Sports Sunday, August 8, 2021 15 Koeman praises Messi as best player in the world DPA BERLIN Lionel to hold news RONALD Koeman proclaimed Lionel Messi to be the “best conference today player in the world” after it was confirmed the Barcelona DPA Auditori 1899, a large func- legend will be leaving the club. BERLIN tion room at the stadium, at Messi enjoyed an out- 12:00 local time (1000 GMT) standing career at Camp Nou, LIONEL Messi will appear at a on Sunday. scoring 672 times in 778 ap- news conference at Camp Nou The club added: “On Thurs- pearances, but his time with on Sunday, Barcelona have day 5 August, it was announced the LaLiga giants ended announced. that the Argentine star will not abruptly this week due to Bar- The Argentine forward is be staying at FC Barcelona, ca’s dire financial situation. widely expected to join Paris where he has set club records The six-time Ballon d’Or Saint-Germain in the coming for appearances, goals and of- winner was expected to sign days after Barcelona said they ficial titles.” There has been no a new contract, having be- could not afford to retain him. indication of a change in Bar- come a free agent on July 1, That means Messi, 34, is celona’s stance, with seemingly before Thursday’s announce- likely to share his perspec- little prospect of a U-turn. ment shocked the foot- tive of the departure that has Barcelona’s announce- ball world. stunned world football. ment of Messi’s departure Koeman, who managed His contact expired at the stated it was a move that “both the forward during the 2020- end of June and both parties parties deeply regret”, with the 21 campaign, joined a host of had agreed fresh terms, only club citing “Spanish LaLiga football’s big names in pay- for Barcelona to announce the regulations on player registra- ing tribute to Messi. bombshell news on Thursday tion” as preventing them from “Still hard to understand that they could not proceed handing him a new contract. that you will not play for [Bar- due to “financial and structur- Like many clubs, Barce- celona] anymore,” the head al obstacles”. lona have been hit hard finan- coach wrote on Instagram. The club’s all-time record cially by the COVID-19 pan- “Thanks for everything you scorer, who has made more demic, while heavy spending have done for our club. I re- appearances for Barcelona on players in recent seasons ally enjoyed the full season we Argentinian forward Lionel Messi. (AFP) than any other player, recently has largely not paid off, with worked together. won the Copa America with Real Madrid and Atletico “I am impressed with your while Barca players past and ing things to do. Have fun, en- I arrived because of what a account to say farewell to his Argentina. Madrid winning the most re- work ethic and desire to win. present used social media to joy wherever you go and keep great human being you are,” captain. He landed the Copa del cent two LaLiga titles. What It makes you the best player praise their former team-mate. winning as only you know how Suarez wrote. “All the boys who come to Rey with Barcelona last sea- Messi has to say about the re- in the world. For now, I wish Gerard Pique, who won to do. “Proud to have shared the Masia dream of being able son, adding to an array of cent chain of events is keenly you and your family the best!” the treble with Messi in his Here we will miss you. I thousands of wonderful mo- to play with you, I feel lucky to trophies. During his time at awaited. With Messi expected to move first season back at the Cata- love you Leo.” Luis Suarez, for- ments at [Barcelona] and to be have fulfilled it,” Fati posted. Barcelona, the only club of his Barcelona president Joan to Paris Saint-Germain, Koe- lan club, posted on Instagram merly part of the formidable lucky to have played with you. “I wanted to thank you these professional career, Messi has Laporta said on Friday: “There man must prepare for life that “nothing will ever be the trio with Messi and Neymar, I sincerely hope that what hap- two years for your gestures of helped the team win 10 LaLi- was a moment when La Liga without the four-time Cham- same again” following the end pipped Barca to the title with pens in the future is the best affection towards me and for ga titles and four Champions insinuated to us that the pro- pions League winner. of an era. Atletico Madrid last term but for you and your family. I love everything I learned. Leagues, while he has been posed contract could suffice, Memphis Depay and An- “Now you are leaving, but he too revealed his admiration you so much.” Despite only “[Messi] my family and I awarded the Ballon d’Or a re- but after a technical analysis toine Griezmann will have I know that one day you will for the “best player ever”. playing for two campaigns will always be eternally grate- cord six times. by its financial commission, incredibly large shoes to fill come back,” the centre-back “I will always be grateful with Messi, Barca youngster ful, I wish you and yours all Barcelona said Messi they then informed us that in the 2021-22 campaign, continued. “There are pend- for how you received me since Ansu Fati used his Instagram the best.” would address media in the wouldn’t fully suffice either.” Root century, Bumrah five-for sets up exciting final day in Nottingham ICC NOTTINGHAM Scoreboard England (1st Innings): 183 A tantalizing day five awaits India (1st Innings): 278 England (2nd Innings; Overnight: 25-0) at Trent Bridge as India need R. Burns c Pant b Siraj ...................................... 18 another 157 runs for victory D. Sibley c Pant b Bumrah .................................. 28 while England will hunt to Z. Crawley c Pant b Bumrah ...................................6 take the remaining 9 wickets J. Root c Pant b Bumrah .................................. 109 J. Bairstow c Jadeja b Siraj ................................. 30 on the fifth and final day of D. Lawrence lbw b Thakur ................................... 25 the first World test Cham- J. Buttler b Thakur .............................................. 17 pionship Cycle Test at Trent S. Curran c Siraj b Bumrah .............................. 32 Australia’s Dan Christian plays a shot and Bangladesh’s Quazi Nurul Bridge on Sunday. O. Robinson c Rahane b Shami ......................... 15 S. Broad b Bumrah .............................................. 0 Sohan looks on during the fourth Twenty20 international at the On a gripping Saturday, J. Anderson not out............................................. 0 Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Saturday. (AFP) with an overnight lead of 70 Extras: (b5, lb2, nb10, w6) ............................. 23 runs, India were in search of Total: (All out, 85.5 overs, 400 mins) ������������ 303 a breakthrough in the first Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Burns), 2-46 (Crawley), 3-135 (Sibley), 4-177 (Bairstow), 5-211 (Lawrence), 6-237 Christian’s carnage helps hour. Mohammed Siraj pro- (Buttler), 7-274 (Root), 8-295 (Curran), 9-295 vided just that with the wicket (Broad), 10-303 (Robinson). of Rory Burns who perished Bowling: Bumrah 19-2-64-5 (1w, 7nb); Siraj 25-3- Australia win T20I thriller 84-2 (1nb); Shami 15.5-1-72-1 (5w); Thakur 13-1- for 18 runs. 37-2 (1nb); Jadeja 13-3-39-0 (1nb). ICC a strike rate of 57.69, Shakib Immediately in the next India 2nd Innings (Target: 209) DHAKA could only manage 15 runs over, Jasprit Bumrah too KL Rahul c Buttler b Broad .............................. 26 before edging it to Matthew snared his first. The out-of- R. Sharma not out ............................................... 12 C. Pujara not out ................................................. 12 AUSTRALIA took their first Wade. form Zak Crawley’s struggles Extras: (lb1, nb1) ................................................ 2 win of the series with three The introduction of Mitch- in 2021 continued as he edged Total: (For 1 wkt, 14 overs, 66 mins) ................. 52 wickets in hand after Dan ell Swepson made things the ball to Rishabh Pant. To bat: V Kohli, A Rahane, R Pant, R Jadeja, S Thakur, Christian’s 15-ball 39 eased worse for the hosts. In his sec- It was the third-wicket J Bumrah, M Shami, M Siraj. Fall of wickets: 1-34 (Rahul). the chase after the bowlers re- ond spell, Swepson picked the partnership of 89 runs be- England’s captain Joe Root celebrates his century on the fourth day of the first cricket Test of the India Bowling: Anderson 5-1-12-0; Broad 5-1-18-1; stricted Bangladesh to 104 in wickets of Mahmudullah and tween Joe Root and Dom Tour of England 2021 at the Trent Bridge cricket ground in Nottingham, England, on Saturday. (AFP) Robinson 4-0-21-0 (1nb). their 4th Twenty20 Interna- Nurul Hasan, both for nought Sibley that gave the hosts a Match position: India need 157 more runs to win tional on Saturday. and trapped leg-before in suc- lead. Root registered back-to- with nine second-innings wickets standing. In what should have been cessive deliveries. back fifties in the Test and his Toss: England. a straightforward chase, Bang- A couple of cameos from control over the innings sug- ladesh complicated things for Afif Hossain (20) and Mahedi gested a big one was loading. lent knock of 109. Australia with their resistance Hasan (23) got the hosts to Sibley departed against Sam Curran’s crucial with the ball. However, a total 104/9 with 14 off those coming Bumrah for a well-fought 28 knock of 32 would come to of 104 on the board posted by in the final over.