Messi officially started the building process at the Port-Gentil stadium, which will host Africa Cup of Nations matches in 2017. He came dressed in a casual pair of denim shorts and t-shirt
"When I was in Barcelona a few years ago, I met Messi who had told me that he would come to visit me in Libreville" said the Gabon president. "It's a promise he made me. He is a man of honour who just kept his word.".There are reports that he was paid 3.5m Euros by Ali Bongo to make the appearance and it's causing serious wahala in the country. Gabonese are angry about the obscene amount and say their president belittled himself by driving Messi around. He was there for just one day.
More photos after the cut..
The 28-year-old football superstar caused outrage at the weekend when he arrived in Gabon, the former French colony, as a guest of president Ali Bongo.
Wearing Bermuda shorts and a T-shirt, and showing off his new tattoos, Messi was officially laying the foundation stones for a new stadium in the city of Port-Gentil.
But the Barcelona and Argentina striker, who is facing trial for tax fraud in Spain, also helped with the opening of a new Bongo family restaurant, and showed full support for their regime.
'People are outraged about this,' said an opposition source in the country, which is regularly linked with corruption and human rights abuses. 'Messi should do a bit of research into what Bongo represents.'
French media reported that Messi was paid the equivalent of £2.4m for the trip, which he took with his former Barcelona team-mate Deco.
A report in France Football reads: 'The little African trip should bring in around 3.5 million euros. Not bad!'
However Bongo attempted to explain Messi's appearance. He said: 'When I was in Barcelona a few years ago, I met Messi who had told me that he would come to visit me in Libreville.
'It's a promise he made me. He is a man of honour who just kept his word.'
No comments:
Post a Comment