Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu will almost certainly have to face a vote of no confidence from members of the club, who on Thursday gathered the necessary number of signatures on Thursday to force the vote. The platform ‘Mes que una mocio (More than …
Read More »CONMEBOL clears Messi to play in opening World Cup qualifier
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | Lionel Messi will be free to play in Argentina’s opening 2022 World Cup qualifier against Ecuador next month after the forward’s suspension was deemed to be no longer valid, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said on Thursday. Messi received a one-match ban for an …
Read More »Messi returns to training after Barcelona U-turn
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | Lionel Messi showed up at FC Barcelona’s training field on Monday for the first time since the 33-year-old forward announced his intention to leave the club 11 days ago. Messi failed to appear for routine PCR tests on August 20 ahead of Barca’s return to …
Read More »No Messi as Barca return to training
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | Lionel Messi was missing on Monday as FC Barcelona held their first training session under new coach Ronald Koeman. As expected, the Argentinian did not return along with the rest of his teammates for the start of pre-season training, after he refused to take a …
Read More »Messi unfit for European big clubs, says Chinese pundit
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | Lionel Messi, due to his limited stamina and running ability, will find it hard to get a regular place in any European elite club if he leaves Barcelona, said a Chinese football pundit. Zhang Lu, the former chief executive of Chinese top-flight club Beijing Guoan, …
Read More »Why Messi wants to leave Barcelona
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | The news that broke on Tuesday that FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has told the club he intends to leave this summer has produced shockwaves in Spain, and has almost spawned more headlines in the country’s newspapers than the rise in COVID-19 cases. To say …
Read More »Messi on higher level than Lewandowski, says Setien
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | FC Barcelona coach Quique Setien compared Lionel Messi to Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski and he insisted on Thursday that the Pole “is not at the level of Leo.” On Friday, Barcelona will face Bayern in the Champions League quarterfinal in Lisbon. The match is …
Read More »No Ballon D’Or in 2020 due to coronavirus pandemic
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | The prestigious world football prize, the Ballon d’Or, will not be handed out in 2020 due to “lack of sufficient fair conditions,” organizers France Football announced on Monday. “In exceptional circumstances, we must make exceptional provisions. For the first time in its history, which began in …
Read More »Lionel Messi unwilling to renew Barcelona contract: reports
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has reportedly brought a halt to his contract renewal talks and is ready to leave the club when his current deal expires in 2021. Messi is angry with Barcelona’s front office about leaked media reports that appeared to make him seem responsible …
Read More »Barca cruise past Leganes to turn up heat on Real Madrid
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Lionel Messi was rugby tackled and then scored a penalty as Barcelona put the pressure back on Real Madrid by easing to a 2-0 victory over Leganes at an empty Camp Nou on Tuesday. Messi was hauled to the ground in the first half by a …
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