La Liga Archives ⋆ Page 57 of 106 ⋆ LSU

Aug192020 by JBNo Comments

Barcelona send transfer message to Man Utd over Ousmane Dembele

Barcelona have finally put to an end Manchester United’s hopes of signing Ousmane Dembele this summer window after the club’s president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, described the player as ‘untouchable’. The Frenchman has been identified as an alternative to Dortmund's Jadon Sancho, who looks set to stay in the Bundesliga after the club’s deadline for signing the winger passed without United meeting their £108m asking price. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Dembele is considered an option given the 23-year-old winger is still seen as one of the finest talents in the world, despite his struggles with injuries at the club since signing from Dortmund in 2017. Barca are set for a major revamp this summer after their Champions League humiliation against Bayern and ...

Aug192020 by JBNo Comments

Barcelona break silence on Lionel Messi’s possible exit after CL elimination

La Liga

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has confirmed Lionel Messi is going nowhere this summer as he wants to finish his career at the Camp Nou. The Argentine superstar has been heavily linked with an exit after Barcelona’s disappointing 8-2 defeat to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Despite winning the competition four times, Messi has only played in one final since 2011 and he fears the Catalans rebuild will take too long for him to get his hands on the trophy again in his playing career. However, after confirming that Ronald Koeman will become the next manager, Batomeu said that Messi will remain at Barcelona next campaign and will not be sold. ‘Messi wants to finish his career at Barça, h...

Aug172020 by JBNo Comments

Lionel Messi tells Barcelona he wants to leave this summer after Bayern nightmare

La Liga, JB's Column

Lionel Messi has reportedly told Barcelona that he wants to leave the club this summer after their disappointing Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich. Barca-based Brazilian journalist Marcelo Bechler broke the news that Messi was wants an immediate exit away from Nou Camp after losing faith in their plans following the club's Champions League exit. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The 33-year-old superstar has just one year left on what is widely reported to be the final contract of his legendary career at Barcelona, a deal believed to have a £635m buyout clause. According to reports, the deal also included a clause that allowed the Argentine forward to leave for nothing at the end of every campaign but that expired at the end of May. Messi would th...

Aug152020 by JBNo Comments

Sevilla star taunts Paul Pogba ahead of Europa League semi-final clash with Man Utd

UEFA, La Liga

Sevilla midfielder Joan Jordan has aimed a subtle dig at Paul Pogba ahead of the Europa League semi-final game by saying the United star is not better than players in La Liga. Pogba will hope he can spur Manchester United to a second Europa League title this week, having helped Jose Mourinho’s side win the European competition just three years ago. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sevilla knocked Premier League side Wolves out of the competition in the quarters and will hope to enjoy another win over Manchester United this weekend. Ahead of the game, Spanish midfielder Jordan has backed Sevilla to show their class against Solskjaer's side and he even taunted United star Pogba. Jordan wrote in a column for MailSport: ‘Paul Pogba is a great player, one ...

Aug152020 by JBNo Comments

Tearful Gerard Pique offers to quit Barca after humiliating 8-2 defeat

La Liga

Gerard Pique conceded that Barcelona require changes to avoid future humiliations like the one suffered at the hands of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich - even if it means his own days are numbered at Camp Nou. The much anticipated Champions League quarter final between two European giants turned into a procession for Bayern Munich, who went through with an 8-2 thrashing over Barcelona. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Thomas Muller and Coutinho both scored a brace, the latter scoring two late goals against his parent club, while Perisic, Serge Gnabry, Kimmich and Lewandowski were also on the scoresheet for the German club. Gerard Pique did not mince his words after the game as he called on Barcelona's hierachy to make tough decisions following their d...

Aug132020 by JBNo Comments

Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak responds to Chelsea transfer rumours

La Liga, Premier League

Atletico Madrid keeper Jan Oblak has not ruled out a possible summer transfer to Chelsea but says he will only think about his future after the Champions League. Frank Lampard has already lost faith in club-record signing Kepa Arrizabalaga after a series of mistakes and poor performances this season, even dropping him at the end of the campaign in favour of Willy Caballero. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Signing a new goalkeeper is a top priority for the blues, with Oblak seen as the club’s number one target – though the Spanish side have no desire to sell the shot-stopper. Oblak is currently preparing for Thursday's Champions League quarter-final clash against RB Leipzig and, when asked about the transfer rumours, insisted he was focused solely on th...

Aug122020 by JBNo Comments

Barcelona reveal positive coronavirus case ahead of CL quarter-final

La Liga

One Barcelona player has tested positive for Covid-19, but the Spanish club say he has not been in contact with any of the team that will play in the Champions League. Barca did coronavirus tests on Tuesday on nine players - Pedri, Trincao, Matheus Fernandes, Jean-Clair Todibo, Moussa Wague, Carles Alena, Rafinha, Juan Miranda and Oriol Busquets. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Out of the nine – one of them returned a positive test. But the Catalans say he is asymptomatic and is quarantining at home. Barcelona released a statement via their official website, which reads: "Following PCR tests conducted this Tuesday afternoon on the group of nine players due to begin the pre-season today, one of them has tested positive for Covid-19. "The player has no...

Aug92020 by JBNo Comments

Barcelona provide Lionel Messi injury update after victory over Napoli

La Liga

Barcelona manager Quique Setien says Lionel Messi suffered a ‘fierce knock’ after being kicked in the leg by Koulibaly in Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Napoli but he expects him to make a speedy recovery. Barca secured a place in the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Seria A side Napoli on Saturday, with Clement Lenglet, Lionel Messi and Suarez getting on the scoresheet for the Caralans at the Nou Camp. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Messi appeared to be in discomfort after Koulibaly struck his left leg while attempting to clear the ball when the match was still 2-0 and Barca’s medical staff ran on to attend to the Argentine superstar. Though Messi stayed on for the full 90 minutes – and Setien has now reassured fans it will not be a ‘big pr...

Aug72020 by JBNo Comments

Zidane reveals Gareth Bale ‘didn’t want to play’ against Man City

La Liga

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has revealed Gareth Bale was left out of the squad to face Manchester City because he "didn't want to play". Bale has become a peripheral figure at Real Madrid after falling out of favour under Zinedine Zidane. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); His omission from the team this week fuelled speculation over his future at the club and now Zidane has said it was the player's choice. Zidane said: "It was a personal conversation I had with him. He preferred not to play. The rest remains between me and him but he said he didn't want to." The La Liga champions are 2-1 down after the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie at Santiago Bernabeu in February. Zidane said Eden Hazard, who has had an injury-hit campaign, wa...

Aug62020 by JBNo Comments

Sergio Reguilon speaks out on Chelsea transfer links

Premier League, La Liga

Sergio Reguilon is flattered by rumours linking him with Chelsea but says his only focus is on Sevilla’s Europa League run, which begins again on Thursday against Roma. The defender has enjoyed an outstanding campaign on loan from Real Madrid in Sevilla and has attracted the attention of Frank Lampard, who is eager to sign a new left-back this summer. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Talks between Chelsea and Real over a £22.5m deal are reportedly at an ‘advanced stage’, with the Spanish player seen as a cheaper alternative to Chilwell. But for now Reguilon says he is ‘100% focused on the Roma game’ and will only make a decision on his future after Sevilla’s Europa League matches. Asked about interest from big sides like Chelsea, he told Marca: ‘If my...