Tag: Barca

  • Aguero reacts to retirement talk amid heart problem

    Aguero reacts to retirement talk amid heart problem

    Barcelona striker Sergio Aguero says he is “always positive” despite reports his heart problem could force him to retire.

    The 33-year-old, who only moved to Camp Nou from Manchester City over the summer, may have to hang up his boots on the back of a serious health scare.

    Aguero has been sidelined by a condition that will initially keep him out for at least three months, but the forward has now come out on social media to say tests of his fitness are ongoing and he is staying upbeat.

    Responding to the retirement talk via Twitter, Aguero wrote: “Given the rumors, I can say that I am following the instructions of the club’s doctors, doing tests and treatment and checking my progress within 90 days. Always positive.”

  • Barca coach Xavi eyeing Chelsea midfielder

    Barca coach Xavi eyeing Chelsea midfielder

    Barcelona are eyeing Chelsea midfielder Saul Niguez.

    The Spain international is on-loan at Chelsea this season from Atletico Madrid. However, his commitment to the deal has come into question after failing to secure a regular start under manager Thomas Tuchel.

    El Chiringuito says Barca, where new coach Xavi has just been installed, is interested in Saul for January.

    The Catalans could seek to take over Saul’s loan from Chelsea over the New Year.

    The stumbling block, though, could be Atleti’s board, which may be reluctant to strengthen a direct rival midseason.

  • Heart Problem: Sergio Aguero advised to force retirement from football

    Heart Problem: Sergio Aguero advised to force retirement from football

    Barcelona striker Sergio Aguero has been warned he may have to hang up the boots.

    The 33-year-old Argentina international is struggling with heart problems and is expected to be sidelined for at least the next three months.

    Howvever, Cataluyna Radio reports a recent test is said to have indicated that the condition Aguero is battling will no longer make it possible for him to play professional football.

    Aguero was forced from the pitch a fortnight ago in the home game against Deportivo Alavés (1-1) and he was later diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia.

    The tests will continue, but there is pessimism about Aguero’s future as a footballer. Doctors from the Argentine Football Association have already paid him a visit to investigate his heart problems.

  • Barca make contract decision for Daniel Alves

    Barca make contract decision for Daniel Alves

    La Liga club Barcelona have decided against offering a contract to Daniel Alves.

    Marca says Barca are not considering a move for the 38-year-old free agent.

    Alves, who played for Barcelona between 2008 and 2016, has been without a club since leaving Sao Paulo in September 2021, and he even offered himself to the Blaugrana.

    The right-back is looking for a club where he can feel happy for the final years of his career and he believes that Barcelona is the perfect place for him to see out his playing days, which he has made clear to some key figures inside the club.

    In fact, Alves echoed these comments when speaking to Barcelona’s leaders just a few weeks ago when he was at the Camp Nou watching the club’s Champions League group-stage match against Dynamo Kyiv.

    However, Xavi Hernandez and Barcelona’s leaders are not thinking about bringing Alves back to the Camp Nou – as a player anyway – because they want to give more priority to the club’s younger players.

  • La Liga: I’ve chatted with Xavi – Coutinho

    La Liga: I’ve chatted with Xavi – Coutinho

    Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho says he’s spoken to new coach Xavi.

    Coutinho is currently in Brazil with the national team squad.

    Asked about his new coach, the midfielder said: “Xavi was a great player and he is an idol of the club, who is back with us.

    “I hope he will have great success with the group we have. We had a chat and I know he’s a great guy.

    “I’m sure he will do a good job in Barcelona.”

  • Barca capable of signing Man City players – Guardiola

    Barca capable of signing Man City players – Guardiola

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admits transfer business could be done with former club Barcelona.

    Barca are eyeing a swoop for Sterling, 26, with reports suggesting that a player-plus-cash deal involving Frenkie de Jong may be on the cards.

    Sterling’s future has been up in the air recently, with the England international saying that he would consider a move away from the Premier League champions if he is offered more game time elsewhere.

    While Guardiola did not reference Sterling specifically, he admitted at a golf charity event in Spain this week that he cannot rule out a move to Barcelona for any of his players.

    “Honestly I have no idea,” he said. “I don’t know anything. Not that I would tell you anyway.

    “If Barcelona are interested in any of our players, I am convinced that they can get them. Barca continues to be an attractive club, more than attractive. The city, the club, the history and this for the trainers, for the players always seduces a lot.

    “If Barcelona interests one of our players, they will set up the machinery into operation, it is a liner.

    “Barca can use their media to influence signings. That’s the thing about Barcelona; they can do what they want, good or bad.”

  • La Liga: Barca throw away 3-goal lead against Celta Vigo

    La Liga: Barca throw away 3-goal lead against Celta Vigo

    Barcelona threw away a three-goal half-time lead on the day Xavi Hernandez was appointed coach as Celta Vigo scored in the 96th minute to complete a stunning comeback in La Liga on Saturday.

    Another deflating result for Barca was made worse by another injury for Ansu Fati, who gave his team an early lead and then had go off with a hamstring problem.

    Goals from Sergio Busquets and Memphis Depay had Barcelona 3-0 in front after 34 minutes but Celta came back, Iago Aspas scoring twice either side of one from Nolito to seal a 3-3 draw.

    Aspas’ equaliser, with a brilliant shot from the edge of the area, came with 95 minutes and 34 seconds on the clock and left the Barcelona players crumpled on the floor.

    It is now Xavi’s job to pick them up, with the team’s new coach watching from Barcelona, where he had landed around three hours before kick-off.

    The 41-year-old had flown from Doha following confirmation of his sensational return to the club in the early hours of Saturday morning.

    Barcelona’s chaotic defending and inability to manage a game when they looked in charge, will have come as little surprise to Xavi but Fati’s hamstring injury will be a concern, especially with a crunch Champions League game against Benfica to come on November 23, shortly after the international break.

    Eric Garcia was also forced off with a calf strain while Nico Gonzalez appeared to be in discomfort when he was substituted before the hour.

    Fati’s absence for any length of time would be a blow for Barca, and also for Spain, who will be without the 19-year-old for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Sweden next week.

    It all started so well for Fati and Barca, who took the lead in the fifth minute with a goal out of nothing, Fati drifted in from the left and squared up Celta right-back Hugo Mallo.

    Fati shaped to go left towards the line and then came back onto his right, bending a shot into the far corner.

    Three minutes later it was two. Nico bustled down the left and picked out Busquets, who shifted across the edge of the penalty area and planted a shot inside the post.

    When Depay headed in Jordi Alba’s cross at the near post, Barcelona looked home and dry but then Fati dropped to the ground and Garcia was replaced at half-time by Ronald Araujo.

    Celta were transformed after the break, with Thiago Galhardo finding the net after an Aspas ball through, only to be ruled offside, before Aspas did pull one back moments later.

    Marc-Andre ter Stegen should have held Franco Cervi’s cross and after he spilled it, Araujo should have cleared. Instead he scooped the ball straight to Aspas, who finished.

    Again, Celta had a goal ruled out as Nolito was adjudged to have controlled with his hand before cushioning a shot into the corner but again, Celta were undeterred.

    When Busquets was dispossessed, Cervi crossed and Nolito headed in.

    Celta had 16 minutes to find an equaliser and then five minutes of injury-time, but it was in the sixth when Aspas finally struck.

    Javier Galan teed him up from the left but Aspas still had a lot to do, wrapping his left foot around the ball to whip it right, past the hand of Ter Stegen and in.

  • Al Sadd want Barca identity to replace Xavi

    Al Sadd want Barca identity to replace Xavi

    Al Sadd have plans to replace Xavi with another coach boasting a Barcelona background.

    Barca and Al Sadd are thrashing out compensation terms for Xavi, who has agreed personal terms over a return to the Nou Camp.

    Sport says Al Sadd plan to replace their coach with another Barca identity in order to maintain continuity.

    Javi García Pimienta, Denis Silva, Oscar López and Jordi Roura have all been contact by Al Sadd’s agents.

    García Pimienta was sacked by Barca as B coach at the end of last season.

  • Lionel Messi reveals post-retirement Barca plans

    Lionel Messi reveals post-retirement Barca plans

    Lionel Messi said he will return to live in Barcelona with his family when his time at Paris St Germain was over.

    He said he would like to help the LaLiga club in the role of a technical director.

    Messi ended a two-decade stay at FC Barcelona, where he was their record scorer with 672 goals, in the off-season he joined PSG on a free transfer on a two-year deal.

    “What is almost confirmed … is that we are going to live in Barcelona again and that our life will be there,” the 34-year-old Argentine said in an interview with Spanish outlet Sport.

    “It’s what my wife wants and what I want. I don’t know when my contract with PSG ends, but we’ll go back to Barcelona to live.

    “I always said that I would love to be able to help the club … I would love to be a technical director at some point. I don’t know if it will be at FC Barcelona or not.

    “If there is a possibility, I would like to contribute again because it’s the club that I love and I would love for it to continue doing well, to continue being one of the best in the world.”

    Barca, who are ninth in LaLiga, sacked coach Ronald Koeman last week.

    Messi limped off injured in PSG’s 2-1 win over champions, Lille, on Friday, but coach Mauricio Pochettino is hopeful he will be available for this week’s Champions League game at RB Leipzig.

  • Pique, Aguero add to Barca injury list after Alaves draw

    Pique, Aguero add to Barca injury list after Alaves draw

    Barcelona suffered more injuries during their 1-1 draw with Alaves.

    Sergio Aguero was forced off before half-time, going down appearing to be dizzy and struggling to breath. The Argentine was transferred to the hospital via an ambulance for further treatment.

    The Argentine was making his fifth appearance after missing the start of the season, though he was quiet in attack with Memphis Depay.

    After 68 minutes, Gerard Pique was also forced off as he limped down the tunnel with Clement Lenglet replacing him.

    These two injuries add to those of Frenkie de Jong, Ansu Fati, Martin Braithwaite, Sergi Roberto, Pedri, Ronald Araujo and Ousmane Dembele who were unavailable for selection due to their own injuries.

    On Tuesday, Barcelona face Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League.