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      Chelsea launch shock transfer bid for £12m-rated MLS star as Pochettino searches for Kepa replacement

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      CHELSEA are keeping tabs on New England Revolution goalkeeper Djorde Petrovic after Kepa Arrizabalaga’s departure.Kepa joined Real Madrid on a season-long loan to cover for another former Blues keeper in Thibaut Courtois, who could miss the whole campaign after rupturing his ACL.
      Chelsea are keen to sign New England Revolution goalkeeper Djorde PetrovicCredit: Getty
      Chelsea want Petrovic to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga after he joined Real Madrid on loanCredit: Getty
      Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is actively looking for another goalkeeper after signing Robert SanchezCredit: Rex
      According to The Athletic, the West Londoners are keen on Petrovic to replace the Spain international and have opened talks with his MLS club.
      Mauricio Pochettino’s side have reportedly made an opening bid for the Serbia international.
      And deal could be reached in the range of £12million with talks between the two sides ongoing.
      The 23-year-old is highly-rated and many consider him the best goalkeeper in the US.
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      Chelsea signed Robert Sanchez from Brighton to reinforce Pochettino’s squad after Edouard Mendy’s departure to Al-Ahli.
      However, the Argentine tactician also lost Gabriel Slonina, who joined Eupen on loan.
      Pochettino addressed the club’s continuing search for another goalkeeper before Sunday’s Premier League clash at West Ham.
      The ex-Tottenham manager admitted Chelsea are “thinking and exploring all of the situations and possibilities on the market”.
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      New England Revolution have already rejected bids from Nantes and Nottingham Forest, who ultimately got Petrovic’s predecessor Matt Turner from Arsenal.
      They insisted they didn’t want to lose their No1 before the end of the season and the summer transfer window in the MLS is now closed.
      But Petrovic is keen to move to Stamford Bridge this summer and fight for a place between the sticks.
      Revolution, who can still sign free agents, are preparing for the worst and are thus keeping tabs on Josh Cohen after an impressive season with Maccabi Haifa. More

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      Lionel Messi reveals secret behind his superhero goal celebrations at Inter Miami and why he only does it for home games

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      LIONEL MESSI revealed his superhero celebrations are dedicated to his three children.Messi joined Inter Miami as a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain last month and signed a two-and-a-half-year deal worth in the region of £35-£47million per season with David Beckham’s team.
      Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi celebrates like a superhero for his three sons
      Messi reserves those celebrations for home matches when his sons are in attendance
      Messi celebrates like Spiderman, Thor or Black Panther during MLS matches
      And the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is earning every single penny as she has already amassed a staggering nine goals and one assist in only six matches with the MLS outfit.
      The star forward has also adopted a new celebration that sees him strike poses similar to Marvel heroes Thor, Black Panther and Spiderman.
      However, the Argentina captain reserves those celebrations for home matches at the DRV PNK Stadium.
      That is because the 36-year-old’s sons Thiago, 10, Mateo, 7, and Ciro, 5, always attend his matches at Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
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      And they are used to spending the evenings watching superhero movies with their dad.
      Messi said: “My three kids are still on vacation and haven’t started school yet, so every night we watch superhero movies.
      “They came up with the idea and told me that whenever I have a game and score a goal, I do a superhero celebration.
      “But I only do them for home games, when the kids are here, near me, so we can share those moments.”
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      Messi has been joined by former Barcelona team-mates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba at Inter Miami.
      They are coached by their former Barca manager Gerardo Martino, who replaced Phil Neville in the dugout.
      The Argentine legend opted for a move to the US over a return to Barcelona because it would give him more time with his family. More

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      At Inter Miami, Lionel Messi’s Only Complaint Is the Humidity

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      After taking the Leagues Cup tournament by storm, Messi, 36, had his first news conference since joining Inter Miami. It was clear he is now in a more relaxed stage of his career.The version of Lionel Messi who has become South Florida’s reigning sport king is not the playmaker in his prime that he was for Barcelona or the tortured captain-under-pressure that he was for Argentina. The Messi of Miami is, in his own words, happy. Very happy.Happy to have moved his family to a city where they used to vacation. Happy to greet legions of adoring fans. Happy to show his young new team, Inter Miami of M.L.S., how to win. Less happy, perhaps, to deal with South Florida’s crushing summer humidity.Those were Messi’s reflections in the first news conference of his career in the United States, a rite of passage for newly acquired star players that was supposed to take place when he arrived about a month ago. But Messi is not just any player. He is known to rarely speak to reporters. And the circuslike atmosphere that surrounded his first days in town was unlike anything M.L.S. had ever seen, even when David Beckham arrived in 2007.So Messi’s moment to meet the American press was delayed until now, after his team had won six straight games and he had scored nine goals for his new club. Inter Miami, which had the fewest points in M.L.S. regular-season play before it signed Messi, will now play the final of the new Leagues Cup tournament against Nashville S.C. on Saturday.“I think the team experienced a lot of growth,” the soft-spoken Messi said in Spanish, crediting the new coach, Gerardo Martino, the Argentine known as Tata who had coached Messi at Barcelona and on the Argentine national team, with helping the turnaround. (Two of his former Barcelona teammates, midfielder Sergio Busquets and defender Jordi Alba, have also joined him at Inter.)It was one of several understatements Messi delivered during a 20-minute news conference in which he took just 10 questions from a room packed with more than 70 reporters, a dozen television cameras and outlets from Argentina, Brazil and Spain. (“The best player in the history of world soccer just sat here!” one man exclaimed in Spanish to his viewers, pointing to a chair shortly after Messi left.)When a reporter asked about the ease with which Messi and Inter Miami have defeated their M.L.S. and Liga MX opponents in the tournament, hinting at the inferior level of competition he now faces compared with Europe, Messi spoke about “setting difficult goals” for Inter — and praised Liga MX and M.L.S. teams’ ability to compete.“The Mexican league is a very competitive league, where they have great, world-class players,” he said.Messi has scored nine goals in six games in the Leagues Cup tournament, including on Tuesday in a semifinal against the Philadelphia Union, one of the better teams in M.L.S. in recent years.Eric Hartline/Usa Today Sports Via Reuters ConIt was clear that Messi, 36, who led Argentina to its first World Cup championship in more than three decades last year, was in a more relaxed chapter of his career. Asked if he thought he might win the Ballon d’Or, the award given annually to the world’s best soccer player, for an eighth time, he said he was not considering it, especially “after having achieved the World Cup.”Messi did acknowledge that tearfully leaving Barcelona in 2021 for Paris St.-Germain was a rough transition. The move happened “practically overnight,” he said, making it difficult for him to get used to a new club and a city that was not a particularly good fit for his family.In contrast, his wife and three sons blessed coming to Miami, he said, characterizing it as a decision the family made together. Messi chose Miami over a reportedly more lucrative deal in Saudi Arabia, which is pursuing top talent, and over a potential return to Barcelona, which is in financial trouble.“It’s a city of many Latinos, and that makes everything easier,” he said. “All the time, they are showing you affection, closeness. That, already, is the most important thing, the healthiest thing, and the most beautiful thing to adjust and be able to enjoy what you do.”More than a hundred fans clad in Inter and Argentina jerseys waited outside the stadium to catch a glimpse of his departing car after the news conference, despite the rain.“One never completely adapts to this climate,” Messi had said moments earlier.James Wagner More

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      Fans amazed as they spot Lionel Messi’s hench bodyguard patrolling TOUCHLINE while Inter Miami star plays

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      FANS have spotted Lionel Messi’s huge Inter Miami bodyguard.The Argentine’s arrival has had MLS fans in a state of frenzy in recent weeks.
      Lionel Messi is often spotted with his bodyguard not far behindCredit: Getty
      Messi, 36, is followed by his security guard as he leaves the Ritz-Carlton in PhiladelphiaCredit: Splash
      Messi, 36, has scored nine goals in six games and appears to be relishing life in the States.
      Keeping him safe is a hench bodyguard hired by Inter Miami.
      The huge figure can be seen following Messi around on gamedays.
      He has been spotted shadowing the attacker off the team bus.
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      While he has even patrolled the right touchline during matches.
      The bodyguard ensures that fans don’t get too close to Messi, and has been spotted throwing a shirt to the ground after it had been launched at the former Barcelona star to sign.
      He is also on hand to escort Messi off the pitch and into the tunnel.
      Messi’s fans love that he is getting such close protection.
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      One wrote on social media: “Protect the GOAT at all costs.”
      While a second tweeted: “This guy means business.”
      A third commented: “This guy means business.”
      And a fourth said: “His eyes are always panning.”
      Another added: “Miami is taking good care of the GOAT.”
      Messi could win the first silverware of his time in the States this Sunday when his side take on Nashville in the Leagues Cup final.
      All of Messi’s Inter Miami appearances thus far have come in the competition and he has scored at least once in every game.
      After the Leagues Cup final he will then feature in the US Open Cup semis against Cincinnati next week.
      And his MLS debut will finally come on August 26 against New York Red Bulls.
      Messi’s bodyguard can even be seen patrolling the touchlineCredit: Twitter
      The guard ensures that Messi is not harassedCredit: Twitter More

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      Lionel Messi and Inter Miami ‘invited to compete in major tournament’ they could NEVER qualify for

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      LIONEL MESSI and Inter Miami have been invited to play in the Copa Libertadores, according to reports.The South American equivalent of the Champions League is one of the most prestigious trophies in football – and is one that eludes Messi.
      Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have been invited to play in the Copa LibertadoresCredit: Getty
      But he could finally get his hands on the trophy after Inter Miami were invited to participate in the next Copa Libertadores.
      According to journalist Hugo Balassone, Inter Miami have received an invitation to take part from Chiqui Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association.
      Tapia was acting on behalf of Conmebol chief Alejandro Dominguez, who has previously pointed out to Messi he is yet to win the Copa Libertadores.
      There has been talk of expanding the Copa Libertadores to include teams from Concacaf – which includes the USA, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
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      Concacaf chief Victor Montagliani has also discussed another competition which would see the winners of the Copa Libertadores and Concacaf’s Champions Cup face off.
      Messi, 35, would likely be keen to add the Copa Libertadores to his extensive honours list.

      He has won the World Cup and the Copa America with Argentina but the rest of his success has come in Europe, since he left Newell’s Old Boys as a teenager.
      The superstar has got off to a flying start in MLS, scoring nine goals in his opening six games.
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      Inter Miami have won every game he has played and Messi now has a chance to pick up his first piece of silverware with the club in the Leagues Cup.
      Nashville await in the final on Sunday and all eyes will be on Messi as Inter Miami bid to claim their first ever trophy. More

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      Lionel Messi pulls up injured in training and limps through session in huge Inter Miami blow

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      LIONEL MESSI worried Inter Miami fans by picking up an innocuous injury in training.The David Beckham-owned franchise lock horns with MLS rivals Philadelphia Union in a Leagues Cup semi-final on Tuesday night.

      Lionel Messi has been a revelation since joining Inter MiamiCredit: EPA
      But he’s a doubt for their Leagues Cup match with Philadelphia Union after appearing to suffer a foot injuryCredit: GETTY
      The competition could present Messi with an opportunity to win a trophy just weeks into his time with the Floridians.
      But Miami could be without their star man – who appeared to injure his left foot in training.
      The 36-year-old caught his left foot in the turf after receiving a pass from one of his team-mates and immediately pulled up.
      Messi began limping around the pitch but shook off the jarring pain before playing the ball back to one of his colleagues.
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      The Barcelona icon’s knock was quickly played down by coach Tata Martino – who insisted everything was “normal” with the footie superstar.
      When quizzed about the injury, the Argentine said: “I didn’t see exactly what happened.
      “But I imagine that if it had been something serious they would all been scandalized.
      “And since they were all well, I think nothing happened.”
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      Messi joined Inter on a free transfer last month following the expiration of his contract with French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
      The Argentina international has been nothing short of a revelation for the club, scoring eight goals in five appearances in all competitions.
      Upon his arrival in Florida, Messi said: “I am very happy to have chosen to come to this city with my family, to have chosen this project and I have no doubt that we are going to enjoy it very much.
      “We are going to have a good time and great things are going to happen.
      “Thank you very much, thank you all for this day.
      “I can’t wait to start training to compete.
      “I feel the same desire I’ve always had to compete, to really want to win and to help it (Inter Miami) continue to grow.” More

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      Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami scoring rate could be set to land punter over £22,000

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      LIONEL MESSI has had an unbelievable start at Inter Miami.Well, it would be unbelievable if it was anyone but Messi.
      Messi has Inter Miami fans dreaming of gloryCredit: Reuters
      The Argentinian superstar has racked up an incredible seven goals in four games in the Leagues Cup so far.
      That includes a dramatic late free kick against Dallas in the previous round, which levelled the score at 4-4.
      It also saw the 36-year-old become the club’s fourth-highest scorer of all time – after four appearances.
      And should he keep up that goalscoring rate moving forward and back in the MLS, it could go some way to helping one Bet365 punter towards a staggering £22,000 pay out.
      The bettor shared his bet slip on Twitter, showing a £50 double staked on a Lionel Messi x Inter Miami double.
      The first part involves Inter Miami winning The Leagues Cup which was a 10/1 shot when placed.
      The punter’s Messi x Inter Miami double
      David Beckham’s side are now the 2/1 favourites having reached the quarter final stage.
      The second part looked a tall order, with Messi to finish as MLS Top Goalscorer at huge 40/1 odds.
      When the league resumes, he’ll start 13 goals behind Hany Mukhtar of Nashville with 12 games to go.
      Given his blistering start, he’s projected to hit 21 goals at the same scoring rate he’s started, which would certainly put him in the mix.
      And the bookmaker agrees, slashing his odds to 15/4 second favourite BEFORE he’s kicked a ball in the competition.
      That’s left the punter with a dilemma after being offered a £605 cash out already.
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      A responsible gambler is someone who:

      Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
      Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
      Never chase their losses
      Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
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      Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

      For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. More

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      Lionel Messi sparks ‘CHEAT’ storm after stunning last-gasp free-kick as legend sees MLS debut POSTPONED

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      LIONEL MESSI is at the centre of a stunning “CHEAT” storm.The football superstar, 36, has had an electric start to life in America after scoring seven goals in four games.
      Lionel Messi has been embroiled in a ‘cheat’ storm following his free-kick vs FC DallasCredit: Reuters
      Fans spotted Messi moving the ball slightly before taking his free-kickCredit: TikTok @comtrax_chicafitbolivia
      Messi moved the ball while the ref had his back turnedCredit: TikTok @comtrax_chicafitbolivia
      And some fans remarkably labelled him a ‘cheat’Credit: TikTok @comtrax_chicafitbolivia
      This video of Lionel Messi slowly and sneakily moving the ball a few feet to the left so he has a better angle on his free kick is a good reminder that even the world’s best athletes are constantly looking for an edge.pic.twitter.com/0WH9Jv9Pup— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) August 8, 2023

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      His exploits included a stunning 85th minute free-kick against FC Dallas to send Inter Miami into extra-time of the Leagues Cup, before his side won the tie 5-3 on penalties.
      However, the Argentine World Cup winner has now sensationally been accused of “cheating” by some fans.
      Footage of the game shows Messi standing over the ball before his free-kick.
      And in the footage, the ex-Barcelona star can be seen inching the ball forward while the ref tends to the defensive wall.
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      The minor adjustments proved to be beneficial, with Messi nestling the set-piece into the top corner.
      But fans online were left split over the act.
      Taking to Twitter, one fan wrote: “This video of Lionel Messi slowly and sneakily moving the ball a few feet to the left so he has a better angle on his free kick is a good reminder that even the world’s best athletes are constantly looking for an edge.”
      A second argued: “‘Looking for an edge’ is the new way to refer to cheating, lol. And yes, i know that many others do the same…. and yes, i think they all cheat (because it’s against the rules).”
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      “Considering where the ball ended up going in, these slight movements made all the difference in actually scoring. That’s artistic genius by Messi,” remarked a third.
      A fourth hit back: “Cheating. You mean cheating.”
      Meanwhile, a fifth replied: “First time watching a football match? Every match this happens 100 times.”
      Another claimed: “What a cheater 😂.”
      Thanks to Inter’s progression in the Leagues Cup, Messi’s full Major League Soccer debut has been delayed.
      He had been due to make his MLS debut on August 20 against Charlotte FC.
      However, with the Herons progressing into the quarter-finals, the fixture has now been pushed back with the two sides set to meet at the PNK DRV Stadium on Friday.
      And with the semi-finals set to commence on August 19, one team will be unable to fulfil the original fixture slot.
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      Incredibly, just one month after making his debut, Messi already sits joint-fourth in Inter’s all-time goalscorer charts.
      And at the rate he is going he will have no problem catching compatriot Gonzalo Higuain, who sits top with 29 goals. More