French billionaire Bernard Arnault has reportedly been linked with an ambitious swoop for Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

This is according to the report from La Repubblica which revealed that the billionaire wants to buy Italian Serie A giants AC Milan and thereafter try to lure both Messi and Guardiola to the club.

Bernard Arnault is the third richest man in the world as confirmed by Forbes.

The Frenchman has a net worth of €107m to make him the third richest man.

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He wants Lionel Messi and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola at AC Milan in what could be a farfetched target for him.

Messi was recently crowned the best player in the world for the sixth time after winning the Ballon d’Or award on Monday.

The Barcelona superstar was level with arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo on five Ballon d’Or titles before the recipient for the 2019 Ballon d’Or Award was revealed earlier this month.

Messi had earlier won the Ballon d’Or Award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

On his part, Pep Guardiola has won the last two Premier League titles at Manchester City but faces a big hurdle to make it a hat-trick of wins in the league with his team currently trailing leaders Liverpool by 11 points after 15 league games.

Young Barcelona attacker Ansu Fati has signed a new deal to keep him at the Spanish La Liga outfit for the long haul.

The news of his contract extension at Barcelona was announced on Wednesday.

Ansu Fati has signed a new contract until the end of the 2021/22 season.

His release clause has improved from €100m to €170m with the new contract.

Ansu Fati signed his first professional contract in the summer with the hope that he will feature for the Barcelona youth teams.

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The 17-year-old winger has enjoyed a meteoric rise at Barcelona this season after making 11 appearances for the Spanish La Liga champions this season.

His release clause is expected to increase to €400m once he has fully graduated to the first team at Barcelona.

Ansu Fati has contributed to the successes recorded at Barcelona this season with the Nou Camp giants fighting for three trophies this season.

Barcelona are the pacesetters on the Spanish La Liga table this season after recording 31 points from the 14 league games played this season.

The Spanish champions are level on points with arch-rivals Real Madrid at the La Liga summit with a better goal difference.

Barcelona are also through to the last 16 of the Champions League from Group F.

Real Madrid have been dealt a big injury blow following the news that star player Eden Hazard will miss the El Clasico clash with arch rivals Barcelona.

Summer signing Eden Hazard has suffered a fractured ankle and would miss the blockbuster El Clasico meeting with Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga.

He suffered the injury from during the recent Champions League game at home to French Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint Germain (PSG).

Eden Hazard was subbed off during the PSG game following the injury he sustained via the tackle from Belgian international teammate Thomas Meunier.

Eden Hazard has not enjoyed an extended run in the Real Madrid team mainly because of injury problems.

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The 28-year-old forward signed for Real Madrid from Premier League giants Chelsea in the summer in a club-record deal.

Real Madrid paid around €100m to sign Eden Hazard who had one year remaining on his contract at Chelsea.

Eden Hazard spent seven successful years at Chelsea with two Premier League titles and two Europa League titles.

The Belgian international signed for Chelsea from French Ligue 1 outfit Lille for a fee of around £32m.

He won the Premier League title under former Chelsea managers Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

France Football have revealed the breakdown of votes to show how Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi saw off Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk to win the 2019 Ballon d’Or Award.

At the latest Ballon d’Or Award ceremony on Monday night, Lionel Messi was named the award recipient ahead of the likes of Virgil Van Dijk, long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane.

France Football are the organisers of the Ballon d’Or Award and they released the voting results earlier this week with Lionel Messi beating Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk by seven points only.

Lionel Messi garnered 686 votes ahead of Van Dijk who had 679 votes.

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The Barcelona and Argentine national skipper has now won six Ballon d’Or titles to edge clear of Cristiano Ronaldo who has five Ballon d’Or titles.

Liverpool centre back Virgil Van Dijk is the closest defender to winning the Ballon d’Or Award since ex-Italian international Fabio Cannavaro won the award in 2006.

Van Dijk has been instrumental to the recent success recorded by Liverpool but he was unable to beat Messi to the much coveted Ballon d’Or Award.

Liverpool are the reigning European champions and they were heavily represented in the top ten of the 2019 Ballon d’Or.

The Reds had four representatives with Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker also making the top ten.

Barcelona skipper Lionel Messi has set a new record following his announcement as the recipient for the 2019 Ballon d’Or Award.

Messi was given another Ballon d’Or Award at an elaborate ceremony in Paris on Monday night.

The Ballon d’Or Award ceremony was anchored by Chelsea legend Didier Drogba and it had several top footballers, administrators and journalists in attendance.

Lionel Messi won the 2019 edition of the award to set a new record for the highest number of wins.

He has now won six Ballon d’Or titles ahead of arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo who has five Ballon d’Or titles.

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The two players were on five Ballon d’Or titles apiece before Messi added a sixth one in Paris on Monday.

Ronaldo finished in third position behind Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk and the unstoppable Lionel Messi.

Argentine international skipper Messi had a stellar year on a personal level especially as he only had the Spanish La Liga to show for his troubles.

He finished last season’s Champions League campaign as the topscorer though Barcelona were dumped out by Liverpool in the semifinals.

Messi also won the leading topscorer award in the Spanish La Liga last season and that paved the way for him to win the European Golden Boot.

Three-time European champions Manchester United are said to be eyeing a January transfer for unsettled Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal.

This is according to the publication from the stables of FCInter News which revealed that Manchester United are one of the favourites to sign Vidal if the Chilean decides to leave Barcelona during the upcoming January transfer market.

Arturo Vidal has been left frustrated with his playing time at Barcelona under manager Ernesto Valverde.

The Chilean international joined Barcelona from German champions Bayern Munich at the start of the last campaign and was part of the team that won the Spanish La Liga title for the second season in a row.

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Earlier this season, Arturo Vidal said that he’ll weigh up his situation at Barcelona if he doesn’t play regularly.

Vidal has started just three league games this season though he has been able to make 10 appearances including seven substitute appearances.

The former Juventus and Bayern Munich player made his 10th league appearance of the season during the slim win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

He came on as a second-half substitute for Brazilian international Arthur Melo as Barcelona beat hosts Atletico Madrid 1-0 courtesy an 86th minute Lionel Messi strike to return to the Spanish La Liga summit.

Manchester United will have to spend £13m to sign him during the January window according to the above mentioned publication.

Premier League giants Manchester United are expected to bolster their thin squad during the January transfer market with opens at the start of next month and several players have been linked to the club as a result.

One of the recent transfer links involves Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal who could leave the Nou Camp if his situation of lack of playing time remains the same.

According to FCInter News, Manchester United have contacted the agent of Arturo Vidal over a move for him in the January transfer window.

It was revealed that agent Fernando Felicevich has been sounded out over a potential transfer for the Chilean international star with Manchester United looking to boost their midfield options ahead of next year.

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Manchester United and Fernando Felicevich are not strangers as the agent also represents Alexis Sanchez who has been loaned to Inter Milan by the Red Devils.

Fernando Felicevich has a good working relationship with Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward having played a big role in the transfer of Alexis Sanchez to the club from Arsenal in a swap deal in January 2018.

Inter Milan are also interested in a move for Arturo Vidal with Nerazzurri manager Antonio Conte keen to link up with him once again.

Both parties worked together at Italian Serie A outfit Juventus.

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has reiterated his desire to stay at with the Spanish club despite the transfer rumours linking him with a move away during the upcoming January transfer market.

Ivan Rakitic revealed that his preference to stay at Barcelona in a recent interview as monitored by Goal.

The Croatian international star has been linked with a transfer to the Premier League with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea said to be keen on his signature.

Italian Serie A giants Inter Milan are also in the running to sign him.

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The three clubs, Manchester United, Chelsea and Inter Milan, tried to sign him in the summer but the Croatian opted to stay and fight for his place in the Barcelona team.

His position of a Barcelona stay has not changed despite the fact that he has not been able to nail down a starting spot in the Barcelona XI.

His playing time has been affected negatively by the arrival of Dutch international player Frenkie De Jong from Ajax Amsterdam in the summer.

Dutch champions Ajax Amsterdam were said to have received around €75m for the transfer of Frenkie De Jong.

Ivan Rakitic has less than two years on his Barcelona contract.