Latest news with #JoaoMario
The National
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The National
Club World Cup: Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami to historic win over Porto
Lionel Messi led the way once again as his stunning free kick secured Inter Miami a 2-1 win over Porto in their Club World Cup Group A clash on Thursday. It was the first time a CONCACAF team had defeated a European side in an official Fifa tournament. The Argentine great proved decisive as the Major-league Soccer side bounced back from their disappointing goalless draw against Egyptian side Al Ahly in their opening match. Samu Omorodion converted a penalty in the opening minutes after a video review for the Portuguese club's first goal of the tournament. Telasco Segovia then drew parity two minutes into the second half off a cross into the box from Marcelo Weigandt. Then it was time for the 37-year-old Argentine to shine with a trademark goal – finding the top corner with a second half set-piece. 'It's a huge joy, the whole team made a big effort, we worked really well,' Messi told DAZN. 'It's a really important win for us and we have to enjoy it. You can see that we want to compete, and today we competed against a really good European team. We knew that today we were weaker, but we had our strengths.' Messi was the game's outstanding player, involved heavily from the off. The former Barcelona great clipped a dipping ball in behind for veteran striker Luis Suarez, who could only prod it at the goalkeeper. Porto took the lead in the eighth minute after being awarded a soft penalty after a VAR review, as Miami defender Noah Allen made light contact with Joao Mario in the box. Spain international Aghehowa beat Oscar Ustari, who had saved a penalty in the goalless draw against Al Ahly, even though the stopper got a hand to his low effort. Uruguayan striker Suarez, 38, might have levelled after Messi threaded him through on goal but, forced to use his weaker left foot, Porto goalkeeper Claudio Ramos denied him. Javier Mascherano's side almost levelled through US international Benjamin Cremaschi after a charge from Suarez broke open Porto's defence, but Ramos made a smart stop to thwart him. Maximiliano Falcon brilliantly headed off his own goal-line with Ustari beaten by Rodrigo Mora's effort to keep Inter Miami hopes alive. Ustari denied Aghehowa and then scrambled the ball to safety as it rolled towards his net after Alan Varela crashed a shot off the upright and it hit him on the back, as Porto turned up the heat before the break. Miami levelled right at the start of the second half, with Segovia blasting home Weigandt's inviting cutback to stun the Portuguese side. Messi then sent Miami ahead with a goal all of his own making after 54 minutes. ' (Messi) is a leader, he's the player he is, he's the greatest player in the world,' Miami forward Fafa Picault said. 'I had a feeling (the free-kick) was going in. That was a great goal, a great show of leadership and coming in a clutch moment for us.'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Revealed – Why CAS Didn't Require Inter Milan To Pay €30M Clause To Sporting CP Over Controversial Transfer
Revealed – Why CAS Didn't Require Inter Milan To Pay €30M Clause To Sporting CP Over Controversial Transfer CAS have ruled that there is no evidence that Inter Milan violated the clause requiring them to pay €30 million to Sporting CP over the transfer of Joao Mario to Benfica. Midfielder Joao Mario left in the summer of 2021. He joined Portuguese giants Benfica. Advertisement However, Mario had not actually joined Benfica directly from Inter. Rather, the Nerazzurri agreed upon a termination of the player's contract by mutual consent. Then, immediately following, Mario signed for Benfica on a free transfer. That came after Inter and Sporting had been negotiating a deal for Mario for much of the summer. Sporting failed to make a high enough offer for Inter's demands. Therefore, the Nerazzurri lost patience, and instead allowed Mario to join Benfica. Inter Milan had first signed Joao Mario from Sporting in the summer of 2016. As part of the deal for the Portuguese midfielder, the Nerazzurri agreed to a clause that they could not sell the player back to a direct rival of Sporting in the Portuguese league. Advertisement Such a sale would come with a €30 million penalty that Inter would have to pay to Sporting. However, Inter did not actually sell Mario to Benfica, Sporting's bitter city rivals in Lisbon. Nevertheless, Sporting argued that Inter and Benfica had circumvented the clause. The two clubs had worked out an arrangement where there was technically no direct sale of Joao Mario, but for all intents and purposes, it had violated the spirit of the clause. That has been the case that Sporting have been making since the transfer took place. And the Portuguese club took the case to the Court of Arbitration of Sport. CAS – Inter Milan Do Not Owe Sporting €30M Over Joao Mario Transfer Benfica's Portuguese midfielder Joao Mario celebrates after scoring a goal during the Portuguese league football match between FC Arouca and SL Benfica at the Municipal stadium in Arouca, on January 31, 2023. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images) However, the CAS has rejected Sporting's argument. This is because of the wording of the clauses in the deal for Mario to join Inter initially. Advertisement Section 2.6 stated that Inter would have to notify Sporting if they were to receive any written offer for Mario from another Portuguese club, and that Sporting would have the right of first refusal. And then, section 2.7 held that Inter would have to pay Sporting a penalty if they were to violate section 2.6. However, Sporting did not produce any evidence that Inter received any written offer from Benfica. Rather, the Nerazzurri had legitimate sporting and financial reasons to terminate the contract of Mario.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CAS Confirms: Inter Milan Don't Owe Sporting CP €30M Compensation For Portugal Star's Controversial Transfer To Benfica
CAS have confirmed that Inter Milan do not owe Sporting CP compensation of €30 million over the transfer of Joao Mario to Benfica. The Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, report that the ruling body have made a final decision in the case. Advertisement Midfielder Joao Mario left in the summer of 2021. He joined Portuguese giants Benfica. However, Mario had not actually joined Benfica directly from Inter. Rather, the Nerazzurri agreed upon a termination of the player's contract by mutual consent. Then, immediately following, Mario signed for Benfica on a free transfer. That came after Inter and Sporting had been negotiating a deal for Mario for much of the summer. Sporting failed to make a high enough offer for Inter's demands. Therefore, the Nerazzurri lost patience, and instead allowed Mario to join Benfica. CAS – Inter Milan Do Not Owe Sporting €30M Over Joao Mario Transfer Benfica's Portuguese midfielder Joao Mario celebrates after scoring a goal during the Portuguese league football match between FC Arouca and SL Benfica at the Municipal stadium in Arouca, on January 31, 2023. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images) Inter Milan had first signed Joao Mario from Sporting in the summer of 2016. Advertisement As part of the deal for the Portuguese midfielder, the Nerazzurri agreed to a clause that they could not sell the player back to a direct rival of Sporting in the Portuguese league. Such a sale would come with a €30 million penalty that Inter would have to pay to Sporting. However, Inter did not actually sell Mario to Benfica, Sporting's bitter city rivals in Lisbon. Nevertheless, Sporting argued that Inter and Benfica had circumvented the clause. The two clubs had worked out an arrangement where there was technically no direct sale of Joao Mario, but for all intents and purposes, it had violated the spirit of the clause. Advertisement That has been the case that Sporting have been making since the transfer took place. The Portuguese club took their case to FIFA in 2023. However, the ruling body rejected their argument, siding with Inter. Then, Sporting took their case to the Court of Arbitration of Sport in Switzerland. But once again, CAS have also sided with Inter. According to the Gazzetta, Sporting are unlikely to pursue the matter any further.
