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Barca President Laporta: Messi Return 'Unrealistic'

Argentina's Lionel Messi (R) takes part in a training session in Algorfa, Alicante, Spain, 11 November 2025. EPA/Marcial Guillen
Argentina's Lionel Messi (R) takes part in a training session in Algorfa, Alicante, Spain, 11 November 2025. EPA/Marcial Guillen
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Barca President Laporta: Messi Return 'Unrealistic'

Argentina's Lionel Messi (R) takes part in a training session in Algorfa, Alicante, Spain, 11 November 2025. EPA/Marcial Guillen
Argentina's Lionel Messi (R) takes part in a training session in Algorfa, Alicante, Spain, 11 November 2025. EPA/Marcial Guillen

Barcelona all-time great Lionel Messi returning to the Catalan giants is "unrealistic,” the club's president Joan Laporta said Wednesday.

The 38-year-old Argentine superstar made a surprise appearance at Barca's Camp Nou stadium on Sunday night and said he hoped "one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do.”

Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, Barca's record goalscorer and appearance maker, left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 after two decades there because their precarious financial position meant they could not afford to keep him.

"Out of the utmost respect for Messi, the professionals at the club, Barca, and the Barca club members, I believe that now, for me to make speculation that is unrealistic, nor do I think is fair, well, I believe that is not appropriate," Laporta told Catalunya Radio.

The president, who was in charge at the time of Messi's departure, said he did not regret what happened because "Barca is above everything.”

Laporta confirmed he would love to hold a match in homage to Messi's career at the rebuilt Camp Nou, once it is fully open.

"Things didn't end the way we would have liked... if, in some way, this tribute can make up for what wasn't done, I think it would be a good thing," explained Laporta.

"It would be right that he has the best tribute (match) in the world, and it would be wonderful to have it here, in front of 105,000 fans," he continued.

The president said Inter Miami forward Messi's surprise visit to the stadium on Sunday was a "spontaneous" display of his love of the club.

Messi is currently in Spain with the Argentina national team, where they are training before a friendly against Angola.

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Fragile United Need to Dig Deep, Says Fletcher

Football - FA Cup - Third Round - Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - January 11, 2026 Manchester United interim manager Darren Fletcher reacts after the match. (Reuters)
Football - FA Cup - Third Round - Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - January 11, 2026 Manchester United interim manager Darren Fletcher reacts after the match. (Reuters)
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Fragile United Need to Dig Deep, Says Fletcher

Football - FA Cup - Third Round - Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - January 11, 2026 Manchester United interim manager Darren Fletcher reacts after the match. (Reuters)
Football - FA Cup - Third Round - Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - January 11, 2026 Manchester United interim manager Darren Fletcher reacts after the match. (Reuters)

Manchester United interim manager Darren Fletcher said Sunday's FA Cup defeat by Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford exposed the fragile nature of the squad.

Near silence greeted the final whistle as the ​2-1 third-round loss ended United's hopes of silverware while some boos rang out as the players trudged off the pitch.

Former United midfielder Fletcher stepped up from his role as the club's Under-18s coach to take charge of the first team after the sacking of Ruben Amorim last week.

But after a 2-2 draw away to Burnley in the Premier League, his hopes of providing a boost at Old Trafford were frustrated as former United player Danny Welbeck scored for the visitors after Brajan Gruda put them in ‌front early on.

"It ‌was mixed really, we started okay but the goal ‌knocked ⁠the ​stuffing out ‌of us," Fletcher said. "Our passing was quite slow so I challenged them at halftime. It was similar to the game in the week, we needed to move the ball with more tempo.

"When we got back to 2-1, I thought here we go, the crowd was up, the energy was up, but ultimately we couldn't get the equalizer. I think you can see the players are fragile and need to build themselves up. It's up to them to ⁠respond."

United are expected to announce a caretaker manager for the rest of the season next week but Fletcher said ‌that whoever that is, it is up to the players ‍to dig deep.

"Confidence is the most ‍powerful thing in football, but when you don't have it you have to dig ‍deep, battle, grind and work and work to win games, then the confidence comes back."

United have failed to survive a round in either of the domestic cup competitions for the first time since 1981-82 and with no European football, the season threatens to fizzle out.

They are seventh in the ​Premier League, however, and only a point behind fifth place which is likely to be a Champions League qualification spot.

"They are experienced players. They've ⁠got to make sure they have a lot to play for this season," he said. "This team is still good enough to achieve success this season but they have to dig deep."

Fletcher was critical of referee Simon Hooper for showing teenager Shea Lacey a second yellow card for hurling the ball down in frustration near the end.

"Shea Lacey's yellow card is ridiculous compared to the fouls that we had against us all game, which ultimately then the lad makes a mistake and is sent off," Fletcher said.

"For me it is poor refereeing."

Lacey apologized and said he had let the club down.

"I want to apologize to all of my teammates, staff and the fans," he posted on social media.
"I let everybody down tonight, I shouldn’t ‌let my emotions get the better of me, I will do everything I can to make this right."

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Ukraine’s Kostyuk Defends ‘Conscious Choice’ to Speak Out About War

Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine speaks after defeat in the women's singles final against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January 11, 2026. (AFP)
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine speaks after defeat in the women's singles final against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January 11, 2026. (AFP)
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Ukraine’s Kostyuk Defends ‘Conscious Choice’ to Speak Out About War

Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine speaks after defeat in the women's singles final against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January 11, 2026. (AFP)
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine speaks after defeat in the women's singles final against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January 11, 2026. (AFP)

Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk has defended her "conscious choice" to address the plight of her country during the trophy presentation of a pre-Australian Open event in Brisbane.

The world number 20 did not shake hands with top-ranked Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka after being beaten in Sunday's final in straight sets.

Like many Ukraine players, Kostyuk refuses to shake hands with Russians or Belarusians following Moscow's invasion of her homeland.

In her speech at the trophy presentation, the 23-year-old Kostyuk said: "I want to say a few words about Ukraine.

"I play every day with a pain in my heart and there are thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now.

"It's minus 20 degrees outside and it's very painful to live this reality every day," she said, her voice cracking with emotion.

Post-final ceremonies usually involve players congratulating their opponents.

Kostyuk did however thank "all the opponents I've played this week".

Sabalenka, who has said in the past that she does not support the war, congratulated Kostyuk on reaching the final in her on-court speech.

Writing on Instagram, where some users accused Kostyuk of poor sportsmanship, she wrote: "The words I shared after the match sparked a lot of reaction.

"For me, it's a conscious choice to keep reminding people of what Ukraine and its citizens are going through.

"Thank you to everyone who showed support. And thank you to all the players I faced on the other side of the net this week."

Both players will be at the Australian Open starting on Sunday, where Sabalenka is favorite to win the title for the third time in four years.

Sports

Swiatek Avoids Setting Goals for 2026 Ahead of Australian Open

Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts during her singles match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during the 2026 United Cup final between Poland and Switzerland at Ken Rosewall Arena in in Sydney, Australia, 11 January 2026. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) EPA
Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts during her singles match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during the 2026 United Cup final between Poland and Switzerland at Ken Rosewall Arena in in Sydney, Australia, 11 January 2026. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) EPA
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Swiatek Avoids Setting Goals for 2026 Ahead of Australian Open

Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts during her singles match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during the 2026 United Cup final between Poland and Switzerland at Ken Rosewall Arena in in Sydney, Australia, 11 January 2026. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) EPA
Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts during her singles match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during the 2026 United Cup final between Poland and Switzerland at Ken Rosewall Arena in in Sydney, Australia, 11 January 2026. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) EPA

Iga Swiatek heads into Melbourne Park with the Australian Open title the only gap on her Grand Slam resume, but the world number two is keen to avoid setting herself targets for the new season and says her main goal ​is to improve her game.

The 24-year-old Pole has won majors on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, the Paris clay and the grass of Wimbledon but has never managed to reach the final at the year's opening Grand Slam, going out twice in the semi-finals.

"For now I'm not setting results goals," she told Polish sports news website Sportowy24 last month.

"I am focusing on developing technically and in terms of my tennis game itself."

Swiatek is renowned for her grit and intensity on tour but the former world number ‌one was forced ‌to revaluate her approach after failing to secure a ‌semi-final ⁠spot ​at the ‌season-ending WTA Finals for a second straight year in November.

She has spoken about the physical and mental toll the punishing tour schedule takes on players and said in Beijing in September that the season was too long and too intense.

Just before Christmas she told Sportowy24 that she felt refreshed after spending more time at home than usual.

She has also worked with sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz, often crediting with helping shape her preparation and routines and publicly defending their ⁠work together amid questions about the partnership.

"I hope the preparation period will mean that in the new season I ‌will play well, solidly, and that I will learn something ‍new," said Swiatek, who suffered a heartbreaking ‍semi-final loss to eventual champion Madison Keys last year in Australia.

After the peace ‍of Poland, Swiatek will be plunged into the maelstrom of the Grand Slam at Melbourne Park, which kicks off on January 18 and crowns a women's champion after two punishing weeks of summer heat.

The disappointment of a 3-6 6-0 6-3 loss to Swiss Belinda Bencic in the final of the ​United Cup on a similarly fast Sydney surface on Sunday was tempered by the fact that Poland ultimately won the trophy.

"I'm still here, nothing crazy ⁠happened," Swiatek reassured her fans.

"Everything is fine, just super sore. I guess, first tournament of the year it costs everybody a bit differently than during the season."

The Australian Open boasts 11 Grand Slam champions with top seed Aryna Sabalenka among the title favorites, and Swiatek will have little time to ease herself back into elite competition mode.

While Swiatek will be keen to avoid discussing it, the Pole could complete the career Grand Slam if she walks away with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.

The claycourt specialist has won four of her majors at Roland Garros and showed a different side to her game by winning on the hard courts of the US Open in 2022.

Her 6-0 6-0 thrashing of Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon ‌final last July showed she can adapt and it would be no surprise if she finally gets to grips with the Melbourne Park surface this time around.