I am not interested in such comparisons and don’t play to be the best in the world, Messi told reporters”]SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – Lionel Messi has a message for Pelé: Where are my DVDs?
The star Argentine striker was the target of barbs from the legendary Brazilian last month when he said he had never seen Pelé play, let alone score some of the most important goals in the sport’s history.
Pelé responded by saying he would mail several copies of his documentary to Messi, who said this week he has yet to receive a package.
“I would love to see Pelé in action, but he still hasn’t sent me the DVD of his goals,” Messi, the reigning two-time World Player of the Year, told reporters. “Everyone says he was an extraordinary player, but I can’t form an opinion without having seen him play.”
Messi drew plenty of comparisons to Pelé this week when he netted his 200th career goal for Spanish superpower FC Barcelona. His second consecutive hat trick not only propelled his squad to a 4-0 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League, but it also saw the team through to the upcoming knockout stage.
“A phenomenal player,” Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola told reporters. “At 24, he has broken so many records.”
The 200-goal milestone immediately drew comparisons to fellow great Pelé, but Messi was quick to shrug off the comments.
“I am not interested in such comparisons and don’t play to be the best in the world,” Messi told reporters. “I am playing for the good of the team and want to win trophies. When I hang up my boots, I want to be remembered as a good player, but I don’t care whether I’m the best. I want to be remembered for the titles I won, both with the team and individual trophies.”
Carlos Tevez just wants to go home.
The Argentine striker, who was the second-highest scorer in the Premier League with 20 goals last season, has fallen out of favor with Manchester City and is pushing for a move back across the Atlantic Ocean to his home country.
Tevez was suspended for two weeks earlier this season when he allegedly refused to enter the second half of a Champions League match against Bayern Munich.
“Everything depends on Carlos,” Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini told reporters. “If he apologizes to the squad and to me then everything will be as before. If he doesn’t, then Tevez has a value that everyone knows and something will happen in January. He is totally unprepared and being badly advised. I don’t want it to be like this and I would be the first to forgive him.”
Since then, Tevez has been relegated to the bench and has appeared in a mere three matches this season for the Blues.
But not every club is quick to write off the mercurial striker.
Corinthians, which Tevez starred for from 2005 to 2006 when he netted 31 goals in 47 games, has become heavily interested in having their former star return home to spark a squad struggling to reach the top of the table.
“If Tevez decides to leave Europe, he will come to Corinthians,” club president Andrés Sánchez told reporters. “I cannot be clearer than that. He is one of Corinthians’ biggest idols and the fans will respond by coming to the stadium and buying shirts.”
[captionpix imgsrc=”https://thecostaricanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/messi3.jpg” align=”left” captiontext=”There is no agreement with Real Madrid, Ribeiro told reporters”]Neymar deal in place?
The Neymar rumor mill is again spinning.
The 19-year-old star Brazilian midfielder reportedly agreed to a US$73 million deal to take his talents from Santos across the Atlantic Ocean to play for Spain’s Real Madrid this July.
But Santos president Luis Alvaro Ribeiro maintains his club is not prepared to part with its star.
“There is no agreement with Real Madrid,” Ribeiro told reporters. “We still have the intention of keeping Neymar for the time being. Madrid can offer figures close to his release clause, but we are not a commercial company and Santos is not interested in the money.”
A potential deal could be worth as much as US$207 million once image rights, transfer fees and commercial agreements are met. Ribeiro is open to the possibility of moving his star to a Spanish club in the coming months.
“I am trying to set up a dinner date with (FC Barcelona president) Sandro Rosell, as he is my friend,” Ribeiro told reporters. “I feel great sympathy for Barcelona. However, Real Madrid is a great club as well, as they wear white like Santos – but Catalunya and Barcelona have a place in my heart.”
Neymar had been linked to several high-profile European sides in August and September, but Santos opted to keep its star for the second half of Brazilian league play and next month’s Club World Cup in Japan.
He has 38 goals in 82 games with Santos and is even better for the Brazilian national team, netting eight goals in a mere 15 appearances.
He also is among the 23 finalists for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or award, given annually to the world player of the year.
“It is a great honor to be participating and, for me, a dream come true,” he told reporters. “I am so happy and I would also like to thank God, my family, Santos and my teammates, since if it was not for them, I would not have managed this. Thank you so much.”
FIFA will announce three finalists on Dec. 5 and the winner will be named on Jan. 9, 2012, at the Zurich Kongresshaus in Switzerland.
by Dave Carey and Ezra Fieser – Infosurhoy.com
