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Messi Back Training with Barca after Ending Departure Saga

Barcelona's Lionel Messi as he arrives for training. (Reuters)
Barcelona's Lionel Messi as he arrives for training. (Reuters)
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Messi Back Training with Barca after Ending Departure Saga

Barcelona's Lionel Messi as he arrives for training. (Reuters)
Barcelona's Lionel Messi as he arrives for training. (Reuters)

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi reported for training on Monday for the first time since requesting to leave the club last month.

Messi had failed to turn up to the club’s tests for COVID-19 eight days ago and been absent from all subsequent sessions ahead of the new campaign after giving the club an official notice that he wished to leave.

But the club’s all-time top scorer finally appeared at the Joan Gamper training ground ahead of an evening session, his first under new coach Ronald Koeman, after taking a test for the novel coronavirus at his home on Sunday.

Messi, 33, revealed last Friday in an interview with Goal.com that he was staying at Barca for the coming season as he did not wish to face a court case with the club where he has spent his entire career over a disputed release clause in his contract.

The Argentine claimed in an official letter that he was free to leave the club unilaterally and without a transfer fee owing to the clause.

But Barca and the league’s organizing body responded by saying the clause was no longer valid and that the only way to free him from his contract was by paying a release clause of 700 million euros ($827.68 million).

Messi, however, will be free to leave free of charge next June unless he pens a new deal with Barca.

Barca, who will be looking to reclaim the La Liga title after surrendering it to Real Madrid last season, are sitting out the first two weeks of the new campaign which begins on Friday due to reaching the Champions League quarter-finals.

Koeman’s side will instead play pre-season friendlies against Gimnastic de Tarragona on Saturday Sept. 12 and Girona on Sept. 16 before their first league game at home to Villarreal on Sept. 27.

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Saudi National Team Coach: Our Goal Is to Reach the Final of FIFA Arab Cup

Saudi national team coach Hervé Renard - SPA
Saudi national team coach Hervé Renard - SPA
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Saudi National Team Coach: Our Goal Is to Reach the Final of FIFA Arab Cup

Saudi national team coach Hervé Renard - SPA
Saudi national team coach Hervé Renard - SPA

Saudi national team coach Hervé Renard said that the current phase requires a focus on recovery and proper preparation after qualifying for the semifinals, affirming the players’ readiness for the upcoming match against Jordan, SPA reported.

During a press conference held today in Doha, Renard praised the strong support of Saudi fans, noting their remarkable presence in the previous match, and expressed hope for their continued backing of the team.

He explained that the Jordanian national team is characterized by speed in offensive transitions and strong defensive organization, as demonstrated in its previous matches. He stressed the need for caution while affirming that the Saudi national team possess the necessary capabilities to face the opponent.

The coach reiterated that the match will not be easy and that full focus is directed toward reaching the final of FIFA Arab Cup.

For his part, Saudi national team player Nawaf Boushal affirmed the team’s strong preparations for the upcoming match, noting that they will face a strong and respected opponent.

Sports

Van Dijk Wants 'Leader' Salah to Stay at Liverpool

Mohamed Salah has scored just four Premier League goals this season © Paul ELLIS / AFP
Mohamed Salah has scored just four Premier League goals this season © Paul ELLIS / AFP
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Van Dijk Wants 'Leader' Salah to Stay at Liverpool

Mohamed Salah has scored just four Premier League goals this season © Paul ELLIS / AFP
Mohamed Salah has scored just four Premier League goals this season © Paul ELLIS / AFP

Virgil van Dijk wants Mohamed Salah to stay at Liverpool despite the Egyptian star's incendiary rant about the club, but the Reds captain admits he does not know what will happen over the next few weeks, AFP reported.

Salah came off the bench against Brighton on Saturday for his first appearance since claiming he had been "thrown under the bus" by the club following last weekend's 3-3 draw with Leeds.

The forward also said in the same interview at Elland Road that he had no relationship with Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who had named him as a substitute for three straight games.

Salah was then omitted from the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan, a 1-0 win for Liverpool, but he was back in action as a first-half substitute against Brighton.

The 33-year-old provided an assist for Hugo Ekitike's second goal in a much-needed 2-0 win, but will now jet to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and could be absent for five weeks.

After the match, Slot said there was "no issue to resolve" with his star forward, but speculation continues to rumble over the player's future.

Van Dijk is adamant that he wants Salah to stay and said he had told him so.

"I would love to have him around because he is one of the leaders, but the fact is he is going to AFCON. We will be in contact over the next days and weeks like we always are and let's see," the Dutch defender said.

"I wish him absolutely all the best -- and (to) come back, hopefully. I have no control over that.

"We hope he will be absolutely successful there and we all hope he will be coming back to be important for the rest of the season.

"But, on the other side of it, we all know football and have no idea what is going to happen."

Premier League champions Liverpool ended a tumultuous week by extending their unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions.

Van Dijk said it proved the dressing room had not been distracted by the Salah situation.

"As a captain I have to deal with how the boys react to it and they reacted perfectly fine. Mo, in the end, reacted perfectly fine as well," he added.

Van Dijk also praised Slot for dealing with a tumultuous period at Liverpool, whose Premier League title defense has collapsed in recent weeks.

"There is a lot of noise, pressure from the outside world and rightly so as we've not been close to the standard we were showing last season," he said.

"But personally looking at it, and from the conversations we have on a daily basis, I think he has handled it very well.

"This moment of time is a very good moment to see how everyone responds. I think the manager has done perfectly."

Sports

Real Sociedad Sack Coach Francisco Amid Slump

Real Sociedad's head coach Sergio Francisco sits on the bench before their Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Girona CF, played at the Reale Arena in Girona, Spain, 12 December 2025. EPA/Javier Etxezarreta
Real Sociedad's head coach Sergio Francisco sits on the bench before their Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Girona CF, played at the Reale Arena in Girona, Spain, 12 December 2025. EPA/Javier Etxezarreta
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Real Sociedad Sack Coach Francisco Amid Slump

Real Sociedad's head coach Sergio Francisco sits on the bench before their Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Girona CF, played at the Reale Arena in Girona, Spain, 12 December 2025. EPA/Javier Etxezarreta
Real Sociedad's head coach Sergio Francisco sits on the bench before their Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Girona CF, played at the Reale Arena in Girona, Spain, 12 December 2025. EPA/Javier Etxezarreta

Real Sociedad sacked coach Sergio Francisco on Sunday with the team down in 15th in La Liga, just one point above the relegation zone.

The Basque side reached the Europa League last 16 last season and finished in mid-table in the Spanish top flight, with Imanol Alguacil departing at the end of the campaign.

Real Sociedad promoted Francisco from the reserve team Sanse to take his place, but La Real have won only four of 16 league matches during his time at the helm. On Friday they lost 2-1 at home against Girona, 18th, which sealed his fate.

"Current Sanse coach Jon Ansotegi will be in charge of leading, provisionally, the team into the two matches they have before the Christmas break," said Real Sociedad in a statement, according to AFP.

They visit Eldense on Tuesday in the Copa del Rey before a crunch league clash with Levante, 20th, on Saturday.