Tag: Barcelona

11Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Deco explains why Barca signed Dani Olmo and not Nico

Barcelona sporting director Deco has revealed why the club decided to buy Dani Olmo rather than Nico Williams in the summer transfer window. The Catalans were linked with Williams all summer. Joan Laporta said the club could afford to sign the Athletic star, but Barca opted to splash out on Olmo instead. Here’s what Deco’s said in an interview with Barca One when asked about the transfers. “A high-level winger was needed. We have Raphinha, Ferran, the return of Ansu who was very good in pre-season but had a foot injury, we have Lamine ... We have players who can play as wingers like Fermín or Dani Olmo . “We were clear that to bring in a player he had to be of a very high level. But in the end, signing Dani Olmo gave you more options. It’s not that we haven’t spoken with clubs and play...

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10Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Memphis Depay set to join Corinthians in Brazil on a 2-year deal

Corinthians published a picture Monday of Depay holding a club shirt and meeting with a club executive. The 30-year-old Depay, who played for the Netherlands at the European Championship in July, will be the first ever Dutch player to join the popular Brazilian club, which has more than 35 million supporters. Brazilian media reported that Depay has undertaken his medical tests and will arrive in Sao Paulo later this week. Depay started his career at PSV Eindhoven in 2011 and later had spells at Manchester United, Olympique Lyon and Barcelona before joining Atletico Madrid. The Dutch striker played 39 times for Atletico Madrid and scored only nine goals last season. Corinthians is fighting to avoid relegation in the Brazilian league, with 13 rounds remaining. It is also in the quarterf...

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9Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Flick does more La Masia homework over the international break

Barcelona may not have had a game this weekend due to the international break but that hasn’t stopped new boss Hansi Flick from taking in some action at the club. The German showed up to watch Barcelona’s Juvenil A play on Sunday, showing once again how interested he is in the club’s youngsters. Flick was in attendance in a win for the youngsters too. Juvenil A ran out 2-1 winners over Badalona. Juliano Belletti’s side, who have started the season well, took all three points thanks to goals from Brian Farinas and Mauro. Barcelona’s new boss has already spoken glowingly about the club’s famed La Masia academy and it’s been previously reported that one of the reasons he got the job was his excellent knowledge of the club’s young stars after studying them intensely. It’s certainly been ...

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6Sep By Silver Emmanuel4 Comments

LALIGA

Injured Barcelona forward hopes to be back in time for clash against Girona

The objective of any FC Barcelona player should always be to play their best football for the team. Unfortunately, that becomes impossible to do if a player is constantly suffering from injuries and the inevitable repercussions. Even right now, many key Barcelona players continue to suffer because of this exact reason. As a consequence, even the collective team and club begins to suffer as well. La Blaugrana need their best players available, and if they cannot even be fit for selection their input for the team becomes absolutely nothing. Fortunately, however, some key players are now close to returning as well. One of the players whose return is expected sooner than others is Ansu Fati. The 21-year-old Barcelona forward, who still has ownership of the iconic number ‘10’ at the club,...

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5Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

FC Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen settling into No. 1 gig with Germany

FC Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen was the no-brainer selection to take over for Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with the German national team. For Ter Stegen, the promotion was a long time coming. “My aim has always been to be number one. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to achieve that over the past decade. I had a goalkeeper in front of me in Manu who had an incredible career and always stood up to the pressure. Congratulations to him again on his career,” said Ter Stegen (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). Ter Stegen also touched on the frustration he — sometimes — felt in not being able to usurp the position from Neuer. “There are always moments when you think ‘Phew, that was another blow’. In the end, the decision always went in Manu’s favour, but I dealt with it ...

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4Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Pique gives his verdict on Hansi Flick’s Barcelona

Former Barcelona star Gerard Pique has offered his verdict on Hansi Flick’s team after a great start to the 2024-25 season. Barcelona remain perfect after enjoying four straight wins under their new boss, including an emphatic 7-0 thrashing of Valladolid last time out.Pique says the team is looking good and he thinks they can fight for silverware this season in a new interview with Mundo Deportivo. “At the moment things are going very well and they are playing well, the new players like Olmo the other day are already giving good performances, as are the youngsters, who have already shown a lot in the pre-season, but also in the first ones I think they have played a lot of games, they have participated a lot and I think they have put up a fight. I think that the team has enough le...

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3Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

FC Barcelona star admits he considered leaving the club

FC Barcelona star Raphinha admitted to RAC1 that he considered leaving the club at one point of his two-year tenure in Catalonia. The Brazilian is the man of the hour with three goals and two assists thus far, which have helped Barca maintain a 100% record across four games in 2024/2025 under Hansi Flick. He appears to be a new player on Flick's watch, who is finally starting to live up to his reported $66 million (€60 million) price tag which Barca met to snatch him away from Leeds United in 2022. Things weren't always so rosy, however, and Raphinha admitted that he once considered calling it a day with the Blaugrana."Did I consider leaving? Yes," Raphinha confessed to RAC1. "The first six months were complicated for me and my family. After the World Cup I improved and I was able...

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1Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Raphinha hat-trick as Barcelona rout Valladolid 7-0

Brazil winger Raphinha scored a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Real Valladolid 7-0 on Saturday to make it four wins from four in La Liga under new coach Hansi Flick. While bitter rivals Real Madrid have stumbled early following the much-trumpeted arrival of Kylian Mbappe, Barcelona are off to a flying start despite their continued financial difficulties. They are also missing Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Ronald Araujo but have a maximum 12 points heading into the international break, leaving them seven clear of Madrid who face Real Betis today. “We’re growing as a team. I think it’s a very good start to the season,” said Barcelona captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen. “I’m proud of how things are going... hopefully we can continue like that in the next weeks.” Barcelona’s best start to a La Lig...

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31Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Predicted Barcelona lineup against Real Valladolid: Olmo set for full debut; Fermin Lopez in for Bernal

Dani Olmo will make his first start for Barcelona against Real Valladolid, while Fermin Lopez will replace the injured Marc Bernal on Saturday.Barcelona will aim to continue the perfect start to the 2024/25 season when they welcome Real Valladolid to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Saturday evening. Hansi Flick has a new injury concern that is hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.Marc Bernal sustained a long-term knee injury that will keep him on the sidelines for nearly 12 months. So, the young midfielder’s season has prematurely ended as he gets set for a long road to recovery. Bernal has joined Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, and Ansu Fati on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Flick discussed Bernal’s injury and the impact ...

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31Aug By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

LALIGA

Official: Barcelona sign Ruben Lopez

La Liga giants Barcelona have on Friday added to the club’s midfield options, at youth level. This comes by way of the signing of Ruben Lopez, from Deportivo de la Coruña. López, for his part, is a 20-year-old midfielder, who has long been held in high regard at parent club Deportivo. The Spaniard possesses a host of impressive individual traits, allowing López to line out in a number of positions between midfield and attack. Amid their ongoing search for reinforcements to Barca Atlètic boss Albert Sánchez’s ranks, the brass at the Camp Nou, in turn, recently made contact with their counterparts in Galicia. And, as alluded to above, on Friday, the discussions between the two clubs have officially borne fruit. As per a statement across the website and social media platforms of Barca A...

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30Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Dani Olmo reveals how Deco and Hansi Flick paved his path to Barcelona

It’s been a few days since Barcelona’s impressive 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano and the biggest talking point from the game after Marc Bernal’s unfortunate ACL injury was the incredible debut of Dani Olmo. The 26-year-old Spaniard came on in the second half for Ferran Torres and completely changed the game on its head. He scored the matchwinner for Barcelona but even otherwise, his general play was outstanding. If this is a sign of things to come, Barcelona fans will certainly be excited. Olmo had an excellent sync with the rest of his teammates and one would have thought that the 26-year-old has been playing at the club for years. Barcelona signed Olmo from RB Leipzig for around €60m. The ex-La Masia graduate returned to his boyhood club in what was a marquee transfer. Even after coming ...

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30Aug By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Official: Barça sell Alarcon to Porto

Barcelona have reached agreement with FC Porto for the sale of 20-year-old striker Angel Alarcon for an undisclosed fee, the club announced on Thursday. Barça confirmed in their statement they will keep 50% of the player’s rights, which means they’ll receive half of the profits from a future sale. Alarcón became a hot prospect two years ago when Xavi Hernández first took charge of the first team and looked to have a real chance to make the senior side before a number of injuries, including a serious knee issue, slowed down the striker’s progress. Then the emergence of players such as Lamine Yamal and Pau Víctor both in the first team and at Barça Atlètic last season blocked Alarcón’s path to real playing time for the Catalans, and he now moves to Portugal in search of consistent minute...

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29Aug By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

LALIGA

Barcelona prodigy is already thinking about ‘recovery’ after horrific injury

Despite the win over Rayo Vallecano, the last 24 hours have not been good for a Barcelona fan. Their worst fears were confirmed when 17-year-old La Masia prodigy Marc Bernal was confirmed to have torn the ACL on his left knee. The entire Barcelona contingent was hoping against hope that the prognosis would be different from what was initially feared but unfortunately, that was not the case. Messages of gratitude poured from the footballing fraternity for Bernal. Just 17 years of age, Bernal looked like the next big thing coming out of La Masia. He was incredible in Barcelona’s three games so far and even against Rayo, he had a brilliant second half that would have made Sergio Busquets proud. It’s such a shame that the talented youngster’s campaign had to be cut short prematurely b...

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28Aug By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

LALIGA

Hansi Flick shares his honest verdict on Dani Olmo’s debut for Barcelona

Barcelona’s first 45 minutes against Rayo lacked spark and imagination. On a difficult ground that hasn’t favored the club in recent seasons, Hansi Flick’s team looked out of ideas after conceding an early goal. Things changed at half-time when the German coach took off Ferran Torres to bring on Dani Olmo. Coming on for his debut, the 26-year-old midfield star changed the complexion of the game and looked sharp with every touch on the pitch. Eventually, it was Olmo who netted the match-winner after Lamine Yamal’s cut-back found him in space inside the box. The ex-RB Leipzig man cut inside on his left foot and produced a Lionel Messi-esque finish on debut. Hansi Flick was understandably happy with the 26-year-old’s debut performance against Rayo. As quoted by Mundo Deportivo, the G...

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28Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Barcelona fear Marc Bernal suffered ACL injury vs. Vallecano – source

Barcelona suspect midfielder Marc Bernal suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in Tuesday's 2-1 win against Rayo Vallecano and could miss the majority of the season, a source told Football Flame. Bernal, 17, was forced off in the final minutes of the match in Vallecas as Barça came from behind to make it three wins from three to start the new campaign in LaLiga. However, the injury to Bernal tainted the victory, with coach Hansi Flick saying the youngster will undergo tests on Wednesday but confirming that he fears the worst. "It's a sad victory because Marc Bernal is injured and it looks not so good," Flick said in a news conference after the game. "We have to wait and see how heavy it is. We win, it's OK, but when you see the dressing room nobody is happy."It's not go...

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26Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Hansi Flick opens up on €30m player’s departure from Barcelona

Today, FC Barcelona announced the departure of two of their players on loan, Vitor Roque and Clement Lenglet. The Brazilian youngster has left the Catalan side to join the La Liga club Real Betis, while Lenglet is also going to stay in Spain as he has joined Atletico Madrid on a year-long loan. SANT JOAN DESPI, SPAIN - AUGUST 26: Hansi Flick, head coach of FC Barcelona, attends his press conference ahead the Spanish League, La Liga EA Sports, football match against Rayo Vallecano at Ciudad Esportiva Joan Gamper on August 26, 2024 in Sant Joan Despi, Barcelona, Spain. (Photo By Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images) Real Betis have the option to buy Vitor Roque at the end of this loan, but among these two players, it is clearly Roque who has a better chance of returning and mak...

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25Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Lewandowski secures Barca win over Athletic

Robert Lewandowski shrugged off a string of missed opportunities to earn Barcelona a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday in La Liga. The 36-year-old striker twice hit the woodwork, among other wasted chances, but kept his cool to slot home a 75th-minute winner for the Catalan giants. Teenage starlet Lamine Yamal put Barcelona ahead with a deflected effort but Oihan Sancet pulled Athletic level from the penalty spot before half-time. Lewandowski’s strike earned Barcelona their second win from two league matches under new coach Hansi Flick. “Especially in the first half he could have scored one or two goals... but in the end this is a goal getter, a striker, who scores goals,” Flick told reporters. “The second goal was the winner, three points, perfect.” The former Germany and Bayern...

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24Aug By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Flick backs Kounde to ‘take care’ of Nico Williams

Hansi Flick is backing Jules Kounde to “take care” of Nico Williams when Barcelona come up against Athletic Club on Saturday in La Liga. Barca spent the summer trying to sign Nico but appear to have given up on their efforts to land the Spain star. The Catalans will now have to find a way to stop the forward on Saturday night, with Flick confident Kounde can do the business at Montjuic. “On this side we have an experienced player, so I can say that Jules will take care of him,” he told reporters. “To speak about him is not my job because he’s not our player. The focus is more how we play him because he’s a good player, so I think Jules will make a good job.” Athletic Club started the season with a 1-1 draw at home to Getafe. Williams came off the bench in that game but is expected to ...

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23Aug By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

TRANSFERS

Sporting want Barcelona’s Hector Fort on loan

Barcelona defender Hector Fort is wanted on loan by Portuguese side Sporting, according to multiple reports. The youngster broke into the first team last season and will be hoping to be part of Hansi Flick’s squad this season. Marca are reporting that he’s determined to stay at Barca, despite Sporting’s interest, and is keen to battle for minutes. Fort only signed a contract extension earlier this summer and knows there’s a path into the first-team at present. Joao Cancelo has returned to Manchester City after his loan, while Julian Araujo has been sold to Bournemouth. Jules Kounde has started the season at right-back but has long made it clear his favored position is in the middle of the defence. Barcelona are currently being linked with a move for Marc Pubill but signing the Olympi...

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21Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Gundogan’s exit still not enough for Barca to register Olmo

Ilkay Gundogan is leaving Barcelona after just one year to sign for Manchester City but his departure is reportedly still not enough to register Dani Olmo. It’s been widely reported that one of the key reasons for Gundogan’s exit is for Barcelona to free up some space on the wage bill for their new signing. However, COPE are reporting that Gundogan’s departure is not enough and another exit is needed by the Catalan giants. A new Nike kit deal might also be enought but there’s no word on that, even though Joan Laporta claimed he’d have news shortly just about a month ago.Barcelona are finalising Vitor Roque’s exit to Real Betis at the moment, but the Brazilian isn’t registered for the new season yet either. Mikayil Faye is another player expected to move on, while Clement Lengle...

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