Messi Deal ‘Signed’ By Agent, Claims Bartomeu

Barcelona’s under-fire president Josep Maria Bartomeu launched acounter-attack on his critics on Tuesday by insisting a four-year contract extension for Lionel Messi has been signed by the player’s agentand father, Jorge Horacio Messi.

Barca announced an agreement withthe five-time World Player of the Year in July, but Messi himself is yet to put pen to paper amid rumours he is unhappy with the running of the club.Messi’s current deal expires in 2018 meaning he could leave Barca for free next summer.“It is all agreed and signed,” said Bartomeu in an interview with Barcelona-based daily Sport.“There are three contracts: one with Messi’s foundation, that is signed by the president of the foundation and the player’s brother; a contract with Leo Messi’s image rights, thathis father and administrator of his company have signed; and the work contract that Leo’s father has signed.”When pressed on the delay in Messi signing the deal, Bartomeu claimedboth the player and club’s hectic start to the season was to blame and that it would be resolved within a month.“There are no problems. All that is left is the protocol of the signature. We are calm,” he added.Bartomeu and his board have received fierce criticism for their handling of the recently closed transfer window as Paris Saint-Germain enticed Neymar away fromthe Catalan giants for a world record 222 million euros ($263.7 million).A vote of no confidence motion has been launched by former Barca presidential candidate Agusti Benedito that could oust Bartomeu if it receives enough support from theclub’s members in the coming weeks.However, Bartomeu described the loss of the Brazilian as an “opportunity” for Barca to build their team around the midfield rather than a superstar front three of Neymar, Messi and Luis Suarez.“The trident was very good but it had its consequences. It is an opportunity to return to the collective football in the middle of the field, which traditionally was Barca’s strength.“It is an opportunity, with a new coach, a new project. We need to stop being pessimistic!”Neymar’s departure sparked a haphazard shopping spree from Barca, who landed 20-year-old French winger Ousmane Dembele for an initial 105 million euro fee from Borussia Dortmund and Paulinho for 40 million from Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande.However, Barca missed out on a host of other targets, including Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho, blaming the rampant inflation in the transfer market caused by PSG and Abu Dhabi-backed ManchesterCity.La Liga has asked UEFA to investigate both PSG and City for breaches of financial fair play rules.“Qatar and Abu Dhabi are two countries that have two clubs,” addedBartomeu.“If Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Real Madrid or Arsenal buy a player from you, you know (themoney) comes from football.“But these two clubs distort the market.”

“Re-Arrest Nnamdi Kanu, Face Consequences” – Militants Tell FG

Niger Delta militants have warned the Federal Government of the dangers the country would face, if the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu,

 is re-arrested by security agents.

The militants also gave government a two-week ultimatum to release two members of IPOB, Chidiebere Onwudiwe and Bright Chimezie, who had been in detention, threatening to commence attack after the expiration.

The militants, consisting of members of Niger Delta People Democratic Front (NDPDF), Concerned Militant Leaders (CML) and Rainbow Marabas (RM), gave the warning yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after their crucial meeting.

Leaders of the groups identified as General Iyoyo Playboy (NDPDF), General Ben (CML) and General Billy Anaeja, warned that re-arrest of Kanu would cause spontaneous attacks in major states in the country.

The group further accused the Federal Government of playing politics with the lives of Nigerians, particularly people from South East and South-South geo-political zones. A statement jointly issued by Iyoyo, Ben and Anaeja, through their tweet handle, flayed the Federal Government for exhibiting hatred on the regions and individuals that expressed dissatisfaction with the All Progressives Congress (APC) style of administration.

They stated: “Federal Government has shown, through its moves to re-arrest Nnamdi Kanu, that it does not value lives of Nigerians. Government wants to use the attempt to re-arrest the IPOB Leader to escalate the crisis in the country. “If government is serious, it should go ahead to arrest and wait for the result. We will back IPOB and give the group support in any form, even without them expecting it.”

“We learnt that Federal Government has deployed more security to the South-South and South-East geo-political zones because of Nnamdi Kanu. We dare them to go ahead and execute”, they warned.

They wondered why the Federal Government had remained silent over the activities of Northern youths against the Igbo and killings by Fulani herdsmen.

“What has Federal Government done about arresting Arewa youths, who hate the Igbo people with passion? What has Federal Government done with the Fulani herdsmen? How many of them have been arrested. Why is it silent, but is worried about a non-violent IPOB?

“We are reiterating our stand that we, the Niger Delta agitators, will resist any attempt to re-arrest the IPOB leader. We will resist FG and face the consequences. We are not begging those ruling not to go ahead and execute their plot”, the militants stressed.