More stories

  • in

    Lionel Messi flies back to Argentina with family on a private jet with Barcelona transfer future still up-in-air

    LIONEL MESSI has jetted home to Argentina with his family after being given permission to miss Barcelona’s last league match amid continuing uncertainty over his future.The footballer reached Buenos Aires with wife Antonela Roccuzzo and children Thiago, eight, Ciro, five, and Mateo, three.
    Lionel Messi and his family were spotted at the airport last night heading back to ArgentinaCredit: Twitter
    The star boarded a private jet with his Barcelona future still up-in-the-airCredit: Instagram
    WIN £50,000! Play Dream Team Euros – our FREE fantasy football game

    WIN £50,000 with Dream Team EurosDream Team Euros is HERE!
    The best fantasy football game to accompany Euro 2020 has arrived.
    And you can play absolutely FREE for your chance to win the £50,000 jackpot.
    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FREE!
    Dream Team Euros

    £50,000 jackpot
    The best fantasy football game this summer
    Play in mini-leagues against your mates, colleagues, family members – and some hand-picked celebrities
    FREE to play

    Bodyguard Pepe Costa accompanied them as they boarded their plane on Tuesday night at Barcelona’s El Prat airport.
    They made a beeline for the airport terminal without stopping after being dropped off in a chauffeur-driven 4×4 despite shouts from waiting photographers anxious to get them to pose for a last family pic on Spanish soil.
    The 33-year-old is due to meet up with the Argentina national squad for two World Cup qualifiers with Chile and Colombia on June 3 and 8.
    Then they begin their quest for glory at the Copa America tournament.
    His wife and children are expected to head to his native city of Rosario to be reunited with family and friends.
    Messi left the Catalan capital without renewing his club contract, which is due to end on June 30.
    He has been linked to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. 
    Barcelona fans are optimistic he will end up staying at the club following the election victory of new president Joan Laporta.
    EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL BETTING SPECIAL

    And pal Sergio Aguero’s expected arrival at the Nou Camp following his departure from the Etihad next month is also a huge boost to those hopes.
    Messi rested in his last few days in Barcelona after being given permission to miss the club’s last league game against Eibar on Saturday.
    The Catalan side went into the game without any chance of winning LaLiga and had to settle for third spot behind champions Atletico de Madrid and runners-up Real Madrid.
    Messi is expected to play his last World Cup in Qatar next year.
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds More

  • in

    Zinedine Zidane ‘quits Real Madrid with immediate effect’ after troubled season at Bernabeu

    ZINEDINE ZIDANE has quit Real Madrid with immediate effect, according to reports.The Frenchman, 48, returned for his second spell in charge at the Bernabeu in March 2019.
    Zinedine Zidane has quit as manager of Real MadridCredit: EPA
    But journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeted on Wednesday night he had decided to walk away once again.
    Los Blancos endured a difficult season this term.
    They were pipped to the LaLiga title by city-rivals Atletico by two points.
    Real suffered a shock early exit from the Copa del Rey at the hands of third-tier Alcoyano.
    And in Europe, Zidane’s side were dumped out in comprehensive fashion by Chelsea at the semi-finals stage.
    The former midfielder did win the league title in 2019-20 to add to his one LaLiga, three Champions Leagues and two Club World Cups from his first spell.
    The shock news of Zidane’s exit compounds a bad day for Real Madrid after their Bernabeu stadium was pictured on fire.
    Billows of smoke rose out of the ground which is currently undergoing a £500million redevelopment.
    FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
    Exclusive. Zinedine Zidane has decided to LEAVE Real Madrid with immediate effect. ⚪️🚨 #RealMadrid #Zidane— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 26, 2021

    WIN £50,000 with Dream Team EurosDream Team Euros is HERE!

    The best fantasy football game to accompany Euro 2020 has arrived.
    And you can play absolutely FREE for your chance to win the £50,000 jackpot.
    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FREE!
    Dream Team Euros

    £50,000 jackpot
    The best fantasy football game this summer
    Play in mini-leagues against your mates, colleagues, family members – and some hand-picked celebrities
    FREE to play

    Talk will quickly turn to Zidane’s replacement.
    Earlier on Wednesday, Antonio Conte left Inter Milan just days after securing their first Serie A title in 11 years following a row with the club’s owners.
    His name will surely be linked with the vacant post.
    However, ex-Juventus boss Max Allegri is the early favourite.
    Former players Raul, Xabi Alonso, Guti and Fernando Hierro may also be in contention.
    Meanwhile Zidane is tipped to take over at old club Juve, where Andrea Pirlo is under pressure having failed to win the domestic title for the first time in ten years.
    Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard and Sergio Ramos are Real Madrid’s top earners
    Bernabeu stadium on fire as workers build Real Madrid state-of-the-art new home More

  • in

    Gareth Bale shock RETIREMENT rumours after Euro 2020 rubbished amid claims he’d like Real Madrid contract termination

    GARETH BALE’S agent has rubbished reports in Spain that the Welsh star was hoping to retire after Euro 2020.The forward is preparing to lead his nation at next month’s showpiece after building up his fitness at Tottenham on a season-long loan from Real Madrid.
    Talks of Gareth Bale’s retirement have been rubbished by his agentCredit: AFP
    WIN £50,000! Play Dream Team Euros – our FREE fantasy football game  

    WIN £50,000 with Dream Team EurosDream Team Euros is HERE!
    The best fantasy football game to accompany Euro 2020 has arrived.
    And you can play absolutely FREE for your chance to win the £50,000 jackpot.
    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FREE!
    Dream Team Euros

    £50,000 jackpot
    The best fantasy football game this summer
    Play in mini-leagues against your mates, colleagues, family members – and some hand-picked celebrities
    FREE to play

    Bale, 31, scored 11 goals in just ten Premier League starts at Spurs but was hardly used by Jose Mourinho before the Portuguese boss was axed in April.
    He still has a year remaining on his mega £600,000-a-week Madrid contract but Los Blancos are desperate to get him off the wage bill.
    Spanish outlet ABC have claimed today that Bale is preparing to quit football at the end of Euro 2020.
    It stated the ex-Southampton ace wanted to hang up his boots and attempt to forge a career as a pro golfer.
    However, his agent Jonathan Barnett shot those rumours out of the water when asked about them by talkSPORT.
    He said: “Sorry, I don’t speak about rubbish reporting.”
    Bale finished the season on a high by scoring twice in the win at Leicester to seal Spurs’ place in Europe.
    And he confirmed afterwards he would not be revealing his plans for next season until after his duty with Wales has finished this summer.

    EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL BETTING SPECIAL

    He said: “I know what I’m doing but it will just cause chaos if I say anything.
    “I am not thinking about anything, all I’m concentrating on now is obviously finishing this season off strong.
    “We meet up straight away for the Euros and I’m not thinking about anything else other than Wales.”
    A Spanish report claimed the Welshman was going to concentrate on becoming a pro golferCredit: PA
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

    BBC release promo for Euro 2020 featuring Bale, Ronaldo and Mbappe for this summer More

  • in

    Lionel Messi flies back to Argentina with family on private jet with Barcelona transfer future still up-in-air

    LIONEL MESSI has jetted home to Argentina with his family after being given permission to miss Barcelona’s last league match amid continuing uncertainty over his future.The footballer was due to reach Buenos Aires this morning with wife Antonela Roccuzzo and children Thiago, eight, Ciro, five, and Mateo, three.
    Lionel Messi and his family were spotted at the airport last night heading back to ArgentinaCredit: Twitter
    The star boarded a private jet with his Barcelona future still up-in-the-airCredit: Instagram
    WIN £50,000! Play Dream Team Euros – our FREE fantasy football game  

    WIN £50,000 with Dream Team EurosDream Team Euros is HERE!
    The best fantasy football game to accompany Euro 2020 has arrived.
    And you can play absolutely FREE for your chance to win the £50,000 jackpot.
    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FREE!
    Dream Team Euros

    £50,000 jackpot
    The best fantasy football game this summer
    Play in mini-leagues against your mates, colleagues, family members – and some hand-picked celebrities
    FREE to play

    Bodyguard Pepe Costa accompanied them as they boarded their plane on Tuesday night at Barcelona’s El Prat airport.
    They made a beeline for the airport terminal without stopping after being dropped off in a chauffeur-driven 4×4 despite shouts from waiting photographers anxious to get them to pose for a last family pic on Spanish soil.
    The 33-year-old is due to meet up with the Argentina national squad for two World Cup qualifiers with Chile and Colombia on June 3 and 8.
    Then they begin their quest for glory at the Copa America tournament.
    His wife and children are expected to head to his native city of Rosario to be reunited with family and friends.
    Messi left the Catalan capital without renewing his club contract, which is due to end on June 30.
    He has been linked to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. 
    Barcelona fans are optimistic he will end up staying at the club following the election victory of new president Joan Laporta.
    EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL BETTING SPECIAL

    And pal Sergio Aguero’s expected arrival at the Nou Camp following his departure from the Etihad next month is also a huge boost to those hopes.
    Messi rested in his last few days in Barcelona after being given permission to miss the club’s last league game against Eibar on Saturday.
    The Catalan side went into the game without any chance of winning LaLiga and had to settle for third spot behind champions Atletico de Madrid and runners-up Real Madrid.
    Messi is expected to play his last World Cup in Qatar next year.
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds More

  • in

    Atletico Madrid rejected £136m Joao Felix transfer bid from Premier League team amid Man Utd interest

    ATLETICO MADRID rejected a £136million bid for Joao Felix from a Premier League club last year, according to reports.Manchester United were continually linked with the Portuguese star before he made the switch to Spain from Benfica in 2019.
    Joao Felix has helped Atletico to LaLiga glory this seasonCredit: Getty
    But despite the 21-year-old picking LaLiga over England, a third party on behalf of the unnamed Prem side still approached Atletico about a move, according to Goal.
    The reportedly serious bid would have seen the youngster move at the end of last season but the Spanish outfit immediately rejected the approach.
    Atletico paid £126m for his signature in 2019 using money made from Antoine Griezmann’s departure for Barcelona.
    He has teamed up with Luis Suarez this season to help Atletico capture the LaLiga title ahead of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
    Felix is regarded as one of the hottest young talents in Europe and was wanted by United, Manchester City, Juventus and Real Madrid before his switch to the Wanda Metropolitano.
    But some had questioned whether Atletico’s style of play was best suited to Felix’s slight frame.
    Fellow Portuguese Carlos Carvalhal said a move to Atletico’s bitter rivals Real may have been a better fit.
    The manager of Portuguese top flight side Rio Ave said: “Joao Felix is​​ a great player and I don’t want to create controversy with my statements.
    “He is a player with incredible technical ability, but I’m not sure Atletico’s way of playing is the best for him.
    “That was my doubt when he signed for them. Diego Simeone is a great coach, his teams are very strong, very competitive, but Felix does not seem to be the perfect player to be there.

    “In a different situation, we would see a great Felix. It will be a little difficult and it will take more time. He will have to transform as a player.
    “If he had gone to a team like Real Madrid, he would be at a higher level. The context would be more favourable for him.
    “It’s not a criticism of Simeone, there is no doubt about what he has achieved. The work speaks for itself, I just believe this marriage is not the best.”
    Tottenham vs Man Utd simulated on FIFA 20 with Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes starting ahead of huge Premier League clash More

  • in

    Uefa open disciplinary proceedings against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus over failed European Super League plot

    UEFA have opened the way to ban Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus from the Champions League after beginning formal disciplinary charges against the rebel trio.Euro chiefs are determined to bring the three Super League ringleaders to heel after the collapse of their breakaway plan.
    Uefa have opened disciplinary proceedings against Super League ringleaders Juventus, Real Madrid and BarcelonaWIN £50,000 with Dream Team EurosDream Team Euros is HERE!

    The best fantasy football game to accompany Euro 2020 has arrived.
    And you can play absolutely FREE for your chance to win the £50,000 jackpot.
    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FREE!
    Dream Team Euros

    £50,000 jackpot
    The best fantasy football game this summer
    Play in mini-leagues against your mates, colleagues, family members – and some hand-picked celebrities
    FREE to play

    Unlike the Prem Big Six, the two Milan sides and Atletico Madrid, the three clubs have refused to pull the plug on their scheme.
    That has infuriated Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin.
    He is out for revenge and wants to impose two season bans.
    And now that prospect had moved a step closer after Uefa announced its first move.
    In a statement, Nyon officials said: “Following an investigation conducted by UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors in connection with the so-called ‘Super League’ project, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona and Juventus FC for a potential violation of UEFA’s legal framework.
    “Further information will be made available in due course.”
    Uefa has put the screws on all three who now know they face serious sanctions unless they apologise and finally give up the ghost on their concept.
    Despite all six English rebels backing out within 48 hours of the ESL announcement, Real, Barca and Juve have still not backed down.
    FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

    Earlier in May, the trio released a joint statement vowing to go to war with the European chiefs.
    The waffling press release also aimed a dig at the nine clubs who initially formed the ESL but pulled out amid fan fury across the world.
    Days later, the threat of a two-year suspension from European tournaments was thrown down.
    Uefa boss Alexander Ceferin is determined to throw the book at the wantaway rebelsCredit: AFP

    Inter Miami boss Phil Neville hails Man Utd legend brother Gary for standing up to greed of European Super League More

  • in

    Man City hope for Eric Garcia cash windfall with Barcelona due to pay compensation over free transfer on five-year deal

    MANCHESTER CITY are hoping for a cash windfall when Spain international defender Eric Garcia rejoins Barcelona next month.The centre-back is poised to sign a five-year deal at the Nou Camp when his contract at the Etihad expires.
    Manchester City are hoping to get a compensation package when Eric Garcia returns to BarcelonaCredit: Getty
    He was rated in the £30million bracket by City when he first indicated he wanted to leave last summer – but is now a free agent.
    However, the Premier League club believe they will be entitled to some kind of compensation for Garcia under Fifa rules.
    He has spent the last four years on their books after originally coming through the ranks with Barca and is still only 20.
    Any sort of settlement is likely to be decided by a tribunal but it will help boost the transfer kitty of Pep Guardiola this summer.
    Garcia’s first-team opportunities have been limited since he indicated last summer he would be signing a new contract.
    He has made 12 appearances so far this term – half of those in the successful Premier League campaign.
    Last year, he earned 20 across all competitions.
    However, despite his lack of game time this season – 858 minutes in total – Garcia earned a call-up into Spain’s Euro 2020 squad.
    FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
    WIN £50,000 with Dream Team EurosDream Team Euros is HERE!
    The best fantasy football game to accompany Euro 2020 has arrived.
    And you can play absolutely FREE for your chance to win the £50,000 jackpot.
    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FREE!
    Dream Team Euros

    £50,000 jackpot
    The best fantasy football game this summer
    Play in mini-leagues against your mates, colleagues, family members – and some hand-picked celebrities
    FREE to play

    His Manchester City team-mate Aymeric Laporte is also in after switching his international allegiance from France this month.
    However, there was no place for 180-cap defender Sergio Ramos following an injury-hit season.
    Head coach Luis Enrique said: “It was a very difficult decision but Ramos has not been able to compete or train very much recently.
    “I would have liked Ramos to be in the squad but I did not think it was viable because he has practically been unable to compete.”

    Eric Garcia looks back at his time at Man City More

  • in

    Gini Wijnaldum set to seal Barcelona free transfer after leaving Liverpool in snub to Bayern Munich and PSG

    GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM is set to sign a three-year deal with Barcelona, according to reports.The news will come as a blow to Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain who were also said to be keen on signing the Dutchman on a free as he departs Liverpool.
    Georginio Wijnaldum is set to sign a three-year deal with BarcelonaCredit: Getty
    Wjjnaldum, 30, is out of contract this summer and played his last match for the club on Sunday after five years and 22 goals in 237 appearances.
    He was given a guard of honour as Liverpool beat Crystal Palace on the final day to secure their Champions Lague spot for next season.
    But focus is now on his next move with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano tweeting: “Gini Wijnaldum is set to join Barcelona as a free agent until June 2024 – there’s nothing agreed with FC Bayern, he wants to sign for Barça.
    “Last details and… here we go soon!”
    Earlier this month Wijnaldum’s agent Humphry Nijman urged Bayern to get in touch if they were interested in signing the midfielder.
    And Chelsea and PSG were also said to be keen.
    Wijnaldum had a decorated spell at Liverpool – he won the Premier League, Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup under Jurgen Klopp.
    He joined Liverpool from Newcastle for £23million in 2016 on a five-year deal.
    FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

    WIN £50,000 with Dream Team EurosDream Team Euros is HERE!
    The best fantasy football game to accompany Euro 2020 has arrived.
    And you can play absolutely FREE for your chance to win the £50,000 jackpot.
    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FREE!
    Dream Team Euros

    £50,000 jackpot
    The best fantasy football game this summer
    Play in mini-leagues against your mates, colleagues, family members – and some hand-picked celebrities
    FREE to play

    And after Sunday’s game, Wijnaldum said: “I’m fighting against tears right now.
    “The people in Liverpool have shown me love during the five years. I will miss them.
    “I hope to have played many more years for the club but unfortunately things went different. I have to start a new adventure.
    “I knew I went to a big club. I remember that I was sitting in the living room and the manager said when I come to Liverpool we would win prizes.
    “I am happy it went that way. It would have been really painful to leave the club without any.
    “It’s really special. Since I’ve joined the fans have sung my name. Week-in, week-out they saw I was giving 100 per cent to give everything for this club.
    “That’s what the supporters want to see and that’s what they appreciate from me. It is something I’m going to miss.”
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

    England’s provisional squad for Euro 2020 has been named More