The napkin on which Barcelona promised to sign Lionel Messi when he was a 13-year-old has been sold for $969,000, auction house Bonhams said on Friday.
The napkin was signed in December, 2000 by Barca's former sporting director Carles Rexach and transfer advisor Josep Minguella along with Argentine agent Horacio Gaggioli over lunch at a tennis club.
Lionel Messi napkin sells for nearly $1 million
Varane could be close to trading the Premier League for playing in the Liga MX.
Raphaël Varane transfer linked to Liga MX's Tigres
According to multiple reports coming out of Mexico, Raphaël Varane has become Liga MX side Tigres UANL’s top transfer target this summer.
David Medrano, highly-renowned reporter of TV Azteca, revealed that Tigres is up to make a huge investment in the upcoming transfer window, with the Manchester United defender at the top of their list.
Real Madrid pulled off another stunning last-minute comeback victory against Bayern Munich to win 2-1 (4-3 on aggregate) in the Champions League semifinal on Wednesday. One major talking point is a late Bayern offside call.
In the dying seconds of the game with Real Madrid leading 2-1, Bayern’s Matthijs de Ligt thought he’d netted a dramatic equalizer. He’d be denied as the linesman raised his flag for an offside call just before his goal.
Arsenal forward Kai Havertz showed to the world that he’s a tremendous multisport athlete during his side’s 3-0 victory vs. Bournemouth on Saturday. Word on the street is that he’s eyeing up the Paris Olympics to represent Germany’s diving team.
Near the end of the first half Havertz displayed his incredible diving technique in Bournemouth’s penalty area.
In the 42nd minute Havertz had perfect form on the “dangled leg tuck” dive only performed by the top divers in the world. He’d surely get all 10’s from the judges in Paris with a dive like this.
A shocking video is circulating online of a cowardly attack on a young linesman during a North Wales Coast West Premier League game. Watch as this cruel coach punches linesman just doing his job.
The North Wales Police are investigating the incident according to a report from the BBC.
Coach punches linesman in Wales
LEVERKUSEN — Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen scored a last-gasp equalizer through Robert Andrich to come from two goals down and get a 2-2 draw against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday that extended their record unbeaten run to 46 matches across all competitions.
The Germany international slotted in from eight meters after Florian Wirtz had floated a free kick into the box, to complete their latest comeback after also scoring a stoppage-time goal to snatch a 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund last week.
Late Leverkusen goal vs Stuttgart
LONDON — Liverpool's slim Premier League title hopes faded further on Saturday when Michail Antonio's late header earned West Ham United a deserved point with a 2-2 draw.
Liverpool, reeling from a 2-0 loss at Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, were marginally the better side in a flat first half. The visitors had a penalty denied for an offside in the build-up before Luis Diaz hit the post.
They again conceded first, however, when Jarrod Bowen nodded home shortly before halftime, his 20th goal of the season in his 200th game for the Hammers.
Rumors of LaLiga coming to USA have been circulating for years, but on Wednesday LaLiga president Javier Tebas suggested the idea could become reality.
Speaking with Spanish news outlet Expansion, Tebas said the league WILL play official regular season games abroad with a focus on the United States.
“LaLiga will play official matches abroad,” Tebas said. “I think it could be in the 2025-26 season. The official match in the U.S. will strengthen our position in the North American market which is second for LaLiga after Spain.”
LaLiga coming to USA
A young Chelsea fan sign summed up the Blues’ horrid 5-0 defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday better than any punditry ever could.
Arsenal completely outclassed their London rivals who were without their star boy Cole Palmer due to illness. The first half was tightly contested and ended 1-0 in Arsenal’s favor.
The floodgates opened in the second half with the Gunners finding the net four times in the span of 18 minutes. One young Blues fan had seen enough and was shown on camera asking the players for more effort.
Young Chelsea fan sign roasts players
LONDON — Holders Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 with a late Bernardo Silva goal on Saturday to reach the FA Cup final after an absorbing end-to-end Wembley semi-final.
Silva sidefooted the ball home in the 84th minute after Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic parried a shot from former Blues midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
BERNARDO SILVA PUTS CITY AHEAD OF CHELSEA LATE IN THE FA CUP SEMIFINAL!!! pic.twitter.com/E6vvWnt23J