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☆ 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.

☆ Lionel Messi booed by some Paris Saint-Germain fans on his return from suspension
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Lionel Messi endured a difficult return to Paris Saint-Germain’s starting line-up as some of his own team’s fans booed the Argentine before and during PSG’s convincing victory over Ajaccio at the Parc des Princes. But some PSG fans made their feelings known during the 5-0 win on Saturday, which moved the club closer to a record 11th Ligue 1 title. It isn’t the first time Messi has been booed by some of PSG’s fans this season. In March both Messi and Neymar were booed by a significant section of PSG fans. Both teams ended the match with 10 men after Hakimi and Ajaccio’s Thomas Mangani were sent off late in the game.

☆ 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.

☆ 'As long as he's happy', Argentina boss unconcerned about Messi moves
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 10 (Reuters) - Argentina's World Cup-winning coach Lionel Scaloni said he does not care where Lionel Messi plays his club football as long as he feels comfortable and happy. French media on Tuesday reported that a move to a Saudi club was a "done deal", adding that the Argentina captain was in the process of finalising details before signing a contract. "Let him go to where he will feel comfortable with his team mates and the club's fans," Scaloni told Qatar's Al-Kass channel. "The matter does not affect us as a national team as long as he's happy when he joins us and we need him to be happy." Messi, who apologised to PSG and his team mates last week, returned to training on Monday.

☆ 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.

CNN —He may have won almost everything there is to win in the game, but Lionel Messi says he’ll keep playing as long as he’s still enjoying his career. “As long as that’s the case, I’ll keep doing it.”Messi also accepted the Team of the Year award on behalf of Argentina on Monday, following the side’s epic World Cup victory last year. Messi lifts the World Cup trophy in December 2022. “It’s a very special moment in my career, in my life, and there’s always a time to remember that moment of that World Cup which we enjoyed a lot for a month,” Messi said. But obviously, I am grateful that people think that way.”Since the World Cup, Messi has struggled to find the form that inspired his country to victory and has seemingly fallen out with current club Paris Saint-Germain.

☆ Tesla? Caviar? Boots? At These Resorts, Everything’s Included
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Danielle Braff | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The all-inclusive resorts are happy to oblige. “Primarily, the difference is in the location, the higher level of accommodations and more personalized guest services — not to mention bragging rights,” said Mr. Fareed, the hospitality consultant. Big-name hotel brands including Marriott and Hyatt are entering the scene with their own ultraluxe all-inclusives. W Hotel (part of Marriott) is planning its all-inclusive Dominican Republic debut in 2025, while Hyatt is opening its new Inclusive Collection portfolio of resorts in Portugal, Mexico and Bulgaria. It follows in the footsteps of the Château de Villiers-le-Mahieu, an upscale all-inclusive estate that opened its doors in 2019 in a wooded park 45 minutes outside Paris.

☆ 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.

☆ 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.

☆ 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.

☆ 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.

☆ 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).

☆ 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.

☆ Lionel Messi apologizes to Paris Saint-Germain and teammates following unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Lionel Messi apologized to Paris Saint-Germain and his teammates on Friday after taking an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia and missing training earlier in the week. “I wanted to make this video after everything that’s been happening,” Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain said in an Instagram story. The 35-year-old’s trip to Saudi Arabia meant he missed the team’s Monday training. “We welcome visitors from all around the world to experience a unique trip to Saudi Arabia and its hospitality.”Messi himself posted a promotion for Saudi tourism on his Instagram six days ago: “Who thought Saudi has so much green? Messi’s contract with the French capital’s premier football club expires on June 30, and his trip to Saudi Arabia comes amid multiple reports that the 35-year-old won’t stay at the Parisian club.

☆ 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.

☆ Paris Saint-Germain strongly condemns 'intolerable and insulting' chants from fans outside Neymar Jr.'s house calling for Brazilian to leave club
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Paris Saint-Germain has built a squad of star-studded players – notably Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappé – but amid recent discord at the Parisian club, two of that attacking triumvirate have found themselves being targeted by a section of fans. “Paris Saint-Germain most strongly condemns the intolerable and insulting actions of a small group of individuals that took place on Wednesday,” the Parisian club said in a statement after videos emerged on social media showing a group of fans gathered outside the Brazilian international’s house chanting: “Neymar, get out! Neymar, get out!”Videos on social media also showed fans gathered outside the PSG headquarters directing less than flattering chants towards World Cup winner Messi. On Wednesday, PSG suspended Messi for two weeks after the Argentinian’s unauthorized trip away from the team to conduct personal business, according to a club source. Meanwhile Messi, would go on and beat his other teammate, Mbappé, in the final as Argentina overcame France.

☆ 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.

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo: Soccer star tops Forbes' highest-paid athlete list for 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has become the highest paid athlete in the world, with a move to Al-Nassr nearly doubling his salary, according to Forbes. According to Forbes, Ronaldo has an estimated $75 million playing salary and has cashed in on a number of marketing opportunities. Both have lost sponsors since joining the controversial Saudi-backed breakaway group but have more than made up for it in prize money. Ronaldo was last named the world's highest-paid athlete in 2017. The American wasn’t even in the top 50 highest-paid athletes in 2022 but has now jumped up to sixth.

CNN —Paris Saint-Germain has suspended Lionel Messi for two weeks after the Argentinian’s unauthorized trip away from the team to conduct personal business, according to a club source. Messi is in Saudi Arabia, according to multiple reports. Along with undated pictures of Messi relaxing with his family, Ahmed Al Khateeb, the Minister of Tourism for Saudi Arabia, tweeted Monday: “I am happy to welcome #Messi and his family to Saudi to enjoy the magical tourist destinations and authentic experiences. “We welcome visitors from all around the world to experience a unique trip to Saudi Arabia and its hospitality.”Messi himself posted to Instagram four days ago a promotion for Saudi tourism: “Who thought Saudi has so much green? Messi’s contract with PSG expires on June 30, 2023, and his reported trip to Saudi Arabia comes amid multiple reports that the 35-year-old won’t stay at the Parisian club.

☆ 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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