Barcelona
Who will be managing Real Madrid and Barcelona next season?
Real Madrid and Barcelona have had mixed campaigns by their high standards this season, and the latter are out of the La Liga title race ahead of the final matchday. Barcelona had the chance to overtake Atletico Madrid for the top spot this month, but they played out a disappointing goalless draw against Diego Simeone’s side. The result was followed by a draw and a defeat, which sees them four points adrift of Atletico ahead of the last matchday of the campaign. Madrid, on the other hand, have matched Atletico’s result over the past four games (three wins and one draw), but they lie two points adrift of their rivals. Atletico clinched a dramatic 2-1 comeback win at Osasuna last night, where they scored both of their goals after the 80th minute. They must win at Real Valladolid on matchday ...
Premier League & La Liga giants forced to look elsewhere as Dortmund secure UCL football
Barcelona, Chelsea and Barcelona have received a blow to their summer transfer plans, with Borussia Dortmund securing Champions League football for next season. The Bundesliga outfit suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt last month, which saw them seven points adrift of the top four with seven games to play. Their form has since been sensational with six successive league wins, and they recently guaranteed their Champions League spot with one match remaining. With the qualification, the club are likely to be boosted with the additional revenue, which could have a huge impact on their transfer strategy this summer. Over the past few weeks, there has been plenty of talk regarding Erling Braut Haaland’s future with suggestions that he could move on if Dortmund fail to mak...
Hayes’ bullishness exposed as Barcelona run riot against Chelsea
Chelsea Women’s hopes of winning the Champions League were ruthlessly ended by Barcelona in Gothenburg on Sunday evening. The Blues’ head coach Emma Hayes’ pre-match declaration that ‘it’s our time’ was brutally exposed as hyperbolic nonsense by the supremely talented Spanish outfit. It’s almost time 🙌 Here’s how the side’s line-up in Gothenburg 🏆 Live on Youtube & BT Sport 2 HD 💻/📺#UWCLfinal pic.twitter.com/sPlG1FPHUC — Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 16, 2021 Barca made their intentions known from the outset, taking full advantage of Chelsea’s shaky backline to open the scoring inside the first minute. The English side failed to clear their lines after Lieke Martins’ long-range effort rattled the crossbar, with Fran Kirby’s sloppy clearance...
Barcelona close to signing €45m-rated star with 31 goal contributions – report
Lyon forward Memphis Depay is close to joining Barcelona on a free transfer this summer, a report from L’Equipe claims. The Dutchman was on Blaugrana’s radar during last summer’s transfer window, but a deal failed to materialise as they could not meet the transfer demands. Depay has had another fine season for Les Gones with 21 goals and 10 assists from 38 appearances, but they could still miss out on Champions League football. Even if they make the top three, the 27-year-old has no desire to sign a new contract beyond June, and he now appears on the cusp of joining the Catalan giants. It is reported that Ronald Koeman’s side only have minor details to settle before the free transfer of the Netherlands international is finalised. Sportslens view: Depay has been constantly linked with the B...
Report: Barcelona open to selling Antoine Griezmann for the right price
Italian Sky Sports journalist Matteo Moretto has proclaimed that Barcelona are willing to sell French superstar Antoine Griezmann in the summer if they were to receive an adequate offer, in order to try and ease the pressure on their accounts. After a far from optimal start to his stint in Garnet and Blue, Griezmann has largely managed to turn his fortunes around. He has established himself as a very useful asset for Barcelona, and proved to be an instrumental part of the Catalans’ Copa del Rey triumph. However, despite his turn of form, there has been constant speculation regarding Antoine Griezmann’s departure from Barcelona. Considering the massive cost of his transfer from Atletico Madrid two seasons ago and his high wages, the club might be open to a sale in the summer. The upcoming t...
La Liga Preview: Barcelona remain hopeful but title likely to stay in Madrid
The penultimate matchday of the 2020/21 La Liga season beckons with some spicy fixtures at both ends of the table. The keenly-contested race with two matchdays remaining leaves almost no room for dropped points as four sides can mathematically win the title. Real Madrid remain firmly in contention after a 4-1 thumping of Granada on Thursday kept them within two points of leaders Atletico Madrid. Following back-to-back draws with Atletico and Levante, Barcelona are lagging four points behind Los Colchenors and are probably out of the race. Even though the prospect of Sevilla winning the race looks far-fetched, the Andalusian giants are still sniffing around the ultimate prize. Meanwhile, the relegation battle rolls on. A thin five-point gap separates the bottom six, with basement boys Eibar...
Barcelona targeting 21-year-old striker as Haaland alternative
Barcelona are weighing up a move for Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak as a possible alternative to Erling Haaland, writes Marca. Haaland has become one of football’s hottest properties in the last 18 months since his move to Borussia Dortmund. The Norwegian has hit a staggering 55 goals in 57 appearances for the Black and Yellows, including a brace in Thursday’s DFB Pokal final victory over RB Leipzig. Haaland has been exceptional for Borussia Dortmund His performances in Germany have attracted the attention of several of Europe’s top clubs. One of those clubs is Barcelona, who met with the 20-year-old’s agent and father back in April to discuss a possible transfer. However, the Catalan giants have racked up over €1 billion in debt, making a move for Haaland this summer near-impossible...
Memphis Depay will join Barcelona this summer on one condition
Memphis Depay has agreed to join Barcelona this summer if they can meet one condition. Depay has been one of Lyon’s main men since signing from Manchester United in January 2017. In his first full season in Ligue 1, he was the league’s joint-third top goalscorer with 19 – a tally beaten only by Edinson Cavani and Florian Thauvin. Depay has been excellent for Lyon The forward suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in December 2019 which put him out for the season, but he has bounced back from this and returned to his best form. This term, he has 19 goals and 10 assists in the league, making him one of only nine players from Europe’s top five leagues to hit double figures in both categories. Depay was one of Ronald Koeman’s main transfer targets when he first arrived at Barcelona. How...
Barcelona board give green light to sign £22.5m-rated star, player ‘crazy’ to join the club
Barcelona’s hierarchy have given the green light over a summer move for Manchester City star Sergio Aguero, Mundo Deportivo reports. Aguero is expected to leave the Cityzens when his contract expires in June, and the Blaugrana have been touted as favourites to sign him. It was recently reported that the club had made contact with his representatives, and the board have now given the go-ahead for the free transfer. The 32-year-old is ‘crazy’ about the prospect of joining the Catalan giants, where he would be reunited with close friend and compatriot Lionel Messi. Aguero is prepared to take a pay-cut on his €12 million annual salary. The Blaugrana believe the arrival of Aguero will convince Messi to prolong his stay. Messi’s current deal expires at the end of next month, but talks are p...
Barcelona contact Tottenham’s reported manager target about replacing Koeman
Barcelona have contacted the representatives of Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick to ask about his availability this summer, according to ESPN. The Catalans could replace Ronald Koeman at the end of the season after what has been an underwhelming campaign, and they have also been linked with former midfielder Xavi. However, the Al Sadd SC manager signed a new two-year extension yesterday, potentially ruling out a return to Camp Nou. 🗣 Xavi: “I’m proud to continue at Al-Sadd. We achieved a lot together, scored goals, won matches and titles, and we are all very proud of this success. Getting this kind of support is the best thing any coach can get.”#AlSadd #XAVI2023 pic.twitter.com/lFpXrjofGP — 🏆 #75 Al Sadd SC | نادي السد (@AlsaddSC) May 12, 2021 Landing Flick is also n...
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus facing two-year Champions League ban
UEFA have issued a warning to Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus if they continue to persevere with the European Super League. Those three were part of a group of 12 clubs that broke away from UEFA and formed the European Super League last month, along with Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Arsenal. The announcement sent the world of football into a frenzy. Fans protested against the proposal, while players and pundits spoke out against the idea. Arsenal fans protest against the owners The idea collapsed two days later. Chelsea were the first team to pull out, with the other five English clubs soon following. Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, and Inter Milan withdrew shortly afterwards. However, Real Madrid, Ba...
Big two dwarf £470m star on rich list – move to Madrid or Barcelona would have fuelled jump
Three of football’s biggest superstars have retained their places in the top 10 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes. According to Forbes, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are raking in massive amounts of money every year. Messi and Ronaldo have swapped places on this year’s list, but they lag miles behind Conor McGregor’s $180 million annual earnings. However, while the big two have seen their income increase over the past 12 months, Neymar has suffered a slight reduction. Sportslens takes a look at the three high-earning footballers. Lionel Messi – Barcelona – $130 million Messi has edged back in front of Ronaldo in the standings, pocketing a staggering $130m to claim second spot on the list. A lucrative lifetime endorsement deal with adidas helps to keep Messi’s bank bala...
