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No Messi, no problem as Barcelona rout Juventus to win Gamper Trophy
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Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets lifts the Gamper Trophy after their win over Juventus at Estadi Johan Cruyff in Barcelona, Spain, August 8, 2021. /CFP

Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets lifts the Gamper Trophy after their win over Juventus at Estadi Johan Cruyff in Barcelona, Spain, August 8, 2021. /CFP

Barcelona started life without Lionel Messi on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Juventus in the pre-season Gamper Trophy.

Memphis Depay opened the scoring for Barcelona after just three minutes, with Martin Braithwaite adding a second goal just before the hour mark from a corner. Young hope Riqui Puig scored a third in stoppage time with a fine left foot drive.

In Sunday's other high-profile friendly, Real Madrid and AC Milan fought to a 0-0 stalemate.

Messi had earlier Sunday said his farewells to the club he had served for 20 years at a tearful news conference.

The 34-year-old Argentinian superstar, six times a Ballon d'Or winner, has been out of contract since the end of June and Barca say they cannot afford to keep him, with Messi admitting that a move to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is a "possibility."

A fan shows a shirt of Lionel Messi during Barcelona's win over Juventus at Estadi Johan Cruyff in Barcelona, Spain, August 8, 2021. /CFP

A fan shows a shirt of Lionel Messi during Barcelona's win over Juventus at Estadi Johan Cruyff in Barcelona, Spain, August 8, 2021. /CFP

Last year he sought to engineer a release from his contract in frustration at some poor showings in Europe by the club where he has won four Champions Leagues but ended up staying.

"I was convinced I knew what I wanted say, but this year is not the same," he explained, stressing his preference was to prolong his stay rather than contemplate what now seems a likely reunion with former clubmate Neymar at PSG – ostensibly the only club that can afford him with Manchester City having distanced themselves. 

He hotly denied asking for more money but had, on the contrary, accepted a 50 percent salary cut.

"I would've liked to have won another Champions League," he added, while stressing, "I don't regret anything, I tried to give my best and I'm ending my career here with a good number of titles."

According to Le Parisien, an agreement between PSG and the Argentinian could take place as early as later on Sunday. French sports daily L'Equipe forecast a "record contract" of three years. 

Elsewhere, Romelu Lukaku has missed Inter Milan's pre-season friendly at Parma on Sunday after widespread reports in Italy said the striker was set to rejoin Chelsea in a deal worth up to 115 million euros ($135 million).

Source(s): AFP

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