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World football superstar Lionel Messi’s defending world champion Argentina might come to Bangladesh to play two matches at the country’s world-standard football stadium Bashundhara Kings Arena.
After the Qatar World Cup, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Kazi Salahuddin called a press conference and said that Messi and his team Argentina might come to Bangladesh in response to the love of Bangladeshi football lovers for the Argentina team in the World Cup. He said they are waiting for the green signal from the government. So far, the BFF has no update about the visit of the world champion. Though the Argentina football team came to Dhaka in 2011 and played a match against the African country Nigeria, this time uncertainty grips about the visit of the defending champion. Many football lovers thought that the Argentina team and its captain Messi don’t come to Bangladesh.
Removing this diffidence, the world champion might come to Bangladesh. But this time it is not BFF. The country’s best football club Bashundhara Kings has engaged with it. Argentina football team’s Global Agent has proposed Bashundhara Kings President Imrul Hassan arrange two matches at the club's stadium Bashundhara Kings Arena.
Representatives of the Global Agent have handed over the necessary documents of the proposal to Kings President Imrul Hassan. During the hour-long discussion, higher officials of the Global Agent told Imrul Hassan that only Bashundhara Kings can bring Argentina to Bangladesh. They said team Argentina will play one match against Morocco's national football team and another match against Bashundhara Kings.
The agent said although they offered the proposal, Bashundhara Kings management will has to settle all issues.
Argentina Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Talukder Alim Al Razi, Bangladesh-American Chamber of Commerce President Atiquer Rahman, Global Agent vice-president renowned footballer Shahidur Rahman Santu, and legal adviser Aleksandra Stanic were present in the meeting.
About the proposal, Bashundhara Kings President Imrul Hassan said, “We just received the offer. This is amazing. The Argentina team wants to come in July. Global Agent has proposed to us after consulting Argentine Football Association. Now Bashundhara Group will discuss the matter and then we will inform the final decision. If Messi and his team play at Bashundhara Kings Arena, it will be history.”
Shahidur Rahman Santu said, “We have offered Bashundhara Kings after long thinking. It is not so easy to bring the Argentina team to Bangladesh. Bashundhara has the capacity. Let us see the final stage.”
@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on March 16, 2023 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.
