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“Pedro’s situation is very clear: I don’t want anyone from the squad to leave. I have always highlighted his performances and I hope to maintain our relationship. It is the player who has to decide,” Enrique was quoted as saying by Barcelona’s official website on Tuesday, reports Efe. The coach added during a press conference that he does not have the option to promise players to play a certain number of minutes and seconds, or even promise them a place on the squad....

Iniesta was taken off on a stretcher following a heavy challenge from Enzo Perez in the first half of Saturday’s La Liga match with Valencia. The Spain international appeared to jar his right leg as Perez slid in with a robust tackle after 14 minutes at Mestalla. Iniesta immediately signaled to the bench as he clutched at his lower knee, and he was carried off on a stretcher after being treated by medical staff on the pitch, with Ivan Rakitic replacing him....

The 24-year-old was restored to Ernesto Valverde’s starting XI for the 6-1 derby victory over Girona on Saturday, but was forced to leave the pitch in the latter stages of the game after pulling up. Barca were forced to see out the game with just 10 men having made all three substitutions earlier in the tie, though a Luis Suarez hat-trick, two goals from Lionel Messi and Philippe Coutinho’s stunner meant the Camp Nou club eased comfortably to victory....

Valverde was given the boot after the Blaugrana’s 3-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup and the former Athletic Bilbao tactician was booed by his own fans, an incident that indicated his stature and seemingly led to the end of his two and a half year spell at the club. In his time at Betis, Setien was widely regarded as one of the most exciting coaches in world football and gained plaudits universally for his footballing philosophy, as Los Verdiblancos established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in LaLiga....

Umtiti and Frenkie De Jong discusses future Frenkie De Jong has been playing in a double pivot alongside Sergio Busquets in new manager Ronald Koeman’s setup. He has now opened up on his preferred role ahead of Barcelona’s clash with Juventus. He said, Meanwhile, Samuel Umtiti has admitted that he did hold talks with former club Lyon over a possible return but it was not a solid option. He says that he can’t see himself at any other club than Barcelona....

David Luiz ’took a risk and a pay cut’ to return to Chelsea Madrid secured the signing of the 16-year-old from Flamengo after they met his €45 million release clause , although he will remain in Brazil until July 2018. After agreeing the deal, the attacker stated he “did not decide anything”, but his agent, Frederico Pena, said he was persuaded by the sporting objectives in the Spanish capital. “Barcelona offered more money than Madrid, the player would’ve earned more” he told Golboesport....

Sant Joan Despi (Spain), Aug 5 (IANS) Spanish football champions FC Barcelona defender Jordi Alba will miss the International Champions Cup match against Liverpool on Saturday. The match will be played at the Wembley Stadium in London, reports Efe. The squad, announced by chief coach Luis Enrique after a practice session here on Friday, will not feature Alba as he is suffering from gastric pain. Along with Alba, Barcelona will also miss the efforts of Brazilian defender Marlon Santos....

Madrid’s bitter rivals suffered a 4-0 second-leg capitulation against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday to crash out 4-3 on aggregate at the semi-final stage. Barca’s wait for a sixth Champions League title will now stretch to a fifth year, having previously been knocked out in the quarter-finals in three successive campaigns on the back of lifting the trophy in 2015. Zidane insists Barcelona’s midweek heartbreak does little to improve the outlook of Madrid’s season, though, with second place the best Los Blancos - European champions in four of the previous five years - can hope for in LaLiga....

Barca consider Cuadrado move The Brazil captain rekindled his relationship with the actress last year after the duo had originally split up in 2014, with Marquezine in attendance as Neymar steered his country to Olympic gold success on home soil. However, the flamboyant forward told reporters in Sao Paulo at a charity event he was organising that they have once again opted to go their separate ways. “I do not like to talk about personal things, but yes, me and Bruna are separated,” he said....

La Liga Barcelona twice rejected the chance to sign Paulo Dybala La Sexta, a Spanish daily has claimed that FC Barcelona had the chance to sign Juventus and Argentina forward Paulo Dybala not once but twice in the recently concluded transfer window. It is reported that Juventus were open to selling the player in the region of €120 million plus add-ons. Barcelona officials had even reportedly met the player’s agent in Turin but the talks did not prove fruitful as the Catalans decided to focus their attentions on Philippe Coutinho....

Arena officials introduced the complimentary service this week at the 4-year-old facility. It’s tied to a one-year sponsorship Barclays Center signed with Zappos.com, the online retailer that got its start selling shoes in 1999. MORE: Cool photos of ice removal at Nassau Coliseum | Coliseum’s best photos The retrofit replaces an old GQ-branded barber shop, which will relocate to a different location in the arena. The shoe shine stand, situated on the main concourse near center court, is accentuated by blue neon lights....

In their professional lives, however, such players are attracted to marked-down merchandise like post-Christmas shoppers are drawn to Macy’s. Picking through the discard bin and sifting through marked-down inventory of formerly hot products is a highly respected investment strategy. But efforts to catch such falling knives depend on perfect timing. Stick your hand out too late, and you get nothing. Grab the handle at precisely the right moment, and you’ve got yourself a set of Wüsthofs on the cheap....

Guangzhou head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and captain Zheng Zhi confirmed on Sunday that the 29-year-old Brazil international was set to move to Camp Nou, with Barca belatedly agreeing to pay a release clause thought to be in the region of €40 million. Get Barca at 5/1 to be Kings of Europe The CSL and a number of its high-profile recruits have been criticised over the past year amid accusations players leaving Europe’s major leagues are doing so purely for financial gain and turning their backs on superior standards of football....

The Brazilian was named in the starting line-up for the Liga clash at the Nuevo Los Carmenes, where Luis Enrique’s title-holders were without the suspended Lionel Messi. The absence of the Argentina star saw Rafinha, who also started the 4-2 victory at home to Valencia before the international break, deployed in a more advanced role. But the 24-year-old had to be withdrawn after just 17 minutes, to be replaced by Paco Alcacer....

And as always, there are stories which make headlines irrespective of the transfer window being open or shut. After scouring through papers and sources from all over Europe, we have managed to find transfer stories that made headlines on May 5, 2018: Bundesliga FC Barcelona eyeing Joshua Kimmich After impressing in both the legs against Real Madrid, Joshua Kimmich has attracted the interest of none other than Barcelona. According to Diario Gol, the Catalans have been impressed by Kimmich’s performances this season and are ready to make an official offer for the German fullback....

Cillessen sustained a torn calf muscle during training and will be out of action for their busy February schedule, which sees Barca play seven games. Cillessen has not featured in LaLiga this season but has been deputising for Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the Copa del Rey. The Netherlands international has made six appearances in the competition and saved a penalty in Wednesday’s 6-1 win against Sevilla. But Cillessen will not get the chance to face Barca’s rivals Real Madrid in the Copa semi-finals, as he will not return to action until March....

Barca’s Carles Alena struck a sublime effort in the 58th minute to cancel out David Mainz’s close-range opener six minutes earlier as the cup holders came from behind but had to accept a draw in a match they dominated. The Spanish champions’ struggles in La Liga followed them to Segunda B side Hercules as a much-changed side made it three domestic games without a win after a disjointed performance....

According to reports published by El Mundo, the Barcelona directors were worried about Gerard Pique’s private life, especially his habit of gambling. As a result, they hired a private detective agency to keep an eye on him between September 2009 and early October 2010, for one full year. They were interested in knowing who Pique was meeting and calling. Barcelona was particularly anxious about the importance the defender gave to card games such as poker....

According to reports in Esport3 (via Mundo Deportivo), Barcelona are preparing a new offer for Lionel Messi before the season ends. Talks regarding a new, improved contract haven’t yet materialized. With his current contract running down on June 30 this year, Messi is free to enter talks with other clubs and join as a free agent. The report claims that after taking cognisance of the club’s financial status, Laporta has made first contact with Lionel Messi’s entourage....