Antonio Conte makes Arturo Vidal his top target - report

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The midfielder is wanted at the San Siro

Inter Milan’s Antonio Conte has been increasingly interested in Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic according to reports. Although, the number one choice for January is apparently Vidal.

The move for Vidal would be at a great time. The Chilean is in great form, and isn’t getting enough playing time. Inter Milan would be a great place for Vidal to get the playing time he deserves.

The main hope for Vidal staying at Barcelona is that his playing time continues to escalate and that sways his decision. Otherwise, Vidal has a chance to move to Inter Milan and compete, while getting the playing time his form deserves.

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Inter Milan star’s agent makes trip to Barcelona amid speculation

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Sensi’s agent could be on a mission to seal a deal with Barça

Stefano Sensi’s agent is in Barcelona, possibly to negotiate a transfer with the Catalans, according to Calciomercato. The Inter Milan midfielder has had a great start to the season, and it’s an open secret the blaugrana are keeping tabs on him.

Sensi is technically a Sassuolo player on loan to Inter, but it’s understood the latter will exercise an option to make the move permanent. For that reason, any negotiation for him will have to go through Inter.

His agent, Giuseppe Riso, is a known intermediary for several players, and it’s not known exactly why he would have gone to Catalonia. While the trip certainly could have something to do with Sensi, it’s not 100% assured that that is the case.

Barcelona and Inter are said to be in negotiations over several players in addition to Sensi. Ivan Rakitić and Arturo Vidal are players the Italians want, with the Croatian in particular understood to be on his way out from the Camp Nou. Barça are said to be keen on a couple of Inter players apart from Sensi - Milan Škriniar and Lautaro Martínez. However, neither purchase seems particularly likely in this upcoming winter transfer window, Calciomercato reports.

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Andrés Iniesta gives blessing to Frenkie de Jong and Arthur

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The Barcelona legend sees something special in the young midfielders

Former Barcelona captain Andrés Iniesta has showered two of his heirs at the Camp Nou with praise in an interview he gave to MARCA. The midfielder spoke glowingly of Frenkie de Jong and Arthur, the two midfielders who now occupy the roles Iniesta and his former teammate Xavi used to occupy.

“I see them as two exceptional players, with a huge amount of influence on the pitch. They understand the philosophy of the game. They control the tempo, the ball, the situation... for sure that they will have a great ascendancy within the team,” Iniesta said.

“The question is how the whole engine room functions with Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitić and everyone else in the middle of the pitch,” he added.

Iniesta also professed himself as a fan of Rakitić during that interview, saying it would be a shame to see his former teammate leave Barça.

While he did give his praise to De Jong and Arthur, the current Vissel Kobe player did not pick any player to be the “next Iniesta.”

“There will not be another Iniesta just like there will not be a player who is the same as another,” he said. “My idols were Pep Guardiola and Michael Laudrup, but I never got to become just like them. I made my own path, and I am who I am. The players with those qualities will make history. We are all different. The important thing is that everyone has the capacity to develop what one has.”

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Messi’s bursts of energy and *sigh* more Neymar news

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Welcome to our Friday podcast!

This week on the Barca Blaugranes podcast, I discuss Pep Guardiola’s interesting talking points this week, including how Lionel Messi uses short bursts of energy to prolong greatness and Xavi managing Barcelona eventually. As well as, gulp, a short Neymar bit.

You can checkout the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more here.

If you’d like some background noise, here’s the podcast over some FIFA 20 gameplay featuring Barcelona and Levante.

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FC Barcelona News: 1 November 2019

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November: 10 dates to remember | FC Barcelona
The penultimate month of 2019 is full of matches for each section of the club. The first team will look for the wins that will keep them atop La Liga, whilst they can also ensure a passage into the knockout rounds of the Champions League. Barça’s basketball side play two very attractive continental games, while the handball and futsal teams also play in Europe.

Messi back for Argentina | FC Barcelona
Leo Messi is returning to the Argentina national team for two games in November, as revealed by his namesake Lionel Scaloni on Thursday. The 1978 and 1986 world champions have friendlies against Brazil and Uruguay, the former on November 15 King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia pitting him against Barça team-mate Arthur.

QUIZ: Barça XI from La Masia | FC Barcelona
25 November 2012 and FC Barcelona fielded an XI comprised of players from La Masia. Remember who played that day? Put yourself to the test!

The lowdown on Levante UD | FC Barcelona
Originally founded as the Levante Football Club in 1909, their name means ‘east’ in reference to the geographical location of the city of Valencia were they are based. Levante did have two seasons in La Liga in the 1960s, but after that spent decades in the lower leagues, sometimes dropping as low as the fourth tier – though that didn’t stop Johan Cruyff from playing for them for ten games in 1981.

When and where to watch Levante v Barça | FC Barcelona
This Saturday at 4.00pm CET, Barça will be looking to extend a 5-match winning streak in La Liga as they travel to the Ciutat de Valencia to face Levante.

Barcelona v Slavia Prague Champions League game ‘high risk’ | Football Espana
The upcoming Champions League clash between Barcelona and Slavia Prague at the Camp Nou has been labelled ‘high risk’ by the antiviolence commission. The Permanent Commission of the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport has agreed to declare that the clash falls into the high risk category, as outlined by Diario AS.

Time for Dembele to take the step forward that Messi’s asked for | Sport
Ousmane Dembele could be handed his latest chance to impress on Saturday when Barcelona travel to Levante after an absence motivated by a ban. Ernesto Valverde was without the Frenchman for the last two games because of the red card he received against Sevilla. Dembele also missed six games at the start of the campaign through injury.

Exclusive Pedri interview: ‘Signing for Barcelona was a childhood dream’ | Sport
Pedro González López (Tegueste, 25/11/2002) arrives in the hall at the Hotel Golden Tulip Porto Vitória, in the modern and commercial neighbourhood of Enseada do Suá, in Vitoria (Brazil). It’s one of the venues chosen by FIFA to host the teams competing at the U17 World Cup this month.

Barcelona star Pique open to joining Ramos in Spain’s Olympic team | Goal
Barcelona star Gerard Pique has revealed that he is open to representing Spain in the Olympics alongside Sergio Ramos. Pique confirmed his retirement from international duty after the World Cup in 2018 following jeers and whistles from Spain fans due to the centre-back’s support for Catalunya’s bid for independence.

Rodrigo Caio in Barcelona’s waiting room | FC Barcelona
Rodrigo Caio is a Brazilian 26-year-old who may not be well known internationally, but he’s a player with incredible value in the upcoming transfer market. He hasn’t completely slipped under the radar though and Barcelona are keeping tabs on him.

Conte makes Barça’s Arturo Vidal his No.1 objective for Inter’s midfield
The ex-Chelsea boss wants to strengthen his squad in the winter and Vidal, who he coached at Juventus, fits the profile he wants. a physical, all-action midfielder who has character and can contribute in the final third. Conte is also after a wing-back who can play on either flank (Darmian is the preference) and a forward with similar characteristics to Romelu Lukaku.

Barcelona look to Boca Juniors defender Santiago Ramos Mingo | Football Espana
Barcelona are monitoring the development of Boca Juniors teenage defender Santiago Ramos Mingo, according to reports. The central defender will celebrate his 18th birthday in November and will thus be available to make a move to European football.

The players to wear a commemorative shirt before matches to mark 40 years of La Masia | FC Barcelona
It will be an emotional weekend at FC Barcelona as all the teams at the Club who are competing this weekend, before their respective matches, will wear a commemorative shirt to celebrate La Masia’s 40th birthday after its opening on 20 October 1979. It will be the first tribute to celebrate the anniversary in a series of planned activities to remember the occasions during the season.

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Iniesta says Barcelona should not allow Rakitic to leave

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The Vissel Kobe midfielder says he remains a ‘great player’

Andres Iniesta has been talking about Ivan Rakitic and does not think Barcelona should allow the Croatian midfielder to leave the club.

There have been plenty of rumors recently that Rakitic could depart in the January transfer window after falling out of favour at the Camp Nou.

Iniesta was asked if he thinks Barcelona should allow Rakitic to leave and was quite clear in his answer.

“I would not [let him go]. I personally consider him a great player,” he said.

“What he has been doing all this time has been magnificent. This year he is not having the prominence he had before but that does not mean that he is not a great player.

Source | Marca

Rakitic picked up an assist after coming on as a substitue last time out against Real Valladolid but has still only made one start for Barca this season.

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How will Barcelona line up against Levante?

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Can the champions make it six La Liga wins in a row?

Barcelona are back in action on Saturday at Levante and will be looking to continue their winning run that has fired them to the top of La Liga.

Ernesto Valverde may have one eye on Tuesday’s Champions League tie with Slavia Prague when it comes to team selection but has few injury problems to contend with.

Let’s have a look at who might feature at the Estadi Ciutat de València.

Defence

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Barcelona have a few injury concerns at the back as Samuel Umtiti is not yet back in full training and is likely to miss out again for the visitors.

Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet look set to continue in central defence with Nelson Semedo at right-back unless Sergi Roberto or Moussa Wague get a surprise start.

Jordi Alba should feature at left-back although he went off in the second half of Barca’s win over Valladolid, and reports suggested he asked to be substituted because of an injury concern.

The Spain international trained normally the following day, but if there are any concerns about him Barcelona could start Junior Firpo instead.

Midfield

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Arthur should return to the squad after getting a rest against Real Valladolid and is likely to go straight back into the starting XI.

Arturo Vidal could also keep his place in the team after another decent performance against Real Valladolid, while Valverde may decide it’s time to give Frenkie de Jong a breather.

The Dutchman has started all but one of Barcelona’s games this season and could find himself on the bench for this one.

Attack

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Ousmane Dembele is available for selection once again after serving a two-match ban for his red card against Sevilla and will be hoping to make just his third start of the season.

Antoine Griezmann started on the bench against Valladolid but could come back into the team, while Barca will be hoping for some more Messi magic after his midweek masterclass.

Starting XI: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Vidal, Busquets, Arthur; Messi, Griezmann, Dembele.

How do you think Barcelona should line up against Levante? Let us know your thoughts, predictions and line-ups in the comments below!

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