Barcelona FC news

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

FC Barcelona launches fundraising campaign to respond to the humanitarian emergency in Venezuela – FC Barcelona
Foundation will make an initial contribution of €100,000, which will be used to strengthen the work of the humanitarian organisations it regularly partners with on the ground.

Spain, Egypt, Portugal and England advance – FC Barcelona
More Culers into the World Cup Round of 32. Spain’s Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Cubarsí, Olmo, Ferran, Joan Garcia, Eric and Gavi, along with Hamza Abdelkarim’s Egypt, João Cancelo’s Portugal and Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford’s England, have followed in the footsteps of Kounde, Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong.

Jordan 1-3 Argentina: Magic Messi strikes again in Argentina victory – FIFA
Legendary No. 10 scores his sixth goal of World Cup 2026 as defending champions round off group stage with 3-1 victory over Jordan.

Colombia 0-0 Portugal: Colombia top Group K following Portugal stalemate – FIFA
A host of chances went begging for both sides in this topsy-turvy Miami match-up.

Panama 0-2 England: Bellingham and Kane secure top spot for England – FIFA
England ensured first place in Group L as second-half goals by Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane undid the resistance of Panama in rainy New York/New Jersey.

Vlahovic: last attempt for Barça – Mundo Deportivo
The Serbian is offering himself again after seeing that the Catalan club needs to replace Lewandowski and that Ferran Torres hasn’t ruled out leaving.

Saviola: “Barça is the ideal place for Julián Álvarez” – Mundo Deportivo
The former Barcelona forward sees Julián as very complete, more of an attacking midfielder, and “could perform at a higher level surrounded by a squad like Barcelona’s,” he explained on the ‘Tot gira’ program on Catalunya Ràdio.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

After a rocky start, Spain have won their group and are advancing into the knockout rounds at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 1-0 win over Uruguay. We take a look at how Barcelona players have performed in the group stage as Spain looks to continue their quest for a second star.

Pau Cubarsí

Still just 19, Cubarsí has made a big impression in his first major international tournament. He has started all three games and played the full 90 each time, as Spain have kept three clean sheets.

Pedri

Pedri is a leader for Spain and has started every match, though he only completed 90 minutes once. One of the main engines for Spain so far, though he will have to reach into his magic bag more than once if Spain are to win the World Cup.

Lamine Yamal

Yamal has come into the World Cup not fully fit, but he’s slowly recovered sharpness. He scored his first goal just 10 minutes into his first World Cup start, and he’s shown flashes of his brilliant passing and dribbling. He has played around 140 minutes, but it’s clear Spain are a different team with him than without him.

Dani Olmo

Olmo started one game, against Saudi Arabia, and gave an assist in that one, too. His involvement against Cape Verde was scarcely a cameo, but he did play half an hour against Uruguay. Signs point to him as a key substitute, or potentially a starter, for the rest of the tournament.

Ferran Torres

Torres started the first game, played a whole half in the second, and was given just 14 minutes in the last. This is a worrying trend as he has struggled with finishing. His movement and effort is good, but Spain need an in-form goalscorer and that is not him, at the moment.

Gavi

Gavi started the first match, against Cape Verde, in an unfamiliar role. Shifted out to the wing, Gavi did all right, but was not at his best. He has not been recalled into the team since, but perhaps if he is deployed as a midfielder he can start regaining Luis de la Fuente’s trust.

Eric García & Joan Garcia

Two players who are yet to feature. Barring an injury, Joan Garcia is unlikely to play as Unai Simón is preferred and keepers are rarely substituted. Eric may have some better luck, as he can fill in in multiple positions. However, at the moment De la Fuente has preferred other players above him.

Who do you think has been Barcelona’s top performer for Spain at World Cup 2026 so far? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Spain’s win over Uruguay has sent Marcelo Bielsa’s side out of World Cup 2026 and means that Ronald Araujo is the first Barcelona player to be eliminated from the tournament.

Araujo will depart the World Cup without playing a single minute for Uruguay. The defender sustained an injury in training before the start of the tournament and simply didn’t recover in time to feature.

The defender has now been to two World Cups but is yet to feature at all. He was also part of the squad in Qatar in 2022 but, once again, injury meant that he didn’t see any game time.

Araujo’s brother was critical of Uruguay after the Barcelona star was sidelined ahead of the start of the tournament in what’s been a difficult World Cup for Bielsa’s men.

Uruguay managed just two points and scored only three goals in three games, finishing behind Cape Verde in the standings in Group G.

There were also rumors of unrest in the camp ahead of the Spain game, with players reportedly unhappy with Bielsa’s training methods and tactics.

Uruguay’s early exit ends what’s been a difficult campain for Araujo. He took a mental health break from Barcelona mid-way through the season before returning to action but only played a bit-part role in the final weeks of the campaign.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Frenkie de Jong and the Netherlands into the knockout stages – FC Barcelona
Ronald Koeman’s team top their group to advance in the competition with the Barça midfielder a key factor.

Norway 1-4 France: Dembele hits terrific treble as France top group – FIFA
Ousmane Dembele struck a magnificent first-half hat-trick as France made it three wins out of three against a depleted Norway team.

Uruguay 0-1 Spain: Spain hand Uruguay knockout blow – FIFA
Spain’s possession game proved too much for Uruguay as La Roja overcame La Celeste to secure top spot in Group H.

Barça activate “Operation Exit” – Mundo Deportivo
Barcelona hope to finalize Ansu Fati’s sale to Monaco for €11 million before June 30, while Ter Stegen is open to a loan move to Ajax. Marc Casadó, valued between 20 and 30 million, is open to new challenges, and Roony Bardghji is also expected to go out on loan to get playing time.

Julián remains firm despite the pressure from Atlético – Mundo Deportivo
The Argentine remains determined to join Barça despite the messages he has received from his club since requesting a transfer to fulfill his dream.

Marc Bernal, absolute loyalty to Barça: ‘no’ to the Premier League – Mundo Deportivo
The midfielder has attracted interest from English clubs, including Arsenal, but his intention and sole objective is to fulfill his contract with Barcelona until 2029.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

The World Cup is not just about the superstars and best nations, it is also about the new stars created by the biggest tournament in sports with the biggest audience watching somewhat unknown players raise their stock in huge ways.

Several players in the past have earned big transfers based on their World Cup performances, and this tournament is doing the same. We’ve already seen the big names put on a show such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Vini Jr. and others, but plenty of lesser-known players are also catching the world’s eye.

Deniz Undav is Germany’s new hero, Anthony Elanga has scored two goals for Sweden including a screamer in their last game, Daichi Kamada has really impressed for Japan, Weston McKennie and Sergiño Dest have been outstanding for the United States, and Vozinha may earn one last big paycheck in his career after becoming the tournament’s cult hero with Cape Verde.

We also can’t forget about Yan Diomande, who adds more and more to his transfer fee with every performance for the Ivory Coast, Daniel Muñoz’s heroics for Colombia, Johan Manzambi’s breakout tournament with Switzerland, and many others.

With that in mind for today’s exercise, let’s completely overreact to the first two weeks of the World Cup and have some fun. It doesn’t matter who they are, who they play for, how unlikely it is to sign them, their age, or their reputation at club level prior to this tournament.

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

Which player would you sign for Barcelona based solely on their World Cup 2026 performances?

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

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa admits his team face a tough test at World Cup 2026 later today when they come up against Lamine Yamal and Spain.

La Roja are one of the favorites for victory at the tournament, with Yamal having scored his first World Cup goal on his first start last time out against Saudi Arabia.

Bielsa was asked about Yamal and his plans to face Spain ahead of the game.

“He’s a game-changer. There will be arguments with the player who regularly faces him over position on the field. There will be help from the Uruguayan players to overshadow him because he’s a game-changer and a decisive player,” he told reporters.

“Do what we always do. Against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde we had ups and downs; what I want is for the team to be dynamic, to take the lead, and for us to be able to do so against a superior opponent to the previous two.

“Spain’s style of play is based on teamwork. Creating plays is a priority in all aspects of their game, so defending will be crucial and won’t be easy. One of the best ways to defend is to limit the opponent’s possession, and we’ll try to do just that.”

Uruguay’s preparations for the game have been marred by talk of unrest in the camp, with claims players are unhappy with Bielsa’s tactics and intense training sessions.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Pedri gives his blessing to the signing of Julián Álvarez: “I love it” – Mundo Deportivo
The Barça midfielder said in an interview on ‘Teledeporte’ that he doesn’t want to get involved in “club and player matters,” but that if the transfer goes through, the Argentinian will be “welcome.”

Ter Stegen, Ajax’s priority for a loan – Mundo Deportivo
The German goalkeeper knows he won’t have a prominent role at Barça, and sources in the Netherlands say he would welcome a move to Amsterdam, where he would reunite with new Ajax coach Míchel.

Fermín López shares his recovery on social media: “Why do we fall? To learn to get back up” – Mundo Deportivo
The FC Barcelona midfielder continues to recover from the fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot that prevented him from playing in the World Cup.

Barça Atlètic announce five departures – Mundo Deportivo
Víctor Barberá, Joaquín Delgado, Ureña, Ander Astralaga and Emilio Bernad will not continue next season.

Sama Nomoko doesn’t stop even for vacation – Mundo Deportivo
The youth academy player suffered a significant knee injury six months ago, his recovery is progressing well and he continues to attend training at the Ciutat Esportiva daily.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is reportedly closing in on completing a one-year loan move to Eredivisie side Ajax.

According to Diario AS, the German “will” play for the Dutch side next season and he is “on the verge” of joining Michel’s side.

The new Ajax boss is said to have been key to the deal and wanted to be reunited with Ter Stegen after working briefly with the goalkeeper last season.

Ter Stegen joined Girona on loan in the winter window but barely played for the club after sustaining a serious hamstring injury that required surgery and kept him sidelined for the rest of the campaign.

He remains contracted to Barcelona until 2028 but looks set to spend next season away from Catalunya.

The news means that the goalkeeping situation at Barcelona is starting to clear up. The club have already waved goodbye to Inaki Pena, while Diego Kochen is expected to sign for Danish side Lyngby on loan.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Marc Cucurella says there was “no interest from Barcelona” in his services after making a surprise move from Chelsea to Real Madrid.

The left-back came through the Barca academy but has now signed a six-year deal with Los Blancos.

Ahead of the transfer, there were rumors of interest from Barcelona and Atletico and Cucurella has now set the record straight.

“No interest from Barcelona, but Atletico yes. Barca told me they wanted to sign a left-back, but that was it, it stayed at that,” he told Radioestadio Noche.

“There was nothing more to it, really. I think they’re focused on signing a striker, but I haven’t heard anything. In the end, there’s a world of difference between that and it actually happening, there’s nothing more to it than that.

Cucurella is currently on international duty with eight Barcelona players in the Spain squad and admitted there was plenty of banter flying about after the deal was confirmed.

“There have been a few jokes, now we’ll be rivals. But it’s all in good fun,” he said. “We’re very happy here now and we have the same goal.”

Cucurella has already been warned by Dani Olmo that he’s “going to suffer” next season when he comes up against Lamine Yamal in El Clasico.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Permutations for the World Cup Blaugranes ahead of the final group games – FC Barcelona
The situation for the FC Barcelona players and World Cup knockout phase qualification with one final round of group stage fixtures remaining.

Brazil’s Raphinha: ‘I will do everything within my power’ to play again at World Cup – ESPN
Raphinha injured his hamstring in Brazil’s 3-0 win against Haiti last weekend and faces a race against time to feature again at the tournament in North America.

Julián Álvarez, full of reasons to go to Barça – Mundo Deportivo
The Argentine hasn’t won a single title in two years at Atlético, nor has he enjoyed Simeone’s style of play. Several Barça players such as Gavi, Cubarsí, Olmo, Bernal and Araujo have not hesitated to speak out in favor of his arrival and have chosen him as the ideal signing.

Oyarzabal talks about his future, Barça and Real Sociedad – Mundo Deportivo
The international striker’s statistics and performances have positioned him as one of the names in this summer’s transfer market.

Mourinho, honest: “I hold no resentment towards Barça” – Mundo Deportivo
The Real Madrid coach has given an interview to ‘Vanity Fair’ in which he reminisces about his time at Barcelona, ​​talks about his return to the club, Kylian Mbappé, and much more.

At London City they already see Alexia Putellas dressed in light blue – Mundo Deportivo
The English club is very optimistic and confident in its sporting proposal and financial offer.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Spain star Mikel Oyarzabal has insisted he’s happy at Real Sociedad amid whispers he’s a potential target for Barcelona if the Catalans fail to sign Julian Alvarez this summer.

Barcelona have been offered hope of landing Alvarez this week after the striker admitted he wants to move on, but Atletico are furious with the situation and have said they will file a complaint to FIFA about the Catalans.

Hansi Flick’s side may therefore need a Plan B this summer, with Oyarzabal one of several names mentioned recently and even Gavi admitting he’d sign the striker for Barcelona.

Oyarzabal was therefore asked if he could guarantee he’ll stay at Real Sociedad while at World Cup 2026 and offered up the following response.

“I’m focused on helping the team win in three days. I’m where I want to be, at what I consider my home, Real Sociedad,” he told reporteres.

“My mind isn’t on that, but on arriving in Uruguay in the best possible condition.”

The striker bagged a brace last time out against Saudi Arabia and was also asked whether he feels underrated by the world press.

“I’m actually tired of answering this question; I don’t dwell on it,” he added. “What matters to me is what my teammates, my coach, the staff, and the people whose opinions actually count have to say.

“We know how football works these days, and it’s normal for people to talk, but I don’t let it bother me.”

Oyarzabal has 14 goals and seven assists in his past 13 Spain games and is likely to start again when La Roja face Uruguay in their final group fixture.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Jose Mourinho has insisted he has no bad feelings towards Barcelona after making his return to Real Madrid as manager ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Los Blancos have gone trophyless for the last two campaigns, while Barca have won two straight La Liga titles, and so have turned to the so-called Special One again.

Mourinho, who worked as a coach at Barcelona at the start of his career, says that he enjoyed his time at the club and the city and harbors no ill-feeling towards the Catalans.

“In Barcelona, as a family, we had an amazing, amazing period. My daughter went to Barcelona at one month old. My son was born in Barcelona. Me, my wife and the kids, we spent four amazing years in Barcelona. And I cannot have any bad feeling about it,” he told Vanity Fair.

“But football is football, and I played so many times against Barcelona, starting at Chelsea before I went to Inter. Big Champions League matches with Chelsea, then big Champions League matches with Inter, and then I went to Real Madrid. I think it was destiny that put us against each other.

“In the end, I don’t deny I love Real Madrid, and this is the reason I’m going back. But I don’t have bad feelings in relation to Barcelona at all. I just enjoy playing against them because in football, you enjoy playing against the best. The best push you to be better than you are.”

Mourinho and Real Madrid have already been busy in the transfer market ahead of the new campaign, bringing in Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate and Marc Cucurella and have also reportedly tied up a deal for Denzel Dumfries.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Just when everyone thought it was Raphinha’s time to shine, the Brazilian has sustained another injury, which threatens his participation at World Cup 2026.

The Selecao camp appears to be keeping its cards close to its chest, which in itself is a worry, and there has to be a concern that the winger might not even be available for pre-season duties with Barca.

An official statement read: “On Saturday, athlete Raphinha underwent imaging tests that confirmed a muscle injury in the back of his right thigh.  The player will follow an intensive treatment protocol under the supervision of the Brazilian National Team’s medical staff, aiming for recovery and a return to activity as soon as possible.”

It’s a situation that has to be treated with the utmost care, given that Raphinha has missed 24 games and spent over 100 days out for Brazil and Barca over the last year.

Two steps forward and one back has been a recurring theme, and it’s certainly one that Hansi Flick won’t want to see repeated throughout the 2026/27 campaign.

That’s because when Raphinha is on song, so are Barcelona. His work ethic and eye for goal have been a real feature for the team, and without it, it’s clear that the Blaugranes miss him dearly.

Yes, they managed to cover his absences somewhat with the decent form of Marcus Rashford, and the signing of Anthony Gordon is certainly an exciting one for the new season…

It’s even possible that the signing of the former Newcastle man was also with a view to replacing the Brazilian at some point precisely because of his injury concerns and ongoing talk of Saudi clubs willing to throw money at the forward.

The prospect of Barca actually selling Raphinha this summer suddenly doesn’t seem quite so outlandish. It would be incredibly harsh, of course, but football is unforgiving at the best of times, and if Barca are serious about continuing to challenge for the biggest club honours in the game, loyalty can only stretch so far.

In the meantime, all culers and the Barca backroom staff can do is hope that the injury isn’t as serious as it first appears, and that Raphinha can still play some part from Brazil in the knockout rounds with no further problems.

If not, then the start of the new campaign could take on a slightly different look for the team and, if they gel, then the winger might find it difficult to regain his place.

Source: barcablaugranes.com

Argentina 2-0 Austria: Messi enters record books as Argentina reach knockouts – FIFA
Lionel Messi bounced back from missing an early penalty to become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer as Argentina downed Austria.

France 3-0 Iraq: Centurion Mbappe fires France through – FIFA
Lionel Messi has a rival at the top of the FIFA World Cup scoring charts after another Kylian Mbappe brace sent France into the knockout stage.

Julián Álvarez bombshell: “The best thing for everyone is a transfer, I want to fulfill my dream” – Mundo Deportivo
The gesture that Barça were waiting for was made by the Atlético de Madrid forward after the Argentina-Austria match.

Vampeta stirs up controversy about Raphinha’s future, but the player’s entourage denies it – Mundo Deportivo
The former Brazilian international revealed that the striker needed to go to Saudi football due to financial problems.

Bielsa rules Araujo out for Spain-Uruguay – Mundo Deportivo
“Neither De Arrascaeta nor Araujo have a chance of playing,” the Uruguay coach stated ahead of Friday’s match.

Ajax interested in a loan deal for Jofre Torrents – Mundo Deportivo
As reported by MD, Barça’s intention is to find him a club on loan, and Míchel’s team is one of those working to secure the services of the academy graduate.

Source: barcablaugranes.com