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Tag: Messi

Football: disappointed by Lionel Messi's attitude, China cancels two Argentina matches on home soil

The world champion was due to play against Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire on an Asian tour in March, but the uproar caused by his absence and his attitude at a meeting in Hong Kong with his Miami club prompted the Chinese organisers to back out.

Lionel Messi's popularity in China is suffering quite a deflation. On Friday 9 and Saturday 10 February, the country announced that it would not be hosting two friendly matches for the Argentinian national team, following the controversy surrounding the player's tour of Asia with his club, Inter Miami.

The world champions had announced a tour of China from 18 to 26 March, during which they would face Nigeria in the big city of Hangzhou and Côte d'Ivoire in Beijing.

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"A company was in talks with the Argentinian team about coming to Hangzhou in March to play a friendly match.said the Hangzhou Sports Bureau in a statement on Friday evening. For reasons that are well known to everyone, according to the competent authorities, the conditions for the event not to take place have been met and it has been decided to cancel it".

Lionel Messi and his American club drew the ire of fans when the Argentinian remained on the bench during a friendly match against a local team in Hong Kong on Sunday, citing an injury. The spectators, who had paid up to 4,800 Hong Kong dollars (570 euros), expressed their displeasure at the player's absence, and also at his attitude, as he did not address the audience to apologise. The Argentine and David Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami, were booed in the Hong Kong stadium.

"The Chinese don't lie down".

The controversy flared up again on Wednesday when Lionel Messi played thirty minutes of a friendly match in Japan, where several photos show him all smiles, whereas he appeared to have a closed face in Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

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"Many football fans and Internet friends have recently asked us for information about Lionel Messi's match in Beijing".The Beijing Football Association, the body that oversees football in the Chinese capital, said on Saturday. "After verification [by our services], For the time being, Beijing has no plans to organise the match in which Lionel Messi was due to take part".she stressed in a press release.

On the Chinese social network Weibo, the vast majority of Internet users seemed to support the cancellation, despite the immense popularity enjoyed by Messi in China up until then.

"If he doesn't respect his Chinese fans, we can't let him take a penny from the Chinese".reacted one user, in tune with the general tone of the messages. "We gave him our love and he treats us like that. That slap [cancellation] is deserved".wrote another. "A courageous decision, "The Chinese don't lie down". and "Fuck off Messi!" were among the most frequently published comments.

The company that organised the event in Hong Kong, Tatler Asia, promised ticket buyers a refund of 50 %. "Injuries are part of the game and we understand that. However, we were saddened by the fact that the players didn't show enough respect to the supporters present".the company stressed.

A lucrative market for the Argentinian federation

The likely cancellation of the tour of China is a headache for the Argentine Football Association (AFA), which regards the Asian giant as a strategic market. In June 2023, Argentina already played a friendly match in Beijing during a visit that led to lucrative contracts with local companies. The AFA has sponsorship and cooperation contracts with coffee chain Cotti Coffee and Chinese dairy products leader Yili, among others.

"We are fully aware of the importance, uniqueness and enormous growth potential of the AFA in the Chinese market.said Leandro Petersen, the AFA's Sales and Marketing Director, recently.

The Chinese newspaper Global Times, known for its nationalist stance, implied in an editorial this week that the behaviour of Inter Miami and Messi could perhaps have implications for the country. "political motivations. The Hong Kong authorities have regularly been in the crosshairs of the United States and the United Kingdom since the introduction of a national security law in the semi-autonomous territory, which has helped to muzzle political opposition.

 

Text by Le Monde with AFP

Football: the "Big Five" mercato

Whether in England, Italy, Germany, Spain or France, the mercato that ended on Tuesday evening was full of surprises. But the market continues to be held back by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has forced many of the biggest clubs to tighten their belts yet again.

This summer's mercato will live long in the memory. Firstly, because of Lionel Messi's spectacular arrival at Paris Saint-Germain. But also because of Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Manchester United.

But the movements of the two most successful Ballon d'Or winners - six for the Argentinian and five for the Portuguese - conceal another reality: the health crisis has put a strain on the finances of European clubs, most of whom have had to limit their spending. Here are the key figures from the summer mercato.

Spending still on the decline

With the exception of the Bundesliga, the major European leagues spent less during the 2021 summer mercato than they did last year, which was already marked by a sharp decline caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Of the five major European leagues, Italy's Serie A and Spain's La Liga saw the biggest falls (-25 % and -27 % respectively).

The Premier League as dynamic as ever

The Premier League is indeed the most powerful league in Europe: despite the difficult economic climate, English clubs spent over €1.5 billion on transfers this summer. That's almost three times more than all the clubs in Ligue 1 put together.

The transfer of Jack Grealish to Manchester City (€117.5 million), Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea (€115 million) and Jadon Sancho to Manchester United (€85 million) were the three biggest European moves of the mercato.

Serie A: renewed appeal after the UEFA EURO?

Following the 'Squadra Azzura's' Euro triumph, Italy's Serie A is set to enjoy a resurgence in popularity for the 2021-2022 season. The Italian league has lost Cristiano Ronaldo, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Romelu Lukaku, but it has managed to retain a large number of players from the European champion national team.

In total, Italian clubs spent 552 million euros on transfers. This is considerably less than last year (732 million).

German Bundesliga maintained

German clubs are the only ones to have spent more in 2021 than in 2020 (+42 %). However, according to KPMG, the German league has suffered the most from the closure of stadiums due to Covid, with losses of €157 million for the 18 clubs in Germany's top flight. By comparison, Ligue 1 lost €48 million in ticket revenue.

Last season's runners-up, RB Leipzig, confirmed their rise to prominence by spending €107.8 million this summer, more than three times as much as last year. Bayern Munich, for their part, dropped 57.5 million, compared with just over 62 million the previous year. In total, German clubs spent €416 million on transfers.

Ligue 1 led by PSG

As has been the case every year since the summer of 2011-2012, Paris Saint-Germain are the biggest spenders at the French mercato. This summer, the club paid over €80 million, including almost €60 million to acquire the services of Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi.

Another highlight of the French mercato was the arrival of Lionel Messi in Paris. The transfer cost Paris Saint-Germain nothing, as 'La Pulga' was at the end of his contract with Barcelona. Finally, the story of Kylian Mbappé's possible departure for Real ended in a non-event. For the time being.

Behind the Paris giants, Stade Rennais were the biggest spenders in France, splashing out almost €80 million on seven players, including Montpellier striker Gaëtan Laborde. In search of reinforcements in the final days of the summer transfer market, Olympique Lyonnais ended the transfer window almost empty-handed.

Austerity cure for Spanish Liga

Spanish top flight clubs spent a total of 293 million euros during the summer mercato, compared to almost 400 million last year (-27 %). This was due to the austerity measures imposed on clubs across the Pyrenees, including the introduction of a wage cap. In first place, Atlético Madrid have spent 65 million euros but have not yet paid anything to bring back Antoine Griezmann. The French world champion, who left the club for Barcelona two years ago, has returned on loan after two disappointing seasons in Catalonia. 1

Real Madrid completed just one transaction to acquire French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga on the final day of the mercato for €31 million (excluding bonuses). Austrian defender David Alaba, meanwhile, arrived on a free transfer. Faced with serious financial difficulties and heavily penalised by the salary cap, which forced them to let Lionel Messi go, Barcelona spent just €15 million.

text by PERRUCHE Clément lesechos.fr

LIGA - WHY LIONEL MESSI COULDN'T STAY AT BARÇA, EVEN FOR FREE

LIGA - Lionel Messi confirmed his departure from Barça at a press conference on Sunday. The Argentinian explained that he wanted to stay, even at the cost of a drastic pay cut, but that the rules of La Liga prevented him from doing so. In fact, he would not have been able to re-sign with Barcelona, even for free.

"I offered to lower my salary by 50%. I tried everything." Lionel Messi has, he says, tried everything to stay at FC Barcelona. But the six-time Ballon d'Or winner, after 21 years in Catalonia, bid farewell to his beloved club at a press conference on Sunday. He explained that he had done his utmost, as had the club and its president Joan Laporta, to continue in the Blaugrana shirt. But due to the rules of La Liga, this was not possible. Even if Messi had, hypothetically, decided to play for free for the club he was playing for, he would have been unable to do so. "likes.
 
  • Messi: "PSG is a possibility
La Liga regulations impose a sort of salary cap. A club's wage bill must not exceed 70% of its turnover. In Barça's case, however, and according to the figures given by president Joan Laporta himself on Friday, the sum of Barcelona's wages currently represents... 95% of the club's turnover. Add Messi, and the figure rises to 110%!
 

BARCELONA PAYS FOR ITS DISASTROUS MANAGEMENT

Barcelona are paying for their disastrous management in recent years. Messi's most recent contract, worth almost €575 million, was obviously a factor. So did the club's recent spending spree (Coutinho at €145 million, Dembélé at €130 million, Griezmann at €120 million). According to Laporta, Barça lost nearly €475 million last year and are now just over €1 billion in debt. An untenable situation that precipitated the loss of the best player in the club's history - or in history, for that matter.
 
Text BY EUROSPORT

GOLDEN BALL: WHO'S THE FAVOURITE AFTER EURO 2021 AND THE COPA AMERICA?

The 2020-2021 football season came to a close this weekend with Argentina's victory in the Copa America and Italy's victory in Euro 2021. Will this influence the votes for the next Ballon d'Or? It probably will.

After a year's hiatus due to Covid, the Ballon d'Or will be making a comeback in 2021. Although, in theory, the most prestigious of individual trophies rewards the world's best player over a calendar year in December, it is often the previous season that is judged.

In 2019, for example, the list of nominees was published in October, and voting took place in the following weeks. In other words, the 2020-2021 financial year, and the major international competitions that have just ended, will serve as a benchmark. And some players - especially one - are already well ahead of the game...

Messi: the Copa America that could (should?) make the difference

The Rosario genius has already won the Ballon d'Or six times, without having won a single major competition with Argentina. And now that his Albiceleste tally is unblocked, the seventh trophy looks more than within his grasp...

Best player of the Copa America, joint top scorer and best passer of the ball, Messi finally got everyone to agree, wearing the national team jersey on his shoulders, and was also congratulated by Neymar, the unfortunate finalist.

That's enough to strike a chord with the voters, especially as La Pulga is coming off a fine season with Barça. Despite a false start in the summer of 2020 and a slow start to the autumn, the Argentinian finished the 2020-2021 campaign with 38 goals (including 30 in La Liga) and 14 assists. So yes, he only lifted the Copa del Rey, not La Liga or the Champions League. But it's still a solid record. Enough, at least, to make him the number 1 favourite.

Jorginho: two top competitions in the bag, but one thing missing

With Chelsea's Champions League triumph and Italy's Euro triumph, there are only two players this season to have won the two biggest competitions on the Old Continent: Emerson and Jorginho.

Given the former's playing time at club level (88 minutes in the Premier League), his case is quickly settled. As for Jorginho, the debate is wide open. Paired up with N'Golo Kanté for the Blues, and with Marco Verratti and Nicolo Barella in recent matches for the Nazionale, the midfielder has proved that he is a well-rounded, hard-working player who doesn't mind working in the background.

But this last point is also his "weakness" in the race for the Ballon d'Or. Jorginho is never one of his team's star players, nor is he a stats player (8 goals, 2 assists this season with Chelsea). The more fussy will also criticise him for missing his penalty against England.

Asked after the game about the Ballon d'Or, the Brazilian by birth did not seem to believe in it himself. "I don't want to talk about it, I don't want to think about it. I don't want to talk about it, I don't want to think about it, I just want to enjoy this moment with the others."

Kanté, Mbappé, Benzema: France's Euro campaign takes its toll

And what about Les Bleus? With their elimination at the hands of Switzerland in the last 16 of the Euros, they seem to be a little out of the game... Before the competition, there were three credible contenders: N'Golo Kanté, Kylian Mbappé and Karim Benzema.

Kanté has been sparkling for Chelsea this season, and was on a roll just after the Champions League final. But he looked exhausted during Euro 2021, and was unable to regain that level with the French national team. Perhaps it's also because he didn't have the same players alongside him, as Paul Pogba doesn't have the profile of Jorginho.

Mbappé was a self-proclaimed candidate for the Ballon d'Or after a successful 2020-2021 campaign (42 goals for PSG), but he failed to score a single goal during the Euros, and ended the competition with an image clouded by clumsy statements.

As for Benzema, he has nothing to reproach himself for with Real (30 goals), and nothing to reproach himself for with Les Bleus this summer either (4 goals). But here he is, finishing the season without having won a single competition.

De Bruyne, Kane, Donnarumma, Lewandowski, Ronaldo: other candidates in ambush

If Belgium had won the UEFA European Championship, Kevin De Bruyne would undoubtedly have been Lionel Messi's number 1 rival on Monday, if not the favourite, given that he was coming off a fine season with Manchester City, despite a number of fitness problems. After appearing in the middle of the group phase at the UEFA EURO 2008, the Devils' playmaker was immediately decisive, but was unable to prevent defeat by Italy in the quarter-finals. Romelu Lukaku, who won Serie A with Inter before the UEFA EURO, has shown that he is one of the most complete centre-forwards on the planet.

On the English side, Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling were in the limelight with the Three Lions. But they lost the final. What's more, the former only finished 7th in the Premier League with Tottenham, while the latter endured some rather complicated months at City under Pep Guardiola.

Like Jorginho, Gianluigi Donnarumma can boast of having triumphed at Wembley. He even finished the Euro with the best player award in his hands, after a fine season in Serie A with AC Milan (2nd behind Inter). But the future Parisian is a goalkeeper, which never helps when it comes to the Ballon d'Or, and has yet to play a single Champions League match.

Robert Lewandowski, who would probably have been the winner in 2020 before it was cancelled, had another top-class 2020-2021 season, scoring 48 goals for Bayern, winning the Bundesliga, the Club World Cup and a fine run in the Champions League before being eliminated in the quarter-finals, where he was injured. He also scored three goals in the group phase of the Euro, with modest Poland, but he could not avoid going out in the first round. It's not his fault, but it's what should lose him votes.

Then there's Cristiano Ronaldo. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has only lifted the Italian Cup and Supercup this season, and his appetite for goals doesn't always do his team any favours, but he scores, again and again... 36 times with the Old Lady, 5 more times at Euro 2021 with Portugal, to finish joint top scorer. All of which is sure to score big points in the votes of observers.

C.C

La Liga: what if Messi ended up staying at Barcelona?

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, against whom Lionel Messi has gone to "all-out war" according to the Catalan press, is under fire after a nightmare season. He is threatened by a motion of censure tabled this Wednesday morning by opponent Jordi Farré.

According to the Spanish press, the board of directors met in extraordinary session on Tuesday evening to tell Messi that he was under contract until 30 June 2021 and that the club was counting on him for the coming season.

Messi did not take kindly to what new coach Ronald Koeman had to say during their first meeting last Thursday, and this, combined with the fact that Koeman told Luis Suarez (Barça striker and close friend of Messi) that he was not counting on him for next season, precipitated the six-time Ballon d'Or winner's desire to leave.

Messi is no stranger to applying pressure to get what he wants from the management, but would he agree to stay at Barça, his lifelong club, if the current management resigned?

by RTS.ch

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