La Liga President Javier Tebas spoke out "in support of Lionel Messi," saying that he does not consider him "a criminal," according to ESPN.com. Messi and his father, Jorge, were found guilty of three counts of tax fraud earlier this month and were handed 21-month suspended jail sentences. Tebas, however, believes that fans should not "hold the conviction against the five time Ballon d'Or winner." He said, "I've already spoken about Messi -- I don't consider him a criminal and I'm happy with him staying in La Liga. There are still options for the player and we have to wait for the final decision" (ESPN.com, 7/14).
RAÚL TALKS REAL MADRID: ESPN.com's Dermot Corrigan reported former Real Madrid player Raúl said that next season will be a "big challenge" for current Manager Zinedine Zidane. Zidane guided the team to a second Champions League trophy in three years "in his first six months after replacing Rafa Benitez as coach last January." Raúl, now La Liga's U.S. country manager, suggested that Zidane "could do with some help" with planning the squad for the '16-17 season. Asked "directly" if club President Florentino Pérez "should take a step back from transfer duties and install a sporting director to look after ins and outs" at the club, Raúl said that having "a well-defined structure in place was a positive for any club." He said, "I believe it's important to have a sporting director -- someone to facilitate the communication between the club and the squad, and work on its planning. But not just at Madrid, at all teams. I would always have that structure. Madrid don't have it today, but then they just won the Champions League. It is necessary that the coach has things as he wants" (ESPN.com, 7/13).
