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Monday Kickoff: Man City players want Messi; Mourinho hopes for long Chelsea stay; and more

LionelMessiBarcelona3-Levante (Getty)

By DAN KARELL

Two players who know Lionel Messi well are hoping to recruit him to Manchester City next season.

Yaya Toure, who played alongside Messi at Barcelona from 2007-2010 and Sergio Aguero, who plays with Messi on the Argentina National Team, have told reporters this weekend that they would love to see Messi at the Etihad Stadium, despite already having one of the best lineups in world soccer. Man City would be one of the few clubs in the world that could potentially afford the insane transfer fee to sign Messi but also his wages.

“Yes, he should come to (Man) City. Then we’ll definitely play together. City should buy him!” Aguero told the Manchester Evening News.

While continuing his recovery from the latest leg muscle injury, Messi publicly stated his unhappiness at Barcelona vice-president Javier Faus’ comments over Messi’s contract. However, the 26-year-old’s father made clear recently that Messi’s future is tied to Barcelona.

Here are some more stories to kick off your week:

MOURINHO HOPES FOR LONG REIGN AT CHELSEA

While Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has had his disagreements in the past with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, there’s one aspect that the Portuguese boss envies of his French counterpart.

In an interview with the English newspaper, The Guardian, Mourinho said that he believes stability is the best way to run a club and admitted that he came back to Chelsea for less money because of his love for the club. Now back, Mourinho hopes that he can stay as the Chelsea boss for 12 years before moving into international management.

I would like [to stay for], say, 12 years,” Mourinho told The Guardian. “I’m 51 next month. I’d say 12 years, and then two (years) to go to a World Cup with a national team. I would prefer the Portuguese national team. England second [choice], yes.

“The best way to [run a club] is to do it with stability. For the players, if you want to help them grow up, you do that much better with stability: in ideas, philosophy, model of play, style of leadership. This all comes from stability at the highest level: with the owners and board and, after that, the manager.

Mourinho can take his Chelsea side to the top of the Premier League with a win on Monday against London rivals Arsenal. Mourinho has never lost to Wenger in his coaching career.

INTER REMAIN GUARDED OVER GUARIN FUTURE

Inter Milan midfielder Fredy Guarin has plenty of suitors abroad, but the Italian club are hoping that they won’t have to sell him come January.

With the help of Guarin, Inter won the Milan Derby, 1-0, thanks to a timely assist on Rodrigo Palacio’s terrific back-heel goal, but Chelsea has reportedly made an offer for the Colombian and it could be only a matter of time. Inter’s executive director Marco Fassone however stated following the match that no deal has been completed to let Guarin leave.

“Guarin has such talent that he would be tempting for so many teams on the transfer market and boss Walter Mazzarri has made him a better player,” Fassone told Radio RAI. “Right now, though, we are just talking about rumors. Guarin is a champion who belongs to us and we are keeping a tight grip on him.

“If we make any moves on the market, both in buying or selling, then we will do so with the intention of strengthening the side.”

QUICK KICKS

Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini is set to miss a further two months after undergoing an operation on his wrist. (REPORT)

Current Holland manager Louis Van Gaal has admitted he’d like to manage in the EPL in the future. (REPORT)

Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi has been called up to the Basque National Team for an unofficial friendly match against Peru next Saturday. (REPORT)

Meanwhile, Illarramendi’s teammate Xabi Alonso could be set for another spell on the sidelines after suffering a perforated left eardrum during Real’s 3-2 victory against Valencia. (REPORT)

Egyptian legend Mohamed Aboutrika confirmed his retirement from soccer following Al-Ahly’s defeat in the Club World Cup, ending an illustrious 16-year career. (REPORT)

Following their first victory in five games, a few NAC Breda players jumped in a pitch-side Jacuzzi to celebrate with fans. (REPORT)

Alajuelense have been crowned Costa Rican champions after defeating Herediano, 5-3, in penalty kicks. (REPORT)

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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Messi ever leaving Barcelona? Think Man City would be bold enough to make Barcelona an offer? Think Mourinho can stay at Chelsea for 12 consecutive years?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Dear Editor of the Manchester Evening News.
    Insert Club Name Here wants Messi.
    This is not journalism, this isn’t even news.
    Every club in the world wants Leo. Go find a player who has played with him, ask him if he’d like to play with Messi again and viola you have a new article.
    Are you hiring? Cause I could make a career out of this.
    Bollocks.

    Reply
  2. Columbus Crew Players Want Messi
    Two players who know of Messi are trying to recruit him to join the Columbus Crew next year.

    Federico Higuain, who is Argentinian and met Messi in 2008, 2009, and 2012, and Will Trapp, who is approximately the same size as Messi, have told reporters that they would love to see him play at Crew Stadium next year. Anthony Precourt has already stated that he would happily pay not only the insane transfer fee for Messi but his wages as well.

    Reply
  3. Apparently Ribery is not a big fan of MLS

    The France international has now ruled out any prospect of a future move to La Liga, Ligue 1 or any other European league, but he says he would relish the chance to play in the MLS or the Gulf once his “real career” is over.

    “In Europe, there will be no other club, but it would be a bonus for me if there can be another continent after that,” he said. “I could be tempted to go to a country like the U.S. or maybe the [United Arab] Emirates, but I would not count that as part of my real career.”

    Reply
  4. Jose is mellowing as he ages. Didn’t he once ride Wenger, saying that Wenger has the best job in the world since “he doesn’t have to win anything!”?

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  5. Man, front row seats in a hot-tub gotta say thats pretty cool and something you could only get in a smaller league. The price you pay for size is fun.

    =(

    Reply
  6. Only The Special One could get away with saying he wants to coach Portugal with England as his second choice. I want to go to Oxford but will go to Yale as my safety school.

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    • eh, i don’t buy that. people said the same thing about CR…that he would only go to a Nike sponsored team. obviously that did not happen and clearly, with his new Nike sponsorship, Nike doesn’t seem to mind he plays for an Adidas sponsored team.

      Reply

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