The Argentina international was handed the jail term last July after being found guilty – alongside his father Jorge – of three counts of tax fraud relating to earnings from image rights which was deemed to have defrauded Spain of €4.1million between 2007 and 2009. Barca’s Pique talks up Valverde Messi’s appeal against the verdict has now been turned down, but Barcelona stick by their star player and his family....
The Blaugrana face PSG in the first leg of that tie at the Camp Nou on February 16, as they look to redeem themselves in Europe. Last season, they lost 8-2 in the quarterfinal to Bayern Munich, in a game that had huge repercussions. It was after that game that their turbulent off-season began. Messi himself had his future up in the air all summer. Messi had wanted to unilaterally rescind his contract, but Barcelona dug their heels in to say that he would only leave the club if there was a club that activated his release clause....
The 24-year-old sprained ligaments in his left knee during a training session on Thursday having played for half an hour in the 3-2 victory over Sampdoria on Wednesday. “He will be unable to play in the Spanish Super Cup first leg in Seville this coming Sunday,” Barcelona said in a statement on their website. (www.fcbarcelona.com) “The German goalkeeper’s availability beyond that will depend on how his injury progresses.” Ter Stegen featured regularly for Barca in their Champions League campaign last season, making 10 appearances, but Chile international Claudio Bravo was Luis Enrique’s first choice during the league campaign....
Coach Luis Enrique has been heavily criticized for not including Alba in his first two squads since he took charge of Spain following a disappointing World Cup in July. Former Spain defender and Alba’s clubmate, Gerard Pique, recently called on the coach to pick Alba. A win by Spain in Croatia on Nov. 15 will put it into the Nations League final four to be played in June. Alba has 66 caps and eight goals for Spain, including one in the final of the 2012 European Championship where Spain routed Italy 4-0....
Meunier, who has two years left on his contract at Signal Iduna Park, shot to fame with his performances for Belgian side Club Brugge. After a trophy-laden four-season spell at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), he joined Dortmund on a free transfer in the summer of 2020. A first-team regular for Belgium with 56 international caps, the 30-year-old is known for his all-round skills on the right flank. He has registered three goals and seven assists in 63 games across competitions for the Edin Terzic-managed side....
The former Barcelona board director has explained that they have to be escorted to the airport in a tank because of the expected threats from the Boca Juniors faithfuls. In case you didn’t know…. Diego Maradona who enjoyed a two-season brief period from 1982 to 1984 in the Catalan capital, will always be remembered as one of the greatest ever to embrace the beautiful game if not the best....
Dembele became the Catalans’ most expensive player in history over the summer when he was signed from Borussia Dortmund for €105 million. The France international was purchased as a replacement for Neymar, but went down with a thigh muscle tear in just his third appearance back in September. According to Barca, however, after more than three months on the sidelines, he has now made a full recovery and could feature as soon as this week....
Speculation surrounding the future of Ronald Koeman at Barcelona has been raging on in the media for several months now. However, a change in management could be eminent as Barcelona enter a busy period of the season. Current Belgium manager Roberto Martinez is now tipped to take Ronald Koeman’s place in the Barcelona dugout. The Catalan giants want a manager who can be at the club for a long period of time....
In case you didn’t know… Barcelona, who were in the hunt for a back-up left-back option for Jordi Alba, had been linked with the Spanish U-21 international throughout the summer transfer window. Firpo, 21, had a fabulous 2018-19 season for Real Betis. In the LaLiga 2018-19 season, Firpo not only racked up three goals but also registered four assists from 24 league appearances for Los Verdiblancos. Barcelona has already made signings in the form of Antoine Griezmann, Mauro Neto and Frenkie De Jong and spent around £200million during this ongoing summer transfer period....
In case you didn’t know Neymar ended his four-year spell with the Catalan giants and made a switch to Paris Saint-Germain in a hefty €222 million transfer during the summer of 2017. His stint at the Parc des Princes was, however, marred by injury which resulted in his absences from crucial games in the last two seasons of the Champions League. Despite having won the Ligue 1, the club’s season could be considered a massive disappointment considering their failure to achieve European glory yet again....
The Catalans are in top form in Europe as well as in the LaLiga. Their squad might appear complete at the moment but it is not so. With Samuel Umtiti and Luis Suarez sidelined due to injuries, La Blaugrana are searching for appropriate replacements to fill the void. As a result, the club has already found itself being with a move for a number of players prior to the January transfer window....
READ MORE: Messi returns as Barca breezes past Deportivo N’Zonzi spent six seasons in England, three with Blackburn Rovers and another three at Stoke City. In the Premier League, he was considered an effective player but not one who would end up being scouted by Europe’s top clubs. At Sevilla, however, he has taken a step up and Barca’s interest is real. The Frenchman’s former manager at Stoke, Mark Hughes, did not want the midfielder to leave....
San Siro will be the setting for a blockbuster Derby d’Italia when the league’s two outstanding teams battle for top spot going into the international break. Though edged out by Barcelona on Wednesday, Inter have been transformed under Conte this season and take a perfect domestic record into Sunday’s game. Barella’s fine form since arriving from Cagliari has aided the Nerazzurri’s rise, but the Italy international directed all plaudits to his head coach....
The France international left for I Rossoneri in the summer of 2021 after nine years in London. He made a name for himself in England as a scorer of important goals. His return of 39 goals and 14 assists in 119 appearances across competitions for Chelsea doesn’t seem all that impressive. But he was influential in their UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League triumphs. Giroud scored 11 times in 14 Europa League games as Chelsea lifted the 2018-19 title in Baku....
Barcelona officials meet Xavi to discuss possible managerial role at the Camp Nou According to ESPN, Barcelona chiefs have met with Xavi Hernandez in Doha to discuss the possibility of his appointment as Ernesto Valverde’s replacement in the managerial seat. Sporting director Eric Abidal and CEO Oscar Grau were believed to have met with the Spaniard on Friday, a few hours after the Catalan giants succumbed to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup....
La Masia has been a world-renowned production line for players for decades, opening back in 1979, and some of the greatest players in the history of the game have emerged from it and into the first team at the Nou Camp. Here are the 10 best players to have graduated from Barcelona’s academy. #10 Pedro Signed by La Masia at the age of 17, Pedro made his way into Barcelona’s first team in the 2008-09 season after starring for Barcelona B in 2007-08, scoring 7 goals as the side achieved promotion from the Tercera Division....
The Brazilian forward was training with Suarez ahead of Barcelona’s tie against Bayer Leverkusen, taking part in Barcelona’s usual ‘rondos’, where one person attempts to regain the ball as a circle of players pass the ball around him. As Suarez attempted to intercept the ball, Neymar attempted a sombrero, which involves flicking the ball over the opponents head. Neymar sucessfuly flicked the ball over Suarez’s head, but stretched too far trying to keep control of the ball, when he felt a a tweak in his groin....
Paulinho starts ahead of the Croatia midfielder in the engine room, alongside Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta. Rakitic’s absence gives him a much-needed rest, after being almost ever-present for Barcelona and Croatia so far in 2017-18. Ernesto Valverde is also without Jordi Alba, out with a muscle complaint, meaning Lucas Digne fills in at left-back. Barca are otherwise at near full-strength for the visit of Olympiakos, with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez starting after a strenuous past week with club and country....
It has been claimed that Barcelona are already in talks with PSG over Neymar’s possible return to the Camp Nou in a player plus cash deal. In case you didn’t know… Neymar, who has endured an injury-ravaged season, has been ruled out of the ongoing Copa America 2019 with an ankle problem. The Brazilian managed just 28 appearances in all competitions for PSG in the 2018-19 campaign, scoring 23 times and providing 13 assists....
The Brazilian midfielder failed to impress throughout the season and the Champions League shock exit after 4-0 loss against Liverpool is the final nail in the coffin for Coutinho. In case you didn’t know… Coutinho became Barcelona’s record signing when he arrived from Liverpool in January last year. In almost six years at Anfield, the Brazilian scored 54 goals in over 200 appearances for the Reds. Despite being a pivotal player for Liverpool, Coutinho is yet to earn the trust of Nou Camp faithful after one and half seasons with the club....
