Barcelona have a headline about Cristiano Ronaldo pinned up in their dressing room for Lionel Messi and teammates to see.
An extract of Spanish newspaper AS is pinned up inside the club’s Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training base.
Ronaldo terrorised the Blaugrana during his nine-year spell with Real Madrid – but the headline is nothing to do with that.
Instead, it’s to warn players of Covid-19 risks and it reads: “Cristiano returns to test positive for Covid-19 and is low against Barca.”
Eagle-eyed fans spot Cristiano Ronaldo headline stuck up in BARCELONA dressing room for Lionel Messi and Co – https://t.co/96ddBomdzX pic.twitter.com/iUyPFCeikp
— Celebrity Detective (@celeb_detective) July 18, 2021
It’s believed the message is there to show Barcelona players that even elite athletes can suffer from the virus.
Beneath that is the message of: “The competition is at stake.” And: “The rules are to be met.”
The headline is referring to Ronaldo having to miss a Champions League clash between Barcelona and Juventus due to testing positive.
Barcelona won that game 2-0 and Juve missed Ronaldo in front of goal.
Both sides still progressed in the competition and were eliminated at the last-16 stage by Paris Saint-Germain and Porto respectively.
 |
| Messi & Ronaldo in the second game, which Ronaldo got to feature in. (Image Credit: PA) |
Ronaldo’s future is up in the air this summer and he’s been linked with a move away from Turin.
Juventus finished fourth in Serie A and parted ways with manager Andrea Pirlo, with Max Allegri returning to the dugout.
Messi, meanwhile, looks ready to commit his long-term future to Barcelona.
The 34-year-old has technically been a free agent since July 1 with his deal expiring.
Now it seems that his future is set to be confirmed, with reports that he has agreed to halve his former wages in order to stay at the Camp Nou.
Spanish outlet SPORT claim that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner will sign a five year deal and understands the club’s financial situation has required a wage decrease.
 |
| Image Credit: PA |
Less than a year ago Messi made it public that he wanted to leave the Nou Camp, after the club had been embarrassed in the Champions League by Bayern Munich.
Messi was hoping to be allowed to leave for nothing, due to an agreement with the club, but the request was denied.
It then looked like he would wait to the end of the season, with PSG and Manchester City both linked.
However it has become clear over the past few months that he was set to stay with the club he signed for 21 years ago.
Featured Image Credit: PA Images & Barcelona/YouTube