SM
Ipswich vs. Man United: 15 hrs 1 min
Upcoming predictions and previews

Inter Milan chief admits Lionel Messi signing is "fantasy football"

:Headline: Inter Milan chief admits Lionel Messi signing is 'fantasy football': ID:408315: from db_amp
Inter Milan CEO Giuseppe Marotta plays down suggestions that the club could sign Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi as "fantasy football".

Inter Milan CEO Giuseppe Marotta has admitted that any hopes of signing Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi are purely "fantasy football".

The Serie A giants have regularly been linked with an audacious move for the six-time Ballon d'Or winner this summer amid reports that Messi is unhappy at Barcelona.

The 33-year-old is in the final year of his contract at Camp Nou, and speculation over his future was fuelled further this week when his image was projected onto Milan's cathedral.

However, Marotta has played down speculation that such a deal could take place, despite admitting his desire to see it happen both for the club and for Serie A as a whole.

"Messi on the cathedral? It wasn't my idea. It reminds me of football from the past with such situations. We are talking about an icon, a great player, a desire that everyone has," Marotta told Sky Sport Italia.

"[It would be] extraordinary to see such a champion at Inter. It's fantasy football, a utopian situation. Our football [in Italy] needs a lift. Champions raise the value of the Italian brand and football.

"If we could consider ours to be a championship in which the great champions come and stay, it would be better. No Italian team is capable of carrying out such an operation unless extraordinary factors arise related to the shareholders, and therefore the actual owners.

"Let's not forget that we must respect FFP [Financial Fair Play]. This year, COVID-19 has ensured that there is some flexibility, but afterwards the rules will have to be respected."

Messi has spent his entire career with Barcelona so far, scoring 633 goals in 729 games for the club across all competitions.

amp_article__408315 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-07-29 10:39:15:
html db last update - 2020-07-29 10:39:15 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Lionel Messi future - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Lionel Messi

Click here for more stories about Barcelona

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
3Real Madrid1283125111427
4Villarreal127322319424
5GironaGirona146352018221
6Mallorca146351312121
7Osasuna136341720-321
8Athletic Bilbao135531913620
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad135351110118
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .