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Soccer

Guardiola: I want Messi to finish career at Barcelona

Pep Guardiola has reiterated his desire for Lionel Messi to finish his career at Barcelona despite his continued links with a move to Manchester City.

“Lionel Messi is a Barcelona player,” the City manager stated during Friday’s press conference.

“I have a huge gratitude for what Barcelona did for me as a player in the academy and as a manager. I have said many times that I would like Leo to finish his career there.”

Messi’s relationship with Barcelona is strained after he wasn’t granted a transfer over the summer. He also complained on Wednesday he’s “tired” of being blamed for the club’s problems.

His irritation with his situation in Catalonia and Thursday’s news of Pep Guardiola signing a new two-year contract at the Etihad Stadium heightened speculation that the player and tactician could reunite at Manchester City.

Despite his apparent preference for Messi to remain loyal to Barcelona, Guardiola didn’t rule out the possibility of the 33-year-old leaving for another club when his Camp Nou deal expires at the end of the 2020-21 season.

“His contract finishes this year and I don’t know what will happen in his mind,” the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss said. “Right now he is a Barcelona player and the transfer market is in June and July.

“We have incredible games and targets and things we would like to achieve. That is the only thing in our mind. The rest I cannot say anything.”

Current Barcelona handler Ronald Koeman admitted earlier on Friday that he doesn’t know where Messi’s future lies.

NFL

Seahawks place CB Dunbar on IR, elevate two

4:58 PM ET

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Scarbrough reinforces Seattle’s backfield, with Chris Carson (foot) and Travis Homer (wrist/knee/thumb) nursing injuries. Homer is doubtful. Carson is questionable, but a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that he’s unlikely to play.

The Seahawks expect to have Carlos Hyde against Arizona. He and Carson have been sidelined since Seattle’s overtime loss to the Cardinals in Week 7.

Harrison, an All-Pro in 2016, made his Seahawks debut last week. He joined their practice squad on Oct. 7.

Soccer

Guardiola lands new 2-year deal with Manchester City

Pep Guardiola ended speculation over his future Thursday by signing a new two-year contract with Manchester City that promises to keep him at the club until June 2023.

Guardiola’s previous deal was set to expire next summer.

Despite talk of a potential return to Barcelona in recent weeks, the Spaniard is sticking with City as they continue their search for a Champions League title.

“It is testament to the qualities of the man that Pep Guardiola’s passion and intelligent approach are now woven into the very fabric of the football we play and our culture as (a) club,” chairman Khaldoon Mubarak said in a statement.

“That impact has been central to our success during his tenure and it is why I am delighted that he shares our view that there is so much more to be achieved both on and off the field.”

Guardiola’s currently in his fifth season with City, the longest he’s ever spent coaching a single club. He left Barcelona and Bayern Munich, respectively, after just three years.

Since arriving in England in 2016, the 49-year-old has won the Premier League twice, the League Cup on three occasions, and the FA Cup. He steered City to an unprecedented domestic treble in 2018-19, winning in all three competitions.

But success has eluded City in Europe. They’ve yet to reach the Champions League semifinals under Guardiola, falling at the quarterfinal stage three times.

“The challenge for us is to continue improving and evolving,” Guardiola added, “and I am very excited and about helping Manchester City do that.”

NFL

Sources: Giants fire Colombo after Judge spat

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants fired offensive line coach Marc Colombo following a nasty verbal confrontation with head coach Joe Judge, sources told ESPN, and have replaced him with longtime NFL assistant Dave DeGuglielmo.

“We appreciate what Marc has done, but I felt like this move is in the best interest of the team,” Judge said in a statement released by the team Wednesday.

When Colombo was told of a plan by Judge to hire DeGuglielmo as a consultant on Tuesday night, it did not go down well.

Colombo did not agree with the move and felt that he was being undermined, a source told ESPN, due to DeGuglielmo’s background as an offensive line coach. Another source added that the hands-on Judge wanted to bring in “one of his guys” to capture more control at a position that is not his expertise.

Although there was plenty of name-calling, Colombo and Judge did not get into a fistfight, as one report indicated. A Giants spokesperson said the report of a physical altercation is “absolutely false in every way.”

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The move to fire Colombo was a surprise considering that the Giants’ offensive line has shown improvement in recent weeks. The Giants have rushed for more than 150 yards in each of their past three games.

Colombo was hired by Judge this offseason to work under Colombo’s former boss Jason Garrett, the offensive coordinator. Colombo was previously line coach for the Dallas Cowboys.

But Judge has been more involved in recent weeks in working with the Giants’ offensive line.

DeGuglielmo was an assistant offensive line coach/quality control with the Giants from 2004 to ’08. He also worked with Judge in New England when he coached the Patriots’ offensive line in 2014 and ’15.

Judge interviewed DeGuglielmo for the offensive line coach job earlier this year.

Colombo, 42, played 10 years in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, Cowboys and Miami Dolphins. He worked as an assistant with the Cowboys for each of the previous four seasons.

Among Colombo’s top jobs has been to work with the Giants’ young offensive linemen. Three of their first five picks in this year’s draft were offensive linemen, including No. 4 overall pick Andrew Thomas. Fifth-round pick Shane Lemieux was recently inserted into the starting lineup, and third-round selection Matt Peart has been rotated in.

But Thomas struggled early, and his sloppy technique became a topic of conversation.

“We sat down, had conversations with Andrew, talked about taking [his technique] from the practice field to the game. That is what he’s done lately,” Colombo said last week. “He has a new air of confidence. The past couple weeks he has played really well. His timing has been better. His pass sets have been better. His run blocking has been better. We just have to keep growing. I’ve noticed a more confident Andrew the past few weeks.”

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Soccer