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Tag: Barcelona

  • REVEALED: The 2015 email Barca sent to stop Yamal joining Espanyol

    REVEALED: The 2015 email Barca sent to stop Yamal joining Espanyol

    A 2015 email sent from Barcelona to Lamine Yamal’s former junior club CF La Torreta requesting permission for trials has surfaced.

    The email from Oscar Hernandez, coordinator of Barça’s prebenjamins, sent to Marc Serra, former coordinator of 7-a-side football, was requesting trials for Yamal before the youngster was due to sign with Espanyol.

    “We realised that we had to rush when La Torreta reached a collaboration agreement with Espanyol. We had to speed up the matter,” explained Hernández to Gerard Romero, of Jijantes.

    Regarding Lamine Yamal’s historic first trial with Barcelona, ​​he recalled that “he arrived to do the trial at pitch 7 of the Ciudad Deportiva and I went to see his last match. After five minutes you could already see that he was a player who had to sign for Barça”.

    The January 2015 email read:

    “Good afternoon Marc.

    “Based on what we talked about last weekend, I’ll tell you.

    “We want the child born in 2007 to come and try out, according to what his coordinator confirmed to me and Isidro Gil.

    “Lamine Yamal Nasraqui Ebana (Prebenjamin A).

    “The child is currently in his parents’ country of origin, as he was born in Catalonia. They could not confirm exactly when they will be there, but at the latest he will be here within two weeks.

    “We agreed with both the coordinator and the president of La Torreta to have him come to try out once he returns from his country and after receiving the invitation by letter from FC Barcelona, ​​as we establish in these cases, which will be answered by them.

    “We have to do this during this week since this club will sign a collaboration contract with Espanyol.

    “In this letter we must specify two issues

    “- Please note that the child was born in 2007

    “- Ask him to come and try out once he returns from his parents’ country

    “Greetings

    “Oscar Hernandez”.

  • I can now feel stronger connection with Yamal – Lewandowski

    I can now feel stronger connection with Yamal – Lewandowski

    Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski says there can be no doubt about the talent and potential of Lamine Yamal.

    Speaking with Pilka Nozna, Lewandowski discussed his teenage teammate.

    “The first time I saw Lamine in training I asked him how old he was. When he told me 15, I couldn’t believe it,” said Lewandowski.

    “I had never seen anything like this at that age.

    “And I am a difficult guy to surprise. It is not just a question of absolute talent. More than anything, he manages to play as if he were 6-7 years older.”

    Lewandowski, 36, also said: “There is a special, invisible connection between the players. I am starting to feel something like that with him.”

  • La Liga: Barca thrash Real Madrid in El Clasico match

    La Liga: Barca thrash Real Madrid in El Clasico match

    Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski scored a quick-fire second-half double to set the leaders on course for a 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid on Saturday.

    Barcelona’s complete display capped a stunning Clasico victory in LaLiga for the Blaugranas.

    Real were in control of the game from early on but became frustrated as they wasted several clear chances.

    This was before Polish striker Lewandowski silenced the Bernabeu crowd with a two-goal blitz after quick counter attacks in the 54th and 56th minutes.

    As Real tried to get back into the contest, Barca killed them off with two more goals on the counter as 17-year-old Lamine Yamal became the youngest Clasico scorer in the 77th minute and captain Raphinha wrapped up the win in the 84th.

    Barca extended their lead at the top as they moved to 30 points, six above Real and nine clear of Villarreal in third.

  • Xavi didn’t give me opportunities – Barca midfielder

    Xavi didn’t give me opportunities – Barca midfielder

    Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado has taken aim at former coach Xavi.

    Casado feels he was ignored by Xavi last season as he finds his place this term under coach Hansi Flick.

    He told 3cat: “I didn’t have too many opportunities, but that helped me to be stronger mentally.

    “Sometimes I saw that I could play, but I didn’t have the opportunity.

    “Despite this, I am very grateful to Xavi. He was the coach who made me debut with the first team, so I will always be grateful to him.”

    Casado added:  “I have taken a slightly longer road, but I think that this has helped me to be where I am now and has given me experience to know which stadiums are more complicated.”

  • Barca threaten Bayern Munich plans for Tah

    Barca threaten Bayern Munich plans for Tah

    Barcelona are watching Jonathan Tah’s situation at Bayer Leverkusen.

    The Germany defender’s deal is due to expire at the end of the season.

    Sky Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg reports the centre-back still stands by his decision to leave as a Bosman next summer.

    Bayern Munich are still interested in the 28-year-old. But there are also other options.

    Among rivals are Barcelona and clubs in the English Premier League.

    Tah has previously also been linked with Liverpool.

    Tribalfootball

  • I didn’t expect Osasuna thrashing – Barca coach, Flick

    I didn’t expect Osasuna thrashing – Barca coach, Flick

    Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was left stunned by their 4-2 defeat at Osasuna.

    Ante Budimir (2), Bryan Zaragoza and Abel Bretones struck for Osasuna, with Barca’s goals scored by Pau Victor and Lamine Yamal.

    Afterwards, Flick refused to seek excuses for his players for the setback.

    First defeat:

    “You have to accept these defeats. We haven’t played very well. I think it’s my responsibility to protect the players, because they’ve been playing a lot of minutes. But I didn’t expect we’d play like this. I’ve told the team that we have to keep going. We play on Tuesday, on Sunday… and we’re on the right track.”

    Performance:

    “We made a lot of mistakes in the first half, but in the end we made changes. If anyone is responsible, it’s me, but I have to look after the players. I think we’re on the right track. We have two days to recover. I hope we see a different team tomorrow.”

    Thrashing:

    “We made a lot of mistakes and they did very well. Although I think there was a foul at the start of the second goal, I’m not entirely sure because I haven’t seen it yet, but that’s what I heard. For them to score four goals against us is too much.”

    Changes:

    “I think that in the second half, we tried to win. We had opportunities. But today Osasuna did very well, in the transitions. They gave us problems. We have to analyse it and do better.”

    Rotations:

    “If you look at our team, it’s not easy. I think that after the break, we will have more players fit. There are a lot of injured players, but it’s not an excuse. In the second half, we played better. We combined and we did better. If we had done it in 90 minutes we would have finished better.”

    Robert Lewandowski’s substitution:

    “Because he also needs rest. That’s how it is. Everyone needs rest. It’s tough, but every three days we have a match and we do it for his own good.”

    Concern?

    “I’m positive. I think we have to get our first win in the Champions League.”

    Koundé fouled and possible penalty on Lamine Yamal:

    “I’m sitting outside and I don’t have a good view. It could have been a foul, but it’s the referee who decides, and there’s also the VAR. Things are like that and I don’t give it any more importance.”

    Tribalfootball

  • Hansi Flick rejects Neymar’s return to Barca

    Hansi Flick rejects Neymar’s return to Barca

    Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has rejected the chance to re-sign Neymar.

    Jijantes says former Barca star Neymar has offered himself to his old club.

    The 32-year-old moved to Al-Hilal last summer, but suffered a cruciate ligament injury during the Saudi Pro League season.

    Barcela’s management are said to have been open to the possibility of re-signing the Brazilian.

    But Flick said no to bringing in Neymar. The German believed that Barcelona would be going in the wrong direction if they had signed their former star.

    Neymar has yet to make a comeback from his knee injury. His contract with Al-Hilal expires next summer.

    Tribalfootball

  • Transfer: Ilkay Gundogan returns to Manchester City

    Transfer: Ilkay Gundogan returns to Manchester City

    Manchester City have completed the signing of former captain Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona on an initial one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months.

    The German midfielder, who was Pep Guardiola’s first signing at the club in 2016, spent seven years at City before joining Barcelona on a free transfer in 2023.

    The 33-year-old won 14 trophies in his first spell at the Etihad, scoring 60 goals in 304 appearances.

    “My seven years at Manchester City were a time of pure contentment for me, both on and off the pitch,” said Gundogan.

    “Everyone knows the respect I have for Pep – he is the best manager in the world and working with him every day makes you a better player.

    “Honestly, I cannot wait to wear the City shirt again.”

    Despite an impressive debut campaign in Spain, Barcelona decided to part with Gundogan after struggling to register new signing Dani Olmo due to the club’s financial issues.

    Gundogan was one of the club’s highest earners and his departure on a free transfer will help Barcelona comply with La Liga spending restrictions.

    “I am leaving in a difficult situation, but if my departure can help the club financially, it makes me a bit less sad,” Gundogan wrote on Instagram following the announcement.

    Gundogan added he had been “looking forward to helping my team-mates in the new campaign” but he was “grateful” to have spent 12 months at the club.

    Capped 82 times for Germany, Gundogan announced his international retirement following the country’s Euro 2024 exit in the quarter-finals to Spain.

    BBC

  • La Liga: Nico Williams rejected us – Barca chief

    La Liga: Nico Williams rejected us – Barca chief

    Barcelona chief Deco admits they wanted to sign Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams.

    Deco has confirmed Williams rejected Barca’s approach this summer.

    “I want him to come, but he doesn’t want to come,” Deco told COPE.

    When asked if anyone else will be recruited, Deco replied: “Yes.”

    Barca coach Hansi Flick has made a request to Deco to bring in a new winger capable of playing on the left flank.

  • I hated Pep Guardiola’s training method at Barcelona – Lionel Messi

    I hated Pep Guardiola’s training method at Barcelona – Lionel Messi

    Inter Miami forward and Ballon D’or winner,  Lionel Messi has revealed that he hated former coach, Pep Guardiola’s method of training at Barcelona, insisting it was confusing.

    The Argentina captain said he did not like how Guardiola’s tactics were taught to young kids at La Masia.

    Continuing, Messi said that kids’ natural ability would be restricted as they were forced to follow a strict method.

    Messi made this  known during an interview with JP Varsky on Clank Media, added that six-year-olds were taught to take two touches and play faster.

    Messi is of the opinion that instead of such training, the kids should be taught to understand the game and work on their movements to find spaces instead.

    The former PSG star said (via Mundo Albiceleste): “The Guardiola era was a bit confusing. … Many times, six and seven-year-old kids are already starting to be told that they have to play with two touches, to play fast, that they can’t have much of the ball.

    “I think that at that age it has to be a bit like what happened to me: to teach them to better understand the game, to know how to move, to find spaces, to play quickly, but not to take away the spontaneity of each one.”