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Messi in Miami shirt seems ‘strange’ – Barca president
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has told ESPN it is a “strange feeling” to see Lionel Messi in an Inter Miami CF shirt, but he wishes the forward the best in MLS.
Messi, 36, left Barca for Paris Saint-Germain two years ago, but the Catalan side attempted to re-sign him earlier this summer when his contract with the French side expired.
Saudi Arabian team Al-Hilal also offered Messi a contract, but the Argentina international opted to join Inter Miami, where he has scored three goals in his first two appearances.
“It’s a strange feeling,” Laporta told ESPN of watching Messi play in the United States. “We identify Messi with Barcelona. That’s the way I think most supporters see Messi, because most of his career has been at Barca.
“But we respect his decision and we wish the best for him. We want the best for our players. He came to Barcelona as a kid, 14-years-old, and he spent 20 years with us. I hope he can be very happy in Miami.”
Messi has already been joined in Miami by former Barca teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, while Luis Suarez has also been linked, although sources have told ESPN the Uruguay striker will remain at Gremio until at least the end of the year.
Laporta said he understood Messi’s decision to take on a new challenge in the U.S., even if Barca had cleared his possible return with LaLiga financially.
“It was very close,” the Barca chief added. “We had to manage our financial fair play situation so we needed time. At the end, we reached an agreement with LaLiga that authorised us to add him to the squad.
“But Leo was coming from a situation in Paris where he was under a lot of pressure. His father told me that he needed a place where he won’t be under pressure and at Barca that would not be the case because of the meaning of the return of our hero.”
During his 21 years at Barca, Messi became the club’s record appearance holder and top scorer, scoring 672 times in 778 games. He won four Champions Leagues, 11 LaLiga titles and won the Ballon d’Or on seven occasions.
“In Miami, it is different for him, it’s a new league for him, one that is improving and Messi can help with the developing of the league,” added Laporta.
“With Busquets and Jordi Alba as well, maybe Luis Suarez. It will be very attractive for the fans in the United States. So he preferred to go to Miami. We respected it and understood his decision.”
Messi has made a fast start to life in South Florida, scoring the game-winning free kick on his debut against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup and then adding a brace in a 4-0 win over Atlanta United FC on Tuesday.
In California, meanwhile, Barca finally kicked off their preseason with a 5-3 defeat against Arsenal at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood as part of the Soccer Champions Tour they are taking part in.
Their opening game against Juventus in Santa Clara was postponed last weekend because of a stomach bug which spread across the squad.
They are back in action on Saturday when they play the Clasico against Real Madrid in Dallas before closing their trip against AC Milan in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
“We lost against Arsenal, but it’s preseason and we will get better,” Laporta said. “I hope against Madrid and in our last game in the U.S. we can be better.
“This tournament is fantastic. There are full stadiums, the fans are great and everything is so well organised. Last night we played in front of 70,000 with people coming from abroad to watch us.
“And training is also going great. The facilities in Los Angeles are perfect for us. We just had the problem with the viral infection, but we feel thankful to be here.”
News
RON ON HIS WAY! Ronaldo Makes New Portgual Decision After Red Card Nightmare
Cristiano Ronaldo has LEFT the Portugal camp after his shocking red card in their defeat against Ireland.
The Portuguese icon was dismissed in his nation’s 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland earlier this week.
Ronaldo was given his marching orders for an alleged elbow on Ireland defender Dara O’Shea. He was initially awarded a yellow card, only for VAR to intervene before the referee upgraded the punishment.
Ronaldo has now been handed a one-match automatic ban for the red card, which will see him miss Portugal’s clash with Armenia on Sunday. And according to reports in Portugal, he has now been released from international duty.
The 40-year-old will now return to Saudi Arabia ahead of making his return to action with club side Al-Nassr, who take on Al-Khaleej next weekend. Speaking after Ronaldo’s red card, Portugal boss Roberto Martinez said: “The red card is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games – I think that just deserves credit – and today, I thought it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team.
“He was 60 minutes or 58 minutes in the box being grabbed, being pulled, being pushed and obviously when he tries to get away from the defender.
“I think the action looks worse than what it actually is, I don’t think it’s an elbow, I think it’s a full body, but from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow. But we accept it.
“The only thing that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth is at the press conference yesterday, your coach was talking about the aspect of the referees being influenced, and then a big centre-half falls on the floor so dramatically at the turn of Cristiano’s body.”
Meanwhile, Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson said: “He complimented me for putting pressure on the referee. It was his action on the pitch that cost him the red card. It had nothing to do with me – unless I got into his head.”
News
Oscar Health Update Emerges After Ex-Chelsea Star Collapsed
A health update has been provided on the former Chelsea midfielder, Oscar, after he collapsed and was admitted to the ICU earlier this week.
The Brazilian star fell unconscious during a training session and has remained under observation
Oscar, 34, was conducting an interval test on an exercise bike at Sao Paulo’s training ground when he fell ill. Brazilian outlet Global Esporte reported that he was unconscious for two minutes. The issue comes after Oscar suffered a fractured vertebra in August.
Since then, Oscar has made the bench twice, but it has been claimed that he has been monitoring a heart issue after he showed signs of an abnormality during tests on his fracture.
In a statement on Tuesday, Sao Paulo said Oscar ‘presented an incident with cardiological changes’ and was ‘promptly attended to by the club’s professionals and the medical team from Einstein Hospital Israelita. They have now offered another update and have confirmed a diagnosis of vasovagal syncope.
“Midfielder Oscar remains hospitalised at Einstein Hospital Israelita, where he was admitted on Tuesday afternoon (11) after presenting an incident with cardiological changes during tests carried out at SuperCT.
“An extensive investigation carried out at the hospital confirmed the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope. Oscar remains clinically well and stable, hospitalised in a cardiology unit and will undergo an electrophysiological study this Friday.”
The condition causes a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure. This can reduce blood flow to the brain and cause an individual to briefly lose consciousness. Vasovagal syncope can occur when the body overreacts to heat, hunger, or emotional distress.
Oscar returned to Sao Paulo in December on a three-year deal after beginning his career with the Brazilian side. The attacker’s reputation grew in his spell with Chelsea as he won two Premier League titles.
News
Thomas Tuchel Breaks Silence On England Records
Thomas Tuchel said he has not spoken to England’s players about any potential records they could set in Albania as his only focus is on the hunger to compete and kick on towards the World Cup.
Gareth Southgate’s successor began his reign with March’s 2-0 Wembley win against Albania and ends his first year in charge against the same opponents in Tirana on Sunday.
England arrive in Albania having followed up last month’s early World Cup qualification by winning a seventh Group K match without conceding — an impressive record that opposition manager Sylvinho joked was “disgusting.”
Sunday offers them the chance to become the first European side to play at least six World Cup qualifiers and win them all without conceding, but that could not be further from Tuchel’s mind.
“We didn’t speak a single word about that,” he said at Air Albania Stadium on the eve of the game.
“We made sure yesterday that we had yesterday the training session that we had. The quality and the mentality of the guys that didn’t play was on the highest level, which was a pure pleasure.
“It just showed me that we are going in the right way.
“Everyone is ready to play, everyone is ready to start. Competition is still on, the hunger is still on to be on the pitch tomorrow. That is the most important.
“Everything we talk about is about the process and the things we can influence. We need to get the foundation right to have a chance to get these records.
“Just by thinking about it or talking about it, nothing will change.
“We need to deliver tomorrow again and, like I said, the feeling and the trust is absolutely there because I witness this in the camp so I trust my players to perform again tomorrow.”
England arrived in Albania with a 23-man squad after Ezri Konsa withdrew from the camp with a calf complaint.
That means there will be at least one change from Thursday’s 2-0 win against Serbia, when Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze and Phil Foden impressed off the bench.
The latter was deployed in a false nine role having replaced captain Harry Kane but Tuchel says he is unlikely to go into next summer’s World Cup with just one out-and-out striker.
“No, I don’t think so,” he said when that was mentioned. “It is possible but I don’t think that will happen. There is still a long way to go.
“We will go with a very balanced squad, I guess this as I’ve never picked a World Cup squad.
“This is something for between March and May but the general idea is to pick a balanced squad with different characters and qualities.
“I cannot rule out going with just one striker but it is very likely we will have more classic number nines.”
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