Mauro Icardi could be staying in France as PSG have reportedly made an offer to Inter Milan for him.
Per a report by Fabrizio Romano, PSG have made an offer to Inter of €50 million for the Argentine. Along with the €50 million is a €10 million in add ons. Last summer’s buy out option was set at €70 million as talks between both clubs are still going on.
Icardi scored 12 goals in 20 matches for PSG this season.
Mauricio Pineda praised Argentina and Barcelona captain Lionel Messi, while talking about the Argentina national team from the 1998 World Cup.
Pineda claims that Pablo Zabaleta was not the right back which Lionel Messi needed with the Argentina national team. Speaking in an interview with Cadena 3 of Santa Fe, here’s what he had to say:
“Zabaleta was not the number 4 (right back) which Messi needed in the Argentina national team. He needed someone who would attack a thousand times, who would generate space. Like Jordi Alba, who’s a player that has never dribbled through anyone but goes attacks like a mad man.”
The former Argentina man praised Lionel Messi:
“How could they say that Messi doesn’t feel the shirt like Maradona? He played 80 matches a year, never sees his family in Rosario, lost the World Cup final and he goes on to play in two Copa’s America. They don’t back Messi, they don’t even back him with 10% of what they backed Maradona. That Diego today would kick out 4 players per match.
“Messi continues to be the best in the world. He scores two great goals vs. Liverpool, Dembele misses a one on one chance and Messi is to blame? If I was Leo’s team mate, I would have gotten into the dressing room and asked for forgiveness.”
Regarding his winning goal against Croatia from the 1998 World Cup”
“Watching the goal vs. Croatia from the World Cup in France affects me more now. Today, I proudly show my son.”
Javier Zanetti’s goal vs. England was also a topic of discussion:
“We tried that play in training a thousand times and it came out well a handful of times. It came out well in the game and that’s why we laughed. We had a great time, almost everyone were stars at their clubs. It’s a shame what happened in 2002 because it was practically all the same names with four years experience.”
Lautaro Martinez is reportedly very close to joining Barcelona.
Martinez has been linked to the Liga champions for months. However, per a report by Ole in Argentina, the Inter man is very close to joining Lionel Messi at Barcelona. Per the report, only the details remain before it’s made official. A Barcelona player is expected to be part of the deal.
Two clubs will also benefit from the €111 million price tag. Racing Club will receive €8 million from the transfer while his former youth club Liniers will get €2.35 million.
Hernan Crespo was once a veteran of the Argentina national team and the prolific goal scorer spoke about the team’s elimination from the 2006 World Cup and what he had told Lionel Messi.
Crespo was fully established not only in the Argentina national team but in world football. Playing for world giants such as AC Milan, Inter, Chelsea, River Plate and others, Crespo made a name for himself scoring goals. Speaking in an interview with Superfutbol, the former striker spoke about Argentina’s match against Germany at the 2006 World Cup. Here’s what he had to say:
“I haven’t gone back and watched the finals because it’s the end of the movie and it only brings up pain. What I could tell you was for that match, most people in that group were surprised at Saviola’s exclusion.
“It was with him that we went through the entire World Cup qualifiers and we played really well.”
When asked about Lionel Messi finishing the match on the bench:
“Messi still wasn’t what we all thought he would be. At that time, he was someone that could be the best and unbalance (the opponent) at any time, especially in the last 20 minutes. In between all of the pain was me knowing that I told Leo I would get him to the semi final and that he would make me win the other two matches.”
Andres Iniesta spoke with Ole of Argentina where he commented on the Argentina national team, Lionel Messi, playing in Argentina and much more.
Iniesta has won it all. From scoring the winner in a World Cup final, to winning everything with Barcelona. Speaking in an interview, here’s what he had to say:
“They (Argentina national team) have had great players, a national team with spectacular players and for me, they have the number 1 (player).
“What happened against Germany, for example, are details. Small moments that tip the balance for one or for the other. Surely, if they played another game, it would have probably ended differently.”
Regarding Lionel Messi:
“One of the great things about Leo is that he always surprises you. The regularity with which he makes the difference, game by game, year by year, doesn’t stop. Now, after so many years, he continues to surprise. That is within the reach of very few, if any.
“He is as capable of scoring a ‘hat trick’ of goals as he is of assists. If from the outside it looks very nice, from the inside it looks even easier. I mean, I knew that if he came in from the left, you knew where to go for the ball.
“Those of us who have played alongside him have enjoyed it that way. For me, he’s number one. Obviously it can’t be the whole team. He needs everything he’s got to be in order to make the team even more powerful.
“For me it is very difficult to say that Leo plays a bad game. Because that’s practically impossible. Nor can you compare the environment or the team of an Argentina team with one like Barça, who he works with every day.”
The Barcelona and Spain legend also commented on the Argentine players:
“From before I liked Aimar very much. I liked him a lot because he was a different player, with a lot of confidence, daring, one against one, overflowing, fast, intelligent. Riquelme, Veron… Now, from the present day, Di Maria, for example.”
His former team mate Javier Mascherano called Iniesta to try and get him to play in Argentina:
“He called me, but we didn’t talk much in-depth. He asked me how I was and I told him about my situation here and nothing else. He told me his wish to go, if there were possibilities, but no more.”
