BARCELONA CLAIM MESSI HAS SIGNED NEW CONTRACT... SO WHY IS IT NOT OFFICIAL?

BARCELONA CLAIM MESSI HAS SIGNED NEW CONTRACT... SO WHY IS IT NOT OFFICIAL?

Josep Bartomeu is adamant the necessary contracts have already been agreed, blaming "scheduling problems" for a lack of an announcement

Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu claims Lionel Messi has in fact signed a new contract, blaming "schedule problems" for the delay in announcing the news officially.
The Catalan club's star man had been under contract at Camp Nou until 2018, with speculation mounting that he will look to leave as negotiations over improved terms continued to drag on.

He told Sport: "It's all agreed and signed. There are three contracts. One with the Messi Foundation, which is signed with the president of the Foundations and the player's brother.
"There's an image rights contract with Messi, which is father has signed, who is the administrator of his company, and the employment contract, which his father has signed, who has the power to do so.
When asked what is missing to be able to announce the new deal officially, Bartomeu added: "[What is missing is] that Leo arrives and we have the official photograph and the protocol of the signature.
"The contract's signed, it's valid from the month of June, from June 30, the same day that he got married, curiously. It's been audited because it goes into the accounts for last season.
"The renewal is included in the accounts for the closing of this season. There are no problems. It's just the protocol of the signature. We're relaxed. We've had schedule problems [which is why it hasn't already been announced. 

"Now, he's back on September 6 or 7, we play on September 9. There are a lot of games. We will find the [right] moment."
When pushed on why the deal hadn't already been made official and released to the public, the Barca president continued: "Two months have gone by. He got married on June 30, then when he came back he went to Japan, then there was the tour.
"Then he came back... what happened? There was the Super Cup, then La Liga started, the trip to Monaco. We will find the [right] moment. I hope [within a month]."
Following the world-record departure of Neymar to PSG, there have been reports that Messi has grown frustrated at the situation at Barca and that he could be looking to move on.
Bartomeu is adamant the Argentine remains happy at Camp Nou, however, insisting that the expressions of apparent discontent he has been showing are purely because he is focused.
He said: "I don't see that [Messi being unhappy]. Focused, yes, very. I saw him the other day on the trip to the UEFA event. He was relaxed, happy. We speak regularly with the players.

"They are all happy. [Jordi] Alba was saying it today, there's alarmism. I'd say there's pessimism. It's okay. There's a good team and we're aspiring to win every trophy, like each year."

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Tottenham completes deadline day coup by hijacking Chelsea bid to sign Fernando Llorente

Tottenham complete deadline day coup by hijacking Chelsea bid to sign Fernando Llorente

Despite the late blow on Gomes, Tottenham felt the signing of Llorente rounded off a successful transfer deadline day, having confirmed the signing of right-back Serge Aurier from Paris Saint-Germain.

Aurier was on Wednesday informed that the French courts had downgraded the criminal conviction he received last year, allowing him to successfully submit a normal work permit application.

Spurs agreed the deal for Aurier some time ago, but had been left to sweat on whether or not the right-back would be allowed to enter the country.

Aurier was given a suspended two-month prison sentence for the assault of a police officer outside a Paris nightclub, which he appealed against. The 24-year-old Ivory Coast international missed a Champions League game at Arsenal last season after being denied permission to enter the UK because of his conviction.

Aurier has also been in trouble for homophobic language used to insult former PSG manager Laurent Blanc in the past, but the 24-year is ready for a fresh start.

“This is a huge and exciting opportunity at a massive football club and I am determined to prove myself as a professional both on and off the pitch,” said Aurier. “This is a fresh start for me and I will do everything to make the Spurs fanbase, which is huge and diverse, proud of me. The fans are the most important people at any club and I am looking forward to showing them and everyone at Spurs the real Serge Aurier.”
Llorente will provide Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino with the top-quality support and cover for Harry Kane he has been seeking since last summer. Not only did Llorente score 15 Premier League goals for Swansea last season, he also has plenty of Champions League experience which will be vital for Tottenham.
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CHELSEA SIGN EDEN HAZARD'S BROTHER KYLIAN

CHELSEA SIGN EDEN HAZARD'S BROTHER

The Blues have announced the acquisition of Kylian Hazard, who will train with the club's development squad.

Chelsea have signed Kylian Hazard, the younger brother of star winger Eden.
Aged 22, Kylian is four years younger than his decorated sibling, who has won two Premier League titles, the League Cup and the Europa League at Stamford Bridge, as well as Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France for Lille.
Kylian Hazard joins Antonio Conte's side from Hungarian side Ujpest FC, and will link up with the club's development squad.
The younger Hazard has played for White Star Brussels and Zulte Waregem FC, prior to joining Ujpest in 2015. He has scored four goals in 42 appearances for the side from the left wing position.
He becomes the third Hazard to play for the Premier League champions, with Thorgan Hazard having been on the books at Stamford Bridge before joining Borussia Monchengladbach.
While the signing pads out the youth ranks for Conte, he remains in the market for senior reinforcements, and Goal understands that the club are interested in securing the signature of Swansea striker Fernando Llorente.
The Spanish striker would cost around £15 million, but the Swans are unlikely to allow him to leave unless they can secure a replacement.

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Hazard: I would consider Real Madrid offer

Hazard: I would consider Real Madrid offer

Eden Hazard is happy at Chelsea, but he has refused to rule out a transfer to Real Madrid during the off-season.

"Of course, I would consider it if Madrid made an offChelsea assailer Eden Hazard would consider a pergrinate to Real Madrid if the Champions League triumphers were to make an approach.
The Belgium international played a key role in Chelsea's prosperous 2016-17 campaign, scoring 16 goals in 36 Premier League outings to avail them to the denomination.
His sublime performances have reignited notional theorization that Madrid are intrigued with signing the 26-year-old and Hazard is keeping his options open.er," Hazard told reporters.

"I am keen to win trophies. It would be great to win the Champions League. But Chelsea's goal is to win the Champions League as well. Honestly, I do not know what will happen.
"I only know that I still have a contract with Chelsea for three seasons and that we just had an amazing 2016-17 campaign. We want to continue on this path and want to build on this in the Champions League.
"I am feeling very well at Chelsea. But you never know what will happen.
"I have not met with the board yet to discuss a new deal. I have two games with Belgium coming up first and I am off on my holiday after that. I want to think about football as little as possible."

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Tips on How to get stronger for football quickly

Tips on How to get stronger for football quickly are given below:

West Brom’s strength & conditioning coach Mark Jarvis tells SoccerShell how to build the ideal frame for a footballer

HEADING

DOMINATE THE SKIES 


“If you want to win your aerial battles you need to be able to jump,” says Jarvis. “But in reality it isn’t actually a jump, it’s a leap. The difference is a jump happens from standing still when you have lots of time. A leap on the other hand comes from a run-up, which you use to bounce off. Plyometrics are great for improving your leap."

THE EXERCISE: SKIPPING


More after the break

Bounding forward, using a skipping motion, is the perfect plyometric exercise for boosting your leap. Run forwards, exaggerating your strides by bringing your knees up to your mid-section, spending longer time in the air, landing and launching off the balls of your feet. Make sure your momentum is forwards and not upwards. This reduces the impact on your legs. One step counts as one repetition.



Reps: 80-100


Times per week: 1-2

 

TACKLING

WIN EVERY CHALLENGE 


“Tackling is all about total body strength, so you need a whole body exercise,” explains Jarvis. “The deadlift targets your glutes and hamstrings, as well as activating your quads, core, back and shoulders.”



THE EXERCISE: DEADLIFT


Stand in front of a barbell so that your shins touch it and your feet are shoulder-width apart. Bending at the hips and knees, grab the bar with an overhand grip shoulder-width apart. Keep your arms straight, elbows locked, squeeze your glutes and stand up, driving your heels down, pulling the bar up until it passes your knees. Slowly return to the starting position and repeat.



Sets: 3-4


Reps: 6-8

SHOOTING

BURST THE NET


“Shooting obviously requires leg strength, but it’s not quite as simple as just that,” reveals Jarvis. “You can only kick as hard as you can control so you need strength across the diagonal slings, which run from one leg and across the trunk.”



THE EXERCISE: STEP-UPS


Step-ups build strength in the quads and hip flexors and help develop trunk control. Place a barbell across your upper neck. Stand in front of a 40cm high box and place your right foot on it. Your knee should be at a 90-degree angle. Drive your heel into the box and power your body up until your leg is straight. Bring your left foot up onto the box, alongside your right. Leading with your right foot, step backwards off the box.



Sets: 3-4 


Reps: 6 per leg

POSSESSION

HOLD OFF OPPONENTS


“Upper body strength is essential if you want to show off your skills, but it’s not about having a massive chest and shoulders,” explains Jarvis. “The key to upper body strength is a strong trunk and core. You need an exercise that strengthens both and teaches them to work together.”



THE EXERCISE: WEIGHTED PRESS-UP


Get in the press-up position with your hands shoulder-width apart. Have a friend place a 5-20kg weight between your shoulder blades. Bend your elbows, keep your back and hips straight and lower your chest until it almost touches the floor. Then push back up to the starting position and repeat.



Sets: 3-4


Reps: 8-12

DIRECTION

WRIGGLE OUT OF TROUBLE


“Reaction games can really help you improve your change of direction and speed of foot,” says Jarvis. “Having this skill in your armoury will help you quickly open up space to play a pass or take a strike at goal.”



THE EXERCISE: MIRROR DRILL


Start off face-to-face with a partner, approximately 1-2 metres apart. One acts as a leader, the other as a follower. The leader starts by jockeying from side to side, trying to throw the follower off balance. After five to 10 seconds of this the leader turns and sprints 5-10 metres and the follower chases. Take a 20-30 second rest in between reps to stay sharp.



Sets: 4


Reps: 10 (five reps in each role) 

ACCELERATION

BE QUICK OFF THE MARK 


“Lots of coaches like working on acceleration by practising standing start sprints, but it’s actually quite rare that you have to do it in a game,” says Jarvis. “In-and-outs are a much more transferable drill and they work on your top speed.”



THE EXERCISE: IN-AND-OUTS


Jog into a 20-metre sprint zone and explode into a sprint before decelerating at the end. These can be progressed by adding a subtle change of direction at the start or at the end. Work with players of similar speed to yourself. Adding competition and motivation to this drill will get the best out of you.



Reps: 10-15


Recovery: Rest during your walk back to start line

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