Alena ‘fighting’ to be ‘the future of Barca’s midfield’

The youngster is enjoying life in the first team

Carles Alena has been talking about his future at Barcelona and says he’s fighting hard to be the future of the club’s midfield.

The youngster was promoted to the senior squad this season and has gone on to make 10 La Liga appearances.

He seems to be relishing being part of the first-team set-up and is hoping he will be a regular in the future.

“I’m just enjoying everything I’m going through.

“I’m fighting so that one day I can be the future of Barcelona’s midfield.”

Source | Sport

Alena has looked the part pretty much every time he’s featured for Barca this season, but he faces stiff competition for a starting spot in Ernesto Valverde’s XI.

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Ajax interested in Barcelona’s young stars

Puig, Collado, Oriol, Todibo, Monchu, Chumi, and Miranda interest the Amsterdam club

FC Barcelona have already signed Frenkie de Jong and are looking to add Matthijs de Ligt, both from Ajax. Meanwhile, Ajax is looking at several Barça prospects, thinking perhaps they can go the other way.

There’s a rumored long-term collaboration in the works between the two clubs, who have historical ties but also reportedly have a good relationship between the leaders of each club.

Barcelona have already signed Jasper Cillessen from the Dutch club not too long ago, and other options like Nicolás Tagliafico and André Onana (a former Barça academy player who has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Cillessen if he left) have been considered.

On the other hand, youngsters could leave the Catalan giants and sign with the Amsterdam club on loan, according to Mundo Deportivo. This option could benefit both clubs as Ajax could get a brilliant player for a low monetary investment, while Barcelona would develop a player who is not yet ready for the first team.

These options could be used as makeweights to facilitate big signings on Barcelona’s part, or they could just be loans aimed at helping the players grow.

Jean-Clair Todibo has been mentioned as a possible part of the De Ligt deal, and he is reportedly a player that interests Ajax.

Another one that catches Ajax’s eye is Riqui Puig, although he could be signed by another La Liga club on loan. But those two are far from the only ones. In fact, according to MD, Álex Collado, Oriol Busquets, Monchu, Chumi, and Juan Miranda all have drawn attention from Ajax for various reasons.

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Rumors: Rashford linked with Barcelona, Lenglet wanted by Napoli, Jović update

The latest in transfer gossip

Rashford on the agenda

FC Barcelona are interested in Marcus Rashford due to his technical ability and tactical flexibility, according to Mundo Deportivo. Rashford impresses a lot of important people in the Barça staff, the report says, due to his ability to play in the box and on the flanks. They know that his contract is up in 2020, and Manchester United have not been able to tie him down further. However, United want to renew his contract which would make transferring him very expensive.

Lenglet wanted by Napoli

Italian radio outlet Radio Marte is reporting that Napoli are interested in Clément Lenglet. The French defender was linked with moving to Italy last summer, but he ultimately chose Barcelona. Lenglet’s agent, Gregory Dakad, affirmed publicly that Napoli wanted the player in the 2018 transfer window. Lenglet has unexpectedly become a starter this season after a long-term injury to his countryman, Samuel Umtiti. “In football you can’t ever say anything using percentages like that,” Dakad said when asked if he could say with 100% certainty that Lenglet would not leave. “But I ask myself why he should leave. He is playing, he is winning, and he is at Barcelona.”

Jović update

Barcelona have made their minds up and want to bring in Luka Jović next summer, according to Diario SPORT. What’s more, now the team is trying to reach the Eintracht Frankfurt forward’s entourage to make it clear to him that they are serious. Éric Abidal has been reportedly working on the signing, trying to convince the player and his people that they are ready for him to arrive at Barcelona.

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Gerard Piqué tells Catalan fans to stop insulting Spain: “Disrespect is intolerable”

The defender has also been attacked by fans of the Spanish national team for his views on Catalonia

FC Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué was in action with the Catalan national team as they defeated Venezuela 2-1. During the match, a section of the Catalan fans began a chant that said something along the lines of, “Spain is such a b***h.” The player turned to that section of the crowd and wagged his finger at them, directing them to stop. It took a while, but the chant eventually died down.

Gerard Piqué shuts down Catalan fans insulting Spain. He already did it to Barcelona fans insulting Sergio Ramos.

“Disrespect is intolerable” he said after the Catalonia match.pic.twitter.com/sgWpLmVzk3

— Luis Mazariegos (@luism8989) March 26, 2019

Piqué has been a lightning rod of controversy as Catalonia confronts the question of whether to become independent from Spain. The player himself has been the target of chants from Spanish national team fans for his outspoken nature regarding the issue.

The centerback is sometimes believed to be for independence, but Piqué himself has identified in a different manner.

“It’s not my case, but an independista can play for the national team,” he once said.

Another time, he went further, saying a split between Spain and Catalonia would make both sides weaker.

Still, he has supported the controversial movement to allow a referendum on the question, which would leave the situation up to a vote by the Catalan citizens. The Spanish government opposes the referendum on principle, saying even having a vote on it is illegal. Piqué says he supports having a vote because it is the democratic thing to do, whether or not you want to be independent or stay with Spain.

Piqué won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 UEFA European Championship with the Spanish national team, but he since has announced his retirement from la roja.

Catalonia isn’t officially recognized by FIFA as a national team, so anyone can play for them. However, they dispute only friendlies, no competitive matches. That allowed Piqué to play for them despite having been a part of the Spanish national team. He says he enjoys playing for Catalonia now since the games are friendlies and require less commitment than games for Spain.

“Disrespect is intolerable,” the player said about the chants. “There is no need to be disrespectful.

“I have told them to be quiet because it is necessary to preach by [setting an] example.”

Piqué also once gave the same finger-wag to Barcelona fans who called Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos a “son of a b***h.”

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Griezmann ‘a little fed up’ with rumors

The Frenchman has talked about recent speculation

Antoine Griezman says he’s “fed up” with fresh speculation linking him with a summer move to Barcelona.

The France international looked set to join Ernesto Valverde’s side last summer, before eventually deciding to stay at Atletico Madrid and announced his decision in an infamous documentary.

There have been fresh rumors of Barca interest in recent weeks but Griezmann doesn’t seem too interested in the speculation.

“I am used to them and a little fed up with them.

”It’s the same every year, so I’m used to this.”

Source | Univision

The most recent report on Griezmann’s future comes from Marca, who reckon Barcelona have definitely ruled out signing the French forward this summer.

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FC Barcelona News: 26 March 2019

Marcus Rashford on Barcelona agenda | Mundo Deportivo

Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has emerged as an option for Barcelona this summer along with Luka Jovic and Antoine Griezmann. The club like his versatility, youth and technical ability but are aware a transfer will be complicated and that English players rarely thrive in Spain.

Pique on anti-Spain chants: Disrespect is intolerable | Marca

Gerard Pique has hit out at anti-Spain chants during Catalonia’s friendly win over Venezuela. He said: “I have told them to be quiet because it is necessary to preach by [setting an] example. Disrespect is intolerable. There is no need to be disrespectful.”

Barcelona looking for a club for Riqui Puig | Mundo Deportivo

Barcelona are thinking about Riqui Puig’s future and want him to gain some playing time. They think he needs to be playing at the highest level but competition for places is fierce in the first team. They are therefore looking a club that suits his style.

‘Barça defender Umtiti needs minutes to recover his best form’ | Sport

Former France midfielder Emmanuel Petit says Samuel Umtiti needs game time to get back to his best after injury. He said: “Samuel needs to play more minutes so he can get back to his best. He suffered physically, so it’s normal [he is not as his best] after such a long absence.”

De Ligt: We’ll see where I end up | Goal

Matthijs de Ligt says he’s focusing on playing for Ajax as speculation over his future continues to swirl. He said: “I play my game, focus on football and we’ll see where I end up, It is not something that worries me. I am currently playing for Ajax and the national team, so that is what I’m focussing on. I’m gaining experience and I like it.”

Alberto Moreno ‘to sign two-year contract with Barcelona’ | Mirror

Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno will sign a two-year deal with Barcelona, according to Diario Sport. The defender is out of contract in the summer and will move to the Camp Nou as back-up to Jordi Alba.

Barcelona definitively rule out signing Griezmann | Marca

Barcelona have ruled out signing Antoine Griezmann in the summer transfer window. His representatives have been in touch to tell Barca his release clause will drop at the end of the season, but the Spanish champions aren’t interested.

Agent Lenglet: ‘Napoli? Why should he leave Barcelona? | Calciomercato

Clement Lenglet’s agent has been talking about previous interest from Napoli and his future at Barcelona. He said: “I don’t know what to say, last summer Napoli showed interest in my client, but then Barcelona came around. If he will stay 100%? In football, a percentage of this kind doesn’t exist, but I wonder why he should ever leave? He’s playing, he’s winning and it’s Barcelona,”

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Messi will play for Argentina at the Copa America - Scaloni

The Barcelona captain will be at the tournament in Brazil

Lionel Messi will play for Argentina in this summer’s Copa America in Brazil, according to national team boss Lionel Sclaoni.

The Barcelona captain returned to international duty against Venezuela on Friday, making his first appearance for his country since the World Cup.

Messi has been ruled out of Argentina’s friendly against Morocco on Tuesday, but his manager says he is expecting him to play in the summer tournament.

“Leo will be in Copa America. It is evident he will be. He showed maximum will here, and we see he is very driven. When the match against Venezuela finished, we talked about the match, not about what is to come. We will work to get a better team.

”Too much dependence on Messi? We have to work for that not to happen, for every player not to be always drawn to Leo, he will help us win matches, that’s for sure.”

Source | Football Espana

Messi has finished as a runner-up in the Copa America three times in his career with Argentina, but Scaloni will be hoping he can lead the team to a first win in the competition since 1993.

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