List of All Articles with Tag 'b'

Lionel Messi’s two-year spell at Paris St Germain ended in a 3-2 home defeat to Clermont Foot at the weekend. An option to extend his stay with the Ligue 1 champions has not been activated with the Argentina World Cup winner heavily linked with a return to Barcelona, although he does have other alternatives. Here, the PA news agency looks at where the 35-year-old seven-time Ballon d’Or winner might go next. Barcelona Considering Messi never really wanted to leave and was effectively forced out as the club’s financial problems meant they could not afford to renew his contract, due to wage cap issues, a return to his spiritual home in Catalonia, the Nou Camp seems the obvious choice. Even last summer, club president Joan Laporta said it was the club’s responsibility to “find a moment to fix that chapter” so it has “a more beautiful ending”. However, despite losing the long-serving Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba off the wage bill for next season, the club still have to cut costs to satisfy LaLiga and that remains a huge stumbling block. Al Hilal One place where money is not an issue is Saudi Arabia – for whom Messi is already a tourism ambassador – and the Saudi Pro League has already attracted Cristiano Ronaldo to Al Nassr this year. He has been linked with Al Hilal, who would have no problems enhancing his net annual salary of £31million, but Ronaldo’s experience since arriving five months ago, with reports suggesting he is not happy, may influence Messi’s thinking and a year after winning the World Cup, he may not be ready to step away from the limelight. Inter Miami While not an elite-level club, David Beckham’s Inter Miami has long been touted as a final destination for the South American and if he were to move to the United States, he would become Major League Soccer’s highest-profile signing and highest-paid player in history. Messi, who has a home in Miami, has spoken in the past of wanting to play in America and the lifestyle in Florida – which has a large Hispanic community – would appeal. He would, however, again have to accept his days at the very highest level are over and also have to accept a significant pay cut. Manchester City It seems slightly more fanciful for Messi to consider a reunion with his former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. While that move would be based on mutual respect and emotional ties, it could be argued Messi needs the all-conquering Premier League champions, who could win a treble if they beat Inter Milan in Saturday’s Champions League final, more than City do. They are probably the only English club who could afford him but it is debatable whether they would want to invite that extra scrutiny, with more than 100 Premier League charges regarding financial fair play already hanging over them.

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Thilo Kehrer has urged his team to write their names into the West Ham history books by winning the Europa Conference League final – and believes a squad bonding trip to Portugal can help them on their way. The Hammers face mid-table Serie A side Fiorentina in Prague on Wednesday night with the aim of lifting their first major piece of silverware for 43 years. The 1980 FA Cup was their most recent major trophy while their solitary success in Europe was clinching the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965. Kehrer is determined for West Ham to finish the job at the end of a rollercoaster season that produced a 14th-placed finish in the Premier League. “Making history is being in the final, we know that. Now our focus and vision is completing the goal,” Germany defender Kehrer said. “I said it at the beginning of the season without knowing how the season would go, bringing a title to West Ham is a big goal. “We have the squad and quality to do it, so we’re very confident going into this final. We’re focused completely on the final. “You can feel the excitement of the fans and everybody around the club. There’s great excitement and for us players it’s great to be in that place. We’re enjoying it and will prepare to the best of our abilities. “We feel the support of every one of our fans. We are aware of all the people who are supporting us, they are behind us and cheering us on. We are very glad about that. We are taking that energy with us to Prague. “We’re happy for everyone who will be at the stadium but also for everybody around back here, we’ll give our best for them.” West Ham’s 10-day gap between the climax to the Premier League season and their European final enabled David Moyes to take the squad to Portugal for a short training camp. Apart from fine-tuning their preparations for the Eden Arena showdown, the players were given the freedom to play golf and visit a local water park. “We had some time together in a different place to usual, which helps to mix things up,” Kehrer said. “We relaxed a little bit but it also gave us some time together to regroup. We will try to use it as an advantage. “We’ve bonded well as a group this season. We used the last few days to grow even more and get even more team spirit so that everyone is focused on the goal.” Kehrer’s form since his £10m move from PSG last summer has been patchy, but the 26-year-old insists he has learned during his first season at West Ham. “I’ve taken some experience from the differences of the Premier League to other leagues – the intensity, the speed, the duels, the competitiveness,” he said. “This season I’ve become more complete by feeding off that experience. I can’t wait for what’s coming next.” Read More Discipline is key for David Moyes as West Ham promise fair play in Prague final Fiorentina aim to take out frustration on West Ham in Conference League final The year that sportswashing won: A season that changed football forever West Ham walk off pitch after alleged racial abuse in seven-a-side tournament Leicester’s unexpected twist provides reminder of football’s new reality Izzy Christiansen calls it a day – Thursday’s sporting social

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