Barcelona president Joan Laporta has hit out at La Liga chief Javier Tebas after the 59-year-old said the Catalan giants can not sign Robert Lewandowski right now.
Tebas told Marca that Barca must “sell assets and earn more” if they are to bring in the Poland international which seems to have riled up the Barca chief.
Here’s how Laporta responded
“I ask him to abstain from making comments in the sense of if Barça can or cannot sign a player because it’s clearly damaging Barça’s interests,” he said.
“Furthermore, I don’t know if he makes these statements voluntarily or involuntarily, but if he makes them voluntarily it is a clear sign that he wants to harm Barça’s interests.
“I would ask him to abstain from making comments in the sense of if Barça can or cannot sign a player because it’s clearly damaging Barça’s interests.”
Barcelona have since announced plans for members to vote on the potential sales of Barca Licensing & Merchandising (BLM) and future television rights which could bring in income in the region of €700 million.
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Leeds want a lot of money, and Barcelona could look elsewhere
FC Barcelona could be balking over the price tag affixed to Leeds winger Raphinha. The forward has interested the Catalans for a long time, but his price has risen as Leeds escaped relegation. Should they had gone down, there would have been a clause to buy him for 25 million euro. Instead, Leeds are asking for 55 million.
Raphinha has Barcelona as priority since February… but the deal is still not close to be completed between clubs #FCB
Leeds have no intention to accept less than €55m - not payable in many installments/years. It’s up to Barça, while other clubs are now joining the race too.
In addition, Leeds want all the money at once, and not in installments or over a period of years. The player wants to join, but it’s up to Barcelona to see if they want to spend the money.
Right now, it seems that they are moving on over the cost of the player.
Se desploma el interés culé por Raphinha:
El Barça lleva varios meses ausente.
Que el Leeds no haya descendido complica el fichaje. Ya no hay cláusula de 25M y los ingleses piden 55M más variables.
While Barcelona have not ruled out the signing, they are moving away from seeing his signing as a priority. Another Premier League club might have the financial muscle to pull the transfer off, instead.
The player himself is said to want to go somewhere that offers regular playing time as he tries to make his case to go to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar this year.
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One of the many questions in the Xavi era is the place of players that arrived shortly before he took over. Memphis Depay is one player that Ronald Koeman was pretty excited to bring on board, and it remains to be seen if they fit into Xavi’s plans.
Specifically, Depay is a question mark. As a solid attacking option, he could be important in a potential post-Ousmane Dembele Barcelona, but he certainly won’t be okay with sitting on the bench for extended periods of time. The one thing that, at least for now, we cannot question, is his desire to stay at the club.
“I feel at home at Barcelona, after one season already. I look forward to report myself there again,” he said.
“I have finished the course as the club’s top scorer despite all my injuries. Obviously, I expected more. I did not imagine that Messi would leave. His departure affected us a lot.”
Photo by Broer van den Boom/BSR Agency/Getty Images
The midfielder has reiterated his desire to stay
Frenkie de Jong has insisted once again he has no plans to leave Barcelona and wants to stay amid continued speculation about his future.
Reports have claimed De Jong could be sold this summer to raise funds which would allow Barcelona to make other signings in the transfer window.
The midfielder is currently on international duty with the Netherlands and insisted he knows nothing about a possible exit in an interview with ESPN.
“Not that I know of in any case,” he said. “Either that or they must not have told me, but I don’t think so.”
“What I’m saying is there is absolutely no agreement or anything official. At the moment there is no question at all.
“[But] I don’t respond to rumours anymore. I feel good at Barcelona. I prefer to stay with Barca.”
De Jong also went on to highlight his affection for Barcelona and made it clear he has never once regretted his decision to sign for the Catalan giants.
“I have said it many times: Barcelona is my dream club,” he added.
“It has been from a young age. I have never regretted my decision [to come here] despite the fact that I had hoped for more in terms of prizes than I’ve achieved so far. But I have never regretted my choice.”
The midfielder’s comments are unlikely to stop the speculation about his future but he has made it crystal clear once again that he really does not want to move in the summer.
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Sergino Dest could play a key role in Barca’s transfer activities this summer. The full-back is wanted at Chelsea and could be used to help bring Cesar Azpilicueta or Marcos Alonso in.
La Liga will welcome back Almeria and Real Valladolid for the 2022-23 season. Both teams have been promoted. The final team to go up will be Tenerife, Las Palmas, Eibar or Girona.
Bayern Munich have become the latest club linked with a move for Ousmane Dembele whose future remains unclear as he heads towards the end of his contract.
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Barcelona are being tipped to move for Raphinha if Ousmane Dembele ends up leaving on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of next month.
Raphinha is thought to be keen on a move to the Camp Nou but the asking price could be a problem. The forward would have been available for just €25m if Leeds had been relegated but the Whites stayed up on the final day of the season.
Leeds are now thought to be asking for around €55m for Raphinha, a price which may just be out of Barcelona’s reach this summer.
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The striker could be on the move this summer
Martin Braithwaite is one of a host of players expected to leave Barcelona in the summer transfer window after being told by Xavi he’s surplus to requirements.
The Denmark international has said he wants to see out his contract but he’ll likely spend the season on the bench if he does stay.
Three clubs have already been in touch to ask Barcelona about the forward’s availability ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
La Liga sides Celta and Valencia along with Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion are all keen on the 30-year-old, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Brighton manager Graham Potter thinks Braithwaite might be a good option, and the striker knows English football from his time at Middlesbrough.
Meanwhile, Valencia are said to be looking for low-cost experienced players and Celta Vigo want a replacement for Santi Mina.
Braithwaite is contracted to Barcelona until 2024 but will surely struggle for game time next season, particularly if the Catalans do end up signing Robert Lewandowski.
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Lionel Messi is currently on international duty with Argentina and has given an in-depth interview to TyC Sports where he’s spoken about a wide range of topics.
The GOAT spoke about his shock Barca exit, his time at PSG, what he made of the Champions League and how much he misses Sergio Aguero.
Here are some of the main talking points from his interview.
Messi on leaving Barcelona
It was really difficult to understand what happened, I wasn’t expecting to leave Barcelona - it was a shock, I had everything in Barcelona. I left when I was very young. What’s more: I lived more in Barcelona than in Argentina. The truth is that I had no plans to change anything. Luckily, the children’s adaptation was spectacular. For Antonella and me it was more difficult.
Messi on PSG
I think about being able to reverse the situation, about not having the feeling of having changed clubs and that it didn’t go well for me. And as you said, I know that this year is going to be different, I’m already prepared for what’s to come, I know the club, I know the city, I’m a little more comfortable with the dressing room, with my teammates and I know it’s going to be different.
Messi on being whistled by PSG fans
It was new for me, it’s a different situation. It had never happened to me in Barcelona but quite the opposite. The situation of the people and the anger for the players we had, for the team we were and because another year [went without a Champions League title], the anger is understandable.
Messi on who should win the Ballon d’Or
I think there’s no doubts, it’s clear Benzema had a great year, topping it off with the Champions League, where he was key from the round of 16 onwards in all the games. I think there’s no doubt this year.
Messi on Real Madrid
Without taking anything away from Madrid, because they are the champions of Europe and they’re always there or thereabouts, but they weren’t the best team of this Champions League.
The Champions League is about situations, key moments, psychological moments that take a team, where the slightest error can eliminate you and the those who are best prepared for those situations end up winning or reaching the final.
Messi on comments about Lewandowski and the Ballon d’Or
Everyone says what they want and obviously he can express himself and say what he wants. I honestly do not share what he said, but I did not give him more importance either. That’s it, he stayed there and he says what he wants and I’m not interested.
But the words I said at that time were from the heart and because I really felt that way . I said that he deserved the Ballon d’Or before, because the previous year had seemed to me that it had been the best, but the year that I won it, he was not the best. I just said that.
Messi on effects of Covid
The truth is that he hit me very hard. Symptoms very similar to those of the majority fo people I suppose. A lot of cough, sore throat, fever. It left me with many sequelae in the lungs. I couldn’t train. I came back and I was like a month and a half without being able to even run because it had affected my lungs.
Messi on Aguero
We weren’t really aware of what happened to him, right? At least I saw him from afar and I didn’t understand the situation until I was able to talk to him and I really saw that it could have been a lot worse. But he is a special person, he has a different personality from everyone and that made him take it the way he did. Obviously he must have suffered and cried in solitude or with his relatives, but luckily he quickly found another way and he’s fine, he looks good, he enjoys what he does.
I was by his side all day [with Argentina], we got up together, we went to sleep together, and the truth is, yes, he is missed. For me personally a lot but I think the group too.
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Leeds United avoided the doomsday scenario that any top team wishes to avoid by beating relegation on the last day of the Premier League season. They were able to avoid the drop and able to certainly stay an appealing destination, perhaps for players like Raphinha.
Their Premier League stay also means Raphinha will cost a fair bit more than he would have done if they had gone down. According to a report from Mundo, Leeds want at least €55 million for the Brazilian.
Barcelona aren’t the only team likely to make a bid on the Brazilian either. There are other offers from bigger clubs in Europe but Raphinha is purely interested in a Barca move at this point.
The other significant sticking point is that Barca are still awaiting the final decision from Ousmane Dembele to be made clear. Once that is wrapped up, they’ll be ready to make a move or not for the Leeds’ man.
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When you end the season on a lackluster note, you’re usually eager to announce a couple of new players. Say you end the season on a crap loss and your direct rival just won the Champions League. You might be ready to announce players like Andreas Christensen or Franck Kessie.
Accoring to Sport, the reason behind the delay is down to Barca’s financial situation and the fact there’s no room to register the duo. This is also the reason why Sergi Roberto’s renewal was pushed back.
Barca were expected to confirm Roberto’s contract extension last week but the announcement was pushed back and it’s not clear yet when it will be finally made official.
This could also bleed into the Roberto Lewandowski situation. Barca may be able to get an agreement with Bayern done, but none of it matters if they aren’t able to register any players with the league.
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The striker doesn’t want to play for the club again
Robert Lewandowski has had some strong words about his future while speaking at a press conference on international duty with Poland.
The Bayern Munich striker has said he believes his time at the club is over and he is hoping the Bundesliga champions do not prevent him from making a move this summer.
“Am I optimistic about signing for Barça? It’s a big question. I don’t like being in this situation. What is certain at the moment is that my era at Bayern is over,” he said.
“I don’t see any chance of continuing my career at this club. Let’s see what we can do in the next two weeks, I don’t want to continue and I would like to focus on Poland.
“After the Nations League we will have time to talk about the situation, but I don’t see any possibility to continue at Bayern.”
Barcelona continue to be linked with a move Lewandowski but will need to find a way to finance the deal, while Bayern are being tipped to land Sadio Mane from Liverpool.
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Ansu Fati has been talking about life at Barcelona and made it clear he is hoping to spend his entire career at the Camp Nou.
The teenager recently signed a new six-year contract extension at the club that includes a buyout clause set at €1 billion.
Fati said he does not know if there was interest from Paris Saint-Germain in his services but that he was always sure what he wanted.
“PSG interested in signing me? The truth is that I don’t know. These are things that my agent and my parents know about,” he said.
“From the beginning of everything I told my agent and my father what my goal was, which was to stay at the club. I have it clear in my head, yes, I hope I can spend my whole career here.”
Fati also spoke once again about taking over the No. 10 shirt from Lionel Messi and said he had been expecting to wear the No. 17 in 2021-22.
“When Leo left I had another number which was ‘17’. The club called me and told me the proposal they had, that they wanted to give me that number. The club told me that the captains accepted it and for me it is an honor.”
The teenager also spoke about the countless records he has already broken in his young career and says it is now a source of pride.
“I don’t even think about all the records I’ve broken,” he said.
“They’ve always told me after the games. ‘Ansu you have to come do an interview because you’ve broken the record for such’... At the moment I didn’t give it the importance of what it is, because you just want to help and play, you don’t care about the rest.
“Now time passes and with everything I’ve experienced it’s an honor and a pleasure to be able to achieve these goals.”
Source | Canal+
Fati is fit again after another injury-interrupted campaign and Barca will be hoping he can finally put his physical problems behind him. We could see the youngster in action over the summer as he’s been called into the Spain squad for Nations League fixtures in June.
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Barcelona Women beat Sporting Huelva 6-1 on Sunday to complete a domestic treble and lift the Copa de la Reina for the ninth time in the club’s history.
Leeds United want at least €55 million for in-demand winger Raphinha. The Brazilian is thought to have already received offers from a host of Europe’s top clubs.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has some big decisions to make this week. The chief needs to complete some financial deals to raise funds to rebuild the squad.
Barcelona are struggling to offload Clement Lenglet and may end up having to try and find a loan for the Frenchman instead.
Lenglet seems surplus to requirements after slipping down the pecking order and only made seven La Liga starts last season.
The Frenchman looks set for more frustration if he does stay with Andreas Christensen set to arrive and rumors suggesting Xavi wants another center-back too.
Diario Sport are reporting that Lenglet’s salary at over €10m a season and his price tag of €15m are making a summer sale “complicated.”
Lenglet has also “not wanted to discuss an exit” but it seems he might be coming around to the idea of a loan deal.
Tottenham, Newcastle, Everton and Arsenal having apparently all asked about his availability as well as clubs in Serie A.
Offloading players will be key for Barca this summer if they are to trim the wage bill and raise funds and Lenglet must know he’ll spend another season on the bench if he stays.
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Memphis Depay’s future at Barcelona remains uncertain ahead of what could be a big week for the Catalan giants as they plan for the future.
Diario Sport are reporting that Memphis’s future is on hold as the Catalan giants figure out what to do with their attack for the 2021-22 season.
There has been plenty of debate about the Dutchman not least because his contract expires next year which means a decision has to be made.
Barcelona could look to renew his contract or may try to sell, particularly if they end up signing more attackers in the summer.
Xavi is said to “appreciate his versatility” and knows he can be a useful squad member especially if the club struggle to bring in new players.
Memphis did end the season joint top of Barcelona’s goalscoring charts on 13, level with January arrival Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
An extension wouldn’t be a problem for Memphis as he’s made it clear he wants to stay, but he could raise some money in the transfer market and has already attracted interest from Arsenal and Juventus.
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Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has offered a few clues about his future after being asked about the ongoing speculation over where he will be playing his football next season.
The Poland international continues to be linked with a summer move to Barcelona and initially said he should be able to talk about his future pretty soon.
❗️Update #Lewandowski: In Monaco he told us today: „The time will come to give information. Soon it will be possible to say more.“ @SkySportDE
Lewandowski, who is in Monaco for the F1 GP, was then asked if he’s excited about a possible move to the Camp Nou and offered the following response.
“My future depends on several factors, I think my situation is clear and it makes no sense to talk about it,” he told Eleven Sports. “It is difficult to say I will play for Bayern next season.”
There’s growing speculation that Bayern Munich are about to land Sadio Mane from Liverpool which could pave the way for Lewandowski to move to Barca.
Fabrizio Romano says the forward has already decided his time at Anfield is up.
Sadio Mané has decided to leave Liverpool this summer #LFC
He’s ready for a new experience after many special years with Reds - it will be confirmed to the club.
FC Bayern are strong contenders - but it’s still open and not completed as Sadio wanted to wait for the final. pic.twitter.com/hr6R5NmuZ0
Mane has previously said he would announce his future after the Champions League final but we have not head from the forward just yet. Liverpool were beaten 1-0 by Real Madrid on Saturday at the Stade de France
If Bayern can bring in an attacking reinforcement it could mean the German giants will begin to negotiate with Barcelona. The Catalans are thought to have already made a bid of around €30 million for the Poland international.
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The striker is being tipped to move to the Camp Nou
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has been talking about Robert Lewandowski and isn’t at all happy that the striker could be swapping Bayern Munich for Barcelona this summer.
The former Bayern striker says he can’t understand the attraction of moving to the Camp Nou and thinks the Bundesliga champions should fight to keep the Poland international.
“I can’t imagine that you can currently win more with FC Barcelona than with Bayern Munich,” he said.
“What more can Barcelona offer at the moment? I can’t think of anything, if I’m honest.”
“Robert is irreplaceable for FC Bayern. You need a player like that, even if he’s about to turn 34. That’s a goal guarantee that doesn’t exist anywhere in Europe. Robert is top class!” he said.
“You have to pray that Robert stays, he is the absolute attraction of the league.
“You have to fight for it, talk to him and cuddle with the advisor. You have to include him in the inner workings of the club.”
The latest rumors have suggested that Bayern could be ready to open negotiations with Barca regarding Lewandowski as the Bundesliga champions are closing in on signing Sadio Mane as his replacement.
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Another title for the Catalans
Barcelona Femeni added yet another trophy to their bulging cabinet by beating Sporting Huelva 6-1 on Sunday to clinch the Copa de le Reina.
It’s yet another emphatic win for Jonatan Giráldez’s side who end the season with a domestic treble after already topping the table and winning the Spanish Super Cup.
Giráldez named a strong team as usual for the game with no real surprises. Claudia Pina got the nod in midfield and Ingrid Engen started ahead of Patri.
Barca had to wait until the 25th minute to take the lead and when the opener did arrive it ended up being an own goal by Emily Dolan. A header from Marta was saved by the goalkeeper but Huelva made a mess of the clearance and the ball ended up in the back of the net.
Mapi León then doubled Barca’s lead seven minutes later when she directed a header low into the corner of the goal to ensure the cup holders had a 2-0 lead going into the break at the Estadio municipal de Santo Domingo.
Huelva pulled one back just after the hour with a lovely finish into the top corner by Sandra Castello after Barca had failed to clear a ball into the penalty area from a free-kick.
However, any chances of a comeback where snuffed out when Ana-Maria Crnogorčević restored Barca’s two-goal lead.
Barca then added some gloss to the scoreline with three goals inside the final 10 minutes of the match. Pina made it 4-1 with a half-volley on the edge of the penalty area.
Lieke Martens headed home a deep cross to make it 5-1 before Alexia Putellas finished off a neat move from close range to round off another great win for Barca Femeni.
The title is the ninth time Barca Femeni have won the Copa del Reina and is the fifth league and cup double in the team’s history and the third in a row.
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Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have all joined the race to sign Raphinha. Barcelona are waiting to hear back from Ousmane Dembele before making a move.
Man Utd are prepared to make Frenkie de Jong their highest paid star and are willing to pay the Netherlands international £395,000 a week to move to Old Trafford.
Bayern Munich are close to signing 15-year-old left-back Adam Aznou from Barcelona. The teenager is out of contract at the end of season and has decided to leave.
Photo by Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The defender’s future is uncertain
Kalidou Koulibaly’s agent has offered an update on the Napoli defender’s status amid speculation that Barcelona could try and sign the center-back this summer.
Fali Ramadani has told the Corriere dello Sport that he’s not talking to any other clubs yet and wants to sit down with Napoli first.
“At the moment, there is no negotiation with other clubs regarding Kalidou’s future; we are waiting to meet the president of Napoli to define the best solution for the player and for the club.”
There has been speculation already that Barcelona want to sign another center-back this summer even though Andreas Christensen is expected to arrive from Chelsea.
Mundo Deportivo are reporting Xavi wants a “powerful central defender” to shore up his defense and likes Jules Kounde and Koulibaly the most.
The problem Barcelona will have is that there is competition for both players and if a bidding war were to break out they would not be able to compete financially.
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A check on the latest gossip
Chelsea ‘quietly confident’ of landing Dembele?
Today’s rumors start with the one and only Ousmane Dembele and news that Chelsea are “quietly confident” of landing the French forward.
Manager Thomas Tuchel wants to strengthen his attack, and Dembele is keen on moving to London, according to 90min.
Barcelona have “come closer to meeting Dembele’s lofty aspirations” but the Catalans are “still not confident” he will sign on the dotted line.
Liverpool want Dembele too?
Chelsea aren’t the only Premier League side keen on Dembele. Liverpool have “finally contacted” Dembele’s people to “sound out his options.”
Diario Sport reckon the Reds are going to “remodel their attack” and view the forward as a “good market opportunity” as he’s available on a free transfer.
Jurgen Klopp wants a couple of attacking reinforcements and negotiations could start after the Champions League final.
Ruben Neves ‘waiting’ for Barcelona
Staying in the Premier League where Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves is said to be “waiting” for Barcelona to get in touch.
The midfielder is also wanted by Manchester United but would much prefer to head to the Camp Nou where Xavi has already green-lighted his signing, according to Sport.
His agent Jorge Mendes is trying to find Neves a move this summer and Barca could be willing to include a player or two in the deal to get the price down.
Koulibaly moving closer to Barcelona?
Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly is another player who keeps on getting linked with a move to Barcelona despite the club’s financial restrictions.
Sport reckon Koulibaly does not want to renew his contract with the Serie A side which means he will be sold this summer.
The defender will cost around €30 million and has told Barca “his priority” is to move to the Camp Nou, although he is also wanted by Juventus, Roma, and Inter.
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The midfielder isn’t sure what his role will be in 2022-23
Barcelona midfielder Nico Gonzalez is said to be worried about his lack of minutes at the club under Xavi and is waiting to have a chat with the boss about this future.
The 20-year-old made 34 appearances in all competitions last season but his game time tailed off towards the end of the campaign and he missed Barca’s final fixtures because of injury.
Nico has ended the season with “doubts” about his future and “somewhat disappointed,” according to Diario AS.
The midfielder now wants to know “what real role” awaits him next season. Xavi has confirmed he’s in his plans but Nico’s unsure how much he will be used.
Nico does have a contract until 2024 and there’s even been talk of extension, but the report reckons the youngster is “restless” and not convinced he has Xavi’s full trust.
Barca have plenty of midfielders available right now but there looks set to be some movement in the summer transfer window.
Riqui Puig has been told to look for a new club, Franck Kessie should arrive from AC Milan, while doubts continue about Frenkie de Jong’s future at the Camp Nou.
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Decent servant…
After what can only be described as an inauspicious start to his Camp Nou career, it didn’t take long for Luuk de Jong to become a laughing stock at Barcelona.
Unlike his namesake, Frenkie, Luuk wasn’t the archetypal Barca player and, as such, the masses had already made their minds up about him.
Heck, they even booed him for large parts of his early games.
Whilst it may be ostensibly true that in playing terms he probably wasn’t the right fit, that’s hardly his fault. Ditto Martin Braithwaite.
If blame needs to be apportioned for the buy in, that surely has to be levelled at the club and/or the manager.
In any event, once Barca started playing to the striker’s strengths, everyone could see how good he was.
Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport /NurPhoto via Getty Images
Limited? Perhaps. But a player who never professed to be anything other than what he was, and what he was - and is - was a great target man who, in our hour of need, scored some superb headed goals.
He’ll not go down as a Barcelona great, but neither should he just be allowed to be ushered out of the door without so much as a thank you.
It is time to put some respect on Luuk de Jong’s name.
It also begs the question as to why this isn’t routinely done by the fan base in any event. Is it right that any player which pulls on the blaugrana should be subject to such contempt before he’s even managed to bed down a position?
Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images
Isnt that the total opposite of what ‘support’ is about?
Players should be subject to critique of course, particularly by those who spend their hard-earned to watch their heroes in action, but for heaven’s sake, let’s at least give players the chance to get a decent run in the team before such summary judgment is passed.
The fact that he wasn’t a fashionable name is arguably to blame for the initial contempt in which he was held, but he can leave with his head high, and his star shining brighter than it did just after he arrived.
A hard-working and honest pro who will always give 100 percent, he deserved better than culers gave him for the most part.
Though it didn’t work out for him at Barca, in the end he can be proud of what he did bring to the team when called upon. Changing the boos to cheers was a victory in itself.
Thank you Luuk. Go well.
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Xavi now faces a busy summer trying to rebuild the Barca squad. The club are being linked with a host of ins and outs but their transfer activities will be affected by Barca’s ongoing financial issues.
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Robert Lewandowski is reportedly growing more optimistic that a summer move to Barcelona can be done with Bayern Munich hopeful of signing Sadio Mane as his replacement.
The latest round of rumors seem to reckon that Mane is getting close to Bayern. The forward has promised to reveal his future plans after tonight’s Champions League final against Real Madrid.
Mundo Deportivo reckon that Lewandowski is currently “more optimistic” about a move as Bayern’s stance seems to have shifted in recent days. There is talk about Bayern signing Mane for €30 million with the forward wanting a “new adventure in a team that values him more.”
Over at Diario Sport there’s even more positivity. Lewandowski is described as being “one step away” from Barcelona with talk a deal could even be done as early as next week.
The report claims an agreement between Mane and Bayern is “well advanced” and Liverpool won’t object to Mane leaving because he has only a year left on his contract and the club’s focus is on keeping Mohamed Salah.
Diario Sport’s thinking is that Bayern “will open the doors to Lewandowski’s departure” as soon as the Mane deal is done. The Poland international is being tipped to sign on for three years for a fee of around €30m.
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Ousmane Dembele’s agent has said the forward’s future is still unresolved despite rumors he will leave Barcelona on a free transfer at the of June and join PSG.
Barca-bound Franck Kessie has said an emotional goodbye to AC Milan. He wrote on social media, “After five years I could not hope to end this great experience in a better way,”
Lionel Messi is apparently fed up with Barcelona president Joan Laporta continually talking about him in interviews. His father Jorge has called Laporta and told him to stop.
Former Barcelona star Javier Mascherano has been talking about his coaching ambitions and how he uses Luis Enrique as an example.
Mascherano took charge of the Argentina Under-20 side in January and spoke about how much he’s been influenced by former Barca coaches Lucho and Pep Guardiola.
“I intend to resemble Luis Enrique closely [as a coach] because I know I’ll never be able to reach Pep [Guardiola],” he said.
“I lived three spectacular years with Luis Enrique. When we talk about the importance of coaches for a footballer it has nothing to do with the titles but with the importance in your career.
“The most influential may be Pep because of the drastic change but Luis Enrique gave our ideas another twist. Pep is incomparable, a genius impossible to imitate.
“I think Luis is up there with Pep but he is more attainable for those of us who want to be coaches.”
It will certainly be interesting to see how Mascherano’s coaching career develops. There has already been talk that the Argentine could end up back at Barcelona in some kind of coaching capacity in the future.
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The defender has been in reflective mood
Ronald Araujo has given his verdict on Barcelona’s season after arriving back in Australia following the team’s final game of the campaign.
The Uruguayan has taken to social media with a post expressing his feelings about the last few months and looking ahead to a better season next time around.
“First of all, thank you Jesus for everything I have experienced this season. I like to be positive at all times, so I want to remember the beautiful things I experienced this year,” he wrote.
“An intense and unique season, both professionally and personally. For better or worse, this team and those who are really Barça have it clear: always together.
“We believe in this project and in everything we have. Now look ahead, keep working and focus on what’s next that will be very nice!”
Araujo has cemented his place as a key figure in the Barcelona team this season in the heart of the defence. The 23-year-old also popped up with some important goals, ending the campaign with four in 30 La Liga outings.
Barcelona have recognized his importance by rewarding the youngster with a new contract that runs until 2026 and contains a buy-out clause set at €1 billion.
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Barcelona and Gavi’s failure to agree a new contract at the Camp Nou means rumors about the 17-year-old’s future just keep on coming.
Diario Sport are the latest to report on the midfielder and reckon that Liverpool would be willing to pay his €50 million release clause.
Gavi wants to stay at the Camp Nou but the renewal has proved tricky with Joan Laporta hitting out at his agent this week with comments that didn’t go down too well with Ivan de la Pena.
It seems Liverpool are hoping to take advantage of the situation and see his relatively low release clause as a “great market opportunity.”
The Reds are also able to offer Gavi a far more generous financial package than the Catalans can due to the club’s ongoing financial difficulties.
Coach Jurgen Klopp is said to be a big fan of Gavi and Liverpool have apparently been following his progress for some time and think he has the “ideal” profile for the Premier League.
However, Diario Sport are confident that Gavi will stay because he “is not considering leaving for money” and “the option of going to England has not yet crossed his mind.”
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Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez is reportedly ready to “invite” more players to leave the club in the summer transfer window.
The boss has already admitted he’s had a word with Oscar Mingueza, Riqui Puig, Samuel Umtiti and Martin Braithwaite and made it clear they are not in his plans.
ESPN reckon that Clement Lenglet will also get the same message along with Francisco Trincao and Miralem Pjanic.
The two January loanees Luuk de Jong and Adama Traore will also be dispensed with, while Ferran Jutgla has already said his goodbyes to the Catalans.
There are four more players who are facing uncertain futures too including Ousmane Dembele and Dani Alves who are both are out of contract in June.
And then there’s Memphis Depay and Frenkie de Jong. Two players who Barca don’t really want to sell but the club’s financial situation “could force them to listen to big offers” for the duo.
The other problem of course is offloading the unwanted players, particularly as Pjanic and Braithwaite have already spoken out this week about how they want to see out their contracts.
ESPN also reckon finding a new club for Lenglet will not be easy because of the high salary the Frenchman currently commands. The defender signed an extension in 2020 which runs until 2026 and contains a €300 million buyout clause.
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An update from Moussa Sissoko
It’s safe to say most of us were at the point wherein we were assuming Ousmane Dembele was leaving Barcelona. Between the club’s treatment of him over the last few months and the rumors about what PSG are offering, it was seeming like a done deal.
However, according to Dembele’s agent Moussa Sissoko, the future isn’t set in stone yet.
“Ousmane Dembélé’s future remains open and we are not going to go into endless speculation.
“We are and have always been very respectful to all the clubs and we will continue in the same way as long as the process continues.”
“When the time is right to make a decision, Ousmane will consider what is the best option for his future.”
Bayern Munich have still not responded to Barcelona’s offer for striker Robert Lewandowski. The Catalans have made a €30 million bid for the Poland international.
The Dutchman has been talking about the talent teen
Former Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has been talking about his time in charge of the club and how he insisted Pedri stayed at the Camp Nou despite receiving offers from elsewhere.
The midfielder was a relative unknown when he signed for Barcelona and there was speculation he could be sent out on loan with Bayern Munich keen on the teenager.
Koeman said he realized Pedri’s quality after seeing the midfielder train twice and made it clear to the club they could not allow the youngster to leave.
“In Pedri’s case, it was impressive because I remember when I signed the contract with Barça and they told me about him, and I didn’t know him. In the first two training sessions I knew he was going to be a great player. I saw enough of Pedri in two training sessions,” he said.
“In that pre-season I said that I had to leave him in the team because Barça had offers for him to play a year away. But I said ‘Pedri is not moving from here, because I think he will be a starter soon’. And it was like that.”
Pedri went on to become a regular in his first season at Barcelona, winning the Copa del Rey and claiming a silver medal with the Spain team at the Tokyo Olympics. The midfielder also subsequently won the Kopa Trophy and the Golden Boy Award in 2021.
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The veteran is set to be offered a new deal
Barcelona are reportedly set to offer Dani Alves a new contract for six months with the option for another six.
The update comes from UOL in Brazil who reckon that Alves is “one step away” from renewing with the Catalan giants.
The 39-year-old has made it crystal clear that he wants to stay at Barcelona and that he feels he still he has the quality to contribute to Xavi’s side.
Alves is also keen to play top-level football regularly so that he can make the Brazil squad for the 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar.
It seems that he is now about to be granted his wish with a new deal that will take him until the end of the year. If he meets the club’s targets he could stay for the whole season.
There have been plenty of rumors about who will be playing right-back at Barcelona next season amid speculation regarding several players.
Sergino Dest has been linked with an exit, Sergi Roberto is set to sign a contract extension and Barcelona are also keen on bringing in Cesar Azpilicueta.
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Ousmane Dembele’s future continues to make headlines amid increasing reports the Frenchman will leave Barcelona on a free at the end of June.
Diario AS are reporting that the forward has already rejected Barcelona’s latest contract renewal offer and will join French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
The report reckons that Dembele’s agent felt that Barcelona’s offer was “completely insufficient,” while the player has already put his house up for rent.
However, Fabrizio Romano isn’t too sure and reckons Barcelona haven’t yet received Dembele’s final decision. He also brings word that PSG aren’t the only club interested.
Barcelona have not received any final communication by Ousmane Dembélé yet. No update after the meeting with his agent on Monday. #FCB
Barcelona are aware of PSG interest alongside other two clubs, but they are still waiting for Ousmane’s final decision.
Cope are also in agreement and are reporting that Barca are still waiting to hear from Dembele. They also reckon that Dembele’s house is not up for rent at all but do admit he has one foot in Paris.
Yet that report has been debunked by Le Parisien who do not think Dembele is heading to the Parc des Princes this summer.
The French newspaper says Dembele is not in incoming sporting director Luis Campos’s plans for the future as he “does not correspond to the profile” the new club chief is looking for currently.
Dembele is currently on his way home from Australia with the rest of the first-team squad after playing, and scoring, in the team’s friendly against the A-League All Stars on Wednesday.
Mundo Deportivo reckon Barcelona have one final meeting scheduled with Dembele’s agent this week and think that the forward and Xavi could even be present for the discussions.
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Barcelona B striker Ferran Jutgla has sent a goodbye message to supporters as he closes in on an exit from the Camp Nou.
Jutgla admitted yesterday that he’s not wanted at Barcelona any more and he is being tipped to complete a €6 million move to Belgian side Club Brugge.
The striker only joined Barca last summer from Espanyol but has clearly enjoyed his time with the Catalans and has had this to say to supporters on Twiter.
“Now the championship is over and after days of much tension, information, speculation, and at the same time, of uncertainty and illusion, I write these lines to thank infinitely the Barcelona family for giving me the opportunity to grow as a footballer. You have allowed me to fulfill a dream and it has been a very important step in my career
“In recent months, we have set various scenarios for the future. I had the option of spending another season at FC Barcelona and also the option of being able to join another project, with the idea of consolidating my professional career. In this sense, I take this opportunity to thank the sports management and the board for having taken into account my wish.
“Football gives you many turns, and of course I leave the door open to return in the future to wear a shirt as important as Barca’s in two or three seasons.”
“See you soon culers.”
Jutgla leaves after a season where he scored 19 goals for Barcelona B and finished as the league’s top goalscorer.
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Gavi’s agent is surprised and angry with comments Barcelona president Joan Laporta made in a newspaper interview saying he had been delaying the midfielder’s contract extension.
Barcelona Sporting Director Mateu Alemany and Jordi Cruyff have met with Aston Villa to talk about Carney Chukwuemeka. The club are interested but can’t make a move right now.
Barcelona Women’s team are into the final of the Copa de la Reina after thrashing Real Madrid 4-0 thanks to goals from Martens, Aitana, Mariona, and Oshoala.
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What appeared to have started out as cordial transfer negotiations now seem to have taken a twist, and not one that president, Joan Laporta, seems to be particularly fond of.
Gavi was one of the stars of the 2021/22 campaign for Barca, and it’s only right that the club would want to tie him down for the long term.
Still a teenager, just like Pedri he is already a fixture in Xavi’s first team, and is arguably one of the first names down on the team sheet each week.
As with Ronald Araujo, make no mistake that the Catalans absolutely want the youngster to form part of a new-look first team squad that will spearhead the club toward an exciting future.
However, at this juncture at least, Gavi, or more probably his agents, perhaps don’t see things quite so clearly.
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It’s a very dangerous game to be playing this early in his career, and Laporta has shown that he doesn’t take too kindly to upstarts playing that game of brinksmanship.
Gavi only needs to look at how the Ilaix Moriba situation played out to understand that the president isn’t in the habit of allowing himself to be dictated to by representatives of a player that has barely dipped his toes in the water in a professional sense.
One of European football’s major talents already, it can’t be forgotten what little experience Gavi does possess.
It does not therefore afford him or his agent the opportunity to dictate terms.
He’d also do well to remember that Laporta was the man who decided not to re-sign Lionel Messi.
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If the best to have ever played the game comes a significant second best when the needs of the club are at stake, Gavi’s delusion of grandeur is more than likely to come back to haunt him.
This summer is hugely important for Barca in transfer terms - both incoming and outgoing.
In order to understand the club’s position exactly, new deals for current players need to be agreed soonest.
In so doing, Laporta will then have an accurate idea of just who stays and who goes before the start of pre-season in June.
There isn’t much time before then and the clock is already ticking. If Gavi wants to become a Barca legend like a number of his contemporaries, it’s time to stop messing around.
It’s time to sign on the dotted line…
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The Dane missed the start of the season because of a knee injury but has hardly featured at all since returning to fitness. It’s difficult to see that situation changing in 2022-23 if he does stay which could jeopardise his place in the Denmark squad for World Cup 2022.
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Another impressive win for the Catalans
Barcelona Femeni booked their place in the final of the Copa de la Reina by beating Real Madrid 4-0 on Wednesday at the Estadio Municipal de Santo Domingo.
The cup holders were without Jenni Hermoso and Meritxell Muñoz due to injury but still named a strong starting XI for the game.
It was Barcelona’s first fixture since their heartbreaking defeat against Lyon in the Champions League final, while Madrid headed into the match well-rested.
Barcelona started the game strongly but hit the woodwork twice and were also denied by some good saves from goalkeeper Misa.
Jonatan Giráldez’s side had to wait until the 19th minute to take the lead through Lieke Martens. Alexis Putellas crossed the ball into the box from the right for Martens to sweep home a low finish.
Barca made up for their missed chances in the first half after the break by scoring two goals in five minutes to put the game out of Real Madrid’s reach.
Aitana Bonmati made it 2-0 within minutes of the restart. Asisat Oshoala saw a shot saved after a strong run but managed to lay the ball off to Aitana to take a couple of touches and then rifle home.
Barca then added a third when Mariona Caldentey headed home a corner from Martens to effectively end the game as a contest.
There was still time for more goals and it was no surprise to see Barca add a fourth in the 75th minute through Oshoala. The Nigerian raced clear down the right, flew past the goalkeeper and fired home.
The win is the perfect response from Barcelona after their Champions League heartbreak and puts the team into the final for the fifth time in the last six seasons. The defending champions go on to play Sporting Huelva in Sunday’s final.
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