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      Lionel Messi ‘must agree even BIGGER pay cut than 50 per cent with Barcelona not allowed to add one cent to wage bill’

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      LIONEL MESSI must agree an even bigger pay cut to return to Barcelona, according to reports.The Argentine has agreed to halve his enormous wages in order to pen a five-year deal.
      Lionel Messi is currently a free agentCredit: Reuters
      But no announcement has yet been made, as Barca still can’t afford it.
      According to The Athletic, the Catalan club have a spending limit of around £136million imposed by LaLiga – due to £1.3bn worth of liabilities accrued during Josep Maria Bartomeu’s ill-fated tenure as club president.
      Barca could spend around four times that figure three years ago, but their financial landscape has changed completely.
      Consequently, new signings Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia and Sergio Aguero are currently unable to be registered.
      And with Messi now a free agent, Barcelona would not be allowed to register him either.
      The Argentine, having tried to leave last August, is happier now at Barcelona since Joan Laporta returned as club president in March.
      But they still require a huge fire sale in order to keep the 34-year-old on the books.
      Matheus Fernandes had his contract terminated, while Jean-Clair Todibo, Carles Alena and Junior Firpo have been sold.
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      Samuel Umtiti, Miralem Pjanic, Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho are all available for transfer.
      And they are also in negotiations with Atletico Madrid over swapping £345,000-a-week star Antoine Griezmann for the cheaper Saul Niguez.
      Barca have pleaded with LaLiga chiefs to grant them an exemption regarding their economic rules.
      But they have been turned down, with league boss Javier Tebas saying: “The decision for Messi to stay is not up to me.
      We would be delighted if Barca do that, and Messi stays with us, but it is not something we can resolve for themJavier Tebas
      “It is up to Barca to resolve their financial situation so they can sign Messi.
      “We would be delighted if Barca do that, and Messi stays with us, but it is not something we can resolve for them.”
      Barcelona could try and get around the rules by offering their No10 a lower salary in the first season of his deal, which would then rise for the 2022-23 campaign, by which time they hope to have their finances in order.
      Free agent Messi is currently on holiday with his family after winning the Copa America with Argentina last weekend.
      Meanwhile, Barca’s club website continue to sell shirts with ‘Messi 10’ printed on the back – despite him technically not playing for the club anymore.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Junior Firpo has been sold to Leeds UnitedCredit: Getty
      Antoine Griezmann could return to AtleticoCredit: AFP
      Sergio Aguero currently can’t be registeredCredit: Reuters
      Lionel Messi works out with stunning wife Antonela in gym More

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      Arsenal transfer boost with Martin Odegaard available for Real Madrid exit after LaLiga demand club slash their wages

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      ARSENAL’S dream of bringing Martin Odegaard back to North London could be on once again amid reports of financial woe at Real Madrid.Los Blancos are subject to a decreased wage limit this season after suffering a collapse in revenue during the pandemic.
      Martin Odegaard has started pre-season training with Real MadridCredit: Getty
      LaLiga enforce a salary cap that has come into focus during the coronavirus crisis, with Barcelona at particular risk of exceeding their allocation.
      According to The Athletic, a number of stars have been earmarked for a potential sale after Real’s limit dropped by over £140MILLION from its pre-pandemic figure.
      First-team players Eden Hazard, Isco, Marcelo, Mariano Diaz, Gareth Bale and Raphael Varane have all been described as up for sale.
      Two players potentially joining them are 22-year-old Odegaard and fellow former Arsenal loanee Dani Ceballos.
      While Ceballos will decide his future after playing for Spain at the Tokyo Olympics, Odegaard is already in pre-season training.
      A ‘significant’ fee would be required for any club to sign either midfielder – and Arsenal are tipped to spend big this summer.
      Although, a wide range of targets are on their radar from Brighton’s £50m-rated Ben White to Italy star Manuel Locatelli.
      A central midfielder who can play the ball is well known to be a priority although SunSport revealed this week that paying £35m for Wolves’ playmaker Ruben Neves is not the club’s preference.
      Instead, Anderlecht’s Albert Sambi Lokonga is set to arrive for a more modest £17m.
      Odegaard impressed in a loan spell through the second half of last season and Mikel Arteta confirmed afterwards that Arsenal would hold talks over his future.
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      The coach said in May: “We need to respect that he’s a Real Madrid player.
      “We’ll have those communications. We’ve tried to make everything that we could to get Martin performing for the team, which I think he’s done.
      “And he has adapted really well to our way of playing and to our football club.
      “Hopefully we have given him the hope and the feeling that this could be a good place for him.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal will open Martin Odegaard transfer talks with Real Madrid ‘in next few weeks’ More

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      Romantic Barcelona star Jordi Alba gets engaged to stunning girlfriend Romarey after yacht date on holiday

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      BARCELONA star Jordi Alba has got engaged to long-term girlfriend Romarey Ventura after proposing on holiday.The Spain international has been relaxing on a yacht with his new fiancee after losing the Euro 2020 semi-final to eventual winners Italy.
      Jordi Alba has got engaged to girlfriend Romarey VenturaCredit: Instagram @jordialbaoficial
      The Barcelona star is believed to have been dating his future wife for six yearsCredit: Instagram @romarey_ventura
      The couple got together around the time Alba won the Champions League at BarcelonaCredit: Instagram@romarey_ventura
      Alba, 32, announced the engagement on Instagram on Monday evening with a picture of Ventura wearing her new rock.
      The left-back posted the image to his 13.2million followers with the caption: “She said yes!”
      His future wife also shared a photo of the magical moment to her 541,000 Instagram followers.
      The couple are believed to have been together since 2015 and have two children.
      Alba captained Spain in their recent defeat, with Italy skipper Giorgio Chiellini appearing to play mind games with the Barca star shortly before the shootout.
      And there’s been romance in the Italian squad, too, with winger Federico Bernardeschi marrying his girlfriend just two days after their triumph.

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      Alba and Ventura have two children togetherCredit: Instagram@romarey_ventura
      The Spain international joined Barcelona in 2012Credit: Instagram @jordialbaoficial
      Ventura has more than half-a-million followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram@romarey_ventura

      Alba joined Barcelona from Valencia nine years ago, shortly after helping Spain win Euro 2012.
      He’s won five LaLiga titles, five Spanish Cups and the Champions League during that time to become a modern-day Barca legend.
      Alba still has three years left on his Nou Camp contract but has been linked with Serie A champions Inter Milan in recent weeks.
      Barcelona need to trim their wage bill due to a salary cap and it’s believed Inter will take advantage of this by making an offer for the left-back.
      The Spanish giants still need to agree a new deal with out-of-contract star Lionel Messi, who reportedly wants to stay at the club.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Italy’s captain Chiellini ‘bullies’ Spain’s Alba during penalty shootout coin toss and playfully punches rival in face More

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      Messi ‘agrees to slash pay in HALF to finally sign Barcelona deal… but will still earn £1.2m-a-week’

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      LIONEL MESSI has reached an agreement in principle to extend his Barcelona contract with a 50 per cent pay cut, according to reports.The LaLiga giants were unable to get Messi, 34, to sign on the dotted line before his deal expired at the end of last month.
      Lionel Messi is set to put pen to paper after lifting the Copa AmericaCredit: AP
      But reports across the Spanish media now indicate that a breakthrough has been reached.
      The deal will see the Argentine icon slash his pay by half, to around £1.2million-a-week after the details of his previous contract were leaked earlier this year.
      Barcelona will also hold a release clause of just over £300m on the player.
      The contract is said to last for five years, despite talk of Messi wanting to see out his career with a stint in MLS.
      Some outlets claim there is still a possibility for him to venture Stateside during the contract, which he see him operate as a Blaugrana ambassador.
      According to Sport, the striker is willing to accept a pay cut due to the Catalan club’s financial trouble.
      Barcelona have been told to severely reduce their wage bill to abide by LaLiga wage limit rules.
      An agreement was, however, reportedly delayed as both parties were at pains to ensure the contract’s tax situation was in order.
      The club’s and player’s lawyers are now set to draft the agreement and produce a document that Messi can give his final consent to.
      An announcement is expected next week at the earliest with the star on holiday following the Copa America.

      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Talks have been ongoing for several weeks, led by club president Joan Laporta and Lionel’s father, Jorge.
      Interest had arisen from the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, as well as Inter Miami.
      Earlier this week, it had been claimed that PSG were giving up on the deal after Messi privately confirmed his commitment to Barcelona.
      Since making his first-team debut in 2004, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner has notched ten LaLiga titles, four Champions League triumphs, won the Copa del Rey seven times, and scored over 700 goals.
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      Watch classy Lionel Messi put a stop to anti-Brazil chant during Argentina’s Copa America 2021 celebrations More

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      Real Madrid step up ‘Operation Exit’ as they try to offload SEVEN stars, including Bale, to fund Kylian Mbappe transfer

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      GARETH BALE leads a list of seveb names Real Madrid are considering selling in their quest for Kylian Mbappe.The Paris Saint-Germain striker is in talks with his current club with his contract expiring next summer.
      Raphael Varane is a big target for Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
      Los Blancos have been strongly linked with the 22-year-old for some time and are said to be keen on trying to persuade PSG to sell this year.
      There is even talk that Real want Les Parisiens to sign free agent Lionel Messi from Barcelona, paving the way for an Mbappe deal.
      However the coronavirus pandemic and a huge stadium rebuild have left Real with mounting debt – and they have not paid a fee for a player for almost two years.
      Club president Florentino Perez remains a stringent backer of the European Super League, which would have swelled Madrid’s coffers considerably.
      Therefore, while The Athletic claim that players sale are not necessary this summer, funds will need to be brought in if they are serious about Mbappe.
      According to Goal, a number of star names have been earmarked for exits as a result.
      Wales winger Gareth Bale leads the list ahead of his £600,000-a-week contract expiring in 2022.
      Experienced first-teamers Isco and Marcelo are also reportedly up for sale after a quiet season largely spent on the bench.
      Dominican striker Mariano Diaz, once linked with Arsenal, is the fourth player up for grabs having scored just once in 2020-21.
      And Raphael Varane joins the names who Real are ready to wave goodbye to, for the right price.

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      Manchester United are said to be very interested in the French centre-back, valued at just over £50million.
      Varane’s contract expires in a year’s time and a free exit is of little use to Real.
      Finally, two more players are described as somewhat insecure over their future.
      Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard, both back from loan spells at Arsenal, are set to join up with the squad for the new campaign but Madrid would listen to ‘significant’ offers for either.
      Ceballos’ future will not be sorted until August after he was named in Spain’s squad for the Tokyo Olympics.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Real Madrid release amazing time lapse footage of Bernabeu construction work as retractable roof is added More

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      Atletico Madrid ‘instantly reject Barcelona’s swap transfer offer of Antoine Griezmann for Joao Felix’

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      ATLETICO MADRID have instantly rejected Barcelona’s offer to swap Nou Camp flop Antoine Griezmann for Joao Felix.Barca hope to offload big-earners like Leicester target Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Atletico old boy Griezmann to help fund extending Lionel Messi’s contract.
      Antoine Griezmann has never consistently reproduced his Atletico form for Barcelona since making the switch in 2019Credit: EPA
      Atletico Madrid remain convinced Joao Felix will prove his worth following his arrival from Benfica two years agoCredit: AFP
      Nou Camp president Joan Laporte claimed on Tuesday Barcelona are increasingly confident of keeping free agent Messi.
      But Ronald Koeman’s men are also battling to balance their finances following the coronavirus pandemic.
      And Barca have placed Griezmann high up the list of players who are underperforming compared to their wages.
      But the 95-cap star’s high salary could make it tough to move the 30-year-old on.
      Spanish newspaper Marca claim Barcelona were keen to put together a part-exchange package with Atletico.
      But Barca’s opening gambit of Felix moving in the opposite direction was reportedly swatted away.
      Spain midfield Saul Niguez is next on the list of Atletico aces Barca fancy.
      Liverpool target Saul, 26,  is said to be keen on a new challenge.

      And Atletico have just paid Udinese £30million for a similar player in Argentina’s Rodrigo De Paul.
      But Barca would face a tough battle at this stage to swoop for Saul.
      Meanwhile, Dembele’s knee injury last month has complicated his future.
      And Marseille are regarded as shock contenders for Coutinho.
      The Ligue 1 club are looking for a huge sponsor to assist bidding for Coutinho.
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      The Brazil playmaker earns around £240,000 a week, with his Barca deal running until 2023.
      It’s understood Coutinho would welcome a return to Liverpool but Kop boss Jurgen Klopp has shown little interest.
      So if the 29-year-old does make a Premier League comeback, Leicester remain his most likely destination.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Leeds confirm Junior Firpo transfer from Barcelona in £13m move More

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      Lionel Messi’s mum reveals family’s bizarre ritual for Copa America final with relatives too nervous to watch together

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      LIONEL MESSI’S relatives watched Argentina’s Copa America final win over Brazil in separate rooms as a result of a bizarre family ritual.Messi’s mother Celia María Cuccittini revealed details of the unique superstition after her son won his first ever international trophy on Saturday night.
      Lionel Messi led Argentina to Copa America glory – his first ever international tournament winCredit: AP
      But his mum was forced to watch away from her family because of a bizarre superstition
      Celia is very religious and admitted she was wracked with nerves before the 1-0 win over Brazil at the Maracana.
      The normally media-shy mum of four told Argentine TV show ‘Nosotros a la Mañana’: “I feel very bad.
      “With all my saints around, I do a ritual.
      “We were all bad, very nervous.
      “It was all, really hard. But I had faith in God that he was going to grant me this miracle.”
      Celia was praying throughout the match and it seems to have worked with Angel Di Maria scoring the only goal of the game after 22 minutes.
      Messi’s brothers – Rodrigo and Matias – as well as his father and agent Jorge all watched the game in separate rooms of their house on different screens so as not to go against the family ritual.
      And his wife Antonella – who Messi had an emotional reunion with after the game – also watched it separately from her husband’s family.

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      She saw the game at her parents’ home instead.
      Celia did reveal the family reconvened after the match and said: “After the game ends, the hugs come.”
      Messi video-called his family from the pitch after the win and Celia said the family spoke with the Barcelona star ‘a lot’ on the day of the final.
      Argentine captain Messi was hailed after the game for stopping his team-mates singing an anti-Brazil song during the celebrations.
      And he dedicated the win to ‘eternal’ Diego Maradona in an emotional open letter.
       Messi is said to have played the whole final with an injury.
      And he gained more plaudits after the match when he was seen comforting former Barcelona team-mate Neymar who was crying after Brazil’s defeat. 
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Watch classy Lionel Messi put a stop to anti-Brazil chant during Argentina’s Copa America 2021 celebrations More

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      Lionel Messi ‘decides to STAY at Barcelona and sign new contract as PSG give up on snatching superstar on free transfer’

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      LIONEL MESSI has decided to STAY at Barcelona and sign a new contract despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain.The 34-year-old star is a free agent after the club failed to sign him up before his deal expired on June 30.
      Paris Saint-Germain have given up on signing Lionel Messi on a free transferCredit: Reuters
      Negotiations continued while Messi helped Argentina win the Copa America but no breakthrough has been made yet.
      Yet transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has insisted that the forward is staying following the news that PSG have given up on signing him on a free.
      Barcelona’s boost comes just days after club president Joan Laporta claimed that the Catalan outfit are nearing a deal to renew Messi’s contract.
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      He told Mago Pop on Spanish TV, via Marca: “[Messi’s deal] is progressing adequately well.”
      Messi meanwhile is currently on holiday after he won his first major international trophy lifting the Copa America.
      The six-time Ballon d’Or winner emotionally reunited with wife Antonela Roccuzzo following the 1-0 victory over Brazil at the Maracana.
      Angel Di Maria was the matchwinner but Messi remained his country’s main man with four goals and five assists in seven games.
      And Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni revealed that the 151-cap international had been suffering with an injury in the tournament.

      He explained: “If you knew the way that he played in the Copa America you’d love him even more.
      “You can never do without a player like him, even when he is not fully fit like in this game and the previous one.”
      SunSport previously revealed that Inter Miami are confident of landing Messi in two years time following the end of his next extension.
      Watch classy Lionel Messi put a stop to anti-Brazil chant during Argentina’s Copa America 2021 celebrations More