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Club legend claims Messi will stay at Barcelona; Man Utd ‘ready to offer Solskjaer new contract’

Friday’s papers are reporting big stories across the continent, with Rivaldo saying Lionel Messi will stay at Barcelona, and Manchester United will offer Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a new contract.

Rivaldo says Messi is not going anywhere this summer

Barcelona and Brazil legend Rivaldo has claimed the change in Barca's presidency will help persuade Lionel Messi to sign a new contract at the club, report The Sun via Betfair.

The former striker said: "Barcelona are massively improving in the last few weeks capitalising on Messi's superb form and the election of a new president.

"Messi looks much more connected and happier since [Joan] Laporta's arrival - a president he knows well.

"For that reason, I'm starting to believe more and more that Messi might reach an agreement with the new board and sign a new contract to stay at the club for a few more years.
"Messi had a confidence boost with the new president election - someone he has a good connection with - raising the chances of him considering to stay for a bit longer."

After a period of uncertainty, Messi is now odds-on to stay at Barcelona at 8/15 with Betfair, with a move to Manchester City priced at 10/3 and any MLS club at 15/2.

Solskjaer 'to receive new United contract regardless of trophy success'

Manchester United are reportedly on the way to offering Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a new three-year contract as manager of the club, even if the club finishes the season without a trophy, according to the Daily Mirror.

The Norwegian is apparently in for a bumper new deal worth up to £30million, with United aiming to secure Solskjaer's future before the end of the season.

He had been heading into the final year of his current deal, so the Mirror say the club are wanting to quash any speculation surrounding his position as manager with only one year left on his contract.

Such is the confidence in the market that Solskjaer is sticking around at United, he is now priced as high as 66/1 (William Hill) to be the next Premier League manager to leave their post, with Steve Bruce the favourite at 6/4 to leave next before the end of the season (Sky Bet).

Juventus reportedly considering Zidane approach

After a difficult season under Andrea Pirlo, the Daily Mail are reporting that Juventus are considering a move for Zinedine Zidane to become their new manager.

With Zidane's future at Real Madrid still under speculation due to the club lagging behind city rivals Atletico in La Liga, the Mail claim Juve are looking to replace Pirlo after a torrid campaign in Serie A.

Juve, having won the last nine Serie A titles consecutively, are 10 points behind leaders Inter Milan and the Mail report that Pirlo may only have one match to save his job - the Turin derby against Torino after the international break.

While odds are not yet available on Juve's next boss, Paddy Power have RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann as odds-on favourite to be Zidane's replacement at Real at 5/6.

READ MORE: Head to TEAMtalk for their in-depth round-up of the biggest stories in soccer today

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