La Liga

BARCELONA are set for crunch talks over Lionel Messi’s contract situation after the player’s father landed in the city.Jorge Messi was seen taking in a Barcelona B match on Sunday having flown in from his Miami home.
Jorge Messi will be a key figure in contract negotiationsCredit: Reuters
Lionel Messi led Barcelona to a Copa del Rey triumph on SaturdayCredit: Reuters
It was his first visit to Spain since his son’s attempted departure from the club last year.
As the Argentine’s agent as well as his father, Jorge will play a crucial role in the upcoming negotiations.
And the Barcelona top brass were sat nearby at Estadi Johan Cruyff for the clash with Villarreal B, including technical secretary Ramon Planes, assistant coach Alfred Schreuder, Leo’s brother Rodrigo, and midfielder Pedri.
But, according to Marca, Messi Snr. will soon fly on to Italy for personal commitments before sitting down with the club.
The LaLiga side are reportedly not ready to make an offer to their talisman’s camp.
The unfolding financial crisis at the Camp Nou has led to club president Joan Laporta taking stock before talks begin.
He nonetheless described the deal as ‘progressing adequately’ in the week.
With Messi’s deal expiring on June 30, the clock is ticking on an agreement being reached.
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But Barcelona are focused on hunting down this season’s LaLiga title in the meantime.
The 33-year-old scored twice in Saturday’s 4-0 demolition of Athletic Club to win his seventh Copa del Rey.
A day later, leaders Atletico Madrid thumped Eibar 5-0 to pull three points clear of Real Madrid and five clear of Barcelona.
Ronald Koeman’s side make up their game in hand against Getafe on Thursday and host Atletico next month.
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LIONEL MESSI fired in a double as Barcelona ran riot against Athletic Bilbao to win the Spanish Cup.Messi scored twice in five minutes – including finishing an outrageous team move – with Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie De Jong also on the score sheet.
Lionel Messi collects the Copa Del Rey trophy for BarcelonaCredit: Reuters
Barcelona won the Spanish Cup for the 31st time in their history, most of any clubCredit: Reuters
MAGIC FROM MESSI! 🤯🙌A moment of absolute genius, vintage Barcelona, and they’re now well on their way to picking up another Copa del Rey trophy 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/SWWOhMEIkB— Watch Rangers v Celtic live on Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) April 17, 2021

His first goal in the 68th minute rounded off an incredible team move that beat the stuffing out of Bilbao.
The win sealed a record 31st Copa Del Rey for Barca and meant they avoided a second straight trophy-less season.
The Catalans are still in the LaLiga title race – sitting third, two points behind leaders Atletico Madrid – and could still end up doing the double.
Bilbao lost their second Spanish Cup final this month having been beaten by 1-0 Real Sociedad two weeks ago.
That match was the delayed 2019-20 final which was scrapped last year because of Covid.
And the team from northern Spain lost the final of this season’s competition as well in a double heartbreak.
The win gave Ronald Koeman his first title as coach of the Catalan club.
Ex-Barca defender Koeman returned to manage the club last summer after they finished last season without a trophy for the first time since 2008.
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Lionel Messi’s brilliance helped seal Copa del Rey glory for BarcelonaCredit: Getty
Barcelona celebrate after Lionel Messi finished off a brilliant team moveCredit: Getty
Messi’s two goals came after Antoine Griezmann finally beat Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon with the opener on the hour-mark.
Frenkie de Jong headed in a second goal in the 63rd before Messi dealt a double blow to put the result beyond any doubt by the 72nd.
Messi again showed, at age 33, that he can still completely dominate a final.
Barcelona suffocated Bilbao from the start with Messi causing their defence all kinds of problems.
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The Argentine slotted home after an epic move that he started in his own halfCredit: AP
Antoine Griezmann was also on the scoresheet in thumping winCredit: Getty
The bombardment started in the fifth minute when Sergio Busquets lob found Messi, who returned the ball for De Jong to fire off the post.
Bilbao’s defence had to hustle to keep the score 0-0 by half-time with Messi linking up with his teammates seemingly at will inside the opponents area.
The second half continued with Messi dictating the pace, and now Simon had to save Bilbao.
The Spain goalkeeper blocked point-blank efforts by Griezmann and Busquets and stretched to push Pedri Gonzalez’s shot wide.

But Simon could do nothing to keep out Griezmann’s sharp one-touch strike off De Jong’s cross from the right after Messi had again taken the ball and forced Bilbao to scramble back into its box.
With Bilbao reeling, Barcelona struck again this time from the left. Messi also played a subtle part in this goal, making a dummy run to open space for De Jong to push forward and head in Jordi Alba’s cross.
De Jong then helped Messi slalom through Bilbao from inside his own half into the heart of the area by exchanging two quick passes with the Argentine.
Messi capped the move by dribbling past the last defender before slotting in his team’s third goal in the 68th.
Messi rounded off his stellar performance that earned him a 35th career title for Barcelona when he fired in a pass from Alba. Simon got an arm out but, like so many before, could not keep Messi out.
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REAL Madrid players will give up £26million bonus if they win LaLiga and Champions League to ease the Spanish giants’ financial plight.The Spanish giants are also reportedly determined to off-load big-earners like Gareth Bale, Isco and Marcelo but keep core stars like Thibaut Courtois, Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema.
Karim Benzema, centre, Casemiro and Co have agreed to forsake possible bonusesCredit: AP
Real are in the Champions League semi-finals and second in LaLigaCredit: Getty
Real have budgeted for £78.8m losses due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But they are second in LaLiga just a point behind Atletico Madrid and face a Champions League semi-final with Chelsea.
Now Spanish outlet ABC.es say Zinedine Zidane’s squad have agreed to forego sizeable sums should they land a famous Double.
Last season’s title-winning squad also did not take bonuses and agreed a 10 per cent pay cut, saving Real £36.4m.
But Zidane would still have to sell this summer if Real hope to join the transfer frenzy over PSG frontman Kylian Mbappe and Borussia Dortmund goal machine Erling Haaland.
That means Wales superstar Bale, 31 again faces a battle for his future when he returns from his loan at old club Tottenham.
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Brazil left-back Marcelo, 32, and 28-year-old Spain playmaker Isco are also tipped for end-of-season exits.
Likewise, Real are expected to offer Alvaro Odriozola, Mariano Diaz and Luka Jovic to rival clubs.
But it’s claimed Zidane is determined to retain attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard, 22, who Arsenal are thought keen to keep when his loan finishes this summer.  
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MARTIN ODEGAARD has reportedly been named as one of four young ‘untouchables’ at Real Madrid, in a blow to Arsenal’s chances of signing him.The Norwegian has impressed during his temporary stint in North London, even bagging a memorable derby goal against Spurs last month.
Marca have declared Martin Odegaard as one of four ‘untouchables’ at Real Madrid
Martin Odegaard has impressed at ArsenalCredit: Reuters
Hopes have been raised among the Gunners’ fanbase that the attacking midfielder can be retained for next season.
But according to Marca, Odegaard won’t be going anywhere.
The Spanish paper report that the 22-year-old is one of four young ‘untouchables’ that the Madrid hierarchy want to build around.
Odegaard dazzled last season during the first year of what was supposed to be a two-season stay at Real Sociedad.
But he returned to Madrid last summer after being recalled by boss Zinedine Zidane – only to spend the first half of this season on the bench.
Odegaard was unhappy with the situation, and isn’t believed to have a good relationship with Zizou.
But such is the Madrid board’s faith in Odegaard, that the issue has become a major consideration in Zidane’s future at the club.
Odegaard’s contract in Spain is set to expire in 2023, and a board-led renewal appears likely.
Odegaard, 22, isn’t thought to have a great relationship with Zinedine ZidaneCredit: Getty
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The three other untouchables are Rodrygo, Fede Valverde and Vinicius Jr, despite the latter having been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain as a makeweight in a deal for Kylian Mbappe.
While Madrid’s interest in Mbappe is genuine, Vinicius will NOT be headed to France in return.
The reigning LaLiga champions are also interested in Borussia Dortmund starlet Erling Haaland, while Marca believe a deal for Bayern stalwart David Alaba is ‘already done’.
Thibaut Courtois, Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos are seen as indispensable, although plenty of others will be up for sale.
Chief among them is £600,000-a-week star Gareth Bale, who has spent this year on a mixed loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Welshman is set to return to Santiago Bernabeu, with a year remaining on his lucrative deal.

Real Madrid are desperate to finally get Gareth Bale off their wage bill for goodCredit: AP
Kylian Mbappe is a key target for Real MadridCredit: Rex
Other long-serving stars Isco and Marcelo will also be shown the door.
While Alvaro Odriozola, Mariano Diaz and Luka Jovic are free to find new clubs.
Contract extension talks with Sergio Ramos, whose current deal expires in June, are still at a standstill.
While an agreement is still some way off with injured Lucas Vazquez.
Raphael Varane’s deal ends in 2022 and Real Madrid suspect that he won’t sign another – which could make him available for £60million in the summer.
Pau Torres and Jules Kounde would be contenders to replace the Frenchman, 28, at the back for Los Blancos.
Sergio Ramos’ time in Madrid may be coming to an endCredit: Reuters
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