Lionel Messi has brushed aside his fierce rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo by suggesting that he would pass to him if they played on the same side.
The 33-year-old Barcelona captain has had a heated rivalry with Juventus superstar Ronaldo on the field.
When Messi was asked if he would pass to the 35-year-old Portuguese superstar, he admitted that he would eventually do so.
Credit: PACredit: PA
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Messi has previously praised Ronaldo on his performances for Juventus and called him a “predatory striker.”
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner said: “It’s normal that he continues to score, he is a predatory striker, he loves to score, any day he plays he will score.
“He has many good attributes as a forward and at the minimum he converts.”
Despite his competitive rivalry with Messi, Ronaldo has brushed aside the idea that the two superstars share any bad blood.
Credit: PA
Ronaldo said ahead of the Champions League draw last August: “We have shared the stage 15 years. I don’t know if that’s happened before — the same two guys on the same stage all the time.
“Of course, we have a good relationship. We haven’t had dinner together yet, but I hope in the future.
Juventus reportedly made a “discreet approach” to Jorge Messi, the father of Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi, to discuss the possibility of a blockbuster transfer that could link up Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the two greatest football players of their generation.
James Whaling of the Daily Mirror reported Saturday that the Bianconeri are the latest club to join a star-studded race for the Argentina captain’s services that also features Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan.
City have been viewed as the favorites to land the six-time Ballon d’Or winner since rumors of discontent emerged following Barca’s trophyless season, andESPNreported on Friday that the Premier League club is “confident” in its ability to land the forward if the La Liga side are willing to negotiate.
The situation is complicated by Barcelona’s apparent disinterest to lose their captain.
Sporting director Ramon Planes said the club wants Messi to stay as it rebuilds the squad following a disappointing year:
FC Barcelona @FCBarcelona
🔊 Ramon Planes: “We want to build a team around the most important player in the world” https://t.co/0fDSpM83mE
(Reuters) – Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp says he would be interested in adding Barcelona captain Lionel Messi to his Premier League-winning squad but there is no chance it would happen because of the astronomical amount of money involved.
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – La Liga Santander – FC Barcelona v Alaves – Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain – August 18, 2018 Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
Messi stunned world soccer earlier this week when he expressed his desire to leave Barcelona after nearly two decades with the Catalan club.
When asked if he would like to bring the Argentine forward to Anfield, Klopp said: “Interest? Yeah, who doesn’t want Messi in their team. The numbers are absolutely not for us. We don’t even start thinking about it. No chance! But… good player.”
A study by French newspaper L’Equipe earlier this year said Messi earns 8.2 million euros per month from Barca, way more than Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Paris St Germain striker Neymar, who earn 4.5 million and 3 million respectively
(Reuters) – Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp says he would be interested in adding Barcelona captain Lionel Messi to his Premier League-winning squad but a deal is out of the question due to the astronomical amount of money involved.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and Liverpool’s Alisson celebrate after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Owen Humphreys
Messi stunned world soccer earlier this week when he expressed his desire to leave Barcelona after nearly two decades with the Catalan club.
When asked if he would be happy to bring the Argentine forward to Anfield, Klopp said: “Interest? Yeah, who doesn’t want Messi in the
Suarez in talks to get Barcelona contract terminated and would like to join Juventus on a free transfer
By Sky in Italy
Last Updated: 28/08/20 8:52pm
1:10
Sky in Italy are reporting that Serie A champions Juventus are interested in signing Barcelona striker Luis Suarez
Sky in Italy are reporting that Serie A champions Juventus are interested in signing Barcelona striker Luis Suarez
Juventus are interested in signing Barcelona striker Luis Suarez, according to Sky in Italy.
The former Liverpool player has been told he can leave the Nou Camp this summer by new Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman.
Suarez is in talks to get his contract at Barcelona terminated, and would like to join Juventus on a free transfer.
New boss Andrea Pirlo is looking for a new centre-forward to form a strike-partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala, after Gonzalo Higuain left the club.
Atalanta’s Duvan Zapata, Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata, Napoli’s Arkadiusz Milik and Roma forward Edin Dzeko are also of interest.
0:43 Spanish football expert Terry Gibson says Luis Suarez being told he could leave Barcelona was ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’ for Lionel Messi
Spanish football expert Terry Gibson says Luis Suarez being told he could leave Barcelona was ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’ for Lionel Messi
All the latest news, analysis and rumours from the window in one place.
The summer transfer window will run for 10 weeks from July 27 and close at 11pm on October 5.
A domestic-only window for trades between the Premier League and EFL then runs from October 5 and closes on Friday October 16 at 5pm. Follow all the news and analysis on Sky Sports News and across Sky Sports’ digital pl
Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 33, contacted Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola last week to tell him he wants to leave Barcelona. (Times – subscription required)
Manchester City would be willing to use Spanish defenders Eric Garcia, 19, and Angelino, 23, as makeweights in a deal for Messi, if they cannot sign him on a free transfer. (Manchester Evening News)
Manchester City are prepared to offer Barcelona £89.5m plus Garcia, Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva, 26, and Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus, 23, for Messi. (Sport – in Spanish)
Real Madrid are set to demand more than 20m euros for 23-year-old Spanish left-back Sergio Reguilon, who has attracted interest from Manchester United, Tottenham, Juventus and Inter Milan while on loan at Sevilla. (Marca)
Chelsea are putting the finishing touches to a £90m move for 21-year-old Germany and Bayer Leverkusen forward Kai Havertz. (Guardian)
Arsenal are prepared to sell right-back Hector Bellerin to Juventus with new manager Andrea Pirlo making the Spain 25-year-old his top priority. (Corriere Dello Sport)
Gossip: Can Jose Mourinho lure Callum Wilson and Ivan Rakitic to Spurs?
Former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 38, has agreed a new one-year contract at AC Milan believed to be worth about £6m. (Sky Sports Italia – in Italian)
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 35, has settled any speculation about his future by saying he is preparing for a third season with Juventus. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish)
France forward Antoine Griezmann had decided to leave Barcelona before new coach Ronald Koeman convinced the 29-year-old to make a U-turn. (RMC Sport via Metro)
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is keen to swap Griezmann with Atletico Madrid and Portugal forward Joao Felix, 20. (Marca)
The arrival of 28-year-old Republic of Ireland full-back Matt Doherty at Tottenham from Wolves would pave the way for Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier, 27, to leave. (Standard)
Tottenham have rejected an opening bid from AC Milan for Serge Aurier, with Bayer Leverkusen also interested. (Sky Sports)
Manchester United have made an approach to sign Brescia midfielder Sandro Tonali, 20, who is regarded as one of the best young prospects in Italy. (Corriere dello Sport via Metro)
Leicester are looking at Argentina and Ajax full-back Nicolas Tagliafico, 27, and Atalanta left-back Robin Gosens, 26, as potential replacements for Ben Chillwell, who left for Chelsea.(Sky Sports)
Leeds are set to make a bid for Lazio’s 23-year-old Brazilian centre-back Luiz Felipe. (Talksport)
Newcastle have joined the list of Premier League sides interested in a move for 20-year-old Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster. (Chronicle)
Wolves are interested in Athletic Bilbao and Spain centre-back Unai Nunez, 23. (Caught Offside)
Representatives of Norwegian defender Kristoffer Ajer, 22, and French midfielder Olivier Ntcham, 24, have asked Celtic for valuations, before potential moves away. (Sky Sports)
Watford captain and striker Troy Deeney, 32, has been offered to West Brom. (Mail)
Lionel Messi joined Cristiano Ronaldo in prestigious 700-club two months ago
Last Updated: 26/08/20 2:35pm
Lionel Messi wants to leave Barcelona after 16 trophy-laden seasons at the club – but is he still the world’s best player?
The Argentina forward looked likely to play out his entire career at Barcelona but opened the door for a transfer on Tuesday evening.
Alongside rival Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi has been hailed as the greatest player of the modern generation – and perhaps ever.
Messi won the FIFA Best Player award in September last year before proceeding to top the La Liga charts across a raft of attacking stats in customary style and claiming the Golden Boot with 25 goals.
Along the way, Messi joined Ronaldo as the only active players to belong to the prestigious 700 goals club, which has been achieved by just five other players throughout history: Gerd Muller, Ferenc Puskas, Pele, Romario and Josef Bican.
His legendary status is undeniable. But does he remain, right now, at the peak of his powers? It’s a question any potential suitors will have to weigh up as they consider a huge financial package to take him from Barcelona.
This campaign marked a significant moment: it was Messi’s first season without a trophy in 12 years, compounded by crashing out of the Champions League with a humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
His goals dropped off this term, but the suspension of international competitions – coupled with injuries at the start of this campaign – have curtailed his tally.
Widely regarded as the greatest player on Earth, does the Argentine still hold that mantle – even at 33 years of age
Sure, Cristiano Ronaldo is a living legend for his athleticism. But he has other talents, too—mainly, his astonishing abs and massive muscles—and he’s got the thirst traps to prove it. Ronaldo has long been the unofficial thirst trap king of Instagram, but it’s time to make that title a little more official. From shirtless photos with his beloved sports cars to black-and-white snapshots of his chiseled physique, Ronaldo has posted a wide array of attention-grabbing pictures to his account. And as the most followed person on Instagram, more than 237,000,000 people are checking out his thirst traps on the regular. Your average gym bro could never.
If you need enough fitness inspo to get you through the next several centuries, check out these 30 thirst traps Ronaldo has gifted Instagram throughout the years. All hail the king.
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August 2020
In August 2020, Ronaldo took a break from training to serve up buff boating looks while enjoying a day at sea.
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July 2020
Ronaldo poses shirtless in front of his Bugatti Chiron in this July 2020 snap. When mortal abs can compete with a $3 million car, that’s when you know the thirst trap is doing its job.
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April 2020
You may think this is a simple physique flex with a questionable hairstyle, but Ronaldo used the caption as a public service announcement to encourage fans to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. I don’t entirely get it either, but it’s a nice gesture.
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February 2020
Ever the fan of a black-and-white thirst trap photo, Ronaldo posted this high-contrast shot in February 2020. It is likely featured in the dictionary next to the word “ripped.”
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February 2020
In February 2020, Ronaldo posted this ice-y recovery photo showing off his chiseled abs and his ability to withstand chilly temperatures.
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December 2019
Ronaldo captioned this December 2019 thirst trap with one word: “blessed.” It’s unclear if he was referring to blessing his fans with yet another shirtless photo.
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November 2019
In this workout shot from November 2019, Ronaldo shows off the abs countless crunches can get you—if you are a superhuman pro athlete with killer genes and a bonkers work ethic.
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August 2019
In yet another black-and-white snapshot, Ronaldo shows off a vintage car and his muscles all while promoting his underwear line. What a multitasker!
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August 2019
This serene shot from August 2019 is all about “recovery and meditation.” Oh yeah, and abs. Copious amounts of abs.
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July 2019
Next time you are lounging with a cup of tea, take some inspiration from this July 2019 Ronaldo photo. The unbuttoned shirt, exposed abs, and questionable shoe selection are all mandatory.
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June 2019
Ronaldo captioned this June 2019 photo with the cheeky phrase, “enjoy the view.” So, yes, he knows exactly what he is doing here.
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May 2019
Another month, another black-and-white Ronaldo thirst trap. This single May 2019 photo is enough gym motivation for the entire population of Portugal.
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April 2019
Think Ronaldo’s abs are impressive? Even the thirst trap king is speechless by his own chiseled back. He captioned this April 2019 photo, “No words needed.”
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March 2019
In March 2019, Ronaldo posted a photo lounging over a set of baths in a pair of his teeny tiny self-branded underwear, as one does.
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January 2019
This photo from January 2019 looks almost too good to be real—and Ronaldo knows it. He captioned the thirst trap
By Conor Laird Published: August 23, 2020 9:59 pm Last Updated: August 23, 2020 10:41 pm
Patrice Evra has revealed that both he and Cristiano Ronaldo played at least some role in Manchester United opting to move for Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes dazzling
Following weeks of rampant speculation, attacking midfielder Fernandes finally made the move to Old Trafford on transfer deadline day in January.
And whilst there was understandable excitement surrounding his arrival, few could have predicted just how immediate Fernandes’ impact on Manchester United’s fortunes would prove.
The Portuguese international has gone on to play a starring role for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men since his arrival, having added a new dimension of guile and creativity to the club’s midfield.
All told, across 22 appearances in United’s colours, Fernandes has directly contributed to 20 goals.
Even more crucially, though, has been the fact that the former Sampdoria man’s influence has also led to an upturn in results, with the Red Devils having not fallen to a single Premier League defeat since January.
💫 It’s been quite the return to football for our Portuguese magnifico! 💫
As outlined above, though, had it not been for the influence of a pair of former Manchester United stars, it is possible (albeit unlikely) that the Reds would, in the end, have opted against moving for Fernandes.
Speaking in an interview with the Guardian this weekend, Patrice Evra revealed that he was contacted by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ahead of United’s eventual decision to splash out on the Sporting CP standout.
In turn, the Frenchman texted Cristiano Ronaldo, who is of course an international teammate of Fernandes.
And, on the back of a ringing endorsement from the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner, Evra passed the message on to Solskjaer, with the rest, as they say, history:
‘United can’t challenge Liverpool or Man City. Not yet. There’s been massive damage but we’re moving in the right direction.’
‘When they wanted to sign Bruno Fernandes, Ole texted me. I asked for advice from Cristiano Ronaldo. Cristiano says: ‘Bruno’s a good guy and very professional.’
‘I say: ‘Ole, I’ve spoken with Cristiano. Let’s go for it.’ And Fernandes had a massive impact. Without him, I don’t think we would have qualified for the Champions League.’