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Tag: Barcelona

  • La Liga: Philippe Coutinho agrees to leave Barca

    La Liga: Philippe Coutinho agrees to leave Barca

    Brazilian player, Philippe Coutinho is ready to leave La Liga side Barcelona this month.

    Sport says Coutinho has made it clear to Barcelona he is willing to move if there is an attractive offer for him. He understands the club do not need him. Injuries and inconsistent form have stopped the most expensive ever signing from succeeding in Catalonia.

    There’s no doubt he would like to return to the Premier League, but his high salary is not helping the operation. Coutinho and Barcelona have made the interested clubs aware that they will try to help as best they can with the salary issue. In England they say Tottenham and Arsenal are interested.

    A loan might be the most likely option for Coutinho to depart and continue his career elsewhere ahead of the World Cup in Qatar, where he hopes to play for Brazil.

  • Transfer: Barca closing on deal for Chelsea defender

    Transfer: Barca closing on deal for Chelsea defender

    La Liga giant Barcelona are closing on a deal for Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen.

    Off contract in June, the Dane has stalled on settling terms with Chelsea over a new deal.

    And Sport says Barca have since stepped in and are close to striking Bosman terms with the defender.

    Now with the turn of the year, Christensen is free to sign a pre-contract with Barcelona.

    Barca and the player’s camp have been in dialogue for several weeks, with the Catalans viewing Christensen as an ideal addition with the futures of Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti all clouded.

  • Transfer: La Liga club reach personal terms with Morata

    Transfer: La Liga club reach personal terms with Morata

    La Liga club Barcelona have a deal in place for Juventus striker Alvaro Morata.

    However, nothing will be rubberstamped until Juve find a replacement for the Atletico Madrid loanee.

    Juventus are in the process of ending the loan with Atlético, but first they want to find a replacement, according to Italian journalist Romeo Agresti. PSG ace Mauro Icardi has been mentioned as a candidate.

    Morata and Barça have reached a total agreement whereby the forward will join until 2023 (18 months guaranteed) with the option of another year.

    Barca must also find an agreement with Atletico, with the loan deal involving Juve including a €35m permanent option.

  • Transfer: Barca make sensational move for Juve striker

    Transfer: Barca make sensational move for Juve striker

    Barcelona are making a sensational move for Juventus striker Alvaro Morata.

    Morata is on-loan at Juve from Atletico Madrid, but the Bianconeri have decided against taking up his permanent option.

    Instead, a return to Spain could be on for Morata, with Barca keen on the centre-forward for January.

    AS says Barca have already held lengthy talks with Morata’s agent Juanma López, with an agreement close.

    Barca still need to begin negotiations with Atletico and Juve, but knowing the Italians’ stand there is a confident an agreement can be found.

    Morata’s move to Barca will be controversial given his deep Real Madrid ties.

  • Arteta approves Arsenal move for Barca midfielder

    Arteta approves Arsenal move for Barca midfielder

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has approved a move for Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

    Barca have encouraged Coutinho to find a new club in January and agents are attempting to take him back to England.

    Mundo Deportivo says among the clubs contacted is Arsenal, where manager Mikel Arteta has approved the Brazilian’s arrival.

    Talks for the moment are at an initial stage, with negotiations to step up next week.

    Everton and Newcastle have also expressed interest in the former Liverpool star in recent days.

  • Dembele shocks Barca teammates with wedding news

    Dembele shocks Barca teammates with wedding news

    Ousmane Dembele has shocked Barcelona teammates with news of his wedding.

    Sport says there was great surprise among many that Dembele was celebrating his wedding in Morocco. Many didn’t even know he had a partner. He had never come with her to any of the team meals or events.

    Dembele invited his friends, including Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano to the bash. They come from the same region and have always been in French youth teams together.

    Barça are happy with the event, hoping it means he’s got someone by his side to help add some order, while some joked about whether Dembele would have turned up on time for his wedding or not, given his penchant for lateness.

  • Chelsea captain makes decision on Barca move

    Chelsea captain makes decision on Barca move

    Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta wants to stay – despite interest from Barcelona.

    Azpilicueta’s priority is to extend his stay at Chelsea and continue to fight for his place in Thomas Tuchel’s side.

    Despite being club captain, he has been forced to sit on the sidelines more often than usual this season following the emergence of academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah, says the Athletic.

    With Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen also competing for a place in the back three, and Reece James an indispensable at right wing-back, Azpilicueta even went six weeks without a Premier League start after their 1-0 win away at Brentford in October.

    Barca coach Xavi is understood to be a huge admirer of his old colleague’s leadership skills and professionalism.

    Barca are set to undergo a huge rebuild under Xavi having been dumped out of the Champions League group stages and with more than £1billion worth of debt on the club’s plate.

  • Erling Haaland can wait for Barcelona – Raiola

    Erling Haaland can wait for Barcelona – Raiola

    The agent of Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland insists he could yet join Barcelona.

    Despite Barca’s current financial difficulties, agent Mino Raiola says Haaland would be willing to wait for the Catalans.

    He told NOS: “Can Haaland wait for Barcelona? Haaland can wait for everyone. We do not have a pre-agreement with any club. We will look for the best option and I do not rule out another year in Dortmund, theoretically this is still possible.

    “Barcelona will always remain one of the biggest clubs in the world despite its current situation. In 1 or 2 years they will return.

    “Barcelona has the power to create great economic agreements. They will only need 1 or 2 years to return.”

  • Barcelona to face Napoli in Europa League knockout play-offs

    Barcelona to face Napoli in Europa League knockout play-offs

    Barcelona will face Napoli in the Europa League knockout round play-off stage after the Catalan giants crashed out in the Champions League group stage for the first time since the 2000-01 season.

    Xavi Hernandez’s Barca will continue their European campaign in the second-tier competition, with the winner of their tie with Napoli advancing to the last 16.

    “Napoli are a great team of real European pedigree. They’ve got a lot of experience so we’re aware it’s going to be really hard,” said Barca director of football Mateu Alemany.

    “Obviously the draw hasn’t been very generous to us but that’s how these competitions are.”

    The first leg will take place at the Camp Nou on February 17 with the return on February 24 at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples. The late Argentine great played for both Barca and Napoli during his career.

    Napoli and Barca met in the last 16 of the 2019/20 Champions League, with Barca advancing 4-2 on aggregate.

    “I’d say that our glass is completely full: Barcelona v Napoli and then Napoli v Barcelona will be two great matches at Champions League level!” tweeted Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

    The draw for the play-off round, introduced this season as part of a slimmed-down Europa League format, includes the eight runners-up from the group stage and the eight third-placed teams from the Champions League group stage.

    Borussia Dortmund were paired together with Rangers in Monday’s draw, setting up a first meeting between the clubs since the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup.

    Rangers coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst played for Rangers in that tie alongside former USA international Claudio Reyna, whose son, 19-year-old Dortmund midfielder Gio, was named after the Dutchman.

    Van Bronckhorst is unbeaten since taking charge at Ibrox, winning five of six matches following Steven Gerrard’s departure for Aston Villa.

    Record six-time winners Sevilla — who will host this season’s final on May 18 — take on Dinamo Zagreb, Porto play Lazio, and RB Leipzig were drawn alongside Real Sociedad.

    The eight Europa League group winners qualified directly for the round of 16. West Ham United, Monaco, Lyon and Bayer Leverkusen are among those teams.

    The away goals rule has been removed from this season’s European competitions, so ties level after 180 minutes will go to extra time, and then penalties if needed.

  • Sergio Aguero to announce retirement on Wednesday

    Sergio Aguero to announce retirement on Wednesday

    Sergio Aguero is set to announce his retirement on Wednesday less than six months after joining Barcelona, reports Guillem Balague.

    The 33-year-old has struggled with injuries and health problems since moving to Spain, making only five appearances for the Catalan side.

    In his final game, on 30 October, he was substituted and taken to hospital after experiencing “chest discomfort”.

    Aguero finishes his career with 427 goals in 786 games.