Messi signs massive contract to play for Paris Saint-Germain
Lionel Messi’s departure from Barcelona is official.
The 34-year-old Argentinian forward signed a two-year deal Tuesday with Paris Saint-Germain of Ligue 1 with an option for a third year. Financial terms were not announced, but The New York Times reported Messi will earn $41 million per year.
Messi had spent his entire pro career with Barcelona, but his contract expired and the two sides couldn’t agree on a new deal. His last contract was for four years and $674 million, and he was looking at a massive pay cut to return to the Spanish side.
“I am excited to begin a new chapter of my career at Paris Saint-Germain. Everything about the club matches my football ambitions,” Messi said Tuesday in a statement. “I know how talented the squad and the coaching staff are here. I am determined to help build something special for the club and the fans, and I am looking forward to stepping out onto the pitch at the Parc des Princes.”
Messi already is in Paris and will be formally introduced as part of the team today.
Messi registered 25 goals and 21 assists in 33 matches (starts) for Barcelona in La Liga play in 2019-20, then had 30 goals and nine assists in 35 matches (33 starts) in 2020-21.
He has won 34 titles in 16 seasons with Barcelona, including four Champions League and 10 La Liga crowns. He is a six-time Ballon d’Orwinner.
Hockey
HALL OF FAME GOALIE TONY ESPOSITO DIES AT 78
» Tony Esposito, the pioneering Hall of Fame goaltender who played almost his entire 16-year career with the Chicago Blackhawks, has died following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer, the team announced. Esposito was 78. Esposito helped lead the Blackhawks to first place, showcasing his butterfly style to post a 2.17 goals-against average and 15 shutouts, still a modern record for an NHL goalie. He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year as well as the Vezina Trophy given to the top goaltender. He also won the Vezina in 1972 and 1974.
Basketball
SCHRODER AGREES TO ONEYEAR DEAL WITH BOSTON
» Dennis Schroder confirmed he has agreed to a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics.
According to published reports, Schroder’s deal is for $5.9 million.
Schroder reportedly turned down a fouryear, $84 million extension from the Los Angeles Lakers during last season.
The 27-year-old guard averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 61 games (all starts) last season in his lone campaign with the Lakers.
NFL
RODGERS UNLIKELY TO PLAY IN PACKERS’ PRESEASON GAMES » MVP quarterback and former Cal star Aaron Rodgers probably won’t appear in any of Green Bay’s three preseason games as the Packers look to get 2020 first-round draft pick Jordan Love as much work as possible.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur said that Love will play the majority of the Packers’ preseason opener Saturday against the Houston Texans and that Kurt Benkert also would get some snaps.
LaFleur then was asked whether Rodgers would play at all in the preseason.
“I would say most likely not,” LaFleur replied.
Green Bay hosts the New York Jets on Aug. 21 and visits Buffalo on Aug. 28 in its other two preseason games.
College football
VIRGINIA UNION PLAYER DIES AFTER COLLAPSING
IN PRACTICE » A Virginia Union freshman football player has died after collapsing during football practice over the weekend. He was 19.
Quandarius Wilburn’s death was announced by the Division II university. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound defensive end collapsed Sunday during a conditioning session, according to a letter the university’s president sent to students and staff Monday.
The letter said Wilburn was taken to VCU Medical Center, where he later died, news outlets reported. The football team had spent a full day together — breakfast, church and lunch before the workout, the letter said.
Boxing
SPENCE DROPS OUT OF PACQUIAO FIGHT; UGÁS
IN » Errol Spence Jr. has dropped out of his pay-per-view fight with Manny Pacquiao on Aug. 21 because of a retinal tear in his left eye.
WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugás will step in to face Pacquiao at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on the same date, the promoters announced.
Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) holds the WBC and IBF welterweight titles, but he has fought just once since September 2019 due to a car crash and the coronavirus pandemic.
Tennis
TWO-TIME DEFENDING CHAMP NADAL WITHDRAWS IN TORONTO » Fivetime event champion Rafael Nadal pulled out of the National Bank Open in Toronto due to a left foot injury.
Nadal was the second seed and slated to face South African Lloyd Harris in a second-round match today.