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      The crazy law that means Barcelona will NEVER retire the No10 shirt to honour Lionel Messi after legend’s free transfer

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      BARCELONA will never retire the No10 shirt to honour Lionel Messi – because of a bonkers Spanish football law.The Argentine great, 34, made an emotional exit from the Nou Camp on Sunday – ending his 20-year stay with the club.
      Lionel Messi’s famous Barcelona No10 jersey will be passed on to a new player for the new seasonCredit: The Mega Agency
      The Argentine wore the jersey for 13 years but LaLiga rules mean it cannot be retiredCredit: AFP
      For the last 13 campaigns, Messi has worn the No10 shirt – after previously owning No30 and then No19 during his younger years.
      However, next season there will be a new player given the almighty task of trying to carry the heavy burden of succeeding him in the iconic jersey.
      That is because Spanish FA rules state LaLiga teams must assign their 25-man squads the numbers 1 to 25.
      Goalkeepers either wear 1, 13 or 25 while reserve players brought into the first team can have 26 to 50.
      But should Barcelona retire Messi’s No10, they would sacrifice a place in their squad for the 2021-22 season.
      From the current group, Pedri (16), Ansu Fati (17), Sergio Aguero (19) or Frenkie de Jong (21) could be possible candidates to be ‘promoted’ to take the No10.
      Barca’s rivals Espanyol did retire the No21 in honour of defender Daniel Jarque who died during pre-season in 2009.
      Other famous shirt numbers to be set aside include the Johan Cruyff’s No14 at Ajax, the No10 jersey Diego Maradona wore at Napoli and the No22 at Birmingham – last worn by Jude Bellingham.
      MESSI WILL BE MISSED
      Tributes poured in from team-mates for Messi after his departure was confirmed.
      The club somehow narrowed down a highlights package to just seven minutes from his 672 goals, 305 assists and 35 trophies from 778 appearances.
      Pals Gerard Pique, Antoine Griezmann, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho and Fati were among those to post heartfelt messages on social media.
      Messi is now a free agent and open to offers.
      Paris Saint-Germain look to be in pole position to sign him with a medical imminent.
      They expect to land the Argentine on a two-year contract – with reported wages of £570,000 per week.
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      Messi and his entourage will fly to Paris early this week – and could even land in France today.
      That would see PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino secure free signings for Messi, Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum and Gianluigi Donnarumma in the same transfer window.
      And Messi would line up in one of the most devastating attacks of all time alongside ex-Barca team-mate Neymar and superstar Frenchman Kylian Mbappe.
      Messi famously held up his iconic jersey in the Bernabeu after yet another goal against Real Madrid

      PSG fans crowd airport after fake report of Lionel Messi arriving in Paris to complete transfer on Sunday night More

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      PSG fans crowd airport after fake report of Lionel Messi arriving in Paris to complete transfer on Sunday night

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      PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN fans crowded an airport on Sunday night – after fake reports Lionel Messi was due to land in the French capital.Hundreds of supporters gathered at the gates of the Le Bourget airport hoping to catch a glimpse of their new hero with phones ready to capture the moment.
      PSG fans hoped to see Lionel Messi at Paris’ Le Bourget airport on Sunday night
      The mass group were left disappointed because the forward was still in Barcelona
      Footage from Marca also showed the large group bustling along the street chanting ‘Messi’.
      But they were left waiting – because Messi was still in Barcelona.
      The Argentine great, 34, conducted a press conference with his boyhood club on Sunday lunchtime.
      He was in tears as he explained he did not want to leave the Nou Camp – but was forced out with Barca’s financial woes.
      It means the six-time Ballon d’Or winner is now a free agent and open to offers.
      Paris Saint-Germain look to be in pole position to sign him with a medical imminent.
      They expect to land the Argentine on a two-year contract – with reported wages of £570,000 per week.
      Marca add Messi and his entourage will fly to Paris early this week – and could even land in France today.
      That would see PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino secure free signings for Messi, Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum and Gianluigi Donnarumma in the same transfer window.
      And Messi would line up in one of the most devastating attacks of all time alongside ex-Barca team-mate Neymar and superstar Frenchman Kylian Mbappe.
      Neymar’s sister appeared to confirm the deal was done by welcoming Messi’s wife Antonela on Instagram.
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      Rafaella commented in Portuguese: “Welcome beautiful!!!!” as they look to be reunited in Paris.
      Barca’s record scorer told the media on Sunday afternoon: “Paris Saint-Germain is a possibility, yes.
      “At the moment nothing is confirmed. I received lot of calls after Barcelona statement. We’re talking about it.”
      Messi held a press conference at the Nou Camp on Sunday lunchtimeCredit: Getty
      Preparations are underway in Paris for the imminent arrival of the Argentine legendCredit: AFP
      PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium could stage the unveiling this weekCredit: AFP
      Fans also congregated outside the Messi family home in Barcelona to say their goodbyesCredit: AFP

      Lionel Messi breaks down in tears and handed tissue by wife Antonela as he insists he’s ‘not ready’ to leave Barcelona More

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      Man Utd ‘interested in Lionel Messi free transfer’ and will try to pip PSG to deal for Barcelona legend

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are interested in making a shock free transfer swoop for Lionel Messi, according to reports.The Barcelona great, 34, made an emotional exit from the Nou Camp on Sunday.
      Lionel Messi is a free agent following his departure from Barcelona after 20 yearsCredit: Getty
      Despite agreeing a new contract at his boyhood club, LaLiga rules prevented the terms being signed.
      It means the six-time Ballon d’Or winner is now a free agent and open to offers.
      And according to Duncan Castles, United may put a contract on the table for Messi and his family to consider.
      It is thought the Red Devils are crunching the numbers to work out if they can afford a deal.
      The club have already spent £73million on Jadon Sancho and a further £34.2m on Raphael Varane this summer.
      However, the Old Trafford side face plenty of strong competition for Messi’s signature.
      Paris Saint-Germain look to be in pole position to sign him with a medical imminent.
      They expect to land the Argentine on a two-year contract – with reported wages of £570,000 per week.
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      That would see Mauricio Pochettino secure free signings for Messi, Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum and Gianluigi Donnarumma in the same transfer window.
      And Messi would line up in one of the most devastating attacks of all time alongside ex-Barca team-mate Neymar and superstar Frenchman Kylian Mbappe.
      Manchester City, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and even Tottenham were also thought to be considering offers for Messi but it would take something special to prevent PSG winning the race.
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already added Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane to his squad this summerCredit: AFP

      Lionel Messi breaks down in tears and handed tissue by wife Antonela as he insists he’s ‘not ready’ to leave Barcelona More

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      Barcelona fans chant Lionel Messi’s name but Memphis Depay proves there is life after legend in 3-0 win over Juventus

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      BARCELONA proved there is life after Lionel Messi to win the Joan Gamper trophy following a dominant win over Juventus.The LaLiga giants bid goodbye to the legendary Argentine earlier on Sunday but the players still at the club gave the fans something to smile about.
      Barcelona showed fans life after Lionel Messi with a convincing win over JuventusCredit: Getty
      Memphis Depay scored and registered an assist during the 3-0 win over the ItaliansCredit: Getty
      No Messi, but Barca do have Memphis! 🔵🔴A quick start as the Dutch forward finishes well for the opening goal after just 2 minutes 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2JUx3a26MK— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) August 8, 2021

      Martin Braithwaite heads in from a corner to double Barcelona’s lead against Juve! 🔵🔴Ronald Koeman will be pleased with his teams efforts in this one 👏 pic.twitter.com/jY7ciLs6cd— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) August 8, 2021

      The home crowd chanted Messi’s name throughout the encounter but new signing Memphis Depay gave them a glimpse into life next season.
      The Netherlands international opened the scoring after only three minutes after he slotted past Wojciech Szczesny during a counter-attack.
      The Blaugrana dominated in the first half and had two goals disallowed – with Yusuf Demir denied by an offside flag against Antoine Griezmann.
      And then the Frenchman had the ball in the net himself only for the linesman’s flag to shoot up again.
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      Juve – who substituted Cristiano Ronaldo at half-time – went closest to an equaliser just before the break but Alvaro Morata was wasteful.
      And they were made to pay following the restart as Memphis’ crisp corner found Martin Braithwaite unmarked inside the area and the Denmark international beat Mattia Perin with a clinical header.
      The Catalans then made it three during the second minute of stoppage time when Riqui Puig channeled his inner Messi at the Johan Cruyff Stadium.
      The La Masia graduate, 21, fired a wonderful curling shot from the edge of the box that gave Perin no chance.
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      As for Messi, he is reportedly due to be unveiled as a PSG player at the Eiffel Tower on Monday, with the player flying to Paris after his emotional Sunday press conference in Barcelona.
      The six-time Ballon d’Or winner, 34, later revealed he will return to Barcelona one day in his first social media post since leaving the club.
      And Barca chief Joan Laporta has already opened the door for a Messi return.
      Martin Braithwaite was also on the scoresheet as Barca won the Joan Gamper trophyCredit: AP

      Lionel Messi breaks down in tears and handed tissue by wife Antonela as he insists he’s ‘not ready’ to leave Barcelona More

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      Lionel Messi confirms Neymar and PSG stars jokingly begged him ‘come to Paris’ during Ibiza holiday

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      LIONEL MESSI confirmed Neymar and PSG stars jokingly told him ‘come to Paris’ as they holidayed in Ibiza. Messi fuelled speculation of a move to the French capital when he posed alongside Neymar, Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes and Marco Verratti.
      Lionel Messi confirmed Neymar and PSG stars jokingly told him ‘come to Paris’Credit: Rex Features
      And the Argentine legend admitted the PSG players did their best to convince him to join them in France.
      Messi, 34, said: “Coincidence? Completely. I met them in Ibiza, we met them one day, got together and we’re friends.
      “I was going to meet Paredes and Di Maria. Ney called me and said, ‘Do you want to see me?”  
      “We uploaded the photo in that moment because we were having a good time and there was a joke at the time, they kept telling me, ‘Come to Paris, come to Paris’.
      “It was just a joke, that was all.”
      Messi is international team-mates with Di Maria, 33, as well as Paredes, 27, and also spent four years with Neymar, 29, at Barcelona.
      And the pair are close to linking up again with Messi closing in on a move to PSG after his sensational Nou Camp exit.
      Messi broke down in tears as he bid farewell to his boyhood club of 20 years at a press conference.
      And it was there he confirmed interest from PSG, but admitted his future is not yet finalised.

      Messi said: “It is a possibility, but as of today there is nothing agreed with anyone.
      “When the statement came out, I had many calls, various clubs were interested. But I have nothing closed yet. But we are talking.”
      According to ESPN, Messi’s move to PSG is all-but agreed and subject to a medical ‘tonight or tomorrow’ before signing the deal.
      It is believed French giants PSG have offered the Argentine legend a two-year deal, with the option to extend it by a further 12 months.
      Barca had confirmed in a statement that ‘economic and structural obstacles’ had prevented a deal being ratified by LaLiga.
      It meant they were unable to keep hold of their most prized possession, with PSG now ready to pounce.
      Messi had pushed to leave only one year ago, but after a change of hierarchy at the club, he was convinced to stay.
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      And he had agreed to extend his contract this month until Barca’s efforts were scuppered by LaLiga due to financial fair play rules.
      Messi cried as he thanked supporters, leaving the club with 672 goals in 778 appearances.
      He said: “I’m so grateful for the love people have shown me these years.”
      Lionel Messi offered two-year deal by PSG and expected to complete free transfer to French giants after Barcelona exit More

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      Lionel Messi confirms PSG transfer is a ‘possibility’ amid claims he is having medical TONIGHT

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      LIONEL MESSI confirmed moving to PSG is a ‘possibility’ but also has several other offers after his emotional Barcelona exit. Messi broke down in tears as he bid farewell to his boyhood club of 20 years at a press conference.
      Lionel Messi confirmed moving to PSG is a ‘possibility’Credit: Getty
      Leo Messi: “The pic with Paris Saint-Germain was a coincidence, completely. I was there with my friends, we decided to take a photo… they told me: ‘Come to Paris!’ but it was just a joke, we were on holiday”. 🔴🇫🇷 #PSG #Messi pic.twitter.com/aKuh0LXQEd— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 8, 2021

      And it was there he confirmed interest from PSG, but admitted his future is not yet finalised.
      Messi, 34, said: “It is a possibility, but as of today there is nothing agreed with anyone.
      “When the statement came out, I had many calls, various clubs were interested. But I have nothing closed yet. But we are talking.”
      According to ESPN, Messi’s move to PSG is all-but agreed and subject to a medical ‘tonight or tomorrow’ before signing the deal.
      The iconic forward fuelled speculation of a transfer to PSG when he was pictured on holiday with Neymar, Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes and Marco Verratti.
      But Messi said: “Coincidence? Completely. I met them in Ibiza, we met them one day, got together and we’re friends.
      “I was going to meet Paredes and Di Maria. Ney called me and said, ‘Do you want to see me?”  

      “We uploaded the photo in that moment because we were having a good time and there was a joke at the time, they kept telling me, ‘Come to Paris, come to Paris’.
      “It was just a joke, that was all.”
      With Messi unable to extend his Nou Camp contract, amid financial complications, he remains a free agent.
      And it is believed French giants PSG have offered the Argentine legend a two-year deal, with the option to extend it by a further 12 months.
      Barca had confirmed in a statement that ‘economic and structural obstacles’ had prevented a deal being ratified by LaLiga.
      It meant they were unable to keep hold of their most prized possession, with PSG now ready to pounce.
      Messi had pushed to leave only one year ago, but after a change of hierarchy at the club, he was convinced to stay.

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      And he had agreed to extend his contract this month until Barca’s efforts were sounded out by LaLiga due to financial fair play rules.
      Messi cried as he thanked supporters, leaving the club with 672 goals in 778 appearances.
      He said: “I’m so grateful for the love people have shown me these years.”

      Lionel Messi offered two-year deal by PSG and expected to complete free transfer to French giants after Barcelona exit More

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      Barcelona star Marc-Andre ter Stegen hints at feud with Lionel Messi as he admits ‘we didn’t always agree on everything’

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      BARCELONA keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen admitted he ‘didn’t always agree on everything’ with Lionel Messi. The German stopper made the reveal when wishing Messi all the best, with the Argentine set to leave his boyhood club.
      Marc-Andre ter Stegen said he ‘didn’t always agree on everything’ with Lionel MessiCredit: Reuters
      Lionel Messi is set to leave BarcelonaCredit: AFP
      Ter Stegen, 29, posted on Instagram: “Leo, it’s been a pleasure to play alongside you for all these years, sharing many happy times together in the form of moments and titles.
      “While we didn’t always agree on everything, we both wanted what was best for the team and managed to grow as individuals, regardless of the result. Thanks for that!
      “You made history with the club of your life, and you’ll go down in history as a true legend of football.
      “Something that no other player will ever get close to. You changed football.
      “I wish you and your family the very best for whatever lies ahead. A big hug from Dani and Ben, too.”
      Ter Stegen joined Barca from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014 and has since won four LaLiga titles with Messi.
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      But Messi is now close to joining French giants PSG after he was unable to renew his Nou Camp contract.
      It was announced on that ‘due to economic and structural obstacles’, his time in Catalonia will come to an end.
      PSG are believed to have offered Messi a two-year contract, with the option to extend it by a year.
      Lionel Messi offered two-year deal by PSG and expected to complete free transfer to French giants after Barcelona exit More