Friday 39 Sports Friday, July 16, 2021 Barca and Messi agree deal in principle: Media

BARCELONA: Barcelona have reached a deal on principle with the final year as the club threatened to go to court. There had been Leo Messi for the Argentine veteran to remain with the Catalan speculation that Messi would sign on for two years and then po- club for another five years, but on a reduced wage, Spanish media tentially head to Major League Soccer, although friend and former reported on Wednesday. Messi, who earlier this month finally Barca teammate has said he would love to team up with landed a major international trophy with Argentina when they beat him again at Paris Saint Germain. rivals Brazil to win the Copa America, “will sign a five-season con- “Finally, both parties saw fit to extend their link for a longer tract with a release clause of €600 million ($709 million),” ac- period of time,” reported Barcelona-based sports daily Sport. An- cording to Catalan sports daily L’Esportiu. other Barcelona sports paper Mundo Deportivo suggested the “The player will reduce his wage by 50 percent. Now it just longer contract length was part of a quid pro quo taking into ac- remains for the lawyers to look over the agreement and give it the count a curtailed salary structure as Barcelona battle crippling OK. Once that happens (his) continuation will be official,” said debts. Several of the papers said an official announcement on the -based sports daily which confirmed L’Esportiu’s deal would follow within days. initial story. According to the latter, Messi, 34, will earn in the re- With Barcelona laboring under debts of several hundred mil- gion of €20 million basic next season with the Catalan club, which lion euros, Spanish media made much earlier this year of the re- he has led to ten league crowns as well as four Champions ported 555 million euros paid Messi over four seasons from Nov Leagues. 2017 to the end of last month. National daily El Mundo splashed Last season was a comparative disappointment as the club in January on what it termed “Messi’s pharaonic contract which could only land the Spanish Cup and exited in the last 16 of the is ruining Barca” - that sum including image rights and a series of Champions League. Last summer Messi sought to leave Barca as performance-related bonuses with the player reportedly earning a free agent via a clause in his contract before agreeing to see out a net €297 million. —AFP

Navas shone in PSG’s run to the Champions Donnarumma League final two seasons ago and also as they elim- inated reigning champions Bayern Munich, in last season’s quarters before a semi-final exit to Man- joins PSG, Giroud chester City. While the Costa Rican is an excellent shot stopper he is less at ease in playing out from the back and coming off his line. He might have been heads to Milan pleased to former Real colleague and defensive PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain said on Wednesday mainstay arrive to play in front of him, that they had completed the signing of Italy’s Euro but is the man for the future. 2020 goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on a five- Meanwhile, AC Milan director year deal. The 22-year-old, who saved two penal- confirmed on Wednesday that Chelsea’s French ties in the Euro 2020 final and was named player center-forward Olivier Giroud was set to arrive in of the tournament, heads to France on a free trans- Italy while regretting the loss of goalkeeper Don- fer from AC Milan. Donnarumma will be in compe- narumma to Paris Saint Germain. “Olivier should ar- tition with the experienced Keylor Navas for the rive in Milan tomorrow (Thursday),” Maldini said at the unveiling of the calendar for the 2021- goalkeeper’s jersey. “I am delighted to be part of this huge club,” said 2022 season. Donnarumma in a statement released by PSG. “I feel The 34-year-old World Cup winner is reported to be set to sign a two-year contract worth three Allegri fired up as he returns as coach two ready to take on this new challenge and continue to million euros per season with the Serie A runners- years after being sacked despite winning five grow here. With Paris, I want to win as much as pos- ‘No sign’ up, who open next season at Sampdoria. “He’s a consecutive league titles with the Turin club. sible and to bring joy to the supporters.” During his champion, not only with the national team, he’s “There was a certain routine with (Allegri) six seasons with the Rossoneri, the Naples-born Ronaldo wants goalkeeper made 215 appearances in Serie A along done great things with Chelsea, won the Champi- for five years,” said Nedved. “Then he went for ons League,” continued Maldini. “He’s a very reli- two years to take a little holiday but now he’s with 16 in Europa League matches and 12 in the Ital- ian Cup (including the 2016 and 2018 finals). able player and that’s what we’re looking for. We back with great motivation.” Former Czech Re- have a young team and we need players with this to leave Juve public international Nedved agreed that Juven- He is the third player to sign for PSG on a free transfer this summer following Spanish defender experience.” —AFP MILAN: Cristiano Ronaldo has given no indi- tus had probably celebrated more at finishing Sergio Ramos, who was out of contract at Real cation he wants to leave Juventus and is ex- fourth at the end of last season than winning the ‘Scudetto’ in 2020 with Maurizio Sarri. Madrid, and Dutch midfielder pected back in Turin later this month, club from Liverpool. PSG coach will director Pavel Nedved said on Wednesday. “I think it’s true when Sarri says we didn’t celebrate that Scudetto very much, because have the luxury of choosing between the two expe- “Cristiano is on holiday. We have no signal from rienced shot-stoppers as he looks to lead the club his entourage that he wants to leave. We’re perhaps it came naturally as we had already won so much. We tried again with Andrea Pirlo to a long elusive European Cup. waiting for him and he will return around July Costa Rican international Navas, 34, joined two (coach last season), but we ended in fourth. 25 as scheduled,” Nedved said at the unveiling seasons ago from Real Madrid, where he won three of the calendar for the 2021-2022 season. We celebrated that achievement after a com- consecutive Champions league titles but Don- The 36-year-old Portuguese international plicated season perhaps more for the many narumma is just 22 and fresh from starring at Euro has one year left in his contract. His future had sufferings.” 2020. Rotating keepers is something PSG have tried been in doubt after a difficult campaign during Nedved confirmed that the club were inter- before but not entirely successfully. Over recent which Juventus lost their Serie A crown after ested in Sassuolo midfielder seasons they have, at various times, juggled Salva- nine years, exited the Champions League in the after his performance with Italy in winning Euro tore Sirigu, Kevin Trapp, and Ital- last 16 and only sealed fourth place and elite 2020. “We left the boy quiet during the Euro- ian legend . French international European football on the final day. Juventus pean Championship. He is a Sassuolo player and Areola is due to return this season from a loan year open next season at Udinese with Massimilano there will be time to address the issue.” —AFP at Fulham. Gianluigi Donnarumma