Don’t forget Zlatan, too!
The „Americas, Asia and Other World Football“ Thread!
- Thread starter BuckeyeRed
- Start date
Omar Devone Little
Mr Realistic
Glad Messi has chosen MLS over Saudi Arabia. He'll obviously still make a fortune through endorsements but it doesn't tarnish his legacy in the way Ronaldo has. It also allows him to go to Barcelona on loan for a final swansong.
I still think he had plenty to give though at the top level. It's a shame he didn't give the Premier League a crack.
I still think he had plenty to give though at the top level. It's a shame he didn't give the Premier League a crack.
Rzar
Bob McKinlay
It's no different to going to Saudi Arabia, it's going somewhere for the money. Good luck to him, but to suggest his legacy is intact and Ronaldo's isn't because they've chosen retirement leagues differently is nonsense
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Any Time Now
Grenville Morris
He might have turned down $2 billion from Saudi but the MLS package includes a share of Apple's revenue generated by MLS Season Pass, a share of Adidas profits from his arrival to the MLS and when he retires he has an option to buy a new MLS club. And all of that's before we get to know what his sign on bonus and wages will be, in a state that conveniently has 0% income tax
There's no denying it's a money move but I suppose selling yourself to corporations is slightly more moral than selling yourself to the Saudi regime
There's no denying it's a money move but I suppose selling yourself to corporations is slightly more moral than selling yourself to the Saudi regime
Rzar
Bob McKinlay
Omar Devone Little
Mr Realistic
Would you rather live in Saudi Arabia or Florida?
It's completely different. If you go to Saudi Arabia you go there accepting you're promoting an oppressive regime with a frankly awful human rights abuse record. You go there for no other reason than for a truckload of cash. According to Guillem Balague who I believe is close to Messi he's chosen the USA for the lifestyle.
If it was all about money he'd take the Saudi deal as it's reported to be more.
Rzar
Bob McKinlay
So when he's been taking Ambassadorial roles in Saudi Arabia left right and centre for the past 6 months that was for his love of Saudi lifestyle was it?
If you think he's going somewhere for anything other than the money you are deluded. He's already aligned himself with the oppressive regime. It's never a moral decision in a million years.
Omar Devone Little
Mr Realistic
I'm just glad that the greatest player that the sport has ever seen is not choosing to end his playing days playing in Saudi Arabia with everything that they represent.
The World Cup finally put the Messi vs Ronaldo argument to bed, not that it was up for debate anyway IMO. Now this decision allows him to create a new legacy, like Beckham did years ago in a country where his presence can have a real impact.
The World Cup finally put the Messi vs Ronaldo argument to bed, not that it was up for debate anyway IMO. Now this decision allows him to create a new legacy, like Beckham did years ago in a country where his presence can have a real impact.
Chappers85
Can't Play Left-Back
I was hoping he might be tempted to go to the Prem. One thing you can say about Ronaldo is he proved himself in the top 3 leagues. Messi only played in Spain. I think Messi is the better player, and isn't anyway near as much of a tosser as Ronaldo, but it's a shame he never played here and took himself out of his comfort zone. I don't think it harms his "legacy" - I do think he's the greatest player of all time - but he could have had a few more years playing at the top level. Then again, taking ridiculous money for semi-retirement in Florida, you can't really blame the bloke.
Rzar
Bob McKinlay
Yes, fair play to Visit Saudi Ambassador Leo Messi for transfering from democratic, LGBTQ+ loving Qatar state owned PSG and turning down Saudi Arabia to go and play in the US under the 2022 Qatar World Cup embassador David Beckham.
He is truly a beacon of hope in an evil world.
He is truly a beacon of hope in an evil world.
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Rzar
Bob McKinlay
Poor old Fizzer by the way. Bet he wished he held his tounge now.This thread seems a bit of an isolated outpost for something as genuinely funny as this but if you’ve not seen it, enjoy.
Neville snaps at reporter in fiery news conference
Watch Phil Neville's heated exchange with a reporter after his side's 3-1 home loss to Orlando City on Sunday.www.bbc.co.uk
Ashley
Steve Chettle
Yep. Both leagues are equally irrelevant and any player going to either league at that point in their career is basically retiring and topping up their pension. I don't begrudge either of them choosing the money to be fair, they've most likely achieved everything they wanted to in their club careers at this point anyway.
It won't effect eithers legacy either; when people think of Messi and Ronaldo in a decades time, people will talk about their achievements in Europe and for their countries and will barely acknowledge their stints in the MLS and Saudi leagues.
Well, if you’re Lionel Messi, you’ve got the choice, have you not?
An oppressive, backward regime, that denounces women’s rights, wants to regulate their bodies, their freedoms, and everything that goes with it, hates and persecutes immigrants, is governed by a glut of zealous, bigoted, religious fundamentalists, spends trillions a year on armaments, is irredeemably corrupt, and has a decades-long record of oppressing its neighbours and getting involved in wars, carries out illegal assassinations and is renowned for spying on its own people?
Or Saudi Arabia?
An oppressive, backward regime, that denounces women’s rights, wants to regulate their bodies, their freedoms, and everything that goes with it, hates and persecutes immigrants, is governed by a glut of zealous, bigoted, religious fundamentalists, spends trillions a year on armaments, is irredeemably corrupt, and has a decades-long record of oppressing its neighbours and getting involved in wars, carries out illegal assassinations and is renowned for spying on its own people?
Or Saudi Arabia?
Rzar
Bob McKinlay
Page_Three_Stunner
Youth Team
Is this the thread we rant about the Saudi league and anyone who signs up to that shit show?
If you absolutely must, yes.
PynchonForest
John Robertson
You obviously have no idea what kind of lunatics live in Florida. Anyhow, Leopold is going to a 27th place team in a third rate 29 team league. No tarnishing the legacy there eh? Suddenly there are 2 zillion Inter Miami fans. Apparently they are going to sign Busquets, Suarez, Di Maria, Mbappe, Neymar. How they do that with three designated player spots is beyond me (especially since Josef Martinez, one of their designated players, is actually a pretty good footballer). Plus signing a bunch of guys the wrong side of 30. This whole thing is such a complete joke. Beckham isn't the owner of a football club. He's the owner of a three ring circus. "Step right up to see the bearded......"
PynchonForest
John Robertson
Yeah I saw that. Absolutely overjoyed. Dick Shaw looks like the electronics department manager at Wal-Mart.
Florida is bad, of course, you only have to look at what that lunatic de Santis has been up to recently, with his imposition of regressive laws targeting anyone who isn’t a white, bible-carrying conservative.
Mind you, if you think Florida’s bad, take a look at Texas. They’ve got their very own Y’all Queda going on there, and it is absolutely insane.
BuckeyeRed
Jack Armstrong
Mind you, if you think Florida’s bad, take a look at Texas. They’ve got their very own Y’all Queda going on there, and it is absolutely insane.
You're both right about Florida of course. DeSantis is a nutter and has turned it into a bible-thumper's paradise, instituted book banning, and gone to war with Disney and Strummer's right about Texas.
Messi gets percentage of MLS TV deal proceeds from Apple and Florida has no state income tax. As bad as it is, other things Florida doesn't have are honour killings, public beheadings, slaughtering journalists or pushing gays off of buildings.
BuckeyeRed
Jack Armstrong
Al-Ahly of Egypt win their 11th CAF Champions League title after drawing 1-1 at holders Wydad Casablanca and winning 3-2 on aggregate.
Omar Devone Little
Mr Realistic
Yeah I'm sure Florida has it's issues just like everywhere else in the US but would I rather live there or Riyadh? Yeah that's a real toughie....Florida is bad, of course, you only have to look at what that lunatic de Santis has been up to recently, with his imposition of regressive laws targeting anyone who isn’t a white, bible-carrying conservative.
Mind you, if you think Florida’s bad, take a look at Texas. They’ve got their very own Y’all Queda going on there, and it is absolutely insane.
You're both right about Florida of course. DeSantis is a nutter and has turned it into a bible-thumper's paradise, instituted book banning, and gone to war with Disney and Strummer's right about Texas.
Messi gets percentage of MLS TV deal proceeds from Apple and Florida has no state income tax. As bad as it is, other things Florida doesn't have are honour killings, public beheadings, slaughtering journalists or pushing gays off of buildings.
Haych
John Robertson
The value of MLS clubs are going up every single day, Messi will probably end up making more cash being based in Miami than he would Saudi.
Add in the fact that he’s living in Miami next to a beach it’s a no brainier.
Eventually Soccer as they call it will catch on enough and their league will be making a shit load of money even if nobody outside of the states cares.
Add in the fact that he’s living in Miami next to a beach it’s a no brainier.
Eventually Soccer as they call it will catch on enough and their league will be making a shit load of money even if nobody outside of the states cares.
Rzar
Bob McKinlay
I'm not sure I ever want it to properly catch on in America
They will only ruin it like they ruin everything else
No offence Dogtits...
They will only ruin it like they ruin everything else
No offence Dogtits...
valspoodle
Steve Chettle
Aren't the players, particularly of Messi's calibre, being paid sums like £200 million to go to Saudi?
Hardly likely to earn that at Inter Miami. So perhaps he wants to go to the States for a year or so on holiday (lots of Cubans and Spanish speakers in Miami) and then pop over to Saudi to collect his pension.
Hardly likely to earn that at Inter Miami. So perhaps he wants to go to the States for a year or so on holiday (lots of Cubans and Spanish speakers in Miami) and then pop over to Saudi to collect his pension.