Former Barcelona star Kevin-Prince Boateng revealed how Lionel Messi "had the power" to block his shock transfer to the Catalan club. The Blaugrana signed the striker from Sassuolo in January 2019, initially on loan with an €8 million option to buy. Now, speaking on the YouTube podcast Unscripted, Boateng has revealed that the transfer only went ahead after Messi gave his blessing.

Under scrutiny at Barcelona

When Boateng arrived in Spain, he was already under the scanner. Old quotes resurfaced suggesting he had grown up admiring Real Madrid, and had even said years earlier that he could have played for Los Blancos had he applied himself more diligently. However, he quickly brushed those aside during his first press conference. 

"I am a Barcelona player and Lionel Messi is the best player in this world and every world," the Germany-born former Ghana international told reporters. "Why are you laughing? That's the truth, he has shown that with all that he has won in the last 10 years. It's a great honour [to be at Barcelona] because Messi is the best player in the world, and Luis Suarez the best striker in the world. They play amazingly and being able to play by their side is a great gift."

He added: "At my age, the number nine role is perfect for me, but for a coach, I think a player like me is a plus because I can play in different positions, but I feel very good as a number nine. I have not talked to the coach [Ernesto Valverde], but I know I have not come to play in the starting line because there are incredible players in this team. I'm here because of my experience and to help. I'm here to play well and sign on for more years here, that's my goal."

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport"If Messi said no, it was over"

Now, Boateng has described in vivid detail the moment the near-finalised transfer was abruptly paused. All the principal decision-makers at the club, president Josep Maria Bartomeu, manager Ernesto Valverde, and both sporting directors, including Eric Abidal, had given full approval. Everything appeared ready for Boateng to put pen to paper. But then came the shock.

"If Messi had said no, the transfer wouldn't have happened," he asserted on the YouTube podcast . "At the time, there were two sporting directors. One of them was Eric Abidal, and he said, 'Yes, we want you.' The other sporting director said, 'We want you'. The president (Bartomeu) wanted me, the coach (Valverde) too, so I said, 'Perfect, let's sign tomorrow!' They replied, 'No, we have to talk to Leo first.' He had that power. I went to sleep hoping Messi would approve my signing. If he had refused, I wouldn't have signed for Barcelona." 

The Real Madrid "lie" and a carefully managed image

Speaking later to Rio Ferdinand on , Boateng revealed that Real Madrid had been his favourite club growing up, but insisted that saying so upon arriving in Catalonia would have been impossible.

On being asked which was his favourite club, he said: "I supported Hertha Berlin, where I grew up and then, sorry, Blaugrana…Barcelona fans gonna hate me now, but Real Madrid. I couldn't say that in the press conference [when I signed for Barcelona]. They told me I could never say that. Because otherwise we can't play you."

He added: "Two years before, when I was at Las Palmas, they asked me in a press conference who was the best player in the world and I said 'in this world Ronaldo, in the galaxy Messi' and then they asked me my favourite club and I said 'Real Madrid'. Then, the first question was who is your favourite club, I said ‘Barcelona’. I think anyone would have done the same, I wanted to pull on that shirt one time at Camp Nou. It's one of the biggest lies I've ever told."

Ferdinand, himself no stranger to football politics, responded: "Footballers lie…we lie all the time, man."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPShort spell but a big achievement

Boateng’s on-field impact for Barcelona was limited to just four appearances, none of them particularly memorable. But he did finish the season with a La Liga winners’ medal. For a player who had journeyed through Las Palmas, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Sassuolo, it was an extraordinary late-career chapter.

The All-Star break is behind us and the 2025 MLB season is heading for the home stretch. With 15 teams legitimately in contention for Wild Card spots, the race to the finish could get hectic, which might make this one of the most active trade deadlines in recent years.

Over the next few weeks contenders will attempt to position themselves for the stretch run by making deals to fill needs. What follows is a look at the five most glaring holes National League contenders have as we head toward the deadline.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Starting Pitcher

Despite a rash of injuries to their pitching staff, the Dodgers still look like a juggernaut capable of repeating as World Series champions. With Tyler Glasnow back, Blake Snell close to returning and Shohei Ohtani working himself back into shape, things are beginning to look much better for their starting rotation. But can they trust it? L.A.'s rotation pieces all have lengthy injury histories and there's a pretty good chance they don't remain healthy for the rest of the season. With a ton of organizational depth and a stock farm system, the Dodgers can aim high at the deadline.

Prices will be sky-high for good rotation pieces, but the Dodgers can pay whatever it takes to improve. If they want to become the first back-to-back World Series champions since the Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000, they should be willing to add to their rotation.

Philadelphia Phillies: Bullpen Help

The Phillies reached the break with a 1/2-game lead over the New York Mets for supremacy in the NL East, and those two teams should be slugging it out for the rest of the season. If Philadelphia wants to prevail, it must address its biggest weakness. The Phillies' bullpen currently ranks 23rd in ERA (4.38) and has blown 17 saves in 44 opportunities. None of the team's relievers has an fWAR of 1.0 or better. The team's revolving door at closer hasn't helped things.

There will be relievers aplenty to go around, but they won't be cheap. That said, after watching helplessly as the Mets scored 19 runs in the sixth inning or later during their NLDS series in 2024, the Phillies can't enter the postseason with a weak bullpen.

Chicago Cubs: Starting Pitcher

The Cubs have one of MLB's best offenses and come out of the break a game up on the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. The team's starting rotation, which has a Justin Steele-sized hole. With Steele out for the year following elbow surgery, Chicago's rotation has had its ups and downs. Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga have been excellent, but the team's starters rank 18th in baseball in ERA (4.06) and have allowed the second-most home runs (84).

It's highly likely the Cubs only have Kyle Tucker for the next few months, as he's set to seek an enormous contract in free agency. While he's still in town and they have an elite offense, the franchise should go all-in. Netting a top-tier starting pitcher could be the difference between the Cubs making a run to the World Series or suffering an early exit in the postseason.

New York Mets: Center Fielder

Yes, the Mets could use another starting pitcher, but the rotation looks much healthier now, led by Kodai Senga, David Peterson, and Clay Holmes. The real issue is the team's lack of production from center field. Tyrone Taylor has played 85 games in center and has an OPS of .580. There isn't a good option to replace him on the roster, so New York needs to go shopping.

Steve Cohen didn't give Juan Soto $765 million to have a flawed roster, the team's owner is almost certain to go all-in during his superstar's prime. There are a number of center fielders out there the Mets could make offers on, with Luis Robert and Cedric Mullins leading the list.

San Diego Padres: Catcher

While left field is also a major hole for the Friars, nothing is more pressing than San Diego finding a catcher that can hit. So far this season, Padres catchers have a combined WAR of -0.9, worst in baseball. The combination of Elias Diaz and Martin Maldonado has been a flop, and something has to change at the position. General manager A.J. Preller is always looking to wheel and deal, and he'll earn his paycheck if he can find a reliable backstop.

Catchers who can hit are a rare commodity in baseball these days and finding one won't be cheap. But even a league-average catcher would be a massive improvement for the Padres at this point.

Bouchier, Kemp top-score with 31 before Davies, Tyson defend below-par target of 102

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay04-Sep-2025Freya Davies and Bex Tyson starred with the ball as leaders Hampshire defended a total of 101 to win by four runs in a game reduced to 17 overs-a-side by rain at Chelmsford.Davies returned figures of 2 for 15 and Tyson 2-20 in a heroic fielding effort by the visitors which meant Essex fell short of a target of 102, finishing 97 for 6, Sophie Munro top-scoring with an unbeaten 28.Earlier, Maia Bouchier and Freya Kemp both made 31 before the visitors crumbled from 59 for 1 to what looked an under par 101 for 7, Esmae MacGregor was the pick of the home attack with 2 for 17.It was no surprise Grace Scrivens chose to bowl first when play finally began at 3:30pm, MacGregor soon backing up her captain’s decision by castling Rhianna Southby, but ecstasy turned to agony for the Scottish seamer in her next over when Bouchier struck a glorious straight six.At the other end Kemp reverse lapped Abtaha Maqsood for three before dispatching Munro to the fence twice in three balls. The stand reached 49 before MacGregor switched ends to have Bouchier caught at mid-off as part of a wicket maiden to signal the start of the collapse.Kemp cracked Scrivens square for four only to fall later in the same over trying to cut one too close to her before Maqsood accounted for Abi Norgrove. Eva Gray and Jo Gardner combined brilliantly to run out Nancy Harman and the slump continued as Naomi Dattani holed out in the deep.Skipper Georgia Adams, dropped on one by Scrivens struggled to find any fluency in the death overs as the visitors closed on 101 for 7.Essex stumbled out the blocks with Scrivens chewing up 12 balls for two before skying Daisy Gibb to Bouchier at mid-on. Jo Gardner, promoted to open produced a solitary boundary as the rate climbed above 7.Pressure told as Gardner lofted Adams to Bouchier at deep mid-on and Jodie Grewcock perished to an even better grab by Dattani out on the fence from the bowling of Tyson.Gray’s promotion up the order came to nothing as she perished trying to clear the ropes and as Hampshire continued to apply the squeeze, Sophia Smale’s attempts to get creative floundered as she too holed out attempting an ambitious switch-hit.Flo Miller, dropped on 10 scored the first boundary in 61 balls and Munro caught the mood with two in one over from Mary Taylor leaving 27 needed from the final three overs.Dattani was similarly carted to the fence, but Davies returned to trap Miller lbw and though Munro kept things interesting 14 from the last over proved too many.

انتقد مهاجم نادي تشيلسي السابق، نجم نادي ليفربول ومنتخب مصر، محمد صلاح، وذلك بسبب ما قاله الدولي المصري خلال الساعات القليلة الماضية حول وضعه مع الريدز.

محمد صلاح يعيش وضع صعب بعض الشيء مع نادي ليفربول، وذلك في ظل بقائه بشكل مستمر على مقاعد البدلاء لثلاث مباريات متتالية.

ولم يشارك محمد صلاح في أي دقيقة خلال مباراة ليفربول ضد ليدز يونايتد أمس السبت بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، حيث لم يعتمد المدرب آرني سلوت عليه.

وانفجر محمد صلاح عقب نهاية المباراة، حيث أشار إلى أن علاقته بسلوت قد تدمرت تمامًا، وبأنه لا يشعر بالتقدير الكافي من قبل ليفربول وإدارته التي لم تقم بحمايته.

ومع ذلك لم تعجب تصريحات محمد صلاح نجم تشيلسي السابق، كريس سوتون، والذي يرى أن اللاعب البالغ من العمر 33 عامًا لم يحترم سلوت وزملاءه في ليفربول.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مراسل ليفربول: اللاعبون سيشعرون بشيء مكرر تجاه محمد صلاح.. وسؤال ما يطرح نفسه الآن

وكتب سوتون عبر حسابه الرسمي على “تويتر” عن محمد صلاح: “تعليق محرج منه وغير محترم لزملائه في الفريق ومدربه، صلاح لا يختلف عن أي لاعب آخر، إذا تراجع مستوى لاعب مثل صلاح فهو مثل أي لاعب آخر وعليه أن يتقبل الجلوس على مقاعد البدلاء، لكنه للأسف يعتقد أنه جيد جدًا بحيث لا يستحق الجلوس على مقاعد البدلاء”.

واختلفت تعليقات مشجعي ليفربول على ما قاله سوتون عبر “تويتر”، لكن المعظم يرى أن لاعب منتخب إنجلترا السابق كان على حق.

ورد أحد المشجعين على ما قاله سوتون عن محمد صلاح: “تعليقاته متناقضة أيضًا، لقد كان أداؤه ضعيفًا هذا الموسم لذا يستحق الجلوس على مقاعد البدلاء، هناك كلمة واحدة تصف سلوكه وهي الغرور”.

وأضاف مشجع آخر لليفربول: “أوافقك الرأي، لا يوجد لاعب أكبر من الجلوس على مقاعد البدلاء، تذكروا عندما أبقى فيرجسون بيكهام على مقاعد البدلاء وعاد وقدم أداءًا رائعًا ضد مدريد من الذاكرة، لا داعي للحديث في الملعب”.

Embarrassing from Mo Salah and disrespectful to his teammates and his manager. Salah is no different from any other player … if a player’s form drops as Salah’s has he is the same as anyone else and has to accept being benched… but he thinks he’s too good to be benched sadly… — Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) December 6, 2025

Three talking points from India’s selection for the Women’s World Cup

Shashank Kishore19-Aug-20252:54

‘We have an eye on Shafali, want her to have a long career’

With less than a month-and-a-half remaining before they begin their quest to win their first Women’s World Cup, co-hosts India have named a squad without major surprises. Even so, these three talking points are worth deeper analysis.

Why was Shafali left out?

By leaving out Shafali Verma, the selectors have opted for consistency over X-factor.Pratika Rawal, who made her debut after India left Shafali out of their ODI squad last year, has scored 703 runs at an average of 54.07 and a strike rate of 87.43 in 14 innings. She has formed a prolific combination with Smriti Mandhana at the top of the order: they’ve already put on four century partnerships and six half-century stands, and average a remarkable 77.57 together – no pair of India batters, with a cut-off of 1000 partnership runs, has done better.India clearly wanted continuity at the top, and Shafali, who hasn’t played ODIs since October 2024, needed a rich run of form to barge the door down. She certainly did her bit. She scored 527 runs at an average of 75.28 and a strike rate of 152.31 in the domestic one-dayers for Haryana in December 2024, including a top score of 197 off 115 balls against Bengal. She followed that up with a sensational WPL 2025 for Delhi Capitals; she was the fourth-highest run-getter overall, and the most prolific Indian batter, with 304 runs at a strike rate of 152.76.Even so, Shafali missed out on the tri-series in Sri Lanka in June and the ODIs in England in July. She impressed during the T20I series in England, with scores of 47, 31 and 75 in the last three games, but her form on the recent India A tour of Australia – scores of 52, 4, and 36 in three one-dayers, and 41, 3, and 3 in the T20s that preceded them – may have not made a compelling enough case for the selectors to pick her to open ahead of Rawal. Another factor that works in Rawal’s favour is that she can bowl, something Shafali doesn’t offer more regularly.The selectors could have picked Shafali as back-up opener, but they went with the more versatile option in Yastika Bhatia, who offers wicketkeeping cover in addition to her top-order batting.The one aspect India could miss out on in Shafali’s absence is a dash of aggression in the powerplay. Rawal is more accumulator than dynamo, and this has put the onus on Mandhana to be the enforcer early on.The WPL has helped fast-track Shree Charani into her maiden ODI World Cup•Getty Images

The WPL stamp on India’s World Cup squad

The 2025 edition is India’s first ODI World Cup since the advent of the WPL, and the tournament’s impact is already evident. Kranti Goud has only played only four ODIs, and N Shree Charani just eight. Neither had even played in the WPL before the 2025 season.Having punted on both players on the back of positive feedback from their franchises, the selectors were proved right when Charani emerged as Player of the Series in India’s 3-2 T20I win over England last month, picking up 10 wickets at an economy rate of 7.46, and standing out for her control, fearlessness and ability to hold her own under pressure.Similarly, it only took eight WPL games for Goud to impress the selectors with her ability to hustle batters at a bristling 115kph or thereabouts and bowl a mean yorker. With Renuka Singh injured, they backed Goud for the ODIs in England, and she responded with a fiery, match-winning 6 for 52 in the decider at Chester-le-Street.The WPL canvas extends beyond Charani and Goud. Amanjot Kaur made a strong case for an international comeback as a back-up allrounder through her performances for WPL champs Mumbai Indians – a blockbuster 3 for 22 and 34 not out off 27 balls in a thrilling win over defending champs Royal Challengers Bengaluru was the prelude to her summer.3:52

Nayar: India went for Rawal’s solidity over Shafali’s flamboyance

Once it emerged that Pooja Vastrakar’s long-term injury absence was likely to extend through the World Cup, India backed Amanjot to be a second seamer in a predominantly spin-heavy attack, and she impressed with both bat and ball during the England T20Is.A back injury in England during the ODIs forced the team management to tread cautiously, resting her from the ODI series against Australia that precedes the World Cup. They are giving Amanjot every chance to be fit for the World Cup warm-ups, leading into the tournament opener on September 30.Similarly, Arundhati Reddy, with the experience of just nine ODIs, has made the World Cup squad on the sheer weight of her WPL performances. In the 2024 season, she was one of Meg Lanning’s go-to bowlers, evident in the sheer number of overs she bowled – 29.2, the second-most for Delhi Capitals. She carried that form into 2025, and has become an excellent swing bowler who offers handy lower-order hitting that gives the team batting cushion.

Renuka Singh’s return

Sayali Satghare. Saima Thakor. Titas Sadhu. Kashvee Gautam. India have handed opportunities to a number of seamers over the past year, but none of them has been able to nail down a spot. This is why the selectors waited on Renuka Singh, who had been injured and out of action since the WPL. They worked on her fitness in sync with the Centre of Excellence, who prepped her with a steady diet of practice matches following a lengthy rehab. She now has the three ODIs against Australia to help her gain rhythm and match time in the run-up to the World Cup.

Kylian Mbappe’s feud with Paris Saint-Germain has exploded into one of football’s most expensive courtroom battles, with the Real Madrid star now demanding more than €260 million in compensation. PSG have countered with an even bigger €440m claim, as both sides accuse each other of breaches of contract, bad faith and unfair treatment in a case now before a Paris labour court.

• Mbappe escalates compensation claim against PSG

  French superstar Mbappe’s long-running contract dispute with Paris Saint-Germain has reached a dramatic new phase, with the forward now demanding over €260m (£229m/$301m) in compensation as the case moves through the Paris labour court. According to a recent report by the Real Madrid striker, who did not attend Monday’s hearing, has massively increased his initial claim of €55m (£48m/$64m), arguing that PSG “owe him that money because his fixed-term contract should be reclassified as a permanent one.”

  This reclassification, his lawyers say, would entitle him to full compensation for unfair dismissal, unpaid wages, bonuses and severance, in addition to substantial damages. His legal team stated: “Kylian Mbappe is not asking for anything beyond what the law provides; he is simply seeking the enforcement of his legal rights, as any employee would.”

  Mbappe’s complaint also alleges moral harassment, undeclared work and breaches of PSG’s duty of good faith, pointing to his sidelining in 2023 after he informed the club he would not extend his contract. The forward was excluded from a pre-season tour and forced to train with fringe players, a practice described in France as “lofting.”

  The case stems from the breakdown of relations following Mbappe’s refusal to activate the optional extension in his 2022 contract, a decision that left PSG facing the prospect of losing a €300m (£264m/$347m) asset for free, and ultimately did.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  PSG’s accusations of loss of revenue and reputational damage

  PSG have responded with a colossal counter-claim of €440m (£387m/$510m), arguing that Mbappe’s departure on a free transfer inflicted severe financial and reputational harm. The club insists he acted in bad faith throughout the final year of his contract, with PSG saying in a statement: “The club has presented evidence demonstrating that the player acted disloyally by concealing his decision not to extend his contract for almost eleven months, between July 2022 and June 2023, thus depriving the club of any possibility of arranging a transfer.”

  PSG further argue that Mbappe reneged on what they describe as a verbal agreement to forgo certain bonuses in exchange for being reintegrated into the squad during the 2023-24 season. Their statement adds: “The player challenged an agreement reached with the club in August 2023, which provided for a reduction in his remuneration should he decide to leave freely, in order to preserve the club’s financial stability following the exceptional investment made.”

  The French champions also categorically denied allegations of psychological pressure or mistreatment, which Mbappe has been claiming. PSG emphasise that Mbappe still played over 94% of official matches that season, reinforcing that all “sporting decisions were made by a coach who is now a Champions League winner.”

• Mbappe’s camp challenges PSG allegations and recounts isolation period

  The French captain’s legal team has firmly rejected PSG’s narrative, insisting that the club never provided proof of any agreement to waive bonuses. The player maintains that he was subject to “moral harassment,” pointing to his exclusion from pre-season tours and enforced training away from the first-team squad. His camp argues this treatment created a “hostile working environment” and breached the club’s obligations under the French labour code.

  His lawyers highlight that Mbappe’s sidelining began shortly after he informed PSG he would not extend his contract, claiming this amounted to a clear attempt to pressure him into renewing. They repeated that PSG have “never produced any evidence” of a verbal pact on bonuses or salary reductions.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  Court ruling could reshape contract disputes across European football

  The star forward, who left PSG having scored a club-record 256 goals in 308 games, believes that the club’s actions were motivated by frustration over his decision to depart for free. His team insists PSG used public pressure tactics to shape the narrative around his exit, a claim the club vehemently denies.

  This legal confrontation has quickly become one of the largest and most complex player-club disputes European football has ever seen, and the combined claims push the potential financial outcome of a figure unprecedented in football labour cases.

  The tribunal is expected to deliver a decision on December 16, though the case may drag on through appeals. 

The year 2025 was a good one for Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Bubic—but it appears to have come to a close.

Bubic has strained his left rotator cuff and will be shut down for the rest of the 2025 season, Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters Monday afternoon. The news follows an uneven Saturday start where Bubic allowed three earned runs in 2 2/3 innings in a loss to the Cleveland Guardians.

That loss was unrepresentative of a career year for Bubic, an All-Star who will end '25 with an 8-7 record, 2.55 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 116 1/3 innings.

"It's an opportunity to get physically better, mentally better," Bubic told Vahe Gregorian of the . "That's how I approach it. The early part of rehab is usually always the worst. … but once you get through that phase, at least in my head, you get to have a normal offseason."

Bubic previously underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2023.

His Kansas City squad is currently 52-54—four games back of the American League's final wild-card playoff berth.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Brasil enfrenta a Espanha nesta terça-feira (26), em amistoso no Santiago Bernabéu, e a expectativa de todos os torcedores do Palmeiras para o jogo mora na possibilidade do menino Endrick ser titular do ataque da Seleção Brasileira, mas isso também pode ter as suas consequências para Abel Ferreira.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras deve treinar no Allianz Parque antes de semifinal do PaulistaPalmeiras25/03/2024PalmeirasCom Abel Ferreira e Allianz Parque, Palmeiras tem trunfo para avançar à final do PaulistãoPalmeiras25/03/2024PalmeirasAbel Ferreira retorna de Portugal e comanda treino no PalmeirasPalmeiras24/03/2024

➡️ Tudo sobre o Verdão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Palmeiras

Após o gol que garantiu a vitória sobre a Inglaterra, a joia de 17 anos ganhou elogios do técnico Dorival Júnior, que deu indícios de que vai mexer na equipe titular para o duelo diante da Espanha.

Mas ao mesmo tempo que a titularidade de Endrick pode ser muito boa para o Palmeiras, uma vez que o clube pode faturar mais uma boa quantia em dinheiro, já que está previsto em contrato que caso Endrick seja titular da Seleção, os cofres do Verdão receberiam mais uma quantia por parte do Real Madrid, sua titularidade diante do Novorizontino fica ameaçada pelo desgaste físico.

continua após a publicidade

Leila Pereira vai disponibilizar o seu avião para que os jogadores do Palmeiras retornem da Europa com o máximo de conforto e inclusive deve colocar um fisioterapeuta na aeronave para ajudar na recuperação muscular dos atletas que foram convocados.

Porém, caso Endrick atue mais de 45 minutos diante da Espanha, talvez Abel tenha problemas pra escalá-lo como titular dois dias depois no Allianz Parque, na semifinal do Paulista. Assim como Murilo e Richard Rios, dupla que também pode atuar nesta terça-feira, defendendo o Brasil e a Colômbia, respectivamente.

continua após a publicidade

+ Palmeiras deve treinar no Allianz Parque antes de semifinal do Paulista!

Os valores que o Palmeiras ganha a cada partida de Endrick como titular da Seleção Brasileira são mantidos em sigilo pelo staff do atleta e pelo alviverde imponente.