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French Ligue 1

DEADLY COMBINATIONS! MESSI MAY TEAM UP WITH NEYMAR IN PSG OR RONALDO IN JUVENTUS

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Lionel Messi is being targeted by Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Juventus as the Argentinian’s Barcelona future remains in serious doubt.

Barcelona’s captain has been strongly linked with a move away from the Camp Nou after a disappointing trophyless campaign with the Catalans.

The 33-year-old reportedly met with new Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman, with rumours circulating that Messi is more ‘out than in’ at the La Liga giants.

And according to Spanish news outlet Sport, PSG, Inter and Juventus are prepared to make offers for the 33-year-old this summer in what would surely be a world-record deal.

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Messi (left) could also face a reunion with former Barcelona star Neymar (right at PSG)

The report says each club has enough pulling power to attract Messi’s high-profile signature should he decide to move away from Barcelona. 

Inter Milan have an advantage as footballers pay less tax in Italy, while the Serie A club could also use reported Barcelona target Lautaro Martinez as makeweight in a potential offer.

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PSG made the shock move for ex-Barcelona man Neymar back in 2017, with the Brazilian moving to the French capital in a £200million. 

The Ligue 1 club’s Qatari owner could pull off another blockbuster deal for the player widely regarded as one of the best players of all time. 

Juventus, meanwhile, could create a devastating partnership between Messi and current star man Cristiano Ronaldo. 

The Portuguese star battled with Messi when the pair were at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively but could turn their rivalry into friendship in Turin.

Both Messi and Ronaldo have scored over 1200 career goals between them and could become a nightmare for Serie A defences should they join forces.

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The report in Spain also states that clubs in England could also make an offer for Messi, with Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea capable of making the deal happen.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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French Ligue 1

Hakimi now World’s Highest-Paid Fullback after PSG Contract Extension

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After Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi signed a contract extension with French Ligue 1 side, Paris Saint-Germain, he became the World’s most-paid fullback.

The Moroccan international will earn a staggering €70 million in wages over his new five-year deal, cementing his status as football’s highest-paid defender.

He signed a contract extension with the French champions until 2029. The new deal adds three years to his previous contract, which was set to expire in 2026.

His net salary is increasing from €10 million to €14 million per season (€28 million gross).

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French Ligue 1

PSG Leads Others in Race for Ademola Lookman

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The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee and Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman, is almost certain to leave the Serie A in the coming winter transfer window following interest from Premiership but the biggest interest is from Paris Saint Germaine.

The AFCON 2024 silver medal winner with Nigeria has been on the radar of the London side, West Ham United and three other sides from the league but all is more certain that the London club will find it difficult to compete for the signature of Atalanta star according to Football Insider.

Reports have suggested that the Irons are ready to swoop for the Nigeria international in the January transfer window.

However, sources say there will be “huge interest” from Europe in the 27-year-old ex-Everton star.

Paris Saint-Germain will be the frontrunner for the forward if he becomes available in the coming months.

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Additionally, Lookman plays in the same area of the pitch as West Ham’s big-money summer signings Crysencio Summerville and Luis Guilherme.

The London-born has raised his stock with his displays for Atalanta since joining from RB Leipzig in 2022.

He finished 14th in the Ballon d’Or rankings this year after leading the Italian side to a Europa League title last term.

Lookman has already hit five goals and contributed five assists in 10 games across all competitions this term.

The forward, who is under contract until June 2026, hit 17 goals and notched 10 assists in 45 appearances last season.

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West Ham are unlikely to have serious funds to spend in the January window after their lavish spending in the off-season.

Julen Lopetegui’s side started slowly and sat 13th in the Premier League after nine games.

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French Ligue 1

PSG to go to court after LFP rule in favour of Mbappe in wage dispute

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 Paris St Germain Press Conference - Paris, France - May 23, 2022 Paris St Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Paris St Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi pose with a shirt during the press conference REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Photo

 Paris St Germain will take their wage dispute with Kylian Mbappe to court after the French football league’s governing body (LFP) ruled in favour of the France captain on Friday.

French media reported the 25-year-old, who has not commented on the dispute, is seeking around 55 million euros ($59.52 million) in salary and bonuses he says he is owed by the club.

The Ligue 1 champions, however, say Mbappe’s contract was “legally amended” and that he reneged on commitments when he left the club to join Spanish giants Real Madrid in the close season.

PSG said last month that Mbappe had refused an offer from the LFP to mediate on the issue.

The LFP’s National Joint Appeals Commission heard the parties on Oct. 15 and announced on Friday it had ruled in favour of Mbappe.

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“The club must pay him the salary he is claiming. This decision is not subject to appeal, but may be referred to the FFF (French Football Federation) Executive Committee,” the LFP told Reuters.

However, PSG said they would be “forced to bring the case before the competent courts” while still trying to find an “amicable solution” with Mbappe, who became the French club’s all-time top scorer during his seven-year stay in the capital.

“What is in debate, and will ultimately be heard before an appropriate tribunal, is that the original contract was legally amended in August 2023 relating to the 2024-25 season, and also fully recognised by the player including in January 2024 – until the player then decided to renege all his commitments upon leaving the club,” a PSG spokesperson said.

“As a matter of law and fact, the player has made clear, repeated public and private commitments that the club simply asks are honoured, with the player being afforded unprecedented benefits by the club over seven years in Paris.

“The club hopes these basic commitments will simply be respected, knowing that the club will be forced to have the player’s bad faith judged by the competent courts if the player regrettably seeks to pursue this incomprehensibly damaging dispute, for himself and for French football, further.”

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Mbappe’s representatives were not immediately available for comment.

In January, Mbappe had said he made an agreement with PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi which would “protect all parties and preserve the club’s serenity for the challenges ahead”.

-Reuters

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