Paris Saint-Germain confirm Lionel Messi will leave club at end of season

  • Ligue 1 winners officially announce World Cup winner’s exit
  • Eden Hazard leaving Real Madrid after contract ended early

Lionel Messi will leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of season after two years in Ligue 1, the club confirmed on Saturday.

“After two seasons in the French capital, Leo Messi’s adventure with Paris Saint-Germain will come to an end at the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign,” PSG said in a statement.

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Clinical Giroud lifts Milan with Juve’s off-field tribulations set to rumble on

Milan’s narrow victory in Turin sealed a top-four finish but for Juventus the scandal over alleged false accounting rolls on

It should have been blood and thunder, two of Italian football’s biggest clubs squaring off on the penultimate weekend with Champions League football on the line. Juventus and Milan instead gave us dull, with blunders, in front of a listless crowd.

Significant sections of the Allianz Stadium were empty at kick-off. Fewer than 500 Milan supporters had made the short trip to Turin, others balking at the €80 ticket price in the away section. Juventus Ultras from the Curva Sud, meanwhile, were staging a protest outside against what they perceive as heavy-handed treatment from their club, including restrictions on flags, banners and instruments that can be brought into the ground.

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Napoli’s latest chapter of glory overshadowed by Spalletti speculation | Nicky Bandini

Win over Inter was another landmark for the Partenopei but fans are left wondering what next for title-winning manager?

Napoli reached another landmark in their title-winning campaign, a 3-1 win at home to Internazionale making this the first season in club history when they have beaten all 19 Serie A rivals at least once. Yet this latest feat was overshadowed by reports that the manager, Luciano Spalletti, might not return next season.

On Friday the club’s owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, left room for doubt when he told Sky Sport: “Spalletti is a superstar and superstars need a place where they can express the best of themselves. He found that here and it all worked. [But] in life freedom is an immeasurable and invaluable good, you should never clip anyone’s wings just as I would not want anyone to clip mine.”

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‘The matter has been decided’: Luciano Spalletti says his Napoli future is settled

  • Head coach speaking after Napoli’s 3-1 win over Internazionale
  • ‘It has been brewing for a long time,’ says Spalletti of decision

The Napoli head coach, Luciano Spalletti, has said he has reached a decision about his future at the Serie A champions but did not give further details.

After Sunday’s 3-1 home victory against Internazionale, Spalletti also told reporters that any subsequent achievements after Napoli’s first scudetto in more than 30 years might be overshadowed. Although the 64-year-old led Napoli to the title and Champions League quarter-finals, speculation around his future has been swirling in recent weeks.

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European roundup: Leipzig stun Bayern and open door for Dortmund

  • Leaders shocked after Leipzig score two penalties in 3-1 win
  • Real Sociedad stun Barcelona | Giroud hat-trick lifts Milan

The Bundesliga leaders, Bayern Munich, suffered a shock 3-1 home loss to RB Leipzig, leaving their title hopes hanging in the balance going into the last match day and offering Borussia Dortmund the chance to overtake them on Sunday.

Bayern went ahead through Serge Gnabry but inexplicably took their foot off the gas and conceded three goals in the second half thanks to a Konrad Laimer strike and penalties from Christopher Nkunku and Dominik Szoboszlai.

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Milan flinch in the shadow of the Curva as moment of destiny awaits | Nicky Bandini

After a little extra ‘motivation’ from their fans following defeat to Spezia, Stefano Pioli’s side need a turnaround against Inter

Defeat was a disaster, but it was the aftermath that made international headlines: Milan’s players and manager silently facing their supporters in the away section of Spezia’s Stadio Alberto Picco while one fan addressed them with a monologue. There were no TV microphones close enough to listen in but bowed heads and solemn expressions made it appear as an act of submission: disobedient students being scolded by a master.

Those present told it differently. “What happened beneath the Curva was something positive,” said Stefano Pioli. “They were only motivating us, pushing us to give our all.” The defender Simon Kjær echoed that sentiment, adding: “Our fans have surprised me in lots of good ways since we won the league. They have always been close to us.”

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