BARCELONA: Lionel Messi will sign for Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, the player said Wednesday in interviews with Spanish media, choosing the United States as his next destination over a Barcelona reunion or blockbuster deal to play in Saudi Arabia.
The Argentine forward, 35, has spent the last two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, playing his final game for the club on Saturday, after moving from Barcelona in 2021, where he spent the majority of his career.
Messi said that he did not want to have to wait for Barcelona to find a formula to be able to sign him given their financial situation — they were unable to keep him before his move to PSG, leading to a tearful departure.
“I was afraid that it would happen again,” Messi told Spanish newspapers Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo.
“I’ve taken the decision that I am going to Miami, I don’t have (the deal) 100 percent sealed or maybe there’s something left to do, but we decided to continue our path there.
“(I decided) to leave Europe, it’s true that I had offers from another European team but I didn’t even think about it because in Europe, my idea was only to go to Barcelona.
“After winning the World Cup and not being able to go to Barca, it’s time to go to MLS to live football in a different way and enjoy my day to day life more.
“Obviously with the same responsibility and desire to win, and to do things well, but with more calm.”
Messi is a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and is expected to earn the individual accolade once more after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in December 2022.
The football world was eagerly awaiting Messi’s decision after PSG confirmed this week the playmaker, widely considered the best player in the history of football, was departing.
Inter Miami, co-owned by former England international David Beckham and founded in 2018, sacked coach Phil Neville last week with the team bottom of the Eastern Conference — with Argentine Javier Morales taking over on an interim basis.
The romance of a Barcelona return and prospect of eye-watering riches in Saudi Arabia fell by the wayside as Messi opted to join MLS, with sun-soaked Miami a city he has holidayed in on previous occasions.
Some reports say key MLS sponsors including sportswear brand Adidas and Apple TV, who own the league’s domestic broadcasting rights, may be contributing to his deal.
Lionel Messi: ‘I’ve decided to go to Inter Miami’
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Lionel Messi: ‘I’ve decided to go to Inter Miami’
‘Sure bet’ Zubimendi can replace injured Rodri: Spain coach
- “If Rodri is the best player then Zubimendi is the second best in this position,” De la Fuente told a news conference
- “He’s got experience under his belt, he oozes security through every pore of his skin”
MADRID: Spain coach Luis de la Fuente backed midfielder Martin Zubimendi on Friday to deputise for injured star Rodri Hernandez in the months ahead.
Manchester City’s Rodri, a key player for his country, suffered a severe knee injury in September and will be out for the rest of the season.
Rodri was vital in holding midfield as Spain clinched Euro 2024 victory this summer but Real Sociedad midfielder Zubimendi, 25, also made a big impact in the final.
Zubimendi replaced the injured Rodri at half-time against England in the Berlin final as La Roja triumphed 2-1 with two goals after the break.
“Zubimendi has been playing (brilliant) games for a long time, if Rodri is the best player then Zubimendi is the second best in this position,” De la Fuente told a news conference.
“He’s got experience under his belt, he oozes security through every pore of his skin.
“Martin doesn’t get nervous... he’s a very mature player, so calm... Zubi is a sure bet, who never fails.”
Nations League champions Spain, second in group A4, host leaders Denmark on Saturday in Murcia, before welcoming Serbia to Cordoba on Tuesday.
They are also without Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal, who is also set to miss the season with a knee injury, and explosive winger Nico Williams with a minor knock, among others.
“We’re not going to cry, we’re not going to make excuses about missing players, the ones who are here are very good too, also the best (players in the world) for me,” continued the coach.
“Whoever is playing tomorrow in the place of Nico, or Rodri, or Dani, are absolutely great... they will give us more tactical richness.
“We’re not going to change anything in terms of our plan or our idea of football... the idea is very clear.”
De la Fuente said injuries were the “ugliest” part of football, but they also created opportunities.
“Nobody is irreplacable... those who get the chance, albeit for unfortunate reasons, it’s the time to take advantage of it,” added De la Fuente.
Al-Ahli’s Ali Majrashi called up for Kingdom’s clash with Bahrain on Tuesday
- Green Falcons resumed training on Friday evening at their camp
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s head coach Roberto Mancini has called up Al-Ahli’s defender Ali Majrashi for his side’s 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Bahrain on Tuesday.
After losing 2-0 to Japan in Jeddah on Thursday — their first defeat in the third round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup — the Green Falcons resumed training on Friday evening at their camp in preparation for the Bahrain clash.
The two Gulf national teams face each other at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
It is believed that Mancini called up Majrashi as right-back Saud Abdulhamid will be unavailable due to suspension after receiving two yellow cards.
Mancini divided the players into two groups during training on Friday. The first group consisted of the players who had started the match against Japan, and they were assigned recovery exercises in the gym.
The second group included the rest of the players, who trained at the King Abdullah Sports City with warm-up exercises and passing practice. The players then went on to various tactical exercises and stretches.
The national team will continue their preparation program on Saturday with a closed training session at King Abdullah Sports City at 6 p.m.
Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal undergoes surgery on his right knee
- The Spanish club called the surgery successful
- The player would start his recovery process in the coming days
MADRID: Spain defender Dani Carvajal has undergone surgery on his right knee, his club Real Madrid said Friday.
The Spanish club called the surgery successful and said the player would start his recovery process in the coming days.
Carvajal suffered his likely season-ending injury during a Spanish league game last weekend. He was diagnosed with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, a ruptured external collateral ligament and a ruptured popliteus tendon in his right leg.
Shortly after his injury, the club said it had agreed with the 32-year-old right back to extend his contract until June 2026.
Carvajal helped Spain win the European Championship in July.
Forest fined almost $1m for questioning integrity of match officials in inflammatory post
- The post in question was published soon after Forest’s 2-0 loss to Everton in the Premier League in April
- The governing body said an independent regulatory commission found the charge to be proven following a hearing and issued the fine
LONDON: Nottingham Forest were fined 750,000 pounds ($980,000) on Friday after the Premier League club were found to have questioned the integrity of match officials in an extremely inflammatory post on social media that has had more than 46 million views.
The post in question was published soon after Forest’s 2-0 loss to Everton in the Premier League in April, criticizing the failure of officials to award Forest a penalty. It claimed that the VAR for the match, Stuart Attwell, was a fan of a rival club that were fighting relegation, like Forest was at the time.
Forest denied their comments implied “bias and/or question the integrity of the match officials and/or the video assistant referee and/or bring the game into disrepute,” the Football Association said.
However, the governing body said an independent regulatory commission found the charge to be proven following a hearing and issued the fine, while also warning Forest for misconduct.
The social media post by Forest went beyond criticizing match officials for perceived incompetence for the failure to award penalties for what Forest said were three clear fouls during the game.
It pointed to potential foul play by questioning the integrity of Attwell, who, Forest said, is a fan of Luton.
“Three extremely poor decisions — three penalties not given — which we simply cannot accept,” it read. “We warned the PGMOL (English soccer’s referees body) that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times.”
A day later, Forest said they had submitted a formal request for the referees’ body to release the audio recordings between Attwell and on-field referee Anthony Taylor for the incidents in question in order to gain “full transparency” and ensure “the integrity of our sport is upheld.”
Father of Tottenham star Son fined for violating child welfare law at soccer academy in South Korea
- The Chuncheon District Court notified prosecutors on Friday that it issued such a ruling on Son Woong-jung, director of the Son Football Academy in Chuncheon city
- Two coaches at the academy also each received a 3 million won fine for the same violation
SEOUL: A court in South Korea has fined Son Woong-jung, the father of English Premier League star Son Heung-min, 3 million won ($2,200) for violating child welfare law at his soccer academy.
The Chuncheon District Court notified prosecutors on Friday that it issued such a ruling on Son Woong-jung, director of the Son Football Academy in Chuncheon city, according to a local prosecutors’ office.
The academy opened in 2021, with much of the estimated cost of $15 million funded by Son Heung-min, the Tottenham and South Korea star.
Two coaches at the academy also each received a 3 million won fine for the same violation, the prosecutors’ office said.
The parents of a young player have said their son was hit by one of the two coaches with a corner flag and also subjected to verbal abuse.
Son Woong-jung denied wrongdoing but offered an apology and promised to evaluate his coaching methods.
