Latest news with #Ligue1
India Today
41 minutes ago
- Sport
- India Today
Olivier Giroud set to sign for Lille after terminating LAFC deal: Report
Frenck footballer Olivier Giroud is reportedly set to make his return to Europe after a season-long stint in the United States of America. The veteran French striker is set to end his current deal with Los Angeles FC and make the move back to Ligue 1 side to a report by ESPN, the 38-year-old wanted to go back to his home country after over a decade of playing outside of France. LAFC did not stand in his way and decided to allow him to make the switch he desired. His last game for the club will be against the Vancouver Whitecaps, a league fixture. Following this, he will arrive in France next week to make the move his stint with the Los Angeles-based club, he was part of the team that reached the 2024 Leagues Cup final, scoring his first goal for the team. In addition, he also scored in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final, which is also the club's first Open Cup trophy. He is also France's all-time top goal-scorer and was part of the team that went on to win the World Cup in Russia. 'I want to thank all of the fans, my teammates and the staff at LAFC for making this an enjoyable stop in my career,' Giroud said. 'I am happy to have played a part in the success of LAFC. From winning a trophy last season to participating in the Club World Cup, this has been a great experience in L.A. for me and my family," Giroud said in a statement shared by the has been an exemplary professional during his time at LAFC. He brought humility and a winning mentality that helped elevate everyone around him. Olivier has been a tremendous ambassador for the club on and off the field. We are grateful for his contributions and wish him, his wife Jennifer, and his family all the very best in this next chapter," said LAFC Co-President & General Manager John have yet to officially announce the signing. But it is very likely that the signing will be made to fill the vacancy left by the Canadian striker, Jonathan David, who is also eyeing a move elsewhere.- Ends
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal swap deal suddenly collapsed with £92m target left gutted by mess up
Arsene Wenger was on the verge of completing a £92million move for Thomas Lemar in 2017, but the move collapsed at the eleventh hour, leaving the French star disappointed The collapse of Arsenal 's club-record deal to sign Thomas Lemar for £92million left the France international gutted. The then-Monaco star played an integral role in the French side's surprising Ligue 1 title win in the 2016-17 season. While the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Benjamin Mendy and Bernardo Silva were all allowed to depart the club in the summer of 2017, Lemar looked to be next as the move to the Gunners beckoned on Deadline Day. The Premier League side had agreed on what would have been a British transfer record fee at the time of £92m to sign the winger, but it was dependent on the sale of Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City on the same day. Pep Guardiola's side had put in a bid for the Chilean on the last day of the window which would have allowed Arsene Wenger to use the proceeds from the sale to buy Lemar. However, the move quickly unravelled after Lemar was set to go on international duty later that day. As he wasn't given enough notice about the transfer by Monaco, the move collapsed as he stayed put in France for an extra year while Sanchez remained at the Emirates despite having a deal in place with City. Ex-Gunners chief Dick Law revealed the details behind the breakdown of the move when speaking exclusively to Goal in 2019. "There were no formal offers for Sanchez until the end of the window when the Manchester City one came in," he said. "So then you run into a pretty simple calculation. "It was the end of the window, literally the last day, and we wanted to be in a competitive position for the Champions League the next season. Were we more likely to compete for a Champions League position with Sanchez or without him? The decision was, we would be more competitive with him. "We did try to get Thomas Lemar that day, but it didn't get done. We thought we had Lemar and then that would have meant Sanchez to Manchester City. It was as simple operation of using the Sanchez money to pay for Lemar. "We had a deal done for Lemar, Sanchez had a deal done with City. But Lemar had been called up for France and Monaco had played the thing out and they ended up playing it out too long. They didn't send a clear signal to the player before he left for the national team and when they did send that signal, Lemar was already there with the French national team on the day of their international match and the deal fell apart. "It was a shame because it would have been interesting to see Lemar at Arsenal, but you have to move on from these decisions and circumstances. You can't sit and dwell on what might have been." After staying put at Monaco for the 2017/18 season, Lemar was asked about the failed transfer during the season, and he admitted his sadness that it didn't work out. "I am not going to hide it; I was a bit disappointed," Lemar said in 2018. "But there is no point fixating on that. I have continued to work so that these clubs might come back for me in the following transfer window." His work certainly paid off as he signed for Atletico Madrid that summer for a reported fee of £62m and remains there to this day. Since leaving Monaco, he has, however, largely failed to live up to expectations - which no doubt has softened the blow for Arsenal - and has just 10 goals and 19 assists to his name from 186 appearances for Atletico. He was converted into a central midfielder by Diego Simeone in 2020, but has since struggled with injuries and form and has consequently made just 11 appearances across all competitions in the last two seasons combined. 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.
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
PSG Club World Cup reunion with Messi recalls unhappier times
'He seemed to have as much desire to play in Ligue 1 as he did to go to the dentist,' wrote journalist Vincent Duluc. Could Inter Miami's Lionel Messi come back to haunt PSG in the Club World Cup last 16? Picture: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP 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. Champions League glory without Messi 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. Only flashes of genius 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 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 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' '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.
Straits Times
4 hours 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.
New Straits Times
5 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
