Messi none too sure of Valverde’s plans but vows to give his best
Barca icon cautiously optimistic about new coach as club strike new sponsorship deal
Barcelona star Lionel Messi shied away from making major promises for the coming season on yesterday, pledging only to do his “best” under new coach Ernesto Valverde.
Messi said he was not familiar with Valverde’s style, but voiced cautious hope.
“Well, I say the exact same thing I say all the time,” he said at the team’s celebration of a new sponsorship deal with Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten at its Tokyo headquarters.
“Whenever I start a new season, there is a very clear-cut goal, which is FC Barcelona would do its best,” said the Argentina international who recently extended his contract with the Catalan giants.
“Personally, I am very happy and looking forward to starting a new season,” he said.
“Everything will become new [under Valverde]. We are hearing a lot about his very good reputation,” he said, adding that he held “hopes on the new beginning.” “We would like to do our best.” Teammate Arda Turan was more enthusiastic about the coming season. “It’s important that we are going to win all the titles this year. We can do it,” the Turkey international said.
They were joined by Neymar and Gerard Pique for the media event with Rakuten founder and chief executive officer Hiroshi Mikitani.
Four-year partnership
Rakuten’s four-year sponsorship deal, worth €55 million (Dh231 million) a year, will last through June 2021, with the option of a one-year extension.
The e-commerce firm replaced Qatar Airways, Barcelona’s shirt sponsor since 2013.
Rakuten signed the deal as it seeks to expand overseas. The company already owns J-League side Vissel Kobe and professional baseball team Rakuten Golden Eagles.
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique meanwhile admitted that Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is the favourite to win the 2017 Ballon d’Or award, given to the best footballer of the season by France Football magazine since 1956.
Pique chose Ronaldo over his Barcelona clubmate Lionel Messi following the Portuguese striker’s title win in La Liga and Champions League.
Messi and Ronaldo have shared nine Ballon d’Or awards between them since 2008.
“Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Champions League and La Liga, so he is the favourite. Messi is considered the best player in history and then there are other options,” Pique was quoted saying by Marca newspaper.
Pique also denied having any grudges over Spanish national teammate and defender Sergio Ramos who plays for Real Madrid. “The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona is very big, Ramos defends Madrid and I, Barcelona,” he said. “When we face each other, we try to defend our colours, but when we go with the national team we fight together,” Pique said.
Barcelona’s Pique meanwhile admitted that Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is the favourite to win the 2017 Ballon d’Or award.