As Messi leaves Barcelona, his Egyptian lookalike joins millions of heavy-hearted fans
Record ID:
1631381
As Messi leaves Barcelona, his Egyptian lookalike joins millions of heavy-hearted fans
- Title: As Messi leaves Barcelona, his Egyptian lookalike joins millions of heavy-hearted fans
- Date: 9th August 2021
- Summary: BATTAH WATCHING GAME ON TV BATTAH ON HIS PHONE BATTAH WATCHING GAME ON TV BATTAH WALKING OUT TO BALCONY BATTAH'S NEIGHBORHOOD VARIOUS OF BATTAH STANDING IN BALCONY AND LOOKING ON BATTAH GREETING HIS FRIENDS ON LOCAL FOOTBALL PITCH (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EGYPTIAN LIONEL MESSI LOOKALIKE, ISLAM BATTAH, SAYING: "I was hoping that Messi would have stayed in Barcelona (club). Barcelona is Messi. And since Messi left Barcelona and Barcelona gave Messi up, Barcelona really lost. They lost Messi's skills on the soccer field. They really lost a lot." VARIOUS OF BATTAH PLAYING SOCCER WITH FRIENDS BATTAH SHOOTING GOAL BATTAH KICKING BALL BATTAH SHOOTING MISSED GOAL BATTAH ON PITCH WITH FRIENDS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EGYPTIAN LIONEL MESSI LOOKALIKE, ISLAM BATTAH, SAYING: "If I was Messi, the club that I would have preferred to play in is the club that appreciates his players and would have appreciated me. The club that I would see myself in, is Paris St. Germain. And Pairs St Germain signed with Messi I think." VARIOUS OF BATTAH WALKING NEXT TO FIELDS IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD VARIOUS OF BATTAH STANDING NEXT TO CORN FIELDS BATTAH LOOKING ON BATTAH GREETING FRIEND, AHMED EZZAT VARIOUS OF BATTAH WALKING WITH EZZAT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BATTAH'S FRIEND, AHMED EZZAT, SAYING: "Barcelona definitely lost a lot because Messi is a legend and historically it is difficult to find someone like him again. He is a Ballon d'Or winner and won it six times. His main competitor is Christiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo is somewhere and Messi is on a whole other level. It is hard, hard, hard for Barcelona to find someone like Messi in the coming period, and even after a long period of time. Messi's (leaving) will have a huge impact on Barcelona. Barcelona will really be affected by Messi. He (Messi) achieved so much at Barcelona. Most of Barcelona's achievements are by Messi right now." VARIOUS OF BATTAH BRUSHING HIS BEARD BATTAH CARRYING FOLDED JERSEY SHIRT AND PUTTING IT IN WARDROBE
- Embargoed: 23rd August 2021 10:11
- Keywords: FCB Lookalike Messi Soccer Spain
- Location: ZAGAZIG, SHARQIYA, EGYPT
- City: ZAGAZIG, SHARQIYA, EGYPT
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Middle East,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA003EPK65AT
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Among the thousands of broken-hearted fans that are shocked at Soccer legend Lionel Messi's leaving of FC Barcelona is his Egyptian lookalike, Islam Battah.
A 27-year-old painter from the humble town of Zagazig in Egypt's Sharqiya governorate, Battah says that Barcelona will experience a great loss as the soccer player and international star changes course.
"I would have hoped that Messi would have stayed in Barcelona (club)," said Battah, standing on his local soccer pitch with friends he often meets with for a game or two.
"Barcelona is Messi," added Battah.
Lionel Messi wept on Sunday (August 8) as he bade farewell to his boyhood team FC Barcelona and confirmed he was talking with French club Paris St Germain over a possible move.
The 34-year-old Argentine's emotional news conference followed Barca's announcement last week that it could no longer afford him after a glittering two decades.
French newspaper L'Equipe reported on Sunday (August 8) that he will travel to Paris either Sunday or Monday to undertake a medical and finalise a deal with the Qatar Sports Investment-owned club.
Despite his disappointment, Battah says that if he were the real Messi, he would join a club that appreciates him and his skills, including St Germain, the Argentinian player's possible new home.
Spanish newspaper Marca reported PSG formally sent their offer to Messi on Sunday morning, just as the Argentine held the news conference.
(Production: Sayed Sheasha, Nadeen Ebrahim) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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