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Lionel Messi is one of the investors in the finals of the Davis Cup in Madrid later this year, according to Barcelona teammate Gerard Pique, whose company Kosmos helped revamp the historic tennis competition.
The investment company Kosmos de Pique supports the new format of $ 3 billion over 25 years and will manage the competition jointly with the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
The first finals of 18 nations, which replaced the world-wide 16-nation group played throughout the year, will be held at Madrid's La Caja Magica Stadium (Magic Box) on 18 and 24 November.
Before the draw ceremony on Thursday, Pique confirmed that the Argentine striker, Messi, who already has a stake in Kosmos, was involved.
"Leo knows more than anyone else on this subject because he's involved in Kosmos," Pique told the British media yesterday.
"He's a partner, he's part of the Kosmos family, he loves tennis. We have been in a relationship for 18 years since joining the club and I always try to share things with him that I think, he loves being part of it and he wanted to be part of it. "
Pique's commitment to the 119-year-old FIT team competition has drawn a lot of disdain, former world number-one Lleyton Hewitt, who will captain Australia at the competition, question his credentials. .
The great Swiss Roger Federer even hinted that the competition might become the "Cup of dive".
"I hate it because it's not about me and I do not want my name in the competition," said Pique.
"The story of the Davis Cup is so great. I hope we can change that opinion. After a few years, I hope they'll come back saying, "We were wrong, the Davis Cup is more alive than ever."
"I respect Lleyton's opinion, he was an excellent player. I can understand that when a footballer comes into the world of tennis, it may sound a bit odd or strange, but at the end of the day, I will not change the rules of tennis. "
Spades, 32, also said that he was too busy helping Barcelona win the La Liga and the Champions League, instead of getting too involved in the ITF's flagship tournament.
"I do not want to be distracted because I have another job, which is to play football. This helps me stay focused, more focused and not to make mistakes on the ground because otherwise I know that there will be criticism, "he said in the Daily. Mail.
The finals of the Davis Cup, which will offer a big pot of money, will take place in Madrid for two years before eventually settling in the Californian Indian Wells complex, owned by another Kosmos actor, Larry Ellison.
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