Barcelona has a deal with presidency candidate's "mystery player" for January 2016

Remember that mystery player that Josep Maria Bartomeu has been promising as his big candidacy project? Well, this player will sign with Barcelona.

At least that's what the current president and re-election candidate is saying. Attending an event at a city tennis club, Bartomeu gave an interview and confirmed that he has secured the signing of a Spanish central midfielder who plays in La Liga and that was asked by Luis Enrique right after the Champions League Final.

"The staff asked for a certain player. We already have him, but we aren't able to share his name."

Source: Diario Sport

This mystery signing has become one of the summer's best stories so far. We've already seen a hilarious number of speculative articles about it, but recently it seems like the consensus guy is Koke, the Atlético Madrid star who has long been a target for Luis Enrique and his staff.

It is interesting to see if this mysterious man will still sign for the Blaugrana even if Bartomeu loses the election. Let's follow the developments.

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Copa America Semi Final: Chile 2-1 Peru; Match Review

A quick summary of the first Copa America Semi Final.

In a tight, 2-1 victory Chile secured just their third Copa America Final and on July 4, against the winner of the Argentina vs Paraguay match, they will try to win their first ever Copa America title. Throughout the tournament the hosts, Chile, have been in the good graces of the referees and this time it was more or less the same once again. Chile struggled in the early going of the game as Peru were by far the more dangerous team on the pitch, mostly due to good counterattacks and accurate crosses from the wings, Paolo Guerrero was especially active, but the Blanquirroja couldn't score, which proved crucial after Carlos Zambrano was shown a red card for a clumsy clearance in which the defender caught an opposing player in the back with the studs of his boot.

After the red card Chile took control of the game. Chile dominated possession and tried to break down the Peru defense through extended passing plays, while Peru defended deep but launched quick counters when such an option presented itself. A sentiment nicely represented below in an infographic provided by SportsMatrix.

After Eduardo Vargas scored late in the first half, after a long Alexis Sanchez shot hit the post, it seemed over for Peru. Peru would get a lifeline early in the second half when Vargas' second of the game was incorrectly ruled out for offside, and because the Peruvians remained dangerous on the counter attack and from set-pieces there was still a chance for the underdog. In goal for Chile was Barcelona's Claudio Bravo who made a couple solid saves, but was at times fortunate that the aim of the Peru attackers, notably Jefferson Farfan, was poor. While the Peru players couldn't beat Bravo, Chile defender Gary Medel had no such problems, expertly deflecting a Luis Advincula cross past Bravo and into the back of net to tie the game at one in the 60th minute.

But Peru's smiles were short lived, as just four minutes later, Vargas indeed competed his brace with a stunning goal from 35-yards out that Peru goalkeeper, Pedro Gallese, had no chance of stopping, even if he was slightly out of position. Chile didn't make the mistake of letting Peru back for a second time and calmly brought the game to an uneventful end. The stats are clearly on Chile's side, but it could've been a very different game had Zambrano not been sent off after just 20 minute of play.

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FC Barcelona News: 30 June 2015; Barça Lose Youngster to Liverpool, Claudio Bravo, Chile Reach Copa America Final

Report: Barcelona turn down chance to sign Chelsea’s Juan Cuadrado
Barcelona have turned down the chance to sign Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado, according to Spanish news outlet Sport. The Colombian only joined the Premier League champions in January but has failed to impress, making just 14 appearances with most of those coming from the bench.

Joan Laporta says Barcelona will sign Paul Pogba if elected - ESPN FC
Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has said he fully expects to sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba if he is re-elected next month. Pogba, 22, has been strongly linked with clubs including Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City despite a reported €100 million price tag.

'I wouldn't break the bank for Pogba,' reveals Barcelona presidential candidate Benedito - Goal.com
Agusti Benedito says he would not break the bank to sign Juventus ace Paul Pogba were he to become Barcelona president. The 51-year-old claimed earlier this month that he had already spoken to both the Bianconeri and the France international about a move to Camp Nou, revealing that the Old Lady want 80 million euros ($89.4 million) for the midfielder, who would receive €12 million per annum after tax.

Xavi comments on ten pictures of his farewell | FC Barcelona
Barça fans bade farewell to Xavi Hernández on Saturday 23 May after the final league game against Deportivo. BARÇA MAGAZINE has picked ten images from that afternoon and Xavi comments on the emotions that they bring back.

Barcelona wonderkid set for surprise medical with Liverpool having agreed deal | AstralFootball.com
The 16 year-old is highly rated on the continent, with his current club having risked the wrath of FIFA by signing him back in 2011, which resulted in a transfer ban which ruled the club from signing any players during 2015. The future star is now said to have fallen out with the Catalan giants over when he will be able to play for their side, and has now agreed terms over a summer move to Liverpool.

Claudio Bravo's Chile into Copa América final with win over Peru (2-1) | FC Barcelona
Claudio Bravo will have the chance to add a fourth trophy to his personal collection for the season thanks to Chile's 2-1 win over Peru. The Barça keeper could claim the Copa América title with his country and add it to the historic treble of league, Champions League and Cup claimed in his first season as a blaugrana.

The Copa America, the challenge for Argentina, Leo Messi and Javier Mascherano | FC Barcelona
Leo Messi represents art and football while Javier Mascherano is about consistency and leadership. They have just won a famous treble with FC Barcelona and are now aiming to top a wonderful year by winning the Copa America in Chile.

President: Ronaldinho has agreed terms with Turkish side Antalyaspor | ProSoccerTalk
Right from the start, I was banging the "I know it’s going to be tempting, but don’t do it, MLS teams" drum. In short, Ronaldinho’s best days are far, far behind him, and he’s not genuinely cared about playing and/or winning for roughly five years now — not even to mention the fact he’d want to be paid similarly to Sebastian Giovinco and Kaka, both of whom are producing at an All-Star level).

Pedro ‘would only go to Premier’ | Football Espana
Mundo Deportivo report that Barcelona’s Pedro would only leave the Catalan giants to join a Premier League club. The 27-year-old found his first team opportunities severely limited at Camp Nou last season, following the imperious form of attacking trio Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

UEFA relax Financial Fair Play rules - ESPN FC
European football's governing body agreed on Monday to relax some of its financial fair play (FFP) rules, allowing clubs a period of accelerated spending on players if they present an affordable business model and show they are not "gambling on success." The loosening of the rules comes after UEFA found that collective losses by clubs decreased by 70 percent over the last three years, pointing to how European football grew despite the tough economic climate on the continent.

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La Liga News: 30 June 2015; Valencia Cancel Rodrigo Caio Transfer, Joao Miranda has Inter Medical

Madrid re-sign Lucas Vazquez? | Football Espana
The Spanish Press are reporting that Real Madrid are set to re-sign winger Lucas Vazquez, following his spell with Espanyol last season. According to Marca, the 24-year-old will return to Santiago Bernabeu, where new Coach Rafa Benitez wants him to be more involved in first team duties next season.

Manchester United bid £28.6m for Sergio Ramos, says Graham Hunter | Sky Sports
The Spanish international has two years left to run on his contract but is keen to join Louis Van Gaal's side after 10 years at the Bernabeu. "The player has made it very clear, has told Real Madrid directly, that he is absolutely and completely committed to leaving the club this summer," Hunter told Sky Sports News HQ.

Ronaldo sells image rights to Valencia owner - Goal.com
Cristiano Ronaldo revealed he has struck an image rights deal with Valencia owner Jeremy Lim as he bids to grow his personal brand in Asia. The Real Madrid star, 30, was recently named the third best paid athlete in the world in Forbes' annual rich list and has his sights set on enhancing his wealth even further.

Luciano Vietto Inching Closer To Atletico Madrid Switch | InsideFutbol
Villarreal striker Luciano Vietto has revealed that his impending move to Atletico madrid is at a "very advanced" stage, adding the he is looking forward to playing with Los Rojiblancos.

Miranda having Inter medical | Football Espana
Atletico Madrid defender Miranda is poised to complete a €15m switch to Italian outfit Inter. According to Marca, the Brazilian is currently in Milan undergoing a medical before officially signing for Roberto Mancini’s side.

Atletico Madrid Arda Turan talking with three or four clubs - ESPN FC
Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan has revealed that his agent is listening to offers for him to leave this summer. Turan's representative said last week that the 28-year-old wanted a move to the Premier League and that three top English clubs had made bids for his services.

Agent: Atletico Madrid has agreed to let Arda leave - Goal.com
Arda Turan's agent has confirmed that his client will leave Atletico Madrid this summer. The Turkey international still has two years to run on his contract with the Rojiblancos but the capital club has accepted the midfielder's transfer request.

Valencia rule out Caio transfer due to knee problems - Inside Spanish Football
Valencia made an official announcement on Monday that they have decided to cancel the transfer for the 21-year-old defensive midfielder, with Spanish sports daily AS reporting that it was due to knee problems discovered in Barcelona by renowned surgeon Dr. Ramon Cugat from an injury the Brazilian suffered when he was 14 years old.

Sevilla renew interest in Leroy Fer Inside Spanish Football
According to Estadio Deportivo, Sevilla have not given up on signing Leroy Fer, who they were in negotiations for when the 25-year-old was at Norwich City but ultimately lost out to the QPR, who were able to pay more for the player. However, now that QPR have been relegated, Sevilla are once again turning their attentions to the Dutch star to bolster their squad ahead of their first Champions League campaign in six years.

Emery resigned to Bacca exit | Football Espana
"There are rumours that he might go to Milan and if they meet his release clause then we can’t do anything but thank him for his service to Sevilla," the Coach told reporters. "[However], we’re used to solving situations such as these. Sevilla will have a competitive team next season."

Espanyol’s Garcia joins Al Rayyan | Football Espana
Espanyol have announced the departure of captain Sergio Garcia to Qatari side Al Rayyan for a reported €1.5m. The Catalans also confirmed on their official website that the 32-year-old will bid farewell to the club’s supporters at a Press conference on Tuesday alongside President Joan Collet.

UEFA relax Financial Fair Play rules - ESPN FC
European football's governing body agreed on Monday to relax some of its financial fair play (FFP) rules, allowing clubs a period of accelerated spending on players if they present an affordable business model and show they are not "gambling on success." The loosening of the rules comes after UEFA found that collective losses by clubs decreased by 70 percent over the last three years, pointing to how European football grew despite the tough economic climate on the continent.

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Report: Martín Montoya loan to Inter Milan a done deal

Martín Montoya unfortunately hasn't gotten much time at Barcelona, but it seems like he's getting some chances elsewhere.

Sources told Barça Blaugranes on Monday that the deal between the Blaugrana and the Nerazzurri is done, and they're ready to announce it as soon as possible. Right now, Montoya and the Italian club are working on some salary details before they sign a contract.

As reported last week, the Spanish full-back will sign a two-year loan agreement, and Inter will have an €8 million buy option at the end of the deal. If they don't exercise it, then he just returns to the Catalan club for the final year of his contract.

Without opportunities with Luis Enrique last season, Montoya wanted a January departure, but he decided to stick around, and played a little more, including a Champions League appearance which granted him the right to be called a Treble winner. But with the signing of Aleix Vidal, it looks like the right-back will not get a real shot at Dani Alves' job for the upcoming years.

For a very solid player who just needs more time to become a very good one, playing in a tough, physical Serie A football could help his development.

See you in two years, Monty. Maybe.

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FC Barcelona News: 29 June 2015; Martin Montoya to Inter Imminent, Dani Alves Talks About Brazil Loss

Sempreinter FCIN: Montoya to Inter imminent
According to Rai Sport Martin Montoya to Inter from Barcelona is imminent. Montoya will move to Inter on a one-year loan fixed at one million euro, with mandatory redemption to be exercised in a year to eight million. The signing is expected in the coming hours, meanwhile the medical has been set for Tuesday.

Right back Martin Montoya (24) will have medical tests at Inter tomorrow. One-year loan worth 1M, plus 8M buy obligation. [rai via fcin]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) June 29, 2015

'Unstoppable alien' Lionel Messi would humiliate me at Barcelona training – Carles Puyol - Goal.com
Carles Puyol has revealed the humiliation he would suffer at the hands of an "unstoppable" Lionel Messi during training sessions in their time at Barcelona. The former Barca captain retired from the game in 2014 after he and Messi shared six league titles and three Champions League crowns with the Catalan club.

Dani Alves laments Brazil's lack of control | FC Barcelona
Dani Alves’ Copa America 2015 came to an end last night after Brazil were knocked out by Paraguay on penalties and the Barça wing back spoke to the media after the defeat: "we should have had more possession in the second half, we read the game wrong – we should have been able to control it. The defeat is own to the whole team not to any one player".

Bartra to stay at Barca | Football Espana
The Spanish Press claim Marc Bartra has decided to stay at Barcelona this summer, despite a clause which allows him to leave for a cut-price fee. The defender confirmed after Spain’s recent friendly against Costa Rica that he could leave for just €12m as he did not play enough games for La Blaugrana last season.

Denis Suarez Barcelona block blessing in disguise - ESPN FC
Denis Suarez could be forgiven for feeling let down this month. Despite suggestions that a Europa League-winning season at Sevilla would be capped off with a dream chance to play for the team who went one better when it comes to European trophies, the youngster has just learned that he will not be making an early return to FC Barcelona.

Germany and ter Stegen out at UEFA Under-21 | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen and his Germany U-21 national team will not be in the final of the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship being held in the Czech Republic after being eliminated in the semi-finals by Portugal.

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La Liga News: 29 June 2015; Carlos Bacca Confirms Milan Contract, Iker Muniain Extends Contract

Report: Real Madrid table bid for Argentina international Lucas Biglia | HITC
According to a recent report in La Gazzetta dello Sport, Real Madrid have tabled a £15.6 million bid for Lazio defensive midfielder Lucas Biglia. Newly-appointed Madrid boss Rafa Benitez has seemingly made the midfield area his first priority to strengthen this summer, and he knows Biglia well from his time in Serie A.

Cristiano Ronaldo 'happy' at 'best club in the world' Real Madrid | Sky Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo has broken several months of near-silence to rubbish reports that he is unhappy at Real Madrid and wants to leave the Spanish giants. The World Player of the Year has barely uttered a word since he gruffly told reporters after the Champions League defeat by Schalke 04 in March he would not speak to the media until the end of the season.

Real Madrid keen on Valencias Shkodran Mustafi - ESPN FC
Real Madrid have made contact over the availability of Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi, according to both the player's father and agent. Mustafi, 23, arrived at Valencia in 2014 from Sampdoria for a fee of €8 million. His contract runs until 2019 and it contains a €50 million release clause, with the Spanish media linking him with a move away from the club this summer.

Spain challenging FIFA switch to winter World Cup in 2022 - ESPN FC
The Spanish football league is challenging FIFA's decision to switch the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to November-December. The Court of Arbitration for Sport says the Spanish league (LFP) has filed an appeal against the FIFA decision, which avoids the Qatari summer heat.

Sevilla's Carlos Bacca confirms AC Milan agreement - ESPN FC
Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca has confirmed he has agreed personal terms for a move to AC Milan. Bacca, who is also a target for Liverpool, has a buyout clause in his contract that is reported to be set at €30 million.

Konoplyanka to sign for Atlético Madrid
Yevhen Konoplyanka is a complicated transfer, many clubs have tried to secure his signature, but nobody has yet managed to sign him in the two years his name seems to have been in the papers. Now that he is a free agent, or will be on 1 July, he seems to have been touted around everywhere and talked to everyone. We know to our cost that even a medical mean nothing if a more attractive offer comes along, we experienced that with Willian of course.

Muniain signs Athletic renewal | Football Espana
Athletic Bilbao have announced that Iker Muniain has extended his contract for a further two years until 2019. The attacking midfielder is the latest youth product since the end of last season to agree a renewal at San Mames, following in the footsteps of Ander Iturraspe and Aymeric Laporte.

Phil Neville yet to agree Valencia assistant coach role - ESPN FC
Phil Neville has told the BBC he has yet to agree terms with Valencia over the assistant coach role at the club. The Spanish club announced on Sunday that former Manchester United full-back Neville had joined the coaching staff, working under head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.

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Report: Paris Saint-Germain to pay release clause on Neymar Jr. contract

That's according to a paper from, um, Paris

Ah, the transfer window... so beautiful, so full of rumors, and... there's one more!

With terrific performance after terrific performance and a key piece of Barcelona's treble-winning season, Neymar Jr. surely inserted himself in the small group of this world's best footballers. Alongside his MSN partners, the Brazilian dominated Europe in 2014/15, and became even a bigger superstar. With his marketability, plus his talents, it's very simple to make a player like Neymar the centerpiece of every football team, as long as you have the money to lure him away from Camp Nou.

And it seems like a team has that money, and is ready to use it.

According to a report from French newspaper Le Parisien, France powerhouse and Barça's favorite "Who's your daddy?" opponent Paris Saint-Germain looks set to pay the full buyout clause of Neymar's contract, which is at €190 million. If PSG does buy him out, they would only need to convince the player to pack his bags and live in the land of Eiffel Tower and croissants.

Also according to the report, Neymar is the project to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic, current superstar of Les Rouge-et-Bleu. His contract is up next summer, and the Swedish star is probably not going to stay. If he leaves, PSG will need a big name, and Ney is the chosen one.

Here's the catch: the report is from a Paris paper, which is known as the Marca of France. You should definitely take this report with some millions of grains of salt. We do know that PSG does have the money and the draw power. But we also know that Neymar loves Barcelona, and he's also the guy chosen by the Blaugrana to replace Lionel Messi as the technical leader and best player of the Catalan giants.

But hey, everyone can dream.

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Report: Marc Bartra Snubs Manchester City, Spurs, Porto and Bayern Munich to Stay at FC Barcelona

The defender is said to be happy to stay with the Catalans

Because of a strange clause in Marc Bartra's contract, his release clause is temporarily set to just 12 million euro until next Tuesday, when it will go up again to 50 million.

That being the case, several clubs such as Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur and Porto were interested in plucking the young defender from Barcelona at a reduced price.

Bartra, for his part, is unsure of getting minutes next season due to the presence of Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Jeremy Mathieu and now Thomas Vermaelen, who has returned from injury.

However, according to a report in Diario Sport, Bartra has let FC Barcelona know that he's going to stay and fight for a place in the team.

He also dropped a not-so-subtle hint on his Twitter feed this morning.

Ninguna fuerza abatirá tus sueños, porque ellos se nutren con su propia luz. Se alimentan de su propia pasión... http://pic.twitter.com/61t5ROlALm

— Marc Bartra (@MarcBartra) June 28, 2015

It says: "No force will shoot down your dreams, because they gain strength from their own light. They feed on their own passion." It also has a red and blue emoji, used by Barça fans and players and social media. He's also, obviously, holding the Barcelona shield near his heart.

Many fans will be delighted to hear such a promising defender is not leaving on the cheap. Coach Luis Enrique may be among those happiest, as he pushed strongly to prevent his exit.

Poll

Are you happy Bartra is staying?

• Yes
• No
• Maybe

  0 votes | Results

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La Liga News: 28 June 2015: Cristiano Ronaldo denies Real Madrid feud, Arda Turan forcing Atlético departure

Cristiano Ronaldo refutes false reports of Real Madrid feud - ESPN FC

Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken out against reports that he is unhappy and seeking a move away from Real Madrid.

Neville to become Valencia assistant? | Football Espana

Valencia have lined up Phil Neville as a potential assistant to Coach Nuno Santo, according to the Mirror.

Arda fuels exit speculation | Football Espana

Arda Turan has fuelled speculation that he could leave Atletico Madrid this summer by confirming "my agent is currently in touch with three to four clubs".

Van Gaal blocks De Gea's move to Real Madrid from Manchester United - Managing Madrid

De Gea will not have an easy road to Madrid.

Manchester United will offer €60 million for Sergio Ramos - Managing Madrid

United want Ramos to publicly admit that he wants out of Real Madrid, according to AS.

Las Palmas finalise full transfer of Sergio Araujo from Boca Juniors Inside Spanish Football

Las Palmas president Miguel Angel Ramírez confirmed that the club has acquired 70% of the rights to Sergio Araujo from Boca Juniors and have signed the 23-year-old forward to a new five-year-deal.

Sevilla drop interest in Konoplyanka - Inside Spanish Football Inside Spanish Football

Sevilla sporting director Monchi recently revealed that after several weeks of negotiations, the club has stopped their interest in Ukrainian midfielder Yevhen Konoplyanka and will no longer continue negotiations with the player.

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FC Barcelona News, 28 June 2015: Dani Alves, Brazil knocked out of Copa America, Diego Forlan praises Neymar Jr.

Brazil knocked out of the Copa América by Paraguay (1-1, 4-3 pens) | FC Barcelona

Dani Alves provides cross for Robinho's goal but a spot kick from Derlís González in the second half and again in the penalty shoot out sees 'canarinha' on plane home

Ten big moments from Andrés Iniesta's season | FC Barcelona

The midfielder won the treble for the second time and set new records in a wonderful year for FC barcelona

The story behind the famous photo of the Messi-Neymar-Suárez trident | FC Barcelona

BARÇA MAGAZINE speaks to to the man who took perhaps the most iconic photo in recent club history

Quiz: Curiosities of the season | FC Barcelona

After the triumph, we have prepared 15 questions about curiosities of this season

Paul Pogba is the most logical signing for Barcelona - ESPN FC

After a couple summers in which record sums were invested in attracting both Neymar and Suarez to the Catalan capital, the fan base has now come to expect big-name additions on a yearly basis. Without a doubt, Paul Pogba is the chosen one -- and rightly so.

‘Ibra would be better than Messi if...’ | Football Espana

Arrigo Sacchi has claimed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be considered better than Lionel Messi “if football was an individual sport”.

‘Magical Neymar will become world’s best’ | Football Espana

Former Villarreal and Atletico Madrid star Diego Forlan believes Neymar’s “magical” talents will make him the world’s best player in the next few years.

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FC Barcelona News: 27 June 2015; Lionel Messi Scores Penalty in Shootout Win, Martin Montoya Close to Joining Inter

Xavi gives final interview to Barça Magazine | FC Barcelona
The emotion was there. At both Camp Nou and the Auditorium 1899. His family, his wife Núria, his parents Joachim and Maria Mercè, his siblings Àlex, Òscar i Ariadna ... it was too much for Xavi to resist. Andrés Iniesta spoke on behalf of his teammates and induced the first tears. Hours later, Xavi sat down with BARÇA MAGAZINE to talk about everything he felt the day he said goodbye to the fans and when he received recognition of the Club.

Messi and Argentina into semis of Copa América with win against Colombia on penalties | FC Barcelona
Leo Messi and Argentina are through to the semi finals of the Copa América after a heart stopping victory 5-4 on penalties in the quarter finals against Colombia. The game ended 0-0 after 90 minutes, thanks in the main to a wonderful performance from Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina in goal for 'los cafeteros' who denied the Barça number 10 on numerous occasions in normal time.

Mascherano says possession is the way to control the game | FC Barcelona
"We will try to control the game. We have shown that the best way to do that is to have possession," said Javier Mascherano at a press conference before Friday's match against Colombia. Mascherano, along with Leo Messi, is one of the keys to success for Argentina. "We have a strategy and try to carry it out."

Martin Montoya in talks with Inter Milan - agent - ESPN FC
The agent of Barcelona full-back Martin Montoya says he is currently in talks with Inter Milan over a transfer of his client to the Serie A club. A two-year loan deal -- after which they will have an option to buy him for €8 million according to Sport -- is reportedly being discussed and Juan De Dios Carrasco has told Calciomercarto.com that he is optimistic about an agreement being reached.

Montoya set to leave Barcelona for Inter on two-year loan - Goal.com
Barcelona defender Martin Montoya is set to join Inter on a two-year loan deal, Goal understands. The two clubs have agreed a €1.5 million loan fee and Inter also have a non-compulsory option to purchase the player for an additional €6m at the end of his temporary stay in Italy, which would mean a total transfer cost of €7.5m if the Serie A side are happy to go ahead with the deal.

Bartomeu promises more signings | Football Espana
Josep Maria Bartomeu has promised more signings if he is re-elected Barcelona President next month. Despite a FIFA-imposed transfer ban leaving any new arrivals sidelined until January, the 52-year-old assured La Blaugrana were working on improving the squad and had not been "paralysed" by the election process.

Barca sack B boss Vinyals | Football Espana
Barcelona have sacked Jordi Vinyals from his position as B-team Coach after overseeing the team’s relegation to Segunda B. The 51-year-old replaced Eusebio Sacristan for the second half of last season but could not arrest the side’s slump as they finished bottom of La Segunda.

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La Liga News: 27 June 2015; Several Rumors Surround Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid Turn to Bernd Leno

Madrid eye Leno as De Gea alternative? | Football Espana
Real Madrid will reportedly target Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno if an agreement for David de Gea cannot be reached. According to Marca, Los Blancos hoped to make significant headway in their pursuit of the Manchester United No 1 over the past week, but no such progress has been forthcoming.

Sergio Ramos vs. Real Madrid sides taken Sid Lowe - ESPN FC
The damage done is significant, and much of it is irreversible. Equally, to judge this as simply a means of getting a new contract out of Madrid is wrong; it has gone well beyond that, and Ramos' desire to move is real. It is equally impossible to know what would happen if Madrid refuse to sell except that, in theory, Manchester United would also refuse to sell David De Gea.

Jackson Martinez confirms Atletico Madrid transfer - ESPN FC
Jackson Martinez has confirmed he will be signing for Atletico Madrid from Porto this summer. Martinez, 28, had been linked with a transfer to Arsenal and also AC Milan but his agent announced this week that a deal had been agreed with Atletico.

Spanish sources: Alderweireld set for Spurs despite Atletico's desire to keep him - The Tottenham Way
There have been a few reports in the English press this week claiming Spurs are winning the race for Atletico Madrid defender Toby Alderweireld. The Belgian has returned to the Spanish capital following a successful season on loan at Southampton – it seems Atletico bought out Saints’ option to purchase the centre half permanently – and is wanted by Saints, Chelsea and Tottenham.

Atletico Madrid negotiating €15m transfer for Napoli's Jose Callejón - Inside Spanish Football
According to Spanish sports daily AS, Atletico Madrid could be close to sealing their first signing of the summer, as the club is currently well into negotiations for Jose Callejón. The club is preparing for the departure of Arda Turan, whose agent made very clear that his client’s dream is to leave Spain and play in the English Premier League.

Agent: Porto want Moya | Football Espana
The agent of Miguel Angel Moya has confirmed Porto’s interest in the Atletico Madrid goalkeeper. The 31-year-old joined Los Colchoneros as a replacement for Thibaut Courtois last summer and initially pipped fellow custodial arrival Jan Oblak to the club’s No 1 jersey, until an injury afforded the Slovakian the opportunity to establish himself.

Atleti close in on Kranevitter | Football Espana
Atletico Madrid are closing in on the signing of River Plate midfielder Matias Kranevitter for a reported €8m. The 22-year-old has long been linked with Los Colchoneros given their Argentine connection via Diego Simeone, and Marca claims the player regarded as ‘the new Javier Mascherano’ will stay in Buenos Aires on loan until January.

Derby County - Villarreal Friendly Announced
Derby County have announced the replacement for their big pre-season friendly with the news La Liga oufit Villarreal will visit the iPro Stadium on Wednesday, July 29th. The game is to replace the friendly with Benfica who pulled out due to pre-season commitments and were also due to play Burton Albion during their visit.

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Infographic: Chile vs Uruguay; Match Review

Two nights ago, Chile took on Uruguay, the current Copa America champions, in what proved to be one of the most physical and controversial matches of the tournament.

La roja, who seem to be the favorites to win the tournament at the moment, took complete control of the game from minute one. Chile dominated ball possession (69%) and launched heavy attacks (79) far more than Uruguay (54) could, thus frustrating the sky blues. The celeste's disappointment inevitably lead to clumsy challenges, arguments with the referees, and two red cards in the second half.

The first controversial call came after Cavani gently slapped Jara on the cheek while standing just a few feet from the ref's gaze. The PSG striker, who had already received a yellow for arguing with the sideline referee, was irate and argued that he had been provoked by the Chilean. Televised replays revealed that Jara had poked Cavani in the rear while he whispered who-knows-what in his ear. However, the intentional provocation was not seen by any official and Cavani was sent off.

Uruguay's punishment continued throughout the second half and, with their passing lanes utterly cut off thanks to Chile's fantastic midfield, resorted to counter attacks (22%) and long balls (26%) being continually shot into the path of any available player. Uruguay's tactics did occasionally pay off with a measly three attempts on goal, but, with  Barcelona's Claudio Bravo blocking every shot that came his way, the chances Uruguay created were always in vain.

Chile eventually scored in the 81st minute after Isla received the ball from a poor clearance by Muslera. Unfortunately, Uruguay's horror show didn't end there.

In the 88th minute of the match, former Barcelona player, Alexis Sanchez, was fouled by Fucile right in front of the sideline referee. The head official showed the defender a second yellow for his challenge on Sanchez and, as one may have expected, the pitch was transformed into a battlefield.

After several minutes of shoving and arguments, the game was restarted and soon came to an end seconds before the 98th minute.

Chile will now face Peru in the semifinal and are now one step closer to winning their first Copa America title.

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Report: Barcelona and Juventus start Paul Pogba talks; 2016 deal on the horizon

The Paul Pogba Story will never end, but it seems like things have started to get serious.

According to reports from Diario Sport, Barcelona and Juventus, the two UEFA Champions League finalists, have engaged on serious talks regarding the transfer of the French midfielder to Catalonia next season. Since the Blaugrana are still banned and can't register any new signings in 2015, a potential deal would be for January of 2016 or even the season after that, 365 days from now.

In fact, the reports say, there is a meeting scheduled next Wednesday in Italy between the two clubs. Barça's sporting commission director Ariedo Braida will meet with Juve's officials to try and advance the negotiations as soon as possible. While the Catalan giants are indeed the favorites at this point to sign the 21-year-old, big clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea have made formal offers, and Braida has to get as close to a deal as he can.

Some details that sources told Barça Blaugranes: after months of ridiculous asking fees, the Bianconeri start to listen to more reasonable offers, and as of right now, according to those sources, a deal is being discussed in the €70 million region. It's a LAHT of money, but not an otherworldly amount.

Let's see how things progress.

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FC Barcelona News: 26 June 2015; FIFA Block Denis Suarez Return, Gerard Deulofeu Departure Met with Outrage

Six reasons why Lionel Messi is world's best - ESPN FC
Stars such as Hristo Stoitchkov, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho helped the Catalans become synonymous with beautiful football, effectiveness upfront and, above all, a winning club for rivals to fear. However, the Camp Nou has never witnessed a talent of Messi's calibre.

FIFA block Suarez return | Football Espana
FIFA have informed Barcelona that bringing Denis Suarez back a year early from Sevilla would contravene their transfer embargo. Barca were under the impression that as Suarez was only on loan with Los Rojiblancos, they could reincorporate him into their squad despite being banned from making signings until January 2016.

Messi, Mascherano and Argentina go for Copa América semi-finals | FC Barcelona
The Sausalito Stadium in the Chilean city of Viña del Mar will host the quarter-finals of the 2015 Copa América between Argentina and Colombia. Two FC Barcelona players in the competition, Leo Messi and Javier Mascherano, are looking to stamp their ticket for the semi-finals. The White and Sky Blue won Group B after beating Uruguay and Jamaica and drawing with Paraguay.

Jordi Alba hoping to hang up his boots at FC Barcelona | FC Barcelona
Jordi Alba, who arrived in Japan on June 24 to attend a football clinic, has spoken to the local media. When asked about the extension of his Barça contract to 2020, he confessed that although he is only 26, he’s hoping to see out his career at the club. "I want to play for Barcelona for many, many years" he said.

Agreement with Everton FC for transfer of Gerard Deulofeu | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona and Everton FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of midfielder Gerard Deulofeu. The contract includes a release clause if Barcelona make an offer to Everton meeting certain requirements. FC Barcelona also have a right of first refusal if Everton decide to sell the Player.

Barcelona candidates blast Gerard Deulofeu departure - ESPN FC
Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Farre has hit out at the sale of Gerard Deulofeu to Everton, saying: "They've destroyed La Masia." On Thursday, Everton announced they had agreed a deal to sign the player for €6 million. Deulofeu, who spent the 2013-14 season on loan at Goodison Park, has agreed a three-year contract with an option for a further season and will join on July 1.

FC Barcelona v Sevilla: Memorable meetings | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona and Sevilla are about to play in the European Super Cup for the second time. In 2006, they were the respective winners of the Champions League and what was then known as the UEFA Cup (now the Europa League). The venue that year was Monaco while this time they are off to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on August 11. Members can apply for tickets for that match on Tuesday 30 June and Wednesday 1 July.

Paul Pogba to Barcelona transfer talked up by Laporta - ESPN FC
Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has said he is impressed with Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba and has the personal contacts that could make a transfer happen. Pogba, 22, has been linked with a big-money transfer, and Barca, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City have all been credited with an interest in the France international.

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La Liga News: 26 June 2015; Juventus Interested in Isco, Sevilla rule out Yevhen Konoplyanka deal

Juve want Isco to replace Pirlo? | Football Espana
Reports in Italy are claiming that Juventus have set their sights on replacing Andrea Pirlo with Real Madrid midfielder Isco. The veteran is set to leave the Bianconeri for MLS side New York City, who also have former Barcelona and Spain attacker David Villa on their books, and the Gazzetta dello Sport claims the 23-year-old has been identified as his rightful heir.

Sergio Ramos move being discussed by Man Utd and Real Madrid | Sky Sports
Widespread reports in the UK media have claimed that United have made an offer in the region £35m for Ramos, but it is still not clear whether the discussions have actually reached that stage yet. "There are tentative discussions between Manchester United and Real Madrid," Sky Sports News HQ reporter James Cooper said.

Atletico looking to loan out Borja | Football Espana
Atletico Madrid hope to find Borja Baston a Primera team for next season after the striker impressed with Real Zaragoza in the Segunda. Baston claimed 23 goals for Los Manos and Marca reports Atletico are keen to see how the 22-year-old does at a higher level.

Atleti nearing Motta swoop? | Football Espana
Atletico Madrid are reportedly closing in on the signing of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta on a free transfer. The Italy international has only a year left on his contract, but Marca claims he will be allowed to join Los Colchoneros for nothing after PSG agreed to write off the remainder of his deal.

Sevilla rule out Yevhen Konoplyanka deal but want Adil Rami - ESPN FC
Sevilla have pulled out of the race to sign Dnipro winger Yevhen Konoplyanka this summer. The Europa League winners were hoping to lure Konoplyanka, who is a free agent this summer, to the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, but negotiations have proved unsuccessful.

Valencia to swoop for N’Koulou? | Football Espana
Valencia are reportedly leading the race to sign Marseille defender Nicolas N’Koulou as a replacement for Nicolas Otamendi. The Cameroon international is quoted by Marca as being "desperate" to leave L’OM and join a club in La Liga, and Los Che appear increasingly likely to be that team.

Big Dunc to get testimonial against Villarreal - Everton Forum
Everton legend Duncan Ferguson will be granted a testimonial match before the start of the season and it looks likely to be against Spanish side Villarreal. The Spaniards were the team that offers Ferguson the most heartache with his header unfairly ruled out during a champions league qualifier in 2005.

Reading FC to face Espanyol in Madejski Stadium friendly - Get Reading
Reading will host Spanish side Espanyol in a pre-season friendly at Madejski Stadium. Steve Clarke’s side will take on the La Liga outfit on Saturday, August 1 at 3pm. The Barcelona-based side finished tenth in the Spanish top flight last season and will be Reading’s final opponents before the start of the 2015/16 Championship campaign.

Official: Getafe appoint Escriba | Football Espana
Getafe have appointed Fran Escriba as their new Coach on a three-year contract. The former Elche boss replaces Pablo Franco at Coliseum Alfonso Perez and will be officially unveiled next Tuesday at 12:00 BST. Escriba comfortably guided Elche to midtable safety in La Liga last season, but the Valencians were demoted as a result of financial irregularities, forcing the 50-year-old to leave the club.

Mallorca sign Wellenreuther | Football Espana
Mallorca have pulled off something of a coup by landing Schalke goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther on a season-long loan. The 19-year-old, who started both legs of Schalke’s dramatic Champions League round-of-16 tie with Real Madrid last season, is Albert Ferrer’s first signing since being appointed Coach.

Las Palmas boss Paco Herrera handed new contract - ESPN FC
Las Palmas have rewarded coach Paco Herrera with a new contract following the club's promotion to the Primera Division. The 61-year-old joined Las Palmas last summer and guided the team from the Canary Islands back into the top flight after an absence of 13 years.

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FC Barcelona Grades: Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano & Others

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Official: FC Barcelona Sell Gerard Deulofeu to Everton FC

Gerard Deulofeu's stay on the Barcelona books has ended as he will again join Everton.

It was a deal that was long expected and rumors of it happening were very loud over the past few days, with Barca Blaugranes also reporting that a deal was close. Now, the transfer has been made official and Gerard Deulofeu, the exciting winger that has made his way through the Barcelona youth ranks, will join Liverpool based club Everton on a three year deal with an option for a fourth season. The transfer will be completed on July 1 when the transfer window opens and Deulofeu will be able to make the switch which is valued at €6 million. The transfer was approved by the managing board of Barcelona as the club is currently without a president who usually makes transfers official.

It will mark the beginning of Deulofeu's second stay at Goodison Park where he will be reunited with his former coach Roberto Martinez. Deulofeu clearly impressed his new/old employers in the 2013-14 season when he spent a season on loan at Everton, scoring four goals and adding five assists in 1121 minutes spanning 29 games. Also important to Deulofeu further development is that the player himself was very happy to be back at Goodison Park and is happy to return to England once again.

The transfer deal also includes a couple other clauses that benefit Barcelona if the Catalans want to buy Deulofeu back in the future. As per the official Everton website, a buy-back clause is included in the contract and can be activated if Barcelona meed "certain requirements". The numbers of those requirements have yet been made official. The bay-back clause is only active for the first two seasons of Deulofeu's contract. Barcelona also have a right of first refusal if Everton decide to sell the player.

Good luck Deulofeu in you future endeavors!

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FC Barcelona News: 25 June 2015; Claudio Bravo Blanks Uruguay in Chile Win, Denis Suarez to Stay at Sevilla

Leo Messi's season in 10 moments | FC Barcelona
2014/15 has broughts goals, records and titles for the FC Barcelona superstar.

Never-before-seen video of Leo Messi with FC Barcelona's U-16 team | FC Barcelona
In the 2002/03 season, Lionel Messi played for FC Barcelona's Under-16 squad under head coach Àlex García. It was the only season during his time in Barça's youth academy that the young Argentinian started and finished a season on the same team. The following campaign, Messi played in four different categories, ascending from the Under-17 team to Barça B.

The best all-time videos of Leo Messi | FC Barcelona
Lionel Messi is 28 years old. To commemorate the date, we take a look back at a series of videos showing the Barça striker's best moments, his most amazing exhbitions of skills, and his earliest moments at FC Barcelona.

Claudio Bravo and Chile into semi-finals with hard fought win over Uruguay (1-0) | FC Barcelona
Claudio Bravo and hosts Chile booked their place in the semi-finals of the Copa América with a narrow but deserved 1-0 victory over Uruguay in the first clash of the knock out stages of the competition. A goal from Isla nine minutes from time gave Jorge Sampaoli's side a last four date against either Bolivia or Peru with Chile attempting to win the tournament for the very first time in its 99 year history.

FC Barcelona second kit for 2015/16 season on sale now | FC Barcelona
Members and fans of FC Barcelona can now get the second kit that the team will sport next season, which went on sale at the FCBotiga on Thursday. The FCBotiga the Club's flagship store located at Camp Nou. The gold shirt that was inspired by the flag of Catalonia can be purchased at official FC Barcelona stores and official retail outlets. You can also buy the new kit anywhere in the world on NIKE.COM/FCB.

Koke to stay at Atletico despite Barcelona link - agent - ESPN FC
Reports in Spain claim that Barcelona presidential candidate Josep Mario Bartomeu is looking to lure Koke, 23, who is one of the hottest properties in Europe after another strong campaign with Atletico, to the Camp Nou this summer.

Monchi: Suarez is staying | Football Espana
It had been reported that Barca wanted to end the midfielder’s loan spell a year early but Monchi insists Sevilla want him and expect him to stay. "Denis will stay for this year. That’s what his contract says and that’s what we want," AS quotes him as saying. "We want him to stay and we are happy with him."

Barcelona keeper Claudio Bravo in dispute with Real Sociedad - ESPN FC
Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo could take former club Real Sociedad to court over a €1.3 million bonus he feels he is owed from his transfer to the Camp Nou last summer. Bravo joined Barca for €13m and, according to Mundo Deportivo, his contract at the San Sebastian stipulated that he was entitled to 10 percent of any transfer fee.

Inter: Imbula and Montoya? | Football Italia
Inter are reportedly close to agreeing loan deals for both Olympique Marseille’s Giannelli Imbula and Martin Montoya of Barcelona. The Nerazzurri are very active on the transfer market, having signed Geoffrey Kondogbia from Monaco for a reported €40m including bonuses. According to Sky Sport Italia and Sport Italia, they are on the verge of securing another two top players on loan.

FAI deny Messi payments | Football Espana
It was alleged by La Nacion, an Argentine publication, that the Ireland players would be paid $10,000 each to go easy on the Barcelona forward in a 2010 friendly. The FAI have reacted strongly with a denial of the claim and may take legal action.

Top five academy goals of June 20 and 21 | FC Barcelona
Once again the time is here to review the best plays of the weekend from FC Barcelona's youth squads, brought to you, as always, by the Barça TV program Promeses. Check out the video to see the best goals from the weekend of 20 and 21 June.

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La Liga News: 25 June 2015; Chelsea Make Antoine Griezmann Bid, Real Madrid Find Sergio Ramos Replacement

Otamendi to replace Ramos at Madrid? | Football Espana
Real Madrid will move for Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi if the Sergio Ramos situation ends with the centre-back’s departure. Marca name the Argentine as Los Blancos’ first choice to replace Ramos, who reportedly asked to leave Santiago Bernabeu and is the subject of a big-money offer from Manchester United.

Why Cristiano Ronaldo might consider Real Madrid exit - ESPN FC
The ongoing Sergio Ramos "will he, won't he" watch has been filling the gossip pages this week, and as transfer sagas go it's a pretty good one, especially for Manchester United fans. Losing David de Gea would be a blow but there are other keepers of his stature knocking about. Ramos, on the other hand, has won everything there is to win and is behind only Iker Casillas and Xavi on the list of caps for the most successful national team of the modern era. It's not a bad trade by any means.

Casillas deserves respect, insists Campo - Goal.com
Former Real Madrid defender Ivan Campo has called for respect for Iker Casillas amid ongoing rumors that the iconic goalkeeper could leave the club. The 34-year-old is no longer the Santiago Bernabeu side's undisputed first-choice shot stopper, with Madrid keen to bring in David de Gea from Manchester United, while Keylor Navas also remains a strong candidate for the No. 1 position.

Report: Koscielny on Madrid agenda | Football Espana
Real Madrid are considering Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny to replace Sergio Ramos, according to the British Press. The Daily Mirror claims Los Blancos would pay £21m [€29m] for the France international as Ramos’ relationship with the Santiago Bernabeu hierarchy is at breaking point.

Vazquez to return to Madrid? | Football Espana
Lucas Vazquez could be set to return to Real Madrid despite Espanyol confirming their intention to sign the winger on a permanent basis. AS suggest that Rafa Benitez has asked for Vazquez to be brought back this summer but Espanyol have already said they will pay Madrid the €500,000 needed to keep him another year.

Chelsea launch big Griezmann bid | Football Espana
Reports from Italy say Chelsea will offer Atletico Madrid €50m and Mohamed Salah for Antoine Griezmann. AS cites a report from the Gazzetta dello Sport that says Jose Mourinho has identified the France international and the Premier League champions are willing to do what it takes to get him.

Atletico Madrid unveil 2015-16 kit as Diego Simeone turns his hand to photography | Daily Mail Online
Diego Simeone swapped the tactics board for a camera as Atletico Madrid players posed during a photoshoot to reveal their new kit ahead of the 2015-16 season. The Argentine coach instructed his players from behind the lens rather than the touchline as they out on their best moody face while they unveiled the club's latest strip. It has come as little surprise that their new attire is the traditional red and white stripes with blue shorts but the club have opted for a v-neck finish rather than a collar.

Malaga announce signings of Juan Carlos Pérez and Fábio Espinho - Inside Spanish Football
Juan Carlos joins Malaga on a season-long loan with the Andalusians having the option to make the move permanent next summer. One minute later, Malaga announced their second signing of the season in Fábio Ricardo Gomes Fonseca ‘Espinho’, who is joining the club on a one-year deal from PFK Ludogorets Razgrad, where he helped the Bulgarian side to the League, Cup and Supercup titles in the 2013-14 season and played in the Champions League last season.

No bids for Carlos Bacca or Grzegorz Krychowiak - ESPN FC
Sevilla have not received any bids for Carlos Bacca or Grzegorz Krychowiak, according to sporting director Monchi, despite reported interest from Liverpool and Arsenal respectively. Bacca and Krychowiak both starred for Sevilla last season, with both players capping excellent La Liga campaigns by scoring in the Europa League final victory over Dnipro in May as the club secured a place in next season's Champions League.

German Piotr Trochowski battling Sevilla in lawsuit - ESPN FC
"I have not been paid since September 2014," the midfielder told Suddeutsche Zeitung. "I have never asked to be released from my contract or have accepted the club's offer to cancel it. In my view the contract runs until the end of June." In 2011 Trochowski joined FC Sevilla from Hamburger SV.

Report: Melo to Sevilla | Football Espana
Reports in Turkey say Felipe Melo will sign for Sevilla after his contract with Galatasaray came to an end. Marca cites Milliyet as saying the Brazilian will sign a three-year deal at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan worth €2.4m a season.

Getafe out of relegation danger | Football Espana
Getafe are out of danger of an administrative relegation after President Angel Torres made a €7m payment to the tax authorities. It was feared the Madrid-based club could go the way of Elche, sent to the Segunda for financial reasons despite securing their top-flight status in the League campaign.

Brighton sign Israeli striker Tomer Hemed from Almeria | Sky Sports
The 28-year-old has joined the Seagulls from Spanish side Almeria for a fee in the region of £1m, according to Sky sources. Hemed scored eight goals in 26 La Liga appearances last season for Almeria but he unable to help them avoid relegation as a 3-2 defeat to Valencia on the final day of the season sealed their fate.

Las Palmas confirm Araujo signing | Football Espana
The President of newly-promoted Las Palmas has confirmed the club will sign Sergio Araujo on a permanent basis. Araujo was on loan at the island outfit from Boca Juniors last season and proved prolific in the Segunda, scoring 25 goals as Las Palmas returned to the top flight.

Escriba says goodbye to Elche | Football Espana
Fran Escriba has vowed to always support Elche as he rescinds his contract with the relegated club. Elche were sent to the Segunda for financial reasons, a decision they are appealing, after sealing their top flight status with a finish of 13th. Escriba is moving on, strongly linked with the vacancy at Getafe, and has held a Press conference to say goodbye to Los Illicitanos.

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One more reason to love Ivan Rakitic: the guy works out DURING HIS HONEYMOON

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FC Barcelona News: 24 June 2015; Lionel Messi Celebrates Birthday, Douglas Could Join Sevilla

#Messi28: Celebrate Lionel Messi's birthday and share it on social media | FC Barcelona
This Wednesday, 24 June, is Lionel Messi's 28th birthday, and to celebrate it we have prepared some special content. Enjoy Messi's birthday by reviewing his best Barça moments in the special section, 'Everything about Leo Messi.'

Messi in six seconds. Which is his best moment? | FC Barcelona
Pick Leo Messi best moment on Vine.

Lionel Messi pictured years Barcelona celebrate birthday - ESPN FC
Lionel Messi is 28 today and Barcelona have been busy ensuring that they don't pull a Manchester City in forgetting one of their stars' birthdays... The Argentine arrived at the Camp Nou in the year 2000 when he was just 13 and has grown into the world's best player, perhaps the best ever. Here is how Barcelona celebrated, with a Vine of their man throughout the years.

Quiz: The private side of Leo Messi | FC Barcelona
To celebrate the Argentinian’s 28th birthday, we’ve prepared 15 questions about his more personal life.

Guardiola 'affection' for Barca president candidate Laporta - ESPN FC
Former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has spoken of his ongoing "affection" for former boss Joan Laporta, but did not openly endorse any candidate in the club's upcoming presidential elections. Laporta was previously Barca club chief from 2003 to 2010, and headed the board which appointed the then inexperienced Guardiola to take over as first-team coach in summer 2008.

Barcelona unveil new away kit inspired by Catalan... - | FOX Soccer Blog
La Liga club Barcelona unveiled their away jersey for the 2015-2016 season, and what a beauty it is. The design is inspired by the Catalan flag, known as the Senyera, and it consists of four red bars on a golden background.

La Real reject Bravo claim | Football Espana
Real Sociedad say there is no substance to legal action taken by Claudio Bravo, who believes he is owed €1.3m from his transfer to Barcelona. It was reported this week that Bravo had sued both his former club for 10% of the fee Barca paid La Real a year ago, some €13m.

Douglas to Sevilla for Denis? | Football Espana
Barcelona could let Douglas go to Sevilla in exchange for Denis Suarez’s early return from his two-year loan spell. Marca report the right-back is liked by Sevilla sporting director Monchi and as Sevilla have lost Aleix Vidal - to Barca - and could lose Diogo, reinforcements in the position are being sought.

AFE, LFP row over League start date | Football Espana
There is disagreement over whether the first round of League games in the 2015-16 season should start on August 15 or August 22. AS reports the LFP wants to kick off the new campaign on August 15 but the players’ union, the AFE, are of the belief that a week later would be better, when temperatures might be cooler.

Las Palmas targeting Sandro | Football Espana
Sandro Ramirez wants Primera football next season and new boys Las Palmas could give the Barcelona youngster his chance in a year-long loan deal. Marca reports interest from the islanders in the young forward who had a taste of La Liga early last season, when Luis Suarez’s suspension saw Luis Enrique call on Sandro and Munir El-Haddadi.

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La Liga News: 24 June 2015; Jackson Martinez Set to Join Atletico Madrid, Dispute Over La Liga Start Date Continues

AFE, LFP row over League start date | Football Espana
There is disagreement over whether the first round of League games in the 2015-16 season should start on August 15 or August 22. AS reports the LFP wants to kick off the new campaign on August 15 but the players’ union, the AFE, are of the belief that a week later would be better, when temperatures might be cooler.

Roma may lose out in race to sign Real Madrid captain due to high wage demands | Forza Italian Football
Roma have been linked with a surprise move for Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Morgan De Sanctis is currently the Giallorossi’s No.1, however the 38-year-old is approaching the end of his career and the hierarchy at the club are now seeking a replacement for the forthcoming Serie A season.

Ramos' Real Madrid future dependent on Perez - Guardiola - ESPN FC
Pep Guardiola says that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez "holds the key" to Sergio Ramos' future -- amid speculation that the centre-back could this summer join Manchester United, or even La Liga rivals Barca. The Spain international, 29, has two years left on his contract at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, however his future is uncertain as talks over a pay-rise are reportedly deadlocked while United are said to be keen to sign the player in part-exchange for Madrid target David De Gea.

Zinedine Zidane would have taken Real Madrid job | Sky Sports
Zidane was one of Ancelotti's assistants as well as the coach of Real Madrid's reserve side last season. As a player, Zidane took Real to Champions League glory, scoring one of the competition's greatest goals, a spectacular volley in the 2002 final against Bayer Leverkusen, as well as to the La Liga title.

Martinez agent confirms Atleti move | Football Espana
"The deal has been closed today. We want to thank Milan, who tried until the end. We feel very honoured, but he can’t be in two places at once," Pompeo is quoted as saying. "Atletico is a big club and have done a lot of important things in their League and in Europe. Jackson goes there wanting to do great things and to do his best to make Atleti even greater, that is his dream.

Atlético Madrid tie up Plus500 deal - SportsPro Media
The online trading services firm will become the front-of-shirt sponsor of the Spanish soccer club. Financial terms were not disclosed, but reports indicate the deal could be worth €11 million annually to Atlético.

Report: PSG to make Arda offer | Football Espana
Paris Saint-Germain will reportedly offer €25m for Atletico Madrid’s Turkey international midfielder Arda Turan. AS cites stories from Turkey that say the French club have turned to Turan after deciding Angel Di Maria - reportedly a Barcelona target - was out of reach.

Arda Turan wants transfer to Premier League, says agent | Sky Sports
The Turkey international has two years left on his contract with the Spanish outfit but agent Ahmet Bulut says he wasnts to leave Vicente Calderon stadium this summer. "His intention is to leave Spain this summer," Bulut told Spanish sports newspaper AS. "His will is to leave and to play in the Premier League, that is the path he would like to take to continue his career.

Valencia set to sign PSV's Zakaria Bakkali - Inside Spanish Football
According to De Telegraaf’s Telesport, Valencia look to be the club that rescues Bakkali from his football purgatory after the 19-year-old barely played for PSV last season after refusing to sign a contract renewal. Bakkali, who at 17 became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in Dutch Eredivisie history, has been linked with a move to Sevilla, Lille, Stoke City, Benfica, Celtic, Sporting Lisbon, Anderlecht, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid, as they all recognise the Belgian international’s incredible talent.

Alfonso Pedraza to West Ham United seen as a blow to Spanish club - Sport Witness
Spanish newspaper Marca explain on Wednesday that reports, which they say started in the British media, that Spanish U19 player Alfonso Pedraza could be moving to West Ham United are a big blow for his club Villarreal. He isn't the only youngster from the Spanish club who is attracting interest from Premier League clubs and the situation is creating wider worry in Spain.

Levante agree to negotiate sale of club to Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver - Inside Spanish Football
La Fundación del Levante has agreed to negotiate the sale to American multi-millionaire Robert Sarver where the commission representing Levante will be comprised of club president Quico Catalan, Fundación president José Manuel Fuertes, legal counsel Javier Martínez and Luis Calero, and lawyer Enrique Grima.

Betis and Sporting Gijon battling for Real Madrid youngster | Realmadridnews.com
Betis and Sporting Gijon are fighting to sign Real Madrid wonderkid Diego Llorente on loan this summer. The Los Blancos homegrown defender is one of the biggest talents in the youth teams and Florentino Perez wants him to leave on loan to a La Liga side in order to get minutes of play and gain experience.

Osasuna may have paid Barca and Madrid - Valladolid chief - ESPN FC
"Osasuna was a team that looked dead and buried at that moment, and then they beat Madrid and Barcelona," Suarez said. "The first thing I thought was: 'You are asking me to help you [with money] to cover these affairs.'"

New faces in La Liga (III): UD Las Palmas | FC Barcelona
UD Las Palmas were among the favourites to win promotion to the top flight for the first time in 14 years, and they finally achieved their target. But they did it the hard way, finishing fourth in the table and having to go through the play-off process to confirm their place. They won both ties by virtue of the away goals rule, first against Valladolid (1-1 and 0-0) and then Zaragoza (3-1 and 2-0) to make amends for letting a similar chance slip away in equally dramatic fashion twelve months earlier.

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Jerome Boateng on iconic Lionel Messi moment: "I was laughing at myself"

Almost two months ago, Lionel Messi ruined the life of Bayern Munich center-back Jérôme Boateng during the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal between Barcelona and the Germans. The Blaugrana won 3-0 in a brilliant night by the Argentine superstar, and perhaps his greatest moment in the match came in the second goal, when he did this:

That dribble that dropped the center-back to the floor in humiliating fashion instantly became a worldwide sensation, and in spite of being a 26-year-old world-class player who's a World Cup winner with Germany, Boateng's career will be always hunted by that play.

One could imagine that Boateng is upset by that iconic moment, and thinks about it all the time. But he actually doesn't. In an interview with ESPN FC, he didn't have any problem answering the question about the play, and he really thinks it's a funny moment.

"That doesn't really affect me. I was laughing at myself. When you fall down or slip in a situation and somebody scores a goal, it's normal. These things happen; it happens to me, it happens to other players, I don't care about these things.

"For me, he's the best player in the world. That's football. Sometimes you look bad or something happens. I'm a defender, that doesn't kill me or anything."

Boateng also commented on the 5-3 aggregate loss to Barça in the Champions League semis. For him, the Catalan giants were deserving, but the many injury issues for Bayern did have a big influence on the final result.

"Of course it was a bad loss for us, and we did well for 75 minutes or something, and then against a team like this it's difficult. Especially the second goal was a great goal from Messi. At the end of the day, you have to continue your hard work, and next season I will try with the team again to win the Champions League. Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win, sometimes you are unlucky, but that's life."

"I don't want to have an excuse or something, but of course it's a big influence for us, for our team. We have been missing also David Alaba, who is a key player for us, and Arjen and Franck. It's like when you take from Barcelona Messi, Neymar and [Andres] Iniesta. But like I said, that's football. The moment we didn't have them, we tried our best. We lost against a better team over two games, so next season I hope we're going to meet them again and then we try with a different team."

Cool, Boateng. How about that Messi play again? I'm curious.

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Infographic: Copa America Group Stage

A few statistics on the Copa America group stage.

The Copa America group stage has been an emotional roller coaster and full of upsets, surprises, and the inevitable controversies. Luckily for us, the adventure isn't over just yet, so let's take the time to relive some of the best and worst from what we've seen so far.

Chile, this year's host for the tournament, has yet to win a Copa America title, but are, nevertheless, one of the favorites to win the prestigious cup. La roja's passing game was the most successful of the group stage and, as you may have imagined, is the primary reason for their high possession percentage (61%) over the three matches. Only Argentina was able to equal Chile's high rate of possession, which should be of little surprise thanks to their equally impressive passing game. Regrettably for Messi's men, the number of goals the albiceleste scored in their first three games (1.3) is lower than Chile's (3.3). Fortunately for Argentina, almost every other opponent managed the same number of goals. With the numbers in both Chile and Argentina's favor, watching these two teams in the final would be real treat.

At the other end of the spectrum, there have been a few top teams that have failed to impress, including Brazil, who's won the Copa America title eight times, and Uruguay, who has a record fifteen trophies.

Brazil was relatively tame when it came to scoring goals during the group phase. Not only are they sitting in the median range for number of goals scored, their shots on goal were low in spite of their decent ball possession. Furthermore, their shots off target were significantly higher than those on. It's clear that the Seleção are in need of a leader and a goal-scorer, something they lost thanks to Neymar's 4-match ban, if they want a real chance at winning the title.

Alas, there is one team who, despite all of their footballing royalty, were not as impressive as one expected them to be. Uruguay has been meager, at best, and are sorely missing the swift feet and sharp strike of Luis Suarez. The celeste's ball possession currently sits below the 50% mark, and their passing, which clearly reflects their poor possession, isn't much better than Mexico or Bolivia. To make matters worse, Uruguay's shots on goal (2.3) and goals (0.6) are lower than their opposition's, 3.3 and 0.7 respectively, while their shots off target are over two times greater than their shots on target. Uruguay has truly been one of the worst performers this year and are incredibly lucky to have moved on to the quarter finals.

With such strong competitors, mixed in with a few weak ones, the next stage of the Copa America should be entertaining and definitely worth watching.

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Infographic: Comparing Neymar's First Two FC Barcelona Seasons

A look into the numbers of Neymar's unimpressive debut season and his much improved sophomore year.

Neymar has filled the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. After an excellent season in Barcelona, the Brazilian was hoping to build on that with an strong Copa America campaign, but his title aspirations were cut short by a four match ban picked up in a frustrating performance in the Group Stage match against Colombia. A ban that has already ended his season and sent Neymar to an early vacation, as a result of which he will be able to join FC Barcelona for the team's summer tour.

Speaking of Barcelona, Neymar's improvement on the club circuit was well noticed by pundits and fans alike. Neymar had an underwhelming first season in Barcelona last year. He struggled to stay healthy, he wasn't connecting with his teammates on the pitch and all too often he tried to do everything himself. This season Neymar took a massive step in the right direction. While he still lost possession far to often for my liking, he managed to cut down on his turnovers by 1.5 per La Liga game, as evidenced by the stats provided to us by SportsMatrix.

As you can see, Neymar has improved in just about every important attacking category, which led to more playing time for the young Brazilian. He more than doubled his goal scoring output, though he did miss out on a career high in assist, even though he created more scoring chances from less attempts. Neymar also held on to the ball for less time which resulted in less dribbles attempted. While he attempted over three dribbles per game less, Neymar was actually a more successful dribbler this year compared to the last, by 3.4% to be exact.

Perhaps the biggest improvement Neymar made from the 2013-14 season to the 2014-15 season was in front of goal. While many, me included, still believe Neymar can be very wasteful in front of goal and that there is still room to grow, Neymar was actually much deadlier this season, as roughly 7% more of the shots he took went to the back of the net. Neymar did take more shots this season, but the percentages paint a clear image that his finishing improved.

As I've said above, at the age of 23, Neymar can still improve, which should be a cause for concern for every team facing Barcelona, but the Brazilian already made a large step in the right direction during this season. The sky really is the limit for Neymar, but the deciding factor of his ceiling juts might be how he develops mentally and how he matures.

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FC Barcelona News: 23 June 2015; Eric Abidal Joins Joan Laporta Campaign, Sampdoria Interested in Adama Traore

Eric Abidal Barcelona sporting director says Joan Laporta - ESPN FC
Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has confirmed that Eric Abidal will return to the club as a sporting director if he wins the election. Laporta, who was president between 2003 and 2010, has confirmed he is running in next month's election and he was the overwhelming leader in recent readers' polls conducted by Madrid-based papers AS and Marca.

Josep Maria Bartomeu hits back at Joan Laporta at Barcelona - ESPN FC
"[Messi] is a value of Barca, and Luis Enrique has known how to get very good things out of him," he said. "I do not have telepathy, but when I want to speak with him I call him and that's it. We are closing a winning cycle and opening another, but in silence."

Neymar Jr ready to learn from the situation | FC Barcelona
"Staying only to train is killing me inside" says the FC Barcelona striker in a statement published on social networks regarding his decision to leave the Brazil squad at the Copa America in Chile. "It is giving me no joy. It’s hard to train when you have no objectives and that could lead to me getting injured, which would make things harder still."

Neymar Jr's season in 10 moments | FC Barcelona
When he scored another brace in the 3-1 win at Villarreal, Neymar passed the number of goals scored for FCB by two of the biggest stars ever to play for the side: Maradona and Ronaldo.

Sampdoria express interest Barça B's Adama Traoré - Inside Spanish Football
According to SPORT, Sampdoria are looking to reinforce their attack and Traore’s speed and ability to disrupt defenses has made him the perfect player for Sampdoria, as they try to improve on last season’s seventh place finish. Sampdoria are keen to play Traore on both wings, despite his natural position being on the right midfield and Barcelona realise that the Malian U-20 star has outgrown Barca B but is still not ready for consistent play on the first team.

Bojan Blasts FC Barcelona Boss Luis Enrique For Roma Failure | The Hard Tackle
The Spain international attacker said that the FC Barcelona boss played him out of position while the Giallorossi’s former sporting director Franco Baldini "disrespected" him. Bojan, 24, came through the youth team ranks at Camp Nou before moving to the Stadio Olimpico in the summer of 2011 for a fee of around €12 million.

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