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      Lionel Messi christens world’s largest cruise ship as footie legend helps Inter Miami value DOUBLE to £800m

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      LIONEL MESSI has christened the world’s largest cruise ship as a part of Inter Miami’s partnership with Royal Caribbean International.The football superstar announced the name of the new vessel as Icon of the Seas.
      Lionel Messi launched the world’s largest cruise shipCredit: Getty
      The Royal Caribbean vessel is called the Icon of the SeasCredit: Getty
      Royal Caribbean are now a sponsor of Inter MiamiCredit: Getty
      The company has become the new shirt sponsor of David Beckham’s MLS franchise.
      The logo will be displayed on the front of the club’s away shirts.
      Messi, 36, and his team-mates attended a ceremony at the Port of Miami that was hosted by the cruise line operator.
      The Argentine World Cup winner headlined the event as he placed a football on a podium, which set off the traditional breaking of a champagne bottle on the bow of the ship.
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      This act has been done for years and is said to bring luck to the passengers and the vessel.
      Messi took “great pride” in being allowed the opportunity.
      After being introduced as “the icon of icons”, he said in Spanish: “Hello, thank you very much.
      “Above all, I would like to thank everyone at Royal Caribbean for granting me this honour.
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      “It is a great pride for me for everything this ship means to the city of Miami and to the whole world.
      “Therefore, I announce that it has been named Icon of the Seas.
      “May God bless it and everyone on it.”
      The £1.57billion ship is the world’s longest liner at 1,198 feet and weighs 250,800 gross tons.
      It has a maximum capacity of 7,600 people.
      Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley also spoke at the event.
      He said: ‘We built the biggest, baddest ship on the planet.
      “It’s really exciting when you introduce a new class of ship, but it’s even more exciting when it seems to be really spot on.”
      The company has revealed that there are multiple entertainment options on the ship.
      This includes seven swimming pools, six water slides, the world’s largest waterfall, the tallest water slide, and the largest sea-based waterpark.
      Inter Miami’s value has almost doubled since Messi’s arrival last summer.
      According to Sportico, the club is now worth £800m, far more than the £458m it was valued before the attacker signed for the club.
      The club is now the third most valuable in the MLS, thanks to its revenue being boosted from £43m to £100m.
      Los Angeles FC has the highest value in the league as it is valued at £900m.
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      Atlanta United is the second most valuable at £830m, while Beckham’s former club LA Galaxy, is fourth at £790m.
      The New York Times has reported that the Inter Miami shirt is the best-selling football jersey in North America, ahead of the likes of Manchester United, Juventus, Real Madrid and Arsenal.
      The ship cost £1.57Billion to buildCredit: Getty
      It weighs 250,800 gross tonsCredit: Getty
      As many as 7,600 people can be on the shipCredit: Getty
      There are seven swimming poolsCredit: Getty
      There are also six water slides for the guestsCredit: Getty
      There are also whirlpool hot tubs at the HideawayCredit: Getty
      Guests can also use an arcade that has an air hockey tableCredit: Getty
      This is one of the restaurants on boardCredit: Getty
      The ship is 1,198 feet longCredit: Getty
      Guests will have comfortable roomsCredit: Getty
      They can also use the surf machineCredit: Getty More

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      David Beckham ‘ready to sign yet another former Lionel Messi team-mate’ with forgotten Prem ace handed transfer lifeline

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      INTER MIAMI are hoping to sign Philippe Coutinho, according to reports.Owner David Beckham is trying to convince the 31-year-old that a move to the United States should be the next step in his career.
      Philippe Coutinho is wanted by Inter MiamiCredit: Getty
      Lionel Messi is set to try to convince his former team-mate to join the clubCredit: AFP
      And he is set to call upon their “dream signing’s” former team-mates to persuade him to join, claim Calciomercato.
      Inter Miami already have Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba in their squad.
      Barcelona’s legendary quartet won two LaLiga titles with Coutinho when he was at the Catalan giants from 2018 to 2022.
      The Brazilian star is still on the books of Aston Villa.
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      But he is spending the season on loan with Al-Duhail.
      Reports suggest that Coutinho does not want to stay in the Middle East when his time at the Qatari club ends in the summer.
      And he supposedly has no future at Aston Villa.
      Inter Miami finished second bottom of the Eastern Conference last year – but following Messi’s arrival they won the Leagues Cup.
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      The Argentina legend scored 11 goals in 14 matches for the club.
      Inter Miami are set to play in friendlies against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Hong Kong, Vissel Kobe and Messi’s boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys before the MLS season gets underway on February 22.
      David Beckham has already signed four ex-Barcelona starsCredit: Reuters More

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      Fans convinced Jose Mourinho revealed next career move 13 YEARS AGO after Special One sacked by Roma

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      JOSE MOURINHO revealed in 2011 that he would like to manage in America one day.The Portuguese, 60, was in charge of Real Madrid at the time.
      Jose Mourinho was sacked by Roma yesterdayCredit: Rex
      Chatting to the late Grant Wahl, Mourinho praised the American mentality.
      After being sacked by Roma yesterday, the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss could look to finally make his move to the States.
      Talking to Sports Illustrated, Mourinho said: “I see myself coaching a [club] team, coaching the national team or helping develop soccer in the US.
      “When I’m tired of winning things in Europe, it’s something I want to do.
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      “I want to coach the Portuguese national team and I want to work in the United States.”
      Mourinho, who has been on plenty of US tours with his various clubs down the years, adores the American way of life.
      He added: “I love it. The people have a very open mentality.
      “Everybody is the same. Status doesn’t count a lot. I like it very much in this way.”
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      Mourinho’s final months in Rome were littered with bizarre incidents.
      He was sent off six times in his final two seasons, including twice in four days earlier this month.
      The former Inter Milan Treble-winner also snubbed the press before bafflingly likening himself to Harry Potter.
      Roma legend Daniele De Rossi has taken the job until the end of the season.
      Having seen his comments while speaking to SI, one fan wrote: “I think Mourinho would go so hard in the mls.”
      While a second posted: “Lol Mourinho to MLS soon.”
      A third claimed: “Mourinho in MLS would be hilarious on so many levels.”
      Another added: “Mourinho to MLS who says no??”
      Mourinho has visited the US on many occasions while on pre-season toursCredit: Reuters More

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      Jesse Lingard’s new agents make immediate move as midfielder ‘offered to Portland Timbers on free transfer’

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      JESSE LINGARD’S new agents have offered the ex-Manchester United ace to MLS outfit Portland Timbers.Lingard has been a free agent since June when he was released by Nottingham Forest and has been struggling to link up with a new club ever since.
      Ex-Man Utd ace Jesse Lingard’s agents have offered him to Portland TimbersCredit: Alamy
      The midfielder sacked his previous reps this month as they failed to find him a new team and he was frustrated with a number of contract offers that never developed despite interest from clubs overseas
      According to the Mail, the 31-year-old’s new representatives are exploring possibilities in the US and Portland appear interested in signing him on a free transfer.
      The ex-England international has been training on his own in America as well as Dubai.
      And the United academy graduate has shared a series of images as well as clips showing him undergoing hard sessions at the gym.
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      Lingard trained with former club West Ham as well as Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq, who are managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, throughout the season.
      The ex-Forest ace was also linked with the likes of Everton and Barcelona but a deal never materialised.
      Lingard burst on to the scene in 2015 at United following a series of loan stints at Leicester, Birmingham, Brighton and Derby.
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      Lingard scored 35 goals and provided 21 assists in 232 appearances with the Manchester giants.
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      He also won the FA Cup, EFL Cup, Community Shield and Europa League trophy with United.
      Lingard fell down the pecking order in 2021 and was loaned out to West Ham.
      The midfielder stood out during the second half of the 2020-21 campaign with nine goals and five assists in 16 appearances with the Hammers.
      That led him to a move to Forest a year later but he failed to replicate the same success with only two goals and two assists in 20 games. More

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      Lionel Messi opens up on prospect of facing Cristiano Ronaldo as long-time rivals prepare to lock horns

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      LIONEL MESSI has revealed he “can’t wait” to lock horns with long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo in a pre-season showdown next month.MLS giants Inter Miami will head to the Middle East for their pre-season ahead of their 2024 campaign which kicks off on February 21.
      Lionel Messi said he ‘can’t wait’ to lock horns with long-time rival Cristiano RonaldoCredit: AP
      Inter Miami will battle it out in a pre-season showdown in Saudi Arabia next monthCredit: Getty
      Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr side will welcome Messi and Co. to the Gulf State on February 1 in a thrilling match with two of football’s greats.
      The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner took to Instagram to share his excitement for the upcoming game.
      He said: “I can’t wait to be part of #RiyadhSeasonCup with my team Inter Miami CF as we face top Saudi clubs in a historic championship.”
      Widely regarded as all-time legends, the pair regularly faced each other in Spain’s La Liga with Real Madrid and Barcelona.
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      Between them, the record-breaking pair have won every piece of silverware the game has to offer.
      The last time the two La Liga rivals played against each other was in January 2023 in Riyadh.
      Messi took part in last season’s Riyadh Season Cup with his former side Paris Saint-Germain against Ronaldo after the Portugal great’s surprise move to Al Nassr.
      The 2022 World Cup winner managed to scrape a victory against the Saudi Arabian side in a 5-4 win.
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      But before Messi takes on the Portuguese superstar again he will first play Al-Hilal two days before.
      And joining Inter Miami this year are some new faces including Uruguay sensation Luis Suarez.
      He is the fourth Barca legend to join the MLS outfit following the footsteps of Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.
      Luis Suarez is the newest ex-Barcelona player to join the MLS sideCredit: Instagram @intermiamicf More

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      Five jobs Wayne Rooney could go for next including Salford to become Class of 92’s manager after Birmingham sacking

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      WAYNE ROONEY is now looking for a new job after being sacked by Birmingham City.The England and Manchester United legend has endured an absolute nightmare since he took charge of the Blues when they were sitting in the play-off spots in October.
      Wayne Rooney is looking for a new job after being sacked by Birmingham CityCredit: Alamy
      The 38-year-old endured a nightmare spell at St Andrew’s and won just twiceCredit: Getty
      The 38-year-old won just two of his 15 matches in charge after replacing John Eustace.
      That poor run saw Birmingham plummet from sixth to 20th in the Championship.
      Yesterday’s 3-0 defeat to Leeds proved to be the final straw for Brum’s American owners, including NFL icon Tom Brady, as they confirmed Rooney’s departure this morning.
      And now the former Derby County and DC United boss has found himself unemployed with his reputation as a manager taking another huge hit after the ill-fated stint at St Andrew’s.
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      After guiding Derby to safety in his first season in charge, he still won plaudits the following year when they were relegated from the Championship amid turmoil off the pitch.
      Rooney resigned after they dropped to League One and went on to join MLS side DC United, who he played for towards the end of his iconic career.
      But he struggled to make much of an impact in America as he racked up just 13 wins and 26 defeats from his 52 games at the helm.
      And even though he is undoubtedly still a huge name in the game, his record in the dug-out suggests that he would be a massive gamble for any potential employers.
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      However, there may still be a few options on the table for Wazza, and here are five possible jobs for him that could help the ex-striker transform his reputation:
      SALFORD CITY
      The League Two club are owned by his former Manchester United team-mates Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Gary and brother Phil Neville.
      Salford enjoyed four promotions in five years after the Class of ‘92 bought them with money man and majority shareholder Peter Lim in 2014.
      However, their dream of reaching the Premier League is in danger of imploding as they remain stuck in the fourth tier and they responded to their recent woes by sacking Neil Wood following the 5-1 defeat by Tranmere on Boxing Day.
      A number of names have already been mentioned as potential successors, but Rooney could land himself a new job fast if he decides to go for it and try and work for his pals.
      INTER MIAMI
      Beckham also owns MLS side Inter Miami and has enjoyed great success since the arrival of Lionel Messi in attack.
      Golden Balls previously employed close mate Phil Neville as manager, but he sacked him in June and replaced him with Gerardo Martino.
      They have been on a great run since, but should Becks opt to perform an old England friends act, then Rooney may have an opportunity to go back to the MLS.
      SAUDI ARABIA
      A huge array of big-name players and managers have moved to the mega-rich Saudi Pro League over the past 12 months.
      And the opportunity to employ another legendary figure in Rooney may prove to be an attractive option for one of their clubs as they look to continue establishing the league.
      ENGLAND
      A bit of a long-shot, but with Gareth Southgate expected to depart after this summer’s Euros, the England job could soon become available.
      With no obvious candidates out there to come in, Rooney could attempt to convince FA chiefs to take a punt on him.
      He already has plenty of experience on the international stage and assured his place in the history books by surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton’s Three Lions scoring record while captaining our country – a figure since surpassed by Harry Kane.
      And for anyone doubting him, Wazza could point out that Southgate’s only experience at club level before he got the gig was at Middlesbrough, where he suffered relegation from the Premier League.  
      MANCHESTER UNITED
      Perhaps an even bigger long-shot than the England one.
      But he knows the club inside and out after an epic 13-year playing career at Old Trafford that resulted in him winning the lot under Sir Alex Ferguson.
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      Sir Jim Ratcliffe has finally completed his deal to purchase 25 per cent of United, and with pressure continuing to mount on Erik ten Hag, the new chiefs could opt for a change in the dug-out.
      And it is not as if bad managerial records at other clubs has put United off in the past given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s recent spell in charge. More

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      Hugo Lloris on brink of permanent Tottenham transfer exit after ‘agreeing to MLS contract and Spurs sign off on move’

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      HUGO LLORIS is on the brink of completing a permanent move to MLS side Los Angeles FC.The Frenchman is set to end his 11-year stay with Tottenham after the club signed off on the transfer.
      Hugo Lloris is on the brink of leaving Tottenham to join MLS side Los Angeles FCCredit: Getty
      Lloris has not played for the club since April after being exiled by new manager Ange Postecoglou.
      However, after failing to secure a summer transfer, he has remained with Spurs and is part of their Premier League squad.
      The 37-year-old is now finally on the verge of sealing a move away from North London, though.
      Fabrizio Romano reports that a verbal agreement is now in place between all parties for Lloris to join LAFC.
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      He will sign a one-year deal with an option to extend, the report adds, with the transfer set to be finalised soon.
      LAFC reached the final of the MLS Cup play-offs last season before losing to Columbus Crew.
      They were also Supporters’ Shield winners in 2022 as well as lifting their maiden MLS Cup.
      Lloris would be an experienced addition to their squad following more than a decade in the Premier League.
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      The World Cup winner has made 444 appearances for Spurs since signing from Lyon in 2012.
      He was also club captain prior to relinquishing the armband to Son Heung-min in the summer. More

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      Lionel Messi shows off shredded abs in gym selfie… before Cristiano Ronaldo upstages him with ripped training snaps

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      LIONEL MESSI shows off his abs in a gym selfie with wife Antonela – but Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged him just hours later.The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is in prime shape well ahead of the MLS season starting in February when Luis Suarez will join him at Inter Miami.
      Lionel Messi and Antonela are happy to show their peak conditionCredit: Instagram @leomessi
      Cristiano Ronaldo later upstaged Messi with his own ripped training snap
      However, his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo posted a training snap of his own ripped bodies a day later.
      The veteran forward shared a picture of his bulging leg muscles to Instagram during a topless gym workout.
      Ronaldo gave a steely look to the camera as he flexed, captioning the post with a peace sign and weight lifting emoji.
      Former Liverpool striker Suarez has joined ex-Barca pals Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba at David Beckham’s club in the USA.
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      And Messi, 36, looked proud to show he’s still in the physical condition that help Argentina lift the 2022 World Cup glory and earned him his latest global player-of-the-year gong two months ago.
      Unicef ambassador Antonela wore a sporty crop top for a gym selfie of the toned couple that she posted on Instagram.
      Book looked in peak form but, whereas she smiled wildly, Messi had the focused expression more worthy of a player about to take a key penalty.
      That of course was just what he did – twice – in a momentous World Cup final triumph over France in Qatar 12 months ago.
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      He notched a spot-kick during his double in a 3-3 draw after extra time.
      He then tucked home the opener in Argentina’s 4-2 shoutout success.
      The ex-PSG star is not due to be in action again on a pitch until a friendly with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Hilal in February.
      Japanese side Vissel Kobe and Messi’s first club Newell’s Old Boys will also take centre stage in Miami’s warm-up games.
      Messi’s MLS season under fellow Argentinian Gerardo Martino opens at home to Western Conference team Real Salt Lake on February 21.
      And Suarez is expected to line up alongside him – going back to the future as two-thirds of the dream Barcelona attack they formed with Neymar.
      The Uruguay legend switched to Miami this month despite being named the Brazil top-flight’s player of the season.
      Suarez, 36, decided his knee wasn’t up to playing the second year of his contract with Gremio.
      But he’s hungry to play once more with Messi as he said: “I look forward to reuniting with great friends and players.”
      Antonela and Messi pride themselves on staying in top shapeCredit: instagram/antonelaroccuzzo
      Argentinian Messi and Uruguay’s Luis Suarez will be reunited at Inter Miami after developing a strong friendship at BarcelonaCredit: AFP More