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The midfielder
Barcelona and Wolves are working on a potential transfer for Ruben Neves next year, according to a report from Sport. The details are a bit foggy but the price would be for around €40 million.
The reasoning behind the delay is two-fold. The first reason is of course the ever-changing financial situation at the club but also Xavi and the staff reportedly believe that Sergio Busquets can still anchor the midfield for another season.
Busquets has a contract at the club until 2023 and it’s already been reported he could call time on his Barcelona career next summer when his deal expires.
The Neves deal may also be easier to get done once Barca have a year of TV rights and licensing monies under their belt. Not to mention, Neves will also be in the final year of his deal. This is the type of player fans would probably fall in love with as a Busquets replacement.
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Memphis Depay joined Barcelona at one of the more strange times in club history. He was brought in under Ronald Koeman but managed to stay atop the club’s scoring charts despite a season full of injuries and uncertainty.
Despite all that there have been rumors this week Barca could look to sell him after just one season at the Camp Nou which seems to have prompted a cryptic response from the Dutchman.
I see how certain tactics been played around me as a football player.
It’s all good, God like this about me.. that’s why im favored.
My whole life i wasn’t good enough, didn’t apply to the standard looks and didn’t have the right behavior
That’s what happens when you live freely
With a season under Xavi’s belt and some transfers, hopefully, coming in, we can hope that Barcelona indeed will be scary in 2022-23. A healthy Depay could be really good alongside the many other Barcelona attackers. Going to be exciting to see.
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The deal is done
Barcelona confirmed on Thursday they had reached agreement with investment firm Sixth Street regarding the acquisition of a 10% share of the club’s La Liga television rights.
The deal is the first of the now famous financial levers to go through after members voted to authorize the sale of TV rights and a stake in Barca Licensing and Merchandizing.
Here’s the club’s official statement:
“FC Barcelona today announced a major step forward in the improvement of the Club’s financial resources and competitive positioning through a new investment from Sixth Street, a leading global investment firm highly experienced in the business of sport.
“With this transaction, FC Barcelona generates a total capital gain of €267 million for the current season. Sixth Street will initially invest €207.5 million and in return will receive 10% of the Club’s LaLiga TV rights for the next 25 years.
“The transaction is being executed after receiving overwhelming support from the Club’s members at its recent Extraordinary General Assembly.”
The deal has gone through before the end of the month, which is the end of the club’s financial year, and is important as Barca’s financial results will determine their salary cap.
Barcelona are also expected to sell a 49% stake in BLM and have previously estimated they hope to bring in around €600 million from both operations.
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The Bavarians aren’t budging
Bayern Munich have reportedly turned down Barcelona’s latest offer for wantaway striker Robert Lewandowski.
The latest update comes from Bild in Germany who reckon the Bundesliga champions aren’t impressed with Barca’s bid of €40 million plus €5m in add-ons. It seems Bayern won’t sell for anything less than €50m.
It’s not clear yet if Barcelona are willing to improve their bid further, particularly considering if they wait a year they could sign Lewandowski on a free transfer.
The news comes amid speculation that Lewandowski may not turn up for pre-season training in a bid to push through a move. The Poland international has already spoken out publicly on several occasions and said he considers his time at Bayern is over.
Maik Barthel, the striker’s former agent, has told Bild that he believes Lewandowski may decide to take action. He said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if Robert didn’t show up for Bayern’s preseason.”
Bayern are due back for training on July 8, while the first batch of Barcelona players are set to return on Monday, July 4 with the internationals following a week later.
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A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors
Sergi Barjuan stepping down as Barça B coach - FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona informs that Sergi Barjuan is stepping down as Barça B coach. He will continue to work in other roles within the Club's Football Department structure. FC Barcelona expect to name his replacement as a coach of the development side in the coming days.
Lazio rival Valencia for the signing of Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig - SPORT
Riqui Puig is drawing interest from the Italian side Lazio after being told he is not part of Xavi Hernandez's plans at Barcelona. Valencia have also asked about the Barça midfielder but they now have competition from Serie A after Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri backed a move.
Barça defender Clement Lenglet to finalise loan move to Tottenham - SPORT
Clement Lenglet is one of the Barcelona players who are free to leave this summer and his future could be resolved soon. The French defender must respond to Tottenham's offer but is now expected to move to the Premier League on loan next season.
Barcelona need to adjust contracts given to Kessie and Christensen - SPORT
Once again, Barcelona have to perform a juggling act to be able to register their new signings with LaLiga. The club's delicate financial position will oblige them to make certain salary cutbacks to comply with the league's fair play rules.
De Jong still resisting Barça exit as Man United negotiations continue - SPORT
It is no secret that Barcelona want to transfer Frenkie de Jong. Even though Xavi Hernandez will count on him if he stays, the club feel that the Dutch midfielder, who has not matched expectations in three years at Camp Nou, is an asset who can bring in good money.
The coach has allowed a quintet of players on the transfer list to look for a new club and not come to work
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández has allowed a group of five players to miss the start of preseason scheduled for Monday, July 4 at the club’s training center in the Catalan capital, according to a report from Mundo Deportivo.
Samuel Umtiti, Óscar Mingueza, Riqui Puig, Martin Braithwaite and Clément Lenglet have all been told they can stay home as they continue to look for new destinations. All five players are on Barça’s list of departures. and with the exception of Braithwaite could all have their futures resolved very soon.
Several reports link Umtiti with a return to France, while Mingueza and Puig have been rumored to join various clubs around Europe, mostly in Spain or Italy. Braithwaite doesn’t want to leave the club but has plenty of offers to go elsewhere and play regular football ahead of the World Cup.
And according to multiple reports over the last 24 hours, Lenglet is on the verge of joining Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loan deal. There are only a few details to be sorted out regarding loan fees and how much of Lenglet’s salary Spurs will take on, but it seems as though the French international is very much on his way to London.
This promises to be a busy transfer window for Barça, who want to reshape the squad around Xavi’s vision and need several departures to make enough money to bring in quite a few reinforcements in many key positions.
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The midfielder has been told to move on
Serie A side Lazio have emerged as a possible destination for Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig who has already been told by Xavi to look for a new club.
Puig barely featured last season despite Xavi’s return to the club as coach and it looks like his time at Barcelona is finally up.
There have been whispers that several La Liga clubs are keen on the midfielder, but the latest update has suggested he could be heading to Serie A.
Diario Sport reckon Lazio are keen as they want to add an attacking midfielder to the squad for next season and Puig fits the bill.
Valencia are also mentioned with regards to Puig but such a deal will be tricky to pull off financially even if Gennaro Gattuso is a big fan.
Gattuso famously waxed lyrical about Puig after his AC Milan team had taken on Barca in a pre-season friendly in 2018 in the United States.
“Riqui is spectacular. Even though Barca have players that look like kids, the way they handle the ball amazes me. It’s the beauty of football. It’s like poetry,” he said.
“I heard about him a while ago, and about some of the other kids at the club. It’s the kind of thing you can’t really copy and paste. It’s something that takes years to do. It’s how they feel the game.”
It’s also being reported that Puig has been told not to bother turning up for pre-season next week and to spend his time looking for a new club instead. Mundo Deportivo reckon Samuel Umtiti and Oscar Mingueza have also been given the same message by Xavi.
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The teenager has shown off his prowess
Barcelona striker Ansu Fati is already preparing for the new campaign and seems to be in pretty good shape ahead of the start of pre-season.
Fati will be hoping to put his injury problems behind him in 2022-23, although there have already been a few whispers that Barcelona are worried about his physical conditions.
Reports have claimed tests have shown he’s lost some of his explosiveness, while there have also been suggestions Barca feel he made a mistake not undergoing surgery,.
At the moment Fati appears all smiles as he works out before joining his team-mates next week for the start of pre-season training.
It’s thought Fati will be back next week even though he had permission not to return until July 11 as he was with the Spain squad for the Nations League fixtures in June. Of course Fati didn’t play a single minute for Luis Enrique’s side despite being called up.
Xavi will be hoping that Fati can get back to his best next season and finally enjoy some regular football once more. It will certainly be a huge boost for the manager and the club if Fati can put his injury problems behind him once and for all.
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Clement Lenglet is closing in on a departure from Barcelona and looks set to join Premier League side Tottenham on loan.
The center-back has decided Spurs are his best option and will move if the two clubs can agree a deal, according to Catalunya Radio.
Marca are even more excited about the transfer and reckon Lenglet is just “one step away” from leaving Barcelona and heading to north London.
The two clubs are said to be in “advanced talks” with Roma seemingly have dropped their interest in the Frenchman.
The reports add that the two clubs are currently discussing contract details. Barca want Tottenham to pay all of Lenglet’s salary, but the Londoners are hoping the Catalans will help out.
Barca are still hoping the deal can be done before Monday which is when the majority of the first-team squad are due back for pre-season training at the Ciutat Esportiva.
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Frenkie de Jong has reportedly told both Barcelona and Manchester United he has no intention of leaving the Camp Nou this summer amid speculation the two clubs have agreed a fee for the Dutchman.
It’s been reported this week that Manchester United have agreed to pay an initial fee of €65 million for the midfielder with add-ons potentially taking the total cost of the transfer to around the €80m mark.
However, it’s also been claimed “significant obstacles” need to be overcome for the deal to go through and the biggest one of all may be convincing De Jong to swap the Camp Nou for Old Trafford.
De Jong has repeatedly said he’s happy at Barcelona and doesn’t want to leave, and the latest update from Diario Sport suggests the 25-year-old’s stance has not changed and he’s willing to dig his heels in.
The Netherlands international has apparently already told both clubs of his intentions which means “the situation is now tense.” Barca want to sell to raise funds but Frenkie wants to stay “no matter how much pressure is put on him.”
De Jong is said to be unhappy at attempts to force him out of Barca and has even “come to doubt” his agent Ali Dursun who seems keen on securing his client a move to Manchester United.
It’s not clear yet if De Jong will get his way but if he does stay he may need to take a pay cut. Sport reckon the midfielder’s salary “sky rockets” in his fourth year at the club which will be a big problem as Barca need to cut their wage bill.
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Blast from the past: 1997 Copa del Rey final against Betis - FC Barcelona
On 28 June 1997 Barça claimed their third trophy of the season under English coach Bobby Robson via a thrilling extra time victory over Real Betis in the final of the Copa del Rey in the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid.
Ansu Fati working hard and shows off great shape ahead of return - SPORT
Ansu Fati is preparing for next season and he wants to hit in top form. The player took to social media with no shirt on to show he’s in good physical shape. He did not play a minute with Spain despite being called up for their nations league games, but aims to train with his team-mates when pre-season starts.
Xavi clear on the Ousmane Dembele situation - SPORT
Xavi has admitted the ball is in Ousmane Dembele’s court over his contract renewal. The Barcelona coach helped arrange and was present at the meeting between the club and Dembele’s agent Moussa Sissoko on Monday but, going back to his holiday in the airport, spoke to El Chiringuito.
Chelsea close in on Barcelona target Raphinha - SPORT
Barcelona are not just competing with Chelsea over Ousmane Dembele. The Blues are also interested in Raphinha, who is the Catalans’ target if they cannot renew the French winger’s deal.
Man United's 'final' offer for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong - SPORT
Frenkie de Jong could leave Barcelona this summer. The club need to make money and De Jong is one of the players best suited to sell to do that. Man United are closing in on him with new coach Erik ten Hag keen on reuniting with his then-Ajax pupil.
The truth about Barça's interest in Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler - SPORT
Barcelona are waiting to reach an agreement for the transfer of Frenkie de Jong to Manchester United and will use that money to strengthen the team. One of the names on the table is the Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler. He fits because he is an interior midfielder, a competitive footballer and the operation would not be too expensive.
Font on Laporta: Entering Barcelona without having a plan was suicide - SPORT
Victor Font has reappaered. The candidate for the Barcleona presidency at the last elections, celebrated on March 7 2021, gave a press conference on Tuesday to analyse the first 16 months of Joan Laporta's reign and share his thoughts on the club's current situation.
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Poor business from Laporta
Two steps forward and one back has summed up Barcelona’s dealings over the past 18 months or so.
Just as culers believe their beloved club is turning a corner, another poor piece of business brings everyone crashing straight back down to earth.
Josep Maria Bartomeu really did a hatchet job on this grand old institution didn’t he?
News that Barcelona have all but agreed to sell Frenkie de Jong to Manchester United and a reunion with old Ajax boss, Erik ten Hag, will likely have been met with mixed feelings.
As has been discussed in this column on a few occasions previously, the Dutchman has flattered to deceive for long periods during his Camp Nou tenure.
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His performances remind me of that old nursery rhyme; ‘‘When he’s good, he’s very, very good but when he’s bad, he’s horrid.”
Notwithstanding the inconsistency that hasn’t seen him fulfil his obvious potential at the club, he is still international class. On his day, he is world class. Just not often enough.
To be allowing him to leave for €65m however - whatever the mitigating circumstances are - is an absolute travesty.
It’s accepted that he hasn’t been quite the player expected, but to sell at a loss given his age and other variables…
If that weren’t bad enough, it appears that the likes of Martin Braithwaite and Miralem Pjanic are digging their heels in over a summer switch.
Like Samuel Umtiti before them, the duo look to be quite happy rinsing the club coffers whilst sat on the bench.
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Can you blame them?
Clearly, from a financial perspective, they’ve little motivation to move on, but surely their professional pride dictates that they should go somewhere they are wanted and will, for all intents and purposes, play every week.
Sadly, that situation is all too symptomatic of where the club are at present.
Fighting like hell to keep their heads above water on and off the pitch, only to be dragged back down just when salvation seems close at hand.
At this point, losing Frenkie whilst appearing to be forced to hang on to Braithwaite, Pjanic et al is a reality check we didn’t need or want.
If the status quo remains, Messrs. Laporta and Hernandez will have it all to do just to ensure that Barca don’t have yet another wasted season.
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The midfielder is being linked with a move to Man Utd
Patrick Kluivert has been talking about Barcelona and made it clear he thinks Frenkie de Jong should stay at the club.
Speculation on Tuesday has suggested Barcelona and Manchester United have agreed a fee for the midfielder, even though he has said he wants to stay at the Camp Nou.
Kluivert told Cadena SER that he knows Barcelona are in a tricky financial situation but still hopes that De Jong will not be forced to leave.
“I hope they keep him, yes. He is a player who has surprised many people, but you have to see the situation of the club,” he said.
“If you sell him, it is clear that he will generate a lot of money at the club, but you also have to take into account that a very long season is coming, many players will have to be changed, especially in midfield, and a player like Frenkie de Jong is not just anyone.”
The former Barca striker was also wary about Barcelona bringing in Robert Lewandowski because of the striker’s age, “He’s a very good player, with impressive characteristics. But he’s already 34 years old. You have to look closely at age.”
Lewandowski actually turns 34 in August but the point remains that Barcelona need to be careful when it comes to how much they are willing to pay to land the Bayern star.
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Paris Saint-Germain are open to letting Neymar go this summer, although nothing is settled, and the Brazilian star may instead remain at the Parc des Princes this season.
But even if he is allowed to leave, FC Barcelona do not look a likely destination. However, a transfer the other way could happen: Ousmane Dembélé could be an interesting replacement should Neymar leave PSG.
That’s all according to Marcelo Bechler, the Brazilian journalist who rose to fame for breaking the story of Ney’s shock move from Barcelona to PSG years ago.
O QUE SABEMOS SOBRE UMA POSSÍVEL SAÍDA DE NEYMAR DO PSG! ✈️ Nosso @marcelobechler apurou que o clube está pronto pra receber uma proposta pelo brasileiro, mas não disse ao jogador que não conta mais com ele. Qual seria o melhor futuro pro Ney, torcedor? #Neymar#PSGpic.twitter.com/oR4W6wBEn3
Neymar is not considered untouchable by PSG, and they will listen to offers if good ones are submitted. However, his high salary makes him a difficult player to sign. In fact, due to economic reasons, Barcelona are considered to be totally out of the running for the winger.
Dembélé could be an option should Neymar leave. As it stands, he is said to not be looking forward to sign for a Paris team with three starting forwards as famous as Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé.
At the moment, Neymar is settled in Paris and focused on the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar. While an exit is far from impossible, it’s understood to be unlikely.
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The forward’s future is still unclear
We have seemingly arrived at a point wherein Ousmane Dembele will make an official decision on his future after months of speculation. The Frenchman is out of contract with Barcelona in the coming days and is reportedly making a decision between two clubs.
The 25-year-old winger has received an offer from Barcelona that is thought to be lower than the last proposal made in December, which isn’t a surprise given the finances at the club.
Chelsea have also made an offer, according to L’Équipe, but it’s unclear if the offer from the Blues is significantly more or slightly more than the Barca offer. Dembele is said to be tempted by the Premier League side.
That’s the breaking point. How much does Dembele value being at Barcelona versus going to Chelsea and reuniting with Thomas Tuchel? It seems we’re about to find out.
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The two clubs have decided on a price
Barcelona have finally agreed a fee with Manchester United for midfielder Frenkie de Jong, according to multiple reports.
The Red Devils are willing to pay an initial fee of €65 million for the Netherlands international plus add-ons although there are warnings the deal is not done yet.
BBC Sport say there are “still significant issues to work through” but offer no explanation as to what those issues may be.
There’s a similar story at ESPN who talk about “significant hurdles to overcome” but add that “there is now increasing confidence at both Old Trafford and Camp Nou” that De Jong will move.
ESPN also report that the add-ons “could take the cost above €80m.” Barcelona signed Frenkie for €75m plus €11m in variables in 2019.
Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano thinks the total package could come in at around €85m and adds further talks will take place this week. It’s not quite the €100m the rumor mill claimed Barcelona were demanding for De Jong.
There still seems to be some way to go in this transfer saga with Manchester United also needing to convince De Jong to move. The midfielder said just two weeks ago he was happy at Barcelona before heading off on holiday.
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AS Roma will not be Gamper opponents - FC Barcelona
The Italian club has decided to unilaterally, without reason, withdraw from the agreed contract. In the next 24 hours the Club will begin to return of money spent on tickets
Deal with Sixth Street so Barça can activate their first financial lever - SPORT
Barcelona can activate their first financial lever. It’s the one which refers to selling 10 per cent of their television rights for the next 25 years for between 205-215 million euros. The agreement is with the US investment fund Sixth Street Partners and may be signed on Wednesday.
Ronald Koeman: Leaving Barça was a bit of a liberation - SPORT
Ronald Koeman appeared on TV3 and spoke about his exit from Barcelona and his relationship with Joan Laporta. “The dressing room was never against me,” he said. “For me the problem started when the president changed.
How the 'final' meeting over Ousmane Dembele's future went - SPORT
Encouraged by Xavi Hernández, the main defender of Ousmane Dembélé staying at the club, representatives of FC Barcelona and the player's agent met this Monday at the club's offices to try to bring their positions closer together and seal an agreement, which has not arrived.
Barça withdraw De Ligt interest due to prohibitive price of Juve man - SPORT
Matthijs de Ligt is a player that Barcelona like a lot, but he will not be at the club next season. The Blaugrana have ruled out entering a bidding war for the Juventus defender due to the club's financial position and other priorities.
Di Maria tired of waiting for Barça and will join Serie A side Juventus - SPORT
Angel Di Maria, save any late twists, will join Juventus. The Argentina footballer, who was keen to join Barcelona, has tired of waiting for the Catalans and after an ultimatum from Juve will accept the Italian side's offer, which is in line with what he wants: a one-year deal and a salary of €7 million net.
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The club legend and former manager was asked about Barça’s number one transfer target
Barcelona legend and former manager Ronald Koeman appeared on Catalan TV this weekend to speak about the current situation at the club, and he was naturally asked about the biggest story of the summer for the Catalans.
Barça continue their pursuit of Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, who wants to move to Camp Nou and is waiting for the two clubs to finally reach an agreement. Bayern insist they won’t sell the Polish striker, while Barça don’t have a lot of money to overpay for the 33-year-old. It certainly won’t be an easy process, and recent reports suggest Bayern want no less than €60 million to begin negotiations.
And Koeman isn’t too sure Barça should do whatever it takes to sign Lewandowski, taking into account his age and the club’s financial situation.
“Lewandowski is a great player, a goalscorer, he has scored 25-30 goals at Bayern the last several years, but he’s up there in age... I have my doubts about playing 50 to 60 million for a player, on top of the salary which won’t be small. Maybe he has two years left... There are a lot of doubts about whether one should sign him or not.”
Regardless of how you feel about Ronald Koeman these days, there’s no doubt he makes a good point. There must be a line that Barça can’t cross when it comes to the price, especially with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang coming off a very productive debut season, the prospect of a healthy Ansu Fati and plenty of other areas in clear need of reinforcements.
Bayern’s strategy is simply to make Barça desperate and force them to pay way too much for Lewandowski, and it will be interesting to see if the Catalans will remain calm and be ready to go in another direction if the weeks go by and no deal gets done.
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The new Bayern Munich forward could have moved to Camp Nou last summer
Before he left Barcelona in strange, controversial circumstances last summer, Lionel Messi wanted to club to sign then Liverpool forward Sadio Mané to form an explosive attacking duo, according to Mané’s agent Bacary Cissé.
Mané has recently joined Bayern Munich in a big-money move from Liverpool, a transfer that incidentally could help Barcelona’s pursuit of Robert Lewandowski. After a great career with Liverpool Mané is off to Germany for a new challenge, but he could have gone to a different country 12 months ago.
Speaking to French media this week, Mané’s agent Bacary Cissé revealed that Lionel Messi asked Barça to acquire the Senegalese winger as one of the conditions to sign a new contract with the club. Messi infamously didn’t re-sign with the Catalans, which led to Mané staying in England for one more year.
“Last year it could have also happened with FC Barcelona. It was Lionel Messi who imposed Sadio Mané in the deal when it was a question of him extending [with] Barça. He had given two names: Sadio Mané and an Argentinian central defender.”
The Argentinian central defender mentioned by Cissé is Cristian Romero, who himself revealed last year that Messi requested his signing at Barça before Romero moved to Tottenham Hotspur instead. Barça obviously didn’t have the money to sign any of the two players Messi asked for, and Leo himself ended up having to go to Paris Saint-Germain once the financial situation made it impossible for him to stay — even though Messi and the fans were promised something completely different.
Things have changed a lot since then and Barça seem to be in a good place with an exciting group of young players and a summer window that could make them competitive again, but it is certainly fun to imagine what a front three of Lionel Messi, Sadio Mané and Ansu Fati could have been, especially with Xavi Hernández in charge.
We’ll never know.
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It’s certainly different
No sooner had Barcelona unveiled their new away kit for the 2022-23 season than pictures of the club’s proposed third strip for the new campaign started circulating on social media.
The Catalans will wear gold on their travels in the new campaign and when the time comes for yet another kit they will go for something completely different, as you can see below.
This kit has been rumored for a while now and it was originally expected to be white, but it seems Barcelona have decided to make it light grey instead with a bold blaugrana stripe.
Barcelona have worn white in their long history but not for a while now and it’s unlikely to go down well with supporters for the obvious reason that it’s Real Madrid’s color. You get the feeling that was in the club’s mind when they were thinking about this new design.
It’s not clear yet when Barcelona’s third kit will be released, but in previous years it’s been after the start of the season. Barcelona’s first game is scheduled for August 14 against Rayo Vallecano.
What do you think about Barcelona’s third kit? Love it? Hate it? Want to buy one already? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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The teenager is set to feature with the first team
Barcelona are due back for the start of pre-season on July 4 and teenager Ilias Akhomach is being tipped to get the chance to impress Xavi before the start of the new campaign.
The highly-rated 18-year-old will be officially part of Barcelona B next season but will also join the first team for pre-season, according to Diario Sport.
Xavi has already handed Ilias his first-team debut and “kept his eye on the youngster” afterwards when he dropped back down to play for Barca B and Juvenil A last season.
The report adds there is “a lot of hope within the club” that Ilias can make the step up to the first team and fulfil his obvious potential.
Xavi also loves to play with wingers like Ilias which should help his cause next season. It’s also worth remembering Xavi named Ilias in his first ever starting XI after returning as coach.
Barcelona have already announced their pre-season schedule. The team will start off against Olot before facing Inter Miami, Juventus, Real Madrid and the New York Red Bulls in the United States.
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The midfielder is already 100% fit
Pedri had a difficult 2021-22 season. He was out of action for over a hundred days iwth an injury in the beginning of the season, then missed more than two months due to injury at the end of the season.
However, he is keen to put those sad thoughts behind and is already 100% fit according to reports.
In fact, Catalan media reports that if FC Barcelona started their preseason training last week, he would have been there like any other player, fully fit.
He could have made it into the last few Spanish national team games, or even the end of Barcelona’s season. But neither his country nor his club felt it was necessary to rush him into those games. Barcelona had little to play for, while Spain was merely playing the UEFA Nations League Group Stage.
Pedri, still only 19 at this point, is considered one of the best young players in the world. He’s essential both to Barcelona now and in the future, and for Spain at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
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The winger has been linked with Barcelona
Angel Di Maria could be heading to Juventus rather than Barcelona this summer after fresh talks with the Serie A giants.
The winger has openly admitted Juventus are one of several clubs interested in his services after he left Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.
Fabrizio Romano is now reporting that “final details” are being discussed between Di Maria’s people and the Turin giants.
Ángel Di María deal. Juventus are in direct contact with player’s camp as final details are now being discussed - he’s the priority target for Juve after Pogba deal completed. ⚪️⚫️ #Juve
It had previously been reported that Di Maria preferred a move to Barcelona and was waiting to hear from the Catalan giants before deciding his next move.
However, it now appears the Argentina international is moving closer to Juve. Relevo report that Di Maria hasn’t given a final answer but the deal “is closer.”
The 34-year-old had emerged as an option for Barcelona this summer along with Raphinha, while Ousmane Dembele’s future remains unclear.
The Frenchman’s next move may become apparent soon as his contract expires in just a matter of days. If Dembele does depart on a free transfer the club are expected to try and sign a replacement, although Raphinha may be difficult due to his lofty price.
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The Valencia midfielder has long been linked with Barcelona
Frenkie de Jong’s transfer to Manchester United will bring in a good bit of money, if it indeed does go through. That would allow FC Barcelona the ability to pull off some deals it has always been considering, but have yet to happen.
Robert Lewandowski is by all accounts Barcelona’s #1 priority, but a midfielder would also be quite handy to fill the void left by the Dutchman.
Barcelona’s dream target as far as midfielders is Bernardo Silva, Manchester City’s Portuguese star. Report suggest the midfielder is keen on joining La Liga, but City are not obligated to sell and could set a price too high for the Catalans.
There is another player that Barcelona have long been linked to - Carlos Soler. The young midfielder could be looking to find a new club this summer after being with Valencia since he was just eight years old.
His strong performances in La Liga, coupled with his growing role in the Spanish national team, have made the biggest clubs in Europe notice. Just 25, he should be entering his prime soon.
Atlético Madrid are said to be in pole position to sign him, while Juventus are also interested. But Soler is reported to be calm, knowing the next step in his career will be crucial to his professional development. For that reason, he is taking his time with making a choice.
Barcelona could make a move and convince Soler to join them instead. Would he be an acceptable replacement for De Jong, given that the team could come out ahead financially and strengthen in other areas as well?
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The forward’s future remains uncertain
Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele is just days away from being a free agent but his future remains as uncertain as ever.
The Frenchman has an offer on the table from Barcelona and has also received interest from Premier League side Chelsea.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have been in touch with Dembele’s camp and “made progress” but “there is some disappointment with the Londoners’ financial offer,” according to Diario Sport.
Dembele was expecting the Blues “to go much stronger” even though they have offered him a “significantly higher salary” than Barcelona’s latest proposal.
The forward apparently even called Xavi “after hearing about Chelsea’s financial offer” in the hope that the Catalans would increase their renewal offer but was told simply to take it or leave it.
Both Chelsea and Barcelona have now “asked for a swift decision” from Dembele as they are trying to plan their squads for the 2022-23 campaign and pre-season is rapidly approaching.
Staying at Barcelona is “not completely ruled out” for Dembele but still looks tricky, although we may finally find out the 25-year-old’s plans in the next few days.
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The former Barcelona man needed just 20 minutes to open his account for the Belgian side, tapping home a low cross to put his team in front.
Jutgla then doubled his tally for the afternoon just after the half-hour mark. This time he latched onto a through ball and fired a confident finish past the goalkeeper.
First week ended with good feelings ⚽️ ⚫️
Primera setmana finalitzada amb bones sensacions⚽️ ⚫️ pic.twitter.com/sfBx3LRHxq
— Ferran Jutglà Blanch (@JutglaFerran) June 26, 2022
The striker was taken off at half-time as Club Brugge coach Carl Hoefkens opted to change all 10 of his outfield players in what was the club’s first friendly ahead of the new campaign.
Brugge wrapped up the win late on with a third goal by Eder Balanta from the penalty spot.
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Barcelona are reportedly set to meet Bayern Munich next week and will present a “final offer” to the Bundesliga champions for striker Robert Lewandowski.
Diario Sport are reporting the Catalans will move after activating the first financial lever which is expected to be the sale of future television rights.
Barcelona are hoping to close a deal for the striker and there is “optimism because Bayern have opened the door to a sale and the objective is to pay a fair price.”
Agreeing a fee is going to be the tricky part. Bayern want €50 million for the 33-year-old which is a figure Barcelona consider “excessive.”
The report does not outline how much Barcelona are prepared to offer but says the new bid will leave “little room for negotiation.” The Catalans have also promised Lewandowski they will “do all they can to sign him quickly.”
Over in Germany there is also talk about a new offer. Sky Sport reckon a move is now “more likely” but reckon Bayern may just have upped their price.
Update #Lewandowski: His move to Barcelona is more likely than a few weeks ago. Now it’s an open poker about the price. It is said that Bayern wants to receive at least €60m. Barcelona improves their offer. Open end. @SkySportDE@Sky_Marc#TransferUpdate
Lewandowski has already spoken out publicly about his desire to leave Bayern this summer, although the Bavarians had previously seemed adamant they wanted him to see out the final year of his contract at the Allianz Arena.
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A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors
Guardiola's stats at Camp Nou - FC Barcelona
The charity match between Barça and Manchester City, to raise funds for ALS research on August 24, will be the third time that Pep Guardiola has returned to Camp Nou as a visiting coach. His previous two visits were with Bayern Munich and with his current club, both in the Champions League and both ending in big wins for the Catalans.
Palma 2-4 Barça: League Champions! - FC Barcelona
The fourth trophy of the season came in Palma, Mallorca for the FC Barcelona futsal team as they defeated Palma Futsal to take a second and definitive win in the three game series for the league title play off.
15 years since Thierry Henry was presented at FC Barcelona - FC Barcelona
It was exactly fifteen years ago today that Thierry Henry was presented at Camp Nou before 30,000 fans. The 29-year-old was at the peak of his career, having earned his reputation as one of the greatest strikers of the era wearing the shirts of Arsenal and France.
Barça are working on extending the loan of Alpha Diounkou - SPORT
There players were on loan this season at Barcelona B and of them, only one may remain. Alpha Diounkou, the one who arrived in the winter window, has convinced Sergi Barjuan and could sign permanently if Barcelona reach a deal with Granada.
Barcelona aren't thinking about selling Abde Ez - SPORT
In recent hours there has been speak of a transfer for Abde Ez to Villarreal. The Moroccan website Lions de l’Atlas reported that there was an offer of eight million euros, as coach Unai Emery likes him.
Barcelona and Man United, very close to agreeing a deal for Frenkie de Jong - SPORT
Frenkie de Jong is moving a little closer to owning Manchester United. Sources close to the negotiations reveal that conversations have gone well in the last few hours and it’s starting to seem possible the Dutchman could move to the Premier League.
Jules Kounde draws nearer to Barcelona - SPORT
Although it’s not official yet, Barcelona are signing Andreas Christensen from Chelsea for free. But Xavi wants more in defence and Jules Kounde is the target he has asked Mateu Alemany and Jordi Cruyff for.
Chelsea put a price on Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso - SPORT
Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta are waiting to join Barcelona. The duo have deals with Barcelona and have done for weeks, and are waiting patiently for the Blaugrana to sort out their financial difficulties and buy them.
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Inaki Pena should be part of the Barcelona first-team squad next season but the Catalans have a bit of a problem regarding current back-up goalkeeper Neto.
It’s already been reported that Neto doesn’t want to leave this summer and plans to see out the final year of his deal at the Camp Nou.
If that happens then the Catalans could end up losing Pena, according to Relevo. The stopper wants to be Barca’s No. 2 goalkeeper and will look for a new club if that’s not the case.
Barcelona will then have a big decision to make regarding the 23-year-old as his current contract expires next year.
The Catalans could renew him and send him out on loan or seek a permanent transfer. Pena is just back from a loan spell with Galatasaray where he made eight appearances.
There is already interest in Pena too. Both Celta Vigo and Real Betis “love” the stopper and “have already asked about him” ahead of the 2022-23 season.
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The captain will not depart for free
Cesar Azpilicueta could be heading to Barcelona this summer from Chelsea but the Blues reportedly won’t let their skipper leave for free.
The defender still has a year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge and while the Blues may let him leave they do want a fee for the Spain international.
Diario Sport reckon it will cost Barcelona €13 million to land the 32-year-old who has already told the club’s new owners he wants out this summer.
Azpilicueta has also told manager Thomas Tuchel and “is willing to put in a transfer request” if required to force his departure.
The report adds that Azpilicueta “wanted to be allowed to leave for free for his service, but now he hopes he can go for a small fee.”
Incidentally it seems that Chelsea also want €13m for Marcos Alonso who has also been tipped to move to Barca and has said he wants to head back to Spain.
Marca have a similar report and reckon that Tuchel is counting on Azpilicueta for next season, particularly as he’s already lost Toni Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
Azpilicueta is currently on holiday but is due back next week for talks with Chelsea.
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The Frenchman is a great fit for Xavi’s system and won’t easily be replaced
It’s been a quiet month in Barcelona with lots of speculation but little action.
Joan Laporta is dreaming big with the hope of landing a superstar like Robert Lewandowski, or potentially a star in the making like Raphinha.
With clubs playing hardball, however, and optimism waning due to fiscal constraints, it’s a good time to step back and reconsider all the options.
Enter Ousmane Dembele.
Proceed with caution. This is your trigger warning.
My opinion is that it’s in Barcelona’s best interest to bring the Frenchman to the negotiating table, to see if a middle ground can be reached in renewing his contract.
This is step one. Most of us will agree that Dembele is demanding far too much. We can also infer that Barcelona hasn’t really made a competitive offer. Therefore, there is plenty of room in the middle where an agreement might be made.
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That is called a negotiation, and it would be great if Barcelona and Dembele gave it a try, knowing in the end neither side will emerge total winners in the boardroom, while there is a great chance for a win-win on the field.
Now, many will say it’s not worth it. Dembele can take the current offer or leave it. He is a mercenary who only cares about money, which doesn’t fly at a storied club like Barcelona.
This is a dangerous game to play that will damage Barcelona’s reputation on the international stage, as well as with current players undergoing contract negotiations. Dembele is not the only player making demands. Just look at Gavi. Or the comments Sergio Busquets made about having to take yet another pay cut.
Will Barcelona come to be known as the broke club that can only pay you in prestige? If so, I’m afraid of what that future looks like.
Josep Bartomeu should be condemned for making it rain on the players, and is responsible for the current debt crisis.
But look at what we’re seeing across Europe. Money still rules the day. 100 million euros for Aurelien Tchouameni. Why did Antonio Rudiger choose Real Madrid over Barcelona? It wasn’t because of a lifelong dream no matter what you hear him say.
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So why should Joan Laporta swallow his pride and bring Dembele back to the table?
First, because hubris, on both sides, is what created the toxic relationship to begin with. The only way to get past it is to look each other in the eye and hash it out. I have a feeling Xavi is anxiously hoping they will.
Second, because Dembele is probably the best signing Barcelona can make if they want to win trophies in the short term. Simply put, he is a perfect fit for Xavi’s system.
After a killer winter on the market, Barcelona had all the weapons they needed to turn around their fortunes and become elite again.
Ousmane Dembele was front and center and an unstoppable force that led the team to top four safety. Why was he so critical? Because like Pedri, when he’s on the field, he brings out the best in his teammates.
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Pedri and Dembele played in perfect harmony.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is under contract for another year. Why not get the best out of him, while waiting a year to sign Lewandowski for free the following summer? To do that, you re-sign Dembele and let the two of them become one of the best goalscoring tandems in Europe, like they’ve always been together.
Tactically, he is exactly the type of winger that Xavi needs because he creates width, and is dangerous in isolation.
Dembele is a great fit in Barcelona, especially compared to Chelsea who uses wing-backs. Ferran Torres is not a good first string alternative. Raphinha will come at too big a cost. Angel Di Maria would be a cheap value option, but at his age, he isn’t at the same level as Dembele.
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But what about his motivation? His professionalism? Does he even want to play at Barcelona?
These are the points that divide the fanbase the most. If you buy into them, it’s end of conversation. Dembele wouldn’t be worth it even if he continues producing at the same level as last season.
I never have agreed to this characterization of him. Instead, I’ve seen it as a media construct, and a player who hasn’t been able to fight back against it, because he is reserved and for the most part stays out of the public spotlight.
But even if you concede this point, I still have no worries about his motivation. It’s a World Cup year. Dembele will be eager to not only make the French roster, but to be a breakout star of the tournament. With his talent, he is certainly capable of it if he puts it all together.
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Even the biggest Dembele fans have to admit that re-signing him is a risk, but only because of his injury record.
For that alone, he needs to reduce his demands, but in order for him to do that, Barcelona needs to create the space to allow a dialogue to happen.
If a fair deal is reached, Barcelona have everything they need on the forward line to be successful. We saw what these players are capable of back in February and March.
I’ll take a frontline of Dembele, Aubameyang, and Ansu Fati (backed up by Ferran Torres and Memphis if his fitness is still not there).
The midfield is already world class.
Most important, re-signing Dembele would allow Barcelona to focus their attention where it’s needed the most. The defense.
Why invest so much in Lewandowski when you have Aubameyang for another year? Instead, re=sign Dembele, and then go out and get Jules Kounde or Kalidou Kouilbaly, and maybe get some depth at full-back while you’re at it.
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When it comes to Dembele, one thing is certain, fans feel like they have to pick a side.
I hope we can move past that. This Barcelona team will need to put the football first, and have unity, if they are to be successful, no matter who’s on the roster.
So what do you think? Is re-signing Dembele in the best interest of the team if a compromise can be reached between him and the club?
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