Barcelona’s Director of Football, Deco, has acknowledged the challenge of reinforcing the team in January, primarily due to the club’s financial situation.
Barcelona currently exceeds the LaLiga-imposed spending limit for the season, set at €270 million, which restricts their spending to approximately 50% of any funds they generate or save.
It has been previously reported by ESPN that Xavi Hernandez, the team’s manager, has expressed the desire to add another defensive midfielder to his squad to provide depth in every position.
However, this is unlikely to occur until the following summer.
“It will be difficult to sign anyone in January,” Deco said in an interview withMundo Deportivo published on Tuesday. “We are always ready in case an opportunity presents itself, but I don’t think it will be possible.”
Despite being just 19 years old, Barcelona midfielder Gavi has earned the respect of his Spanish national team colleagues, with Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal being particularly vocal in his admiration.
Carvajal lauded the 19-year-old midfielder as a “gem” after his match-winning performance.
On October 6, Gavi made his debut for the Spanish national team under the management of Luis Enrique, becoming La Roja’s youngest-ever player until teammate Lamine Yamal broke that record.
Gavi is a regular starter for Barcelona and has contributed two goals and an assist in 11 appearances across all competitions this season.
In related news, Spain secured their spot in Euro 2024 with two games to spare in Group A, thanks to a 1-0 victory over Norway on October 15.
Dani Carvajal: "Gavi is a starter at Barça and in the National Team at this age. What can I say? It's such a gem." 💎 pic.twitter.com/bYlsdQNfln
Barcelona midfielder Gavi played a pivotal role, scoring early in the second half and ensuring the 2008 and 2012 European champions’ qualification for the tournament in Germany next summer.
Spain’s victory also led to Scotland qualifying, while Norway, who last featured in a major tournament in Euro 2000, will have to rely on the play-offs for a chance.
Furthermore, Sports Brief reported on Spain’s triumph over Norway, effectively earning their spot in Euro 2024 in Germany with a 1-0 victory.
Gavi, the Barcelona star, scored the game’s solitary goal, securing the European Championship berth for the 2008 and 2012 champions, leaving their opponents with the task of seeking alternative avenues for qualification.
As a result of Norway’s loss to Spain, Scotland also secured their place in the tournament, with both nations tied on 15 points and two games remaining in the group.
Joao Felix has expressed his contentment with playing for Barcelona, amidst ongoing reports indicating a potential permanent signing by the Catalan club.
Since joining Barcelona on loan from Atletico Madrid on transfer deadline day, the Portuguese forward has been in excellent form. He has notched three goals and contributed as many assists in his eight appearances for the Catalan giants.
He openly shares his satisfaction with being a part of the club.
Speaking to reporters, Felix said, “As you can see, I’m happy where I am; I feel good and confident and I feel like I’m going through a good moment. The most difficult thing is to maintain a good level, something that I have not achieved for some time in recent seasons.
“But I work every day and I always try to improve to correct those less positive aspects of myself. And yes, I am happy and going through a good time.”
The current La Liga winners are allegedly planning a fair offer to deliver the striker to Atletico Madrid in order to sign him permanently next summer, according to a report from Sport.
The 23-year-old forward’s next appearance for Xavi’s team will come on October 22, when they take on Athletic Club in La Liga.
Barcelona has expressed a strong interest in securing the services of Brighton’s standout talent, Kaoru Mitoma. Reports originating from Spain reveal that the La Liga champions’ scouts have been impressed by Mitoma’s exceptional dribbling skills and goal-scoring prowess.
Furthermore, Barcelona is well aware that the Japanese international’s contract is set to expire in 2025, making a potential deal feasible next summer, when Brighton is likely to consider cashing in on their valuable asset.
Mitoma has been among the Premier League’s top attackers since the previous season. In the 2022/23 campaign, he netted 10 goals and provided eight assists in various competitions, maintaining an impressive tally of seven goal involvements in just 11 matches so far this season.
The report emphasizes that Barcelona’s manager, Xavi, is eager to bolster his squad with a left-winger, as most of his existing options, such as Raphinha, Ferran Torres, and Lamine Yamal, tend to favor the right flank.
While the club’s primary focus is on acquiring a holding midfielder, the pursuit of Mitoma is also a priority.
Lluis Cortes reportedly declined an offer to become Morocco’s new women’s head coach upon learning of Jorge Vilda’s involvement in the project.
Vilda, the former Spain national team manager, was appointed as the new head coach of Morocco shortly after being dismissed just 16 days after winning the World Cup.
Vilda’s departure was due to a controversy involving Luis Rubiales grabbing and kissing Captain Hermoso after the final.
Nevertheless, Vilda is now set for a new challenge with the Moroccan national team, which made its debut in the 2023 World Cup and reached the last-16 stage in Australia and New Zealand.
According to COPE, Cortes was initially offered the role before Vilda.
However, when he discovered that the former Spain boss would serve as the technical director for the nation’s youth teams on the recommendation of the RFEF, he decided to end negotiations.
Cortes, who guided Barcelona to a historic treble in 2021, didn’t want to be associated with Vilda, particularly in light of the incident involving his former player Hermoso.
After Cortes turned down the offer, the Moroccan federation appointed the World Cup-winning manager to the position.
Vilda is taking over from Reynald Pedros, who had been incharge since 2021.
There is an increasing likelihood that RB Leipzig’s attacking midfielder, Dani Olmo, will make a summer transfer to Barcelona, as reported by Sport Bild.
During the previous summer, RB Leipzig witnessed the departure of several high-profile players, such as Josko Gvardiol to Manchester City, Dominik Szoboszlai to Liverpool, and Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea.
Consequently, Die Roten Bullen will need to generate approximately €60 million in the upcoming summer transfer window to cover player salaries and club infrastructure.
Olmo’s contract with Leipzig, which was signed last spring, incorporates a release clause ranging from €60 million to €65 million, contingent on the acquiring club.
This release clause becomes active at the end of the season.
https://youtu.be/FABH8rgFlHM
Barcelona represents Olmo’s long-cherished destination, particularly considering his earlier involvement with the club during his youth career. Consequently, Leipzig may be willing to accept an offer at the lower end of that spectrum, provided Barcelona’s financial situation is resolved.
Olmo, his father Miquel, and agent Andy Bara have engaged in discussions with Barcelona regarding a potential return, and there were reports of a clandestine meeting in Qatar during the 2022 World Cup.
Notably, the Spain international extended his contract with Leipzig following these negotiations, with the inclusion of the new release clause.
Currently recovering from injury, the 25-year-old has already made a significant impact this season, scoring five goals and providing an assist in four matches across all competitions, including a remarkable hat trick against Bayern Munich in the DFL Super Cup.
Barcelona’s vice president, Eduard Romeu, has confirmed the club’s intention to honour Lionel Messi with a meaningful tribute. However, he has refrained from speculating on the possibility of Messi’s return to the team.
Rumours of Messi’s potential reunion with Barcelona have persisted since his departure for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
Yet, the Argentine icon chose to join Inter Miami during the summer, eschewing a return to his former club.
As the MLS season is scheduled to conclude at the end of the year and Inter Miami has been excluded from the playoffs after the regular season, the notion of Messi making a temporary return to Barcelona has resurfaced.
Nonetheless, this prospect has been dismissed as unfeasible due to Barcelona’s ongoing financial difficulties.
Nevertheless, it is highly likely that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will receive a tribute in front of the Barcelona fans once Camp Nou reopens, a gesture that Romeu is optimistic will come to fruition.
“The only thing I would like, and the day and time will surely come when the circumstances are favourable, is that we can pay him a great tribute,” he told L’Esportiu. “He deserves it and we’re really looking forward to it.
“The rest is a matter of speculation; we don’t even talk about this subject because we have already talked about it too many times.”
Lionel Messi’s return to Barcelona on a stunning loan transfer is not on the cards, as the club reportedly has different priorities for the upcoming January window.
While there have been discussions about the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner potentially reuniting with Barcelona, it seems the club has ruled out such a move.
One of the reasons for this decision is that Messi’s current team, Inter Miami, will not be participating in the MLS playoffs. With their postseason hopes dashed, Messi’s debut season in the United States will conclude on October 21.
Following this, he will be engaged in World Cup qualifiers with the Argentina national team in November. However, a significant break awaits him until the 2024 season begins in the United States.
There had been speculation that Messi might seek more competitive action by returning to Europe on a short-term loan. However, according to reports from Mundo Deportivo, no agreement will be reached with Barcelona.
This is due to Barcelona operating on a tight budget, and even if Messi were to accept a reduced salary, La Liga regulations would still calculate his wage to be much higher, as seen with the case of Joao Felix’s summer signing.
Furthermore, Barcelona is focused on registering Vitor Roque in January, an 18-year-old Brazilian forward for whom they have already arranged a deal with Athletico Paranaense.
As a result, there has been no consideration given to signing Messi.
Following his team’s 2-2 draw on Sunday night,Barcelona coach Xavi believed that his squad deserved to claim all three points against Granada.
To secure a single point, the visitors had to mount a comeback from a challenging 2-0 deficit, a situation exacerbated by Bryan Zaragoza’s two-goal performance.
Nonetheless, Barcelona managed to salvage a draw thanks to goals from Sergi Roberto and Lamine Yamal, preserving their perfect start to the season.
Barcelona had initially taken the lead through Joao Felix, but the goal was disallowed due to Ferran Torres being in an offside position and deemed to have “interfered” with play.
“Just as the referee can rule out João Felix’s goal, he can also give it,” he said [via Barca Blaugranes]. “I think Torres doesn’t interfere; whether Ferran jumps or not, the ball goes to the same place. Who is he interfering with?”
It’s undeniably a contentious call in what was a chaotic contest. Although Barcelona is still undefeated, they enter the international break three points behind Real Madrid and Girona in the standings.
Barcelona will next be in action on October 22 after the international break when they take on Athletic Club at San Mames in what will be a big test for Xavi’s men.
Barcelona is planning to make an approach for Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, according to Sport.
The 19-year-old is on a season-long loan at Nottingham Forest but, having yet to make a league appearance for the club, it is reported that he now wants to leave the Premier League.
The La Liga champions have previously identified the Brazil international as a potential successor to legend Sergio Busquets, with the belief that he would thrive in the system of manager Xavi Hernandez.
Barca’s sporting director Deco is said to have a strong relationship with Santos’ agent, Giuliano Bertolucci, and that could play in the favour of the Blaugrana, who inquired about a loan move for him in July before eventually signing Oriol Romeu instead.
However, despite Barcelona not advancing on the deal during the last transfer window, they could now resurface as a potential fit for the former Vasco da Gama star, with no sign of regular minutes on the horizon underForest head coach Steve Cooper.
Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, is reportedly implementing a policy to halt the club from acquiring players aged 30 or older, as per Sport.
During the summer transfer window, Barcelona brought in Iñigo Martinez, Ilkay Gundogan, and Oriol Romeu, all of whom are above the age of 30.
Additionally, Joao Cancelo, another recent addition on loan, is 29.
These signings were intended to provide experience alongside established players like Robert Lewandowski, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marcos Alonso, and Sergi Roberto. However, Deco believes it’s time for the club to shift its focus to a different type of acquisition.
According to the report, Barcelona will not consider even free agents who are older than 30, as new signings must maintain their transfer value.
Conversely, Barcelona is also fostering young talent, with players like Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Balde, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and Pedri gaining significant playing time.
Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, has initiated discussions with Frenkie de Jong regarding a potential contract extension at the club, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
Relations between Barcelona and De Jong’s camp had been strained last summer due to discussions about a possible transfer to Manchester United.
However, given De Jong’s strong form, despite a recent injury, Barcelona is now eager to prolong his contract beyond its current term, ending in 2026.
Deco has conveyed to De Jong that the desire for contract renewal is not linked to creating more financial room within their LaLiga-imposed spending limits.
Barcelona recently extended the contract of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, with the goalkeeper agreeing to lower wages in the coming years to help the club allocate more funds for player registrations in the current season.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the conversation between Deco and De Jong had a “positive” tone, with the sporting director emphasising that the extension would be based on sporting achievements.
Barcelona’s financial constraints have led the club to primarily focus on acquiring free agents, securing loan deals, and targeting talented players who find themselves out of favour at their current clubs.
According to Mundo Deportivo, this strategy is expected to persist, and they have provided a list of players that Barcelona is considering ahead of the summer transfer window.
First on their list is Jadon Sancho, the Manchester United winger. The English international has been sidelined since August 26 due to well-documented issues with manager Erik ten Hag, resulting in his exclusion from first-team activities.
Ten Hag seems unwavering in his approach, but Barcelona may face competition from Roma, who are also reportedly interested in the 23-year-old.
Another Manchester United player under Barcelona’s radar is Anthony Martial, who has struggled to secure significant playing time, even amid the issues in Ten Hag’s squad. Martial, aged 27, has a contract set to expire in the summer.
Matthijs de Ligt is also under consideration by Barcelona.
The 24-year-old center-back has openly expressed his dissatisfaction with his limited playing time at Bayern Munich, having received just 82 minutes in the Bundesliga under manager Thomas Tuchel this season.
Barcelona is also exploring the possibility of acquiring Arsenal midfielder Jorginho.
The 31-year-old midfielder joined Arsenal in January, but his contract is currently set to expire in the summer of 2024.
Additionally, there is a surprising interest in versatile forward and midfielder Kai Havertz, who recently joined Arsenal this summer for £65 million but has already become a subject of frustration.
Furthermore, Barcelona is among several clubs interested in negotiating with 21-year-old forward Nico Williams if Athletic Club fails to reach a contract renewal agreement with him.
Williams’ current deal is set to expire this summer.
Former Portugal and Atletico Madrid winger Paulo Futre has disclosed that Joao Felix was offered to Manchester United and Manchester City before he secured a move to Barcelona.
According to Futre, after Joao Felix’s loan stint with Chelsea concluded this summer, the Portuguese star’s services were presented to various clubs.
However, neither Manchester United nor Manchester City expressed interest in signing the forward.
Additionally, Atletico Madrid explored the possibility of a transfer to Aston Villa, but the player himself rejected the move.
Futre, speaking to Cadena Ser, revealed his concerns when Joao Felix expressed his dream of playing for Barcelona, and he questioned Jorge Mendes, Joao’s agent, about it.
Mendes denied responsibility for Joao’s statements but confirmed that he had discussions with Manchester United, a fact that Futre verified through his connections.
https://youtu.be/6hIYoPdiCpo
Subsequently, Mendes also mentioned talks with Manchester City, which Futre independently confirmed had no interest in acquiring Joao Felix.
“What happened between João and Cholo [Diego Simeone] happens every day in football. It’s something normal. What is not normal is that phenomenal coaches knew that João was a genius (…) he entered their game system, but nobody wanted him.
Neither Arteta, nor Guardiola, nor Klopp, any club… My question is, why? The only team that has wanted him has been Aston Villa. Joao said no when there was an agreement between Atleti and Aston Villa at the beginning of July.”
After facing rejections from thePremier League heavyweights, Joao Felix eventually secured a one-year loan deal with Barcelona on transfer deadline day.
This move to the Catalan giants has turned out to be a boon for the young forward, as he has displayed exceptional form at the beginning of the season.
In his four appearances so far, he has netted three goals and provided two assists.
His next opportunity to shine will come on Tuesday when Barcelona takes on Mallorca in a La Liga match.
Barcelona delivered an impressive performance, defeating Real Betis 5-0, with Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo scoring their debut goals for the Blaugrana.
The scoring began in the 25th minute when Joao Felix finished from a tight angle after strong pressing from Xavi’s team.
Felix played a crucial role in the second goal by dummying a pass from Andreas Christensen, allowing Robert Lewandowski to calmly slot the ball into the net.
In the second half, Ferran Torres extended Barcelona’s lead with their first direct free-kick goal since Lionel Messi achieved this feat in May 2021.
Raphinha added a fourth goal with an unstoppable strike from the edge of the box into the bottom right corner, and Cancelo sealed the victory with a powerful effort past Francisco Vieites.
This win propels Barcelona to the top of LaLiga with 13 points, maintaining their unbeaten league record. However, Real Madrid has an opportunity to regain the top spot when they face Real Sociedad on Sunday evening.
In what was Xavi’s largest victory to date as Barcelona manager, the Spanish tactician still believed there was room for improvement.
He said: “It’s impossible to call this a perfect match. We need to improve in several aspects.
“But yes, we played an excellent match, and I am satisfied with the performance of my players and the way they enjoyed the match”
Xavi also credited the fans for driving his team forward.
He said: “It felt like we played at the Camp Nou today. The Fans were spectacular and they helped us a lot.”
Barcelona has initiated contact with Nico Williams’ agent as the Athletic Bilbao forward’s contract is set to expire next summer, as reported by Diario Sport.
At just 21 years old, Williams has had an impressive start to the LaLiga season with Athletic and showcased his abilities during the international break while playing for Spain, contributing to three goals in victories against Georgia and Cyprus.
Given their financial constraints, Barcelona is actively seeking free-agent options for the upcoming summer, and Williams is considered one of the top prospects on their radar.
Nico Williams
Athletic is eager to extend Williams’ contract, which has prompted Barcelona to inform the player’s agent, Felix Tainta, of their interest should he opt not to renew his current contract.
Williams, who is versatile enough to play on either the left or right side of a front three, happens to be the brother of hisAthletic teammate, Iñaki.
Barcelona is facing additional financial challenges as a crucial investor has failed to provide the necessary funds to complete an important deal, leaving President Joan Laporta in a precarious position.
Last month, Barcelona reached an agreement with Libero, a football finance company listed in Frankfurt, to acquire a 9.8 percent stake in Barca Vision.
However, according to The Telegraph, Libero has been unable to secure the funds required to finalise the transaction.
This development puts President Laporta in a difficult situation because he personally guaranteed €20 million (£17.2 million or $21.5 million) as part of the arrangement, which played a pivotal role in obtaining La Liga’s licence for Barcelona to participate in the current season.
The transaction was part of a series of “palancas” or leveraged deals, that had provided crucial short-term funding in exchange for shares of future income or the sale of club subsidiaries.
Up until now, this strategy had been considered successful, with Barcelona’s rejuvenated playing squad performing well on the field and the ongoing redevelopment of Camp Nou.
However, Liberia’s failure of Libero to deliver the required funding now jeopardizes a vital component of this strategy.
Barcelona will regroup after the international break and prepare for a challenging schedule of three games in seven days at their temporary home, the Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys.
In particular, President Laporta and the club’s financial team will be eager for a smooth start toBarcelona’s Champions League campaign, as they aim to avoid a repeat of two consecutive group-stage exits.
Barcelona is contemplating a potential move for Erling Haaland in 2025, at which point the Manchester City superstar could become available for £150 million.
While LaLiga rivals Real Madrid have long been considered frontrunners for Haaland’s signature when his tenure with Manchester City concludes, 90min reports that Barcelona is interested in entering the race.
At present, Barcelona’s frontline is led by Robert Lewandowski at Camp Nou, but the 23-year-old Haaland is seen as an ideal candidate to succeed the 35-year-old Lewandowski.
Following an impressive debut season in the Premier League, Manchester City is already working on securing a new contract for their star striker.
Haaland had signed a five-year deal with the Etihad last summer, which included various release clauses, prompting club officials to seek new terms to safeguard their interests.
Additionally, there are reports that City’s Bernardo Silva might make a move to Catalonia in the upcoming summer transfer window, despite recently extending his contract.
Mundo Deportivo suggests that the Portuguese playmaker has negotiated a release clause in his contract, enabling him to depart for £50 million at the conclusion of the current season.
During the introduction ofJoao Felix as a newcomer to Barcelona, their sporting director, Deco, admitted that they initially believed signing the Portuguese player would be financially challenging.
Joao Felix was earning 14 million euros before taxes at Atlético Madrid, a salary that Barcelona couldn’t afford. Despite Joao’s public expression of his desire to join Barcelona, he had to adapt to the financial constraints.
Nevertheless, he emphasised that realising his childhood dream of playing for Barcelona was worth the financial sacrifice.
According to insiders familiar with the deal, Joao Felix’s Barcelona contract will see him earn half of what he did at Atlético Madrid.
Additionally, before departing for Barcelona, Joao Felix extended his contract with Atlético Madrid until 2029, which was a strategic move to help the club manage depreciation costs and facilitate his transfer to Barcelona.
This arrangement benefits Atlético financially, despite transferring a key player to a direct competitor. Furthermore, Joao Felix hasexpressed his commitment to a long-term stay in Catalonia, even though his initial agreement includes a one-year loan without an option to buy.
Barcelona’s President Joan Laporta and the club’s board of directors have taken a significant step by offering a guarantee based on future earnings to LaLiga.
This move is aimed at facilitating the signings of Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix, as reported by ESPN sources.
Earlier this summer, Barcelona announced the sale of a 29.5% stake in Barça Vision for €120 million.
However, the initial payment from this deal has not been received yet.
As a result, Barcelona has found itself with limited salary space within LaLiga’s imposed spending cap.
This financial constraint prevented the club from registering Iñigo Martinez, who was acquired from Athletic Club, and hindered any further transfer activity.
Sources have indicated that the guarantee presented by the club’s directors, which is backed by the pending funds from the sale of Barça Vision, should enable the registration of Martinez and the signings of Cancelo and Felix.
Both Cancelo and Felix are expected to join on loan.
Cancelo, a right-back from Manchester City, will reinforce Barcelona’s defense, while Felix, an Atletico forward, will fill the void left by the departures of Ousmane Dembele and Ansu Fati.
Barcelona has also created some salary space through other moves, including the loans of Ansu Fati to Brighton & Hove Albion and Clement Lenglet to Aston Villa.
Additionally, negotiations are ongoing with Real Betis regarding forward Ez Abde.
LaLiga sources have refrained from providing specific comments on these deals, given the busy nature of the final day of the summer transfer window for most European leagues.
Ansu Fati is reportedly prepared to depart fromBarcelona before the imminent closure of the transfer window this week. Brighton is actively engaged in pursuing an ambitious loan agreement for the Spanish forward, according to sources confirmed by ESPN.
Meanwhile, Tottenham has engaged in discussions with Barcelona as well.
However, Tottenham is also focused on securing the signing of Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson.
At 20 years old, Fati is open to the idea of a season-long loan move to the Premier League, which would allow him to maintain his connection with Barcelona.
Despite this inclination, no definite arrangement has been reached as the transfer deadline approaches on Friday.
This development marks a significant change in Fati’s stance, as he had previously been hesitant to leave the Catalan club this summer, despite external pressures.
Notably, Barcelona, his agent Jorge Mendes, and his father Bori have all been advocating for Fati to spend a year playing elsewhere in order to gain regular playing time and experience.
While both Spurs and Chelsea were linked with Fati earlier in the week, Brighton, under the guidance of coach Roberto De Zerbi, have emerged as the leading contenders to finalise the deal as of Wednesday
Aged 23, Codina was a key player in Spain’s successful World Cup campaign, starting in all four of their knockout matches, culminating in a 1-0 victory over England in the final earlier this month.
Primarily a centre back, Codina has represented Spain on seven occasions at the international level. During her time at Barcelona since her arrival in 2019, she made 32 appearances, contributing to the team’s achievements of two Champions League titles and three LaLiga championships.
Notably, she spent the 2021-22 season on loan at AC Milan, where she featured in 14 matches.
“Laia is a world-class defender and I’m delighted to be working with her here at Arsenal,” coach Jonas Eidevall said.
“She has a great mix of technical ability and physical presence and we believe this will allow her to adapt to our style here quickly.
Laia Codina played a crucial part in the Spain side that lifted the Women’s World Cup earlier this month.
“She has considerable experience of playing at the highest level and winning trophies, so I’m confident that she will be an excellent addition to our squad moving forward.”
The new contract also includes a higher release clause of €400 million.
López, who is 20 years old, had his official debut for Barça recently when he came in as a substitute during their 4-3 victory over Villarreal. After performing well in the preseason, he’s expected to be part of Xavi Hernandez’s plans for this season.
Originally, López joined Barcelona’s academy from Real Betis in 2016.
He spent the last year on loan at a third division team called Linares, where he scored 12 goals in 37 games.
López was one of the young players selected by Xavi for the preseason. He did well during the United States tour, even scoring a fantastic goal in a 3-0 win against Real Madrid in Dallas.
This performance earned him a spot in the first team.
In the first two games of the season, López was on the bench but didn’t get to play. However, he came in as a substitute against Villarreal.
With Pedri injured for more than a month, López might get more playing time if Xavi continues using a four-man midfield system.
Chelsea’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, is looking for ways to make their attack stronger before the transfer deadline this Friday. He seems ready to start discussions with the current LaLiga champions about a deal for these two players.
Ferran Torres, who is 23 years old, has scored in two games at the beginning of Barca’s season. However, he has only played as a substitute because Poland’s Robert Lewandowski has been chosen ahead of him. Raphinha, on the other hand, didn’t play in Barca’s win over Villarreal on Sunday.
Chelsea’s higher-ups are talking about whether to try to bring in Raphinha, who used to play for Leeds United.
There are reports saying that Barcelona would need to let go of a player if they want to sign João Félix from Atletico Madrid. They are also trying to bring in João Cancelo from Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Chelsea is also working on selling players. They are discussing a deal with Bayern Munich for their 24-year-old defender, Trevoh Chalobah.
Thomas Tuchel, who used to be Chalobah’s coach at Chelsea, wants to get him. However, there seems to be some disagreement among the members of Bayern Munich’s transfer committee.
Chalobah hasn’t played in the Premier League this season and has been linked with a move to Inter Milan in the past.
Barcelona narrowly secured their first victory of the season in a late comeback against Cadiz last weekend and are now set to face an even more formidable challenge against the “Yellow Submarine” on Sunday.
Villarreal, spearheaded by Spain’s national team player Gerard Moreno, will present a tougher examination for the reigning champions, who have experienced a sluggish start to the season.
In the opening week, Barcelona was held to a frustrating goalless draw by Getafe, and it was only in the dying moments that Pedri Gonzalez managed to break the deadlock against Cadiz.
However, the midfielder will be sidelined for the next month due to a thigh injury, which is a setback for Xavi Hernandez and his team as Pedri is a pivotal creative force.
Recent addition Ilkay Gundogan played a role in creating Pedri’s goal and has been integrating effectively into the Barcelona setup. Additionally, the 16-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal has also showcased promise. On the other hand, veteran striker Robert Lewandowski has encountered difficulties since the beginning of the season.
The 35-year-old Polish forward has yet to find the net and has appeared somewhat disconnected from the team, leading him to drop back in search of involvement in the gameplay.
“The one he touches will be in his correct place—players want to come deep, I understand, but you can’t lose your position.”
If Lewandowski is not at his best, it may put a lot of pressure on the shoulders of youngster Yamal, who filled in for the suspended Raphinha last weekend and impressed, although Ferran Torres, who netted the second goal against Cadiz, is also hoping to start.
“(Yamal) is very well prepared. He’s very mature, despite his age,” said Xavi last week.
“He’s a player who can make the difference, and that’s not easy at Barça as a 16-year-old. I think he’s ready to help the team.”
Villarreal are without explosive winger Yeremy Pino, who is recovering from injury, but Moreno and new signings Alexander Sorloth and Ben Brereton Diaz have the quality to trouble Barcelona’s defence.
Barcelona are still aiming to sign a right-back and, with Ronald Araujo injured, used Frenkie de Jong as a makeshift centre-back against Cadiz.
League leaders Real Madrid play early, visiting Celta Vigo on Friday night.
The Galicians are celebrating their centenary this week and will be aiming to cause an upset.
However, with Madrid’s new arrival Jude Bellingham starting brilliantly—scoring three goals and providing an assist in his first two games – Carlo Ancelotti’s side are a daunting prospect.
Rayo Vallecano, who like Los Blancos boast a 100 percent record, welcomes Atletico Madrid on Monday in a capital derby clash, while the other “perfect” team, Valencia, hosts Osasuna.
Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has said that he follows the “incredible” Lionel Messi’s performances at Inter Miami and that he still intends to finish his career playing in Major League Soccer.
Messi, 36, has scored nine goals in six games for Inter Miami, including a 4-1 victory at Philadelphia Union on Tuesday to go to the Leagues Cup final. He has done this in each of his outings for Inter Miami thus far.
Griezmann, a former Barcelona colleague of Messi‘s, has long been a fan of American sports and culture and has made no secret of his desire to live in Major League Soccer (MLS).
Griezmann acknowledged following Messi during a virtual news conference LaLiga and ESPN held to celebrate the beginning of the new LaLiga season. “Leo is the greatest ever. He is winning games, packing stadiums, and scoring a lot of goals.
He is great, and in terms of marketing and football, I believe bringing in Leo was the best move made by MLS.
Griezmann, 32, was one of LaLiga’s top players last season, helping Atletico Madrid finish third in the league behind Barcelona and Real Madrid while scoring 15 goals and dishing out a league-high 16 assists.
While the France international made it clear that his ultimate goal is to “make history” at Atletico, he also expressed a desire to test his luck in America.
Griezmann stated, “I’ve always said it. “My goal is to get there, playing in MLS and enjoying myself, being able to win things, and being at my best, with everything that I adore about American sports.
“First and foremost, I want to win trophies at Atleti and establish history here. Then, we’ll see… I believe the league will benefit from Leo Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba’s addition. The best thing the league can do is that, along with bringing in younger players, particularly from South America.
Griezmann said that he would have to discuss it with his family and children if he were to follow the exodus of famous athletes to Saudi Arabia. They’re really high [income] figures, they may give you security, but he stated he’s currently focused on helping Atletico Madrid contend for the LaLiga championship, a prize he has yet to take home.
Griezmann stated, “I want to get better, score goals, be significant, win the league, and compete for the Champions League.” “You have all these goals, but for me personally, it’s about improving on last year and becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer with 16 or 17 goals. That is something that interests me.
Griezmann expressed sympathy for teammate Joo Félix, who was jeered by Atletico supporters prior to their 3-1 victory over Granada on Monday after making it known that he wanted to go with Barcelona.
When he left for Barca in 2019, he commented, “I experienced it.” I damaged the club. The greatest thing I could have done was to remain quiet, put in a lot of effort, and try to re-enter Diego Simeone’s and the club’s plans. I can only say that.
“Let’s hope it can be resolved for everyone, including the team, Joo, and the rest of us in the locker room, so we can go forward. You can see that it can’t be simple for him.
Barcelona has officially introduced Deco, the former Portugal international, as the new sporting director of the club, signing a contract for a span of three years.
In a report by ESPN back in May, it was disclosed that Deco was being considered to succeed Jordi Cruyff, who departed from his position at Barcelona earlier this year to pursue fresh career endeavours.
However, Barcelona has now clarified that, following the conclusion of the transfer window, Deco will assume the responsibilities of director of football Mateu Alemany as well.
“Deco will be in charge of setting the club’s sporting philosophy and putting together the squad with the coach, becoming head of the football section,” the Catalan club said in a statement.
“His appointment is in line with the information released in May, in which president [Joan Laporta] and [Alemany] agreed to the latter’s release from his role once the current transfer window closes on Sept. 2.
“Deco and Alemany will continue to work together until the closing of the window. In the coming weeks, the club will release details of the [new] sporting structure.”
Barcelona has officially introduced Deco, the former Portugal international, as the new sporting director of the club, signing a contract for a span of three years.
In a report by ESPN back in May, it was disclosed that Deco was being considered to succeed Jordi Cruyff, who departed from his position at Barcelona earlier this year to pursue fresh career endeavours.
However,Barcelona has now clarified that, following the conclusion of the transfer window, Deco will assume the responsibilities of director of football Mateu Alemany as well.
Barcelona set the mood in their dressing room by playing the viral track “Terminator” by Ghanaian afrobeats musician King Promise before their La Liga opening game.
As the players returned from their warm-up and readied themselves for the match, King Promise’s “Terminator” echoed through the dressing room on loudspeakers.
This catchy song by King Promise, released in May 2023, has garnered massive attention on social media and transcended geographical boundaries, amassing millions of streams across various platforms.
In their La Liga opener against Getafe, Barcelona encountered a goalless draw despite their persistent efforts.
Barcelona plays King Promise's 'Terminator' song in dressing room before La Liga match#SportsGist Kudus | Yvonne #Neymar Face ID | Finance Minister | Di Maria | Ronaldinho pic.twitter.com/zaQFfqntVJ
Getafe proved to be a resilient opponent, thwarting numerous scoring opportunities for the Catalans.
The match also witnessed significant events, with Barcelona’s coach, Xavi, receiving a red card in the latter stages of the second half for his dispute with a referee’s decision involving Abde Ezzalzouli’s apparent foul.
Getafe, too, faced adversity, as Jaime Mata received a second yellow card and was subsequently sent off soon after the break due to a foul.
Neymar Dos Santos Jr., the Brazilian superstar, is on the brink of ending his five-year tenure atParis Saint Germain (PSG) with an impending move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.
As per a report from Brazilian outlet Globosport, Kylian Mbappe, the French international and World Cup champion, orchestrated a clever strategy to prompt PSG to put Neymar on the transfer market.
Allegedly, he engaged social media figures, including John Honesty (@ExJohnHoonestyy), to propagate his desire to depart the club.
The report suggests that Mbappe’s objective was to aid in Neymar’s departure from the club and have Dembele take his place.
After spending much of his summer training in isolation due to his refusal to extend his contract, Mbappe returned to full training shortly after the club announced the acquisition ofOusmane Dembele from Barcelona.
John Honesty’s account has been deactivated as Neymar’s move to Al Hilal appears to be nearing completion, and Mbappe resumed training after expressing his willingness to discuss a contract extension following Dembele’s signing.
Meanwhile, Neymar is a step away from finalising his transfer to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
During the pre-season, Paris Saint-Germain excluded Mbappe from their squad preparations after contract extension negotiations hit a snag.
French media reports indicated that PSG suspected the 24-year-old had reached an agreement to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Mbappe inked a three-year contract with PSG in the 2022 summer transfer window. The deal consists of an initial two-year term with an option for an additional year, as reported by Sky Sports.
Initially set to initiate discussions with other clubs in January 2024, after PSG failed to activate the contract extension clause, the breakdown of talks resulted in his absence fromPSG’s opening match against Lorient. However, his return suggests that he is on the verge of extending his contract.
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez launched a surprising verbal assault on La Liga president Javier Tebas, characterising the current state of the league as a disgrace.
Xavi’s outburst came in the aftermath of Barcelona’s lacklustre goalless draw against Getafe in the league’s opening fixture.
The match saw three red cards issued by the referee, a situation that greatly infuriated Xavi and led to his aggressive response.
The referee, Cesar Soto Grado, allowed Getafe to employ a rugged and frequently aggressive playing style, which disrupted the flow of the game and left both players and spectators disconcerted.
A potential late penalty for Barcelona was denied due to a controversial handball incident involving Gavi.
This decision intensified Xavi’s frustration, ultimately leading to his expulsion for dissent.
Xavi said in the post match conference: “If this match is La Liga’s product, it’s an absolute embarrassment. I understand why people don’t watch our football.
“The handball given to Gavi was invented. They told us in a meeting that only very clear handballs would be given, and Gavi’s wasn’t one, yet they gave it anyway.
“They told us they would use VAR less and I don’t know if VAR is there to help or not. I don’t see the point of that meeting. I was sent off for telling the referee they were allowing Getafe to get away with a lot of fouls and not doing the same for us.
“We had a meeting with the referees, and the first change they said they would make is that they would understand the coaches more, and the tension we feel on the pitch. But that is not what happened, and I don’t understand it.”
Xavi’s dismissal from the touchline could result in him being sidelined for a minimum of the next two matches.
However, due to his post-match tirade, it’s possible that his absence from the pitchside might extend to a range of five to ten games, considering La Liga president Tebas’ track record of not tolerating criticism.
The absence of key players in crucial positions is already posing challenges for the Blaugrana, and the impending suspensions of both Raphinha and coach Xavi are expected to exacerbate the situation.
Xavi’s outspoken criticism directed towards the La Liga president and the match officials might lead to a prolonged suspension.
Ongoing discussions with the Premier League champions are underway regarding the 29-year-old Portuguese international. Manager Xavi Hernandez has expressed interest in acquiring a wingback who can contribute offensively.
Barcelona is restricted from proposing a complete transfer deal for Cancelo. However, there is optimism regarding the potential for a loan arrangement with a subsequent option to secure a permanent signing.
Cancelo is currently under contract at Etihad until the 2026–27 season.
As per Nicolo Schira, personal terms between Barca and Cancelo have been agreed upon.
Negotiations between the two clubs are set to persist, focused on finalising the structure of the proposed season-long loan agreement.
Despite being less favoured by Pep Guardiola last season, Cancelo secured two league title medals as he was loaned to Bayern Munich, who ultimately becameBundesliga champions, in January.
Ousmane Dembele’s transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain has been officially confirmed by the French club, as they exercised his €50.4 million (£43 million/$55 million) release clause.
The completion of Dembele’s move was finalised by PSG following the successful completion of the France international’s medical examinations on Friday.
In the early days of August, PSG formally notified Barcelona of their intention to activate a “private” clause embedded within Dembele’s contract.
This clause ensured that his transfer fee would not exceed €50 million, even though the standard release clause was set at €100 million (£86 million or $108 million).
Dembele has committed to a five-year contract that ties him to the Parc des Princes until at least the summer of 2028.
Barcelona originally acquired Dembele from Borussia Dortmund in 2017, but persistent injuries limited his appearances to a mere 23 during the 2017-18 season.
✍️ Ousmane Dembélé has joined Paris Saint-Germain from FC Barcelona. The world champion, who will wear the number 23, has signed for 5 seasons. #WelcomeDembélé
He experienced a resurgence under the management of Xavi during the 2022 season, accumulating 11 goals and 21 assists across his final two seasons at Camp Nou.
Departing Barcelona after 185 matches and 62 goals, Dembele also boasts an impressive record of three league titles, two Copas del Rey, and two Spanish Super Cups.
“I’m delighted to be joining Paris Saint-Germain and can’t wait to play for my new club. I hope I can continue to grow here and make all the club’s fans proud,” he stated after signing his new PSG contract.
Dembele has been signed by PSG as they prepare for lifewithout Kylian Mbappe. The Parisians remain adamant about offloading the 2018 World Cup winner, but the player insists on spending the 2023–24 season in Paris before walking away as a free agent next summer.
After a meeting with new manager Luis Enrique prior to the start of the Ligue 1 season,PSG communicated to the 31-year-old forward that he does not feature in their plans for this season.
Neymar’s potential return to his former team, Barcelona, has gained significant attention, as the club has reached a comprehensive agreement to bring back their former player. The expected deal entails Neymar signing a 3-year contract with the La Liga club.
As reported by Football Transfers, Barcelona had been awaiting the completion of a German investment firm’s acquisition of a 16 percent buyout of Barca Studios for €60 million. This step is crucial to releasing funds to finalise the Brazilian’s transfer.
Neymar has demonstrated his commitment to facilitate the move by agreeing to a reduction in his salary. As a result, the 31-year-old is projected to receive an annual wage of €13 million at the Spanish club.
In line with reports from the Daily Star, Neymar seems poised to follow in Lionel Messi’s footsteps by leaving Paris Saint-Germain. This decision comes after Neymar was informed during crucial discussions with new manager Luis Enrique that he does not feature in the team’s future plans.
Manager Luis Enrique, along with sporting director Luis Campos, conveyed a similar message to five players, including Neymar. This group of players has been informed that they are not part of the club’s strategic vision for the long term.
In addition to Neymar, the players affected by this decision include Marco Verratti, Hugo Ekitike, Juan Bernat, and Renato Sanches.
During these talks, they were informed that their presence is not required as the Ligue 1 champions continue their efforts to restructure the team after failing to secure victory in the UEFA Champions League.
Barca’s hierarchy approves Neymar’s return
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Neymar appears to be on a quest to find an immediate solution for his future after PSG’s hierarchy informed the forward that he was not going to be a part of Luis Enrique’s plans this season.
The Brazilian forward has consistently remained a subject of controversy and was named among the list of potential replacements Barcelona could explore following the imminent departure of Ousmane Dembele.
Joan Laporta’s decision to shift attention to the former star, who departed the club in the most controversial of circumstances, has not gone down well with many at the club, with head coach Xavi Hernandez spearheading the group of those who are dissatisfied.
Franck Kessie’sdeparture from Barcelona has been officially confirmed as he joins Al-Ahli, the Saudi Arabian club.
Despite having joined Barcelona merely a year ago, the Ivorian midfielder has transitioned to Al-Ahli due to his diminished role in the Barcelona squad following the acquisitions of Ilkay Gundogan and former Southampton player Oriol Romeu.
Both clubs have publicly disclosed that Kessie’s transfer carries a price tag of €12.5 million (£11 million or $14 million).
In the previous season, the midfielder participated in 43 matches, predominantly as a substitute.
Kessie is set to join forces with a lineup that includes Roberto Firmino, Allan Saint-Maximin, Riyad Mahrez, and Edouard Mendy, all of whom have left the Premier League this summer to join the Saudi Pro League side.
The Ivorian has already undergone a medical examination for Al-Ahli, which took place in Paris as arranged by the club and the player.
Barcelona’s coach, Xavi, admitted uncertainty regarding the possibility of signing Neymar before the transfer window closes.
Neymar reportedly expressed his desire to depart from Paris Saint-Germain on Monday, with Barcelona allegedly being his preferred destination once again.
However, the financial constraints faced by Barcelona could complicate the process, as acknowledged by Xavi on Tuesday.
“Neymar? I can’t say anything. Last year, I already mentioned the name of a player from another team, and they got angry.
“From here until the end of the market, we’ll see,” Xavi said following Barcelona’s 4-2 win over Tottenham in the Joan Gamper Trophy.
Barcelona is nearing the departure of Ousmane Dembele to PSG, as the French player is expected to finalise a transfer worth €50 million (£43 million/$55 million) to the French club in the upcoming days.
Ansu Fati’s departure is also a possibility, given that Financial Fair Play regulations might compel Barcelona to offload their talented young forward.
The financial constraints faced by Barcelona are evident this summer, leaving them with limited funds for expenditures. It remains uncertain if they can manage to bring back a player who departed from Camp Nou in 2017.
Andres Iniesta has officially become a member of Emirates Club in the United Arab Emirates Pro League, signing a one-year contract.
The esteemed 39-year-old figure from Spain and Barcelona arrived in Dubai on Monday in preparation for finalising his agreement.
The experienced midfielder will retain the possibility of prolonging his tenure with the club until June 2025.
Iniesta, who spent the past five seasons competing in Japan for Vissel Kobe, now joins the Emirates Club as a free agent.
His primary motivation is to secure more opportunities on the field, especially after accumulating just 94 minutes of gameplay throughout his 18 appearances with Kobe during the previous season.
“There was difficulty in not being picked to play after putting my heart into training,” Iniesta said last month after playing his last game for Vissel Kobe. “I’ve experienced a lot of things over these five years, which is a long time.”
Iniesta scored the winning goal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup final.
He was also a key part of Spain’s two European Championship wins, in 2008 and 2012.
Iniesta began his career at Barcelona and won nine league titles and four Champions League among other trophies in his 16 seasons at the club.
There is a likelihood that Neymar might rejoin Barcelona in the current transfer window, as a Saudi Arabian club has shown interest in signing the Brazilian player and then loaning him to the Catalan team.
Reportedly, Neymar has expressed his desire to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer with the aim of returning to Camp Nou. However, Barcelona’s financial situation could pose a challenge to securing his services.
As per Sport, a Saudi Arabian club is considering a strategic role in facilitating Neymar’s move to Barcelona.
Their plan involves signing him from PSG this summer and promptly loaning him to the Camp Nou side.
The arrangement for Neymar’s salary involves a three-way structure: Barcelona contributing a certain percentage, PSG covering the remainder, and a potential commercial agreement that might include a friendly match involving Barcelona in Saudi Arabia.
While Neymar was also linked with a possible move to Chelsea after deciding to part ways with the Ligue 1 champions, Chelsea’s manager Mauricio Pochettino has purportedly turned down the idea.
PSG is likely to request a transfer fee ranging from £50 million ($64 million) to £80 million ($102 million) for Neymar.
With Lionel Messi having already relocated to the United States and Kylian Mbappe also being made available for transfer alongside Neymar, PSG aims to initiate a new chapter in their pursuit of success.
Spanish journalist Toni Juanmarti has revealed that there’s a significant clause in Gundogan’s contract that could permit him to depart from the club for free if he isn’t registered in time for Barcelona’s initialLa Liga fixture against Getafe.
The midfielder made a free transfer to the Catalan club from Manchester City, even rejecting a contract extension from his previous team, the treble winners, in pursuit of his long-standing aspiration to join the Spanish giants.
However, the delay in his registration has sparked concerns, particularly due to Barcelona’s financial challenges.
Should he depart without a transfer fee, Barcelona would still be obligated to cover his annual salary of €10 million (£8.64 million or $11 million) for the first year of his three-year contract.
At present, Barcelona has only 13 players registered with La Liga. Nonetheless, the departures of Ousmane Dembele to PSG and Franck Kessie to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli are set to infuse much-needed funds into the club’s coffers.
Furthermore, President Joan Laporta is prepared to sell a 16% stake in Barca Studios, valued at €65 million (£56.15 million or $71.5 million), to a German investment firm, aiming to further bolster the financial standing of the club.
With the La Liga opener against Getafe merely days away, the pressure is mounting on Barcelona to swiftly conclude Gundogan’s registration process.
Laporta, the club’s president, is actively engaged in securing player sales and formulating financial strategies to ensure the team’s stability. Meanwhile, whether Gundogan will participate in the Joan Gamper Trophy against Tottenham on Tuesday remains to be seen.
Neymar has expressed his desire to leavePSG and return to Barcelona. His family, along with Pini Zahavi, has made the decision to seek an exit from Paris.
PSG has been open to selling the Brazilian forward for the past two summers, and there have been ongoing rumours about his interest in returning to Barcelona.
Despite having five years remaining on his contract with PSG, Neymar has informed the club of his wish to leave.
However, the challenge lies in determining his destination. Potential options like Saudi Arabia and Chelsea have been mentioned, but there hasn’t been substantial evidence supporting these reports.
There has also been speculation about a potential swap deal involving Ousmane Dembele going to PSG and Neymar returning to Barcelona.
La Portera de Nunez suggests that such a deal could have been possible, likely as a loan, if not for Manager Xavi Hernandez’s objections.
While Barcelona’s board sees Neymar’s return as a positive move from a marketing perspective, Xavi Hernandez has been firm in his stance against bringingNeymar back to the club.
Barcelona, under the guidance of coach Xavi Hernandez, reclaimed their 27th LaLiga title last season after a four-year gap. The team’s success was attributed to a blend of young talents and seasoned veterans, with striker Robert Lewandowski (34) leading the charge as the league’s top scorer.
To strengthen their squad, Barcelona brought in experienced midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who captained Manchester City to an impressive treble in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
Gundogan’s leadership will be valuable in mentoring the young players as Barcelona aims to defend their LaLiga crown and make a mark in the Champions League after years of European disappointments.
While their domestic campaign was remarkable, Barcelona faced challenges off the field, including financial issues and a refereeing scandal that may have prolonged implications.
However, UEFA has provisionally cleared the club to participate in this season’s Champions League despite ongoing investigations.
Despite selling club legend Lionel Messi due to financial constraints, Barcelona remains ambitious about their European ambitions.
With a renovated Camp Nou on the horizon and talented players like Pedri, Gavi, Ronald Araujo, Luuk De Jong, and Jules Kounde, Xavi has reasons to be optimistic about the team’s future.
The arrival of Gundogan and the consistency of Lewandowski, along with the reliability of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, will be crucial for Barcelona to stay competitive within LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play rules and vie for success in both domestic and European competitions.
But he suffered a big blow last week with news of the imminent departure of French winger Ousmane Dembele who is joining Paris St Germain.
Barcelona begin their LaLiga defence on Sunday in the Spanish capital against Getafe and although the fans are still celebrating last season’s romp to the title, there is plenty for them to be concerned about.
Barcelona’s long-standing desire to acquire Joao Cancelo could finally be realized, as the Manchester City defender has reportedly agreed to personal terms with the Catalan club for a potential summer transfer.
Earlier, in January, Barcelona missed out on signing the Portuguese defender, as he opted to join Bayern Munich on loan, despite Barcelona being the favored destination.
Reported by Goal, Barcelona intends to utilize a portion of the funds gained from the impending transfer of Ousmane Dembele to Paris Saint-Germain to facilitate the acquisition of Cancelo.
Despite making appearances in Manchester City’s pre-season matches, the future of the former Benfica and Juventus defender at the Etihad Stadium remains uncertain.
Barcelona’s manager, Xavi, holds a significant admiration for Cancelo and desires to bring him to the club for the upcoming season. Similarly, the defender is keen on making the move to Camp Nou, having experienced differences with Pep Guardiola during the previous season.
Arsenal plan late Cancelo swoop
In a surprising turn, Arsenal might consider a last-minute attempt to secure the services of Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo, valued at £60 million, if the Portuguese talent remains available for transfer this summer, as reported by The Boot Room.
Having already invested approximately £200 million during this transfer window, including signings such as Declan Rice from West Ham and Juriel Timber from Ajax, Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta remains eager for further acquisitions.
Arsenal is aiming to disrupt the deal for Cancelo before he finalizes his move to Barcelona, who are currently leading in the pursuit of the former Inter Milan and Juventus defender.
According to a previous report by Sports Brief, Bayern Munich seems to be leaning towards not utilizing their option to convert the loan move of prominent defender Joao Cancelo from Manchester City into a permanent transfer during the upcoming summer transfer window.
The Portuguese talent, who departed Etihad Stadium in January to join the Bundesliga team on a six-month loan agreement, appears unlikely to make a permanent transition to Germany. It is expected that Bayern will not activate the £62 million clause required to officially secure Cancelo.
The report also suggests that Chelsea and Real Madrid are the two primary contenders if the 28-year-old decides to leave Manchester City this summer. Alternatively, Cancelo might continue to be a part of Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Paris Saint-Germain’s pursuit ofOusmane Dembele from Barcelona might result in Neymar, the world’s most expensive footballer, moving in the opposite direction.
It’s anticipated that PSG will finalize the acquisition of Dembele by the end of the week, as they have reached an agreement on personal terms with the French winger and are prepared to pay Barcelona €50 million to secure his release.
Forbes reports that as part of negotiations aimed at convincing Barcelona to part ways with Dembele, PSG has proposed loaning their former player Neymar back to the Catalans.
PSG has been keen to offload Neymar and perceives this situation as an opportunity to unload the player for whom they set a world record transfer fee of €222 million to secure from Barcelona in 2017.
Neymar had a stint with Barcelona from 2013 to 2017, forming one of the most formidable attacking partnerships in global football alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. During his time at the Catalan club, they collectively scored 364 goals over three seasons.
Xavi sends Dembele Neymar warning Meanwhile, Xavi Hernandez sought to scare Ousmane Dembele away from a transfer to PSG by emphasising how Neymar has fared since leaving Barcelona for the French capital, SB Nation reports.
Neymar has struggled with injuries, been booed by supporters and failed to bring the Champions League to PSG since completing a world record move to the Parisians in 2017.
Xavi is incredibly disappointed by Dembele after being told by the Frenchman before the 3-0 Clasico win over Real Madrid that he wanted to leave.
Neymar scores stunning goal Earlier, Sports Brief reported Neymar Junior made a grand comeback, delivering a sensational goal against Jeonbuk during a pre-season match for Paris Saint-Germain. The 31-year-old had been absent from PSG’s pre-season games until the friendly encounter with the South Korean club on Thursday. His return to action had been shrouded in mystery amid rumours of a possible departure.
However, on August 3, Luis Enrique granted his star forward some game time,and Neymar seized the opportunity with an astonishing goal.
Despite the indictment, Alves’s lawyer stated that he would not prolong the legal proceedings by appealing against the indictment.
The judge noted evidence of misconduct by the 40-year-old player, who maintains that the sexual encounter was consensual.
Alves was apprehended on January 20 and has been in custody at a prison outside Barcelona without the option of bail. In the event of a conviction, he could potentially face a prison term ranging from four to 15 years.
“Dani Alves is upset with the narrative of the facts, he disagrees with it,” Alves’ lawyer Cristobal Martell told reporters minutes after his client appeared before the Barcelona court.
“He has also said that he will not appeal due to his desire to expedite the judicial process,” Martell added.
The prosecution must now submit formal charges to the court, while the defence will present its allegations in writing. After that, a date for the start of a trial will be set.
Barcelona defender Julian Araujo is poised to embark on a season-long loan to LaLiga side Las Palmas, as sources close to the negotiations confirmed to ESPN.
The 21-year-old Mexico international is expected to travel to the Canary Islands this week to finalize the move, which does not include an option for Las Palmas to make the transfer permanent.
Araujo joined Barcelona from LA Galaxy last season but has been unable to make his competitive debut for the club due to the timing of his signing falling outside the transfer window.
Despite this, he has been training with the first team since February and was given an opportunity to showcase his skills in a friendly against Vissel Kobe at the beginning of June, allowing coach Xavi Hernandez to evaluate his performance.
Considering Araujo’s development, Barcelona has decided that a loan spell at a Spanish club for the upcoming season would be most beneficial.
This move will provide him with regular playing time and the chance to adapt to the challengesof LaLiga football.
Barcelona manager Xavi reportedly made a last-ditch effort to dissuade Ousmane Dembele from joining Paris Saint-Germain, referring to Neymar’s struggles at the French club.
Xavi’s attempt comes as PSG’s move for Dembele is close to completion, with the club triggering his €50 million release clause before it expired on August 1.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Xavi had a crucial meeting with Dembele to discuss his future, where he urged the French forward to consider Neymar’s difficulties at PSG and highlighted the Brazilian’s past attempts to return to Barcelona.
Despite facing criticism over his form and injury record, Xavi has consistently supported Dembele and sees him as a vital part of his plans.
The coach remains hopeful that the intense discussion at the Thompson Hotel in Dallas will lead Dembele to reconsider his move to PSG.
While Dembele has already agreed toa five-year deal with PSG, he has requested that Barcelona engage in official talks with the Ligue 1 champions to expedite the transfer, indicating his determination to leave the Catalan club.
Ousmane Dembele’s future at Barcelona has been the subject of intense speculation, with recent reports suggesting that he is increasingly likely to join Paris Saint-Germain next season.
This decision has not been well-received by the Barcelona hierarchy, who are working tirelessly to convince the forward to extend his stay beyond his current contract.
Last week, Dembele reportedly verbally agreed to a five-year deal with PSG, but he also expressed his desire to win the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona during a conversation with his coach, Xavi Hernandez.
The news of Dembele’s potential move to PSG has surprised many in the Barcelona dressing room, prompting Xavi to engage in discussions with the player in an attempt to persuade him to remain at the club.
Despite facing harsh criticism from Barcelona fans during the 2021/22 season, Xavi remained steadfast in his decision to include Dembele as a crucial part of his project.
This faith was rewarded, as Dembele played a vital role in helping the team reclaim the La Liga title last season.
According to SPORT, Xavi is disappointed with Dembele’s decision to turn down the opportunity to continue with Barcelona, despite their recent discussions.
The Barcelona coach even suggested the idea of re-signing former forward Neymar Junior in an attempt to persuade Dembele to stay.
Neymar, who moved to PSG for €222 million, has not fully lived up to the initial expectations during his time in Paris and could be open to a return to Barcelona.
Currently, Dembele has a release clause of €100 million, and his agent, Mousa Sissoko, is reportedly negotiatingwith Barcelona to accept the proposal put forth by Paris Saint-Germain.
Dembele rejects new Barcelona contract
Sports Brief also reported on Dembele rejecting Barcelona’s latest contract offer as his departure from Spanish football appears very likely.
The French star is said to be keen on a move to PSG and Ligue 1, and is reportedly not entertaining the idea of staying with the Catalans.
Lionel Messi will have the opportunity to play for Barcelona again before he retires for good, as confirmed by Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who enjoyed a highly successful 17-year stint at the Catalan club, winning multiple trophies, including four UEFA Champions League titles, left the club in 2021 without a proper farewell to the fans.
According to SB Media, Mas has disclosed that Messi will make a return to Camp Nou for a special farewell game that will be organized at some point in the future.
This will allow the Argentine superstar to bid a proper goodbye to the Barcelona faithful who have supported him throughout his illustrious career with the club.
“I don’t know if it’s some type of friendly or farewell game. They have this Gamper Trophy they play for in the summer.
“But there will be something where, hopefully, when the new Camp Nou is open, because their stadium there they will not be playing in for the next year and a half, hopefully, Lionel Messi can say his proper goodbye.”
Messi, who has scored 672 goals for Barcelona overall, declined the chance to rejoin the Catalan club this summer in favour of signing with Inter Miami.
According to Goal, former Arsenal forward Carlos Vela has advised Lionel Messi to put in more effort on the pitch following his move to Inter Miami in the MLS.
Vela emphasized that in the MLS, players need to work harder than in the elite European leagues, where attackers often receive exceptional service.
He encouraged Messi to enjoy his game while also adjusting his performance to meet the demands of the MLS, as it requires a different level of effort from players.
Messi opted for themove to Inter Miami, rejecting lucrative offers from Al-Hilal and Barcelona, to embark on a new chapter in his football career.
Lionel Messi mobbed by fans Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Lionel Messi has taken Miami by storm, and his supporters can’t get enough of him.
The Argentine star got mobbed by his loyal fans once again on Friday, this time when he was leaving a store on Lincoln Road.
One fan recorded the incredible scene, with Messi needing security to move through a crowd as he was departing a local pedestrian mall.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is nearing the signing ofOusmane Dembele, who was part of a three-player offer from Barcelona in their attempt to secure Kylian Mbappe’s transfer.
Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi is on the verge of fulfilling his promise to bring the French international, Dembele, to PSG as a potential replacement for the outgoing Mbappe.
According to Le Parisien, the deal for Dembele was facilitated through the initial three-player swap offer made by Barcelona, which included Gavi, Raphinha, and Dembele in exchange for Mbappe, who has been the subject of intense transfer interest.
However, when Mbappe rejected the chance to move to Camp Nou, Al-Khelaifi seized the opportunity and used the contact with Dembele’s representatives to negotiate a deal for the former Borussia Dortmund winger.
He reportedly warned Dembele about Barcelona’s attempt to offload him, leading to the imminent transfer to PSG.
It’s claimed Dembele asked to leave when he found out and became keen on the PSG move. The Ligue 1 side are set to activate a €50 million (£43m/$54m) release clause to sign him.
Dembele has come close to leaving Barca in the past, having been heavily linked with Manchester United in 2020 and Chelsea in 2022.
But he’s also been a long-time PSG target and is expected to sign a five-year deal with the French champions.
The situation is an embarrassing one for Barca, having been unable to lure Mbappe – who is still expected to join their fierce rivals Real Madrid – and now losing Dembele to a Champions League rival club.
Barcelona is facing the possibility of losing one of their top talents, Ousmane Dembele, this summer, as the forward has rejected their latest contract offer.
With just one year remaining on his current contract, Dembele seems inclined to leave the Catalan club, and there are reports indicating that he has verbally agreed to a contract with French champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Despite Barcelona’s desire to retain Dembele’s services and convince him to sign a renewal, a contract standoff persists between the two parties.
According to RAC1, Dembele is seeking an annual salary increase of around €6-7 million.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that Fabrizio Romano had previously reported about Dembele’s verbal agreement with PSG, adding to the uncertainty surrounding his future with Barcelona.
Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning French champions, are actively seeking to strengthen their attack in the aftermath of a challenging 2022/23 season. With Lionel Messi’s departure, PSG has identified Ousmane Dembele as a suitable candidate to bolster their offensive lineup.
The situation is further complicated by the potential exit of star forward Kylian Mbappe.
PSG has officially communicated with Barcelona, informing them of their agreement with Dembele and their interest in signing him.
According to reports from Marca, Dembele’s current contract includes a €50 million release clause, which is set to increase to over €100 million starting from 1st August.
This makes the French forward an appealing target for other clubs, with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain already expressing interest.
Barcelona is not pleased with this development and is prepared to take action by approaching UEFA toensure PSG’s compliance with Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
They are keen to retain Dembele’s services for several more seasons, given his contract is set to expire at the end of the 2024 season.
The relatively low release clause provides other teams with the opportunity to sign Dembele without having to negotiate with Barcelona directly, adding to the complexity of the situation for the Spanish club.
Following Barcelona’s impressive 3-0 victory against Real Madrid in a pre-season friendly in Dallas, manager Xavi Hernandez called for more signings to bolster the squad.
Despite the resounding win, Xavi emphasized the need to strengthen the first-team and fill any gaps in the team with new players.
He expressed the possibility of Barcelona making additional signings to further reinforce the squad.
Speaking to reporters after El Clasico win, Xavi said, “The market closes on the 31st of August. A lot can happen. Hopefully, we can strengthen more.
“We are missing some players. The sports management knows it and the President knows it. Despite the result and the euphoria, we need something more.”
TheBarcelona manager is aware of the challenges the club face in the transfer market due to financial constraints. Despite this, he remains determined to find suitable additions to the squad.
While the team cannot afford all of their primary targets due to Financial Fair Play restrictions, Xavi remains optimistic that more players will be acquired.
He also emphasized the significance of nurturing talent from the club’s La Masia academy, suggesting that home-grown players could play a crucial role in strengthening the team.
The reigning La Liga champions will play their final pre-season friendly game againstAC Milan on August 2 in Las Vegas.
