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Straits Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
PSG's Club World Cup reunion with Lionel Messi recalls unhappier times
ATLANTA – Paris Saint-Germain have come to the Club World Cup as newly crowned champions of Europe, but a meeting with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the last 16 on June 29 brings back memories of unhappier times for the French club. PSG's 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in May which allowed them to win the Uefa Champions League for the first time completed an incredible season for the Qatar-backed side under the coaching of Luis Enrique. It is no coincidence that they achieved their crowning glory in their first season after shifting their focus away from signing superstar players to instead allow a brilliant coach to work with a hungry, dynamic young team. Kylian Mbappe's move a year ago to Real Madrid followed the departures in 2023 of Neymar and Messi, in the same summer Enrique was appointed. When PSG pounced in August 2021 to sign Messi after a cash-strapped Barcelona were unable to keep him, they logically thought the Argentinian could be the man to deliver elusive Champions League glory. Messi, who was 34 at the time, thought the same thing. 'My dream is to win another Champions League and I think I am in the ideal place to have that chance and to do it,' he said at his unveiling. Alas, it did not work out that way, either in Messi's first season in Paris, under compatriot Mauricio Pochettino in 2021-22, or in the next campaign under Christophe Galtier. PSG had got to the Champions League final and then semi-finals in the two seasons prior to Messi's arrival, so he looked like the final piece in the jigsaw. Instead, they went backwards with him in the side, going out of Europe's elite club competition in the last 16 two years running. Having to fit in Messi as well as Neymar and Mbappe may have increased PSG's star appeal, but it weakened them as a team. Towards the end, the Barcelona legend was even being jeered by some sections of the PSG support who felt that his commitment to the cause was not what it should have been. Messi was a PSG player when he inspired Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in late 2022, but there were only flashes of his genius at club level in France. His statistics stand up to any scrutiny, with 32 goals and 35 assists in 75 appearances, and he did win two Ligue 1 titles while helping increase PSG's value as a brand. But one memorable quote by a columnist in French sports daily L'Equipe rather summed things up. 'PSG have not been better than they were before because of him... and he seemed to have as much desire to play in Ligue 1 as he did to go to the dentist,' wrote Vincent Duluc. Fast forward two years and Messi is enjoying the twilight of his career in Major League Soccer with Miami, the team he has helped to qualify for the knockout stage of this Club World Cup. Fate has therefore thrown up a last-16 showdown with PSG in Atlanta, at the same stadium where he scored a marvellous free kick to secure a 2-1 win over Porto last week. 'All is not forgiven,' said the front page of L'Equipe in France on June 27 as it described the feelings of 'failure and bitterness' left behind from the Argentine's spell there. Miami coach Javier Mascherano believes the unhappy memory of his time in Paris could spur Messi on. 'It's clear that for us it's better if he plays angry, because he's one of those players who, when he has something on his mind, gives an extra effort,' he told ESPN. With Enrique and PSG boasting big ambitions of adding a world title to their European crown, there would be even more bitterness felt if Messi – days after his 38th birthday – managed to knock them out. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Lionel Messi has stand named after him at club he never played for
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi supported Newell's Old Boys as a child and played in their youth team before joining Barcelona and moving to Spain aged 13 but has often spoke of a return Newell's Old Boys have named a stand after Lionel Messi, despite never playing a single senior game for the club. The Argentina legend has featured for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami in his career but it is the Argentine club who have honoured the 38-year-old. The club, based in Rosario, Santa Fe, has already dedicated much of their stadium to legends of the team. And while Messi never played professionally for the club, he is the latest to be recognised as the side's new stand increases the stadium capacity to 50,000 spectators. The Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, also known as El Coloso, was named after the team's former manager in 2009. The stands making up the ground are named after Diego Maradona, Maxi Rodríguez and Tata Martino. Messi is a lifelong supporter of Newell's and featured for the club from the age of six until 13. After representing youth teams, Messi made the move to Barcelona to continue his development at La Masia. "Today, the Coloso writes a new page," Rosario-based club said. "For the first time, the two most powerful names in soccer history live under the same roof: OURS." Messi has long spoken of the possibility of securing a dramatic return to Newell's to live out his childhood dream. The World Cup winner's contract is set to expire in 2025, though Inter Miami are said to hold an option to extend the deal for a further year. That has not stopped Newell's president Ignacio Astore expressing his desire however. Speaking to TyC Sports, Astore spoke on a potential Messi return. "It's something he has to decide," he said. "I haven't spoken to the player. I don't think it's appropriate to speak to him because it would put him in an awkward position. Maybe he has a contract, maybe he feels it's not the right time, maybe he has other family commitments... I know the appreciation he has for the institution and how much he wants to come." A former Newell's manager was more forthright in his expectation however. Adrian Taffarel said: "According to the information I have, it's very likely that Messi will be at Newell's at the beginning of next year. There's a Newell's idol who played with him for Argentina who is talking to him about coming." Speaking in 2017, Messi said: "The desire is always playing for Newell's, it is what I dreamed as a kid," Messi told Argentine channel TyC Sports. "When I went to the club I imagined playing in the Primera Division, but I do not know what's going to happen in a few years. I cannot say I'm going back because I do not know where I'm going to be." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Barca winger Ansu Fati set to join Monaco on loan with option to buy
MONACO, June 28 — Barcelona forward Ansu Fati is expected to join French club Monaco on loan with an option to buy, sources close to the deal said Friday. The 22-year-old Spanish international passed his medical on Friday as Monaco and Barcelona agreed to a season-long loan deal with an 11-million-euro fee (RM54.5 million) to make the move permanent. According to the same source, the contract will not be made official until July 1. Fati burst onto the scene at Barcelona aged 17, but has since failed to live up to initial high expectations. He made 11 appearances in all competitions for the La Liga champions last term, without finding the net. Fati spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Premier League club Brighton, where he scored four goals in 27 outings. With his expected arrival, Fati should become Monaco's third signing of the summer. Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is slated to sign for the Ligue 1 side, following on from England international Eric Dier. Pogba was also undergoing a medical with the principality side on Friday. The 32-year-old 2018 World Cup winner is seeking a club after having his contract terminated by Juventus in March while serving an 18-month suspension for doping. The trio should be officially announced to the press on July 3. — AFP
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
PSG Club World Cup reunion with Messi recalls unhappier times
ATLANTA: Paris Saint-Germain have come to the Club World Cup as newly crowned champions of Europe, but a meeting with the Inter Miami of Lionel Messi in the last 16 this Sunday brings back memories of unhappier times for the French club. PSG's stunning 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in Munich at the end of last month which allowed them to win the UEFA Champions League for the first time completed an incredible season for the Qatar-backed side under the coaching of Luis Enrique. It is no coincidence that PSG achieved their crowning glory in their first season after definitively shifting their focus away from signing superstar players to instead allow a brilliant coach to work with a hungry, dynamic young team. Kylian Mbappe's move a year ago to Real Madrid followed the departures in 2023 of Neymar, the world's most expensive signing when he joined in 2017, and Messi, in the same summer Luis Enrique was appointed. When PSG pounced in August 2021 to sign Messi after a cash-strapped Barcelona were unable to keep him, the French side logically thought the Argentinian could be the man to deliver elusive Champions League glory. Messi, who was 34 at the time, thought the same thing. "My dream is to win another Champions League and I think I am in the ideal place to have that chance and to do it," he said at his unveiling. Alas, it did not work out that way, either in Messi's first season in Paris, under compatriot Mauricio Pochettino in 2021/22, or in the next campaign under Christophe Galtier. PSG had got to the Champions League final and then semi-finals in the two seasons prior to Messi's arrival, so he looked like the final piece in the jigsaw. Instead they went backwards with him in the side, going out of Europe's elite club competition in the last 16 two years running. Having to fit in Messi – with his estimated annual salary of €30 million (US$35.2 million) after tax – as well as Neymar and Mbappe may have increased the star appeal, but it weakened them as a team. Towards the end the Barcelona legend was even being jeered by some sections of the PSG support who felt Messi's commitment to the cause was not what it should have been. Messi was a PSG player when he inspired Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in late 2022, but there were only flashes of his genius at club level in France. His statistics stand up to any scrutiny, with 32 goals and 35 assists in 75 appearances, and he did win two Ligue 1 titles while helping increase PSG's value as a brand. But one memorable quote by a columnist in French sports daily L'Equipe rather summed things up. "PSG have not been better than they were before because of he seemed to have as much desire to play in Ligue 1 as he did to go to the dentist," wrote Vincent Duluc. Fast forward two years and Messi is enjoying the twilight of his career in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, the team he has helped to qualify for the knockout stage of this Club World Cup. Fate has therefore thrown up a last-16 showdown with PSG on Sunday in Atlanta, at the same stadium where he scored a marvellous free-kick to secure a 2-1 win over Porto last week. "All is not forgiven", said the front page of L'Equipe in France on Friday as it described the feelings of "failure and bitterness" left behind from the Argentine's spell there. Miami coach Javier Mascherano, meanwhile, believes the unhappy memory of his time in Paris could spur Messi on. "It's clear that for us it's better if he plays angry, because he's one of those players who, when he has something on his mind, gives an extra effort," Mascherano told ESPN. With Luis Enrique and PSG boasting big ambitions of adding a world title to their European crown, there would be even more bitterness felt if Messi – days after his 38th birthday – managed to knock them out on Sunday. — AFP
France 24
3 hours ago
- Business
- France 24
PSG Club World Cup reunion with Messi recalls unhappier times
PSG's stunning 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in Munich at the end of last month which allowed them to win the UEFA Champions League for the first time completed an incredible season for the Qatar-backed side under the coaching of Luis Enrique. It is no coincidence that PSG achieved their crowning glory in their first season after definitively shifting their focus away from signing superstar players to instead allow a brilliant coach to work with a hungry, dynamic young team. Kylian Mbappe's move a year ago to Real Madrid followed the departures in 2023 of Neymar, the world's most expensive signing when he joined in 2017, and Messi, in the same summer Luis Enrique was appointed. When PSG pounced in August 2021 to sign Messi after a cash-strapped Barcelona were unable to keep him, the French side logically thought the Argentinian could be the man to deliver elusive Champions League glory. Messi, who was 34 at the time, thought the same thing. "My dream is to win another Champions League and I think I am in the ideal place to have that chance and to do it," he said at his unveiling. Alas, it did not work out that way, either in Messi's first season in Paris, under compatriot Mauricio Pochettino in 2021/22, or in the next campaign under Christophe Galtier. PSG had got to the Champions League final and then semi-finals in the two seasons prior to Messi's arrival, so he looked like the final piece in the jigsaw. Instead they went backwards with him in the side, going out of Europe's elite club competition in the last 16 two years running. All is not forgiven Having to fit in Messi -- with his estimated annual salary of 30 million euros ($35.2 million) after tax -- as well as Neymar and Mbappe may have increased the star appeal, but it weakened them as a team. Towards the end the Barcelona legend was even being jeered by some sections of the PSG support who felt Messi's commitment to the cause was not what it should have been. Messi was a PSG player when he inspired Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in late 2022, but there were only flashes of his genius at club level in France. His statistics stand up to any scrutiny, with 32 goals and 35 assists in 75 appearances, and he did win two Ligue 1 titles while helping increase PSG's value as a brand. But one memorable quote by a columnist in French sports daily L'Equipe rather summed things up. "PSG have not been better than they were before because of he seemed to have as much desire to play in Ligue 1 as he did to go to the dentist," wrote Vincent Duluc. Fast forward two years and Messi is enjoying the twilight of his career in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, the team he has helped to qualify for the knockout stage of this Club World Cup. Fate has therefore thrown up a last-16 showdown with PSG on Sunday in Atlanta, at the same stadium where he scored a marvellous free-kick to secure a 2-1 win over Porto last week. "All is not forgiven", said the front page of L'Equipe in France on Friday as it described the feelings of "failure and bitterness" left behind from the Argentine's spell there. Miami coach Javier Mascherano, meanwhile, believes the unhappy memory of his time in Paris could spur Messi on. "It's clear that for us it's better if he plays angry, because he's one of those players who, when he has something on his mind, gives an extra effort," Mascherano told ESPN. With Luis Enrique and PSG boasting big ambitions of adding a world title to their European crown, there would be even more bitterness felt if Messi -- days after his 38th birthday -- managed to knock them out on Sunday.
