MESSI SET FOR 800TH SENIOR APPEARANCE IN PSG'S TRIP TO NANTES
0Messi set for 800th senior appearance in PSG's trip to Nantes
Lionel Messi is set to make the 800th senior appearance of his illustrious club career after being named in Paris Saint Germain's squad to face Nantes. The Argentina maestro is joined by Neymar in Mauricio Pochettino's 22 man travelling party for the trip to Stade de la Beaujoire. where the Ligue 1 leaders would move 16 points clear at the top with victory on Saturday. Should he feature. as would be expected. Messi will reach the latest milestone of his glittering career. over 17 years after Frank Rijkaard handed him his Barcelona debut against Espanyol in October 2004. The seven time Ballon d'Or winner would make his 22nd appearance for PSG since joining from Barca on a free transfer. having scored seven times so far. Messi. the Blaugrana's record appearance maker and scorer. played 778 times for Barca in all competitions. netting 672 goals. Under Pep Guardiola. Messi played more games (219) and scored more goals (211) than with any other coach. while he is one of only two players to have netted 100 Champions League goals. with his tally of 125 behind only Cristiano Ronaldo's 140. The 34 year old is also approaching 1.000 career appearances. having won a record 158 caps for Argentina since his debut in 2005. Meanwhile. Neymar is in contention to make his first start since suffering an ankle injury against Saint Etienne in November. The Brazil international. who returned as a substitute during Tuesday's Champions League win over Real Madrid. has endured a series of injury issues since his own move from Barcelona to Paris in 2017. Indeed. he has failed to make over 20 Ligue 1 starts in a single season to date. Cristiano Ronaldo's future with Manchester United is uncertain amid a difficult season at Old Trafford. The 37 year old only joined United from Juventus in August. following interest from rivals Manchester City. But the Red Devils are well out of the title race. with Ronaldo contributing nine league goals. in a tumultuous season that has seen Ole Gunnar Solskjaer axed as manager. TOP STORY – MAN UTD WOULD BOW TO RONALDO TRANSFER DEMANDS will allow five time Ballon d'Or winner to depart if he demands to depart in the off season. reports the Sunday Mirror. The Portuguese is ready to quit the Red Devils should they miss the top four and subsequently fail to qualify for the Champions League. The report claims that Ronaldo was expecting to transfer United into title contenders but that his presence has become a sideshow. meaning they are willing to let him go. ROUND UP Raphinha has caught the eye of Manchester United. Liverpool. Real Madrid and Barcelona but Leeds United plan to rebuff any offers him in the off season according to The Mirror. The Mirror also reports that Arsenal are in the race for Napoli's Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz . joining Madrid and Barcelona. Liverpool target Fabio Carvalho is being pursued by Manchester United too. claims the Daily Star. The Fulham teenager came close to joining the Reds in January. Manchester City and Raheem Sterling are set for contract talks at the end of the season but the English leaders may sell him if he does not agree to a new deal. according to the Times. Fiorentina are interested in Manchester United full back Diogo Dalot but would need to convince him to lower his wages. reports La Nazione. Dalot is in line for a new deal with United according to the Star. Liverpool Echo reports that Everton's Jean Philippe Gbamin could join CSKA Moscow on loan with the Russian transfer window open until February 22.
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