Mooney upbeat on 2030 chances
lines up against his English champions, because a game of this standing deserves to have its superstars on show.
Guardiola, who will be without Ilkay Gundogan until after the international break, said: “It’s normally difficult to find a player who is going to stay with the same manager all his career.
“It was a surprise for everyone (that Messi left Barca), but now everybody has accepted it.
Imagine
“A long time ago you could not imagine it, but it’s happened.
“In football and in life you never know what might happen. I’m pretty sure he will be happy in Paris.
“I think this kind of player speaks for himself and we’re fortunate to have seen him for 16 years as a professional. Messi speaks for himself and I don’t have to describe him.
FORMER FAI interim chief executive Noel Mooney reckons UEFA is ready to get behind a joint Irish/ British bid to host the 2030 World Cup.
Mooney worked at UEFA for 10 years as the governing body’s head of strategic development, where he worked closely with all 55 European federations.
The ex- Cork City goalkeeper, who also held a marketing role with the League of Ireland, was in July appointed chief executive of the Football Association of Wales.
He believes the continent will back the bid to bring the World Cup to these shores.
“We obviously had the Euros semis and the final this year in England,” said Mooney.
“We had Glasgow hosting and nearly Dublin but for the pandemic. I was in Glasgow for some matches and London for the semis and final.
“Anybody who came here could really feel the love for football in the UK. No question about it.
“I think the time is right (for a British and Irish bid). Having worked in UEFA I know this very well.
Concept
“They do see the UK as very much the home of football. People love coming here and feel that football lives here.
“If you look at the concept of the Super League it was the fans in
England who quickly said ‘ This is not for us’ and that was a sign of how powerful football is — the culture, the heritage.”
Currently, a feasibility study is looking into a possible Irish/ UK bid.
Mooney said: “Let’s see what comes out of the feasibility study but there have been very positive productive discussions between the five associations.
“I think it goes in the right direction but let’s see and it’s a volatile time in the global sports market.
“You’ve got talk of a two-year World Cup and there could be something that happens outside our control in terms of formats of competitions and different things.
“We must wait until we have the final plan, but it is pretty clear that it would be good for the islands to host it.”