Is Cristiano Ronaldo better than Lionel Messi? It’s the eternal football question of our age. One that has been asked for a decade and will continue to be asked for many decades more. And the answer, obviously, is no. Ronaldo is not better. Messi is better. But the Portuguese forward simply won’t have it.
Spanish radio station Cadena COPE reports that, following incessant demands for a pay rise from the man they call CR7, Real Madrid have tabled an improved deal worth £28.5m a year. To put that into context, it’s even more than Andy Carroll earns at West Ham.
As well as a basic wage of £423,000 a week, which would allow Cristiano to pay for his essentials such as groceries, utility bills and moisturiser, the deal also includes bonuses such as £1.32m for winning the league and £880,000 for winning the Ballon D’Or.
It’s a generous offer that, in the words of the Sunday Express (which has stolen the story from Cadena COPE) would be accepted “by any other player on the planet”.
But not Ronaldo.
To him, it is an insult, because it means his earnings would still dwarf those of Messi at Barcelona, who the Express says earns £1.76m a week (although this figure is inflated somewhat by an alleged £70m loyalty bonus if he stays at the Nou Camp).
Either way, it’s more than Ronaldo gets, and this makes him very angry. The 33-year-old has reportedly asked Real to double their offer, then add another £10m to it. Otherwise he will go to Manchester United. Maybe.
Bale hands Man United a boost by ‘telling Bayern he’ll only consider Premier League return’
Gareth Bale has reportedly told Bayern Munich not to waste their time pursuing him this summer as he will only consider a return to the Premier League if he quits Real Madrid.
The Mirror claim Bayern registered their interest with the 28-year-old’s agent as they aim to find long-term replacements for the ageing duo Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.
But the Bundesliga champions were soon told that Bale is not interested in a move to Germany, which hands a significant boost to Manchester United as they continue to mull over a potential club-record bid.
Bale’s time at the Bernabeu looked over after he fell out of the first-team frame under Zinedine Zidane, but the Frenchman’s shock departure has served to offer him a potential route back into the starting XI.
Talks over his future at the club remains on ice until Zidane’s successor is appointed, but president Florentino Perez may have to wait until after the World Cup to get a full picture of who is available.
Manchester United have a long-term interest in the £100million-rated Welshman and will not need much encouragement to launch a bid to bring him back to English football to play alongside Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku.
Barcelona target Griezmann expects transfer decision ‘this week’
Barcelona target Antoine Griezmann has teased that he expects to “find out this week” about his future.
Griezmann, 27, has seen the La Liga champions long been linked to paying the €100 million release clause in his Atletico Madrid contract when it kicks in from July 1. The prolific forward’s current employers have also been keen to agree fresh terms.
France boss Didier Deschamps informed his squad that he wants decisions on their futures to be made before World Cup 2018 begins. Les Bleus start their Group C-campaign on June 16 against Australia at Kazan Arena.
“It’s good that you’re taking an interest,” said Griezmann, after the 1-1 friendly draw with United States on Saturday.
“There’s a week to go. I think we will find out this week.”
Lionel Messi: ‘Barcelona are not dependent on me’
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has played down the notion that the Catalan club’s successes have been overly dependent on his involvement at the Camp Nou.
The Argentine playmaker proved La Liga’s top scorer last term with 34 goals and 12 assists for Barca, while also contributing to more than 46 percent of the 99 goals notched by Ernesto Valverde’s side last campaign.
“It’s crazy [to say] that the best club in the world depends on just one player,” said Messi, according to Diario Sport.
“If that’s the case, something’s being done wrong because Barcelona have [too many] great players to say that they depend on just one.
“We’re talking about top-level players, the best in the world, and it’s crazy to say that Barcelona have ‘Messi-dependence.'”
Barca claimed a seventh La Liga title in 10 years during Valverde’s first season in charge last term, while also winning yet another Copa del Rey crown.
Mario Gotze keen on reunion with former boss Jurgen Klopp
Mario Gotze has got Liverpool fans very excited by suggesting he would like to link up with former manager Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp managed Gotze at Borussia Dortmund where they won the Bundesliga and got to the Champions League final before the winger joined Bayern Munich in 2013.
After a mixed three years at the Allianz, he returned to Dortmund but has struggled with injury for the past two years.
He missed out on Germany’s World Cup squad, despite scoring the winning goal in the 2014 final, and is now looking at ways to inject new life into his career.
In the DANZ documentary ‘Being Mario Gotze’, he revealed he almost moved to Liverpool in 2016.
He said: “I decided to leave Bayern and Klopp was interested in getting me to Liverpool. And I was also interested in working with him again.
“It’s still existing. He is a world-class coach and that’s why it’s always an option. I decided to join Dortmund, but it was not a decision against Liverpool or Klopp. But on the contrary.”
The Reds could look towards Gotze as an alternative to Nabil Fekir, whose £53m move from Lyon fell through.
Mohamed Salah not in a forgiving mood as he opens up on Sergio Ramos challenge
Mohamed Salah has not forgiven Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos after Spaniard’s challenge forced him off during the Champions League final.
Salah left the pitch in Kiev in tears after a tackle by Ramos left the Egyptian with a damaged shoulder, putting his World Cup hopes in jeopardy.
And having seen Ramos ridicule recent criticism over challenges on Salah and Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, the forward is not in the mood for forgiveness
‘It was (the worst moment of my career),’ Salah told Marca.
‘When I fell to the ground, I had a mixture of physical pain and a lot of worry. Also anger and sadness for not being able to continue playing the Champions League final.
‘Moments later, I also thought about the possibility of not playing in the World Cup and that was a devastating thought.
‘He sent me a message, but I never told him it was OK.’
Labelled an ‘idiot’ by Salah’s Liverpool team-mate Roberto Firmino, Ramos could come up against Salah’s Egypt in Russia in what would prove an intriguing match-up given what happened in Ukraine.
Salah attends training session, insists that he will be ready for the start of the World Cup
Mohamed Salah was in attendance as Egypt held their final training session before heading to Russia for the World Cup.
Salah has been struggling with a shoulder injury that he sustained in Liverpool’s Champions League defeat to Real Madrid last month and wasn’t involved in the session but he did attend and greeted fans.
The rest of the Egypt squad took part in the session in Cairo as they stepped up their preparations for the tournament.
Earlier on Saturday Salah had insisted that he will be fit and ready for the start of Egypt’s World Cup campaign next Friday.
The 25-year-old put his nation at ease when he gave the fitness update during a farewell event hosted by Egypt president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
There were fears that the he would miss Egypt’s first appearance at the tournament in 28 years, after describing the injury he sustained in Kiev as the worst moment of his career.
Paul Pogba can’t be trusted
In his weekly column in the Sunday Times, Graeme Souness has offered up his predictions for the 2018 World Cup.
On England, Souness claimed a quarter-final, or even semi-final, would be “a great result”. Yet he also warmed that England don’t have a “free ride” in Russia.
Screw up, and England will once again face a barrage of criticism.
On Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo, Souness is ready to write off their chances. Put bluntly, Souness argued “I don’t see Portugal being a threat.”
Souness also claimed that Ronaldo is starting to “slow down”.
Perhaps Souness’s most cutting comments were saved for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.
2017-18 wasn’t the best season for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.
At one point in the second half of the campaign, Pogba was dropped by Jose Mourinho.
For the national team, questions have also been levelled at Pogba.
Is he really the man able to lead France to success? Pogba is now one of the senior players in the French setup.
For Souness, he doesn’t see any room for Pogba in the France XI:
Like Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, Didier Deschamps struggles to find a system that gets the best out of Paul Pogba. He should draw a line under that.
You can’t trust him as a central midfielder and, ultimately, that’s how Deschamps will see it.
He could use Pogba as an impact substitute. If you’re 1-0 up, you’re not bringing him on to close the game down. If you’re chasing the game, he might do something, but still doesn’t understand the midfield role properly.
In all likelihood Pogba will start for France in their World Cup opener against Australia.
France have also been pooled with Denmark and Peru.
Guardiola refutes Toure claims: It’s a lie and he knows it
Pep Guardiola has rubbished claims from Yaya Toure suggesting he has had “problems with Africans”, stating: “It’s a lie and he knows it.”
In an interview with France Football, Toure strongly criticised his former boss at Manchester City.
The veteran midfielder, who was handed a solitary Premier League start in the final season of a hugely successful eight-year stint at the Etihad Stadium, accused Guardiola of having “problems with Africans wherever he goes” and said he was treated as a rival.
City and Guardiola initially declined to comment on the quotes, but the latter has now made it clear he totally refutes Toure’s comments.
“It’s a lie and he knows it,” Guardiola was quoted as saying by Marca in an interview with Catalan station TV3.
“We were together for two years and now this is when he says it. He never told me face to face.”
Toure made his final appearance for City in a 3-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion in May.
Jose Mourinho may change Manchester United’s playing style
Manchester United are set for a major overhaul this summer, which could lead to a change in Jose Mourinho’s philosophy.
Jose Mourinho’s summer of upheaval points to more than just a change of personnel at Manchester United – but a change of philosophy too.
Mourinho knows this transfer window will be critical to his legacy at Old Trafford and his hopes of delivering the Premier League title.
Having told executive vice chairman Ed Woodward to emulate Manchester City’s spending, he has already secured his first two recruits of the summer in Fred and Diogo Dalot.
There will be more arrivals, too, with Mourinho targeting a centre back, a left back, another midfielder and a forward before the window shuts.
His backroom staff is also being overhauled following the departure of long-time assistant and confidant Rui Faria at the end of the season. Michael Carrick, Kieran McKenna and Stefano Rapetti are taking up coaching roles.
Such significant movement could bring about a change of playing style supporters have been yearning for.
It’s notable Mourinho has identified the need to add Brazilian flair to his squad.
Fred may be a holding midfielder – but he is a dynamic one, capable of playing further up the pitch and unlocking defences with his passing.
Mourinho also covets Juventus’ Brazilian left back Alex Sandro is another promising sign for fans.
As, too, his interest in Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – a goal-scoring midfielder – and Gareth Bale.
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