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Barcelona confident of securing Premier League duo within the next week

Barcelona are confident of securing Premier League duo Sergio Aguero and Gerginio Wijnaldum on free transfers within the next week, Sky Sports reports. Representatives of both players have been at the Nou Camp over the last few days to discuss the final terms of their proposed contracts. Finalising a deal for Aguero should develop more rapidly, with the striker’s final game for Manchester City coming in the Champions League final against Chelsea on Saturday. Long-term Barcelona target Wijnaldum said his goodbyes to his Liverpool teammates after the Reds’ final league game of the season last weekend. The Catalan giants have been crippled by the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic, with debts reaching more than £1 billion, and they have been targeting players approaching ...

Multi-title winner signs a five-year contract with Real Madrid

Real Madrid have officially announced the signing of the versatile defender David Alaba from Bayern Munich. After months of speculation, the 28-year-old has signed a five-year contract at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Austria international arrives in Madrid as a free agent after refusing to commit his future to Bayern despite the club’s relentless efforts to tie him down to a new deal. Alaba spent 12 memorable years at the Allianz Arena, becoming one of the symbols of the Bavarians’ domestic and continental success in the past decade. He recorded 512 appearances for Bayern in all competitions en route to winning 27 major titles, including ten Bundesliga titles and two Champions Leagues. Alaba was part of the squad that won the record-breaking nine Bundesliga titles in a row and was an integra...

Barcelona president gives update on the futures of Lionel Messi and Ronald Koeman

Recently elected Barcelona president Joan Laporta has spoken about the futures of star man Lionel Messi and manager Ronald Koeman. It has been a turbulent season at Camp Nou. Koeman found himself under severe pressure after a poor first half of the season, with La Blaugrana looking way off the pace in the title race. A round of 16 humiliation at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League did little to ease the tension. Koeman’s side have been unable to win the title However, the Dutchman managed to turn things around, winning the Copa del Rey and putting themselves within touching distance of the top of the table going into the final few weeks. Carelessly dropped points against Granada and Levante saw them lose their grip on the title race, and they eventually ended the season in ...

Real Madrid join Tottenham in race for in-demand manager

Real Madrid have identified Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino as a perfect long-term replacement for Zinedine Zidane. After months of speculation, Zidane decided to call time on his second stint in Madrid on Thursday, leaving a vacancy only a handful of managers can fill. One of them is Pochettino, who has experienced a rather torrid six-month spell in Paris after replacing Thomas Tuchel in January. PSG sacked the German tactician in the midst of the side’s rough patch and opted for the ex-Tottenham boss to take over the reins at the Parc des Princes. However, the move has not worked out as expected, with Les Parisiens suffering a heartbreaking Champions League exit to Manchester City in the semi-finals. Paris’ underwhelming campaign culminated with a domestic heartache as Lille...

Barcelona approach Lionel Messi’s father-agent with contract proposal

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has pitched Lionel Messi’s father-agent Jorge Messi with a contract offer that would see his son spend the next two years at Camp Nou. The 33-year-old has less than two months left to run on his current deal in Spain and has yet to pledge his future to Barcelona following another turbulent season. Messi seemed to be on the verge of cutting short his trophy-laden career at Camp Nou last summer, but former president Josep Maria Bartomeu managed to persuade him to stay put. An embarrassing 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2019/20 and the club’s decision to release Luis Suarez last summer nearly pushed the six-time Ballon d’Or winner away from La Liga. Despite convincing their captain and headline performer to remain, the Ca...

Analysis: How Villarreal’s adaptability helped them beat Manchester United

In the second-last match of continental football in Europe for the 2020/21 season, Villarreal and Manchester United prepared to square off for the UEFA Europa League trophy. Ole Gunnar Solskjær was leading the Red Devils into his first-ever final as a manager, meaning that this was also his first chance to lift a trophy for the club, and it would also be United’s first major honour since 2017 when they won the same competition. Villarreal, meanwhile, were battling for their first-ever coveted piece of silverware barring the Tercera División and UEFA Intertoto Cup, as Unai Emery was eyeing his fourth Europa League success in five finals. The Yellow Submarine had an additional incentive as this was a bonus shot for them to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League, as their sevent...

Paolo Maldini: Gianluigi Donnarumma to leave AC Milan as free agent

Gianluigi Donnarumma will leave AC Milan this summer, club director Paolo Maldini announced on Wednesday, with the Italy goalkeeper set to pick his new club as a free agent. Donnarumma’s Milan contract expires at the end of the month and he has been linked with moves to La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, Manchester United and even bitter Serie A rivals Juventus. “We need to show respect for someone who has given a lot to Milan, he has never disrespected us. We’re going our separate ways but I can only wish him the very best,” Milan legend Maldini said on social media platform Twitch. Seven-time European champions Milan finished second in Serie A last weekend, securing Champions League football for the first time since the 2013-2014 season. Donnarumma was a near ever-present in Stefa...

Spurs player reportedly considering terminating his contract & retiring after Euros

Wales international Gareth Bale is technically on loan at Tottenham Hotspur from Real Madrid until the end of June. The winger bagged a brace in Spurs’ 4-2 victory over Leicester City in the final game of the Premier League campaign on Sunday, helping the north Londoners qualify for the inaugural Europa Conference League as a result. Bale was coy when asked about his future after the game, insisting we will have to wait for his decision after the Euros as he ‘will just cause chaos if he says anything’. Spanish outlet ABC Deportes are claiming retirement is what the 31-year-old was hinting at. According to their report, Bale is considering negotiating a contract termination with Madrid and then retiring after Euro 2020. He returned to Spain immediately after Spurs’ game on Sunday, and is no...

Barcelona planning to announce three or four signings before the Euros – report

Barcelona are planning to announce three or four signings before the European Championships next month, Spanish outlet Ara reports. The Catalan giants had a disappointing 2020/21 league campaign by their high standards, and ended up finishing seven points behind champions Atletico Madrid. There is likely to be a summer rebuild at the club, but it is still unclear whether Ronald Koeman will remain the head coach for the next campaign. The club are still working on potential new signings, and it is reported that they are working to announce three or four deals before the Euros. Sportslens view: It has been an open secret that Eric Garcia will join the club on a free transfer when his contract with Manchester City expires next month. An announcement is planned after the Champions League final...

Coutinho, Dembele and more: who should Barcelona sell this summer?

Barcelona have ended the season with disappointment, after a succession of poor results saw their title hopes ended, following more humiliation in the Champions League. It wasn’t all bad, however. They managed to lift the Copa del Rey trophy, ending their mini drought that spanned back to 2019. Now, they go into a big transfer window, knowing that the €1 billion of debt is set to hamper them. It could be an interesting summer at Camp Nou. Who will stay and who will go? That remains to be seen, but here’s our view on it. Goalkeepers Ter Stegen remains one of the best in his position Marc-Andre ter Stegen – KEEP – The German has had his ups and downs over the last year but remains one of the finest goalkeepers in the world. His penalty save against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey remains a ...

Pep Guardiola drops hint over Messi’s future, confirms £22.5m star is close to Barcelona move

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said that Sergio Aguero is close to making the switch to Barcelona on a free transfer this summer. The Argentine has been a superb performer for the Cityzens over the past decade, but he will leave them when his contract expires next month. Aguero ended his Premier League career with a sublime brace coming off the bench against Everton on Sunday. The Cityzens won by a convincing 5-0 scoreline. Following the trophy celebrations, Guardiola dropped a huge hint that Aguero will join his former club Barcelona to play alongside compatriot Lionel Messi. He told BBC Sport: “Maybe I reveal a secret. Maybe he is close to agreeing a deal for the club of my heart – for Barcelona. “He is going to be playing alongside the best player of all time, Messi. “I’m pre...

Report: Lionel Messi accepts new Barcelona deal

Lionel Messi will stay at Barcelona. The official announcement will be treated as Barca’s big signing of the summer and the latest important media outlet to confirm the news is ‘BeIN Sports’. Journalist Achraf Ben Ayad, who follows Barca news very closely, says that Leo Messi has decided to stay. The Argentine missed the final game of the La Liga season and he did not train on Friday either with the club’s permission. The striker has taken holiday before going to Argentina to play in the Copa America. It seems like Leo Messi wants to decide on his future before the Copa America starts in June so the Argentinian’s new deal could be confirmed in the next two weeks. Leo Messi will have to accept a contract with a lowe salary than his current one due to Barca’s complicated financial situation....