La Liga

Neymar Declines to Be World Most Expensive Footballer

Published

7 years ago

July 19, 2017

Brazil’s and FC Barcelona forward, Neymar, is not inclined towards being the most expensive footballer in the world.
He is declining the offers from French Ligue 1 side, Paris Saint-Germain which is ready to pay the astounding $254.7 million release clause in Neymar’s contract with FC Barcelona.
Even though reports have it that Neymar feels frustrated in Barcelona, but he publicly declared that he is enjoying his time in Camp Nou.
The French side, which Nigeria’s Austin Jay Jay Okocha once played for after France ’98 World Cup, wants Neymar in order to have a potent force following the arrival of Dani Alves and the possibility of also signing of Arsenal’s Chilean star, Alex Sanchez and Kylian Mbappe from Monaco.
Neymar, according to an e-mail exchange with Goal, has moved to quash such reports and insists he is “happy” at Camp Nou and said he is looking forward to next season.
“The last one was my best season in Barcelona. I am very adapted to the city, the club and I am happy here. That is reflected on the performance of an athlete,” Neymar told Goal on Tuesday in response to a question initially sent to him last week.
“It was the season where I felt more comfortable, even though we did not win the titles we would have wanted. We played great games and lived incredible moments. Now, we need to work for the 2017-18 season so it will be even more positive individually and as a group.”
Neymar signed a new deal until 2021 in October of last year and Barcelona stressed earlier on Tuesday that he would be “200 per cent” certain stay this summer.

La Liga

Capacity crowd of 80,000 attend Mbappe’s unveiling at Real Madrid

Published

2 weeks ago

July 16, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Around 80,000 fans have arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu to witness his unveiling © Provided by Daily Mail

Kylian Mbappe has been given a rousing welcome at Real Madrid as a capacity crowd of fans attended the unveiling at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The club also lined out their 15 Champions League trophies to welcome the French Superstar.

Mbappe walked past Real Madrid’s 14 Champions League trophies as he took to the stage to speak© Provided by Daily Mail

He beamed as he spoke about joining the ‘club of his dreams’. Mbappe, 25, will take the number nine shirt after sealing his move from Paris Saint-Germain and ending one of football’s most protracted transfer sagas.

The forward was serenaded as the Bernabeu blasted out their iconic Hala Madrid anthem and paraded in front of fans booting footballs into the baying crowd. In imitation of Cristiano Roandlo at his unveiling, he kissed the badge.

His mother broke down in tears as he emerged and spoke of his pride to be joining the ‘biggest club in the history of world football

Mbappe’s parents, Fayza Lamari (R) and Wilfrid Mbappe (L), walked out in front of the fans © Provided by Daily Mail

‘My family are so happy. I can see my mum crying. It’s an incredible day for me. I’ve dreamed about this day since I was a kid. Being here today means a lot to me,’ he said in Spanish as the crowd persistently interrupted his speech with cheers.

‘Now I have another dream – and that’s the dream of living up to this club’s history and Madridistas’ expectations. I can promise that I will give my all for the club and this badge.

‘I’d also like a send a message to all the kids here today. I was once like you. If you have the passion, you’ll achieve your dreams.

La Liga

Napkin used by Barcelona to sign Messi sold for nearly $1 million

Published

2 months ago

May 18, 2024

Kunle Solaja

A signed and framed napkin on which soccer club Barcelona promised to sign a 13-year-old Lionel Messi is displayed at the Bonhams auction house in London, Britain May 8, 2024. REUTERS/Will Russell/File Photo

The napkin on which Barcelona promised to sign Lionel Messi when he was a 13-year-old has been sold for 762,400 pounds ($969,000, auction house Bonhams said on Friday.

The napkin was signed in December, 2000 by Barca’s former sporting director Carles Rexach and transfer advisor Josep Minguella along with Argentine agent Horacio Gaggioli over lunch at a tennis club.

Messi became one of Barcelona’s greatest players, winning over 30 trophies and leaving the Catalan club as their all-time leading scorer with 672 goals.

He also won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards for the world’s best player and led Argentina to the World Cup crown in 2022. Messi now plays for U.S. club Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

“Yes, it’s a paper napkin, but it’s the famous napkin that was at the inception of Lionel Messi’s career,” Ian Ehling, the head of fine books and manuscripts at Bonhams New York, said in a statement.

“It changed the life of Messi, the future of FC Barcelona, and was instrumental in giving some of the most glorious moments of football to billions of fans around the globe.”

-Reuters

La Liga

Racially Abused Senegalese Goalkeeper Speaks Out After Abandoned Spanish Match –

Published

4 months ago

April 2, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Racially Abused Senegalese Goalkeeper Speaks Out After Abandoned Spanish Match -

Senegalese goalkeeper Cheikh Sarr has heard racial slurs directed at him from the stands before, but when a fan allegedly approached just to racially insult him during a Spanish third-tier league game last Saturday, he decided he’d had enough.

“I grabbed him and asked why he was insulting me. My attitude was not aggressive, I just wanted to ask him why,” the 23-year-old told reporters on Tuesday of the incident in Sestao, a working-class town in northern Spain, which led to the game being abandoned.

“Other times it could be seen as something playful or a joke. However, this was not the case on Saturday, as it was something horrible and I could not stop myself. It was a very sad and ugly thing what they were saying,” he added.

The match between Sarr’s Rayo Majadahonda and Sestao River Club was suspended in the 84th minute after the altercation first led to Sarr being expelled by the referee, who was too far to hear the alleged insults, and then his team mates leaving the pitch in protest.

Racism in sport has been a hot topic in Spain, especially after Real Madrid’s Brazil winger Vinicius Jr, who has suffered from several incidents of racist abuse and is part of a campaign against racism, last year called LaLiga and Spain racist.

On Saturday, he spoke out in support of those affected on social media again, citing “three despicable cases of racism” on that day alone, including Sarr’s.

Sevilla’s Argentina defender Marcos Acuna and coaching staff were also the target of “racist and xenophobic insults” from fans in a LaLiga game at Getafe, the club said.

Sarr said he was thankful that Vinicius had tagged him on social media showing support.

“If more players said no to racism like he does, they (racists) wouldn’t have the power they have now,” he said.

–Reuters