Weekly Football Catch-Up: June 19: Messi Stopped At Chinese Airport; Rashford To Become United’s Highest Earner; Mbappe’s Decision On PSG; Others

Messi Stopped At Chinese Airport For Hours

Lionel Messi was detained at the Beijing Airport border check while attempting to use his Spanish passport rather than his Argentine one.

Last weekend, the 35-year-old landed in China on a private jet, accompanied by his ‘bodyguard’ and a number of friends, including Argentina star Angel di Maria.

Messi was on his way to join his international colleagues ahead of Thursday’s friendly against Australia.

A social media video showed the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner surrounded by six police officers. Messi appeared to be clutching his passport while discussing the situation with them.

According to Chinese media, the complications arose because Messi used the wrong passport.

According to reports, Messi figured he could travel to Taiwan on his Spanish passport, which was also valid in China.

He is reported to have asked, “Is Taiwan, not China?”

Before Messi was ultimately given a visa and let through, he had to wait for two more hours.

Kylian Mbappe Tells PSG He Is Not Signing A New Contract

Kylian Mbappe, the attacker for Paris Saint-Germain, has informed the club that he will not sign a contract extension.

Mbappe’s contract with the Ligue 1 champions runs through 2024, although it includes a one-year extension option.

However, transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano claims that the 24-year-old is not interested in staying at the club until 2025.

This might result in PSG attempting to move the player while Real Madrid maintains a long-term interest.

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Romano tweeted: “Kylian Mbappé has informed PSG of his decision: he’ll NOT trigger the option to extend the current contract until 2025, it means that the deal would expire next June 2024 — as L’Équipé called.

“PSG position: NO plan to lose Kylian for free. Sign a new deal now or he could be sold.”

Mbappe might become PSG’s second high-profile departure this summer, following Lionel Messi’s exit as a free agent.

Messi, who joined the team two years ago, is set to join Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami.

Manchester City To Sign €100 Million Defender

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is interested in signing RB Leipzig midfielder Josko Gvardiol this summer.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Champions League champions will have to pay a sum of around €100 million for the Croatian.

Gvardiol has been one of the top performers for the Bundesliga team this season and has drawn interest since the 2022 World Cup.

Guardiola plans to bring him in as a replacement for Aymeric Laporte, who is due to leave the Etihad.

Speaking with CaughtOffside, Romano said about Gvardiol: “More than €80m, the most expensive centre-back in the history of the game, this is the idea of RB Leipzig.

“I’m not sure €80m or €85m will be enough. Sources close to Leipzig believe it could be around €100m to sign Gvardiol this summer.”

Paul Pogba Criticises Manchester United Fans For The Way They Treated Him

Paul Pogba, a Juventus midfielder, has criticized the treatment he has received from Manchester United and their fans since his return to the club.

During his career, the Frenchman has only played for two clubs: Manchester United and Juventus.

He began his career in United’s youth academy before moving on to Juventus before returning to Old Trafford in 2016.

The midfielder returned to Juventus on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, and he now claims that he lacked fan support at United while having enough at Juve.

He said via talkSPORT, “When I came to Juve… I immediately saw the love of the supporters.

“I came back to Juve, why? Because it’s really the club that helped me push myself.

“And really the love from the fans, the love from the club that I get, I didn’t get that in Manchester. I was quite surprised when I came back to England, already with the transfer I was given a label. It was quite sad.”

”I Go To Every Match Like I Am Going To War” – Osimhen

Victor Osimhen, a Napoli striker, has disclosed that he listens to Olamide’s rap songs for motivation before going out on the field to play.

Olamide is the Super Eagles star’s favourite Nigerian artist, according to him.

In an interview with Pooja Media, Osimhen also stated that he listens to Nas and Damian Marley’s ‘Only the Strong Survive,’ emphasizing that he approaches each match as if he is going to war.

He said: “First of all, after lunch, like my spare time, when we are relaxing, like two or three hours before the final meeting to go to the stadium, I listen to Olamide’s rap [songs]. There’s some kind of rap he has done in recent years that is really inspirational to me.

“Olamide is my best musician in Nigeria. And I have this playlist that I use to go to listen to his songs.

“And after everything, when we are in the bus, I used to listen to Nas and Damian Marley’s ‘Only the Strong Survive’. So, when I listen to these songs, I always put in my head that I’m going to war. Everything I’m playing, I’m going to war, that I’m going there to die, or someone is going to die. ‘Only the Strong Survive’ means I want to win; I don’t want to lose.”

Marcus Rashford To Become United’s Highest Earning Player

Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United forward, is set to become the club’s highest-paid player after signing a new £375,000-a-week contract.

Rashford is poised to pledge his future to the Red Devils and sign an agreement, with manager Erik ten Hag certain the forward wants to stay.

Meanwhile, as David De Gea’s current contract expires at the end of the month, it is increasingly doubtful that he would sign new terms.

According to Mail Sport, Ten Hag is hesitant to keep De Gea as his first-choice goalkeeper and would prefer to buy another goalkeeper to replace him.

De Gea has been left off United’s retained list, implying that a resolution is still a long way off. Even if he did stay, it would be in much less favourable circumstances.