Lionel Messi has bought Catalan club Cornella and become the team’s new owner, the Spanish fifth-tier side announced on Thursday.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is still playing in the United States for Inter Miami and is expected to play a key role in Argentina’s World Cup title defence this year.

“This move reinforces Messi’s close ties to Barcelona and his commitment to the development of sport and local talent in Catalonia,” the club said in a statement confirming the former Barcelona star’s acquisition.

Several top players have come through the ranks at Cornella, including Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and Messi’s former Barca teammate Jordi Alba.

Cornella has suffered back-to-back relegations in the past two seasons.

“Leo Messi’s arrival marks the beginning of a new chapter in the club’s history, aimed at driving both sporting and institutional growth, strengthening its foundations, and continuing to invest in talent,” Cornella added.

“The project is guided by a long-term vision and a strategic plan that combines ambition, sustainability, and a strong connection to its local roots.”

MADRID: Atletico Madrid sent 10-man Barcelona crashing out of the Champions League and reached the final four with a 3-2 aggregate victory despite Tuesday’s 2-1 quarter-final second leg defeat.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Ousmane Dembele struck twice to confirm Paris St-Germain’s place in the semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over Liverpool, sealing a 4-0 aggregate win in their quarter-final tie at a rain-soaked Anfield.

Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres fired visitors Barca ahead inside 24 minutes but Ademola Lookman’s strike gave Atletico the edge in the gripping all-Spanish tie once again after their 2-0 win in the first leg.

Diego Simeone’s side returned to the semi-finals for the first time since 2017 by holding on against the La Liga champions in a compelling and bloody battle.

Barcelona defender Eric Garcia was sent off for bringing down Alexander Sorloth as he ran in on goal in the final stages, hampering their chances of finding a third goal to force extra-time.

Atletico have never won the competition and lost the 2014 and 2016 finals against rivals Real Madrid with Simeone at the helm.

Atletico’s talisman Antoine Griezmann, who will leave at the end of the season to join MLS side Orlando City, is daring to dream of a fairytale finale.

“I’m very happy,” Griezmann told reporters. “It doesn’t matter who we face, as long as we’re still in it and as long as we’re on top form right until the end.

“It’s been a brilliant but tough tie against a top-class side who play really well in Barcelona. It’s been a struggle, but we’re still in it.”

In Spain glory could come as soon as Saturday with the Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad in Seville, Griezmann’s boyhood club, with Atletico chasing their first domestic cup since 2013 and an end to a four-season wait for any title.

“It’s going to be a great match, a tough one, so we’ll need to get some rest. Now it’s time to start thinking about Saturday. What a great feeling,” Griezmann said. “I hope I can help my team mates to do something beautiful this season, something historical. Our fans deserve it.”Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said he believes his eliminated team deserved to progress.

“We played a fantastic first half, (but) we have to score more goals. It was really possible, (but) we conceded the goal we didn’t expect at this moment,” Flick told reporters.

“When you see both matches we deserved to get to the semi-final. The mentality, the attitude they showed on the pitch — I’m really proud about that.”

Barcelona forward Raphinha, who was sidelined through injury for both matches, accused referees Clement Turpin, who officiated the second game, and Istvan Kovacs, from the first, of “robbing” his team.

“As far as I’m concerned, it was a robbery, not just this match but the other one (the first leg) as well,” Raphinha told reporters.

“I think the refereeing is going really badly; the decisions he (Turpin) makes are unbelievable … I really want to understand why they’re so afraid that Barcelona will come and win.” Flick benched forwards Marcus Rashford and Robert Lewandowski for workhorses Torres and Gavi, looking to press Atletico relentlessly in the sixth match between these sides this season.

The tactic seemed to pay off as Barca came roaring out of the blocks in a fiery atmosphere at the Metropolitano and raced to a two-goal lead to level the score on aggregate.

It could’ve been even worse for Atletico but goalkeeper Juan Musso kept the home side alive in the tie. Musso denied Yamal in the very first minute before saving a goal-bound effort from Dani Olmo as Barca continued to dominate.

The goalkeeper also clawed out a header by Fermin Lopez and left the midfielder bleeding after his boot caught the Spaniard in the face.

Atletico pulled their way back into the game in the 31st minute after Barca switched off defensively for the first time.

Flick sent on Rashford and Lewandowski with around 20 minutes remaining but the Catalans comeback hopes were all but evaporated when Garcia was sent off. Atletico gritted their teeth through eight minutes of stoppage time before the celebrations could begin.

PSG cruise

PSG showed why they are the reigning champions of Europe, coach Luis Enrique said, as Dembele scored at Anfield for a second successive campaign.

The game, played in a torrential downpour, was overshadowed by a worrying first-half injury to Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike, who was carried off after going down unchallenged and pointing to his Achilles tendon, leaving the pitch in tears.

The visitors dominated the first half, and Dembele’s brace came after he squandered a couple of earlier chances, including a close-range shot that he fired well over the bar and another that Mamardashvili, racing back toward his net, punched clear.

It was virtually all Liverpool early in the second half as Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Joe Gomez and Mac Allister all missed decent chances.

Milos Kerkez looked poised to score after latching onto a brilliant ball from Mohamed Salah, who was making his final Champions League appearance for the home side. But the Hungarian sent the ball wide.

“It’s difficult to defend the Champions League, we know that,” Enrique said. “But we’re here again and we need to make the most of these opportunities.”

Asked whether PSG carry an “aura” as holders, Enrique pointed instead to the confidence and belief within the squad.

“I don’t know, it’s difficult to judge that,” he said. “But it’s a real pleasure for me to know my team is at that level and can play at that level no matter who they’re playing against.

“You can see what sort of team we are, we’ve got a lot of belief and a lot of confidence, and the supporters express that belief as well.”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said his side’s Champions League exit again laid bare a season-long struggle to turn chances into goals.

“Unfortunately, it’s one of the many examples of this season where we weren’t able to score from the many chances we had,” Slot said.

“Again, we were so far underperforming in terms of xG (expected goals of 1.94), and that is just an ongoing thing with us throughout the whole season.”

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2026

NEW YORK: A top US lawmaker called on FIFA to pay for World Cup public transportation costs on Tuesday following a report that local authorities in New Jersey are planning massive price hikes during the tournament.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, said on X that football’s world governing body — which stands to earn $11 billion from the tournament — should foot the bill for transport costs to World Cup venues.

Schumer was responding to a report in The Athletic on Tuesday which said New Jersey Transit is planning to charge fans more than $100 for tickets from Penn Station in Manhattan to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey during the World Cup.

A return ticket for the journey normally costs $12.90.

“FIFA is set to reap nearly $11 billion from this summer’s World Cup, yet New York area commuters and residents are being handed the bill,” Schumer commented.

“The least FIFA can do is ensure New York residents can go to the stadium without being gouged at the turnstile. I am demanding FIFA step up and cover transportation costs for host cities and states. New York commuters and residents should not subsidize an $11 billion windfall.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also took aim at the reported price hike.

“The World Cup should be as affordable and accessible as possible,” Hochul wrote on X. “Charging over $100 for a short train ride sounds awfully high to me.”

NJ Transit did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by AFP.

The Athletic quoted a spokesperson for the agency as saying that no firm decision had been taken on World Cup ticket pricing.

“The ticket prices for match day travel have not been finalised and any reference to cost would be unconfirmed speculation,” the spokesperson said.

The Athletic report cited NJ Transit sources as saying that the cost of laying on services for the eight matches due to be held at MetLife Stadium — including the final on July 19 — would cost around $48 million.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has said the state will not pass on the cost of transportation to local taxpayers.

“We are not going to be paying for moving the people who are viewing the World Cup on the back of New Jersey taxpayers and New Jersey commuters,” Sherrill said on Monday.

The issue of public transport fare hikes affecting World Cup venues also emerged in Boston, where the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority confirmed earlier this month that return tickets from the city to Gillette Stadium would cost $80 — up from the usual price of $20.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2026