Latest news with #L'Equipe
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Lionel Messi brutally warned ‘all is not forgiven' by French press hours before PSG face Inter Miami at Club World Cup
Fans have had their say on the warning GONNA GET MESSI Lionel Messi brutally warned 'all is not forgiven' by French press hours before PSG face Inter Miami at Club World Cup Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LIONEL MESSI has been sent a brutal warning by the French press ahead of his reunion with Paris Saint-Germain. The Inter Miami star will face off against his old side in the Club World Cup TODAY in the last 16 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 L'Equipe have sent Lionel Messi a brutal warning on their front page 4 Messi will face his old side in the Club World Cup Credit: Reuters Messi, 38, left PSG in 2023 on a free transfer once his contract in the French capital expired. During his time with the club, he formed one-third of the exciting attacking trio alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. However, he was not a fan favourite in France, as PSG failed to secure the Champions League trophy despite having a prolific front three. He caused further upset in the country as he played a crucial role in France's World Cup heartbreak in 2022. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL TOFF GOODBYE Dominic Calvert-Lewin leaves Everton on free transfer WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN The attacker netted twice in the penalty shootout as Argentina beat them in the final in Qatar. It is clear that time has not softened the views towards the former Barcelona star. French newspaper L'Equipe plastered a picture of Messi on the front page with the tagline: "Messi… not all is forgiven." Fans have reacted to the front page on social media. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS One posted: "The insecurity is wild." A second wrote: "I feel that Messi will go all out vs PSG." Watch Lionel Messi's incredible Club World Cup free-kick for Inter Miami as fans say he's 'from another planet' A third commented: "Surely that will only motivate him further." A fourth said: "That World Cup final really left a scar." Another added: "You won the Champions League, it's time to move on." PSG have, in fact, moved on from Messi and Co. and built an exciting young team that won the Champions League. 4 Messi left French giants PSG in 2023 Credit: Getty 4 He also beat France in the final of the World Cup in 2022 Credit: Reuters The likes of Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola beat Inter Milan 5-0 in the final back in May. Inter Miami reached the knockout stages of the Club World Cup by finishing second in Group A. Their best moment came as they beat Portuguese giants Porto 2-1 with Messi scoring a match-winning free kick. PSG, on the other hand, beat Atletico Madrid and the Seattle Sounders in Group B. Although they were beaten 1-0 by Brazilian outfit Botafogo. The winners between Inter Miami and PSG will face either Bayern Munich or Flamengo in the quarterfinals. Speaking ahead of the match, Miami boss Javier Mascherano has insisted his side are the underdogs. He said: "On paper, respectfully - I think we're the underdog, but that doesn't mean we're already out. "Reaching this stage was difficult, and the team has earned it. "We're up against one of the world's best, and hopefully, we'll get our chance to advance. Mascherano will have a reunion of his own as he will come up against former manager Luis Enrique - who he played for at Barcelona. "Luis [Enrique] is one of the most influential coaches I've ever had. "We share a personal connection, and I hold him in high regard. "He convinced me to join Barcelona, and he's consistently proven himself across different clubs. It will be special to see him again
Al-Ahram Weekly
5 days ago
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
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. Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
Straits Times
5 days 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.
France 24
5 days 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.
The National
6 days ago
- Sport
- The National
The drop in Kyogo's transfer value since £10m Celtic exit
The Japanese forward moved to Ligue 1 side Stade Rennes in January for £10m. However, as has been widely reported, it seems they are willing to cut their losses to move the 30-year-old on this summer. And according to L' Equipe, Rennes have cut their transfer valuation of Kyogo in half. The respected media source say he is one of seven players to be placed on the transfer list by the club. And they also state that they will seek a little over £5m for his services. Read more: Birmingham City and Bournemouth have both been heavily linked with moves for the Japan international. Suggestions in France were also raised that a potential return to Celtic could be on the cards. However, with Callum Osmand on his way in at Glasgow this summer, it seems highly unlikely Brendan Rodgers would go back for Kyogo.
