Messi Chooses Guardiola Reunion to Get Up and Running With PSG

Lionel Messi has his first goal in a Paris Saint-Germain shirt, almost two months after his arrival from Barcelona FRANCK FIFE AFP
Lionel Messi has his first goal in a Paris Saint-Germain shirt, almost two months after his arrival from Barcelona FRANCK FIFE AFP
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Messi Chooses Guardiola Reunion to Get Up and Running With PSG

Lionel Messi has his first goal in a Paris Saint-Germain shirt, almost two months after his arrival from Barcelona FRANCK FIFE AFP
Lionel Messi has his first goal in a Paris Saint-Germain shirt, almost two months after his arrival from Barcelona FRANCK FIFE AFP

It was the moment the fan had really been waiting for ever since Lionel Messi was unveiled as a Paris Saint-Germain player nearly two months ago. The Argentine had featured only fleetingly for his new club and had not scored a goal, but he chose a good moment to get off the mark in Tuesday's heavyweight Champions League clash with Manchester City.

It was a trademark strike by the Argentine that put PSG 2-0 up against Pep Guardiola's side in the 74th minute, securing a victory that sends out a message to the rest of Europe, even this early in the season.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner was having a quiet evening until he collected possession just inside the City half near the right touchline and scampered towards goal. He held off Aymeric Laporte and played a one-two with Kylian Mbappe before sending a shot high into the net from just outside the box. Guardiola -- who has been on the receiving end of Messi's magic before against Barcelona with Bayern Munich and with City -- called his former pupil "unstoppable".

"I don't usually celebrate goals, but that one I did," said PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino, who came up against Messi in Spain as coach of Espanyol, AFP reported.

"I have seen him score plenty of times before when I was on the opposition bench, so for once I was on the right bench and could celebrate."

Messi left Barcelona as their all-time top scorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances, a record tally for one club. Now he is up and running in Paris and the crowd at the Parc des Princes, who will not forget their evening, will hope it was just the first goal of many. "It is true that I was becoming desperate to get my first goal," Messi, who was making just his fourth appearance for Pochettino's side, told Canal Plus.

The 34-year-old came to Paris with his sights firmly set on winning the Champions League, a trophy he last won with Barcelona in 2015. - 'MNM' getting to know each other - A team containing Messi, Mbappe and Neymar -- not to mention Angel Di Maria, who was suspended on Tuesday -- can target nothing less than victory in a competition PSG have never won.

The early signs this season have not always been promising, with PSG drawing 1-1 at Club Brugge in their first European game and facing largely limited opposition on the way to eight wins out of eight in Ligue 1.

But Messi believes his relationship with Mbappe and Neymar, the so-called 'MNM', is developing.

"As we go along we are getting to know each other better," he said. Pochettino admitted his team "suffered" at times, especially when Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva hit the bar in quick succession for City in the first half. It is the first time Qatar-owned PSG have ever beaten Abu Dhabi-backed City, having been on the losing side in the quarter-finals in 2016 and then in last season's semi-finals.

City are now a point behind the Parisians, and Club Brugge, in their Champions League group, but the two leading financial powers of the modern European game will still surely both advance to the last 16. Guardiola will be glad he does not have to worry about playing against Messi again until the reverse fixture in November, yet in many ways this was the least important match of the week for City.

Winners at Chelsea on Saturday in a repeat of last season's Champions League final, Guardiola's side now have the small matter of a trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool to come this weekend.

"We played a good game with personality but we couldn't score a goal," Guardiola said. "Now we are going to eat good tonight, we are going to drink a glass of wine, we are going to recover and we are going to prepare for the game on Sunday," he told BT Sport.



Marseille Coach De Zerbi Describes ‘Brawl’ Between Teammates Rabiot and Rowe

Marseille's Italian head coach Roberto De Zerbi gestures during a press conference at the Robert-Louis-Dreyfus training center also known as "La Commanderie", in Marseille, southern France on August 22, 2025. (AFP)
Marseille's Italian head coach Roberto De Zerbi gestures during a press conference at the Robert-Louis-Dreyfus training center also known as "La Commanderie", in Marseille, southern France on August 22, 2025. (AFP)
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Marseille Coach De Zerbi Describes ‘Brawl’ Between Teammates Rabiot and Rowe

Marseille's Italian head coach Roberto De Zerbi gestures during a press conference at the Robert-Louis-Dreyfus training center also known as "La Commanderie", in Marseille, southern France on August 22, 2025. (AFP)
Marseille's Italian head coach Roberto De Zerbi gestures during a press conference at the Robert-Louis-Dreyfus training center also known as "La Commanderie", in Marseille, southern France on August 22, 2025. (AFP)

Marseille players Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe brawled as if in a pub fight, coach Roberto De Zerbi said Friday, detailing their locker room clash that sent the French club into turmoil.

France midfielder Rabiot and England Under-21 forward Rowe were put on the transfer list this week and told by the club to leave this week in the fallout of their fight after a season-opening loss at Rennes in the French league last Friday.

De Zerbi said the players had initially been temporarily removed from the squad on Monday but the situation had then degenerated.

“Not because of Marseille, but because of the entourage,” the coach said in an apparent reference to Rabiot’s mother and agent, Véronique Rabiot, who criticized senior Marseille officials.

The furor has affected Marseille's plans for the season with just 10 days left in the transfer window and one month before the 1993 European Cup winner returns to the Champions League.

De Zerbi said he was annoyed that Rabiot’s mother had forgotten how much he supported her son, including making him captain in his debut season in Marseille.

“No one can walk all over me, or the club,” said the Italian coach, adding he felt like a father to his players.

De Zerbi said he came from the streets and had seen similar fights but never such a clash in soccer as that between Rabiot and Rowe.

“It was a fight, a brawl, the likes of which I’d never seen in all the years of my career,” said the 46-year-old De Zerbi, whose playing and coaching career took him to almost 20 different clubs in Italy, England, Romania and Ukraine.

De Zerbi said Rabiot and Rowe had to be separated by team bodyguards in a chaotic scene at Rennes during which another player, 17-year-old Darryl Bakola, fell to the ground after fainting.

Rabiot was sorry for what happened, the coach said, while Rowe is reportedly in talks over a move to Italy with Bologna.

Marseille hosts newly promoted Paris FC on Saturday.


City Defender Dias Signs Contract Extension Until 2029

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - August 16, 2025 Manchester City's Ruben Dias reacts REUTERS/Chris Radburn
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - August 16, 2025 Manchester City's Ruben Dias reacts REUTERS/Chris Radburn
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City Defender Dias Signs Contract Extension Until 2029

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - August 16, 2025 Manchester City's Ruben Dias reacts REUTERS/Chris Radburn
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - August 16, 2025 Manchester City's Ruben Dias reacts REUTERS/Chris Radburn

Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has signed a contract extension that will keep him with the club until 2029, City announced on Friday.

The 28-year-old center back has lifted 10 trophies, including a historic treble in 2023, since he arrived from Benfica in 2020.

The Portugal international was named 2020/21 Premier League Player of the Season and the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year, and was a key part of City's historic feat of becoming the first team to win four consecutive top-flight titles in 2024.

"I'm so proud to represent this great Club. City are where I want to be – at the top of the sport, competing for trophies," said Dias, who has made 223 appearances for City. "The Club's ambition aligns perfectly with mine and as a footballer there is nothing better than that.

"My job now is to be the best I can be for the duration of this contract, so that I can play my part in helping us challenge for more silverware."

According to Reuters, City's Director of Football Hugo Viana praised Dias for his hard work and professionalism.

"He is a leader in the dressing room and on the pitch. He is one of our captains, the players listen to him and Pep and the coaching staff love working with him. He is the ultimate professional," Viana said. "Every time Ruben pulls on a City shirt, he gives his all for the badge."


Alexander Isak Won’t Play Against Liverpool but Still Has Newcastle Future, Howe Says 

05 February 2025, United Kingdom, Newcastle Upon Tyne: Newcastle United's Alexander Isak arrives ahead of the England Carabao Cup Semi-Final second leg soccer match at St. James' Park. (dpa)
05 February 2025, United Kingdom, Newcastle Upon Tyne: Newcastle United's Alexander Isak arrives ahead of the England Carabao Cup Semi-Final second leg soccer match at St. James' Park. (dpa)
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Alexander Isak Won’t Play Against Liverpool but Still Has Newcastle Future, Howe Says 

05 February 2025, United Kingdom, Newcastle Upon Tyne: Newcastle United's Alexander Isak arrives ahead of the England Carabao Cup Semi-Final second leg soccer match at St. James' Park. (dpa)
05 February 2025, United Kingdom, Newcastle Upon Tyne: Newcastle United's Alexander Isak arrives ahead of the England Carabao Cup Semi-Final second leg soccer match at St. James' Park. (dpa)

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe remains hopeful Alexander Isak can be reintegrated into the squad, despite the disgruntled striker saying his relationship with the club cannot continue in an explosive midweek post on social media.

Isak broke his silence on his discontent at Newcastle by posting a statement on Instagram, saying the club has broken promises about an agreement that would allow him to leave amid interest from Liverpool and reiterating his desire to move.

Newcastle responded to Isak's outburst by saying no club official had made a commitment to let the striker leave and that it had not received a good enough offer from another team for the Sweden international. The transfer window closes on Sept. 1.

In a twist to the saga, Liverpool is the visitor to St. James' Park on Monday and Howe said Isak would not be involved, missing a second straight game after the 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on the opening weekend of the league.

Howe still believes, however, that the club can resolve its differences with Isak.

“He is contracted to us, he is our player,” Howe said at a news conference on Friday that was dominated by questions about Isak. “My wish is that he'd be playing on Monday night with us, but he won't be and that’s regrettable at this moment.

“But 100% I want to see him back in a Newcastle shirt.”

Howe said Newcastle “justifiably” responded to Isak's social-media post in midweek even though ideally he'd want to keep such matters behind closed doors

The manager added that Isak continues to train away from the main squad and they haven't met this week.

“There’s no issues between us,” Howe said. “Of course, it's a difficult situation from both sides and it's far from ideal for both parties.”

With 23 goals, Isak was second in the Premier League scoring chart behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah last season.