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☆ Former France captain Henry recalled for Women's World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 7 (Reuters) - Former France captain Amandine Henry was included in coach Herve Renard's provisional 26-player squad for the Women's World Cup, returning to the international set-up after a two-year absence. Henry, who captained France at the 2019 World Cup, and all-time leading goal scorer Eugenie Le Sommer were left out of the squad by Diacre for last year's European Championship in England. France sacked Diacre in March after a number of players, including captain Wendie Renard, said they would no longer represent the national side as long as Diacre was in charge. Defender Renard and her Lyon team mate Le Sommer have been included in the World Cup squad, which will be trimmed to 23 players for the July 20 to Aug. 20 tournament in Australia and New Zealand. France begin their World Cup campaign against Jamaica on July 23.

Persons: Amandine Henry, Herve Renard's, Corrine Diacre, Henry, Eugenie Le Sommer, France, Wendie Renard, Herve Renard, We've, Renard, Le Sommer, Kadidiatou Diani, Marie, Antoinette Katoto, Delphine Cascarino, Hritika Sharma, Peter Rutherford Organizations: France, Diacre, Lyon, World, St Germain, Jamaica, Thomson Locations: England, Australia, New Zealand, France, Hyderabad

☆ Barcelona wish Messi good luck in 'league with fewer demands'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 7 (Reuters) - Barcelona wished Lionel Messi good luck after the Argentina great expressed his desire to join Major League Soccer's Inter Miami on Wednesday, despite receiving a "proposal" to return to his former club. "Barcelona president (Joan) Laporta understood and respected Messi's decision to want to compete in a league with fewer demands, further away from the spotlight and the pressure he has been subject to in recent years," the LaLiga side said. The club added that Laporta and Jorge Messi, Messi's father, agreed to work together to promote a proper tribute from fans to honour the 35-year-old. Messi was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia as well as with a return to Barcelona after playing his final game for Paris St Germain over the weekend. "If Barcelona didn't work out, I wanted to leave Europe, get out of the spotlight and think more about my family," Messi said on Wednesday.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Joan, Laporta, Jorge Messi, Messi's, Messi, Paris St Germain, Janina Nuno Rios, Toby Davis Organizations: Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, Barcelona, Paris St, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Argentina, America, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Spanish, Europe, Mexico

☆ Argentina's Messi keen on rejoining Barcelona, says father
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 5 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi, who last week played his last game for Paris St Germain, is open to making a return to LaLiga side Barcelona, the Argentine forward's father said on Monday. Barca were forced to let their talisman leave in 2021 because his high wages coupled with strict LaLiga financial rules could have jeopardised the club's future. We are confident that Leo can come back," Messi's father Jorge said in an interview with Twitch channel Jijantes FC. The United States' Major League Soccer club Inter Miami have also been touted as a possible destination for Messi. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Nashik, India Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Paris St Germain, Barca, Messi, Ronald Araujo, Gavi, Joan Laporta, Leo, Messi's, Jorge, Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Aadi Nair, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Paris St, PSG, Barca, Jijantes FC, Messi, Ligue, French, Reuters, Al, Real Madrid, United, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Argentine, Nou, Argentina, Qatar, Saudi Arabian, Hilal, Saudi Arabia, United States, Nashik, India

☆ Benzema leaves Real Madrid after 14 years at club
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MADRID, June 4 (Reuters) - Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema will leave Real Madrid as a free agent in the close season after 14 trophy-laden years, the LaLiga club said on Sunday, with the striker set to move to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad. Saudi Arabia's state-run Al Ekhbariya television station reported that Al Ittihad had reached an agreement with Benzema on a two-year contract, with club officials in Madrid to hammer out a "record deal" with the striker. "Real Madrid and our captain Karim Benzema have agreed to bring his brilliant and unforgettable time as a player at our club to a close," the club said in a statement. "Karim Benzema's career at Real Madrid has been a shining example of conduct and professionalism, and he has represented the values of our club." Benzema scored more than 350 goals for Real to sit second on the club's all-time scoring list behind Ronaldo.

Persons: Ballon, Karim Benzema, Al, Al Ittihad, Frenchman, Karim Benzema's, Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr, REAL'S, Benzema, Ronaldo, Real, Zinedine Zidane, del, Benzema's, Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, Florentino Perez, Fernando Kallás, Rohith Nair, Ahmed Tolba, Hugh Lawson, Clare Fallon Organizations: Real Madrid, Benzema, Madrid, Real, Olympique Lyonnais, Juventus, Champions League, Paris St Germain, Manchester City, Frenchman, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Saudi Arabian, Al Ittihad, Saudi Arabia's, Madrid, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Chelsea, del Rey, Bengaluru, Cairo

☆ Messi to leave PSG at end of season after two years at the club
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, June 3 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi will leave Paris St Germain at the end of season after two years at the Ligue 1 club, Paris St Germain said on Saturday. PSG host Clermont in the final round of Ligue 1 later on Saturday. "After two seasons in the French capital, Leo Messi’s adventure with Paris St Germain will come to an end at the conclusion of the 2022–23 campaign," PSG said in a statement. "I would like to thank Leo Messi for his two seasons in Paris. While he has 21 goals and 20 assists for PSG in all competitions this season, Messi failed to have a big impact at PSG and in his two seasons at the club, could not help them go past the last 16 in the Champions League.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Paris St Germain, Leo Messi’s, Paris, Leo Messi, Ballon, Nasser al, Khelaifi, Germain, Leo, Messi, Julien Pretot, Angus MacSwan, Frances Kerry Organizations: Paris St, Ligue, Paris, Saturday, PSG, Clermont, Reuters, Al, Barcelona, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Parc des Princes, Paris Saint, Champions League, Thomson Locations: Paris, Argentina, Saudi Arabian, Hilal, United States, Parc des

☆ Argentina star Messi to play last game for PSG on Saturday - Galtier
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Messi, who has 21 goals and 20 assists for PSG in all competitions this season, moved to the French capital from Barcelona in 2021 on a two-year contract. This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes, and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes," Galtier told reporters on Thursday. PSG'S TITLE CELEBRATIONS ON HOLDMessi's last game for PSG is unlikely to be a joyous affair, with Galtier saying that their title celebrations would be put on ice with the distraught squad's thoughts occupied with concern for goalkeeper Sergio Rico. We're all affected because we went from winning the French title on Saturday to waking up in more than a little pain on Sunday morning," Galtier told reporters ahead of PSG's final league game of the season. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Nashik, India; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Christophe Galtier, Messi, Galtier, He's, It's, Sergio Rico, Rico, it's, Sergio, Aadi Nair, Hugh Lawson, Pritha Organizations: Paris St Germain, Clermont, Parc des Princes, PSG, Ligue, French, Lorient, Reuters, Al, Barcelona, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Messi's, Racing Strasbourg, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Argentine, Parc des, Barcelona, Argentina, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabian, Hilal, United States, Spain, PSG's, Nashik, India

☆ Mourinho uncertain about Roma future after Europa League defeat
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Soccer Football - Europa League - Final - Sevilla v AS Roma - Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary - June 1, 2023 AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Annegret HilseJune 1 (Reuters) - AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho said he was uncertain about his future at the club following their 4-1 penalty shootout defeat in the Europa League final against Sevilla on Wednesday. The defeat meant Roma failed to qualify for next season's Champions League and prompted questions about whether the 60-year-old would remain in the Italian capital, having been linked with Paris St Germain. "I have to fight for these lads and therefore not say objectively that I will remain," Mourinho told Sky Sports Italia. Mourinho also criticised referee Anthony Taylor, adding that the Englishman showed too many yellow cards. It was yellow, yellow, yellow all the time," he said.

Persons: Jose Mourinho, Annegret, Roma, Paris St Germain, Mourinho, Anthony Taylor, ”, Tommy Lund, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer, Europa, Sevilla, AS Roma, Puskas Arena, REUTERS, Europa League, Wednesday, season's Champions League, Paris St, Sky Sports, Portuguese national, Thomson Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Paris, Gdansk

☆ I had feeling Man City were ready to deliver, says Guardiola
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Lori Ewing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MANCHESTER, England, May 17 (Reuters) - Manchester City were perfectly prepared with the right mix of calmness and tension for their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, manager Pep Guardiola said on Wednesday. "I had the feeling these last days that we had a mix of calm and tension to play these type of games," Guardiola told reporters. "And after 10 or 15 minutes, I had the feeling that all the pain that we had, what happened last season . "In sport, obviously you have another chance and when the draw was Madrid, I said, 'Yeah, I want it'," Guardiola said. "This season is really really good, what we've really done already.

☆ LaLiga in the bag, but Barcelona still face huge problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BARCELONA, May 14 (Reuters) - Barcelona may have won the LaLiga title on Sunday, but their outstanding domestic campaign has been somewhat overshadowed by turmoil off the pitch including deepening financial problems and a refereeing scandal that could drag on for years. Spanish prosecutors in March filed a complaint over alleged payments Barcelona made from 2001 to 2018 totalling 7.3 million euros ($8 million) to firms owned by former refereeing official Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. A Barcelona court has agreed to take on the case. Also in March, European soccer's governing body UEFA opened its own formal investigation into the club, looking into the same payments. FINANCIAL HEADACHESAnd it comes at a time when Barcelona are already facing huge accounting problems related to their massive wage bill, to the COVID-19 pandemic and to the club's 1.6 billion-euro renovation project.

☆ PSG close in on French title as AC Ajaccio go down
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, May 13 (Reuters) - Paris St Germain edged closer to a record 11th French title when they beat AC Ajaccio 5-0 at home on Saturday, sending the Corsican side into Ligue 2 as Lionel Messi faced the wrath of the Parc des Princes. Christophe Galtier's side lead second-placed RC Lens, who beat Stade de Reims on Friday 2-1 despite being down to 10 men, by six points. Ajaccio are 18th on 23 points, 11 points from 16th-placed AJ Auxerre. Messi apologised to PSG and his team mates last Friday and was left out of the squad for their 3-1 win at second-bottom Troyes two days later. He was below par on Saturday as PSG bulldozed past Ajaccio.

☆ Mourinho dismisses PSG talk ahead of Europa League semi-final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Soccer Football - Europa League - AS Roma Press Conference - Rome, Italy - May 10, 2023 AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho during the press conference. Despite talk of potentially take over the Ligue 1 club from Christophe Galtier in the 2023-24 season, Mourinho reaffirmed his loyalty to Roma, where he is currently under contract until 2024. "If they called, they didn’t find me," Mourinho told Sky Sport Italia on Wednesday before the pre-match news conference. During the news conference, Mourinho expressed admiration for the former Spain international, showering him with praise. Despite Roma reaching the semi-finals of a prominent European competition for the third consecutive season, Mourinho dismisses the notion that it puts pressure on the team.

☆ Messi's father dismisses Saudi links
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 9 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi has not "signed or agreed" a deal to play in Saudi Arabia next season, the Argentine's father said after reports on Tuesday linked the Paris St Germain forward with a move to the Middle East. Messi's future at PSG has been the subject of much speculation in recent days after the Ligue 1 side suspended him for making a trip to Saudi Arabia and missing a training session as a result. On Tuesday, French media reported that Messi's move to Saudi Arabia was a "done deal", adding that the 35-year-old was in the process of finalising details before signing a contract. The decision will never be made before Lionel finishes the league (season) with PSG," Messi's father Jorge said in a statement on Instagram. He returned in January to play a friendly match with PSG against a team of Saudi League stars, when he faced his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

☆ Messi and Fraser-Pryce win top Laureus awards
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Laureus World Sports Awards - Hotel d’Evreux, Paris, France - May 8, 2023 Footballer Lionel Messi poses after winning the 2023 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award REUTERS/Johanna GeronPARIS, May 8 (Reuters) - Argentina's World Cup winning captain Lionel Messi was named the Laureus Sportsman of the Year, while sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce bagged the top women's honour at the awards ceremony on Monday. Messi also received an award on behalf of the Argentina men's football team, who were named World Team of the Year after their triumph at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Messi also became the first athlete to scoop both the World Sportsman of the Year Award and the World Team of the Year Award in the same year. Tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, who won the 2022 U.S. Open and rose to number one in the ATP rankings, was named the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year. The Laureus World Sports Awards nominees are selected by the global media, while the winners are determined by the 71 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy.

☆ Messi back in training with PSG
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 8 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi is training with Paris St Germain again, the Ligue 1 team said on Monday, after the forward was suspended for making a trip to Saudi Arabia and missing a training session as a result. Messi, who apologised to PSG and his team mates on Friday, was left out of the squad for their 3-1 win at second-bottom Troyes on Sunday. PSG posted a picture of Messi training on social media, along with the caption: "The Argentinian striker from Paris Saint-Germain was back in training on Monday 8 May." The oil-rich nation appointed Messi its tourism ambassador last year and he visited Jeddah in May 2022. He returned in January to play a friendly match with PSG against a team of Saudi League stars, when he faced great rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

☆ Al Hilal coach Diaz ignoring Messi speculation with focus on Asian final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Michael Church | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, May 5 (Reuters) - Al Hilal coach Ramon Diaz refused to be drawn on claims the Saudi Arabian club are attempting to sign Lionel Messi as he focused on his side's clash with Urawa Red Diamonds in the second leg of the Asian Champions League final on Saturday. "Now we're focused on the game," said Diaz, whose side were held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Riyadh last week. "We have the final and after the final we'll see what's going to happen." Al Hilal are chasing a record-extending fifth Asian Champions League success and are the holders after defeating Pohang Steelers in the 2021 final. "This team won the Asian Champions League twice (in the last three editions).

☆ PSG boss Galtier says not his decision to suspend Messi, condemns fan protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, May 5 (Reuters) - Paris St Germain manager Christophe Galtier said he had nothing to do with the club's decision to suspend Lionel Messi while he also condemned the Ligue 1 side's fans for staging protests outside Neymar's house. "I was informed by the board at the start of the week of the decision to suspend Messi. When I was informed, I had the responsibility of not commenting on it," Galtier told a press conference ahead of Sunday's game at Troyes. PSG condemned the fans' actions while Galtier said it was unacceptable for supporters to protest outside a player's house. You may protest at the training ground or at the PSG office or after a match at the Parc des Princes.

☆ Messi apologises to PSG for Saudi trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 5 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi apologised to Paris St Germain and his team mates on Friday after being suspended for making a trip to Saudi Arabia earlier this week and missing a training session as a result. French media reported that Messi was suspended for two weeks after an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia when he was supposed to train with the squad the day after the Ligue 1 leaders' 3-1 defeat at home to Lorient on Sunday. I had this trip organised and I couldn't cancel it, I had already cancelled it before," Messi said in a video on Instagram. "I apologise to my team mates and I'm waiting for what the club wants to do with me," added the Argentina forward. He returned in January to play a friendly match with PSG against a team of Saudi League stars, when he faced great rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

☆ Bayern without injured Choupo-Moting, Stanisic against Werder
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUNICH, Germany, May 5 (Reuters) - Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich will be without injured striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and defender Josip Stanisic when they travel with a "decimated squad" to Werder Bremen on Saturday, coach Thomas Tuchel said on the eve of the match. "He is feeling the knee and it causes discomfort," Tuchel said of Choupo-Moting's nagging injury. "He will out for about two weeks but two weeks at this stage are a lot and the number of matches is not increasing. Bayern reclaimed the lead last week with a win over Hertha Berlin as Dortmund slipped up against VfL Bochum with a draw. We have the chance to up the ante now but we cannot allow ourselves any more ups and downs," Tuchel said.

☆ Messi receives offer from Saudi club Al-Hilal - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Ramiro Scandolo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BUENOS AIRES, May 4 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi has received a formal offer to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal next season, a source close to Argentina's World Cup-winning captain told Reuters on Thursday. The offer from the Saudi club is the only one Messi has received so far, the source added. A second source close to Messi told Reuters the suspension was imposed after the forward told PSG he would not stay in Paris following this season and felt the club lacked a project. A source close to PSG denied this, telling Reuters Messi travelled without permission from the French club and despite there being a training session scheduled on Monday. The source did not comment on whether Messi had already told PSG he intended to leave at the end of the season.

☆ The Messi Unraveling of Paris Saint-Germain Is Under Way
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Lionel Messi was suspended by Paris St Germain for two weeks after making an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia. Photo: Martin Rickett/Zuma PressPARIS—Paris Saint-Germain’s players were still reeling from a shocking defeat to Lorient when they turned up to practice on Monday, only to find that the world’s best soccer player hadn’t bothered to join them. Lionel Messi, it turned out, was thousands of miles away in Saudi Arabia carrying out his duties for the Saudi Tourism Authority, which pays him a reported $30 million a year to serve as a public ambassador for the Kingdom. PSG, the club that pays him around $40 million a year to help it win trophies and sell jerseys, had no idea he’d made the trip.

French sports daily L'Equipe reported on Tuesday that Qatari-owned PSG had suspended Messi for two weeks and decided against exercising an option to renew his contract for a third season after he made an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia. Messi is a Saudi ambassador for tourism and his longtime rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, signed for Saudi club Al-Nassr in December in a deal reported to be worth around $220 million per year. Messi's trip to Saudi Arabia resulted in him being suspended without pay and banned from training with his team mates by PSG, L'Equipe said. Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb confirmed Messi's trip to the Kingdom. "I am happy to welcome Saudi Tourism Ambassador Lionel Messi and his family on his second vacation in Saudi," Al Khateeb wrote on his Twitter account.

☆ How Messi’s Marriage With P.S.G. Fell Apart
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Tariq Panja | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The official parting won’t happen until his contract expires in a few weeks. But by Wednesday there was no doubt on the main points: Messi will never play for P.S.G. again, and both the player and the club are just fine with that. The ending will not have come as a surprise to either side. Theirs had always been a business relationship, one lacking the emotional weight of Messi’s previous tenure at Barcelona.

☆ Ronaldo tops Forbes' highest-paid athletes list in 2023 after Saudi move
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 2 (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo became the world's highest-paid athlete after his move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr nearly doubled his annual playing salary while Paris St Germain duo Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe round off the top three, according to Forbes. Ronaldo, who joined the Saudi soccer club on a deal until 2025 after leaving Manchester United last year, earned $136 million with Forbes saying his annual playing salary went up to an estimated $75 million. Ronaldo's contract has been estimated by media to be worth more than 200 million euros ($219.98 million). Los Angeles Lakers player and NBA great LeBron James ($119.5 million) and Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez ($110 million) rounded out the top five. Four-times NBA champion Stephen Curry ($100.4 million) and Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant ($89.1 million) are the other two basketball players on the list.

☆ Messi suspended for two weeks after trip to Saudi Arabia - L'Equipe
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

May 2 (Reuters) - Paris St Germain forward Lionel Messi has been suspended for two weeks after an unauthorised trip for two days to Saudi Arabia, French sports daily L'Equipe reported on Tuesday. The Argentina World Cup winner is banned from playing or training with the team, and his pay will be docked during his suspension, the report added. Messi will miss the upcoming Ligue 1 matches against Troyes and Ajaccio but might return for the match against Auxerre on May 21. PSG are top of the standings with 75 points from 33 matches. Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Chelsea players baffled by poor form, says Sterling
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 29 (Reuters) - Chelsea's players are struggling to find answers for their poor run of form this season, Raheem Sterling said, but the attacker maintained that the Premier League club can turn around their fortunes under the right manager. There are times when we finish a game you just sit in the changing room looking into space because you can't understand what has just happened," Sterling told The Sun in an interview published on Friday. You are always trying to look for a positive solution. There will be conversations, players trying to come to terms with what has happened in the last ten minutes or so. ($1 = 0.7954 pounds)Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru Editing by Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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