SPORTS Saturday, August 19, 2017 23 Messi told he’d

makeionel Messi tried to while holding offhim defenders, Despite that especiallya theBallon Russia World Cup likely to their joint move to d’Or persuade Neymar not to as the Brazilian completed generous performance from play a crucial role in who gets Paris Saint Germain leaveL Barcelona by telling him: his dribble before Messi and the declaration the personal gong. and so Neymar’s ‘I’ll make you a Ballon d’Or shooting past before the game, Messi left an emotional subsequent divorce winner’, according to Spain’s Gianluigi Neymar’s mind was video dedicated to Neymar from Barcelona. Diario Sport. Buffon. He already made up and on social media when he left Messi tied the knot In a last ditch attempt by also laid a he is now Messi’s the club. He wrote: ‘It was an in Argentina on July Messi and Luis Suarez to make potential main rival for the enormous pleasure to have 1 and both Alves and Neymar stay the pair took the third big individual prizes shared these years with you Neymar were at the 25-year-old to one side at the on a plate in football. my friend @neymarjr I wish ceremony having a tete- Sheraton Parsippany hotel in for Neymar Messi already has you luck in this new stage of a-tete about meeting New Jersey where the team who this five Ballon d’Or/Fifa your life.’ Neymar responded: up in for were staying ahead of their time failed World Player/The ‘Thanks brother. I will miss the new season. game against Juventus in the to beat the Best awards. Cristiano you.’ Suarez and Neymar also (dailymail. Metlife Stadium in July. keeper. Ronaldo should win this exchanged goodbye messages. co.uk) According to Sport’s Ivan year’s prize but Neymar has since revealed San Antonio, Messi told will join the race in 2018 that it was at Messi’s wedding Neymar: ‘What do you with the outcome of that he and Neymar schemed want?’ Do you want to be a Ballon d’Or and Luis Suarez [winner]? I’ll make you the Ballon spoke to Neymar in a d’Or.’ New Jersey hotel during It was Messi’s last big play Barcelona’s pre-season for Neymar tour against Juventus in the to stay and it centred on Metlife Stadium in July giving his team-mate more of the spotlight. The inference is that the Brazilian would be able to take more free-kicks and penalties and have a more central role in finishing Barcelona attacks as Messi morphed ever more into a . In the subsequent friendly with Juventus Neymar scored twice with Messi Neymar (file pic) standing aside, Neymar (L) with Messi and Suarez (R) (file pic) Lionel Messi (file pic) Liverpool reject third Barca bid for Coutinho London sale at any price and consider Speaking on Thursday, iverpool have rejected a the figures being offered by Barca general manager Pep third bid from Barcelona Barcelona irrelevant. Segura said deals for the pair forL star playmaker Philippe The 25-year-old Brazil were “close”. Coutinho, a source from the playmaker, currently sidelined But Liverpool are refusing club confirmed by a back problem, has to budge and Dembele, 20, has yesterday. submitted a transfer request. been suspended by Dortmund British media reports said He signed a new five-year after going on strike in a bid to Barcelona’s latest bid was contract in January. force through a move. worth around £114 million Barcelona have targeted Coutinho joined Liverpool ($146.5 million, 124.7 million Coutinho and Borussia from in an £8.5 euros), a significant increase Dortmund winger Ousmane million move in January 2013 on their previous offer of £90 Dembele to plug the gap created and is the key creative figure in million. by Neymar’s world-record 222 Jurgen Klopp’s team, scoring Liverpool have publicly million euro ($260.8 million) 14 goals in all competitions last (file pic) stated that Coutinho is not for move to Paris Saint-Germain. season. (AFP)