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Lionel Messi could hold the key to Sergio Aguero’s next move after he leaves Man City, talkSPORT was told.
The City forward will leave the Etihad Stadium after ten illustrious years with 257 goals in 384 games.
Aguero became City’s all-time leading goalscorer in 2017, moving past Eric Brook’s 78-year record He’s won four Premier League titles, and likely a fifth this season, and ushered in a period of dominance for the Manchester club.
But last night it was announced the 32-year-old would be leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season.
And South American football expert Tim Vickey thinks Aguero’s future will be intertwined with that of Barcelona superstar Messi.
Messi is out of contract with the Catalan club this summer and there has been much speculation around his future.
Last summer, there were rumours of him joining Man City and Aguero was a big reason for that as Argentina duo are close friends.
That appears unlikely now with Paris Saint-Germain another possible destination that could lure the pair together.
Lionel Messi’s future is uncertain and it could be linked to Aguero’s “There is an interesting little thing going on in Europe, Paris Saint-Germain perhaps, Barcelona perhaps,” Vickery told talkSPORT.
“The reason it’s both of those clubs has less to do with Aguero and more to do with Lionel Messi.
“Messi and Aguero are old mates. They roomed together all the way back in 2005 when Argentina won the Under-20 World Cup and they struck up a real relationship.
“They’ve been mates ever since. When they play for the national team you see that relationship and they are on a wavelength.
“I’ve always wanted to seem them together at club level and I think PSG reportedly being interested is a way of trying to get Messi. Barcelona being interested is a way of perhaps keeping Messi.
“It depends how much money you’re going to pay him. Are you really going to pay top dollar? Especially if you’re in the financial situation Barcelona are in.”
Messi and Aguero have been friends since they were teenagers Aguero first met Messi back when they were teenagers preparing for the Under-20 World Cup.
But he later admitted to not knowing who he was, despite being at Barcelona.
“We were all staying together, my age group and his age group.” Aguero told Sky Sports.
“I remember there was a kid there I’d seen on TV who was at Barcelona.
“We were all sat round a table, Garay, Leo, Formica and myself. Leo was opposite me and Garay asked about some trainers.
“Leo says ‘I got them from the United States’. So then I started to think to myself – United States? Does he play in the United States?
“Then I said to him quietly, ‘what’s your name again?’ And he says ‘Leo’. I said ‘no, what’s your name?’.
“He said ‘Lionel Messi’. The other two looked at me and said ‘you don’t know who he is?’
“They all laughed and I thought ‘you’re that kid’ and it clicked. That’s where we first became friends.”
Aguero won the Under-20 World Cup with Argentina Aguero started at Argentinian club Independiente, making his debut as a 15-year-old.
He was sold to Atletico Madrid in 2006 and had immediate success in LaLiga.
The striker went on to score 101 times before getting the move to City and he could, one day, end up back where it all started.
“If he wants to do it for love, this is being eagerly followed in Argentina, then it could be Independiente,” Vickery told talkSPORT.
“When Independiente sold him to Atletico Madrid many moons ago, they managed to rebuild their stadium just with the money they got for him.
“It’s a dream of the club to get Aguero back. It’s one of those I hope happens one day, even if it’s not now and he hangs on in Europe for one year or two years.
Aguero was sold by Independiente to Atletico Madrid “I hope it happens that he goes back to Independiente, but as long as he’s good enough to give them something.
“If he’s going to go back and it’s going to be sad, I’d rather he didn’t.
“I think a lot depends on how fit he can be, that’s the big question mark hovering over him.”
A move to Major League Soccer is unlikely, though, as he’s never mentioned wanting to play in America before.
Messi has been the one who has talked about moving there, but a return to Argentina would be likelier.
“There’s never been any word from him that he wants that. Messi said it a few months ago that the States would be interesting for him,” Vickery added.
“As far as Aguero, all we’ve ever heard was that he will finish up at Independiente.
“Messi had talked about that, finishing his career with Newells Old Boys, where it first started.
Aguero and Messi could be in the same club side for the first time “But he was at Barcelona from when he was 13, so never played for Newells.
“Aguero did play for Independiente, he was playing for them at 15. I’d heard he’d played at 15 and you’d naturally assume someone in the Argentine First Division at that age would be physically precocious, strapping lad.
“I saw him and the build reminds you of Gerd Muller or Romario, little squat guy, powerful thighs, wonderful balance.
“I saw he wasn’t just about pace, he could play with his back to go and I thought ‘wow, this guy is going to be someone special’. And I wasn’t disappointed.”
Thomas Tuchel has been warned not to get too comfortable at Chelsea, with talkSPORT told the incoming new manager could be sacked within 18 months!
The former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss is set to be named as successor to Frank Lampard this week, after Chelsea decided to sack the club legend on Monday.
Tuchel was sacked by PSG in December but is now set for the Chelsea job German Tuchel has been described as a top tactician, a champion of a strong team mentality and a perfect coach for the Blues’ young players – especially struggling summer signings Kai Havertz and Timo Werner.
But the 47-year-old also has a reputation for a ‘fiery’ character, having fallen out with chiefs in his previous spells at both PSG and Dortmund, which has put the spotlight on his potentially prickly relationship with Roman Abramovich.
Lampard enjoyed a glittering 13-year career with Chelsea, serving the club with distinction and leaving Stamford Bridge as arguably the club’s greatest-ever player.
But his legendary status didn’t save him from Abramovich’s notorious axe, as he lasted just 18 months as head coach before he was sacked.
And European football expert Kevin Egan has told talkSPORT it could go the same way for Tuchel.
“I think Chelsea fans are in for an exciting time both on and off the pitch with Thomas Tuchel,” Egan said on talkSPORT’s Extra Time.
“He’s a very detailed manager and he’ll have an awful lot of instructions for the players.
Lampard was dismissed by Chelsea with the club 11 points adrift of Premier League leaders Manchester United “By all accounts that was not the case for Frank Lampard; there were reports that the players had spoken about a lack of detail, and Thomas Tuchel is incredibly detailed.
“However he’s a fiery character, which makes me believe that in 18 months we could be talking about Abramovich sacking Tuchel.
“I can see these two absolutely butting heads or getting to a point where Tuchel wants changes and Abramovich isn’t willing to back him, he’s that sort of a manager. He fell out with Leonardo at PSG and fell out with a lot of the hierarchy at Borussia Dortmund as well before that.
“But he is a manager who has had tremendous success, he’s brought through phenomenal young players and worked well the likes of Christian Pulisic and Ousmane Dembele at Dortmund and at Paris Saint-Germain he did get the best out of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe and a lot of those players.
“The criticism may be that he didn’t exactly define his style during that time and when they did hit a bit of adversity it was often a case of ‘what can Neymar and Mbappe do for me?’.
“But I’m intrigued, he’s a fantastic character and Chelsea is fantastic club, so it’s only going to get interesting from here.
“He’s a very good coach, one of the highest-touted in the game, and a fiery character, and that’s why I think there’s a collision course at some point between him and Abramovich.
“But I think he’s the right man at the right time, given what they’ve spent and the players they’ve brought to the club.”
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s department has confirmed the bodies of the victims of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant have started to be recovered.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, LA County sheriff Alex Villanueva said the difficult terrain of the hillside crash in Calabasas, California meant it would take some time for all of the victims’ bodies to be recovered and officially identified.
The world was shocked to learn of Lakers and basketball legend Kobe Bryant’s death “The coroner… started recovering human remains last night and they’re continuing [that process] for the next several days,” he said.
“It’s rugged terrain and it’s a very steep hill. In fact, they had to bulldoze a road just to get a normal-size vehicle to the location, so it is very difficult.”
NBA legend Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, were among nine people who died in the crash on Sunday.
The pilot of the helicopter told air traffic controllers he was climbing to avoid a layer of cloud shortly before the crash, according to the National Transport Safety Bureau (NTSB).
The ‘experienced’ pilot Ara Zobayan received special clearance to fly in heavy fog in the minutes before the crash and was flying at 1,400 feet.
Radar data revealed he then climbed to 2,300 feet before beginning a left descending turn. The wreckage of the Sikorsky S-76B was found at 1,085 feet, the NTSB said.
A shrine to Bryant has been set up outside the Staples Centre, where the LA Lakers play, complete with candles, flowers and photographs from fans.
Bryant was a five-time NBA champion who played for the Lakers throughout his 20-year career.
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The side’s game against local rivals the Los Angeles Clippers which was due to take place on Tuesday has been postponed, while tributes to the double Olympic gold medallist have continued.
Among the more powerful messages was an Instagram post from current Laker LeBron James.
“I’m Not Ready but here I go,” he wrote.
“Man I sitting here trying to write something for this post but every time I try I begin crying again just thinking about you, niece Gigi and the friendship/bond/brotherhood we had.
“I literally just heard your voice Sunday morning before I left Philly to head back to LA. Didn’t think for one bit in a million years that would be the last conversation we’d have. WTF!! I’m heartbroken and devastated my brother!!
“Man I love you big bro. My heart goes to Vanessa and the kids. I promise you I’ll continue your legacy man! You mean so much to us all here especially #LakerNation and it’s my responsibility to put this shit on my back and keep it going!!
“Please give me the strength from the heavens above and watch over me! I got US here! There’s so much more I want to say but just can’t right now because I can’t get through it! Until we meet again my brother!!”
Nick Kyrgios walked onto court for his game against Rafa Nadal wearing a Bryant shirt and also warmed up in the jersey The Empire State Building is lit up in purple and gold colours in honour of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant New York’s Empire State Building was lit up in Lakers colours, while other tributes have come from sportsmen and women from other sports, including David Beckham, Nick Kyrgios and Dana White.
His long time friend – and huge Lakers fan – Tiger Woods was playing golf and visibly shocked when told of the tragic news.
Basketball journalist Alex Labidou told talkSPORT’s Extra Time the sheer volume of tributes, which also came from former US President Barack Obama, tells you much about the man.
“It just shows how impactful Kobe Bryant was,” he said.
A former director of Bury has told talkSPORT he will fund a forensic accounting investigation to discover who is to blame for the club’s financial woes and ‘put them behind bars’
In an emotional interview, Ian Harrop broke down in tears and then levelled a series of serious allegations at club owner Steve Dale as he reacted to the news of the Shakers’ demise.
The Lancashire club’s expulsion from the English Football League was confirmed on Tuesday night after a proposed takeover bid collapsed.
Bury are no longer a professional football club after they were kicked out of the EFL London-based C&N Sporting Risk were close to doing a deal, but they pulled out 90 minutes before Tuesday’s 5pm deadline due to concerns over the confusing structure of the club’s debt.
The events of a dramatic day for the Shakers, during which fans gathered outside their Gigg Lane stadium throughout the day and before leaving in tears after the news was confirmed, will almost certainly result in the 134-year-old club being liquidated.
And Harrop, whose association with Bury goes back over 50 years and who helped save the club from administration in 2002, has laid the blame at Dale and the EFL.
Speaking on Extra Time on Wednesday morning, he accused Dale of intending to liquidate Bury when he purchased the club from former chairman Stewart Day for £1 in December, and says he has ‘spoilt the lives of thousands of people’.
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“It’s a horrible morning and I can quite honestly say it’s one of the worst days of my life. I’ve been involved with the club for over 50 years and it’s just tragic.
“A lot of people have spent a lot of time to try and save the club, but we’ve just being hitting a brick wall time and time again by the chairman Steve Dale and his predecessors Stewart Day and Glenn Thomas. It’s just been an absolutely dreadful part of our club’s history.
“It was obvious Steve Dale had one objective which was to liquidate the football club, so congratulations Mr Dale, you’ve done that.
“You’ve spoilt the lives of 3,000 people… sorry… it’s emotional for me.
“It’s just a shame. It’s a shame…”
Bury fans were angered by Tuesday’s news, with one telling talkSPORT Steve Dale has ‘devastated the community’ After recovering his composure, Harrop then revealed his intention to fund an investigation into the club’s financial crisis and ensure those found guilty are punished.
He added: “Steve Dale has set out to do it, whether that’s in conjunction with Mr Day and Mr Thomas, who knows.
“All the financial mismanagement will come out hopefully. It was a disaster waiting to happen. What’s happened is a result of their complete financial mismanagement and the supporters and town now have to suffer the consequences of their actions.
“And I will make this statement on talkSPORT now: I’m willing put up money to pay for forensic annuitants to come into Bury Football Club to find this information to put the people who are responsible for this tonight behind bars.
“It is that serious and I will do that, mark my words.”
Steve Dale took control of Bury in December 2018 Harrop also believes Dale has ‘played the EFL for fools’ and used the club’s bid for League Two promotion last season to mask the fact he never had the funds to run the club.
And he warned both the EFL and Dale to ‘be ready for what’s going to happen’ as he insists this is far from over.
“He has basically played the EFL for fools,” the former director continued.
“When you buy a football club, the EFL insist a new owner provides proof and source of funds within ten days. Mr Dale took over in December of last year, we’re now in August and he has still not done it!
“I understand their stance – how could the EFL have done this last season when Bury were going for promotion? How could they have come in and docked the club points because he hadn’t provided proof of funds?
“But the EFL are absolutely culpable because they have not done what their rules state, that is why we are in this mess.
“He has missed meeting after meeting after meeting with them. He’s just played them for idiots.
“I hope the EFL are ready for what’s going to happen because this is not going to finish tonight, it’s going to go on and on and on. We’re not going to take this lying down.
“We’re a proud Lancashire club and 134 years of history has been destroyed. I use that word strongly.
“We’ve been destroyed by certain individuals and there should be a lot of individuals out there who should be worried, because their time will come.
“Mr Dale’s business model from day one was to liquidate football clubs and sadly today he has succeeded. I hope he sleeps well tonight.”
Listen back to the incredible interview with former Bury director Ian Harrop IN FULL above
Bury captain Neil Danns joined talkSPORT to react to the ‘unimaginable’ news of the club’s expulsion from the English Football League.
And he had a strong message for owner Steve Dale: “You’ve destroyed lives.”
Bury have been kicked out of the EFL after a dramatic day that will almost certainly result in the 134-year-old club being liquidated.
Bury had their first five games suspended and have now had their membership revoked Shakers owner Dale had been given until 5pm on Tuesday to come up with a plan for paying the club’s debts and funding them going forward, or sell Bury to someone who can.
London-based C&N Sporting Risk were close to doing a deal but they devastatingly pulled out 90 minutes before the deadline, amid concerns over the club’s confusing debt structure.
Dale then claimed he had received three new bids for the club, prompting fans, politicians and pundits to call for more time to explore these options – but shortly after 11pm on Tuesday night, the league revealed its verdict.
Club skipper Danns, who joined Bury from Bolton in 2016, joined talkSPORT’s Extra Time shortly after the news of the club’s expulsion from the Football League was confirmed.
And, asked if he had a message for his chairman, the 36-year-old said: “I would say look what you’ve done.
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“This should never have happened. If you thought you could not move this club forward in a positive way you should never have taken over because you’ve literally destroyed lives, because that’s what this football club meant to so many fans.”
He added that “serious questions have got to be asked” about what has happened at the club since Dale purchased Bury from previous owner Stewart Day for just £1 in December.
“When you see the devastation of the fans I just think I have to say something,” he said.
“It’s unbelievable. I still can’t believe it.”
Bury, who sealed promotion from League Two last season, had been unable to kick off their new League One campaign after having their first six fixtures called off by the EFL.
But Danns said the team continued to prepare and were ready to play when called upon – adding to the devastation on Tuesday’s news.
“We have been in as normal, training,” he said. “I don’t think anyone really believed that this was going to happen.
“We were just preparing every single week as though the next game was going to be on, the next game was going to be on.
“For it to happen so suddenly, it’s still really unbelievable. For a club with so much history and that has added so much to the league, for it to just be gone like that is just unimaginable.”
Danns was captain of the side that promotion-winning side last season, and said he is personally heartbroken for supporters who are about to lose their beloved club.
“I’ve come to have a special bond with the fans and created some amazing memories, especially last year,” he added.
Bury supporters gathered outside Gigg Lane on Tuesday before the news was confirmed “At this moment in time I just feel for them the most because you have got people who have been going to the game for years. It’s like every story, you go to the game with your Grandad, your Mum, your Dad, your brothers, it’s such a community. It means so much to people.
“For me, it’s starting to hit me harder because I have got young sons myself. I know what it is like to take them to watch my boyhood team Liverpool and the bond that gives us. To see that taken away from future fans is just devastating.
“Football brings not just football on the pitch but it is so much more than that. This whole situation just does not feel real.”
Listen back to talkSPORT’s interview with Bury captain Neil Danns IN FULL above