The authorities of Gabon deny that the country has paid any amount of money to the Argentine footballer Lionel Messi
The authorities of Gabon denied today that the country has paid "any amount of money" to the Argentine footballer Lionel Messi for placing, together with President Ali Bongo, the foundation stone of a stadium for the Africa Cup that will be held in 2017.
The denial, distributed by the Gabon embassy in France, responds to information from the African publication "Mondafrique" and the French magazine "France Football" in which they sustain that Messi pocketed 3.5 million euros for his lightning trip to the African country.
"The Republic of Gabon firmly denies having transferred or promised to transfer any amount of money to the Argentine international footballer Lionel Messi", who was "in Gabon from July 17 to 18, 2015" at the invitation of Bongo, said the Gabonese diplomacy in a statement.
Ali Bongo succeeded his father, Omar Bongo, who was in office from 1967 until his death in 2009, as president of the country.
Together with the former Portuguese international and former Barcelona teammate Deco, Messi accompanied the Head of State to Port-Gentil for the laying of the foundation stone of the future stadium in that city for the 2017 Africa Cup and then paraded in a convertible through the Gabonese capital together with Bongo.
"In Gabon, where a large part of the population does not benefit from oil revenues, the opposition increasingly denounces the politics of distraction or 'circus'," published "France Football."
This publication adds that behind Messi's trip is the hand of his former teammate Samuel Eto'o, who is close to Bongo.
"Official promoter of Bonfo, the Cameroonian already acted as a 'tour operator,' bringing Xavi and Víctor Valdés to Libreville in May 2012 for the inauguration of his foundation dedicated to 'new talents'," adds the publication.
The magazine recalled that the Gabonese opposition has criticized that around 2 million euros have also come out of public coffers to finance friendly matches of Brazil or Portugal in the country, as well as "several million dollars" to receive Pelé.