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      PSG wanted Lionel Messi transfer during Barcelona row and thought ‘is it f***ing possible?’, admits chief Leonardo

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      Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has revealed the club were considering making a move to sign Lionel Messi this summer.
      The 51-year-old has stated the club’s interest in the Barcelona star was peaked when he handed in a transfer request at the Nou Camp.

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      Barcelona ace Lionel Messi wanted to leave the club this summerCredit: AP:Associated Press

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      PSG chief Leonardo (right) has spoken of the club’s interest in MessiCredit: Reuters
      Manchester City were believed to be favourites to land the 33-year-old should the Blaugrana have allowed him to leave.

      But the LaLiga side were demanding any potential suitors to stump up £630million after stating Messi was not allowed to depart for free.
      This led the six-time Ballon d’Or winner to perform a U-turn on his future, with the player to now see out the final year of his contract in Catalonia.

      And PSG chief Leonardo has declared Les Parisiens weighed up bringing the Argentine international to France, comparing the deal to when they signed David Beckham.
      Speaking to Telefoot via Goal about whether the Ligue 1 outfit were keen, he said: “Today when you think about the financial situation it’s complicated.
      “When we are told Messi wants to leave, we are tempted.
      “You say to yourself, will it be f***ing possible?

      “They are players completely out of any discussion.

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      “I don’t know, David Beckham ended up at Paris Saint-Germain, Messi ending up in Paris? I don’t know. 
      “It’s football, in the end, everyone’s sitting at the table, everyone knows everything, and it’s moving forward.”
      It has now been said that Messi will not decide on his long-term future until the next Barca president is announced.

      Messi has confirmed that he will stay at Barcelona More

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      Lionel Messi to decide Barcelona future when new president is announced as he prepares for training return on Monday

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      LIONEL MESSI is returning to Barcelona training on Monday after his transfer request Nou-turn – but will not decide his long-term future until their next president is announced.
      The one-club legend, 33, will meet new boss Ronald Koeman after conceding he must stay until his contract runs out next summer.

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      Barcelona icon Lionel Messi was left with little option but to stay until his contract runs out next summerCredit: AFP or licensors

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      Current president Josep Maria Bartomeu is due to stay in office until March next year after tough negotiations over Lionel MessiCredit: AFP or licensors
      But reports in Spain suggest Messi wants to wait and see who replaces Nou Camp president Josep Maria Bartomeu in the upcoming March 2021 election.
      Sport.es say Argentina frontman Messi wants to put the dispute to one side for now and focus on restoring Barca’s battered image.
      Real Madrid returned from the coronavirus lockdown to overhaul Barcelona for the La Liga title, then Bayern Munich humiliated Messi and Co 8-2 in the Champions League quarter-finals last month.
      That prompted Messi to finally ask for a free move, claiming his June 10 deadline should be extended due to Covid-19 lengthening the campaign.

      But LaLiga backed Barca’s insistence that the original date still stood.
      And despite Messi’s dad Jorge holding talks with Nou Camp bosses, urging them to let his son go, he was forced to climb down.
      Real Madrid legend Hugo Sanchez squarely blamed Jorge and “bad advice” for Messi Junior having no option now but to stay put.
      Messi put in a transfer request by fax last week.

      But 208-goal ex-Real striker Sanchez told ESPN: “That untimely burofax only strengthened the image of the president of Barcelona and gave him time to weaken Messi’s decision.

      “Messi has had no choice but to stay at Barcelona due to bad advice from his father and the law firm, because they could have saved that burofax.
      “That has caused weakness to his image within the team.
      “Coincidentally, Messi had the lawyers who had previously worked with Barcelona, but due to a conflict of interest, the Catalan club changed its strategy.”

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      Lionel Messi will be back training with Barcelona training on Monday after avoiding it last weekCredit: Reuters

      Messi has confirmed that he will stay at Barcelona More

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      Barcelona star Arturo Vidal ‘demands £5.3m payoff to leave’ after being made to train alone ahead of transfer

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      ARTURO VIDAL wants Barcelona to pay him for the remaining year on his contract before he leaves the club, according to reports.
      The Chilean midfielder is closing in on a move to Inter Milan after being told he does not fit into the plans of new Barca boss Ronald Koeman.

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      Arturo Vidal wants a £5.3million payoff from BarcelonaCredit: AFP or licensors
      But according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Vidal is demanding Barcelona first pay him the £5.3million he would be due if he saw out his contract, which expires in 2021.
      Although Vidal’s request has delayed a move to Inter, boss Antonio Conte is confident the deal will be completed.
      The 33-year-old will sign a two-year contract at the San Siro, with the option of a third.
      However, Inter have made it clear they will not pay a transfer fee for Vidal after discovering he has been frozen out by Koeman.

      Further discussions with Barcelona are expected to take place tomorrow in an effort to speed up his departure.
      Vidal also believes he is owed an additional £2.1million in bonuses which could hold up any agreement.
      A move to Inter would see Vidal reunite with Conte, who has made no secret of his desire to work with the mohawked midfielder again following their time together at Juventus.
      Provided negotiations are concluded swiftly, Vidal is expected to complete his medical with the Nerazzurri some time next week.

      Vidal looks set to be the latest casualty of the Barcelona rebuilding job, following the departure of Ivan Rakitic last week, while Luis Suarez is also on the chopping block.
      Suarez and Vidal trained away from the rest of the first-team squad yesterday, with the Uruguayan reportedly closing in on a move to Juventus.
      One man who won’t be leaving the Camp Nou this summer is Lionel Messi, after the Argentine completed a dramatic transfer U-turn by announcing he would be staying at Barcelona.

      Barcelona’s Arturo Vidal looks close to vomiting as Bayern Munich celebrate one of their eight goals More

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      Man Utd forced to make Sergio Reguilon transfer decision ‘soon’ as Sevilla ask to have him back on loan from Real Madrid

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      MANCHESTER UNITED will have to make a quick decision on whether to sign Sergio Reguilon on loan.
      It comes after United were believed to have been offered the Real Madrid defender on loan.

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      Man Utd will have to make a quick decision on whether to sign Sergio Reguilon on loanAccording to Fabrizio Romano, the Old Trafford board are deciding “soon” on whether to take on the left-back.
      But they will be rushed into making up their minds as Sevilla – who Reguilon played for last season – also want to bring back the 23-year-old.
      The Spain international enjoyed a breakthrough season in Seville last term having been loaned out by Real Madrid. 
      He made 38 appearances and lifted the Europa League trophy.

      And despite being voted LaLiga’s best left-back, Bernabeu boss Zinedine Zidane has no plans for Reguilon to stay in the capital this season.
      But if the league champions wish to keep him on their books, the full-back could spend another season out on loan.
      PSG, Juventus, Napoli and Tottenham are also among those interested in signing the player. 

      But United remain frontrunners to sign him, with Solskjaer keen to bolster his options at left-back and provide competition for places.

      Luke Shaw remains injury prone while Brandon Williams is regarded as one for the future after his emergence.
      Reguilon currently has no space in the Madrid side, with Ferland Mendy overtaking Marcelo as the club’s preferred left-back.

      Watch Man Utd boss Solskjaer roll back the years with clinical two-touch finish into top corner in training More

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      Real Madrid plot astonishing £261MILLION transfer splurge on Mbappe, Haaland and Camavinga next summer

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      REAL MADRID are reportedly desperate to bring Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Eduardo Camavingo to the Bernabeu next summer.
      Los Blancos aren’t in a position to spend big this window due to the coronavirus crisis, but they plan to go all out in 2021.

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      Real Madrid are known to be keen to sign Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian MbappeCredit: AFP or licensors

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      Los Blancos will reportedly make a move to bring Erling Haaland in from Borussia Dortmund next yearCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The three players they are looking to sign are Mbappe, Haaland and Camavinga, who are worth a combined £261milion according to Transfermarkt.

      ABC report how the trio are firmly on the radar of Zinedine Zidane, with the Frenchman keen on a huge squad overhaul.
      Rennes midfielder Camavinga is understood to have been identified as the perfect long-term successor to Casemiro.
      It has been said that if the club wasn’t affected by Covid-19, the 17-year-old would already be a Los Blancos player.

      Real are also desperate to bolster their attack, with Mbappe to potentially cost less next summer with his Paris Saint-Germain contract to expire in 2022.
      And Madrid want Haaland to spearhead their front-line with Mbappe and Hazard to play either side of him.
      Borussia Dortmund are desperate to keep hold of the Norwegian international, but the Budesliga side are aware of Real’s interest in the forward.

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      Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga has been heavily linked with a move to the BernabeuCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Real know they still have to get plenty of players off their books in order to raise funds, with James Rodriguez the first person to leave as Everton close in on a deal.

      And they are hoping Manchester United sign left-back Sergio Reguilon for £27m having offered the player to the Red Devils.
      Zidane remains desperate to offload Bale, but the former Tottenham ace’s £15.1million-a-year wages have put off potential suitors.

      Chelsea in Eden Hazard transfer funds boost with Marina Granovskaia brokering better deal worth £143m with Real Madrid More

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      Griezmann misses THIRD straight penalty for France but Deschamps blames lack of training at Barcelona for spot-kick woes

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      FRANCE boss Didier Deschamps has blamed Barcelona for Antoine Griezmann missing his third straight penalty for the national team.
      The 29-year-old blazed his spot-kick over the bar in injury time in the 1-0 win against Sweden in the Nations League on Saturday.

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      Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty during the 1-0 win against Sweden on SaturdayCredit: AFP or licensors

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      French striker Griezmann, 29, hasn’t scored a spot-kick since January 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      It was his third consecutive miss from 12 yards out for Les Blues having missed against Albania and Andorra last September.
      And Deschamps has defended the 2018 World Cup winner, as he claimed Griezmann is struggling because he doesn’t take penalties for Barcelona.
      Griezmann is yet to take a penalty for the Bluagrana, with his last spot-kick at club level coming in January 2019 during his time at Atletico Madrid.
      Speaking to TF1 via GFFN, Deschamps said: “So long as he feels it and wants to take them, he will continue to take them.

      “It is not because he has missed three, it would be another taker, but I am not going to say to you today that because he has missed three that he will no longer take them.
      “The problem, is that he does not take them with his club so he does not train on this particular thing.
      “We spoke about it at the beginning of this international break.
      “Thankfully for France, when he has had to take them, important penalties, notably at the World Cup, his little foot did not tremble and he did what was needed.”

      Griezmann’s future at the Nou Camp remains in question after Lionel Messi confirmed he will be staying at Barcelona.
      It has been claimed that the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal are all keen on the ex-Real Sociedad star.
      Spanish media even stated that Barca offered Griezmann back to Atletico in return for Joao Felix., but the proposal was swiftly rejected.

      Messi has confirmed that he will stay at Barcelona More

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      Man City see £62m transfer bid plus bonuses for Chelsea target Jose Gimenez rejected by Atletico Madrid

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      MANCHESTER CITY had a £62million bid for Chelsea target Jose Gimenez rejected by Atletico Madrid, according to reports.
      Pep Guardiola’s side are still thought to be on the hunt for another new centre-back this summer.

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      Jose Gimenez was the subject of a £62m bid from Manchester City but Atletico Madrid rejected the offerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But according to La Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Alfredo Pedulla, their approach for Gimenez was snubbed.
      It is thought City offered an initial £62m for the Uruguayan defender, 25, but with added bonuses.
      However, Atleti are keen to keep their star defender who is the third captain behind Koke and Jan Oblak.

      It is reported he has a £109m release clause in his contract which still has three years left to run.

      Chelsea did express an interest in signing him and have even sent scouts to watch him in action for his country.
      Gimenez opened the door to a move to Stamford Bridge by openly declaring his appreciation for the club and boss Frank Lampard.
      Speaking in an interview with LaLiga, he said: “I would have liked to play with Lampard.
      “I always used to watch Chelsea as a kid, loved them.”

      Gimenez signed from Danubio in his homeland in 2013 for around £800,000 and has made 191 appearances for the Rojiblancos.
      The Etihad club are hoping to bolster their defensive options despite already spending £40m on Nathan Ake with Eric Garcia set to quit next summer.
      Kalidou Koulibaly remains a target – and would cost around the same as Gimenez – but negotiations with Napoli are proving difficult due to the clubs’ strained relationship following the Jorginho saga in 2018.

      Nathan Ake post emotional video to Bournemouth fans after completing move to Man City More

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      Lionel Messi’s dad and his ‘bad advice’ blamed for shock Barcelona transfer U-turn by ex-Real Madrid ace Hugo Sanchez

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      LIONEL MESSI’S dad and his “bad advice” are the reason behind the Argentine’s shock Barcelona transfer U-turn, according to Hugo Sanchez.
      The former Real Madrid hero, 62, took a swipe at Jorge Messi, who has been handling negotiations with the Nou Camp side since his son informed them he wanted out.

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      Hugo Sanchez believes Lionel Messi’s dad is to blame for the collapse of the club captain’s Barcelona exitCredit: EPA
      Messi Jr, 33, was desperate to be let go after failings on the pitch and serious fallouts off it with the club hierarchy.
      But after Jorge was unable to reach an agreement in his showdown talks with president Josep Maria Bartomeu, Messi withdrew the request and agreed to stay put for the final year of his contract.
      Sanchez, though, reckons a better agent rather than his own dad would have seen Messi get his way.
      The 208-goal Los Blancos hero told ESPN: “That untimely burofax only strengthened the image of the president of Barcelona and gave him time to weaken Messi’s decision.

      “Messi has had no choice but to stay at Barcelona due to bad advice from his father and the law firm, because they could have saved that burofax.
      “That has caused weakness to his image within the team.
      “Coincidentally, Messi had the lawyers who had previously worked with Barcelona, but due to a conflict of interest, the Catalan club changed its strategy.”
      Jorge coached his son at Grandoli in Rosario – Lionel’s first club – but since then has always been in control of Messi’s off-field matters, right from when he first moved to Barcelona.

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      Sanchez was a Real Madrid hero between 1985 and 1992 so was not afraid to swipe out at rivals BarcelonaCredit: Reuters

      Messi and his dad have been inseparable since they moved to Catalonia together 20 years ago

      It was Messi Sr that arranged the trial, secretly flew with his son to Catalonia for a trial at Barca then played hard ball to ensure his 13-year-old son was paid around £106,000 per year, even offering him to Real Madrid at one point.
      Since they moved to Barcelona nearly 20 years ago, the former supervisor at a metal factory in Rosario has handled all of Messi’s dealings – from new contract after new contract to commercial sponsorships to being chief executive of his business and running the charitable foundation.
      He is described by Marca as “thoughtful and calm” but has earned a reputation for being notoriously difficult at the negotiating table.
      One source told The Athletic he lacked humility, saying: “He can come across as self-important, as you would expect as the dad of the best player in the world.
      “Most dads of footballers are, but the way it was described to me, how he acts in meetings with the club over the years has been classless.
      “Everyone knows who your son is, you don’t need to act like that.”
      Messi confirmed in an interview with Goal he retracted his move because he didn’t want to go to court against the club he joined aged 13.
      He is expected to return to training for the first time on Monday, working under Ronald Koeman as they look to put their frosty start behind them and reclaim the LaLiga crown.

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      But now the next season will be dominated by distractions of where the six-time Ballon d’Or winner will end up – with Manchester City the favourites.
      Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan are also expected to try and lure the superstar to Ligue 1 and Serie A respectively.
      And Sanchez is certain Messi will choose a club where he has guaranteed to win silverware to add to his staggering trophy collection.
      The Mexican added: “Messi likes to win titles and will need to look for another team where he can win championships and prove that he is the best player ever.
      “The whole problem with Barcelona is going to distract him next season, in such a way that there will be doubts both about his behaviour and the fact that he is not the same young man who ran all over the pitch.”

      Messi has confirmed that he will stay at Barcelona More