La Liga
Transitioning Teams and Europe
Why the failure to qualify for Europe for a transitioning team could be a blessing in disguise. European qualification in many footballing leagues and cultures is considered one of the more realistic targets at the start of a season. While the league title is there to be taken by an elusive team, there are six to seven teams that get to play in the European competitions namely, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. The fans of every team with a decent top-10 caliber squad expect their teams to be in the mix to achieve the said target. The traditional ‘Top’ teams are by nature expected to have that level of consistency every season they grace the pitch. This very expectation and excitement turn into rage and criticism when their respective teams can’t manage to ch...
Koeman explains to Messi why he had to let Suarez go
New Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has detailed his chat with Lionel Messi over the sale of his pal and teammate Luis Suarez to Atletico Madrid in the summer transfer window. After spending six years at the Nou Camp, scoring 198 goals in 283 appearances, and helping the Catalan giants secure four La Liga titles, four Copas del Rey and the Champions League, Suarez was unceremoniously dumped by the club at the arrival of new boss Ronald Koeman. The 33-year-old forward was sold to Atletico Madrid during the summer transfer window and has made an immediate impact in the Spanish capital where he scored two goals and assisted one on his first appearance. Messi, who also tried to engineer a move out of Nou Camp, had publicly expressed his displeasure in the manner in which the ...
‘It’s true’, Ronald Koeman confirms Barcelona are interested in signing £27m-rated centre-back
Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has acknowledged that the club are looking to land the services of Eric Garcia from Manchester City before Monday’s transfer deadline. Garcia made his debut for the Cityzens last term and he has since made only 11 starts for the club across all competitions. He has declined the opportunity to sign a new deal beyond June 2021 and this has increased the speculation regarding his future. Earlier on Friday, Pep Guardiola admitted that Garcia wants to return to the Blaugrana, where he spent nine years in the youth ranks. Koeman has now confirmed that the Blaugrana are indeed interested in Garcia, but he is unsure whether the club can get a deal over the line. “It’s true we want Eric Garcia here. I’ve seen Pep’s comments and that’s how it is,” He told in a press conf...
Zinedine Zidane claims 100 La Liga wins as Real Madrid coach
Real Madrid’s win over Real Betis on Saturday was Zinedine Zidane’s 100th in charge of Real Madrid in La Liga Santander. The Frenchman has coached Los Blancos in 147 La Liga matches in total, with 55 at home and 45 away from home. In those games, Zidane’s sides have scored 342 goals and conceded 142. Only Miguel Munoz has won more La Liga matches in charge of Real Madrid than Zidane with 257. As well as his centenary of victories, the former Real Madrid midfielder has won two La Liga titles – in 2016/17 and 2019/20. Get more stories like this on Twitter You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Earn rewards by chatting...
Bayern star ready to accept pay cut for La Liga return
Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez is willing to take a pay cut to re-join Athletic Club Bilbao this month but negotiations have stalled, as per Marca. Martinez, 31, is said to have been negotiation to join on a two-year deal with the option of a third, with Bayern now open to selling for less than €10m – which was their original asking price. However, talks have hit a brick wall in recent days despite Martinez willing to reduce his salary from Bayern – reported to be €8m per annum – to be in line with others in the squad at San Mames. It is claimed by the report that Martinez only intends to return to Los Leones if he is to return to La Liga during his career and already has a verbal agreement to join the club this summer, should Bayern facilitate a deal. A year ago, the Basque club’s...
Why Bale Signing Is No Brainer For Spurs
Gareth Bale is set to return to Tottenham on loan after seven years away from the club. The move comes because of Bale’s toxic relationship with his manager at Real Madrid, fans and the Spanish media. Bale has completed his medical and is set to be announced very soon. So why is the signing of Bale such a no brainer? Gareth Bale is a world-class player. No doubt about it. Tottenham fans saw the incredible talent of a young Gareth Bale when he was at White Hart Lane. Since then Bale has proved himself as one of the best in the world, despite frequent injury problems. He signed for Real Madrid for the then world transfer record-breaking fee of £85 million pounds. Bale has gone on to score 105 goals and provide 68 assists. Numbers that should make him loved amongst Los Blanco’s fans. However ...
Report: Wolves keen on Barcelona star as Jorge Mendes plots move
According to Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), Wolverhampton Wanderers are keen on Barcelona right-back Nelson Semedo as they look to bring in a replacement for Matt Doherty. The Republic of Ireland international joined Tottenham Hotspur last month after 10 years at the Molineux Stadium, and manager Nuno Espirito Santo reckons Semedo could be perfect to fill the spot he left behind. Wolves are now attempting to get a deal done for the Portuguese international, and they have recruited the services of super agent Jorge Mendes to help get a move over the line. Barcelona want around £37 million for the 26-year-old, and if Wolves are ready to break their transfer record for a right-back remains to be seen. Semedo has played 124 games for the Spanish giants since arriving from Benfica in the ...
Tottenham Hotspur could reportedly sacrifice midfielder to sign ‘special talent’
According to The Telegraph, Tottenham Hotspur are open to including Dele Alli in a deal to sign Gareth Bale from Real Madrid in the summer transfer window. It has been reported that Bale is open to returning to the Premier League this summer. Manchester United are interested in signing the Wales international winger, and so are Premier League rivals Tottenham, according to the report. It has been further claimed that Spurs are open to including 24-year-old England international midfielder Alli in a potential swap deal with Madrid and bring Bale – described as “a special talent” by former Tottenham midfielder Micky Hazard in The Daily Star last month – back to the North London club. Does swapping Gareth Bale for Dele Alli make sense? Alli is a very talented midfielder, but the England ...
Leo Messi assures Ronald Koeman of his commitment after first training
Ronald Koeman and Lionel Messi’s first meeting since the six-time Ballon d’Or winner decided to stay at Barcelona this season was very positive for everyone involved. Messi was set to leave the club this summer after becoming disillusioned with life at the Nou Camp but after being told he couldn’t leave for free he relented and has decided to stay this season. After missing training last week, the forward returned for his first pre-season session on Monday and met with the new manager before joining in. According to Mundo Deportivo, Koeman told the 33-year-old he was happy for him to be back but warned he only wanted players committed to the club. The newspaper reports that Messi told the manager he was committed and promised him that he’d return to his best form for the team this season. ...
Leeds United reportedly want midfielder who’s very dangerous in the box
Leeds United are interested in signing Rafinha from Barcelona in the summer transfer window, according to Sport. It has been reported that Leeds, who have been promoted to the Premier League for the 2020-21 campaign, have held talks with Spanish and European giants Barcelona over the signing of the 27-year-old midfielder. Talks will continue, with the Brazil international himself keen on a move to the Premier League, according to the report in the Spanish publication. Rafinha would be a superb signing for Leeds United Rafinha may not have been as successful as his brother and former Barcelona central midfielder Thiago – who won the Champions League with Bayern Munich last season – but the 27-year-old is a very good midfielder. The 27-year-old does not seem to have a future at Barcelona, wi...
Gary Lineker reacts to Lionel Messi’s Barcelona decision
Gary Lineker has taken to Twitter to give his reaction to Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi’s interview about his future to Goal.com yesterday. On Friday, Messi gave an extensive interview to Goal.com in which he explained why he wanted to leave Barcelona in the summer transfer window. The Argentina international forward also stated that he will stay at Barcelona this season and fulfil his contract. The 33-year-old has been on the books of the Spanish giants his entire professional club football career and is out of contract at Camp Nou next summer. Former Barcelona striker Lineker has taken to Twitter to give his reaction to Messi’s interview to Goal.com. Just caught up with the extraordinary Messi interview. After all he’s done for the club, over almost 2 decades, it’s such a shame that @...
Gareth Bale: Real Madrid blocked my return to Premier League
Gareth Bale has accused Real Madrid of making it “very difficult” to leave the Spanish club as the Wales forward looks to end his Bernabeu exile. Bale is out of favour with Real manager Zinedine Zidane and played just 48 minutes of Madrid’s 12 games when the Spanish season resumed after the coronavirus lockdown. Zidane, who has feuded with Bale throughout his two spells in charge, said the winger did not want to play in last season’s Champions League last-16 second-leg tie at Manchester City. Bale has two years left on his Real contract, but there appears little chance he will force his way into the manager’s plans. The 31-year-old almost joined Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning in 2019 before Real pulled the plug on the deal, a decision that still irks Bale. “I think the club needs...
