Tag: Lionel Messi

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi Responds To Inter Milan Transfer Rumor Sternly — NESN.com

Lionel Messi is out here exposing untruths during his down time. The soccer superstar dismissed rumors linking him to an impending transfer from FC Barcelona either to Inter Milan or Newell’s Old Boys as lies Thursday via Instagram. He also similarly rejected a rumor claiming he paid Ronaldinho’s bail. Messi overlayed “lie number one” and “lie…

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi Responds To Inter Milan Transfer Rumor Sternly — NESN.com

“What they said in this same media about Newell’s a few weeks ago was also false,” Messi wrote, per Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas. “Thank goodness that nobody believes them.” Ronaldinho, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, has been detained in Paraguay prison since last month, following his arrest for allegedly using a false passport to enter the country. Authorities moved him from a prison to house arrest this week. Messi’s contract with Barcelona will expire in 2021, and the club is keen to retain the 32-year-old’s services for years to come. However, Messi’s contract reportedly contains a clause that will allow him to leave on a free transfer after this season if he decides to trigger it.

Read more at: https://nesn.com/2020/04/barcelonas-lionel-messi-responds-to-inter-milan-transfer-rumor-sternly/

Lionel Messi agrees to 70% pay cut, will donate to club workers amid coronavirus pandemic —

Soccer star Lionel Messi and his Barcelona teammates agreed to a 70% pay cut amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Lionel Messi agrees to 70% pay cut, will donate to club workers amid coronavirus pandemic —

Soccer star Lionel Messi and his Barcelona teammates agreed to a 70% pay cut amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Messi will also make an undisclosed financial contribution so that no Barcelona workers will have their wages docked with soccer suspended in the country because of Spain’s state of emergency — in place since March 12. Spain has had more than 85,000 COVID-19 positive cases and 7,000 deaths since the outbreak. 

Messi said in a statement posted to social media Sunday, speaking on behalf of Barcelona’s first-team players, that previous reports about team members rejecting the club’s proposal for salary cuts were misconstrued. According to ESPN, an agreement has been reached between the players and the club, affecting the men’s first team and all professional teams — including basketball. 

“We want to clarify that our desire has always been for a reduction to be applied to our salaries because we understand that this is an exceptional situation and we are the first that have ALWAYS helped the club with what they have asked of us,” the statement by Messi read.

“Many times we have even done things on our own accord, at moments when we felt it necessary or important to do so. For that reason, it surprises us that from inside the club there would be people that want to put us under a magnifying glass or try to pressure us into something that we were always clear we wanted to do. In fact, if the agreement has dragged on, it’s because we were looking for a formula to help the club and its workers in these difficult times.

“For our part, the moment has arrived to announce that, aside from the 70% wage cut during the State of Emergency, we are going to also make contributions so that all the club’s employees can earn 100% of their salaries for as long as this situation lasts.”