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Messi unlikely to change mind on exit, FC Barcelona presidential candidate says

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Lionel Messi is unlikely to change his mind about leaving FC Barcelona, a presidential candidate in the Spanish club’s elections, Victor Font, has said.

Messi rocked FC Barcelona last month when his lawyers told the club he wanted to activate a clause in his contract.

It is a clause that will allow him to leave for free before the 2020/2021 season.

The club disputed the claim, saying the clause expired on June 10, with La Liga also releasing a statement saying his contract was still valid.

But Font is not optimistic about convincing Messi to stay another year.

“I really hope the decision can be changed,” Font said.

“It doesn’t seem likely, though… If that’s the case, the focus should be on making the transition as smooth as possible.

“Messi loves the club and he wants to win, he wants to compete. He has been saying this for many, many years, it’s not just been for a few weeks.

“Unfortunately the club has not been able to deliver on the promise of building a competitive team.”

Messi, 33, last won the UEFA Champions League with FC Barcelona in 2015.

An 8-2 humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals last month was the final straw for the six-times world player of the year.

Messi, who failed to turn up for pre-season training on Monday, had previously labelled his side “weak” and “inconsistent” after surrendering the league title to rivals Real Madrid.

The club has spent millions on players in the transfer market who have not come good in recent years.

Transfer strategy is now something Font hopes to change if he is elected president.

“Currently you have the president, the chairman of the board and even some directors making decisions about signings, about selling players and that needs to be changed,” Font added.

He hopes to succeed president Josep Maria Bartomeu in the election next March.

“That’s why we’ve been working on a project and we need people to lead that who come from the world of football.”

Lionel Messi’s father and agent headed to FC Barcelona on Tuesday for what Argentine media said was a meeting with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Television pictures showed Jorge Messi boarding a private plane in Rosario.

The plane was destined for the U.S., from where he would proceed to Spain, local newspapers Ole and Capital de Rosario reported.(Reuters/NAN)

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Transfer: Gabriel Jesus Could Leave Arsenal as Napoli Show Interest

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Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus could leave the club this summer, with Italian side Napoli reportedly interested in signing the Brazilian forward.

According to Sky Italia, Napoli’s new manager, Massimiliano Allegri, is a long-term admirer of Jesus and is keen to explore the possibility of bringing him to Serie A.

Jesus and Allegri share the same agent, Giovanni Branchini, who was reportedly spotted at Napoli’s pre-season training camp in Castel di Sangro on Friday.

A meeting could reportedly take place to discuss a potential move for the Arsenal forward.

Napoli’s interest could depend on their ability to offload one of their existing strikers. The club would reportedly need to find new destinations for Lorenzo Lucca, who spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, or Romelu Lukaku before making a move for Jesus.

Arsenal are reportedly willing to consider offers of around £18 million for the 29-year-old, who has entered the final year of his contract with the Gunners.

Jesus joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022 and could now be heading for a new challenge in Italy if Napoli’s interest develops into a formal transfer.

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Transfer: Liverpool Agree Loan Deal for Barcelona Defender Araujo

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Liverpool have reportedly reached an agreement with Barcelona to sign Uruguay international Ronald Araujo on loan.

According to Sky Sports, the deal could be completed this weekend, with the 27-year-old defender set to move to Anfield on a straight loan arrangement.

Araujo renewed his Barcelona contract last year, extending his stay at the Catalan club until 2031.

However, the defender endured a difficult campaign last season and was subsequently granted an extended leave of absence from the team.

The proposed move to Liverpool would give Araujo an opportunity to revive his career in a new league and country.

The Uruguay international joined Barcelona from Uruguayan club Boston River in 2018 before making his first-team breakthrough a year later.

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LaLiga: Mourinho Introduces Four New Rules at Real Madrid

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Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has reportedly introduced a series of new rules at the club after identifying what he considered bad habits within the dressing room.

Mourinho returned to the Spanish giants for a second spell this summer and has already begun implementing changes to improve discipline and professionalism within the squad, according to AS.

One of the new measures concerns players’ diets. The Portuguese manager has reportedly ended the freedom for players to eat whatever they choose, with the club’s nutritionist now responsible for overseeing their meals.

Under the new system, menus will be carefully structured and determined according to the nutritional needs of the players.

Mourinho has also introduced a disciplinary measure for players who arrive late to training. Such players will reportedly be required to undergo individual gym sessions.

Another rule concerns injury rehabilitation. Players recovering from injuries will now be expected to complete their rehabilitation at the club’s training ground under the supervision of Real Madrid’s medical and fitness staff rather than working independently with external personnel.

The changes are part of Mourinho’s reported efforts to establish greater discipline and control within the Real Madrid squad following his return to the club.

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