FC Barcelona News: 2 November 2023

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A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors

Thoughts turn to Real Sociedad - FC Barcelona
ALaLiga game week for Barça. The blaugrana first team squad have been in for training to prepare for this Saturday's game away to Real Sociedad (kick-off 9.00pm CET). After a week featuring a Champions League clash followed by El Clàsico, there may be fewer matches this week, but the opponent is equally as demanding.

Champions League and La Liga matches set the tone for November - FC Barcelona
New month and new challenges. November is upon us and FC Barcelona have five matches over the next 30 days; three in the league and two in the Champions League despite an international break halfway through. Even then, the football does not stop as there is the chance to see Barça Women in action in the Clásico against Real Madrid in the Liga F.

Countdown to Pedri's return - SPORT
The coaching staff remains calm and Pedri remains prudent in certain actions, but if everything goes according to plan, he could enter the squad list to face Real Sociedad on Saturday in Matchday 12 of LaLiga.

Christensen unsteady at Barça - SPORT
FC Barcelona has its most potent central axis in the last few years. The signing of Iñigo Martínez has improved the center-back position and the arrival of João Cancelo brings a specific, natural right-back. These two new players have caused changes in the squad, and Andreas Christensen is one of those impacted.

Kit sponsors approach Barça - SPORT
The club has a contract with Nike until 2028, but wants more money from the United States brand because the market is currently offering better conditions.

Barça Women set for new professional leap - SPORT
The Blaugrana club is working on a long-term project that looks to create the same structures given to the men's teams in terms of work methodology, operating resources and scouting talent overseas.

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Messi picks his favourite goal...and it’s a great choice

So many to choose from!

Lionel Messi has named his favourite goal after picking up the Ballon d’Or award for a record-breaking eighth time on Monday.

The GOAT gave an interview after the gala where he was asked about the favourite goal of his astonishing career and admitted it’s one that Barca fans will love.

Does Leo Messi have a favorite goal in his career?

Yes, there is one... #ballondor pic.twitter.com/1fxdKWaTnz

— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@ballondor) November 1, 2023

“Well, I always say that special goals are the important thin,” he said.

“To have scored in the Champions League final, to have scored now in the final of the World Cup… I don’t know, a goal that I always remember and I don’t go much for the goal and for what the goals mean, it’s the goal against Real Madrid, which we beat 2-0 in that Champions League semifinal at the Bernabeu.”

It’s a lovely goal too, with Messi going past a host of Madrid defenders before casually slipping the ball past Iker Casillas.

What’s your favourite Messi goal? Let us know in the comments below!

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Barca create mural for Aitana to celebrate Ballon d’Or win

Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images

A great gesture

Barcelona have handed Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati a happy surprise after she lifted the Ballon d’Or on Monday night.

The Barcelona star picked up the prestigious prize after a brilliant year where she won the league title and Champions League with her club and the World Cup with Spain.

Her club have come up with a very novel way of celebrating her achievement, working with the local council in her hometown of Sant Pere de Ribes to create a mural for her.

And here it is:

Sant Pere de Ribes, on tot va començar pic.twitter.com/txEduaFBTU

— FC Barcelona Femení (@FCBfemeni) November 1, 2023

The best female player on the planet seemed pretty happy with her mural too.

“It’s a beautiful mural. I had seen it on social media and it seemed magnificent and the artist is a great one. The image is really nice, from who I was to who I have become,” she told the club’s official website.

“I am the same person but now I have achieved so many things. I have always considered myself to be an ambitious person and the consistency and demands on myself have been worth it.

“Tough moments are what make you better and I am still anxious to keep improving and bring joy to Culers around the world.

“I am really looking forward to bring the Ballon d’Or home to the Estadi Johan Cruyff this Sunday to share it with the fans.”

Barcelona fans will get to see Aitana and her Golden Ball on Sunday when the team take on Sevilla in a league fixture

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Gundogan’s wife hits back at rumors couple are unhappy with Barca

Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

The record has been set straight

Ilkay Gundogan’s wife, Sara Arfaoui, has hit back at recent reports claiming the midfielder wasn’t happy with the welcome he’d received at Barcelona after moving from Manchester City.

The Germany international criticised his team’s response to the weekend’s Clasico defeat and reports subsequently suggested that wasn’t all he was unhappy with.

It was claimed the Gundogans had complained to Barcelona about feeling abandoned and having no help finding a place to live and various other logistical issues after moving. There were even suggestions Barca had been forced to apologise to the family for a lack of support.

Yet Sara Gundogan has now responded on social media with a message suggesting it’s all nonsense and that the family are completely happy with life at Barca.

Via her IG channel, she also denied the news that the "club didn't support them for accommodation in BCN". ⬇ pic.twitter.com/6yna3ol2nT

— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) November 1, 2023

To a user who asked her if she was happy in Barca she responded: “Really happy. We love the people, the club, the city, everything and don’t trust click news that are made based on wind.”

Mrs Gundogan also wrote on Instagram: “Is complicity fake news. We are really happy and we had so much support from the club and the staff. I will love to know this news coming from who?”

Gundogan and Barcelona are back in action on Saturday in La Liga at Real Sociedad.

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Lewandowski expected to start against Real Sociedad

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The striker is now ‘100%’ after injury

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski is expected to be fit to start the team’s next match against Real Sociedad at Anoeta on Saturday.

The Catalan giants return to action at the weekend aiming to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Madrid in El Clasico.

Lewandowski made his return from injury in the game but only came on as a substitute for the last 30 minutes at Montjuic.

It’s now being reported that the Poland international is “100%” fit for Saturday’s match and is likely to go back into Xavi’s starting XI.

Xavi is expected to also have Pedri and Frenkie de Jong available for the game. The two midfielders are finally close to full fitness after being sidelined for some time.

Pedri is expected to get the green light before the trip to the Basque country and could see his first minutes for Barcelona since August.

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Deco keen on signing Savinho for Barcelona

Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images

The Brazilian has shone for Girona this season

Girona have been enjoying a superb start to the season which has not gone unnoticed at Barcelona.

The Catalan giants are said to be keen on Girona winger Savinho (or Savio as he’s also known) with new sporting director Deco a big fan who knows all about the youngster.

Diario Sport highlight how how his tactical versaility, ability to play on both sides of the attack, and huge potential make him an ideal signing for Barcelona.

Savinho has three goals and four assists in 11 La Liga games so far for high-flying Girona, and manager Michel has been full of praise for his loan signing already.

“We saw [Savinho] at the World Cup because we followed him and we had the feeling that he could help us,” he told Cadena SER.

“I know they are big words, but since the emergence of Vinicius I don’t think I have seen a one-on-one talent as destabilising as him.”

Yet signing Savinho won’t be at all easy. The Brazilian youngster is owned by The City Football Group and said before he left Brazil for Troyes that he’d love to play for Pep Guardiola’s side.

“I knew that Troyes was in the City Group and I thought that by working I could one day reach Manchester City. Of course, I will have to do very well here in Girona,” he told Sport.

Barcelona and Girona have done a fair bit of business recently. Oriol Romeu moved back to Barca, while Eric Garcia and Pablo Torre are on loan with Michel’s side - could there be more to come?

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FC Barcelona News: 1 November 2023

Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors

FC Barcelona: The team with the most Ballon d'Or winners - FC Barcelona
Aitana Bonmatí has added her name to the glittering list of blaugrana Ballon d'Or winners. The club already held the all-time record, which has now been extended to fifteen in the men's and women's categories combined.

Future Spotify Camp Nou to have a memorial for FC Barcelona fans - FC Barcelona
With a columbarium capable of holding 26,600 urns and an 180 square metre area for commemorative plaques, the Memorial FC Barcelona is a space designed to pay tribute to blaugrana fans

FC Barcelona honours Aitana Bonmatí with surprise mural in her hometown - FC Barcelona
On Monday night, Barça midfielder Aitana Bonmatí was honoured with the biggest individual prize in football, the Ballon d'Or presented by France Football.

Girona eyeing up signing of under-fire Barcelona star in 2024 - Football España
Oriol Romeu joined Barcelona from Girona during the summer as a short-term fix to their pivot problems, which were created following Sergio Busquets’ decision to leave the club in order to join Lionel Messi and co. at Inter Miami.

Catalan police set to act as La Liga report multiple examples of racist abuse aimed at Vinicius Junior during El Clasico - Football España
MD have reported that La Liga’s investigation has concluded, and they have passed on evidence from “multiple episodes” to the Catalan police, also known as the Mossos. The report says that this evidence included multiple photos, which are said to prove that racist behaviour took place during El Clasico.

Lionel Messi calls out Barcelona journalist for lying after claims of Joan Laporta meeting at Ballon d'Or ceremony - Football España
On Monday night, Lionel Messi won a record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or, beating out the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to the award. It was also a special night for former club Barcelona, whose women’s side won the Women Club of the Year award, which was accepted by Joan Laporta.

German star Ilkay Gundogan has voiced discontent to Barcelona on several issues - Football España
Star summer signing Ilkay Gundogan has not been impressed with Barcelona since arriving at the club, according to reports in Catalonia. After his outburst in the wake of defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico, Gundogan has been on the covers of the sports papers in recent days, and raised eyebrows again after leaving a Barcelona photo op during the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

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