THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2020 14

Versatile Spain forward Rodrigo signs for Leeds from Valencia Barca in new turmoil after Messi says he wants to leave Rodrigo Moreno Reuters | Madrid ’s lawyers reportedly sent a fax in which they announced his desire to rescind his

eeds United have agreed contract by triggering a release clause Lto sign Spain forward Rodrigo Moreno from Va- lencia ahead of their return Messi has grown to the Premier League after • a 16-year absence, the Span- increasingly unhappy in ish side said on Tuesday. the last 12 months with The club’s statement did how the club is being KNOW WHAT not mention a transfer fee run under president or how long the contract at Josep Maria Bartomeu Leeds would be, although Under the terms of the reports in the Spanish me- contract which expires dia said the English club Reuters | Barcelona in 2021, the only way would pay Valencia around 30 million euros plus 10 mil- aptain Lionel Messi has Messi can leave with- lion in variables. told Barcelona he wish- out the club’s consent “Valencia have reached an Ces to leave the club im- is if a rival side pays agreement in principle with mediately, a source confirmed, his release clause Leeds United for the trans- deepening the turmoil within of 700 million euros fer of Rodrigo, subject to the Catalan side less than two (629.7 million pounds) the player passing a medical weeks after their humiliating 8-2 and all documentation and defeat by Bayern Munich. formalities being complet- The source said the club re- ed,” said the side. ceived a burofax from Messi’s La Liga title to Real Madrid in Known by his first name lawyers declaring that the play- July, Messi slammed the team as Rodrigo, he scored 59 goals er, who has spent his entire ca- Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi walks on the pitch during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final football being “weak” and “vulnerable” in 220 games for Valencia. reer at Barca, wished to leave. match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich during an uncharacteristically He is the latest high-profile A burofax is a service used in fiery post-match interview. player to leave after captain Spain to urgently dispatch a doc- Under the terms of the con- does not wish the Uruguayan to world player of the year a record Former Barca captain Carles Dani Parejo and Francis Co- ument through a certified email, tract which expires in 2021, the stay at the club. six times, has grown increasing- Puyol backed Messi’s wish to quelin left for rival Villar- which issues a digital certificate only way Messi can leave with- Other reports said that Chile- ly unhappy in the last 12 months leave the club by writing on real this month, sparking with legal validity. out the club’s consent is if a rival an midfielder Arturo Vidal, Cro- with how the club is being run Twitter: “Respect and admira- fresh protests against owner The club subsequently sent side pays his release clause of atian midfielder Ivan Rakitic under president Josep Maria tion, Leo. You have all my sup- Peter Lim. Messi a burofax, stating they 700 million euros (629.7 million and French defender Samuel Bartomeu. port, friend.” wanted him to stay and finish pounds). Umtiti have also been told they In February, he lashed out Ex-Barca president Joan his career at Barca, added the “The club considers that the are no longer wanted. at then sporting director Eric Laporta blamed Bartomeu for source. contract is fully binding until Barca are in the midst of over- Abidal on social media and a the stance taken by Messi. A second source added that 30 June 2021,” added the second hauling their squad following couple of months later turned “Bartomeu and his board the burofax Messi’s lawyers sent source. the 8-2 defeat by Bayern in the his anger on the club hierar - should quit immediately. They 59 referred to a clause in the last The Argentine’s request to Champions League quarter-fi- chy for the way in which play- have undermined Messi to save goals were scored by contract the 33-year-old Argen- leave Barca comes a day after nals earlier this month, which ers were forced to take a pay them from the sporting and fi- Rodrigo in 220 games tine signed with the club in 2017 Spanish media reported that condemned the club to a tro - cut to cope with the finan - nancial mess they have created. for Valencia which allowed him to leave for new coach Ronald Koeman told phyless season for the first time cial hit of the coronanvirus If they quit there might be some free, a clause that expired on Messi’s close friend and strike in 12 years. pandemic. hope that Messi stays at Barca,” June 10 this year. partner, Luis Suarez, that he Messi, who has been named After Barca surrendered the he tweeted. Misbah hopes England Jose Mourinho told Harry Kane he could visit Pakistan ‘soon’ AFP | London help make him ‘movie star’ footballer AFP | London akistan coach Misbah-ul- PHaq said he hoped Eng- land would tour the country ose Mourinho told Harry I saw you training “soon” after his side travelled JKane that he wanted to help to Britain during the coronavi- make him a global superstar yesterday and I have rus pandemic. after the Portuguese manager’s no doubts that you England have not visited appointment at Tottenham. are a leader .That Pakistan since 2005/06. An Jose Mourinho told Harry is my feeling. The attack by armed militants on Kane that he wanted to help world looks to English Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore make him a global superstar Misbah-ul-Haq football with an in 2009 ended major cricket after the Portuguese manager’s incredible respect tours for a decade. “Players from all over the appointment at Tottenham. But other countries have world now know about the Mourinho called England but they still think since made the trip, with Eng- levels of security Pakistan captain Kane into his office in that the movie stars land scheduled to return in can provide and how much his third day in the job after he of football belong to 2022. they will be welcomed,” said replaced Mauricio Pochettino in other places Pakistan Cricket Board chief Misbah, who is also Pakistan’s the Spurs hotseat in November JOSE MOURINHO executive Wasim Khan has chief selector. last year. urged England to tour even A draw in the third Test at A scene in Amazon Prime to Pochettino’s sacking. before then and Misbah, in Southampton condemned Video’s upcoming documentary Chairman Daniel Levy, who a column for the PCB’s web- Pakistan to a 1-0 series loss “All or Nothing”, which airs on had a close relationship with Tottenham Hotspur’s head coach Jose Mourinho congratulates striker Harry site published yesterday, said: on Tuesday ahead of a three- Monday, shows Mourinho sit- the Argentine, said there had Kane after a match (file photo) “Looking into the future, we match Twenty20 series start- ting down with his star striker, been “a lot of heartache” over would really appreciate Eng- ing later this week in Man - who was a close confidant of the an incredible respect but they Mourinho told Kane he had the decision to sack Pochettino. land visiting Pakistan soon.” chester, which will also be sacked Pochettino, and telling still think that the movie stars of better players at his disposal Mourinho did not let the He pointed out the sides that played behind closed doors. him how they could be good for football belong to other places. than he had at his former club, cameras affect his management had toured recently, including Pakistan and the West In- each other. “We have to build also your Manchester United, saying style. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and dies, who played a three-Test “I saw you training yesterday status in that direction. My pro- Spurs had the potential to “ex- In one of his early speeches said a number of England play- series in England last month, and I have no doubts that you file, I am little bit like that as a plode”. to his team he accused them of ers had appeared in the Paki- are two of cricket’s financially are a leader,” said Mourinho. coach. My dimension is univer- The Amazon documentary being too nice, using a string of stan Super League, a Twenty20 poorer leading international “That is my feeling. The world sal and by being with me I think begins with Spurs’ poor start to expletives to urge his players to competition. sides. looks to English football with I can help you.” the 2019/20 campaign, leading show some mettle.

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