La Liga
Report: Euro giants looking to hijack Barcelona’s attempt to sign 74-cap int’l
Paris Saint-Germain are trying to hijack a move for Gini Wijnaldum. Barcelona have been trying to sign the 74-times capped Dutch international on a free transfer for months now. Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has been regularly delivering updates on Twitter on the 30-year-old. His contract at Anfield expires at the end of this month, and he has already confirmed that his next destination would be somewhere else. Romano claims that Barcelona are “already planning” medicals for Wijnaldum, and they are hoping to tie him to a contract until 2024. However, according to ESPN, the French giants are looking to hijack their attempt to sign the midfielder. Wijnaldum is currently preparing for the European Championships with Netherlands, but clubs want to secure his signa...
Odegaard and two more: Real Madrid outcasts who could become regulars under Carlo Ancelotti
Real Madrid recently appointed Carlo Ancelotti as their head coach for a second stint after Zinedine Zidane decided to step down from the position. The club have a potential squad rebuilding job this summer but before that, they are likely to offload multiple players to recoup funds for new signings. As many as ten Los Blancos players, valued at a combined €177 million, featured for different teams on loan in the recently-concluded campaign. It is unlikely that all of them will be shown the exit door. We look at five players, who could emerge as regulars under Ancelotti next term. Martin Odegaard The Norwegian was definitely the most valuable player, who was sent out on loan last term. The 22-year-old had an impressive 2019/2020 season on loan with Real Sociedad, registering seven goals an...
Bayern Munich keen on Atletico Madrid midfielder, player favours EPL move
Bayern Munich are close to signing Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez for €80 million, according to Radio Marca. Despite making 33 La Liga appearances last season, Saul was not a regular starter as Atletico won the Spanish title and they are open to listening to offers this summer. Diego Simeone is interested in recruiting Udinese captain Rodrigo de Paul which could make the club more inclined to sanction Saul’s sale. Bayern are in the process of reshaping their squad despite romping to a ninth successive Bundesliga title last season. They were beaten in the quarter-finals of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain and will be keen to reclaim the trophy they won in 2020. If Saul moves to Bayern, he would be an unusual signing as they are noted for targeting players in their ea...
Atletico eye Arsenal star as possible replacement for Red Devils target
La Liga champions Atletico Madrid are keeping tabs on Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin as a potential replacement for Kieran Trippier, according to Marca. Although Trippier featured extensively for Diego Simeone’s side last season, he has been linked with a return to the Premier League. The 30-year-old could be tempted to return to the Premier League, with Manchester United and Everton both credited with an interest in securing his services. Bellerin struggled for game time at Arsenal towards the end of last season as Mikel Arteta preferred Calum Chambers over the Spanish international. The 26-year-old is at a phase of his career where he will want a more prominent role in Spain’s plans, and a move to Atletico could help him achieve this goal. In addition to Atletico, Bellerin has also been linke...
Real Madrid talks with Sergio Ramos stay deadlocked
Sergio Ramos remains locked in talks with Real Madrid over his future at the club, according to Cuatro. The 35-year-old’s contract is set to expire at the end of the month and it appears increasingly likely that he will leave this summer. However, Los Blancos have not confirmed that Ramos is heading elsewhere, raising the possibility that he could remain with the club. Ramos is believed to have had a fallout with Madrid President Florentino Perez, and Spanish publication AS reported that he will definitely leave. Ramos made just 15 La Liga appearances last season, with injuries limiting his game time. He subsequently missed out on a place in the 26-man Spain squad that will contest the European Championships this summer. He may now be in the final years of his career but Ramos will be...
Barcelona still in negotiations to sign €45m-rated star with 34 goal contributions – report
Barcelona are still negotiating with Memphis Depay over a free transfer to the club, reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano claims. The Dutchman had a superb 2020/21 season with Lyon, registering 22 goals and 12 assists from 40 appearances across all competitions. Despite his efforts, the club missed out on the Champions League as a defeat on the final matchday saw them finish behind third-placed Monaco. The 27-year-old will be a free agent when his contract expires this month, and the Blaugrana have been tipped to land his signature ahead of Juventus. It is now reported that the discussions are still ongoing over a Bosman deal, and a potential contract until June 2023 or 2024 is being negotiated. His move to Camp Nou could still depend on Ronald Koeman staying as the manager. Sportsle...
Barcelona intensify contract talks for €50m attacker, five-year deal on the table – report
Barcelona have intensified talks with the representatives of Ousmane Dembele over a new long-term contract, Mundo Deportivo claims. The Frenchman has been with the Blaugrana for the past four seasons, but he has managed just 118 appearances due to multiple injuries. However, he was able to stay unscathed for most of the 2020/21 campaign, and the Blaugrana are committed to keeping him at the club. Dembele turned down a new deal in October last year, but the club have now intensified talks with his agents. They are willing to hand him a five-year deal. The attacker’s existing contract expires in June 2022. Aside from the wage concerns, Dembele also has differences over the sporting project. Sportslens view: The Blaugrana have placed their trust in Dembele over the past few years, where he ha...
Eden Hazard says he will be ready in time for Euros
Eden Hazard is still having “some thigh problems” after missing much of Real Madrid’s season but “will be there when the Euros start”, he told a video press conference on Monday. The midfielder said he was “not yet at 100 percent” but added that “physically I still have to prepare myself and I obviously hope to be ready for the first game on 12 June.” Belgium, one of the favourites for the title, start Euro 2020 on June 12 against Russia in a group that also includes Denmark and Finland. Hazard arrived at the national training centre at Tubize on Monday, at the same time as most of his team-mates and, as captain, was the first to speak at the press conference. “I missed the last game with Real because of a little discomfort in my thigh. Since then I have been able to rest for a week and me...
Season Review: where would Barcelona be without Messi?
The last year or so has been a rollercoaster ride for Barcelona. An underwhelming start to the season, followed by an explosive opening to 2021, followed by disappointing ending, saw La Blaugrana end the season in third place. On top of this, they suffered more Champions League humiliation at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, but were able to end their mini trophy drought in the Copa del Rey. Best Player – Lionel Messi Messi celebrates ANOTHER goal for Barcelona No explanation needed, really. Throughout the season, Messi got 38 goals and 12 assists in all competitions. But that only tells half the story. The Argentine does so much outside of goals and assists. It’s almost impossible to comprehend without watching week in week out. If any other player was producing this level of performance...
£18m-rated star confirms he has made the ‘brave decision’ to join Barcelona
Manchester City centre-back Eric Garcia has confirmed that he will join Barcelona on a free transfer when his contract expires next month. It has been known for a while that the 20-year-old will be signing for the Catalan giants, and the defender has now formally confirmed the deal. In an interview with L’Esportiu, Garcia said that he has made the ‘brave decision’ to return to the Blaugrana, where he spent 10 years in the academy. He said: “I have thought about my future, what I think is the best now. I think it’s a brave decision. I am very convinced of the step I have taken.” Garcia could be playing alongside compatriot Gerard Pique next term. The 34-year-old left Manchester United in 2008 for a return to the Blaugrana, where he is now a club legend. When compared with Pique’s path, Garc...
Report: Aguero puts Barcelona move on hold amid Messi’s contract uncertainty
Sergio Aguero has reportedly decided to put his impending move to Barcelona on hold amid the contractual uncertainty surrounding his close friend Lionel Messi. The 32-year-old looked to be a step away from completing a move to Camp Nou after calling time on his ten-year stint at the Etihad Stadium. However, the situation has taken a twist, as Aguero now wants to make sure Messi will remain at Barcelona before putting pen to paper on a contract, per Mundo Deportivo. Everyone at the club is confident the six-time Ballon d’Or winner will commit to fresh terms in the coming weeks. Although president Joan Laporta recently admitted the discussions are progressing well, the 33-year-old has yet to sign a new deal. With Messi’s current contract running out in a month, Manchester City and Paris Sain...
Manchester United and Chelsea target accepts he may have to change clubs this summer
Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde has acknowledged that he could leave the club this summer amid reported interest from Manchester United and Chelsea. The Frenchman is regarded as one of La Liga’s most promising centre-backs, and he has been on the radar of elite European clubs over the past year. Speaking in a press conference at Clairefontaine yesterday, Kounde accepted that he may consider a change this summer, but nothing has been decided yet. He added that he has the ambition to develop at a big club and win trophies. He told RMC Sport: “Regarding my future, it is certain that I may have to change this summer, but nothing is acted on yet, I have not decided anything.” “My goal is to evolve in a big club, to always try to progress and win trophies too. I may have to move, but that’...
