.
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      And the adulation he received from the supporters was in stark contrast to the treatment he received from the PSG faithful on Sunday.
      Messi’s name was jeered by his own fans before their clash with Lyon.
      Christophe Galtier’s side then went on to lose the game 1-0 as their lead at the top of Ligue 1 was cut to six points over the weekend.
      Messi has contributed 18 goals and 17 assists in 33 appearances for PSG this season.
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      But he looks increasingly likely to exit the club at the end of the season after two years in the French capital.
      Messi is out of contract in the summer as Barca prepare to try and pounce to secure his return.
      Barca vice president Rafa Yuste said: “We’ve been in contact with Leo Messi’s camp.
      “Leo knows how much we appreciate him and I’d love for him to come back.
      “For sure Messi loves Barca and the city, so we hope to find the right conditions to continue his history here.”
      But Messi has also been the subject of a ridiculous £350million-a-year deal from Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal. More

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      I played with Lionel Messi at Barcelona but I was more stunned by phenomenal team-mate with ‘brutal talent’

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      YAYA TOURE has singled out Andres Iniesta over Lionel Messi and David Silva as the “brutal talent” he learned most from.The former Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder believes the intelligence and concentration of “phenomenal” Iniesta made him unique.
      Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta were part of arguably Barcelona’s greatest generation, winning the Champions League four timesCredit: EPA
      Yaya Toure feels lucky to have played with geniuses like David Silva at Man City, plus of course Messi, Iniesta and Xavi at the Nou CampCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Fellow legend Toure, 39, won LaLiga twice and the Champions League in Spain before three Premier League crowns in eight years at the Etihad.
      World Cup-winning Spaniards Iniesta and Xavi formed an iconic tiki-taka partnership for club and country.
      And for Ivory Coast hero Toure, now a Tottenham academy coach, stylish midfielders were seemingly a larger influence on him than Messi in attack.
      Asked by Marca which player impacted on him most at Barca, he replied:  “Iniesta has been a phenomenon. 
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      “Training with him every day was tremendous luck because I learned a lot. 
      “He was a different player physically, with a brutal talent. 
      “How he thought about the game and the intelligence that he had was something that caught my attention and that in football is very important. 
      “He feels the game and knows how to read it perfectly. He did not lose balls in training and neither in games. 
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      “He had his own way of concentrating. I have always learned a lot from that player and from Xavi.”
      But Toure believes City had their own version of Barca’s three geniuses.
      He said: “I have been with Xavi and Iniesta at Barcelona, ​​but Silva (now at Real Sociedad) was and is terrific. 
      “He is an incredibly talented player. Being able to play for so long with him has been great. 
      “Then there were other stars, like Messi, but they were later and it’s different. Silva has been a differential footballer who sees football like few others.”
      Toure tips seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, 36, whose PSG contract runs out this summer, to return to Barca.
      He said of the 2022 World Cup winner: “I only see Messi finishing his career in Barcelona.” More

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      Fans in tears at Hazard’s joyful reaction as Real Madrid star is told to come on for first league appearance in 205 DAYS

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      REAL MADRID star Eden Hazard’s joyful reaction to coming on for his first league appearance in 205 days has left fans delighted. The Belgian was subbed on with 25 minutes left to play during Los Blancos’ 6-0 win over Real Valladolid.

      Fans found Eden Hazard’s reaction to coming on adorableCredit: DAZN via Twitter
      Team-mate Luka Modric was also buzzing for himCredit: DAZN via Twitter
      Hazard was seen warming-up on the touchline when he found out the news to his visible amazement.
      The 32-year-old smiled before pointing at himself with a shocked look on his face.
      He then got stripped and ready to go with his team-mates just as buzzing for him.
      Luka Modric jokingly pulled down his tracksuits and laughed, encouraging him to get on and make the most of a rare appearance.
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      Fans have found his reaction heartwarming, one said: “The joy on Hazard’s face when he’s told that he’s coming on is unparalleled. Bless him.”
      Another reacted: “Such a likeable footballer.”
      A third added: “Brings tears to my eyes.”
      Hazard has had a tough few years at Real Madrid with his career plagued by injuries, on top of losing his place in the team to Vinicius Junior.
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      The day only got better for the ex-Chelsea man, assisting Lucas Vazquez as Real Madrid netted their sixth of the game.
      It was his first LaLiga appearance since he started in a 4-1 win over Real Mallorca in September.
      Hazard has been an unused substitute on 29 occasions in all competitions this season.
      He has played just eight times, scoring one goal this term. More

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      Thierry Henry tells Lionel Messi to quit PSG and re-join Barcelona in shock transfer after being booed by his own fans

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      ARSENAL legend Thierry Henry has advised Lionel Messi to quit Paris Saint-Germain and return to Barcelona “for the love of football”.Messi has endured a frustrating two-year spell at PSG, which has seen him BOOED by PSG’s own fans in their last two games against Rennes and Lyon.
      Arsenal legend Thierry Henry urged Lionel Messi to leave Paris Saint-Germain for BarcelonaCredit: Getty
      Lionel Messi and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry played together at BarcelonaCredit: AFP
      The crowd, frustrated that he’s failed to lead them to Champions League glory, has turned on the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, despite his 18 goals and 17 assists in 33 appearances.
      Henry slammed the “embarrassing” jeers and insists the star forward deserves more respect.
      That is why the Argentina captain’s former Barca team-mate urged him to return to the Nou Camp in June when his contract expires.
      Henry told Amazon Prime: “It’s embarrassing to hear whistles from the Parc.
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      “You can’t whistle one of the best players on the team, who has 13 goals and 13 assists this season.
      “Personally, I would like to see him finish his career at Barcelona, in Europe.
      “After that, I don’t know what he will do. Because the way he left Barcelona after everything he did…
      “I didn’t really like it. For the love of football, he should go back to Barcelona.”
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      Barcelona are interested in re-signing Messi just two years after his sensational exit from Catalonia.
      According to Barca vice president Rafa Yuste, the Blaugrana have been in contact with the 35-year-old.
      Yuste said: “We’ve been in contact with Leo Messi’s camp. Leo knows how much we appreciate him and I’d love for him to come back.
      “For sure Messi loves Barca and the city, so we hope to find the right conditions to continue his history here.” More

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      Arsenal told how much it will cost to seal Ferland Mendy transfer as Real Madrid slap staggering valuation on left-back

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      ARSENAL want to sign Ferland Mendy but it could take a massive fee for Real Madrid to sell, according to reports.The left-back joined Los Blancos for £47million in 2019.
      Arsenal are interested in signing Ferland MendyCredit: Getty
      But injuries have limited his impact at the Bernabeu and Real are open to letting him leave.
      However Arsenal would need to offer in the region of £52.5m in order to land the left-back, according to Fichajes.
      And it is believed they face competition for Mendy’s signature from Manchester City and Newcastle.
      Pep Guardiola’s side was said to be weighing up a move for the France international in January.
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      And the Citizens could be more eager than ever to strike a deal with Joao Cancelo perhaps unlikely to play for the club again – he is on loan at Bayern Munich.
      Real Madrid are reportedly preparing for Mendy’s exit and have a number of replacements in mind.
      Bayern’s Alphonso Davies is said to be at the top of that list, along with Real Vallecano star Fran Garcia.
      Paris Saint-Germain are also believed to be interested in Mendy, with boss Christophe Galtier seeking an upgrade on Nuno Gomes and Juan Bernat.
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      Arsenal could be in the market for a left-back this summer with Kieran Tierney rumoured to be leaving.
      The Gunners are said to be open to offers for the Scot with Newcastle amongst the clubs interested. More

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      Barcelona release statement demanding LaLiga chief Javier Tebas resign over ‘false’ evidence he gave against Catalans

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      BARCELONA have demanded the resignation of LaLiga chief Javier Tebas after claims he gave “false” evidence against the Catalan outfit.The Nou Camp side are under criminal investigation following claims they paid the country’s referees’ chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira more than £6.5m over a 17-YEAR period.
      Barcelona want Javier Tebas to resign from his role with LaLigaCredit: AFP
      Uefa have also launched an investigation that could lead to a one season Champions League ban.
      But after allegations in the Barcelona-based La Vanguardia newspaper, which suggested Tebas had provided fake evidence against former club presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, Barca accused the LaLiga boss of orchestrating a “lynching”.
      In a statement, the club said: “Faced with the gravity of the information that Javier Tebas was an executor in presenting false evidence to incriminate our club, FC Barcelona wishes to express his deep anger, indignation and sadness.
      “We urgently require the president of LaLiga to appear publicly to offer explanations.
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      “As President Joan Laporta has been saying in recent weeks, FC Barcelona feels we have been a victim of a media lynching for facts that never happened.
      “Barca has never bought referees.
      “But Tebas has tried to condemn us in the public opinion before the facts are judged.”
      Tebas has made his anger at Barca’s conduct clear in recent months, although he pointed out that statute of limitation rules meant that LaLiga could not take any disciplinary action.
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      The LaLiga boss denied the allegations, maintaining: “These claims are false.
      “We have not accused anyone.
      “Even the story published corroborates itself by pointing out what the letter to the prosecution said, which was not making a specific accusation against anyone.”
      But Barca have held a huge grudge against Tebas since the collapse of the Super League plot was followed by the demand that the Catalans stick to strict FFP criteria which mean a budget CUT of £250m for next season.
      The club added: “This is not the first time that the president of La Liga has used all his media machinery to dynamite FC Barcelona.
      “But we could never have imagined that he would have tried to incriminate our club with false evidence.
      “Out of dignity and respect for the presidency of LaLiga, Mr Tebas should resign his role.
      “However, we are aware of his obsession to pursue FC Barcelona and constantly showing his aversion and manifest antipathy towards our Club.
      “We understand that the current president of LaLiga will persist in his leadership of continuing to harm our club.”
      Joan Laporta has been left fuming at how he feels his club have been ‘lynched’Credit: EPA More