Real Madrid president Florentino tells board: We can buy Messi!

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is watching Lionel Messi's stalled contract negotiations with Barcelona.

While he admits it is a long shot, Florentino has told Real directors that signing Messi would be "financially feasible".

The likelihood of Messi betraying Barca in such a fashion is slim, but the Real president likes the idea of turning up the heat on Barca by making it known that they have the spending power to make the deal happen.

El Confidencial says it isn't the first time Perez has made an attempt for Messi.

Back in 2005, Perez asked the agent who engineered Luis Figo's move from Barca to try the same with Messi. But Barca refused to do business. The second time arrived when Messi was first crowned Ballon d'Or, with Perez willing to pay his €250 million buyout clause. But Messi had no interest in taking part in such an operation.

The Argentine's opinion today hasn't changed, but that won't put off Perez from stirring things up as Barca struggle to settle on a new deal with their star man.







Source:  Tribalfootball.com

United Nations says 1.4 million children in 4 countries face famine death

United Nations – Almost 1.4 million children suffering from severe malnutrition could die this year from famine in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen, the UN children's agency said on Monday.

In Yemen, where war has been raging for nearly two years, 462 000 children are suffering from acute malnutrition while 450 000 children are severely malnourished in northeast Nigeria.

Fews Net, the famine early warning system, said some remote areas of Nigeria's Borno state are already affected by famine since late last year and the disaster is likely to continue as aid agencies are unable to reach those in need.

Drought in Somalia has left 185 000 children on the brink of famine but that figure is expected to reach 270 000 in the next few months, said Unicef.

In South Sudan, over 270 000 children are malnourished and a famine has just been declared in parts of Unity State in the north of the country, where 20 000 children live.

Unicef director Anthony Lake appealed for quick action. "We can still save many lives," he said.

UN Security Council ambassadors are due to travel to northern Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger next month to draw international attention to the humanitarian crisis triggered by the conflict with Boko Haram militants.







Source:  News24

Ryan Giggs admits he might not be coaching next season

Although he’s prepared to step into management should the right opportunity come along.

The Manchester United legend spent three seasons as assistant boss at Old Trafford until he finally left the club last season when Jose Mourinho was appointed.

He was thought to be pursuing a career in management when he left and was linked to the Swansea job both in October when Francesco Guidolin was sacked, and then again in December when Bob Bradley was axed.

But he was overlooked both times and has yet to have a full-time management role.

Now he admits he’s prepared to have another year away from coaching like this season where’s he’s been working in other areas of the game.

"I am really open about it," said Giggs. "If I was to have another year like the year I've just had, then so be it. I've enjoyed it.

"But also if jobs or opportunities arise that I think are interesting and I'll enjoy and are challenging, then definitely.

"When you've been in the game so long, you've left school and go straight into football, you're in that sort of bubble.

                                       Ryan Giggs has been working with UEFA this year

 Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs reveals his plans for coaching

"Then when you come out of it, you see a different side of it. I mean for me, for example, I am just so much more relaxed.

"I look at football in a slightly different way, I can be a little bit more sort of objective and not so biased towards United necessarily.

"I am a little bit more relaxed and obviously getting to spend time with the kids as well is great.

"I wanted to take a year out from the coaching but also I wanted to obviously keep busy and still do stuff and that is what I'm managing to do. It is just getting that balance, really."








Source:  Dailystar.co.uk