Lionel Messi says he did everything he could to extend his stay with Barcelona but claimed it was just not possible due to LaLiga rules.
Messi, whose contract expired at the end of last season, was set to sign a new deal at Camp Nou, reportedly agreeing to a 50 per cent wage cut with club president Joan Laporta.
However, the Catalan giants announced on Thursday that they were unable to reach an agreement with the 34-year-old due to financial and structural obstacles.
An emotional Messi addressed the world at a news conference on Sunday, in front of the media, his family, Barca team-mates and club officials.
What s clear is that I did everything possible, they couldn t do it because of LaLiga, he said.
We did everything we could because I wanted…
Toronto FC traded forward Brian McBride, a former standout for England s Fulham, to the Chicago Fire on Wednesday for forward Chad Barrett and a 2009 first-round Major League Soccer Draft pick.
The Fire hope McBride, 36, can help boost Chicago s anemic attack. The Fire, 7-5-5, has 24 goals this year, with 23-year-old Barrett the top point producer with five goals. He had seven in 2007 as the Fire reached the MLS semi-finals.
US veteran McBride spent the past 4 1/2 seasons with Fulham in the English Premiership, netting 40 goals in 150 appearances for the West London side before announcing in May he was leaving to play nearer his American home.
McBride spent several seasons with the Columbus Crew, claiming MLS All-Star honors five times befire joining Fulham i…
Germany s next generation of stars Mario Gomez and Mesut Oezil scored either side of half-time to give their side a 2-0 win over South Africa in Saturday s friendly.
With Germany facing minnows Azerbaijan in Hanover in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday, coach Joachim Loew got the dominance he had demanded in the game s build-up with his side rarely troubled by the Bafana Bafana.
Lone striker Gomez scored his 11th international goal midway through the first-half before Oezil showed great composure to score his first goal for Germany.
Loew introduced a different attacking system with Oezil and Marko Marin on the flanks as Gomez acted as the single centre-forward.
Before kick-off, Germany stalwart Bernd Schneider was honoured to mark his contribution to th…
Manchester City could be without midfielder Rodri for Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Huddersfield following the death of his grandmother.
The Spaniard has been granted compassionate leave and is currently back in Madrid.
Manager Pep Guardiola says the player has not definitely been ruled out but he seems unlikely to feature as the holders begin their defence of the trophy in the third-round tie at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola said at a press conference: “Rodri, unfortunately, his grandmother passed away yesterday and he is in Madrid. Today and tomorrow he will not be here.
“Hopefully he will come back for the game but, if he needs to stay, family issues are the most important thing.”
Guardiola has also revealed a number of his players have s…
Roberto Martinez will hope to secure an opening-day win for Everton for the second straight season when they face Norwich City on Saturday.
The Spaniard will take charge of the Merseyside club in a competitive match for the first time at Carrow Road, hoping to repeat last season s 1-0 win over Manchester United at Goodison Park.
Everton had gained a reputation as slow starters under Moyes, and before last term s opening win, they had lost the previous four games on the first day of the campaign.
However, Martinez will be encouraged that they are in a good position to start well, after seeing them win three of their seven pre-season matches.
Norwich have only suffered two defeats in the build-up to their third consecutive Premier League campaign.
Chris Hught…
Marcos Rojo s agent has revealed that Manchester United have rejected several offers for the Argentinian this transfer window.
Former Sporting CP defender Rojo arrived at Old Trafford in 2014 in a reported £14million deal, with then United manager Louis van Gaal having been impressed by his performances at the World Cup.
However, the 26-year-old, who has been linked with a switch to Valencia, is yet to feature in a Premier League game under Van Gaal s successor Jose Mourinho.
But despite Rojo seemingly being surplus to requirements, his representitive Carlos Goncalves has stated that United are not looking to let the player leave.
Manchester United rejected several offers from England and from abroad to sell the player. Manchester United want him …
West Bromwich Albion are close to completing the loan signing of Arsenal starlet Sergio Gnabry, .
The twenty year old, who has represented Germany at every youth level, has struggled to make an impact on the Gunners’ first team racking up just eighteen appearances in all competitions and scoring his one and only goal so far in a 2-1 win over Swansea City in September 2013.
He is now set to link up with Tony Pulis’ side for forthcoming campaign, with the Baggies currently preparing for their league opener against Manchester City, which takes place at The Hawthorns on Monday evening.
West Brom have already completed the signings of defender James Chester, midfielder James McClean and forward Rickie Lambert in the close season.
They secured a thirte…
Ligue 2 leaders Dijon avoided a Coupe de France upset in style on Sunday as they thrashed MOS 3 Rivieres 6-1 in the eighth round.
Olivier Dall Oglio s side controlled the contest and were two goals ahead by half-time thanks to Julio Tavares and Florent Mollet.
The latter went on to complete a hat-trick in the second half, while Romain Philippoteaux and Brian Babit also found the back of the net.
The hosts pulled one back after 74 minutes, but it was nothing more than a consolation as Dijon comfortably progressed.
Third-tier Quevilly runners-up in 2012 were given much more of a scare against Saint-Louisienne after going behind in the 22nd minute, but Joris Colinet levelled and the match went into extra time.
In those final 30 minutes Adama Sarr…
Gareth Southgate said the club rivalries that tainted England s chances in the era of Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard will not be an issue for his players as they aim to make their own history .
Ferdinand, Gerrard and former team-mate Frank Lampard spoke publicly in 2017 about how communication was strained between England players plying their trade at rival Premier League clubs, suggesting the Three Lions Golden Generation lacked cohesion.
Those comments have been used by Southgate to help his players understand the importance of creating camaraderie in the England set-up.
We have listened to compelling interviews from Rio and Frank and Steven and we ve used those to say we ve got to make sure we put those club situations to one side, but I don t think there…
Mikel Arteta says he is not thinking about the prospect of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leaving Arsenal during the January transfer window.
Aubameyang has been linked with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter having hit 13 Premier League goals this season, despite the Gunners poor run of form that lead to Unai Emery s departure.
Responding to rumours about his future, the Arsenal striker this week told RMC: For now, I m here. I m 100 per cent here.
Aubameyang became Arsenal s captain after Granit Xhaka was stripped of the armband by Emery and Arteta is determined to keep the Gabon international, whose contract expires in 2021, at the club.
Asked if Aubameyang could leave in January, Arteta told reporters on Thursday: I don t even think about that possibility wi…