TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 11

Neymar says wants PSG stay, hopes Mbappe remains too Barca presidential rivals insist Messi is worth it Barcelona presidential candidates Joan Laporta, Victor Font say Lionel Messi ‘generates more’ than he earns

Messi is in the last year• of his contract Kylian Mbappe (L) and warm up prior to a match (file photo) Reuters | Paris AFP | Barcelona KNOW WHAT aris St Germain forward wo of the candidates in PNeymar said he wants to Barcelona’s presidential remain at the Ligue 1 champi- Telection, Joan Laporta On Sunday, under the ons and hopes Kylian Mbappe and Victor Font, insisted yes- headline ‘the colossal will also pledge his future to 18 terday that Lionel Messi “gener- contract that ruins the club. months remain on Kylian ates more” than he earns, after Barcelona’, El Mundo Neymar joined PSG from Mbappe’s contract in Paris his “colossal” club contract was Barcelona in 2017 for a world published in a Spanish news- published details record fee of 222 million euros paper. of the current deal, ($269.26 million) but Span- “Leo generates much more in- signed in 2017. It said ish media have frequently come than the money he costs,” Messi could have linked the 28-year-old with “I have adapted. I feel calm- Joan Laporta, who is seeking earned 555 million a switch back to the Catalan er and I’m very happy here. I to regain the presidency, told euros ($674 million) side. want to stay at PSG and I hope Rac1 radio. by the time the deal Mbappe has 18 months re- Kylian will stay too. Of course, “We have done a study and he maining on his contract in Par- that’s the wish of every PSG generates a third of Barca’s total expires is and new manager Mauricio supporter... With Kylian, we income.” Pochettino has played down have a relationship of broth- “It’s not only the economic Lionel Messi of Barcelona is challenged by Yuri Berchiche of Athletic Bilbao Messi at Barca. reports the French forward ers ... We really like to play return,” Laporta said. “But also “We have to do everything could be on the move to Real together. the emotional and sporting re- si could have earned 555 million 7. One of his rivals, Font, spoke possible to keep Messi, in 2017 Madrid. “We want PSG to be a great turn, and the vivid moments he euros ($674 million) by the time on Onda Cero radio. and today too,” said Font. “I’m very happy today. team and I want to continue gives us.” the deal expires. “To imply that Barca is ruined Laporta, the president when Things have changed a lot, I doing what I’ve done every Messi is in the last year of his Barcelona responded by say- because of Messi is an abso - Messi first broke into the Bar- can’t exactly explain why - if day in Paris -- play football contract. ing it was not the source of the lutely erroneous conclusion,” celona team, agreed. it’s just me, or something else and be happy. That’s the most On Sunday, under the head- leak and it planned to sue El he said. “I will do everything possi- has changed,” Neymar, whose important thing.” line “the colossal contract that Mundo. The club did not, how- Both candidates condemned ble to keep Messi at Barca. I contract expires in June 2022, PSG are third in Ligue 1, ruins Barcelona”, El Mundo ever, contradict the details. the “leak” to the Madrid news- have had signals that he is happy told French television channel three points behind leaders published details of the current Laporta is one of three candi- paper and both promised they in Barcelona, that he wants to TF1. Lille. deal, signed in 2017. It said Mes- dates for the election on March would do everything to keep stay.”

Cray gears up for tougher days ahead Klopp says injury concern led to Milner tiff TDT | Manila Reuters | London

ilipino-American Eric Cray iverpool manager Jurgen Fis gearing up for tough com- LKlopp said he substituted petitions in the coming months experienced midfielder James in his bid to qualify for the To- Milner in the second half of kyo Olympics. their 3-1 win at West Ham Unit- Cray represented the Phil- ed because of his concern about ippines in the last 2016 Rio De more injuries. Janeiro Olympics where he Klopp and Milner were in- reached the semifinals. Now, volved in a minor tiff on the he is setting his sights on qual- touchline when Klopp sent on ifying first for the Tokyo Games Curtis Jones, but a minute later and then an even bigger task: they were all smiles as Jones win the first Olympic gold med- was involved in the build-up to al for the Philippines. ’s opening goal. The 31-year-old hurdler and It was easy to understand sprinter is preparing to seek Klopp’s concern given the qualification in the men’s Cray remains on track for Tokyo Olympic berth amount of injuries to key play- 400-meter hurdles by compet- ers this season -- namely in de- ing in a maximum of 19 track New Mexico. fence with and meets. His coach, Samantha Cray, Joe Gomez long term absentees Jurgen Klopp interacts with In a phone conversation, said the multiple medalist hit and now Joel Matip also una- Philippine Athletics Track and 46.5 seconds in the 400 meter vailable. point, we missed the moment’ Field chief Philip Ella Juico hurdles at the height of the pan- Striker Sadio Mane missed and I was really, really worried. said he has been informed by KNOW WHAT demic in April in Texas. Sunday’s game too, while Rob- “Then he came off and said, Cray of his plan to restart his The Olympic qualifying erto Firmino was not risked So the thing is, in ‘You told me I had to play deep- bid by joining a series of out- standard is 48.90. from the start. halftime we changed er, now I run less and now you door meets in the United States. “Eric is in the best shape he “My mood is constantly con- take me off.’ Then he left and Cray is preparing to the formation, “I intend to get into race has ever been since his 48.98 cerned about injuries ... and we offensive formation, came back and said, ‘Yeah, by shape early to qualify,” said seek qualification in personal best in 2016 and in try to save everybody, like it was the way, good point, good deci- Cray in his talks with Juico. the men’s 400-meter comparison to practice, per- with Millie as well,” Klopp said. so the set-up. Millie sion!’ All fine.” “Cray’s outdoor schedule is hurdles by competing forming much faster than he “But as far as I know in the was now slightly ’s win, their sec- pretty much tentative since in a maximum of 19 was back then,” Samantha said moment, today nothing hap- deeper. We told Millie, ond of the week in London, many last-minute changes take track meets in her correspondence with pened injury-wise. We played a because he had this put them into third place, four place.” PATAFA. good game and got three points, hamstring (that) points behind leaders Man - Cray’s campaign includes During his first race in the which was absolutely great.” stiffened up slightly, chester City who they host next plans to join the Prairie View “From thereon, anything can 2020 outdoor season in Feb- Klopp explained that he took so we told him, ‘Be weekend. A&M University Relays in Prai- happen,” said Juico. ruary, Cray ran a time of 47.8 Milner off because he was run- “If you want to win the rie, Texas. After this, Cray will Cray did not see much ac - in Albuquerque, New Mexico, ning too much. controlled, more league, you have to win every take part in the University of tion last season because of strict smashing his previous indoor “So the thing is, in halftime passing than running game,” Salah, who scored Texas-El Paso Relays, if all goes coronavirus lockdowns around personal best of 48.28 seconds we changed the formation, of- with the ball’ and twice having not registered in according to plan. Texas. But there were improve- he established in 2015. fensive formation, so the set-up. stuff like this the league since mid-Decem- The multiple Southeast Asian ments in his speed during his Samantha said that compared Millie was now slightly deeper. JURGEN KLOPP ber, said. “This year City were Games gold medalist is also be- first race in the 2020 outdoor to previous seasons Cray was We told Millie, because he had struggling in the beginning and ing groomed to see action for season on February 13, 2020, much stronger and consistent this hamstring (that) stiffened like this. now we were struggling three the Philippines in the Asian when he came up with a per- as “we put more focus on his up slightly, so we told him, ‘Be “Then I saw the last long, or four games ago. Indoor and Martial Arts Games sonal best of 47.8 seconds in an race pattern and speed endur- controlled, more passing than long sprint Millie had and I “So, we just need to carry on in May to be held in Thailand. indoor meet in Albuquerque, ance.” running with the ball’ and stuff thought, ‘Oh, we missed the and keep winning.”