Lionel Messi 'paid £2.4m to visit Gabon' as guest of president Ali Bongo Ondimba

July 21, 2015

By Vaishali Bhardwaj*

Happy holiday: Lionel Messi is given a tour during the start of construction of the Port-Gentil Stadium by the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba

While Barcelona jetted off to America for their pre-season tour of the US at the weekend, Lionel Messi made a surprise visit to Gabon to lay the first stone at a future 2017 Africa Cup of Nations stadium.

The Argentine star has been granted time off following his exploits for his country at the Copa America this summer, and was pictured with Gabonese president Ali Bongo Ondimba helping to begin the building process at the Port-Gentil venue.

After arriving in the West African nation on Saturday, the 28-year-old was driven around by Bongo before taking part in a ceremony at the stadium, which will host games at the tournament in two years.

Speaking about Messi’s appearance in Gabon, the president 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.”

Despite Bongo’s insistence that Messi’s role in the ceremony was due to a previous vow he had made, France Football have claimed the Barcelona forward was paid around £2.4million to fly to Gabon.

It is reported that Messi’s former teammates at the Camp Nou, Samuel Eto’o and Deco, helped arrange the Argentine’s first trip to the country with the pair enjoying a good relationship with Bongo.

Gabon will host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017 for the second time after having co-hosted the tournament with Equatorial Guinea in 2012.

The country will use four venues for the competition – Libreville, Franceville, Oyem and Port-Gentil – with the stadium in the latter city set to house 20,000 fans when it opens next year.

*Source Standard UK