• Lionel Messi smiles during the 4-0 win against Villarreal on Sunday, their first league game of the season. AFP
    Lionel Messi smiles during the 4-0 win against Villarreal on Sunday, their first league game of the season. AFP
  • Ansu Fati had a night to enjoy. Getty
    Ansu Fati had a night to enjoy. Getty
  • Ansu Fati celebrates with team mates scoring the opening goal. AP
    Ansu Fati celebrates with team mates scoring the opening goal. AP
  • Barcelona's Ansu Fati celebrates scoring their second goal. Reuters
    Barcelona's Ansu Fati celebrates scoring their second goal. Reuters
  • Villarreal's Spanish midfielder Daniel Parejo challenges Barcelona's Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho. AFP
    Villarreal's Spanish midfielder Daniel Parejo challenges Barcelona's Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho. AFP
  • Barcelona's striker Antoine Griezmann takes a shot. EPA
    Barcelona's striker Antoine Griezmann takes a shot. EPA
  • Barcelona celebrate their fourth goal. EPA
    Barcelona celebrate their fourth goal. EPA
  • Coach Ronald Koeman greets Lionel Messi at the end of the game. AFP
    Coach Ronald Koeman greets Lionel Messi at the end of the game. AFP
  • Lionel Messi scores Barca's third goal from the penalty spot. Reuters
    Lionel Messi scores Barca's third goal from the penalty spot. Reuters
  • Messi celebrates his goal. EPA
    Messi celebrates his goal. EPA
  • Lionel Messi takes on the Villarreal defence. EPA
    Lionel Messi takes on the Villarreal defence. EPA
  • Ansu Fati in action. Reuters
    Ansu Fati in action. Reuters
  • Lionel Messi, Ansu Fati and midfielder Philippe Coutinho celebrate the fourth goal. EPA
    Lionel Messi, Ansu Fati and midfielder Philippe Coutinho celebrate the fourth goal. EPA
  • Coach Ronald Koeman greets Barcelona's Spanish forward Ansu Fati. AFP
    Coach Ronald Koeman greets Barcelona's Spanish forward Ansu Fati. AFP
  • Ansu Fati celebrates scoring the opening goal. AP
    Ansu Fati celebrates scoring the opening goal. AP

'It's not in my hands': Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman on Lionel Messi's level of happiness at club


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Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has said he can't influence Lionel Messi's "happiness", but stated he was glad to hear the Argentine say he wants to end his disputes with the club.

Koeman also confirmed Ajax defender Sergino Dest is "almost certain" to join Barca, with the 19-year-old expected to complete his medical on Wednesday before completing the move.

The arrival of Dest would continue the shake-up at Barcelona, who have allowed Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic, Arturo Vidal and Nelson Semedo to leave as they try to reduce the wage bill and refresh their squad.

Messi was forced to stay and expressed his disappointment at the way Suarez was pushed out to Atletico Madrid but in an interview with Diario Sport, the 33-year-old said he wanted to "put an end" to the "disagreements".

"I don't know if after Messi's words I will have a quiet life as coach of Barcelona, I don't think so, there is always something, but of course it is very positive that the captain has come out like that asking us to be united," Koeman said on Wednesday.

"This was very positive and hopefully everything will be a bit quieter than it has been recently."

Koeman was asked if he thinks Messi is happy at Barcelona. "I don't know if I have that sort of thing in my hands. As a coach we have to look to make a better team for him, where he can shine, and look for a position in the team where he can deliver the best performances that he has always delivered for this club.

"I have seen in these four weeks that he lives for football, even in training matches he does everything to win and I think that winning matches is the remedy for Leo to be happy in this team."

Dest will offer competition at right-back after Semedo was sold to Wolves. "Sergino is doing his medical and still the contract has to be signed so until he has signed, I prefer not to give an opinion," Koeman said.

"But it's almost certain that he will be here and then we will have a young full-back. It's also a matter of changing things, having young players for the future of this Barca."

Koeman said the future of Ousmane Dembele, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United, is not up to him.

"The first thing to say is it's up to the club and the player," said Koeman. "While the player is with us, I am going to count on him. He has not played the last match because there are other players and Ansu [Fati] has shown he is a very good player for this team so he has to wait for his chance to play.

"He was better physically in the first few weeks, he had a little dip last week, but today he has trained well, so I want to say I am counting on him."

Barcelona play away at Celta Vigo on Thursday after winning their opening La Liga game 4-0 against Villarreal on Sunday.

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The Details

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Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series

Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga

Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa

Rating: 2.5/5 

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A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

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Date started: 2015

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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

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  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
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Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 290hp

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Price: Dh155,800

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Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

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