Barcelona FC news

Barcelona have been handed a boost ahead of the start of the new 2026-27 La Liga season as Fermin Lopez is expected to be fit in time for the start of the campaign.

Lopez missed the end of last season and was ruled out of World Cup 2026 after suffering a fractured metatarsal against Real Betis that required surgery.

Barcelona didn’t put a date on how long Lopez was expected to be sidelined for but his recovery is going well. The club are currently expecting him to be fit by the time the opening weekend rolls around, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The report adds that Lopez has been working hard on his recovery and is already running. All sign therefore point to him being ready to face Athletic Club on the weekend of August 15-16th.

The news will be a boost to Flick who will see his pre-season preparations disrupted by the fact a host of first-teamers are still at World Cup 2026.

Anthony Gordon and Jules Kounde are already through to the quarter-finals, while Barcelona’s Spain contingent will hope to join them later when they take on Portugal.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Marc Casado has once again made it clear he’s in no rush to leave Barcelona amid continued talk that he will be sold this summer.

The midfielder’s future has been in doubt due to a lack of minutes and the stiff competition for places in Hansi Flick’s squad.

Casado has been asked again about his future and says he’ll only leave if he’s told he’s surplus to requirements at Camp Nou.

“I feel like getting back to it. It’s been a different season. Nobody likes taking part less. Whatever it takes, I’ll give everything for the club,” he told Jijantes. “As long as the coach and the club want me, I’ll stay here.”

The midfielder then spoke about some of the speculation about his future, adding: “I try not to look at the news. I found out that some clubs had signed me through messages from friends… a lot of nonsense comes out.

“On Monday, I’ll speak with whoever is necessary. With the coach, the club, agents, and we’ll decide what’s best.”

Casado has been linked with moves to Monaco, AC Milan and the Saudi Pro League over the summer. Barca are said to be hoping for a fee of around €20-30 million if he does depart.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have confirmed that arrival of a new fitness coach ahead of the new 2026-27 season.

The Catalans have appointed Benjamin Kugel, an experienced coach, who has previously worked alongside Hansi Flick with the Germany national team.

Here’s the club’s official statement:

“FC Barcelona has appointed Benjamin Kugel as the new fitness coach in Hansi Flick’s coaching staff. The German joins the club after an extensive career in European football and the international game.

“He has worked at clubs including Werder Bremen, 1. FC Köln, PSV Eindhoven and Benfica. He also spent almost a decade as part of the coaching staff of the German Football Association, where he worked alongside Hansi Flick and helped the national team win the 2014 FIFA World Cup.”

Barcelona are reportedly hoping that the appointment of Kugel can help improve the team’s preparation and physical issues after seeing a number of key players miss game time last season due to injury.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Transfer rumors, news: Chelsea, Madrid, Barça chase Man City’s Dias – ESPN
Manchester City have rejected enquiries from various clubs for center back Rúben Dias, deeming him to be unavailable for transfer, according to TEAMtalk. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea have all reportedly explored the possibility of signing the 29-year-old this summer, but City have issues the same clear message each time, stating that he won’t be moving.

Oyarzabal answers very clearly about Barça – Mundo Deportivo
“I’ve already said that I’m very happy at Real Sociedad,” the striker stated.

Gavi also wants Julián Álvarez to sign for Barça: “I hope so, it’s his dream” – Mundo Deportivo
The Barça midfielder also weighed in on the possible signing of the Argentinian.

The clause determining Christensen’s future at Barça – SPORT
The Blaugrana will be able to unilaterally terminate the second year of the Danish center-back’s contract if he does not play in 30% of matches during the upcoming season.

Barça keeping an eye on Pablo Torre’s situation – SPORT
The Cantabrian ended the season as a key player for Demichelis but could not prevent the drama of relegation; Barça hold the cards regarding his future and are monitoring the situation.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has had some words of advice for Lamine Yamal ahead of Spain’s last 32 tie against Portugal at World Cup 2026.

The game will see Yamal come up against Nuno Mendes once again. Yamal has said recently that Mendes is the toughest opponent he has faced, and De la Fuente has analyzed the match-up between the two players.

“He has faced him with his club and his country. In that process of development that Lamine is still in, he knows that it is the big games against great opponents that lay down a marker: they’re the ones that shape and define you, show you a path,” he told The Guardian.

“Lamine is a competitor and he will have the desire to remove the thorn from his side from that [Nations League] game. But a long time has passed since then and Lamine has grown a lot. Lamine is not the player he was a year ago; he’s another player, more mature, more assured, he reads the games better, logically.

“With every stage of his development, every experience, he will be more complete. So what would I say to him? ‘Be yourself, enjoy football, with the responsibility that comes with it, the responsibility that you take on, but be yourself.’”

Spain head into the match after an impressive win over Austria in the Round of 32, while Portugal booked their place with a 2-1 win over Croatia.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Harrison Barnes visits Spotify Camp Nou – FC Barcelona
The NBA star is greeted by ambassador Audie Norris.

Transfer rumors, news: Premier League clubs on alert over Barcelona and France defender – ESPN
Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Bayern Munich have been alerted over a potential deal for Barcelona and France defender Jules Koundé, as reported by TEAMtalk.

Thiago Alcántara: “Lamine has everything it takes to be the best in the world for the next few years” – Mundo Deportivo
The former Barcelona player and former assistant to Hansi Flick appeared on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast where he showered praise on the young Barça star.

Barça have another “Rashford option” in Rafa Leão – Mundo Deportivo
Barcelona have inquired about the situation of the Portuguese forward, who is not in Ruben Amorim’s plans, and Milan could consider a loan with an option to buy.

Ter Stegen’s salary at Ajax will depend on how much he plays – Mundo Deportivo
The Dutch club, seeing what happened to Girona, has decided to base the player’s salary on the number of games played.

Frenkie de Jong finished the World Cup carrying a knock – SPORT
The Barça midfielder played the final Holland matches with pain in his right knee, although he is expected to be able to start preseason without issues.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

I loved Seydou Keita. So much. Never has a player embodied the words “underrated” or “unsung hero” such as him. He was one of the most complete midfielders of his time, and the legendary Barcelona teams of Pep Guardiola with Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta would not have been the same if not for Keita’s quiet brilliance. And he never, ever, got the credit.

Barça’s history is filled with superstars in every era, true generational talents who changed the game and became legends with their goals, trophies and unforgettable moments. But Barça fans also remember fondly those who may not be considered legends or superstars but played a crucial part in the success of the teams they were a part of.

So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is:

Who is your favorite Barcelona unsung hero of all time?

Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your thoughts, predictions, opinions and answers in the comments section below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are said to be pushing to sign Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado before the start of the new season.

Casado is expected to move after finding game time hard to come by at Barcelona, but it remains to be seen where he will play his football in the 2026-27 campaign.

An update from Marca says Al-Hilal are pushing hard for Casado. The midfielder likes the numbers involved but isn’t convinced that a transfer to the Saudi Pro League is the best idea at this stage of his career.

Barcelona, meanwhile, are hoping that they can sell Casado for 30 million euros if the midfielder does decide he will try the Saudi Pro League.

AC Milan have also been mentioned with regards to Casado but talk of a move to Serie A has gone a little quiet and may no longer be an option.

Barcelona, meanwhile, are hoping a deal can be wrapped up quickly, with the team due back for pre-season in just over a week.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona players have made it crystal clear to Julian Alvarez that he would be welcome at the Camp Nou this summer by taking it in turns to talk up the Argentina international.

Marc Bernal has now shared his thoughts on the Atletico Madrid star and has piled more praise on the forward.

“Personally, I like him a lot. He’s a game-changer and he’s had a great season at Atlético Madrid,” he told Mundo Deportivo.

“Of course I’d like him to come, but that’s not up to me. That decision rests with the club, the president, Deco, and Flick.”

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said an offer has already been made for Alvarez and the Catalans are expected to make an improved bid shortly.

Indeed the latest update on the transfer saga has claimed Barcelona will try again for Alvarez but are prepared to move on to other targets if a deal can’t be agreed in the coming weeks.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Marc Bernal isn’t in a hurry to leave FC Barcelona, to say the least. In a new interview, the midfielder has said he wants to stay with the club that developed him forever.

“My whole life… I’d sign up for that right now. It’s what I want,” he told Sport.

Bernal, 19, has been a part of the club since he was about seven. After coming up through La Masia and getting his debut with the first team, Bernal’s career was complicated by injury. He only played three matches his debut season with Barça, but he was able to play 33 times last season.

This summer, Bernal has been able to rest more, without having to recover from an injury during the off-season. “For the past two years, I’ve only had two weeks of vacation, but this year I’ve truly enjoyed it to the fullest. Now, my mind is on getting started and preparing myself,” he said.

“I think I’ve already had quite a bit of vacation time this year, so I’m actually looking forward to getting started. I’m starting to train on my own now so I arrive at preseason in good shape, because it takes a bit of effort to get going again after a month of rest.”

Bernal showed his goalscoring side apart from his passing ability last season, contributing five goals across all competitions. In the interview, he set his goal for next season was to score at least six or seven times.

“Scoring brings a special kind of thrill, especially since I’ve scored at the Camp Nou. I don’t think it’s exactly my primary role, but if I can do it, I’m very happy,” he said.

For next season, Bernal has labeled the UEFA Champions League as “unfinished business.”

“Ultimately, the Champions League is a very difficult competition – the best teams play in it – and it comes down to a two-legged knockout tie. I think what’s been missing, above all, is giving our absolute best in both matches without losing sight of our style of play,” he said.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have reportedly set a deadline of the end of the World Cup 2026 to land Julian Alvarez and will move on to other targets if a deal is not done by that time.

Club president Joan Laporta has this week confirmed Barcelona have sent in an offer for Alvarez but admitted it won’t last forever, saying: “It remains on the table and the deal could still go through, but the offer is not open-ended.”

According to Mundo Deportivo and RAC1, Barcelona “won’t wait forever” for Alvarez and have set the end of World Cup 2026 as their deadline. The final of the tournament is scheduled for July 19th.

Barcelona are hoping Atletico will soften their stance and agree to negotiations. If not, it will be up to Alvarez to try and force his club to talk to Barcelona.

If it becomes clear at that point that Atletico won’t entertain bids, Barcelona are prepared to move on. The club realise the No. 9 position is crucial and they simply must find a replacement for Robert Lewandowski this summer.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Fcbhistoria, the new Instagram account about Barça’s history – FC Barcelona
Content set to be published daily and will often feature unique pieces from the historical archive.

Dani Rodríguez transferred to Dinamo Zagreb – FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona and the Croatian club reach an agreement for the Basque forward’s transfer.

Spain 3-0 Austria: Dominant Spain advance past Austria – FIFA
Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro’s goals helped Spain overrun Austria in Los Angeles and set up a last-16 tie against Portugal or Croatia.

Barcelona offer for Julián Álvarez still stands – Joan Laporta – ESPN
Barça are keen on signing Álvarez to replace Robert Lewandowski – who joined Chicago Fire this week – and Laporta revealed on Wednesday they have tabled a bid for the former Manchester City man thought to be north of €100 million.

Barça confirms it: they’re back at the 1:1 rule – Mundo Deportivo
Following Lewandowski’s departure and the sales of Ansu Fati and Iñaki Peña, the Blaugrana club is now within the ‘Financial Fair Play’ rule that allows them to spend every Euro they receive.

Flick already has a new German fitness coach – Mundo Deportivo
He is a trusted professional of the Barcelona coach, has already been signed and will fill the gap left by the relocated Julio Tous.

No joy for Raphinha: ruled out for the Round of 16 – Mundo Deportivo
The Brazilian winger is still not training at the same pace as his teammates and will not be available for Carlo Ancelotti to play in the World Cup clash with Norway.

Xavi Espart reinforces the comparisons with Philipp Lahm – Mundo Deportivo
The full-back, converted into a midfielder with the Spanish Under-19 team, is having a great European Championship in Wales.

Barça and Ajax making progress in the agreement for the loan of Ter Stegen – Mundo Deportivo
The goalkeeper is happy to join Ajax because of what it means on a personal level and because of the magnitude of the club.

Barça watching Dest’s future for a possible five million Euro profit – Mundo Deportivo
The American full-back, who is currently shining at the World Cup, is close to changing teams and Barcelona could benefit thanks to the percentage they retain from a future sale.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Austria boss Ralf Rangnick says his team want to make sure Lamine Yamal sees as little of the ball as possible during Thursday’s last 32 clash with Spain at World Cup 2026.

Yamal is expected to start the match for Luis de la Fuente’s side after recovering from his hamstring injury and will be expected to provide plenty of attacking inspiration.

Rangnick was full of praise for Yamal before the game but made it clear his players are well aware of the threat he offers.

“He is an excellent player, and he will be for the next 12, 13, 14 years or even longer if he stays healthy and keeps a good head on his shoulders,” he told reporters.

“If you look at [Lionel] Messi, you can see he could play a lot of matches. He’s one of the players we’ll watch very closely tomorrow. We’ll try not to give him space when he starts dribbling. He’s a player all fans love to watch, but it’s our task to make sure he has the ball as little as possible.”

Austria have come in for criticism during hte tournament but Rangnick thinks his team are doing OK.

“Well, we’re at the end of a very long season, and the fatigue is noticeable; it’s a factor that doesn’t depend solely on us. We’ve been working here for a month and we want to continue for a few more days,” he added.

“But I think we haven’t been too bad. We finished second in our group, we scored six goals, we celebrated with a party in the locker room… We’ll see what happens.

“We’re not going to play against the Spain of 2008 or 2010, so… I find it interesting to think that this is the first match we’ve played against a European team in the World Cup. We’ve seen that there have been some surprises.”

The winner of the tie between the two sides will go on to play Portugal or Croatia in the last 16.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona reportedly remain interested in Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra and are planning on making a move to try and convince the 23-year-old to join the club.

A new report from Plaza Deportivo claims that Deco wants to offer Guerra a six-year contract in a bid to prove to the midfielder that the club are betting on him for the long-term.

Barcelona want to try and convince the midfielder that a transfer to Camp Nou is his best option and will then approach Valencia to discuss a possible summer transfer, per the report.

Valencia do not want Guerra to leave under any circumstances but could wave goodbye to the Spain star if his release clause is triggered.

Previous reports have claimed his clause is currently €40 million and then rises to €60m, meaning that if Barcelona really do want to make a move it may have to come sooner rather than later.

This rumor is picking up momentum but still seems curious as Barca’s focus has to be signing a new striker and Hansi Flick already has plenty of excellent options in midfield.

Do Barca really need Guerra? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Joao Cancelo is reportedly willing to try and force his way out of Al-Hilal in order to complete a permanent transfer to Barcelona.

The Portugal international shone on loan in the second half of the season and is eager to stay with the Catalan giants.

Cancelo still has a year left to run on his contract with Al-Hilal but is ready to do his bit to force the move, according to Diario Sport.

The Portugal defender has “already made it clear to the Saudi club, through his agent, that he has no intention of fulfilling the year of his contract that remains, so he has asked them to negotiate his departure to the Blaugrana club.”

Al-Hilal have already told Cancelo to report for pre-season after his involvement at World Cup 2026 is over and want a transfer fee for the defender so they can make a profit on his signing.

Yet the report adds that Cancelo feels “cheated” by Al-Hilal, something he’s already said publicly last month.

He told reporters: “At Al Hilal, unfortunately, I had people who didn’t tell me the truth. They told me they were going to register me on the Saudi league list, and then, when the day came, they didn’t.”

The end result is that Cancelo “has not intention of returning” and will do all he can to join Barcelona, with a two-year deal already in place at Camp Nou.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

FC Barcelona presents new 2026/27 kit – FC Barcelona
Jersey conserves the iconic blue and garnet stripes, with colour grading that brings movement and depth to an aesthetic rooted in Blaugrana identity, plus names and jersey numbers in a new typeface.

Barça begin LaLiga 26/27 against Athletic Club at Spotify Camp Nou – FC Barcelona
The Clásico in Barcelona is Matchday 12, with the return at the Bernabéu stadium on Matchday 35.

Ansu Fati joins AS Monaco – FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona and the Ligue 1 club have reached an agreement for the La Masia striker’s transfer.

Barça Women to start Liga F campaign against Tenerife at Estadi Johan Cruyff – FC Barcelona
The road to an eighth consecutive league title for Barça Femení is now known, as the 2026/27 season fixtures have been published. The season is set to begin against Tenerife at the Estadi Johan Cruyff as part of Matchday 1 on 30 August.

Salma Paralluelo to leave FC Barcelona – FC Barcelona
Striker Salma Paralluelo has decided to leave FC Barcelona with her contract ending on 30 June 2026. The player from Aragón leaves the Club after a four season spell in which she won 15 trophies: three Champions Leagues, four league titles, three Copas de la Reina, four Super Cups and a Copa Catalunya.

France 3-0 Sweden: Mbappe double leads France past Sweden – FIFA
Kylian Mbappe further enhanced his World Cup legacy with a brace in France’s comfortable Round of 32 win against Sweden.

Lamine Yamal: We would welcome Julián Álvarez at Barcelona – ESPN
“I’m not thinking about it too much, but I’d love it, because [Álvarez] is a great player,” Yamal told Cadena SER in an interview broadcast on Tuesday. “If he comes, we’ll welcome him with open arms… If I were him, I’d do it. We’ll be waiting for him if he wants to come. [I say] go for it.”

Atlético Madrid files a formal complaint against Barcelona with FIFA and the RFEF – Mundo Deportivo
COPE reports that Atlético de Madrid filed a complaint on Tuesday regarding the harassment they believe Julián Alvarez has suffered.

Selling Ansu Fati is a perfect operation for Barça’s ‘fair play’ – Mundo Deportivo
Barcelona frees up around €17.2 million of wage bill due to his contract, in addition to the €11 million from the sale, and retains a percentage of any future sale of the Monaco team.

Gavi bids farewell to Ansu Fati: “Always one of mine” – Mundo Deportivo
The Barça midfielder shared a post on social media after it was announced that Monaco had exercised their option to buy the striker.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona star Gavi says Lamine Yamal may not have hit top form at World Cup 2026 yet but is getting better all the time.

Yamal is back from several weeks out with a hamstring injury and is currently preparing for a last 32 tie against Austria.

Gavi says that the teenager may not be at his very best just yet but will improve as the tournament goes on.

“He might not be 100% yet. But Lamine at 70% is already the best. As the matches go by, he’ll only get better,” he told La Vanguardia.

Yamal has been in the media glare throughout the tournament already, with Gavi admitting his Barca team-mate has no problem handling the pressure.

“Sometimes I tell him I don’t understand how he does it, because he never gets overwhelmed by people,” he added.

“If I were him, I’d find it incredibly difficult, and I’d get stressed out, but Lamine handles it all very well and seems completely unfazed. It’s a really great quality of his.

Spain are yet to show their best at the World Cup so far but Gavi says winning is all that matters and is hoping he can get more game time after dropping out of the XI for the last two matches.

“This is the World Cup, and the level of competition is at its highest. In the end, the important thing is to win, whether you play well or badly, especially now that the do-or-die matches are coming up,” he added.

“I’m here for the manager. I have a lot of faith in him, and I know he has a lot of faith in me. I’m here for whatever the team needs me to do, whether that’s starting, playing five minutes, or whatever. In a World Cup, the important thing is to be a team player.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Atletico Madrid star Marc Pubill seems to think Julian Alvarez will leave the club in the summer transfer window amid continued speculation about a move to Barcelona.

Alvarez made waves last week when he spoke out publicly about wanting to leave Diego Simeone’s side while at World Cup 2026.

Pubill has been asked about Alvarez’s comments and thinks that if he’s not happy at the club, then he should move on.

“His statements were a bit strange. If he’s not happy at Atletico, we’ll see what happens, but I understand he’ll leave,” he told TV3.

“You always want a player like that on the team. A player who is not happy stops being as good.”

Atletico have insisted they want to keep Alvarez but his future remains in doubt.

He was left out of the club’s promotional photos for the launch of their new home kit this week, suggesting his future may well lie away from the Spanish capital.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

The soul of Barça, on the back of the new kit – FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona announces that, starting next season, the men’s and women’s first football teams will wear the Barça Foundation logo on the back of their shirts in all official competitions.

All the goals from the fourth UWCL – FC Barcelona
Relive the magical moments on the road to collecting the trophy in Oslo.

Harry Kane focused on Bayern Munich and England amid informal approach by Barcelona – ESPN
Barcelona have made an informal enquiry about Harry Kane’s availability but the approach was dismissed with the England captain fully focused on the World Cup, sources have told ESPN.

Ajax in advanced talks with Barcelona over Marc-André ter Stegen joining on loan – ESPN
Negotiations are primarily focused on the breakdown of Ter Stegen’s salary, with Ajax submitting their first official proposal on Monday.

A Defining Moment in Chicago Sports: Chicago Fire FC Acquires Global Football Icon Robert Lewandowski – Chicago Fire FC
Chicago Fire FC announced Monday the acquisition of global football icon and Poland’s all-time leading goal scorer Robert Lewandowski as a Designated Player.

Barça making more commitments to Julián and sensing doubts at Atlético – Mundo Deportivo
The Catalan club reaffirms its commitment to the Argentinian, having ‘gotten involved’ and maintaining that it will not abandon him.

Al-Hilal tightens the screws and summons Cancelo for preseason – Mundo Deportivo
The Saudi club is clinging to the year remaining on the Portuguese player’s contract, who only wants to stay at Barça and is confident of reaching an agreement during the summer.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Toni Fernandez is yet another exciting graduate from Barcelona’s La Masia academy but is facing something of a crossroads this summer.

Barcelona reportedly believe the 17-year-old has outgrown Barca Atletic but he’s still not quite ready for regular first-team minutes under Hansi Flick.

There’s been talk he could be sent out on loan, with Real Oviedo and Alaves keen, but a new report from Diario Sport claims Barcelona could sell him to Sevilla in a deal worth around three million euros.

Fernandez clearly has bags of talent but there’s no clear pathway into the first team at present. He is also out of contract in 2027, meaning some big decisions about his future need to be made.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone reportedly sees no way back for Julian Alvarez at the club following his public request for a transfer at World Cup 2026.

While Atletico are reluctant to sell Alvarez to Barcelona, Simeone is eager for a solution to the saga as he doesn’t want players in his squad who are not 100% committed to the cause, according to Diario Sport.

Simeone is “not going to invest time or energy in trying to convince the player” to stay and simply believes that if he wants to leave, he should go.

Barcelona are expected to submit a new offer for Alvarez following his latest statements, although it remains to be seen if they will go as high as €150 million.

Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are also reportedly interested in Alvarez’s services, but it has been said that the Argentina international is focused on Barcelona and not interested in other clubs currently.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

15 out of 16 Blaugranes into Last 32 of the World Cup – FC Barcelona
The 2026 World Cup group stage is over and a whole host of FC Barcelona players will be in the knockout phase. No fewer than 15 of the 16 Blaugranes could potentially feature in the Last 32 round, with only Ronald Araujo saying goodbye to the tournament as Uruguay went out after losing to Spain.

Lewandowski chooses Chicago Fire – Mundo Deportivo
The Polish player will soon travel to the United States to sign a two-year contract with the MLS team, which will make him the club’s main star player.

Gavi is not giving up in his fight for more minutes – Mundo Deportivo
The Barça midfielder started in Spain’s World Cup debut against Cape Verde but has not taken to the field since.

Casadó, offered to AC Milan – Mundo Deportivo
In Italy, it is claimed that Jorge Mendes has proposed to the ‘rossoneri’ club the signing of the Barça midfielder, for whom they hope to get between 20 and 30 million.

Xavi Espart is the star: Flick’s ‘Lahm’ leads Spain’s midfield – Mundo Deportivo
The team arrives at the Under-19 European Championship with an extraordinary generation, and Espart symbolizes a generation born to dominate with the ball.

Atlético’s tough stance with Barça: the non-negotiable conditions to sell Julián Álvarez – SPORT
Atlético de Madrid are standing firm and will only negotiate Julián Álvarez’s move to Barça if the Blaugrana meet their demands.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

In an odd twist, FC Barcelona signed Anthony Gordon and decided against taking up a buy option for Marcus Rashford, just as the two compete for the same spot in the English national team. Rashford was a substitute in England’s first two FIFA World Cup games, but he was a starter in the win against Panama. Meanwhile, Gordon started the first two but was not used in the third.

Some sections of the media have called into question Barcelona’s transfer strategy as the two battle for the starting job. Rashford, they say, has been rewarded for good substitute appearances and will likely keep the job for now. Meanwhile, Gordon has had two mainly ineffective outings and could be at risk of not playing much.

A deeper analysis may question this conclusion. Rashford did have some moments of danger against Panama, but he didn’t score or assist, and Gordon did not set the world on fire, but he was far from bad. There’s a lot of World Cup left and a lot of drama to unfold.

For Barcelona, the choice to sign Gordon and potentially let Rashford go is not just about performance. There’s Rashford’s contract, which has been the main factor keeping Barcelona from signing him. And then there’s the age factor. Although it’s not a massive difference, Rashford is three-and-a-half years older.

Regardless, the World Cup is one thing at one moment, and performances in this tournament do not necessarily dictate what will happen at club level over the next few years.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Certain star players prefer to operate from the shadows.

At the World Cup, all the talk is on the battle for the golden boot. We’re captivated by the goal scoring prowess of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe.

For good reason, we watch the game to be entertained by the sparkle of creativity produced by Lamine Yamal and Pedri.

Great teams, however, are held together by the geniuses who rarely make the headlines.

Sergio Busquets was that guy during the last era of Barcelona greatness. Casual fans of the game struggled to appreciate such a player. For a while now, that unsung hero has been Frenkie de Jong. Going forward, I think Hansi Flick will have a hard time finding a better midfield option.

At this World Cup, the Netherlands are proving to be one of the strongest teams in the tournament.

Led by none other than Ronald Koeman, the Flying Dutchmen are real contenders heading into the knockout round.

It’s not because they have the best all around talent. For that, you would look at France, Spain, or England. It’s because they have tactically intelligent players like Frenkie who make them a handful for any opponent to deal with.

That’s the Netherlands stereotype in many ways. High IQ players who were developed the right way, and can adapt to changing circumstances on the field.

Frenkie’s problem recently has been staying healthy, and at this World Cup, he is certainly playing through the pain. When’s he’s fully fit, however, no matter who his coach is, he is a difficult player to drop.

And yet, his name always seems to come up in the summer when it comes to players Barcelona could live without. Luckily, Flick’s influence at the club, and opinion of Frenkie has been decisive.

That being said, even the coach has shown signs of considering whether Gavi or Marc Bernal are ready to take over alongside Pedri in the double pivot.

This World Cup has been a bit of a reality check.

For tactical reasons, Luis de la Fuente opted to not use Gavi in a game that was tailor made for him against a bruising Uruguay team. Marc Bernal isn’t even on the Spanish roster.

Meanwhile, Frenkie continues to fly under the radar.

When push comes to shove, I’d expect him to reclaim his position in Flick’s starting eleven as well.

Frenkie de Jong was made for Barcelona. He may not be flashy, but his presence always makes the team stronger.

For now, he is still irreplaceable.

If Barcelona think there are better options out in the football wilderness, I hope they think twice.

Frenkie de Jong is the type of player you forget about from time to time, and like Busquets, that’s precisely what makes him so good.

When he’s not around, however, his absence is felt.

If the Netherlands make a deep run at the tournament, the MVP won’t show up in the stats sheet, and that’s exactly how he likes it.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona have been told they are the “ideal” club for Julian Alvarez by former striker Javier Saviola.

Alvarez is aiming to leave Atletico Madrid this summer, with Barcelona keen to bring him in as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski.

Saviola has explained why he thinks it would be an excellent move by both parties.

“He’s not your typical lethal goalscorer. I see him as very complete; he can play on the wing, as an attacking midfielder, as a deep-lying playmaker,” he told Tot Costa.

“You don’t just see the goalscorer, you also see that he’s technically very good. Barça is the ideal team, it can allow him to get more involved in the game, he would be surrounded by great players, giving a very high performance.

“He’s very intelligent, decisive, and well-rounded; he accelerates, turns very quickly, and has excellent ball control and handling.”

Barcelona have reportedly already made one bid for Alvarez and are expected to submit an improved offer following his decision to publicly request a transfer.

Source: barcablaugranes.com