14 Tuesday, February 2, 2021 Sports Hertha Berlin sign A motivated Messi World Cup winner Khedira; Bayern could spell bad news loan out pair DPA BERLIN for Granada in the cup FORMER Germany midfield- er Sami Khedira joined Her- tha Berlin on Monday in what The divulging of was the big signing on Bun- Lionel Messi’s contract desliga transfer deadline day while champions Bayern Mu- details seemed to nich sent young talents Chris have served to give Richards and Joshua Zirkzee out on loan. him extra motivation Khedira was announced to prove his worth in shortly after the 6 pm (1700 the league at the GMT) transfer deadline by Hertha with all the details of weekend. Ronald his move from Italian cham- Koeman hopes that pions Juventus confirmed by continues in the cup the cut-off. Hertha also secured the as Barcelona face services of Serbia internation- Granada al midfielder Nemanja Radon- Juventus’ German midfielder jic on loan from French side Sami Khedira who will play for DPA Olympique Marseille. German Bundesliga club Hertha BARCELONA Richards and Zirkzee Berlin, the club announced on meanwhile left Bayern Munich February 1, 2021. (AFP) BARCELONA will hope Lionel on loan to get match experi- Messi keeps proving his worth ence at Hoffenheim and Parma Record champions Bayern this Wednesday when they on a day which was quiet by and some others haven’t made take on Granada in the Span- previous deadline standards as any signings but the Bavarians ish Cup quarter-finals. clubs stayed cautious amid the agreed a deal with Hoffenheim A story that appeared in coronavirus pandemic. and let Richards go. Spanish newspaper El Mundo Hertha are outside the Bun- “The aim is to offer the on Sunday detailed Messi’s desliga danger zone only on 20-year-old defensive player contract and suggested the goal difference after a 3-1 de- the opportunity to gain more money the club pay him is the feat at Eintracht Frankfurt on match practice in the German reason why they are in finan- Saturday and experienced 2014 top flight,” Bayern said in a cial straits. World Cup winner Khedira, statement, while Hoffenheim “Another game where who however has not played said Richards will “cover the Messi proves his worth” was Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (left) scores during the Spanish League match against Athletic Club Bilbao at the Camp Nou since June, is a major capture. injury-ravaged defence.” the headline on the front of stadium in Barcelona on Sunday. (AFP) “In Sami Khedira we are “I’m looking forward to Marca on Sunday after Messi getting a atop player who has taking the next steps in my scored goal number 650 of his can put that right this week “We had chances but just published to one side but we the game at the Nuevo Los Car- been under contract with some development in Hoffenheim. Barcelona career in the team’s against Granada. couldn’t take them,” he said af- know it is difficult. Messi is a menes stadium in a bid to take of Europe’s top clubs,” said It’s important I pick up more 2-1 win over Athletic club. Granada warmed up for ter the frustrating goalless draw. great player. Without Leo we Barcelona to the semi-finals. Hertha sporting director Arne match practice in the Bundes- “That’s quite a question,” the big match at home with a This is another big chance cannot aspire to much.” That Of the other duels to reach Friedrich. “He will help us im- liga now,” the player said. said Antoine Griezmann after 0-0 draw against Celta Vigo for him to make his mark in was a variation on something the last four the stand out fix- mediately with his experience Richards will reunite with the game when he was asked but it was clear from his team the cup. Last season Granada he had said in his press con- ture comes on Thursday when in the Champions League, coach Sebastian Hoeness what price he would put on selection just how much im- came close to reaching the ference on Friday: “With the last season’s finalists Athletic Serie A, La Liga and also with after they worked together Messi. “He is the best player portance coach Diego Martin- final but were denied byA th- players we have we know we Bilbao host Real Betis. the national team at the World last season when Bayern un- in the world and we just want ez is putting in the cup. letic Bilbao in the semi-finals. cannot aspire to win much.” Manuel Pellegrini’s side Cup and European Champi- der-23 team won the third him to stay here as long as pos- He rested centre-back Ger- Martinez’ Granada side Barcelona are still 10 points have improved of late and onships,” Khedira, 33, last league title. sible.” Elsewhere “Priceless man Sanchez and left centre- will have to deal with a moti- behind Atletico Madrid in the would love to stay in the cup played in the Bundesliga with Another Bayern talent, Messi” was the headline on Di- forward Roberto Soldado on vated Messi. league despite having won all alongside city rivals Sevilla VfB Stuttgart before joining striker Leon Dajaku, was sent ario Sport after the Argentine’s the bench until the last half Barca Ronald Koeman said their league games in January. who go to Almeria on Tuesday. Real Madrid in 2010. on loan to Union Berlin in 12th league goal of the season. and hour of the game against after the win over Athletic: “We The Cup remains their best The other quarter-final “Hertha made great ef- January also in order to get He is yet to score in the Celta. Both are likely to start have to be united. We need to chance of winning something sees Villarreal visit neighbours forts to sign me and offered more playing time in the Bun- current cup campaign but he against Barcelona. put the things that have been this season and Messi will start Levante on Wednesday. me the opportunity to return desliga while 19-year-old Zirk- to the Bundesliga,” he said. “I zee made the move to Serie A feel great physically would like strugglers Parma. to use the experience I have “We hope that he can de- Brighton sign Caicedo, Liverpool close to deal for defenders gained in recent years to help liver something in Parma so the team and lead Hertha to they’re not relegated,” Bayern LONDON: Brighton & Hove ing Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip in the summer for 18 million Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Clubs remains subject to international more sporting success.” Her- chairman Karl-Heinz Rum- Albion signed Moises Caicedo and Joe Gomez. Ben Davies, has been agreed between the seem to be moving cautiously clearance but boss Graham tha did not give immediate de- menigge told Sky Sports news. from Independiente del Valle of currently at Preston North End, two clubs. West Bromwich with finances impacted by the Potter sees a lot of potential in tails of the move for Khediria, Parma have an option to make Ecuador’s top-flight on Monday is a reported target with a price Albion also confirmed a season- coronavirus pandemic and while Caicedo, who made his interna- whose Juventus contract was the move permanent for 15 mil- in what has been the biggest tag of up to two million pounds long loan deal for Turkish practical things like meeting tional debut for Ecaudor last Oc- set to expire in summer. lion euros (18.1 million dollars). deal of a slow transfer deadline (2.7 million dollars) as well as international Okay Yokuslu from potential signings face-to-face is tober. “He has done very well in While Khedira is a high- The biggest early deal of day so far. Turkish defender Ozan Kabak in Spanish club Celta Vigo. It is much harder given the ongoing Ecuador and made his debut for profile capture for Hertha, the window was RB Leipzig Premier League champi- an initial loan from Bundesliga West Brom’s third signing of the health restrictions. his country at just 18,” Potter Bundesliga clubs have gen- signing forward Dominik Szo- ons Liverpool were looking to bottom side Schalke. Reports window after Robert Snodgrass The 19-year-old midfielder said. “He’s an exciting signing, erally been shy during the boszlai from Red Bull Salzburg complete a deal for a defender in England suggest a fee of one from West Ham and Mbaye Caicedo has committed to a but it is important we give him winter transfer period due to for 20 million euros as they at- after a number of first-choice million pounds with an option to Diagne along with a reported four-year deal with Brighton time to adjust.” financial issues caused by the tempt a first league and Ger- centre backs are injured includ- make Kabak’s move permanent move for Arsenal defender that runs until 2025. The deal (DPA) coronavirus. man Cup title. Fans urged to plan ahead before attending FIFA Club WC matches fore kick-off and the Doha Metro will be running 17:00) the necessary permit. a full service each day. 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